Books and Boba Folgen

On this episode, we discuss our February 2026 book club pick, Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho, a romantic comedy about two Asian lawyers in London who share an (kinda?) adversarial relationship who end up sharing an office and perhaps become something more as they find themselves in a pseudo fake relationship to help with each other's personal troubles. We read Zen Cho's Regency era fantasy romance Sorcerer to the Crown almost a decade ago and were very excited to see what a contemporary Zen Cho romance looks like.Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authorsSupport the Books & Boba Podcast by:Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perksPurchasing books at our bookshopRocking our Books & Boba merchFollow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:InstagramTwitterGoodreadsFacebookThe Books & Boba May 2025 pick is Butter by Asako YuzukiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast CollectiveMentioned in this episode:Don't miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex LinComing to the Roundabout Theatre Company this winter, Chinese Republicans is a biting new satirical drama from Alex Lin, directed by Chay Yew, following three high-powered businesswomen who meet for lunch every month to discuss their latest career triumphs, as they’ve done for decades. But the group is jolted when Katie, a bright-eyed 24-year-old new to the workforce, joins to navigate the world of corporate finance. As each of the women attempts to steer Katie towards what they’re certain is best, they’re forced to grapple with how much they already have and are willing to sacrifice to climb the corporate ladder. Tickets for Chinese Republicans on sale now!

Happy New Year! On our first mid-month book news check-in episode for the year of the horse, we go over a hefty list of latest Asian American publishing news as the publishing industry revs back into gear after the holidays.Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:Blur the Lines by Kanitha P.Paper Ghosts by Samantha ChongCold Blood by Aashna AvachatUntitled Contemporary YA By Jesmeen Kaur DeoThe Strange Sketches of Luna Li by Gloria L. HuangShe Comes Out at Night by Michelle Jing Chan If We Could Be Everywhere by Sarah SukThe Sisterhood of Southern Peaches by Katrina MooreFootprints in Snow by Keiko HaynerSomething Inside Me Knows by Malinda LoThe Luckies by Sarah Mlynowski and Christina Soontornvat; illust. by Madi WongThe Monster Inside by Cherry MoJitty and the Machine by Mitali Banerjee Ruths; illust.by Iacopo BrunoWipe Out by Saadia Faruqi; illust. by Karen De la VegaThe Erhu Sings by Sally DengBlooming Behind Barbed Wire by Traci Huahn; illust. by Mayumi SasageHouse of Forgotten Souls by Kat ChoHello, DELA, by Kiku HughesTae Lim Decks It Out by Angela AhnIzzy and Wolfi by Dane Liu; illust. by Maya TatsukawaThe Light Garden by Joanna Ho; illust. by Minako TomigaharaBooks & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authorsSupport the Books & Boba Podcast by:Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perksPurchasing books at our bookshopRocking our Books & Boba merchFollow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:InstagramTwitterGoodreadsFacebookThe Books & Boba February 2026 is Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen ChoThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast CollectiveMentioned in this episode:Don't miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex LinComing to the Roundabout Theatre Company this winter, Chinese Republicans is a biting new satirical drama from Alex Lin, directed by Chay Yew, following three high-powered businesswomen who meet for lunch every month to discuss their latest career triumphs, as they’ve done for decades. But the group is jolted when Katie, a bright-eyed 24-year-old new to the workforce, joins to navigate the world of corporate finance. As each of the women attempts to steer Katie towards what they’re certain is best, they’re forced to grapple with how much they already have and are willing to sacrifice to climb the corporate ladder. Tickets for Chinese Republicans on sale now!

Happy New Year! We ring in the Year of the Horse with an exciting author chat with Lillian Li (author of past book club pick #1 Chinese Restaurant), who joins us to chat about her newest novel Bad Asians, a coming of age story following four childhood friends who all move home after graduating college in 2008 after their well laid plans were derailed by the great recession. They inadvertently become part of a viral Youtube documentary that will continue to haunt them throughout their adult lives as they drift apart and come back together again and again. Follow Lillian on Instagram at @zillianzi and check out her new novel Bad Asians available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authorsSupport the Books & Boba Podcast by:Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perksPurchasing books at our bookshopRocking our Books & Boba merchFollow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:InstagramTwitterGoodreadsFacebookThe Books & Boba February 2026 is Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen ChoThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast CollectiveMentioned in this episode:Don't miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex LinComing to the Roundabout Theatre Company this winter, Chinese Republicans is a biting new satirical drama from Alex Lin, directed by Chay Yew, following three high-powered businesswomen who meet for lunch every month to discuss their latest career triumphs, as they’ve done for decades. But the group is jolted when Katie, a bright-eyed 24-year-old new to the workforce, joins to navigate the world of corporate finance. As each of the women attempts to steer Katie towards what they’re certain is best, they’re forced to grapple with how much they already have and are willing to sacrifice to climb the corporate ladder. Tickets for Chinese Republicans on sale now!