Books and Boba Folgen

On this episode, we chat with author Jane Pek, author of our February 2025 book club pick The Verifiers, and most recently its sequel The Rivals. Jane shares with us her journey into becoming an author as well as the inspirations behind writing a murder mystery series surrounding an online dating detective agency, with the bearing heart of an Asian American family drama.Follow Jane on Instagram at @janepekwrites and check out her novels The Verifiers and The Rivals 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 March 2025 pick is The Stationery Shop by Marjan KamaliThis 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!

On our mid-month check in for March 2025, we highlight some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, discuss the latest book to TV adaptation news, check in as the first book ban case hits the Supreme Court, and share some exciting news for the podcast!Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:BLACKPINK: A Little Golden Book Biography by Jessica YoonThe Swan's Daughter: A Possibly Doomed Love Story by Roshani ChokshiHoneytrap by Kiana Krystle I Dance by Diana Rañola; illust. by Christine Almeda The Summoning of Tess Pham by Trang Thanh TranThe Poet Empress by Shen TaoThe Vale by Abigail Hing Wen; Illust. by Yuna CheongEvery Day I Read by Hwang Bo-reum; Translated by Shanna TanThe Chinese Lady by Bo WangI Got You, Allen Liu by Derrick Chow Habbi's Treasures by Yoojin Grace Wuertz; illust. by Dung HoThe Take by Kelly Yang G Is for Gratitude, by Rina Horiuchi & Risa Horiuchi Don't Feed the Hungry Ghosts by Connie Chang & J.M. BlakemoreBad Dog, Benny by Maggie P. Chang Where There's Room for Us by Hayley KiyokoStrong as a Lion by Karla Sy; illust. by FelishiaHenditirtoThe Riceball Fairy by Michelle Lin; illust. by Alyssa HutchingsThe Late Bird by Sha'an d'Anthes Where Does Dinosaur Go? by Songju Ma Daemicke; illust. by Sian JamesThe Dinosaur and the Bird: A Tale of PrehistoricFriendship by Richard Ho; illust. by Jamie GreenFatal Glitch by Erin Entrada Kelly & Eliot SchreferA Party for Bear by Alice WangStone Lion by Debbie FongWake Up, Poppyville! by Vikki Chu Flowers of the Season by Mishy Wang; illust. by Bianca AustriaBook news mentioned on this episode:‘Crazy Rich Asians’ TV Series adaptation for MaxJulie C Dao's ‘Rise of the Empress’ Fantasy Series a Go at AmazonMahmoud v. Taylor Supreme Court CaseBooks & Boba is nominated for an AmbieBooks & 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 March 2025 pick is The Stationery Shop by Marjan KamaliThis 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!

On this episode, we discuss our February 2025 pick, The Verifiers by Jane Pek, following Claudia Lin, an underachieving Asian American woman with a complicated and somewhat dysfunctional family situation, who is recruited to become an investigator for an online dating detective agency and gets drawn into a vast conspiracy involving big tech and data when one of her clients ends up dead under mysterious circumstances. 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 March 2025 pick is The Stationery Shop by Marjan KamaliThis 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!