#346 - March 2026 Book News

On this episode, we discuss our March 2026 Book Club Pick, Butter by Asako Yuzuki, a story of food and murder following a Japanese journalist who begins a professional relationship with a convicted serial killer, charged with the murders of three domestic partners, in hopes of getting an exclusive interview. However, she ends up getting more than she bargained for as she gets sucked into the killer's philosophy and worldview that leads her to question amd she knows about the pleasures of food, the importance of friendships, as well as how traditional gender roles makes fools of us all.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 April 2026 pick is TBA (check our Instagram or website in a few days)!This 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!

For our mid-month book news check in for March 2026, we catch up on the latest Asian American publishing announcements as well as check in on the ongoing fight against book bans:The Carlton Girls: Casey and the Cruel Thief by Julie AbeThe Goodfolke Family by Roshani ChokshiP.S. Are We Friends Now? by John Schu and Jasmine WargaMy Neighbor Yokai by nohoFall, in Love by Mia KaylaThe Gravedigger's Apprentice by Linda ChengSeeking Wonderful by Susan Yoon; illust. Veronica MangWe Are the Light: A Story of Diwali by Rajani LaRocca; illust. Sayan MukherjeeHome Is Waiting to Be Found by Tina Athaide; ilust. Vũ Thủy Ngọc HàMatcha & Matches by Cara TanamachiTea Leaves and Fate Strings by C.B. LeeThe Red Thread by Laura G. LeeScream, Queen! by Sujin WitherspoonBook news mentioned on this episode:Lee & Low postpones their quadrennial Diversity Baseline Survey in order to concentrate on fighting book bansBooks & 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 2026 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!

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 March 2026 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!

On this episode, we sit down with Yosha Gunasekera to chat about her debut novel, The Midnight Taxi. A murder mystery following a true crime loving Sri Lankan American cab driver who ends up accused of murder when a passenger ends up mysteriously murdered in her cab. Yosha shares with us her personal journey to writing her novel as well as how she drew from her experience as an attorney for The Innocence Project to construct her mystery.Follow Yosha on Instagram at @yosha.gunasekera and check out her debut novel The Midnight Taxi 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!

On this episode, we discuss our January 2026 (and patron's choice) pick, Reef by Romesh Gunesekera, a historical fiction novel about a boy who grows up as the personal cook and housekeeper for a wealthy marine biology enthusiast in Sri Lanka, blissfully and willingly unaware that the world outside the walls of his residence is slowly descending into chaos in the years leading up to Sri Lanka's civil war.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!

On our first mid-month book news check-in episode for 2026, we go over the latest Asian American publishing news from the holiday season, as well as check out some of January's new releases from Asian and Asian American authors.Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:Death Wish by Lilly LuWhat Hungers in the Dark by Monika KimHow to Crash a Kite by Ellie PetersonTokki's Tricks by Aram KimGirl Gods by K-Ming Chang Cerulean by Sajni Patel Hanging Out with Nani by Vikram MadanJanuary New Releases mentioned in our book news:The Swan's Daughter by Roshani Chokshi (Jan 6)Fly, Wild Swans: My Mother, Myself and China by Jung Chang (Jan 13)A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania (Jan 13)This Is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin (Jan 13)City of Others by Jared Poon (Jan 13)The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller (Jan 13)A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa (Jan 13)How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley (Jan 20)The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Jan 20)The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (Jan 20)Two Women Living Together by Kim Hana, Hwang Sunwoo; Gene Png (Translator) (Jan 20)Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe by Janet Tay (Jan 27)A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang (Jan 27)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 January 2026 pick is Reef by Romesh GunesekeraThis 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!

Hey everyone! We're back from our holiday break for our first podcast of 2026 and we're finally discussing our December 2025 Book Club Pick Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala. A X'mas themed cozy mystery (but actually a story about family and Filipino noms). At this point, we're kind of murder mystery connoisseurs so this was the perfect end of year treat for us. Fun fact, we did an author chat with the author back in 2021 for her first book so we're excited to come back to this world for the holidays!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 January 2026 pick is Reef by Romesh GunesekeraThis 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 final mid-month book news episode in 2025, we review some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, and weigh in on some recent book tea for December 2025!Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:Light and Thread by Han KangWhen We Swallowed the Sea by Janet HongLimitlessly, Mina by Gianna LakenauthTake to the Sky by Christina SoontornvatNot Again, Dragon Chen! by Amanda Adams; illust. Wazza PinkJin Young, In Between by Ellen OhDon't Print This by Monica ChinA Super Definitely True Story of the Great Animal Race by Dane Liu; illust. AkiForeigners by E.L. ShenBooks & 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 December 2025 pick is Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. ManansalaThis 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!