Rephonic
Artwork for Books and Boba
Asian American Literature
Asian American Identity
Cultural Identity
Mental Health
Social Media
Asian American Authors
Family Dynamics
Generational Trauma
Cultural Representation
Publishing Industry
Identity
Colonialism
Cultural Expectations
Jane Wong
Sister Snake
After Parties
Bingsu For Two
New York City
The Midnight Taxi
Patriarchy

Books & Boba is a book club dedicated to books written by Asian and Asian American authors. We cover a wide range of genres including contemporary, historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, YA, nonfiction, thrillers, graphic novels, and memoirs.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes370Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for Books and Boba

Latest Episodes

On this episode, we sit down with author Tania Tay to discuss her new cafe cozy romance novel The Matcha Maker Café (which she wrote under the pen name Lily Chen). We chat with Tania about her journey to becoming a novelist, her experience writing ab... more

On this episode, we catch up on the latest Asian American book news and publishing announcements for our July 2026 mid-month check-is

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• Swaplife by Abdi Nazemian and Pedro Rhuas

• My Heart or Yours b... more

YouTube

On this episode, we chat with author Yejin Suh to talk about her debut novel The Last Soldier of Nava, a Korean-inspired fantasy novel following a girl named Shadow, a former peerless soldier who awakens after a thousand years of slumber, who struggl... more

YouTube

Join us as we discuss our June 2026 pick, The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo. A queer retelling of the classic American novel The Great Gatsby. Set in a magical alternate Jazz Age New York, this version is told through the perspective of Jordan ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Yejin Suh
Korean American author based in New Jersey; debut YA fantasy The Last Soldier of Nava
HarperCollins (UK then US)
Episode: #361 - Author Chat w/ Yejin Suh
Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
Author of Names Have Been Changed
Author, Names Have Been Changed
Episode: #359 - Author Chat w/ Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
Kim Cooper
Co-host of Asians in Baseball
Asians in Baseball (Potluck Podcast Collective)
Episode: #358 - June 2026 Book News
Naomi Ko
Co-host of Asians in Baseball
Asians in Baseball (Potluck Podcast Collective)
Episode: #358 - June 2026 Book News
Scott Okamoto
Co-host of Asians in Baseball
Asians in Baseball (Potluck Podcast Collective)
Episode: #358 - June 2026 Book News
Phil Yu
Co-host of They Call Us Bruce
They Call Us Bruce (Potluck Podcast Collective)
Episode: #358 - June 2026 Book News
Jeff Yang
Co-host of They Call Us Bruce
They Call Us Bruce (Potluck Podcast Collective)
Episode: #358 - June 2026 Book News
Cindy Pham
Queer Vietnamese American author, debut novelist
Author, The Secret World of Briar Rose
Episode: #357 - Author Chat w/ Cindy Pham
Vincent Yu
Author, debut novel Seek Immediate Shelter
WW Norton; LiveRight
Episode: #355 - Author Chat w/ Vincent Yu

Hosts

Marvin Yueh
Host and co-host, known for warm, insightful book discussions and industry context.
Reera Yoo
Host and co-host, brings literary analysis and community focus to conversations.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 228 ratings
  • Yes!!

    Thank you for the representation! I love the focus on Asian/Asian American authors. I actively seek AANHPI authors and my TBR is fuller bc of this podcast. Also so pleased to see favorite authors featured here. Very happy to have this in my ears! Mahalo nui ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KalenaMed
    United States9 months ago
  • Love this pod

    I love the idea of an AAPI podcast related to books. I listened to a handful so far and I love the book review ones the best. Most podcasts have only glowing reviews about every book so it’s nice to hear both the positive and negatives about a book before deciding to read it. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SeraphinaS100
    United Statesa year ago
  • They are the Boba!

    Reera and Marvin are the Boba! They give me all the same feels as a delightful Bubble Tea and they are cultivating more delectable and diverse reading experiences.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SquidInkyDink
    United States3 years ago
  • Boba?

    I was looking through Apple podcast and saw this and I was so excited because I love books and boba 🧋🧋🧋and then found found out there was no boba involved, i listened a bit and though5 it was a decent podcast but I am still very disappointed that there is no boba involved in this podcast because I really like boba and I think it’s good, I just don’t want other people who love boba to get scammed out of a boba podcast. Thank you for your consideration,

    A disappointed listener,

    The Boba Que... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Podcast Critic/ Boba Lover 🧋
    United States3 years ago
  • Lovely dive into AAPI books!

    A very good source for upcoming books by AAPI authors highlighting our stories. Invaluable for helping to navigate and find the good stuff out there. We are blessed to have a breadth of AAPI authors now. Keep up the good work Reera and Marvin!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iPad gamerzzz
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes the banter and warmth as a strength, with strong enthusiasm for author interviews.
Fans appreciate practical takeaways for readers and writers, plus timely publishing news.
Listeners praise the focus on Asian/Asian American authors and diversity of recommendations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#86
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#178
Poland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#179
Brazil/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#199
Singapore/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#223
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#359 - Author Chat w/ Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
Q: How did you map Ophir's journey across cities and languages, and what informed your choices of Tokyo, London, and Boston as key settings?
She explains choosing big cities she knows well to avoid research paralysis, using diaspora networks and mobility to create authenticity in different locales without becoming overwhelmed by details.
#359 - Author Chat w/ Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
Q: What inspired you to frame your novel as podcast episodes, and how did you decide on Ophir's voice and the media format?
She describes the voice first forming in her head, the character deciding to tell her story on a podcast as a tension-filled vehicle, and how the episodic structure mirrors Ophir's need for control and audience interaction while running from her past.
#359 - Author Chat w/ Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
Q: Can you share with us a little bit about your own personal journey, how you became a writer and then now a novelist?
Balasingamchow explains a long, iterative path from writing short stories to drafting a novel, highlighting how early work taught her craft and how varied life experiences—teaching, editing, traveling—shaped her storytelling and ultimately led to Names Have Been Changed.
#353 - Author Chat w/ Canwen Xu
Q: What prompted the shift from a contemporary novel to a thriller?
Feedback from the agent and editor suggested adding suspenseful elements would heighten engagement; the shift also allowed deeper explorations of character and social dynamics within a high-stakes setting.
#353 - Author Chat w/ Canwen Xu
Q: How did the voice and the percentile concept come to you?
The voice emerged from wanting to show explicitly how societal measurements translate into internal hierarchy and self-worth, exploring the tension between showing and telling while making the obsession feel believable and urgent.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Books and Boba

What is Books and Boba about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, conversation-driven show centered on books by Asian and Asian American authors, blending author interviews, mid-month publishing updates, and lively book club discussions. Episodes typically feature in-depth author chats, industry news, and nuanced discussions of identity, representation, and culture, with a warm, bantering host duo that fans often praise for approachable yet insightful commentary. Noteworthy is the clear emphasis on publishing industry insights, literary exploration across genres, and ongoing engagement with a multilingual, diverse literary community—making it a strong fit for listeners who want both book recommendations and context about how Asian American literature is produced and marketed.

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How many listeners does Books and Boba get?

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How many subscribers and views does Books and Boba have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Books and Boba has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Books and Boba?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Books and Boba:

1. Book Riot - The Podcast
2. NPR's Book of the Day
3. The Book Review
4. The Currently Reading Podcast
5. Zero to Well-Read

How many episodes of Books and Boba are there?

Books and Boba launched 10 years ago and published 370 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Books and Boba?

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What guests have appeared on Books and Boba?

Recent guests on Books and Boba include:

1. Yejin Suh
2. Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
3. Kim Cooper
4. Naomi Ko
5. Scott Okamoto
6. Phil Yu
7. Jeff Yang
8. Cindy Pham

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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