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 Lu
What Hungers in the Dark by Monika Kim
How to Crash a Kite by Ellie Peterson
Tokki’s Tricks by Aram Kim
Girl Gods by K-Ming Chang
Cerulean by Sajni Patel
Hanging Out with Nani by Vikram Madan
January 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 authors
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 authors
On our second to last mid-month book news episode in 2025, we highlight some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, and catch up on the latest book news for November 2025!
Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:
Overrated by Gene Luen Yang & Jacob Perez
Ink & Blood: Poetry and Power in the Lives of Emperor Li Yu and Chairman Mao by Chun Yu; illust. Sungyoon Choi
The Peacock Throne by Zeba Shahnaz
Forest Freaks by Nat Iwata
Mei Mei the Bunny by Laufey; Illusy. Lauren O’Hara
Aunties by Pooja Makhijani; illust. Ruchi Mhasane
The Girl, the Village, and the Terrible Thunder by Aimee Yealim Lee; illust. Hyewon Yum
Jade vs. the Claw Machine by Margaret Chiu Greanias; illust. Heather Brockman Lee
Sun’s Eid by Natasha Khan Kazi
The Echo of Empires by Shameen Abubakar
untitled picture book biography of Katherine Sui-Fun Cheung by Cheryl Kim; illust. Nicole Wong.
Mongoose’s Holi Party by Darshana Khiani; illust. Abhilasha Khatri
The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause
Echoes Across the Water by Livia Blackburne
What’s for Iftar?! by Razeena Omar Gutta; illust. Esraa Hedery
On this episode, we are joined by best selling author Dustin Thao to chat about his newest novel, You’ve Found Oliver, the follow up to his bittersweet debut You’ve Reached Sam. Dustin shares with us how a real life glitch in the matrix inspired the supernatural setting of his latest romance as well as his thoughts on time, grief, and magic.
On this episode, we sit down with author Benedict Nguyễn to chat about her debut novel Hot Girls with Balls, a romantic sports satire about two Asian American trans athletes at the top of their game as stars of the international men’s pro indoor volleyball league (who also happen to be girlfriends)!
Reera is off on family business so it’s a solo Marvin mid-month check in this week. On this short but sweet episode, Marvin highlights some of the latest publishing announcements for books by Asian and Asian American authors so that you can have even more books to keep an eye on for your TBR lists!
Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:
SLASHER SUMMER By E.L. Chen
AMBROSIA By Katrina Kwan
MADDER LAKE By Katie Wu
TIGER’S MOUTH By Lucy Tan
EVERYTHING TO THE SEA By Alicia Upano
DUST By Theresa Hottel
AMERICAN HAN By Lisa Lee
SHE WAITS WHERE SHADOWS GATHER By Michelle Tang
THE FIDGET BOOTH By Abigail Hing Wen; illust by Maple Lam
Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors
Books & Boba 