Books and Boba

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 authors
Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:
Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
Purchasing books at our bookshop
Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook

The Books & Boba February 2026 is Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho
This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective
Mentioned in this episode:
Don't miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex Lin
Coming 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.

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 authors
Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:
Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
Purchasing books at our bookshop
Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook

The Books & Boba February 2026 is Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho
This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective
Mentioned in this episode:
Don't miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex Lin
Coming 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 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
Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:
Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks

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
Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:
Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
Purchasing books at our bookshop
Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook

The Books & Boba January 2026 pick is Reef by Romesh Gunesekera
This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective
Mentioned in this episode:
Don't miss Chinese Republicans, a new play from Alex Lin
Coming 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...

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 Kang
When We Swallowed the Sea by Janet Hong
Limitlessly, Mina by Gianna Lakenauth
Take to the Sky by Christina Soontornvat
Not Again, Dragon Chen! by Amanda Adams; illust. Wazza Pink
Jin Young, In Between by Ellen Oh
Don't Print This by Monica Chin
A Super Definitely True Story of the Great Animal Race by Dane Liu; illust. Aki
Foreigners by E.L. Shen

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors
Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:
Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
Purchasing books at our bookshop
Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook

The Books & Boba December 2025 pick is Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala
This podcast is part of...