Thien-Kim Lam is a power-house romance author and sex educator whose Boss Babes series features Vietnamese MCs that smash stereotypes, blaze new paths and still find their happily ever after. Her most recent release, Something Cheeky, featuring two former college best friends who reunite to work together on their dream project — a Cinderella rock musical with an all Vietnamese cast — is our March Love, Parnassus pick. There is just something about a friends-to-lovers that gets me right from the start and I adored Zoe and Derek’s comfortable playfulness and dual pining. Snag yourself a copy (or subscribe to Love, Parnassus) and then quickly work your way through their backlist. Thanks, Thien-Kim!
— Katie Garaby, Parnassus floor manager and Love, Parnassus curator
Katie Garaby: While many readers will be familiar with the first two books in the series, this may be the first Thien-Kim Lam romance for others. What would you tell those new readers to expect from Something Cheeky?
Thien-Kim Lam: Get ready for laughter, tender moments, and lots of steam! Something Cheeky is a friends-to-lovers romance that centers around a Vietnamese Cinderella rock musical. Derek’s directing the show they dreamed up together during college and has convinced Zoe — who quit theatre — to design the costumes for the production. Of course they catch feelings and clothes start coming off!
KG: I LOVE that in addition to being an amazing romance author you are also a certified sex educator. Me too! While it feels like a natural progression from sex educator to romance writer (or romance book enthusiast, like myself), tell us a little bit about how you came to writing from sex education.
TKL: I wanted free sex toys! My first foray as a sex educator started in 2001 through home parties where I hawked vibrators and lubes, but it was the pleasure education that I enjoyed the most. Eventually that led to combining my sex ed background with my love for romance to create Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box where I paired spicy romances with sex toys. After trying to juggle family, an e-commerce business and writing, I closed it in 2023 to focus on writing, teaching, and book coaching.
KG: I imagine it feels a bit like you have your own built-in intimacy coach when it comes to writing sex scenes. How does your background as a sex educator inform these moments in your novel?
TKL: I’ve never thought about it that way, but I am my characters’ intimacy coach in a way. I enjoy writing sex scenes and put a lot of thought into them. Whether it’s their first kiss or rip-off-the-clothes moment, the first thing I consider is how will this interaction change the character’s emotions or how will it change the way they see each other.
Once I’ve figured out the emotional journey part, I consider how they navigate consent, STI protection, and what they’ll do physically. I also consider how a character’s background or body affects the sex scene. For example, Zoe is a plus-size woman so she might have a passing thought about a chair being sturdy enough to ride her partner on. In Full Exposure, Josie, who is Black and has natural hair, puts on a shower cap to protect her hair before hopping into the shower with Spencer.
I teach an online class about writing emotional and more inclusive sex scenes. Join my newsletter for updates on when I teach it again!
KG: Zoe runs her own fabulous plus-size lingerie company, and in your previous books your FMCs all have really bad-ass jobs. How do these non-traditional choices help to strengthen your characters, and was it important to you to have your Boss Babes have unique careers?
TKL: As someone who’s owned multiple businesses, I wanted to showcase women working in sex-positive industries. People would giggle uncomfortably when they learned about my work as a sex educator and sex toy expert. I gave all the Boss Babes fun jobs so they could destigmatize what it means to be a sexual and sensual woman. They’re all working fulfilling careers and don’t need a partner to feel complete. Buuuuut, it’s a romance, so they meet that special someone who brings them joy and love.
I’m also a sucker for the found family trope. The Boss Babes are fun to write. Who wouldn’t love to have friends who are a boudoir photographer, sex educator, male burlesque club owner, and plus size lingerie designer?
KG: Romance readers come to the genre for many reasons, many times for this idea of an “escape.” As a romance reader, I understand that, but I also appreciate that the genre can do the work of weaving in very real issues in a safe way. Derek and Zoe struggle with both racism, sexism, and sizeism in the theatre world. This is so important! How do you write books that both feel like an escape and also have your characters struggle with very real issues?
TKL: Derek and Zoe are Vietnamese Americans who can’t hide or escape that they look different from the status quo. Like many BIPOC folks, they don’t have the luxury of not dealing with racism, sexism, and sizeism. We don’t let those -isms define us. Neither will my characters. We’re all trying to live our best lives. We deserve to find joy and happiness.
KG: I will never get tired of seeing a plus-size heroine on the cover of a romance novel. It just makes me want to squeal and kick my feet with unfiltered joy. Can you remember the first plus-size heroine you saw on the cover of a romance book? What book was it and how did it make you feel to see that type of representation?
TKL: Olivia Dade’s There’s Something About Marysburg series were the first romances I read with an explicitly plus-size heroine, but it was her cover for Spoiler Alert that made me gasp. April is desirable and sexy—curves, fat rolls, and all. I knew then that it was time for Zoe to shine in her own novel. Cover designer Andressa Meissner and the Avon team did a fantastic job with Something Cheeky.
KG: No one loves a book rec like a romance reader! Who are you reading now that you want to make sure everyone knows about?
TKL: I just started Zora Books Her Happy Every After by Taj McCoy. It’s absolutely delightful, and I’m in love with all the characters already. Wings Once Cursed & Bound by Piper J. Drake taught me about Thai mythology and introduced me to a supernatural chosen family. I highly recommend it!
KG: And lastly, here’s a fun bookstore question: What is your fondest memory of an independent bookstore?
TKL: The first time I walked into Loyalty Books, my local indie bookstore, shortly after they opened a location near me. The owner Hannah Oliver-Depp was working that day and welcomed me with the biggest smile! She had no idea who I was. I wasn’t even published yet. Hannah, Christine, and the Loyalty crew work hard to make their store a welcoming space.
I hope to visit Parnassus soon so I can create more fond indie bookstore memories!
Something Cheeky hits shelves on March 4. Pre-order your copy now, and learn more about our romance subscription box, Love, Parnassus!
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