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editor's note
Dear <<First Name>>,
Before starting this newsletter, I wrote a much smaller newsletter called Mixed Feelings. It was about my experience moving through the world as a mixed-race person: I’m half Korean, half Dominican. Having this often-confusing racial identity has shaped so much of my life, even when I didn’t fully realize it. For instance, I was too young to realize it then, but I now understand that I was often seen as an “other” while growing up in Seoul, Korea. I was Korean in my blood, but my physical traits led others to believe I was something else, sometimes to my advantage (a compliment about my appearance) and sometimes to my disadvantage (blank, shocked stares at the mall when I spoke fluently in Korean). I didn’t fully belong, even though I spoke the language, chased down the yakult ajumma every week for a fresh batch of the yogurty goodness, knew all the lyrics and dance moves to Roo-Ra (a popular K-Pop group in the 90’s), and rough-and-tumbled around with my full-Korean cousins on the weekends.
When my family moved to the States, my identity blended into the background. Or so it seemed (or so I willed it to seem that way). Here, I didn’t totally stick out like a sore thumb. My childhood was happy and carefree and diverse. When I got to college, though, my racial identity floated back to the surface of nearly every interaction, opportunity, and insecurity. My blended-ness meant I could no longer blend in — everyone wanted to safely put me in a box. Am I Korean? Latina? Filipino? "What are you?" Was the #1 question I heard in my college years and beyond. Even here, I didn’t belong.
Last week, I listened to the latest Call Your Girlfriend episode featuring Jenny Han. I paused the episode to scribble something down: “…telling stories where being Asian isn’t the point.” Through To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jenny Han has created a story and a character in Lara Jean where being Asian isn’t the point. Her racial identity is not the only thing to define her or her story. Han was able to tell the story she wanted to tell, without being bogged down by the need to represent an entire race, or play up racial trauma or pain which is so often the case with BIPOC-centered pop culture.
Being Asian (or half-Asian) wasn’t the point in To All the Boys, yet… when I had the chance to sit down and ask Jenny some questions about her work, I couldn’t resist asking her all the questions about Korean identity, both hers and Lara Jean’s! On one hand, I was genuinely excited to see myself — a half-Korean! — represented on the screen. On the other hand, I was also asking her, “How did you do it? How did you escape this neat racial-identity-box everyone wants to put you and/or your characters into?!”
The To All the Boys series has brought lots of us great comfort over the past few years, but especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as a non-teen, I found so much joy and coziness in this sweet movie series. I loved my chat with Jenny Han and hope you will too! Here, you can read the full Q&A, wherein we chat about what it’s been like to close this chapter, how she views representation, her favorite TikTok rabbit holes (of course), and more. Enjoy!
Until next week,
Alisha Ramos, CEO/Founder at GNI
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community updates...
🤗 Next week, we'll be hosting a virtual gathering with Danielle Evans — author of our February book club pick, The Office of Historical Corrections — on our membership community, The Lounge. Members of the waitlist can gain access to the recording when it's hot off the press — join the waitlist here.
🐌 Our sibling brand, Whiled, was featured in SELF as a "Very Good Brand." Read the piece to find out why you probably won't be able to put your Whiled puzzle away immediately after finishing it.
🎉 And one last fun thing — Alisha's micro-wedding was featured on Martha Stewart Weddings this week! Sneak a peek here.
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weekly picks
what we're recommending this week...
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for when not working is a work in progress (via @cherryblossomHQ)
- Imagine how you want to feel this time next week... 💆♀️ Then write down three things you can do to help yourself get there. This was the advice we needed to hear this week (maybe you needed it too?) and it came via this @tobeabetterartist post. Read through the full post, then learn more about artist Abiola Ogunbiyi and her mission to create a spirit of wellness in the art community.
- Speaking of art... 🎨 Framebridge curated this print shop of work by Black artists that will inspire you to clear some wall space ASAP (we're eyeing this piece by Uzo Njoku).
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A smart tip for your financial journey... 💳 Find a card that helps you earn cash back as you go. This cash back card offers an easy $200 bonus (after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days) AND 3% cashback choice on online shopping, dining, travel, gas, home improvement, or drug stores — helping your hard-earned money stretch a little farther. Sign up now to enjoy 0% interest for 12 months AND no annual fee. #SPONSORSTHING
- A sneak peek at a cookbook we've been waiting for... 🍝💚 Julia Turshen's latest cookbook, Simply Julia, comes out next month, and if you're anxiously counting down the days like we are, here's a look at one very green spaghetti recipe she shares in the book.
- Because sweatpants really don't need to be gendered... 👖 this collection from Girlfriend Collective is for everyone. (Also, that feather color is beckoning us.)
- For your viewing pleasure... 📺 Meet fuboTV, the new live TV streaming service that offers 100+ sports and entertainment channels, on-demand movies and shows, and streaming across multiple devices. What we love most about it: a) you can record all your favorites with the included Cloud DVR, and b) you can watch live sports and TV for half the cost of cable. GNI readers can try it free for 7 days here. #SPONSORSTHING
- When you wish you could pull up a seat at your local bar... 🍸 this tool helps recreate the atmosphere, complete with ice slinging, people chatting, background noise, rain on the window, and all the other ambient sounds that make reading a book at the bar such a luxurious experience.
- If you still have TATB on the brain... 📒 these letterpress cards, designed by Erin Fong and Grace Cho, will take you (and the friends you send them to) back to all your favorite lines from the movie. We're not crying, you're crying. 😭
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sponsor spotlight: piglet
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Sustainable sleepwear you'll never want to take off... 😴
If you've been living in loungewear — and are looking for an equal parts sustainable and cozy option — meet Piglet.
Piglet was created in the pursuit of sincere comfort, especially while you're lounging or spending time at home. With simple, high-quality, and low-maintenance basics, Piglet has developed a range of durable, natural linens that get softer and softer with each wear.
Take a peek at what they have in store — from linen pajama sets to bedding, robes, night dresses, curtains, table linens, throws, and more. GNI readers can get 20% off everything with code GNI20.
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read/watch/listen
what we're turning our attention to this weekend...
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🌟 Scrolling...
Long Live Lara Jean | The Cut
In Praise of Cold-Calling Your Friends | GEN
Dear Khloe K., OCD is Not a Cleaning Disorder | Salty
When Can I Be a House Guest Again? | The New York Times
Why I Root for Romance Heroines to Pick Prince Boring | Slate
📚 Reading...
"If you loved Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, you'll love the short story she wrote for this month's Marie Claire. Something that Kiley Reid is especially good at is drawing you in from the first line, and even with limited real estate in this quick read, she makes every word count." - Carey, Content + Community Team
🍿 Watching...
"Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston is officially on Disney+ and I AM SO EXCITED. (Side note: This is a must-read before watching!) I used to sleep over at my grandparents' house on Saturdays, and we had a VCR recording of this movie that I would rewatch every single time with my grandma (that and The Sound of Music 40th anniversary live taping — both are very important viewing in my book!!)." - Katrina, Partnerships Team
🎧 Listening to...
"I've been on a year-long mission to listen to new, independent artists (I share what I find on Thursdays on my Instagram Stories) because it helps me feel connected to music even while live shows aren't possible in my area. Anyway, this playlist has been really helpful in the discovery phase. It’s updated every Wednesday and there are several sub playlists under the same title separated by category (indie, r&b, etc.)." - Olivia, Community Team
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giving back
For the month of February, we’re donating 5% of our company’s profits as part of a larger initiative to give back. This week, we're donating to N Street Village, an organization working to provide housing and advocacy for nearly 2,000 women in DC in a community of healing, dignity, and respect.
More about our impact efforts: As a BIPOC-owned business, the No Plans, Inc. family of brands (GNI, The Lounge, and Whiled) aims to give back in intentional ways. We support organizations aligned with our core values of taking care, mental health, literacy, and matters of housing and home. Our readers’ support (you!) has allowed us to do this — thank you!
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Thanks for reading and supporting GNI and our partners — they help make the creation of this free newsletter possible. Just a note: GNI may receive a small commission from items you purchase from this newsletter. ❤️
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