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Chic Manila #4
Love Your Frenemies
Kimmy Domingo was the kind of girl everyone hated and envied -- until her fiancé dumped her a week before their wedding. Soon after, she quit her job, hopped on a plane, and just hid from everyone who knew her. A year later and she's back in Manila to be maid of honor at a wedding she can't miss.
Kimmy's home because she's ready to start over, but she also knows that some people at that wedding were responsible for the mess her life turned out to be. The first step to recovery? Cutting off the ones who caused her troubles to begin with: her best friend and her first love.
Kimmy's home because she's ready to start over, but she also knows that some people at that wedding were responsible for the mess her life turned out to be. The first step to recovery? Cutting off the ones who caused her troubles to begin with: her best friend and her first love.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2011
About the author
Mina V. Esguerra
48 books603 followersMina V. Esguerra writes contemporary romance and young adult novellas. She has a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Development Communication, put to good use in her work as trainer and content management consultant. Mina lives in Metro Manila, Philippines, with her husband and daughter.
She finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people, so the answer to "Is this story based on you?" is always, always "No."
She finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people, so the answer to "Is this story based on you?" is always, always "No."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 11, 2013
This book is officially my 1000th read as captured here on Goodreads!
When I joined here in March 2009, I listed on paper all the books I thought I've read completely (from cover to cover) since my childhood days. I still remember the number: 97 books mostly novels. One thousand books for me means that for the past 4 years since I joined, I was able to read on the average, 220 books per year or 20 books per month or 1 book per week. Not bad for somebody who was only able to read 97 books in the past 45 years prior to joining Goodreads. That means measly 2 books per year!
Thank you so much Goodreads for making my life more meaningful and worth living! Reading books can be addictive but I could not imagine myself going back to my old hobbies of watching senseless television shows and movies. Reading has been the best hobby that I've taken so far and there is no turning back!!! I have a vow to read until my eyes could no longer take it. Or maybe switch to audiobooks and read till my last breath?
This book is okay for me. It's my Valentine's read for this year. I started it yesterday morning and finished just this morning. It's thin and cost only $99 cents in the internet. If you love romance, go for this book. Better yet, buy and read all of Esguerra's books. There are at least six of them already. The author, Mina V. Esguerra, gave me three complimentary (free) copies of her first novel My Imaginary Ex (3 stars) during my birthday party in July 2010 and I liked it so I made a promise of buying and reading all her succeeding books (as long as they are published in printed form). So, this is my 5th book by her and I think I am still up to that promise.
My only wish is for somebody to put the right cover of this book in the internet (or load it here on Goodreads). The cover of the edition that I read looks so much better than the one you can see here.
Congratulations to me for reaching my 1,000 read mark!
When I joined here in March 2009, I listed on paper all the books I thought I've read completely (from cover to cover) since my childhood days. I still remember the number: 97 books mostly novels. One thousand books for me means that for the past 4 years since I joined, I was able to read on the average, 220 books per year or 20 books per month or 1 book per week. Not bad for somebody who was only able to read 97 books in the past 45 years prior to joining Goodreads. That means measly 2 books per year!
Thank you so much Goodreads for making my life more meaningful and worth living! Reading books can be addictive but I could not imagine myself going back to my old hobbies of watching senseless television shows and movies. Reading has been the best hobby that I've taken so far and there is no turning back!!! I have a vow to read until my eyes could no longer take it. Or maybe switch to audiobooks and read till my last breath?
This book is okay for me. It's my Valentine's read for this year. I started it yesterday morning and finished just this morning. It's thin and cost only $99 cents in the internet. If you love romance, go for this book. Better yet, buy and read all of Esguerra's books. There are at least six of them already. The author, Mina V. Esguerra, gave me three complimentary (free) copies of her first novel My Imaginary Ex (3 stars) during my birthday party in July 2010 and I liked it so I made a promise of buying and reading all her succeeding books (as long as they are published in printed form). So, this is my 5th book by her and I think I am still up to that promise.
My only wish is for somebody to put the right cover of this book in the internet (or load it here on Goodreads). The cover of the edition that I read looks so much better than the one you can see here.
Congratulations to me for reaching my 1,000 read mark!
Read
March 27, 2018You know the Bitchy Other Woman in many romance novels, the nasty country-club one who the hero is inexplicably going to marry only then he realises that the heroine, a far nicer human being, is The One and we cheer as he extricates himself from that awful woman? This is her story.
Kimmy was the Bitchy Other woman in an earlier novel in the series, and she is straight-up not a stellar human being. She and her best frenemy were a Heathers-type clique at school, she cheated on her fiance from the other book, she's self-centred and uses people shamelessly (and openly). Her best frenemy can be a fairly nasty piece of work too and a lot of the book is Kimmy deciding that she has to end this toxic friendship for her own good, just as she has to leave home where she lives with her divorced mum and quit Manolo, the hot-yet-non-committing guy with whom she has a sniping, aggressive on-again-off-again thing.
Seems like a pretty clear self-remaking arc, but things don't play out that way because people are complicated. Kimmy might be a flawed human but she's still a human, and an impressively "to hell with you" woman at that (it's very clear that a lot of her behaviour would pass entirely unremarked in a man). She's struggling for happiness, and it takes a while for it to dawn on her both that she needs to remove herself from the centre of the picture to see things clearly, and to realise that love and friendship are complicated things, and that she needs to dig a lot deeper to understand both.
What I love about this is that it isn't a redemption story. Kimmy is more vulnerable and longing at heart than the Bitchy Other Woman facade, but she isn't a completely different person underneath and she doesn't have a Damascene conversion. She works out a better way to live as herself, but she'll never be everyone's best friend nor does she want to be. And how very nice it is to see a seriously flawed woman getting the HEA that is normally the preserve of seriously flawed men.
Kimmy was the Bitchy Other woman in an earlier novel in the series, and she is straight-up not a stellar human being. She and her best frenemy were a Heathers-type clique at school, she cheated on her fiance from the other book, she's self-centred and uses people shamelessly (and openly). Her best frenemy can be a fairly nasty piece of work too and a lot of the book is Kimmy deciding that she has to end this toxic friendship for her own good, just as she has to leave home where she lives with her divorced mum and quit Manolo, the hot-yet-non-committing guy with whom she has a sniping, aggressive on-again-off-again thing.
Seems like a pretty clear self-remaking arc, but things don't play out that way because people are complicated. Kimmy might be a flawed human but she's still a human, and an impressively "to hell with you" woman at that (it's very clear that a lot of her behaviour would pass entirely unremarked in a man). She's struggling for happiness, and it takes a while for it to dawn on her both that she needs to remove herself from the centre of the picture to see things clearly, and to realise that love and friendship are complicated things, and that she needs to dig a lot deeper to understand both.
What I love about this is that it isn't a redemption story. Kimmy is more vulnerable and longing at heart than the Bitchy Other Woman facade, but she isn't a completely different person underneath and she doesn't have a Damascene conversion. She works out a better way to live as herself, but she'll never be everyone's best friend nor does she want to be. And how very nice it is to see a seriously flawed woman getting the HEA that is normally the preserve of seriously flawed men.
February 9, 2018
Another favorite!! Kimmy was the antagonist in the first book. I was excited to see where Mina would take her character because she had quite the reputation in the previous books. And I must say I absolutely adored her story. I'm glad that Mina didn't change her character too much that she suddenly became this sweet, goody-two-shoes. Nope. She's still Kimmy Domingo but more self-aware.
Anyway, I'll do a proper review when I have the time but I'll just say this again: I love this author's characters! I really do.
Anyway, I'll do a proper review when I have the time but I'll just say this again: I love this author's characters! I really do.
February 9, 2013
This is Mina V. Esguerra's best book (imho), because her Kimmy reminds me of GRRM's Jaime Lannister whom I hated with a passion in A Game of Thrones. But five books later, I find Jaime's character development the most interesting. Kimmy is much the same way. She was so easy to hate in My Imaginary Ex, but Mina changed my mind and heart about her in Love Your Frenemies.
Update 15 March 2013: I read this before Interim Goddess of Love, but I still give it 5 stars because it's not easy writing about a character that everybody hated in an earlier installment.
Update 15 March 2013: I read this before Interim Goddess of Love, but I still give it 5 stars because it's not easy writing about a character that everybody hated in an earlier installment.
February 21, 2011
Original post at One More Page
The release of Love Your Frenemies by Mina V. Esguerra totally made my Monday morning happier, and it also made me lose sleep because I couldn't put it down. I was so excited to read this that I put all other currently reads down, and the need to write my thoughts on feels more urgent than writing reviews for the two books that I need to review first. I can only think of two reasons why I have this urgency: it's because I really liked this book and I need to share my thoughts ASAP, and because I'm such a Mina fan. ;)
Love Your Frenemies features Kimberly Domingo, a familiar character for those who have read Mina's first book, My Imaginary Ex. For the uninitiated, Kimberly, also known as Kimmy, is the b*tch in her debut novel, the villain in Jasmine and Zack's romance. It's easy to hate her in that book as she was painted completely in black and white. More of a companion novel than a sequel (so you don't have to read My Imaginary Ex to understand this...spoiler warning for that novel, though, if you haven't read it!), this gives us a different picture of Kimmy, one year after she left after being dumped by Zack. Kimmy goes back home for her best friend's wedding, changed from her one year absence. Determined to start over, she slowly faces all the things she left behind -- her family, her Country Club friends, her old job. She's also ready to cut off the people she's declared toxic in her life, namely her bride-to-be best friend, Chesca, and her first love, hunky and charismatic Manolo.
I love spin-off stories featuring other characters, especially the villains, because it gives readers an entirely different perspective. It's also a great character study and a perfect example of how our first impressions of people don't tell us much. I like how Mina built Kimmy's back story here, making her less evil and just another person who had issues to deal with on her own, issues that happened to entangle other people. It shows that people aren't always black and white, but mostly gray.
I also liked that this one focused more on Kimmy's self-discovery and friendships than the romance. Oh sure, Manolo's hot (but I still find Lucas of Fairy Tale Fail hotter, LOL), but Kimmy's relationship with him wasn't the sole focus of the story. Love Your Frenemies isn't really just about love but about, well, frenemies. :) I liked how Mina made the other characters three-dimensional. Like the first Kimmy in My Imaginary Ex, some of them were easy to hate at first, but as the story unfolded, I started to somewhat understand why they did what they did, even if it's not what an ideal friend would do. I found myself feeling somewhat affectionate towards them in the end, and it further proves that people are not what you always believe them to be.
Love Your Frenemies is filled with flawed characters that paints a very accurate picture of how complicated and messy relationships -- family, friendships, and romantic ones -- are. It doesn't have any of those heart-stopping, tingle-inducing romance, but more of the introspection of a woman who's trying to build her life back from the mess that it has been and is determined not to make another mistake. The characters are far from perfect, and honestly I don't think they'd be my crowd, but they're definitely the kind of people that you'd want to be on your side even if they can be a pain in the neck more than half the time.
I think Love Your Frenemies show how much Mina really thinks about what she writes. It's difficult to give a voice to a villain and make her human and deserving of sympathy, but Mina does it almost effortlessly in her newest novel. Kimmy isn't your most lovable character, unlike Jasmine or Ellie or Carla from Mina's previous novels, but she's the type of character that will stay with you long after you've reached the last page, teaching us important lessons on discovering yourself, forgiveness and the ties that bind.
Highly recommended, and don't think I'm saying that only because I'm such a fan. ;)
The release of Love Your Frenemies by Mina V. Esguerra totally made my Monday morning happier, and it also made me lose sleep because I couldn't put it down. I was so excited to read this that I put all other currently reads down, and the need to write my thoughts on feels more urgent than writing reviews for the two books that I need to review first. I can only think of two reasons why I have this urgency: it's because I really liked this book and I need to share my thoughts ASAP, and because I'm such a Mina fan. ;)
Love Your Frenemies features Kimberly Domingo, a familiar character for those who have read Mina's first book, My Imaginary Ex. For the uninitiated, Kimberly, also known as Kimmy, is the b*tch in her debut novel, the villain in Jasmine and Zack's romance. It's easy to hate her in that book as she was painted completely in black and white. More of a companion novel than a sequel (so you don't have to read My Imaginary Ex to understand this...spoiler warning for that novel, though, if you haven't read it!), this gives us a different picture of Kimmy, one year after she left after being dumped by Zack. Kimmy goes back home for her best friend's wedding, changed from her one year absence. Determined to start over, she slowly faces all the things she left behind -- her family, her Country Club friends, her old job. She's also ready to cut off the people she's declared toxic in her life, namely her bride-to-be best friend, Chesca, and her first love, hunky and charismatic Manolo.
I love spin-off stories featuring other characters, especially the villains, because it gives readers an entirely different perspective. It's also a great character study and a perfect example of how our first impressions of people don't tell us much. I like how Mina built Kimmy's back story here, making her less evil and just another person who had issues to deal with on her own, issues that happened to entangle other people. It shows that people aren't always black and white, but mostly gray.
I also liked that this one focused more on Kimmy's self-discovery and friendships than the romance. Oh sure, Manolo's hot (but I still find Lucas of Fairy Tale Fail hotter, LOL), but Kimmy's relationship with him wasn't the sole focus of the story. Love Your Frenemies isn't really just about love but about, well, frenemies. :) I liked how Mina made the other characters three-dimensional. Like the first Kimmy in My Imaginary Ex, some of them were easy to hate at first, but as the story unfolded, I started to somewhat understand why they did what they did, even if it's not what an ideal friend would do. I found myself feeling somewhat affectionate towards them in the end, and it further proves that people are not what you always believe them to be.
Love Your Frenemies is filled with flawed characters that paints a very accurate picture of how complicated and messy relationships -- family, friendships, and romantic ones -- are. It doesn't have any of those heart-stopping, tingle-inducing romance, but more of the introspection of a woman who's trying to build her life back from the mess that it has been and is determined not to make another mistake. The characters are far from perfect, and honestly I don't think they'd be my crowd, but they're definitely the kind of people that you'd want to be on your side even if they can be a pain in the neck more than half the time.
I think Love Your Frenemies show how much Mina really thinks about what she writes. It's difficult to give a voice to a villain and make her human and deserving of sympathy, but Mina does it almost effortlessly in her newest novel. Kimmy isn't your most lovable character, unlike Jasmine or Ellie or Carla from Mina's previous novels, but she's the type of character that will stay with you long after you've reached the last page, teaching us important lessons on discovering yourself, forgiveness and the ties that bind.
Highly recommended, and don't think I'm saying that only because I'm such a fan. ;)
February 4, 2013
At this very moment, I know that I will break some girls' hearts because of my (it's ok) rating . There are some of Mina Esguerra's works I like. It's just that I didn't enjoy this much; maybe because I could not relate on the characters that are beautiful, successful, liberated, mean, and those who have gone through past relationships because I'm quite the opposite. Though, it's good to see other people's perspectives.
Kimmy has a very big EGO, that's what makes her character interesting, but for some reason I prefer her appearance in My Imaginary Ex; I like more of her sauciness in there haha.
In this story, it shows that mean girls also have soft spots and vulnerabilities.
And now that I read this, I think Zack from My Imaginary Ex wasn't really that true with his feelings. lol.
Kimmy has a very big EGO, that's what makes her character interesting, but for some reason I prefer her appearance in My Imaginary Ex; I like more of her sauciness in there haha.
In this story, it shows that mean girls also have soft spots and vulnerabilities.
And now that I read this, I think Zack from My Imaginary Ex wasn't really that true with his feelings. lol.
January 16, 2012
Another 3.5. Very robust in the character development in this one. A heroine with more issues.
Review originally posted on my book blog here
The Premise: Kimberly Domingo grew up in privilege. A fixture of the Country Club, she was raised alongside two daughters of her mother's college circle, Chesca and Isabel, who became her closest friends. In high school, she got what she wanted by being direct (and intimidating), and at work, she got ahead easily with the same directness and ambition. She was the girl people loved to hate. The only person that can trip up Kimmy is Manolo, an on-again, off-again fling she's had since she was fifteen. Unfortunately, Manolo's M.O. seems to be: make Kimmy melt, then disappear. Then Kimmy met Zack. They were supposed to get married, but Zack broke off the engagement, leaving Kimmy the object of scorn and rumor. Unable to deal with it anymore, Kimmy left the country. Now, many months later, she's back for her her best friend's wedding. This time though, Kimmy thinks she knows how to get her life back in order - by cutting off the toxic friends that put her in the position she found herself in months ago.
My Thoughts: This story is told in alternating chapters that tell the story of what's going on now that Kimmy is home, and what happened months ago, before her failed wedding. There were times, reading about Kimmy's past, that I just didn't understand her, particularly at the start this story. Compared to the dreamer main character Fairy Tale Fail, Kimmy was a much harder character to love. She's a girl who is incredibly confident that what she thinks is how things are, who doesn't seem to have any regrets being a Mean Girl growing up.
Kimmy is self-aware about who she is. This is the story about the not-nice girl - the girl who is actually the villain from the point of view of another Esguerra book (My Imaginary Ex), much like Darcy of Something Blue by Emily Giffin. She's not so nice, but at the same time, it's obvious that she's still going through something and she hasn't figured out her life yet. It takes some time, but slowly the reader begins to realize that Kimmy could be harder on herself and her friends than they all deserve. How she sees things colors what really happened, and people change as they grow up. I really liked the way Kimmy's relationships were portrayed in this book. They were a little dysfunctional but realistic. It was refreshing to have a story with the dramatic best friend that demonstrates her love in a different way.
Love Your Frenemies felt like an internal story. We're in Kimmy's head a lot, and a lot of history and back story is implied. She grew up with Isabel and Chesca and Manolo and they are such a huge part of her life she will always feel their impact. It takes a little time to get into that part of the story, but it feels very organic the way Kimmy narrates as things happen and as she remembers the past. I really enjoyed the perspective from a more messed up, less happy heroine. If I were to have a complaint, it would be that I wanted more of a connection to the romance. I could tell that it was the kind of romance that devastates a person, but I felt like I was seeing it through the lens of time, and I wanted to understand Manolo's perspective better.
Overall: The trials and tribulations of the not-nice girl was a refreshing perspective in this chick lit novella and I liked the depth and development that went into the story in such small space.
Review originally posted on my book blog here
The Premise: Kimberly Domingo grew up in privilege. A fixture of the Country Club, she was raised alongside two daughters of her mother's college circle, Chesca and Isabel, who became her closest friends. In high school, she got what she wanted by being direct (and intimidating), and at work, she got ahead easily with the same directness and ambition. She was the girl people loved to hate. The only person that can trip up Kimmy is Manolo, an on-again, off-again fling she's had since she was fifteen. Unfortunately, Manolo's M.O. seems to be: make Kimmy melt, then disappear. Then Kimmy met Zack. They were supposed to get married, but Zack broke off the engagement, leaving Kimmy the object of scorn and rumor. Unable to deal with it anymore, Kimmy left the country. Now, many months later, she's back for her her best friend's wedding. This time though, Kimmy thinks she knows how to get her life back in order - by cutting off the toxic friends that put her in the position she found herself in months ago.
My Thoughts: This story is told in alternating chapters that tell the story of what's going on now that Kimmy is home, and what happened months ago, before her failed wedding. There were times, reading about Kimmy's past, that I just didn't understand her, particularly at the start this story. Compared to the dreamer main character Fairy Tale Fail, Kimmy was a much harder character to love. She's a girl who is incredibly confident that what she thinks is how things are, who doesn't seem to have any regrets being a Mean Girl growing up.
"If you went to school with us, you would think that Chesca and I had a lot of friends -- but really, it was just us. We let one girl join our "group" because she had a driver and her own car. Another because she was good at math and she let Chesca copy off her once. We also kicked people out of our group fairly regularly, if and when they stopped being useful, so yeah, we weren't very nice.
And this is how we did it: Chesca invited the girl into the group, and I eventually did something to kick her out. But we made decisions together, and just played different roles. She was always the angel, and I was always the witch."
Kimmy is self-aware about who she is. This is the story about the not-nice girl - the girl who is actually the villain from the point of view of another Esguerra book (My Imaginary Ex), much like Darcy of Something Blue by Emily Giffin. She's not so nice, but at the same time, it's obvious that she's still going through something and she hasn't figured out her life yet. It takes some time, but slowly the reader begins to realize that Kimmy could be harder on herself and her friends than they all deserve. How she sees things colors what really happened, and people change as they grow up. I really liked the way Kimmy's relationships were portrayed in this book. They were a little dysfunctional but realistic. It was refreshing to have a story with the dramatic best friend that demonstrates her love in a different way.
Love Your Frenemies felt like an internal story. We're in Kimmy's head a lot, and a lot of history and back story is implied. She grew up with Isabel and Chesca and Manolo and they are such a huge part of her life she will always feel their impact. It takes a little time to get into that part of the story, but it feels very organic the way Kimmy narrates as things happen and as she remembers the past. I really enjoyed the perspective from a more messed up, less happy heroine. If I were to have a complaint, it would be that I wanted more of a connection to the romance. I could tell that it was the kind of romance that devastates a person, but I felt like I was seeing it through the lens of time, and I wanted to understand Manolo's perspective better.
Overall: The trials and tribulations of the not-nice girl was a refreshing perspective in this chick lit novella and I liked the depth and development that went into the story in such small space.
February 21, 2011
Originally posted here.
First off, I want to say that I love how simple yet appropriate the cover for this and Mina's other ebook, Fairy Tale Fail , are. I like them much better than the covers of My Imaginary Ex and No Strings Attached. I also find it convenient that Mina decided to go with an ebook for this one because it's much easier (and cheaper) to obtain a copy. You can buy it from either Amazon or Smashwords. I know it's a sequel of sorts to one of her other books but I believe it stands well on its own and there's no need to read that one first. It would be a good idea though because you'd get a picture of how other people see Kimmy instead of just being inside her head. Love Your Frenemies is told from alternating past and present situations so you get an idea of what Kimmy was going through during the events of My Imaginary Ex. Kimmy got dumped by her fiancé days before their supposed wedding. He suddenly realized that he's still in love with someone else and that he couldn't go through with the wedding. Harsh, right? But a lot of people believe that Kimmy deserved what she got because she's such a bitch.
I was surprised by how much I liked this book more than My Imaginary Ex. You know the saying that goes, "there's always two sides to every story"? This is Kimmy's side. I can understand why other people find her rude, manipulative and heartless. Kimmy is smart, beautiful and she knows it. She admits that she tends to be overconfident. She doesn't go out of her way to hurt and manipulate other people, it's just that she can't be bothered to be nice. Kimmy has a turbulent relationship with her best gal pal, Chesca, because they're the epitome of mean girls. Kimmy and Chesca ruled their high school - they got to decide who would become members of their clique based on how useful their classmates were. Both girls understand how the other person thinks and that's why they're such good friends and why they also have the worst fights. They know what to say to get the other person riled up. Another person who is one of the major reasons why Kimmy's so messed up is her first love, Manolo. Handsome, charming and witty Manolo. Can I just say that I can't get over his name because it's such an old school Filipino name? I feel like if I knew someone named Manolo, he'd be nicknamed something shorter and more modern like Manny or Nollie. Ever since they were teenagers, Manolo has been blowing hot and cold and Kimmy knows it's stupid to hope for a steady relationship but she can't help it. Kimmy's story isn't centered on the romance but instead focuses on her relationships with the Country Club set of people that she grew up with. It's not surprising that she's not a nice person because of all the drama in her life - it's like a constant soap opera.
What I love about Mina's books is how believable they all are. I may not love all of her books but I can believe that her stories actually happen to other people. It's everything about her work - the familiar places, the situations that you can relate to, the characters that feel like they could be your friends. Maybe it's also because I feel like I'm the target audience of her books - a twenty-something Filipina. This is another enjoyable read from Mina V. Esguerra and as always, I look forward to reading her next one.
First off, I want to say that I love how simple yet appropriate the cover for this and Mina's other ebook, Fairy Tale Fail , are. I like them much better than the covers of My Imaginary Ex and No Strings Attached. I also find it convenient that Mina decided to go with an ebook for this one because it's much easier (and cheaper) to obtain a copy. You can buy it from either Amazon or Smashwords. I know it's a sequel of sorts to one of her other books but I believe it stands well on its own and there's no need to read that one first. It would be a good idea though because you'd get a picture of how other people see Kimmy instead of just being inside her head. Love Your Frenemies is told from alternating past and present situations so you get an idea of what Kimmy was going through during the events of My Imaginary Ex. Kimmy got dumped by her fiancé days before their supposed wedding. He suddenly realized that he's still in love with someone else and that he couldn't go through with the wedding. Harsh, right? But a lot of people believe that Kimmy deserved what she got because she's such a bitch.
I was surprised by how much I liked this book more than My Imaginary Ex. You know the saying that goes, "there's always two sides to every story"? This is Kimmy's side. I can understand why other people find her rude, manipulative and heartless. Kimmy is smart, beautiful and she knows it. She admits that she tends to be overconfident. She doesn't go out of her way to hurt and manipulate other people, it's just that she can't be bothered to be nice. Kimmy has a turbulent relationship with her best gal pal, Chesca, because they're the epitome of mean girls. Kimmy and Chesca ruled their high school - they got to decide who would become members of their clique based on how useful their classmates were. Both girls understand how the other person thinks and that's why they're such good friends and why they also have the worst fights. They know what to say to get the other person riled up. Another person who is one of the major reasons why Kimmy's so messed up is her first love, Manolo. Handsome, charming and witty Manolo. Can I just say that I can't get over his name because it's such an old school Filipino name? I feel like if I knew someone named Manolo, he'd be nicknamed something shorter and more modern like Manny or Nollie. Ever since they were teenagers, Manolo has been blowing hot and cold and Kimmy knows it's stupid to hope for a steady relationship but she can't help it. Kimmy's story isn't centered on the romance but instead focuses on her relationships with the Country Club set of people that she grew up with. It's not surprising that she's not a nice person because of all the drama in her life - it's like a constant soap opera.
What I love about Mina's books is how believable they all are. I may not love all of her books but I can believe that her stories actually happen to other people. It's everything about her work - the familiar places, the situations that you can relate to, the characters that feel like they could be your friends. Maybe it's also because I feel like I'm the target audience of her books - a twenty-something Filipina. This is another enjoyable read from Mina V. Esguerra and as always, I look forward to reading her next one.
January 17, 2012
This is Mina's third work that I've had the pleasure of reading so far. (I am into the first few chapters of Interim Goddess of Love.) After having read Fairy Tale Fail and No Strings Attached last year, I can safely conclude that Love Your Frenemies is a far better, more engaging, and substantial read than the first two.
One week before her date at the altar, Kimmy Domingo's fiance, Zack, unceremoniously dumps her. (I say unceremoniously because the dumping was made via phone call. Jerk.) Shamed, she quit her job (where she rocked), packed her bags, and hopped on a plane for a year-long hiatus, cut off literally and figuratively, from everyone who mattered. A year later, she's back home, resolved to pick up the broken pieces of what was once her life and, in the process, cutting off – for good – the two people who, in her jilted point of view, were responsible for all her miseries.
Just a few chapters in, and my heart went out to Kimmy. I mean, I really can't relate to her experience of having been dumped, and just a few days right before the wedding at that, but it's not so hard to imagine. So I could sympathize with her, and if I were in her shoes (meaning, I had the resources and time), I would probably have done the same thing: go away and take a sabbatical for as long as I want.
But later on, I began to realize that the whole point of the novella wasn't really about Kimmy and her jaded love life, after all. Rather, it was about relationships and selflessness and appreciation for all the blessings in one's life, whether you are aware of it or not.
My favorite character was Chesca, who I hated at first because she was manipulative and pushy. In the end, she was still manipulative and pushy, but one other important thing became crystal clear: that she faithfully loved Kimmy, her best friend since childhood, and although she may have expressed this love in her own radical ways, it was nonetheless love in its purest form.
Kimmy, on the other hand, with whose plight I initially sympathized, was a pushover and a coward, blaming innocent people for the mess that was her life and failing to realize that no one can make her do something that she didn't want to. I was put off by her selfishness, but I liked the fact that she wised up in the end (they all do, right?). The resolution of course, comes not without outside help, and here I introduce the love interest, Manolo, who was a mere supporting character. I wasn't looking for a romantic story, and I was satisfied at how minor this romance angle was played.
Reading this brought me back to my Sweet Dreams-reading days, except that the characters are not high school students and the conflicts (and their resolutions) have gone beyond the petty jealousies and silly misunderstandings. I had been looking for some light reading, as well, and I knew I could count on Mina's books to do the trick. :)
Original post here.
October 8, 2012
Reading chick-lit is like my comfort food which consists of fried chicken, spaghetti, and Coke. It is a welcome respite every time I finish books I consider as hard readings. I have actually just began reading chick-lit voluntarily this year, and I started with Emily Griffin’s Something Borrowed and Something Blue. I found that chick-lit isn’t actually that bad to my taste at all, and since I’ve heard that there’s a local author — Mina V. Esguerra — who is acclaimed in this genre, I decided to try one of her books. It’s been sheer luck that I saw her tweet about a free copy available on Smashwords, so I didn’t waste any time in downloading and immediately set to reading.
Good thing that I did because it was just the perfect read for the perfect time. I immensely enjoyed the story and I can say that I am now a fan. ;)
Love Your Frenemies is a story about Kimmy Domingo who is back in the the country after a year-long hiatus overseas. You see, she was dumped by her fiance a week before her wedding and escaping was her way to cope. However, she has to go back for her best friend’s wedding, and she found it the perfect first step towards building her life again. But first, she has to confront all the issues she left behind, including the persons who contributed to the heartbreak she’s been through.
The main character in this story, Kimmy Domingo, is contrary to the typical main characters because she is spiteful and selfish. In short, she’s a b*tch. Reading about Kimmy Domingo reminds me of Darcy Rhone in Something Blue. However, what I find likeable is Kimmy”s honesty and her sheer determination to change her life. Mina V. Esguerra has made Kimmy very realistic and believable by including her flaws and her bad side, and at the same time revealing that there is more to her character than what meets the eye.
I love the depth of the characters portrayed in this supposedly feel-good novel. It is not just a mere story; it is a story with sense. It talks about human relationships, including its flaws, and how each one of us must learn and accept each other as what we are.
The writing? It is simple and flowing, very easy to read. All in all, Love Your Frenemies is an outstanding local book of the genre that we, Pinoys, can be proud of. More of Mina V. Esguerra, please?
Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld!
Good thing that I did because it was just the perfect read for the perfect time. I immensely enjoyed the story and I can say that I am now a fan. ;)
Love Your Frenemies is a story about Kimmy Domingo who is back in the the country after a year-long hiatus overseas. You see, she was dumped by her fiance a week before her wedding and escaping was her way to cope. However, she has to go back for her best friend’s wedding, and she found it the perfect first step towards building her life again. But first, she has to confront all the issues she left behind, including the persons who contributed to the heartbreak she’s been through.
The main character in this story, Kimmy Domingo, is contrary to the typical main characters because she is spiteful and selfish. In short, she’s a b*tch. Reading about Kimmy Domingo reminds me of Darcy Rhone in Something Blue. However, what I find likeable is Kimmy”s honesty and her sheer determination to change her life. Mina V. Esguerra has made Kimmy very realistic and believable by including her flaws and her bad side, and at the same time revealing that there is more to her character than what meets the eye.
I love the depth of the characters portrayed in this supposedly feel-good novel. It is not just a mere story; it is a story with sense. It talks about human relationships, including its flaws, and how each one of us must learn and accept each other as what we are.
“I came today because I realized that if I can’t forgive her and love her as she is, then I can’t expect anyone to do the same for me.”
The writing? It is simple and flowing, very easy to read. All in all, Love Your Frenemies is an outstanding local book of the genre that we, Pinoys, can be proud of. More of Mina V. Esguerra, please?
Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld!
May 3, 2011
A Filipina author with two Kindle books to her name - just awesome! It's refreshing to read a story set in familiar places and with your own people as characters who talk a familiar language (Filipino English). The story was short, fast and fun. The setting is so urban chic, which is where the author is probably coming from, and I believe this is her genre (this being my second book of hers). It would be most welcome if she tries her hand on a story (chic-lit or otherwise) depicting the lower classes of our society....or had she? I have yet to read her other books.
December 7, 2012
Sorry but I didn't actually like it. The plot is a bit messy and the main character doesn't seem to even realize what she does and doesn't like. Her connection with the other characters were less complicated but they made it look like it has profound complications. I almost finished the whole book asking myself "Where's the exciting part?" and "What's the problem again?". Anyways, you can try reading it when you need to kill time. Sorry.
September 9, 2013
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This review first appeared on my blog at Thoughts and Pens.
Not counting my stash of Pinoy Pocketbooks, Love your Frenemies is my very first book read—after so many years—authored by a Filipino. I admit that I got so hooked with books written by international authors that I forgot to fully explore our local book market. Oh well, I have my eyes on Tagalog Pocketbooks. Anyway, I was really happy that I spared some time to snoop around Goodreads and discovered Mina Esguerra. And after reading a positive review (written by a fellow Filipina) for one of her books, I immediately decided that I have to try it. What’s more is that it gave me an idea to start a feature here on my blog which will be called Filipiniana Sunday.
Back to topic, Love Your Frenemies follows the story of Kimmy Domingo, a selfish bitch who after being jilted by her groom nine days before her supposed wedding, fled to the US to think things through and find herself. A year later, she came back to the Philippines to reclaim her old life. Despite her yearlong hiatus and soul searching, Kimmy was still a selfish bitch.
After I finished reading Love Your Frenemies, the first thought that came to mind was that this is not a romance story. Told through alternating flashbacks and present times, Love Your Frenemies is more about Kim’s self-discovery and her struggle to rise from the mess she’s in. Kimmy is not only confronted with lovelife issues but also with concerns pertaining to her relationship with friends and immediate family. How Mina managed to give this very short book a mesmerizing depth is beyond me. The romance in this book was kept to a bare minimum and I was glad that the story was able to progress without relying from the romance.
Although a very short read, the book didn’t fail to provide me a solid insight to Kimmy’s life, thus, making me understand her on a deeper level. One of the strongest points of this book is perhaps its ensemble of heavily flawed characters with Kimmy occupying the number 1 spot. As the story advanced, I felt my resolve to hate her weakening. I found myself slowly sympathizing with her. Kimmy is a mirror of thyself. I think selfishness is an intrinsic part of human nature and everyone shouldn’t have difficulty in stepping into Kimmy’s shoes. Aside from Kimmy, Mina was also able to bring to life the secondary characters of this book like Chesca and Manolo (I just wished that I’ve seen a lot of him in this book).
Mina’s writing was certainly fluid making it easy for me to navigate the whole story. The pacing was good and there wasn’t a single moment that I got bored. And when I thought that Mina would surprise me no more, I was instantly floored with the ending. That was just so good & so unexpected that I was on the verge of tears. Chesca and Manolo FTW!
Despite my enjoyment, I cannot set aside my feelings of frustration for this book. As I’ve said earlier, Love Your Frenemies is a very short book and clearly, I want more. :D In addition, there were powerful moments in this book that weren’t given the highlight they deserve. And the book ended with some things left loosely wrapped which are summarized below: (Warning: Don’t read if you don’t want to be spoiled)
- Kim’s yearlong issue with Chesca was resolved in an unconvincing fashion and too easily.
- Manolo finally confessed his love for Kim but it wasn’t explained why, how and when he came to that realization.
- Kim’s issue with her mom was fixed but it was just implied in an ambiguous way.
- And last but not the least, Kim’s realization about her mistakes was mentioned rapidly that it made me ask myself: Has Kimmy really realized the depth of what she’d done?
To wrap this review, Love Your Frenemies is more than a feel good book; it’s a humbling story that would surely set the readers on a path towards finding one’s self in this complicated world.
This review first appeared on my blog at Thoughts and Pens.
Not counting my stash of Pinoy Pocketbooks, Love your Frenemies is my very first book read—after so many years—authored by a Filipino. I admit that I got so hooked with books written by international authors that I forgot to fully explore our local book market. Oh well, I have my eyes on Tagalog Pocketbooks. Anyway, I was really happy that I spared some time to snoop around Goodreads and discovered Mina Esguerra. And after reading a positive review (written by a fellow Filipina) for one of her books, I immediately decided that I have to try it. What’s more is that it gave me an idea to start a feature here on my blog which will be called Filipiniana Sunday.
Back to topic, Love Your Frenemies follows the story of Kimmy Domingo, a selfish bitch who after being jilted by her groom nine days before her supposed wedding, fled to the US to think things through and find herself. A year later, she came back to the Philippines to reclaim her old life. Despite her yearlong hiatus and soul searching, Kimmy was still a selfish bitch.
After I finished reading Love Your Frenemies, the first thought that came to mind was that this is not a romance story. Told through alternating flashbacks and present times, Love Your Frenemies is more about Kim’s self-discovery and her struggle to rise from the mess she’s in. Kimmy is not only confronted with lovelife issues but also with concerns pertaining to her relationship with friends and immediate family. How Mina managed to give this very short book a mesmerizing depth is beyond me. The romance in this book was kept to a bare minimum and I was glad that the story was able to progress without relying from the romance.
Although a very short read, the book didn’t fail to provide me a solid insight to Kimmy’s life, thus, making me understand her on a deeper level. One of the strongest points of this book is perhaps its ensemble of heavily flawed characters with Kimmy occupying the number 1 spot. As the story advanced, I felt my resolve to hate her weakening. I found myself slowly sympathizing with her. Kimmy is a mirror of thyself. I think selfishness is an intrinsic part of human nature and everyone shouldn’t have difficulty in stepping into Kimmy’s shoes. Aside from Kimmy, Mina was also able to bring to life the secondary characters of this book like Chesca and Manolo (I just wished that I’ve seen a lot of him in this book).
Mina’s writing was certainly fluid making it easy for me to navigate the whole story. The pacing was good and there wasn’t a single moment that I got bored. And when I thought that Mina would surprise me no more, I was instantly floored with the ending. That was just so good & so unexpected that I was on the verge of tears. Chesca and Manolo FTW!
Despite my enjoyment, I cannot set aside my feelings of frustration for this book. As I’ve said earlier, Love Your Frenemies is a very short book and clearly, I want more. :D In addition, there were powerful moments in this book that weren’t given the highlight they deserve. And the book ended with some things left loosely wrapped which are summarized below: (Warning: Don’t read if you don’t want to be spoiled)
- Kim’s yearlong issue with Chesca was resolved in an unconvincing fashion and too easily.
- Manolo finally confessed his love for Kim but it wasn’t explained why, how and when he came to that realization.
- Kim’s issue with her mom was fixed but it was just implied in an ambiguous way.
- And last but not the least, Kim’s realization about her mistakes was mentioned rapidly that it made me ask myself: Has Kimmy really realized the depth of what she’d done?
To wrap this review, Love Your Frenemies is more than a feel good book; it’s a humbling story that would surely set the readers on a path towards finding one’s self in this complicated world.
August 30, 2012
Kimmy Domingo is a b*tch. Everyone hates her. So when misfortune stroke and she got left by her fiancé days before their wedding, people thought she got what she deserved. Humiliated by what happened, Kimmy packed her bags, quit her job, and hopped on the next flight off to the States, cutting off all communications from everyone in her life. After a year of going MIA, Kimmy is back in Manila, ready to claim her life back. But where to begin?...
Kimmy is not the typical heroine that I am used to. She was the villain in Mina V. Esguerra’s My Imaginary Ex, so I already had my mind set that she’s a mean person. I apologize for being judgemental, Kimmy. It’s difficult to empathize with a villain, but I’m really happy to see a different side of the character.
Anyway, I guess I can see why everyone hated her. She was a bully in high school, and she knew it. When it comes to her job, she’s determined to succeed, even if it means stepping over people to get there. Although I find it an unappealing trait, I can’t deny there is confidence within Kimmy that not everyone possesses. She knows what she wants, and she rocks at what she does. I may not entirely like her, but with this book, Kimmy has earned my respect.
While Mina Esguerra’s other novels are more on the romance side, Love Your Frenemies focuses more on the relationship between friends. Of course this book isn’t short on a love story and other issues, but I was really surprised about the story of how far a person would go to show how much he/she values a friend.
There are many forms of friendship. Not all last as long as you’d hope. Sometimes even those that you think are the worst kind of friends turn out to be the ones you can truly depend on. This book proves that you really never know who your true friends are until you find them holding on to you in the deepest, most crucial part of your life, willing to lend a helping hand and keeping you afloat.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com
Kimmy is not the typical heroine that I am used to. She was the villain in Mina V. Esguerra’s My Imaginary Ex, so I already had my mind set that she’s a mean person. I apologize for being judgemental, Kimmy. It’s difficult to empathize with a villain, but I’m really happy to see a different side of the character.
Anyway, I guess I can see why everyone hated her. She was a bully in high school, and she knew it. When it comes to her job, she’s determined to succeed, even if it means stepping over people to get there. Although I find it an unappealing trait, I can’t deny there is confidence within Kimmy that not everyone possesses. She knows what she wants, and she rocks at what she does. I may not entirely like her, but with this book, Kimmy has earned my respect.
While Mina Esguerra’s other novels are more on the romance side, Love Your Frenemies focuses more on the relationship between friends. Of course this book isn’t short on a love story and other issues, but I was really surprised about the story of how far a person would go to show how much he/she values a friend.
There are many forms of friendship. Not all last as long as you’d hope. Sometimes even those that you think are the worst kind of friends turn out to be the ones you can truly depend on. This book proves that you really never know who your true friends are until you find them holding on to you in the deepest, most crucial part of your life, willing to lend a helping hand and keeping you afloat.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com
August 15, 2017
After the high of
That Kind of Guy
, I had set some expectations for this one. But this book had other plans, such as tearing me apart into two. The good? I liked Kimmy and her life issues. The bad? I didn't like Kimmy and her life issues. See, I told you. This book had me confused. That's because I went into this, ready to plunge into some elaborate romance, but instead, I got elaborate drama (effing up and then more effing up). Not that I didn't enjoy or relate to that, but I thought it was a shame how Kimmy and Manolo together were only here-and-there and a-little-bit-of-that-and-this. Okay, sure, I get it, how things in Kimmy's life had to wrap up first and then culminate to the ~love of her life... but... but... there I go again! Looks like I'm in frenemies with this book (*side eye emoji*). But if you need a story in which you can love-hate the characters (surprisingly a satisfying activity, heh), this one might be right up your alley.
Read
October 23, 2012HI, MANOLO.
December 10, 2016
Mean girl romance, and I liked it.
December 15, 2022
bro this was so good? i love a villainess expansion, like kimmy gets a growth (but not, importantly, redemption) arc and it's amazing. we stan a self aware mean girl glow up
5 stars
5 stars
February 21, 2011
Posted originally on From Page One
It’s no secret how much I admire Mina V. Esguerra as an author. That is why when I heard that Love Your Frenemies is already out, I started bugging the closest of my friends to let me borrow freakin’ $0.99 to buy this e-book using their credit card as I don’t have one. Sad but true. But on the lighter note, a friend (my LL) let me use hers (or was that her sister’s). I quickly jumped to Smashwords’ website, bought it, and that how I got my happy ending.
Or was that it?
No, of course. My happy ending happened after I read LYF. I read Mina’s book and it was very satisfactory! From Mina’s blog, here’s the summary:
Kimmy Domingo was that girl I used to describe on my previous review as “that bitch” of My Imaginary Ex, Mina’s first published book. And I’ve got to say, I really hated her on that story where she played the antagonist. That’s why when I learned that Mina’s writing a novella about her, where she’s going to play as the protagonist, I immediately asked myself, “How is Mina going to pull that one off?”
But I never doubted Mina’s writing skills. Instead, I waited for its release, bought it, and read it! That’s how I’ve learned more about Kimmy; why is she acting that way, and what made her be the person she was. Turned out, Kimmy was a self-confessed bitch. She chooses friends, laugh at people, and only befriend some people she thought she could use. And those friendships didn’t really last long. There are only few people in her life that sticked to her ’til the end: Chesca (her evil stepsister) and Isabel (the good stepsister).
But being a bitch was so last year. She wanted a change, and that would happen if she will be able to get rid of her evil stepsister, and her first love who keeps on coming back and hurting her again. But what stops her? That would be Manolo — the guy she’s been in love with since they were kids and she couldn’t get over with, and the guy who thinks her running away and wanting to abandon these people close to her to be able to change is selfish.
But what is so selfish with wanting to gain her life back, and change the way life was like for her before? Well, she was gone in the country for a year, and a lot of things can happen in a year.
I loved Love Your Frenemies. As always, the story is believable, the characters are relatable, and the storyline is consistent. And Kimmy? Who would have thought that she’ll make a great protagonist? Well, not me. That’s why I’m so surprised to see how Mina was able to let Kimmy wear that title with her heads up, and no sign that it was done in force. Everything went as smoothly as they should be. And Kimmy somehow reminded me of Gossip Girl‘s Blair Waldorf. The kind of character who is “a bitch but with a heart”. And Manolo (this name almost made me laugh but it really suit him well, I must say, that made me think that laughing about it is funnier than his name)… I like Manolo. He can be described as “a player turned serious lover”. Lov’et!
I’m looking forward to Mina’s next novel! And I’m hoping that this story would get a sequel. I want to know what’s in store for “Kimmynolo”.
I really recommend you guys to buy this e-book on Amazon, or Smashwords! It’s really fun following the story, and it holds great values! You don’t have to read My Imaginary Ex to be able to understand this story. This deserves a five star rating out of five! Cheers!
It’s no secret how much I admire Mina V. Esguerra as an author. That is why when I heard that Love Your Frenemies is already out, I started bugging the closest of my friends to let me borrow freakin’ $0.99 to buy this e-book using their credit card as I don’t have one. Sad but true. But on the lighter note, a friend (my LL) let me use hers (or was that her sister’s). I quickly jumped to Smashwords’ website, bought it, and that how I got my happy ending.
Or was that it?
No, of course. My happy ending happened after I read LYF. I read Mina’s book and it was very satisfactory! From Mina’s blog, here’s the summary:
Kimmy Domingo was the kind of girl everyone hated and envied — until her fiancé dumped her a week before their wedding. Soon after, she quit her job, hopped on a plane, and just hid from everyone who knew her. A year later and she’s back in Manila to be maid of honor at a wedding she can’t miss. Kimmy’s home because she’s ready to start over, but she also knows that some people at that wedding were responsible for the mess her life turned out to be. The first step to recovery? Cutting off the ones who caused her troubles to begin with: her best friend and her first love.
Kimmy Domingo was that girl I used to describe on my previous review as “that bitch” of My Imaginary Ex, Mina’s first published book. And I’ve got to say, I really hated her on that story where she played the antagonist. That’s why when I learned that Mina’s writing a novella about her, where she’s going to play as the protagonist, I immediately asked myself, “How is Mina going to pull that one off?”
But I never doubted Mina’s writing skills. Instead, I waited for its release, bought it, and read it! That’s how I’ve learned more about Kimmy; why is she acting that way, and what made her be the person she was. Turned out, Kimmy was a self-confessed bitch. She chooses friends, laugh at people, and only befriend some people she thought she could use. And those friendships didn’t really last long. There are only few people in her life that sticked to her ’til the end: Chesca (her evil stepsister) and Isabel (the good stepsister).
But being a bitch was so last year. She wanted a change, and that would happen if she will be able to get rid of her evil stepsister, and her first love who keeps on coming back and hurting her again. But what stops her? That would be Manolo — the guy she’s been in love with since they were kids and she couldn’t get over with, and the guy who thinks her running away and wanting to abandon these people close to her to be able to change is selfish.
But what is so selfish with wanting to gain her life back, and change the way life was like for her before? Well, she was gone in the country for a year, and a lot of things can happen in a year.
I loved Love Your Frenemies. As always, the story is believable, the characters are relatable, and the storyline is consistent. And Kimmy? Who would have thought that she’ll make a great protagonist? Well, not me. That’s why I’m so surprised to see how Mina was able to let Kimmy wear that title with her heads up, and no sign that it was done in force. Everything went as smoothly as they should be. And Kimmy somehow reminded me of Gossip Girl‘s Blair Waldorf. The kind of character who is “a bitch but with a heart”. And Manolo (this name almost made me laugh but it really suit him well, I must say, that made me think that laughing about it is funnier than his name)… I like Manolo. He can be described as “a player turned serious lover”. Lov’et!
I’m looking forward to Mina’s next novel! And I’m hoping that this story would get a sequel. I want to know what’s in store for “Kimmynolo”.
I really recommend you guys to buy this e-book on Amazon, or Smashwords! It’s really fun following the story, and it holds great values! You don’t have to read My Imaginary Ex to be able to understand this story. This deserves a five star rating out of five! Cheers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2018
A new favorite MVE book. Flawed love, flawed people, all too real.
March 11, 2011
Good-looking, popular, Manilla professional Kimmy has gone into hiding. She was just dumped over the phone a few days before her wedding, and she can’t face the humiliation at work or within her country club barkada. She is even taking a break from the digital world, ignoring both her cellphone and her email. She only returns a year later because her best friend Chesca has asked her to be maid of honor at her wedding. Kimmy reluctantly returns, this time with the resolution to stay away from hot, off and on childhood friend Manolo, who got her into the mess that is her personal life in the first place. But as part of the wedding and son of her mother’s friend, he keeps showing up. More than she knows, Manolo is serious about being in her life, but will Kimmy let him in as she learns from the mistakes of her diva ways?
After reading and enjoying Mina V. Esguerra’s last book My Imaginary Ex I was pleasantly surprised to learn she had another Kindle publication in the works. I was even more pleasantly surprised to discover the main character would be the villain of her last novel. All euphemisms aside the Kimmy from My Imaginary Ex is frankly a b*tch. Since I don’t want to give any spoilers away let’s just say it’s pretty obvious and undeniable based on her actions towards Zach. So I was very curious as to how Mina could flesh her out into a dimensional, sympathetic character. Because readers had no reason to like her by the end of MIE. Unexpectedly enough, Kimmy’s characterization is the strong point of Love Your Frenemies and why it stands out as one of my favorite books by Esguerra. Using an already familiar character was a smart move on her part since it essentially gave her two books to develop a side character into a really interesting protagonist. Even before you learn the circumstances surrounding the event that made Kimmy look like pure scum in MIE, I was rooting for her. Being left at the altar broke her, and now she’s willing to acknowledge her snobbish arrogance while still remain her confident, at times cockily assured self. Here's one of my favorite, laugh-out-loud passages that illustrates how Kimmy has remained herself but a more sympathetic version:
Funny, huh? I love when I’m able to connect with a character who’s very different from myself. As expected I also enjoyed the writing, which is smooth and easy to read, and the other characters, who are not one note. Overall Love your Frenemies was a delightful read that is highly recommended to chick lit fans and leaves me wanting more as a now very committed Mina V. Esguerra fan.
After reading and enjoying Mina V. Esguerra’s last book My Imaginary Ex I was pleasantly surprised to learn she had another Kindle publication in the works. I was even more pleasantly surprised to discover the main character would be the villain of her last novel. All euphemisms aside the Kimmy from My Imaginary Ex is frankly a b*tch. Since I don’t want to give any spoilers away let’s just say it’s pretty obvious and undeniable based on her actions towards Zach. So I was very curious as to how Mina could flesh her out into a dimensional, sympathetic character. Because readers had no reason to like her by the end of MIE. Unexpectedly enough, Kimmy’s characterization is the strong point of Love Your Frenemies and why it stands out as one of my favorite books by Esguerra. Using an already familiar character was a smart move on her part since it essentially gave her two books to develop a side character into a really interesting protagonist. Even before you learn the circumstances surrounding the event that made Kimmy look like pure scum in MIE, I was rooting for her. Being left at the altar broke her, and now she’s willing to acknowledge her snobbish arrogance while still remain her confident, at times cockily assured self. Here's one of my favorite, laugh-out-loud passages that illustrates how Kimmy has remained herself but a more sympathetic version:
"Okay, so your officemate really does seem to hate you," he said, approaching after Marjorie dismissed me.
"You thought I was kidding? She thinks I stole her boyfriend. She won't even share the hotel room with me." I laughed softly. "She probably thinks I'm going to stab her in her sleep."
"Yeah right," Manolo said. "She's just an assistant manager. It's not worth it."
I laughed from my belly at that, and it felt really good. It wasn't polite to admit it, but being mean together was fun.
But don't do it, kids.
Funny, huh? I love when I’m able to connect with a character who’s very different from myself. As expected I also enjoyed the writing, which is smooth and easy to read, and the other characters, who are not one note. Overall Love your Frenemies was a delightful read that is highly recommended to chick lit fans and leaves me wanting more as a now very committed Mina V. Esguerra fan.
August 15, 2012
I recommend Love Your Frenemies.
*****
After reading Fairy Tale Fail, my hopes weren't high that i will like another Esguerra book. Still, since it was just a short read, i gave in.
Halfway through Love Your Frenemies, I was ready to chuck my Kindle. Why? This book is about toxic relationships! thank goodness everything turned around in the end. This is my 2nd Esguerra favorite after Interim Goddess of Love.
When life screws you over, it's so easy to just pack up your things and leave, right? Right. Kimmie did just that to escape the humiliation her ex-fiancee bestowed on her. Unfortunately, and we all know that it won't last long, Kimmie has to come home. Her overbearing best friend is getting married. and her make-out buddy Manolo is the first one who reminded her why it was good to leave everything behind in the first place.
Kimmie is always contemplating over anything and everything. I like that about her. Yes, she's suspicious that everyone is still out to get her. But i understood. she got burned so who wouldn't be like that, pretending to be happy when she's still figuring out what to make out of her messy life.
Manolo is something to watch out for. At first, I figured he was one of the jerks. turns out he was! but it's in the past. And his character is a lot more in tune with real Pinoy businessmen who have a lot of time and money on their hands. So it makes sense he's like that.
The atmosphere is edgier and has more adult tone than any Esguerra book I've read. Love Your Frenemies. And keep them close to you. Haha!
*****
After reading Fairy Tale Fail, my hopes weren't high that i will like another Esguerra book. Still, since it was just a short read, i gave in.
Halfway through Love Your Frenemies, I was ready to chuck my Kindle. Why? This book is about toxic relationships! thank goodness everything turned around in the end. This is my 2nd Esguerra favorite after Interim Goddess of Love.
When life screws you over, it's so easy to just pack up your things and leave, right? Right. Kimmie did just that to escape the humiliation her ex-fiancee bestowed on her. Unfortunately, and we all know that it won't last long, Kimmie has to come home. Her overbearing best friend is getting married. and her make-out buddy Manolo is the first one who reminded her why it was good to leave everything behind in the first place.
Kimmie is always contemplating over anything and everything. I like that about her. Yes, she's suspicious that everyone is still out to get her. But i understood. she got burned so who wouldn't be like that, pretending to be happy when she's still figuring out what to make out of her messy life.
Manolo is something to watch out for. At first, I figured he was one of the jerks. turns out he was! but it's in the past. And his character is a lot more in tune with real Pinoy businessmen who have a lot of time and money on their hands. So it makes sense he's like that.
The atmosphere is edgier and has more adult tone than any Esguerra book I've read. Love Your Frenemies. And keep them close to you. Haha!
February 5, 2013
My third Mina Esguerra book. I really love her books mainly because her characters are believable.
The main character of this book—Kimmy Domingo—reminded me of one of my best friends. For not only is she very good in marketing [she's a natural], she was also a 'bully' [no, she didn't bully classmates for assignments because she was very good in class, she just tease her friends mercilessly]. But most of all, she doesn't take crap and nonsense, and while she doesn't really do the 'pakikisama' thingy like Kimmy, she can overturn a decision the way Kimmy did [my best friend miraculously convinced my thesis adviser to allow me to go ahead and defend my work instead of doing it all over again: with three new topics/three products from three provinces in CAR—a load that I think can only be done by three people given the time constraint (it should be done in a semester only)! (Ah, those were the days, LOL!). Anyway, she's a total badass like that. ^_^
And of course, there were also Isabels and Chescas among my friends too.
But what I loved the most about this book is the reminder that we are not alone. That every time things go bad [sometimes even go worse], all we have to do is call a friend, cry on their shoulders if need be. That even if our family and friends frustrate us needlessly [sometimes], or tease us mercilessly, exasperate us endlessly, that all of these come with the package. One can’t just like all their good qualities alone and then drop them when it’s no longer convenient or when one is already sick of them… because underneath it all is the love that they alone, can give.
The main character of this book—Kimmy Domingo—reminded me of one of my best friends. For not only is she very good in marketing [she's a natural], she was also a 'bully' [no, she didn't bully classmates for assignments because she was very good in class, she just tease her friends mercilessly]. But most of all, she doesn't take crap and nonsense, and while she doesn't really do the 'pakikisama' thingy like Kimmy, she can overturn a decision the way Kimmy did [my best friend miraculously convinced my thesis adviser to allow me to go ahead and defend my work instead of doing it all over again: with three new topics/three products from three provinces in CAR—a load that I think can only be done by three people given the time constraint (it should be done in a semester only)! (Ah, those were the days, LOL!). Anyway, she's a total badass like that. ^_^
And of course, there were also Isabels and Chescas among my friends too.
But what I loved the most about this book is the reminder that we are not alone. That every time things go bad [sometimes even go worse], all we have to do is call a friend, cry on their shoulders if need be. That even if our family and friends frustrate us needlessly [sometimes], or tease us mercilessly, exasperate us endlessly, that all of these come with the package. One can’t just like all their good qualities alone and then drop them when it’s no longer convenient or when one is already sick of them… because underneath it all is the love that they alone, can give.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2014
I happen to like Kimmy Domingo, the heroine written so the reader can hate her and be pleased that she is hurt and damaged. But then, I'm American and I think Kimmy is just brutally honest and has no time for fakery and conventions.
Yes, she was selfish as far as ignoring her mother and friends while on her "gap year." And as I suspected, she was ultimately the cause of her groom ditching her, and was not a hapless victim of circumstances.
She was self-centered, blamed people without understanding them, and didn't bother to look beyond their immediate effect on her. Sort of like my heroine Evie Sanchez.
However once she understood the true nature of her relationships with her best girlfriend, her mother, and her childhood love, she realized she needed to see and understand others and change her ways. This delightful story of growing up, reconciliations, and understanding means Kimmy will no longer run from her problems, but stay and rebuild the relationships that are important to her.
[spoiler below]
The only part I didn't like about this book is Manolo's promiscuity. I guess the author wanted him to be just as immature and self centered as Kimmy. But I never understood his coldness and abandonment of Kimmy in the intervening years, and didn't quite buy that he had always been in love with her.
But other than that, I loved the way Kimmy's warped friendship with Chesca was portrayed and resolved, as well as the ever loyal Isabel, and that Kimmy and Manolo have decided to try again as grownups with open communication and understanding as the goal.
Yes, she was selfish as far as ignoring her mother and friends while on her "gap year." And as I suspected, she was ultimately the cause of her groom ditching her, and was not a hapless victim of circumstances.
She was self-centered, blamed people without understanding them, and didn't bother to look beyond their immediate effect on her. Sort of like my heroine Evie Sanchez.
However once she understood the true nature of her relationships with her best girlfriend, her mother, and her childhood love, she realized she needed to see and understand others and change her ways. This delightful story of growing up, reconciliations, and understanding means Kimmy will no longer run from her problems, but stay and rebuild the relationships that are important to her.
[spoiler below]
The only part I didn't like about this book is Manolo's promiscuity. I guess the author wanted him to be just as immature and self centered as Kimmy. But I never understood his coldness and abandonment of Kimmy in the intervening years, and didn't quite buy that he had always been in love with her.
But other than that, I loved the way Kimmy's warped friendship with Chesca was portrayed and resolved, as well as the ever loyal Isabel, and that Kimmy and Manolo have decided to try again as grownups with open communication and understanding as the goal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2013
During the weekend I had a Mina V. Esguerra-book-marathon :)and I so loved this book. :) Maybe because Kimmy, the book's main character, exudes confidence, strength and a hint of bad girl genes which is different from the damsel in distress, kawawa maiden types there is.
She is brutally frank, and she does not care what other people might think of her. Which is why at some point she deluded herself that even the people close to her could only see her on the surface. Her process of mending? Well...vanish from everybody she knows and knows her.
During her existence on Mina's "My imaginary EX", I actually hated Kimmy. I portray her in my mind as a bad seed and manipulative witch. This book however revealed Kimmy on a different light. A VERY different light.
She maintained her power-suit personality and showcased her kryptonite. Even so Zack her ex-beau was a total catch there's a reason why their relationship just didn't click, that eventually led for their wedding be cancelled. As she would also realize during her epiphany, is that it's just they are both in love with different people to begin with. For Zack's story you've got to read "My Imaginary Ex".
I just hoped that this book still have two chapters more, just so that we could see Kimmy's whole transformation. Nakakabitin kasi! ;)
Summing up, this is one fun read. I recommend you read My Imaginary Ex first and then read this. :)
ENJOY!!! :D
She is brutally frank, and she does not care what other people might think of her. Which is why at some point she deluded herself that even the people close to her could only see her on the surface. Her process of mending? Well...vanish from everybody she knows and knows her.
During her existence on Mina's "My imaginary EX", I actually hated Kimmy. I portray her in my mind as a bad seed and manipulative witch. This book however revealed Kimmy on a different light. A VERY different light.
She maintained her power-suit personality and showcased her kryptonite. Even so Zack her ex-beau was a total catch there's a reason why their relationship just didn't click, that eventually led for their wedding be cancelled. As she would also realize during her epiphany, is that it's just they are both in love with different people to begin with. For Zack's story you've got to read "My Imaginary Ex".
I just hoped that this book still have two chapters more, just so that we could see Kimmy's whole transformation. Nakakabitin kasi! ;)
Summing up, this is one fun read. I recommend you read My Imaginary Ex first and then read this. :)
ENJOY!!! :D
May 5, 2017
3,5.
Eu tô triste por ter lido tudo de Chic Manila, mas eu tô feliz por ter lido tudo de Chic Manila.
Essa série (e essa autora) foram um dos melhores presentes de 2017, porque eu realmente amei muito conhecer mais desse universo e desses personagens.
Love Your Frenemies tem uma das protagonistas mais diferentes da série inteira, principalmente porque é muito fácil odiar a Kimmy. Ela é egoísta e meio sem noção, sem contar que a gente conhece ela em My Imaginary Ex e tem toda aquela visão doida que todos têm dela. Mas, no fim das contas, eu adorei a Kimmy (mas, veja, eu também amo Emma Woodhouse)!!! Eu eu gostei muito do que li. O casal aqui não é lá dos mais saudáveis (o que é bem incomum nos livros da Mina, AMO OS RELACIONAMENTOS FOFOS E NÃO PROBLEMÁTICOS DE CHIC MANILA E VOU DEFENDÊ-LOS), mas eu sou meio lixo por relações complicadas e cheia de tensão que nem a da Kimmy e do Manolo e eu fiquei lendo de madrugada e gritando que nem uma besta. Eu adorei o desenvolvimento da Kimmy, ver como ela cresceu e conhecer mais dessa personagem misteriosa.
Muito dos livros da série eu queria que fosse maior (como é o caso desse), porque eu acho que podiam ser ainda melhor desenvolvido, mas eu adorei muito ler todas as novelas e já tô com saudade de passear por Manila com essa gente toda. EU TENHO MUITOS FEELS SOBRE CHIC MANILA, ME DEIXA!
Eu tô triste por ter lido tudo de Chic Manila, mas eu tô feliz por ter lido tudo de Chic Manila.
Essa série (e essa autora) foram um dos melhores presentes de 2017, porque eu realmente amei muito conhecer mais desse universo e desses personagens.
Love Your Frenemies tem uma das protagonistas mais diferentes da série inteira, principalmente porque é muito fácil odiar a Kimmy. Ela é egoísta e meio sem noção, sem contar que a gente conhece ela em My Imaginary Ex e tem toda aquela visão doida que todos têm dela. Mas, no fim das contas, eu adorei a Kimmy (mas, veja, eu também amo Emma Woodhouse)!!! Eu eu gostei muito do que li. O casal aqui não é lá dos mais saudáveis (o que é bem incomum nos livros da Mina, AMO OS RELACIONAMENTOS FOFOS E NÃO PROBLEMÁTICOS DE CHIC MANILA E VOU DEFENDÊ-LOS), mas eu sou meio lixo por relações complicadas e cheia de tensão que nem a da Kimmy e do Manolo e eu fiquei lendo de madrugada e gritando que nem uma besta. Eu adorei o desenvolvimento da Kimmy, ver como ela cresceu e conhecer mais dessa personagem misteriosa.
Muito dos livros da série eu queria que fosse maior (como é o caso desse), porque eu acho que podiam ser ainda melhor desenvolvido, mas eu adorei muito ler todas as novelas e já tô com saudade de passear por Manila com essa gente toda. EU TENHO MUITOS FEELS SOBRE CHIC MANILA, ME DEIXA!
February 22, 2011
This is how I felt after finishing Ms. Esguerra's latest e-book offering - :D
Having read My Imaginary Ex, I was not sure how a book all about the mean ex-fiancee from that book would turn into a likable heroine for this one, but it totally worked. My Imaginary Ex alternates between flashbacks and the present, and I really enjoyed how this book does the same thing. Although the book is related to My Imaginary Ex, reading it first is not at all necessary to enjoying this book - it stands alone quite well.
Another great addition to the chick lit genre. This book is all about Kimmy - her friendships, her love life, and maybe becoming a little less self absorbed than she used to be.
Note: I got a free copy of this from the author from Smashwords, but that didn't influence my review at all. I really liked it!
Having read My Imaginary Ex, I was not sure how a book all about the mean ex-fiancee from that book would turn into a likable heroine for this one, but it totally worked. My Imaginary Ex alternates between flashbacks and the present, and I really enjoyed how this book does the same thing. Although the book is related to My Imaginary Ex, reading it first is not at all necessary to enjoying this book - it stands alone quite well.
Another great addition to the chick lit genre. This book is all about Kimmy - her friendships, her love life, and maybe becoming a little less self absorbed than she used to be.
Note: I got a free copy of this from the author from Smashwords, but that didn't influence my review at all. I really liked it!
November 22, 2012
I would like to declare my love for Miss Mina and her works. I've only read three books from her, and Love Your Frenemies, Kimmy Domingo's story, is probably and will be my favorite. We first saw Kimmy on My Imaginary Ex as the kontrabida of Zack and Jasmine's happily ever after, not knowing the real story behind everything. Yes, that includes the "Kimmy cheats on Zack" before the wedding. And with this book, I totally get it. I understand, Kimmy, why you have to do that. I understand now and realized that you're not as bad as we think you are. In fact, you my friend, is my favorite. The story between her and Manolo, their history, just blew me away. And they both deserve each other. Aother confession: I cried during the last part of the book. It's so bitin, but the ending was perfect. Ms. Mina just keeps on making great novellas, you should try to make a full blown novel! Your chic-lits are very modern Filipina, it appeals to most of us in her mid-twenties :)
August 25, 2012
I'm on the fence on this story. I didn't quite get the emotions because I think everything was rushed (at 67 pages, ebook format). I've read My Imaginary Ex and felt I could relate more to the heroine in that story compared to this one. The "Then" and "Now" chapters didn't suit me; I felt disconnected to the narrative. While I know for some it would provide a good background to the plot, I felt dislodged from the normal flow of things. I also didn't feel that much chemistry between Kimmy and Manolo (though to be honest, the name "Manolo" didn't sit well with me...I kept seeing Ogie Alcasid's face in that mermaid flick with Michelle van Eimeren). It would've been great to see a story from the perspective of the antagonist (as Kimmy was portrayed in My Imaginary Ex), but to personally, the plot seemed to lack the depth I was looking for.
April 12, 2012
(3.5)
What a cute story. Well worth the $.99 I paid to purchase it. Of course, I liked the setting ..Philippines! My native country, so I caught on to the lingo/customs that it discoursed. Anyway, this book was about getting personal with Kimmy, the protagonist. We get her point of view through see-sawing of past-present time line. Although romance was in the midst, the main focus was understanding one's role in the intimate, economic, and social dynamics of family and friends. The tender twist towards the end was a nice surprise ..the kind that you would find yourself wanting to touch base with your best friend at that very moment and tell him that you're thinking of him. Nice.
Jinky is Reading
What a cute story. Well worth the $.99 I paid to purchase it. Of course, I liked the setting ..Philippines! My native country, so I caught on to the lingo/customs that it discoursed. Anyway, this book was about getting personal with Kimmy, the protagonist. We get her point of view through see-sawing of past-present time line. Although romance was in the midst, the main focus was understanding one's role in the intimate, economic, and social dynamics of family and friends. The tender twist towards the end was a nice surprise ..the kind that you would find yourself wanting to touch base with your best friend at that very moment and tell him that you're thinking of him. Nice.
Jinky is Reading
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