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Twelve Hours in Manhattan: A Novel
Two worlds. One heart. Twelve hours.
Bianca Maria Curtis is at the brink of losing it all when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan. Eric, as it turns out, is the famous Korean drama celebrity Park Hyun Min, and he’s in town for one night to escape the pressures of fame. From walking along Fifth Avenue to eating ice cream at Serendipity to sharing tender moments on top of the Empire State building, sparks fly as Bianca and Eric spend twelve magical hours far away from their respective lives. In that time, they talk about the big love, life, and happiness, and the freedom they both seek to fully exist and not merely survive.
But real life is more than just a few exhilarating stolen moments in time.
As the clock strikes the twelfth hour, Bianca returns back to the life she detests to face a tragedy that will test her strength and resolve—and the only thing she has to keep going is the memory of a man she loves in secret from a world away.
Bianca Maria Curtis is at the brink of losing it all when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan. Eric, as it turns out, is the famous Korean drama celebrity Park Hyun Min, and he’s in town for one night to escape the pressures of fame. From walking along Fifth Avenue to eating ice cream at Serendipity to sharing tender moments on top of the Empire State building, sparks fly as Bianca and Eric spend twelve magical hours far away from their respective lives. In that time, they talk about the big love, life, and happiness, and the freedom they both seek to fully exist and not merely survive.
But real life is more than just a few exhilarating stolen moments in time.
As the clock strikes the twelfth hour, Bianca returns back to the life she detests to face a tragedy that will test her strength and resolve—and the only thing she has to keep going is the memory of a man she loves in secret from a world away.
- GenresRomance
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 7, 2024
I’m sorry, but this book lost me about 90 pages in when Bianca admitted she was MARRIED after spending 12 hours with Eric and initiating an emotional affair with him. She never felt guilt for this, by the way.
Actually, this book lost me about 20 pages in when she watched his “behind” as he walked away with “unabashed masculinity.”
Actually, this book lost me about 20 pages in when she watched his “behind” as he walked away with “unabashed masculinity.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
the writing read like fan fiction writing.
April 8, 2023
This complex love story gracefully dives into the world of two lonely souls awakened from a deep sleep of heavy burdens.
Read full review in the 2023 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2023 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 1, 2024
Abandoned at 1%
I don't think I've given up on a book as quickly as I did this book. I wanted to like it, I really did. Between the Filipino-American author (I've been wanting to read more from this demographic recently), the fact that it's a romance novel, it should have been easy to like.
But no...the writing was so bad that I just couldn't force myself to get past the third screen/page on my Kindle app. What killed me was the descriptions, specifically:
1. "'Geez!' I stutter in frustration."
Sorry, but how does one stutter in frustration? People don't stutter when they are frustrated. They exhale in a huff or puff, or scream or yell. But stutter? And "Geez" is only one syllable; how would you even stutter on a one-syllable word? If the speaker had really stuttered, wouldn't it have been more accurate to write it was "G-g-g-geez!" or something like that?
2. "I start to tremble lightly."
Did the author mean "I start to tremble slightly"? To me, "lightly" implies a controlled way of behaving, such as if you tread lightly, or say something lightly. But trembling, by its nature, is not something that one can control, at least, not in such a way that you can decide how much or how little to tremble, although you can force your hand, for example, to stop trembling if say, you sit on it.
3. "I whine vehemently as I say this."
Am I just missing a part of my brain that would otherwise allow me to understand who one can whine vehemently? Whining is, by nature, slow and drawn out; it does not connote vehemence in any way, shape, or form.
How in the world did this book get anything other than one-star ratings?
I don't think I've given up on a book as quickly as I did this book. I wanted to like it, I really did. Between the Filipino-American author (I've been wanting to read more from this demographic recently), the fact that it's a romance novel, it should have been easy to like.
But no...the writing was so bad that I just couldn't force myself to get past the third screen/page on my Kindle app. What killed me was the descriptions, specifically:
1. "'Geez!' I stutter in frustration."
Sorry, but how does one stutter in frustration? People don't stutter when they are frustrated. They exhale in a huff or puff, or scream or yell. But stutter? And "Geez" is only one syllable; how would you even stutter on a one-syllable word? If the speaker had really stuttered, wouldn't it have been more accurate to write it was "G-g-g-geez!" or something like that?
2. "I start to tremble lightly."
Did the author mean "I start to tremble slightly"? To me, "lightly" implies a controlled way of behaving, such as if you tread lightly, or say something lightly. But trembling, by its nature, is not something that one can control, at least, not in such a way that you can decide how much or how little to tremble, although you can force your hand, for example, to stop trembling if say, you sit on it.
3. "I whine vehemently as I say this."
Am I just missing a part of my brain that would otherwise allow me to understand who one can whine vehemently? Whining is, by nature, slow and drawn out; it does not connote vehemence in any way, shape, or form.
How in the world did this book get anything other than one-star ratings?
March 31, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and She writes press for this ARC.
I was actually expecting a cute-meet, romantic-comedy present in KDrama. This book is sad; it’s about the personal life walks of each character. It seemed to drag and I want to stop reading in part 1 but I kept on. I want to love Bianca but she’s a crybaby. Eric was great. I would like to meet him but it seemed surreal. I’m thinking there should be character development but it was like at the end but short. The crying stuff with the plot twist shouldn’t have been added. I didn’t like the abortion, drugs, and overdose bit. I think it was just added for the word count. Not necessary with the story. The story should focus more on Eric and Bianca but this happened mostly in the last part of the book.
All in all, the concept was great but the delivery got me a headache. I could give it a 2 but I'm a KDrama fan so it's a 3 for me.
I just reviewed Twelve Hours in Manhattan by Maan Gabriel. #TwelveHoursinManhattan #NetGalley
I was actually expecting a cute-meet, romantic-comedy present in KDrama. This book is sad; it’s about the personal life walks of each character. It seemed to drag and I want to stop reading in part 1 but I kept on. I want to love Bianca but she’s a crybaby. Eric was great. I would like to meet him but it seemed surreal. I’m thinking there should be character development but it was like at the end but short. The crying stuff with the plot twist shouldn’t have been added. I didn’t like the abortion, drugs, and overdose bit. I think it was just added for the word count. Not necessary with the story. The story should focus more on Eric and Bianca but this happened mostly in the last part of the book.
All in all, the concept was great but the delivery got me a headache. I could give it a 2 but I'm a KDrama fan so it's a 3 for me.
I just reviewed Twelve Hours in Manhattan by Maan Gabriel. #TwelveHoursinManhattan #NetGalley
May 22, 2023
Bianca and Eric meet by chance at a bar and spend 12 wonderful hours together in Manhattan. Eric is a K-Drama star and Bianca is a not famous woman from NJ. Circumstances in Bianca’s life do not allow them to remain together and she leaves thinking she will never see Eric again.
This serendipitous tale of loss and love is beautifully written. The author tackles hard topics with such skill and emotion. I honestly did not want it to end. What an amazing read!
This serendipitous tale of loss and love is beautifully written. The author tackles hard topics with such skill and emotion. I honestly did not want it to end. What an amazing read!
May 16, 2023
Oh my goodness I loved this story!
What a great book this was – it was written with feelings, love, honour and consideration.
It was a truly great storyline and I loved every page from start to finish
The characters were amazing, I loved getting to know them and their interaction
It is no hesitation from me at all in giving this book 5 stars – very highly recommended – I loved it
What a great book this was – it was written with feelings, love, honour and consideration.
It was a truly great storyline and I loved every page from start to finish
The characters were amazing, I loved getting to know them and their interaction
It is no hesitation from me at all in giving this book 5 stars – very highly recommended – I loved it
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews