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Chic Manila #5
That Kind of Guy
Women who had a fling with my
-Rikki, accountant, yoga class
-Mika, cocktail waitress/culinary arts student, friend’s wedding
-Lani, November, seven years ago
-Annemarie, six years ago, sought him out to get back at Lani
-Carla, admin assistant/best friend, eleven years ago
Nobody knew about my notebook of Anton’s hook-up stories. This was my secret shame for the past seven months, the exact amount of time since Anton and I had broken up. During our entire relationship, I avoided asking him about the sordid details of his past. Now that we were no longer together, I was actually collecting them. Do these stories make me feel any better about saying no when he asked me to marry him? Every day, I have to remind myself that they do.
Good girl Julie never expected her hot former-player boyfriend to propose marriage. But when he did, she turned him down for reasons even she couldn’t figure out. Will she settle for a nice, safe guy instead? Or will she let him find his way back into her carefully guarded heart?
“This book is unexpected and exciting! You won’t be able to put it down.”
-Cosmopolitan Philippines
-Rikki, accountant, yoga class
-Mika, cocktail waitress/culinary arts student, friend’s wedding
-Lani, November, seven years ago
-Annemarie, six years ago, sought him out to get back at Lani
-Carla, admin assistant/best friend, eleven years ago
Nobody knew about my notebook of Anton’s hook-up stories. This was my secret shame for the past seven months, the exact amount of time since Anton and I had broken up. During our entire relationship, I avoided asking him about the sordid details of his past. Now that we were no longer together, I was actually collecting them. Do these stories make me feel any better about saying no when he asked me to marry him? Every day, I have to remind myself that they do.
Good girl Julie never expected her hot former-player boyfriend to propose marriage. But when he did, she turned him down for reasons even she couldn’t figure out. Will she settle for a nice, safe guy instead? Or will she let him find his way back into her carefully guarded heart?
“This book is unexpected and exciting! You won’t be able to put it down.”
-Cosmopolitan Philippines
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Mina V. Esguerra
47 books595 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 70 reviews
June 14, 2012
This is my 3rd Mina V. Esguerra book and I think this is her best so far.
This is a notch above the two earlier books that I read by her. Two years ago, I read her My Imaginary Ex that tells about the love story of Jasmine and Zachary. The boy asks the girl to be his pretend-girlfriend because the girl (not Jasmine) he is courting does not want a naive boyfriend. Then last year, I read No Strings Attached and it is about the older Carla falling for the younger Dante. In both cases the POV is a girl who is confused on how she really feels about the boy. Do I really love him? When does pretending become a reality? In love, does age really matter?
In this third book, the girl's name is Julie and the boy's name is Anton and their main problem is that the boy is a playboy and the girl is a reserved type who hasn't experienced having a boyfriend yet.
Such mundane storylines, right? Yes, but this is the world of inexperienced young women who are clueless about love. They all struggle to understand the boy they are in love with precisely because they don't know what love is. Their view of love is still rosy, stars twinkling in the horizon and Cupid lingering around herself and her handsome boy. As a father with a 17-y/o daughter, who has not (well, as far as I know, duh!) experienced falling in love yet, I think I can empathize with these characters. Mina (yes, we are on the first name basis) is a friend and it is the main reason why I read her books. The other reason, the more important reason, is that these books make me understand my daughter more and this probably prepare me on my role as a father when her first heartbreak comes. I will just remember the Jasmines, Carlas and Julies in Mina's books so I can see the situation through my daughter's eyes.
Now, why is this book better than the first two?
This is a notch above the two earlier books that I read by her. Two years ago, I read her My Imaginary Ex that tells about the love story of Jasmine and Zachary. The boy asks the girl to be his pretend-girlfriend because the girl (not Jasmine) he is courting does not want a naive boyfriend. Then last year, I read No Strings Attached and it is about the older Carla falling for the younger Dante. In both cases the POV is a girl who is confused on how she really feels about the boy. Do I really love him? When does pretending become a reality? In love, does age really matter?
In this third book, the girl's name is Julie and the boy's name is Anton and their main problem is that the boy is a playboy and the girl is a reserved type who hasn't experienced having a boyfriend yet.
Such mundane storylines, right? Yes, but this is the world of inexperienced young women who are clueless about love. They all struggle to understand the boy they are in love with precisely because they don't know what love is. Their view of love is still rosy, stars twinkling in the horizon and Cupid lingering around herself and her handsome boy. As a father with a 17-y/o daughter, who has not (well, as far as I know, duh!) experienced falling in love yet, I think I can empathize with these characters. Mina (yes, we are on the first name basis) is a friend and it is the main reason why I read her books. The other reason, the more important reason, is that these books make me understand my daughter more and this probably prepare me on my role as a father when her first heartbreak comes. I will just remember the Jasmines, Carlas and Julies in Mina's books so I can see the situation through my daughter's eyes.
Now, why is this book better than the first two?
1. It is the first time that the storytelling is not one dimensional. Mina is no longer afraid to tease her reader by giving an open ending that can leave them interpreting it in at least two ways. In other words, like what Doris Lessing says: "the more interpretation a reader can give to the novel, the better it is." (or something to that effect).The only comment I have is that the blurb seems to have raised my expectation differently. I thought that the book would focus on the love affairs Anton had with the different women who came after Julie. It was not really a big letdown as I knew that blurbs should convince people to shell their money for the book at hand but somehow the blurbs gave me a wrong impression. Not a big deal though. I liked this book!
2. The girl Julie is stronger than the earlier protagonists, Jasmine and Carla. Julie knows what she wants and despite being in a "disadvantage" position, she has no qualms saying "no" when she feels like saying so.
3. I no longer remember if the previous two female protagonists have another viable option (translation: a fallback boy), but Harry could be an equal to Anton (and this is probably the reason why Mina left her ending open-ended) because I felt that Harry was a better man for Julie. They seem to have more similarities. I am saying this because towards the end when Julie has to make the decision, in my mind, I was saying to myself: Come no, Julie, choose Harry! That kind of guy is your guy!
February 17, 2018
3.5 stars
To be completely honest I don't know what to say. I really like Mina V. Esguerra and even though this is only the second book of hers that I read, it definitely won't be my last. The problem was mostly in me - I couldn't connect with the characters for some reason and caught myself actually leaving the book for a few days until I was ready to continue. The journal part of it, where Julie tells the stories of Anton and other women was maybe what threw me off the most. I felt like, other than what Julie thinks of relationships, family and job I couldn't conclude anything about her and her personality. And I really wanted to. The second part of the book was definitely better, things took off, Julie was starting to actually act on her life and we got to see the side of Anton she was neglecting till this point. I would definitely love to read other books from this series as well!
To be completely honest I don't know what to say. I really like Mina V. Esguerra and even though this is only the second book of hers that I read, it definitely won't be my last. The problem was mostly in me - I couldn't connect with the characters for some reason and caught myself actually leaving the book for a few days until I was ready to continue. The journal part of it, where Julie tells the stories of Anton and other women was maybe what threw me off the most. I felt like, other than what Julie thinks of relationships, family and job I couldn't conclude anything about her and her personality. And I really wanted to. The second part of the book was definitely better, things took off, Julie was starting to actually act on her life and we got to see the side of Anton she was neglecting till this point. I would definitely love to read other books from this series as well!
June 18, 2012
It is not about chemistry. It is about certainty.
I guess I have had that figured out when I read that the lead character made a mistake with her boyfriend the first time around.
Review and Reflections:
I grabbed a copy of the book since the author will be arriving at the event that I'll be coming too, soon enough. And for me to have a pep talk with Mina Esguerra, I shall at least know what are her books, and how does she write.
This is the first book that I read from her and I actually liked it. Thus, the rationale of three stars.
The story can be read in one sitting. It is about Julie, single after her 11-month relationship with Anton, and over the 7 months of moving on, she has her book of exes, containing names, professions, and whatnots of girl who met his ex after the break-up. Why so? It is for her to justify that her decision then is valid and correct until now.
Can I just say? That book is trash. Because that book, in the first place, is not her decision. It is just a back-up document.
Let me have a liberty of elaborating my views as I reflect to the characters. After all, this is my review, not yours.
I was never a Julie, a manang, because in my high school days I have had an identity crisis. When I overcame it, academics overwhelm my emotional challenge and personality make-over. I was "okay" (geeky girl) when I graduated high school. I was okay when college came.
But I decided to be Anton the moment the Epic-fail-three-day-affair ended. Too much information as my friends would say, but I met men on a bus stop, on a coffee shop, while eating cake, while crying over a romantic read, and most of all, on gimmick places where the motto is makuha ka sa tingin. Some girls may not understand this, but this is more of a breakthrough for me. That I can do what guys can do. And believe me, that felt liberating.
But as I grow more mature, the set-up grows more and more tiring. And if I have had one shot of a genuine relationship - I shall try my best to be a Julie-at-the-moment-I-am-with-him.
Then, a Julie-kind-of-guy-arrived, take me to dates, say some things, then fly away. Just because of a Julie-kind-of-issue: CONFIDENCE
That is why I cringe and do "singhal" at the moment I read about Julie not being confident on what she's wearing, and Harry noting that he's underdressed. Because they are not confident about themselves. That is why I am mad a these characters carrying prejudice and back-up documents - support systems that can back the decisions they made. For Julie, it's her turning-down the offer Anton made; and For Harry, it's the generalization of "people like him" (pertaining to Anton).
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN OF SOME THINGS, THEY USE BACK-UP INSTEAD.
Dear reader, Mina enlightened us that romance - or even life-changing decisions - do not need a back-up. THEY NEED CONVICTION. That is why Julie chose to go to Anton's house, talk to him, stare at the ceiling, and pray for the challenges with them that lie ahead.
It's automatic. When you decide, you don't think at a fast pace. You don't underthink; or YOU DO NOT overthink, either. You analyze, weigh the consequences - convince yourself first, then DECIDE. People do not decide before they can convince themselves that it is right, IT IS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. If the decision is not right on your end, Get disappointed. Grieve. Cry and drink it out. Shout it to your friends. Simmer in the bitterness. You have that right.
AFTER THAT, DECIDE TO BE AWESOME INSTEAD.
Dear Mina, I liked the character set-up you did in the story. But I wish to have it the other way around. If that happens I shall give it more stars. We can talk about what I really mean when we have the chance to meet soon. See you! :)
I guess I have had that figured out when I read that the lead character made a mistake with her boyfriend the first time around.
Review and Reflections:
I grabbed a copy of the book since the author will be arriving at the event that I'll be coming too, soon enough. And for me to have a pep talk with Mina Esguerra, I shall at least know what are her books, and how does she write.
This is the first book that I read from her and I actually liked it. Thus, the rationale of three stars.
The story can be read in one sitting. It is about Julie, single after her 11-month relationship with Anton, and over the 7 months of moving on, she has her book of exes, containing names, professions, and whatnots of girl who met his ex after the break-up. Why so? It is for her to justify that her decision then is valid and correct until now.
Can I just say? That book is trash. Because that book, in the first place, is not her decision. It is just a back-up document.
Let me have a liberty of elaborating my views as I reflect to the characters. After all, this is my review, not yours.
I was never a Julie, a manang, because in my high school days I have had an identity crisis. When I overcame it, academics overwhelm my emotional challenge and personality make-over. I was "okay" (geeky girl) when I graduated high school. I was okay when college came.
But I decided to be Anton the moment the Epic-fail-three-day-affair ended. Too much information as my friends would say, but I met men on a bus stop, on a coffee shop, while eating cake, while crying over a romantic read, and most of all, on gimmick places where the motto is makuha ka sa tingin. Some girls may not understand this, but this is more of a breakthrough for me. That I can do what guys can do. And believe me, that felt liberating.
But as I grow more mature, the set-up grows more and more tiring. And if I have had one shot of a genuine relationship - I shall try my best to be a Julie-at-the-moment-I-am-with-him.
Then, a Julie-kind-of-guy-arrived, take me to dates, say some things, then fly away. Just because of a Julie-kind-of-issue: CONFIDENCE
That is why I cringe and do "singhal" at the moment I read about Julie not being confident on what she's wearing, and Harry noting that he's underdressed. Because they are not confident about themselves. That is why I am mad a these characters carrying prejudice and back-up documents - support systems that can back the decisions they made. For Julie, it's her turning-down the offer Anton made; and For Harry, it's the generalization of "people like him" (pertaining to Anton).
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN OF SOME THINGS, THEY USE BACK-UP INSTEAD.
Dear reader, Mina enlightened us that romance - or even life-changing decisions - do not need a back-up. THEY NEED CONVICTION. That is why Julie chose to go to Anton's house, talk to him, stare at the ceiling, and pray for the challenges with them that lie ahead.
It's automatic. When you decide, you don't think at a fast pace. You don't underthink; or YOU DO NOT overthink, either. You analyze, weigh the consequences - convince yourself first, then DECIDE. People do not decide before they can convince themselves that it is right, IT IS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. If the decision is not right on your end, Get disappointed. Grieve. Cry and drink it out. Shout it to your friends. Simmer in the bitterness. You have that right.
AFTER THAT, DECIDE TO BE AWESOME INSTEAD.
Dear Mina, I liked the character set-up you did in the story. But I wish to have it the other way around. If that happens I shall give it more stars. We can talk about what I really mean when we have the chance to meet soon. See you! :)
May 16, 2012
Original post at One More Page
Back in college, I was friends with two girls in my org, and we were often called as the Powerpuff Girls because we were always together. Our little group was also known to be the "ate's" or the older sisters of the other younger members of the org, which was kind of why we had a kind of impression on others that we always laughed about when we were talking amongst ourselves. Privately, we call ourselves manang's (another term for older sisters in some Filipino dialects, but colloquial use refers to being old fashioned older women) because we all have our own levels of being...well, manang. We had levels of being manang based on how people often approach us: one was the ultimate manang because of her strictness (and also because she's an officer of our org), I come in second because I'm not as strict but not everyone finds it easy to approach me and finally, the last member of our group is the least manang because she's was just naturally friendlier and the younger members find it easier to confide in her.
Fast forward a few years later, and it's no surprise that the least manang among all of us is married. The remaining two -- well, we're still pretty manang. :P
I can't help but remember this particular college memory while I was reading Mina V. Esguerra's latest book, That Kind of Guy. Julie has always been a good girl, and has always done what was expected of her. How she ended up with bad boy Anton was a mystery, even more when he popped the question to her. The only obvious thing to do when he asked her to marry him was to say no -- after all, she wasn't even sure if she knew Anton well enough after 11 months of "dating". Julie figures there are enough safe guys out there that fit her personality better, but does she really want that?
Okay, of all of Mina's heroines, I find Julie both the easiest and hardest to relate to. I can relate to her manang ways, obviously -- about how she does the right things, how she tries to be honest and tactful, about how she tends to play safe. I also couldn't relate to her because unlike Julie, I'm not exactly friendless because of my (attempts at) honesty. I don't know if that makes me less of a manang then? Anyway, I think Julie can be either likable or unlikable depending on the reader's POV, but like Mina's other heroines, her voice still sounds so authentic that it feels like I'm just hearing a story of a friend over a meal. The hero in the story is a familiar one for those who have read Mina's old books -- he was mentioned once in Fairy Tale Fail and was one of the secondary characters in No Strings Attached. I liked that he showed another side in this book, one that wasn't really expected based on how we were introduced to him in the previous ones. You don't need to read the two books to really get into this, though, but it's nice to be surprised at the depth of his character in That Kind of Guy. While Anton is still not going to top my favorite Mina guy (Lucas of FTF -- who has a teeny mention here, squee!), I was surprised at how much I ended up liking him in the end.
I think That Kind of Guy will be able to speak to a certain kind of girl who rarely has a starring role in chick lit books -- the good girl. This isn't about a good girl deciding to be bad, or a good girl getting into scrapes that she didn't deserve because hey, she's good. It's about that kind of girl who wasn't sure what kind of guy she really wanted, if she would take the risk or go for the safe choice. The fun thing about this is that Julie never really had to change much about her being a good girl, even if she tried to be not. Julie didn't have to change to someone too wild or too careless for her story to move forward. The growth of her character came not from a shocking revelation because of her sudden wild changes, but from the things she proved that she already knew but just needed to be brought out. In the end, That Kind of Guy was really about being certain of your choices and acting on it, even if the outcome is not really guaranteed. To quote (this one is really more specific about those choices):
It's no surprise that I really liked That Kind of Guy. :) I think it just proved Mina's strength in drawing out characters that different readers can relate to. I really liked the epilogue too, and I'm curious if that new character will have her own story eventually. If she does, then I can't wait to find out what Mina has in store for her. But even if she won't have her own story, it doesn't change the fact that I am still going to read everything that Mina writes. :)
Back in college, I was friends with two girls in my org, and we were often called as the Powerpuff Girls because we were always together. Our little group was also known to be the "ate's" or the older sisters of the other younger members of the org, which was kind of why we had a kind of impression on others that we always laughed about when we were talking amongst ourselves. Privately, we call ourselves manang's (another term for older sisters in some Filipino dialects, but colloquial use refers to being old fashioned older women) because we all have our own levels of being...well, manang. We had levels of being manang based on how people often approach us: one was the ultimate manang because of her strictness (and also because she's an officer of our org), I come in second because I'm not as strict but not everyone finds it easy to approach me and finally, the last member of our group is the least manang because she's was just naturally friendlier and the younger members find it easier to confide in her.
Fast forward a few years later, and it's no surprise that the least manang among all of us is married. The remaining two -- well, we're still pretty manang. :P
I can't help but remember this particular college memory while I was reading Mina V. Esguerra's latest book, That Kind of Guy. Julie has always been a good girl, and has always done what was expected of her. How she ended up with bad boy Anton was a mystery, even more when he popped the question to her. The only obvious thing to do when he asked her to marry him was to say no -- after all, she wasn't even sure if she knew Anton well enough after 11 months of "dating". Julie figures there are enough safe guys out there that fit her personality better, but does she really want that?
Okay, of all of Mina's heroines, I find Julie both the easiest and hardest to relate to. I can relate to her manang ways, obviously -- about how she does the right things, how she tries to be honest and tactful, about how she tends to play safe. I also couldn't relate to her because unlike Julie, I'm not exactly friendless because of my (attempts at) honesty. I don't know if that makes me less of a manang then? Anyway, I think Julie can be either likable or unlikable depending on the reader's POV, but like Mina's other heroines, her voice still sounds so authentic that it feels like I'm just hearing a story of a friend over a meal. The hero in the story is a familiar one for those who have read Mina's old books -- he was mentioned once in Fairy Tale Fail and was one of the secondary characters in No Strings Attached. I liked that he showed another side in this book, one that wasn't really expected based on how we were introduced to him in the previous ones. You don't need to read the two books to really get into this, though, but it's nice to be surprised at the depth of his character in That Kind of Guy. While Anton is still not going to top my favorite Mina guy (Lucas of FTF -- who has a teeny mention here, squee!), I was surprised at how much I ended up liking him in the end.
I think That Kind of Guy will be able to speak to a certain kind of girl who rarely has a starring role in chick lit books -- the good girl. This isn't about a good girl deciding to be bad, or a good girl getting into scrapes that she didn't deserve because hey, she's good. It's about that kind of girl who wasn't sure what kind of guy she really wanted, if she would take the risk or go for the safe choice. The fun thing about this is that Julie never really had to change much about her being a good girl, even if she tried to be not. Julie didn't have to change to someone too wild or too careless for her story to move forward. The growth of her character came not from a shocking revelation because of her sudden wild changes, but from the things she proved that she already knew but just needed to be brought out. In the end, That Kind of Guy was really about being certain of your choices and acting on it, even if the outcome is not really guaranteed. To quote (this one is really more specific about those choices):
Next time, just say something. It doesn't have to be the first date. Maybe the third or the fourth. Don't wait a year if you're sure. Certainty is sexy. And owning up to your attraction is sexy, too, and if you do it right and you're not creepy about it, I bet she will respect you for it anyway even if she does not like you back. (p. 157)
It's no surprise that I really liked That Kind of Guy. :) I think it just proved Mina's strength in drawing out characters that different readers can relate to. I really liked the epilogue too, and I'm curious if that new character will have her own story eventually. If she does, then I can't wait to find out what Mina has in store for her. But even if she won't have her own story, it doesn't change the fact that I am still going to read everything that Mina writes. :)
May 26, 2012
Originally posted here.
I won a copy of Mina V. Esguerra's latest, That Kind of Guy, when I joined the contest that she hosted. You can read all about it here. I enjoy reading her novels because I can relate to her characters and of course, the local setting.
Manang is a Filipino word that is roughly translated as "older sister" and is usually used as a term of respect. It's hard to define but manang is also used to describe conservative girls. My friends and I say we're manangs when we'd rather stay home on weekends (and in my case, read or blog) instead of go out and party. A girl can be a manang in so many different ways - from the way she dresses (no sleeveless tops or short skirts or dresses) to the way she dates (not willing to be set up on a blind date). Julie is a manang in the sense that she's a good girl. She doesn't do wild parties and she doesn't date random guys. In fact, she's never been in a serious relationship. When a friend suggests that she should loosen up by dating a fun guy, Julie agrees to try things out with Anton. She's just as surprised as everyone else when it becomes apparent that Anton wants to start a serious relationship with her. I was curious about Anton when I first met him as Tonio in No Strings Attached . I wanted to see how Mina would write about a playboy settling down. I wasn't disappointed, Anton turned out to be a really sweet guy in spite of how he was initially portrayed as a wild party boy. Here's a quote from the book that I really liked:
It's funny because even though the book is written from Julie's point of view and I have manang tendencies, I liked Anton's character more than his girlfriend's. His actions and his lifestyle made sense when he explained them. I guess I just couldn't understand why Julie wasn't invested in their relationship but then again, that's something that Julie herself is trying to figure out. What I like about Mina's books is that I still enjoy reading them even if I can't fully relate to her characters. Why? Because I feel like her books are stories that can actually happen to some of my friends. I guess a huge part of that is because of the local setting. I liked watching Julie and Anton's love story unfold. I also think it's nice that they have such different personalities and yet they go well together. I'm already planning to recommend this (andmaybe even buy copies to give as gifts) to my girlfriends. That Kind of Guy is available in local bookstores all over the metro and will be available as an ebook soon. Mina, when will your next book be released? :P
I won a copy of Mina V. Esguerra's latest, That Kind of Guy, when I joined the contest that she hosted. You can read all about it here. I enjoy reading her novels because I can relate to her characters and of course, the local setting.
Manang is a Filipino word that is roughly translated as "older sister" and is usually used as a term of respect. It's hard to define but manang is also used to describe conservative girls. My friends and I say we're manangs when we'd rather stay home on weekends (and in my case, read or blog) instead of go out and party. A girl can be a manang in so many different ways - from the way she dresses (no sleeveless tops or short skirts or dresses) to the way she dates (not willing to be set up on a blind date). Julie is a manang in the sense that she's a good girl. She doesn't do wild parties and she doesn't date random guys. In fact, she's never been in a serious relationship. When a friend suggests that she should loosen up by dating a fun guy, Julie agrees to try things out with Anton. She's just as surprised as everyone else when it becomes apparent that Anton wants to start a serious relationship with her. I was curious about Anton when I first met him as Tonio in No Strings Attached . I wanted to see how Mina would write about a playboy settling down. I wasn't disappointed, Anton turned out to be a really sweet guy in spite of how he was initially portrayed as a wild party boy. Here's a quote from the book that I really liked:
“Before I met him, I wondered how I could possibly fit a relationship into my life. My days felt full, of people, things, and concerns, and I wondered what I'd give up to accommodate someone new. Anton made it seem easy. He didn't take me out of my life; instead, he sort of slid into the empty spaces and made himself comfortable.”
It's funny because even though the book is written from Julie's point of view and I have manang tendencies, I liked Anton's character more than his girlfriend's. His actions and his lifestyle made sense when he explained them. I guess I just couldn't understand why Julie wasn't invested in their relationship but then again, that's something that Julie herself is trying to figure out. What I like about Mina's books is that I still enjoy reading them even if I can't fully relate to her characters. Why? Because I feel like her books are stories that can actually happen to some of my friends. I guess a huge part of that is because of the local setting. I liked watching Julie and Anton's love story unfold. I also think it's nice that they have such different personalities and yet they go well together. I'm already planning to recommend this (andmaybe even buy copies to give as gifts) to my girlfriends. That Kind of Guy is available in local bookstores all over the metro and will be available as an ebook soon. Mina, when will your next book be released? :P
June 27, 2012
I'm not really fussy when it comes to book covers for I'm an avid believer of the famous quote "don't judge the book by its cover" although, I also believe that it doesn't work all the time. But if I will be asked to choose among all of Mina Esguerra's books based on their cover, I'll definitely choose this one. I just love the color and the picture of a girl reading in this cover. Then I will later find out that it's a good choice for it's a good read after all.
Just like any other works of Ms. Mina Esguerra, this is a short and delectable read. I don't know why but I always have this thing on stories about bad-boy-turned-good-because-of-a-girl and this book has that kind of plot so I love it. Just like Julie, I'm the manang type and I don't easily trust guys specially If I already know that he's the playboy type. But then, it is also flattering when the bad guy decided to change into a better person because of girl so when the story unfolds that Anton turned out to be that kind of guy, I can't help but feel sorry for Julie for letting him go. I'm glad that everyone deserves a second a chance so we can have a life happily ever after all.
Just like any other works of Ms. Mina Esguerra, this is a short and delectable read. I don't know why but I always have this thing on stories about bad-boy-turned-good-because-of-a-girl and this book has that kind of plot so I love it. Just like Julie, I'm the manang type and I don't easily trust guys specially If I already know that he's the playboy type. But then, it is also flattering when the bad guy decided to change into a better person because of girl so when the story unfolds that Anton turned out to be that kind of guy, I can't help but feel sorry for Julie for letting him go. I'm glad that everyone deserves a second a chance so we can have a life happily ever after all.
Read
March 31, 2018What I love most about this series is the unashamed focus on the heroines, and how flawed and on-the-surface-unsympathetic they are allowed to be. Julie is not chilled. She is pretty judgy, with a tendency to tell people things they don't want to hear, she's whatever the opposite of a free spirit is, and she has the kind of low opinion of herself that causes difficulty to the people around her. She's also honest and has a steel core. When player Anton decides she's the woman he's going to settle down with, Julie finds it hard to believe because insecurities, but having decided it won't work, she carries through with magnificent force, and once she's decided she might have screwed up, she works the hell on that too.
A vastly enjoyable tale with a great heroine, no time for male ego pandering, and a really interesting structure.
A vastly enjoyable tale with a great heroine, no time for male ego pandering, and a really interesting structure.
January 16, 2014
He'll turn your life upside down, confuse the hell out of you, and make you deliriously happy.
Just over 170 pages, this book was a quick read for me! I decided to read this after I saw this on my friend's bookshelf, and I can honestly say that I don't regret reading this.
So we have Julie. Simply described as: Manang. She's a total goody two-shoes, innocent, and she never had a serious boyfriend.
I was also, for the most part, a nice girl. Not someone who was drawn to the wrong kind of guy, or who would end up having a hook-up story to tell at a random party.
But, in the end, she's just really scared of being lonely.
But then she gets a hold of Antonio Santos' number.
One day, someone took it upon herself to "loosen me up" and introduce me to a "fun guy", and of course, that was when things turned around.
Better known as Anton, he is mostly described as:
the hot player
So, these two go on their first date. Then their second, their third, fourth, fifth....you get the point. Although there were hesitations here and there, they were each other's company. Maybe there were rough times, but they definitely had their moments.
And now Anton, the player, is now the ex-player. But, Julie is still hesitant, kind of skeptical, and just not trusting enough. So when Anton decides to pop up the question "Will you marry me?", Julie bails.
They break up, and things go back to the same for Julie. The same, but somehow different.
And then she goes on her stalking escapades about Anton's past (although some she coincidentally or accidentally finds out).
Nobody knew about my notebook of Anton's hook-up stories. This was my secret shame for the past seven months, the exact amount of time since Anton and I broken up. During our entire relationship, I avoided asking him about the sordid details of his past. Now that we were no longer together, I was actually collecting them.
But then she is invited into some event and she sees Anton again. From there on, their story once again continues.
These moments from then on were mostly my favorites. It was just so cute and it made me "awwww" from time to time.
Anyway, super cute and fluffy story!!
5 IM-GONNA-FIND-MY-KIND-OF-GUYS STARS!!!!!!!!!
Just over 170 pages, this book was a quick read for me! I decided to read this after I saw this on my friend's bookshelf, and I can honestly say that I don't regret reading this.
So we have Julie. Simply described as: Manang. She's a total goody two-shoes, innocent, and she never had a serious boyfriend.
I was also, for the most part, a nice girl. Not someone who was drawn to the wrong kind of guy, or who would end up having a hook-up story to tell at a random party.
But, in the end, she's just really scared of being lonely.
But then she gets a hold of Antonio Santos' number.
One day, someone took it upon herself to "loosen me up" and introduce me to a "fun guy", and of course, that was when things turned around.
Better known as Anton, he is mostly described as:
the hot player
So, these two go on their first date. Then their second, their third, fourth, fifth....you get the point. Although there were hesitations here and there, they were each other's company. Maybe there were rough times, but they definitely had their moments.
And now Anton, the player, is now the ex-player. But, Julie is still hesitant, kind of skeptical, and just not trusting enough. So when Anton decides to pop up the question "Will you marry me?", Julie bails.
They break up, and things go back to the same for Julie. The same, but somehow different.
And then she goes on her stalking escapades about Anton's past (although some she coincidentally or accidentally finds out).
Nobody knew about my notebook of Anton's hook-up stories. This was my secret shame for the past seven months, the exact amount of time since Anton and I broken up. During our entire relationship, I avoided asking him about the sordid details of his past. Now that we were no longer together, I was actually collecting them.
But then she is invited into some event and she sees Anton again. From there on, their story once again continues.
These moments from then on were mostly my favorites. It was just so cute and it made me "awwww" from time to time.
Anyway, super cute and fluffy story!!
5 IM-GONNA-FIND-MY-KIND-OF-GUYS STARS!!!!!!!!!
July 16, 2012
Original post here.
One thing that kept nagging at me as I breezed through That Kind of Guy over the weekend was: how manang is manang?
Julie, the female protagonist, was labeled a manang by her younger sister Andrea, probably owing to the former's rather conservative ways and the fact that she's NBSB (no boyfriend since birth). But when Julie was given Anton's number – how and by whom, will be explained later on in the novella – she was actually the one who dialed and called him up. And on the occasion of a simbang-gabi or midnight mass, during the early part of their casual dating phase, he managed to kiss her. On the mouth. And she let him. Well, I didn't read any part that said she resisted, or pushed him away. Now, if I were manang, I wouldn't do all those.
BUT. That little non-issue aside, I truly enjoyed reading That Kind of Guy. No, I couldn't relate to Julie, but I took pleasure in imagining how my life would be like if I were as paranoid and secretly scared of investing feelings in a guy as she was. Keeping track and collecting stories of a boyfriend's former involvements? My goodness. And by golly, if my own office staff pulled that stunt on me and tried to get me fired, I would be sure to make their own lives h-e-l-l.
I still think Love Your Frenemies is the best Mina V. Esguerra book I've read thus far. But this one, having been written very candidly, comes in at a close second. When I closed the last pages of the book, the thought that was running in my head was: I'd love to have a friend like Julie and
July 14, 2012
That kind of guy is Anton, buff, neat, sleek and reeks like a real player. That kind of manang is Julie, naïve, comfortable, clueless and arrows pointing to the direction of boring. So what do they have in common? At first glance, nothing. But one has to read on to understand that chemistry is not for elements only.
The characters are relatable and the scenes timely. I believed a man like Anton would exist and the uncertainties that Julie has is plausible. I know of friends who are into dating games and playing them is a hobby and then there are some who just got tired and settled for a serious relationship and hence are more than happily married and then there are some who never tried to leave the game, Peter Pan syndrome of some sort but that would be another story. But it was Julie and her overanalyzing that hit a homerun in me. I am guilty of doing so, transcending what I thought were useless emotions to armor my heart thicker than before. Then again the dating game may be a means to place a shield on the real person until that right someone comes along, an armor like my "overanalysis" battle suit could not resist.
Mina finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people. This was written in the page about the author. And it got me thinking- What would she write about my life? (…gets up and gets a life)
The characters are relatable and the scenes timely. I believed a man like Anton would exist and the uncertainties that Julie has is plausible. I know of friends who are into dating games and playing them is a hobby and then there are some who just got tired and settled for a serious relationship and hence are more than happily married and then there are some who never tried to leave the game, Peter Pan syndrome of some sort but that would be another story. But it was Julie and her overanalyzing that hit a homerun in me. I am guilty of doing so, transcending what I thought were useless emotions to armor my heart thicker than before. Then again the dating game may be a means to place a shield on the real person until that right someone comes along, an armor like my "overanalysis" battle suit could not resist.
Mina finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people. This was written in the page about the author. And it got me thinking- What would she write about my life? (…gets up and gets a life)
July 29, 2012
After reading most of her books, it's clear this one fits into the Mina Esguerra mold. Her author's blurb says so - that she writes contemporary romance and YA novellas.
It was a good, quick, feel-good read. It's about a guy who's been type-casted as a player, as one who wouldn't get serious in a relationship, one who cannot and won't change. Eventually though, he found his true love, the girl who would change him.
If one can get past the YA theme, it gets you to do a rethinking on some negative trait that has remained "unchanged"; those that you've accepted as already ingrained, a part of who you are... Maybe, just maybe... and why not, if it's for the better?
It was a good, quick, feel-good read. It's about a guy who's been type-casted as a player, as one who wouldn't get serious in a relationship, one who cannot and won't change. Eventually though, he found his true love, the girl who would change him.
If one can get past the YA theme, it gets you to do a rethinking on some negative trait that has remained "unchanged"; those that you've accepted as already ingrained, a part of who you are... Maybe, just maybe... and why not, if it's for the better?
July 12, 2012
Chick Lit is not always a priority on my books to read, but I always make room for Summit books such as this; actually, especially when it’s Mina Esguerra’s books. They’re very easy to read and you can finish them in one sitting.
That Kind of Guy lets readers meet Julie, a girl who particularly always wants to stay on the safe side most of her life. She wants certainty when it comes to relationships. She even sometimes comes out as a pushover at work. “Meek” was what I first thought she was but ended up with “Insecure” as I read through.
So Julie meets and dates Anton; a guy that she feels is out of her league. Anton on the other hand, finds Julie interesting, even though Julie finds herself to be a boring kind of girl for a guy like Anton. And yet Anton’s eager to take a chance to get to know Julie the way she likes a guy to get to know her. Enter “Meet the parents” moment. All in all these two make a simple, happy couple. Until Anton surprises Julie with a marriage proposal. And Julie doesn’t give out either a “yes” or “no” answer; she asks “why?”
What conspired after was Julie’s somewhat weird “investigation” about Anton’s exes. She has this book containing all the names of the girls from his past along with what happened and where they are now. It reminded me of the movie “The Little Black Book” and I was already thinking, “Julie, trust me when I say that’s a bad idea. I saw the movie after all.” LOL.
Now if we’re going to talk about relationships, let me just clear it out that in this book there are two types of guys that Julie is caught in between; the safe-and-secure, simple guy Harry, and the roguish-like-a-bad-boy-kind-but-not-so Anton.
I am in favor of Anton, and no, it’s not because he has that bad boy image. But because of what he brought out in Julie. Harry would’ve been a good choice too, since Julie said that he’s the kind of guy she pictured to be with for the rest of her life, but what Harry lacks is the enthusiasm of trying out new things. I like a guy who would be open to getting to know every part of my life and trying to experience things outside of his comfort zone; whether it’s just slacking off at home or going to a really high-end party and not make himself feel like he doesn’t belong, just because it’s not his “thing”. I think knowing each other’s likes and dislikes along with trying out new things together is one of the factors in establishing a happy and healthy relationship.
Anton may have been a playboy before but that’s not the guy Julie met. And hearsay is not always accurate. Plus, there’s good and bad in everyone, who’s to say he wasn’t serious about their relationship. And the part where he was eager to meet Julie’s parents, well that’s a big thing to make a fool out of.
I think Julie is just a little lost when it comes to finding her self-esteem. I felt like she had a lot of insecurity issues and being with Anton kind of took her out of a shell. I saw a more confident kind of girl and she even got the courage to stand up for herself at work. If that doesn’t scream the “bringing out the best in you” kind of idea, I don’t what does. I’m not saying Julie should rely on Anton for strength, but I think her relationship with him brought her to discover a part of her that she didn’t know existed within.
When it comes to love there’s never really a safe side. It’s all risks and you’ll never know if it was worth it until you’ve actually tried. Maybe you’ve made a mistake in the end but eventually you learn and that, I think, is what’s more important.
One of the things I like about Mina’s books are the lessons you can learn as a woman and/or as an individual. There’s always that spark of realizing a different side of you that you’ve only come to recognize. You may or may not like it, but that breakthrough might be able to lead you to grow and be a better person in the end.
See more reviews on The Blair Book Project! ^_^
That Kind of Guy lets readers meet Julie, a girl who particularly always wants to stay on the safe side most of her life. She wants certainty when it comes to relationships. She even sometimes comes out as a pushover at work. “Meek” was what I first thought she was but ended up with “Insecure” as I read through.
So Julie meets and dates Anton; a guy that she feels is out of her league. Anton on the other hand, finds Julie interesting, even though Julie finds herself to be a boring kind of girl for a guy like Anton. And yet Anton’s eager to take a chance to get to know Julie the way she likes a guy to get to know her. Enter “Meet the parents” moment. All in all these two make a simple, happy couple. Until Anton surprises Julie with a marriage proposal. And Julie doesn’t give out either a “yes” or “no” answer; she asks “why?”
What conspired after was Julie’s somewhat weird “investigation” about Anton’s exes. She has this book containing all the names of the girls from his past along with what happened and where they are now. It reminded me of the movie “The Little Black Book” and I was already thinking, “Julie, trust me when I say that’s a bad idea. I saw the movie after all.” LOL.
Now if we’re going to talk about relationships, let me just clear it out that in this book there are two types of guys that Julie is caught in between; the safe-and-secure, simple guy Harry, and the roguish-like-a-bad-boy-kind-but-not-so Anton.
I am in favor of Anton, and no, it’s not because he has that bad boy image. But because of what he brought out in Julie. Harry would’ve been a good choice too, since Julie said that he’s the kind of guy she pictured to be with for the rest of her life, but what Harry lacks is the enthusiasm of trying out new things. I like a guy who would be open to getting to know every part of my life and trying to experience things outside of his comfort zone; whether it’s just slacking off at home or going to a really high-end party and not make himself feel like he doesn’t belong, just because it’s not his “thing”. I think knowing each other’s likes and dislikes along with trying out new things together is one of the factors in establishing a happy and healthy relationship.
Anton may have been a playboy before but that’s not the guy Julie met. And hearsay is not always accurate. Plus, there’s good and bad in everyone, who’s to say he wasn’t serious about their relationship. And the part where he was eager to meet Julie’s parents, well that’s a big thing to make a fool out of.
I think Julie is just a little lost when it comes to finding her self-esteem. I felt like she had a lot of insecurity issues and being with Anton kind of took her out of a shell. I saw a more confident kind of girl and she even got the courage to stand up for herself at work. If that doesn’t scream the “bringing out the best in you” kind of idea, I don’t what does. I’m not saying Julie should rely on Anton for strength, but I think her relationship with him brought her to discover a part of her that she didn’t know existed within.
When it comes to love there’s never really a safe side. It’s all risks and you’ll never know if it was worth it until you’ve actually tried. Maybe you’ve made a mistake in the end but eventually you learn and that, I think, is what’s more important.
One of the things I like about Mina’s books are the lessons you can learn as a woman and/or as an individual. There’s always that spark of realizing a different side of you that you’ve only come to recognize. You may or may not like it, but that breakthrough might be able to lead you to grow and be a better person in the end.
See more reviews on The Blair Book Project! ^_^
May 5, 2015
Manang literally means old woman but another meaning would be a woman who is old fashioned with mostly unperturbed customs, morals and such. Julie is an example of the second meaning of manang. And she didn't mind about it until she started dating Anton who is a former bad guy type. She is unexperienced with love and doubts that their relationship will get further as they belong in totally different circles.
The story is light, the plot is simple & the first point of view is used. Her Filipino setting is highly commendable.
In the story, readers can see the Filipino traditions like simbang gabi, courting at home, family oriented, etc. However, it was contradicted a little by the act of pre-marital sex which shows the modern side. And even though it's a typical love story, it was not one of those pedantic, annoying and stretching but it was a cute one. It can be noticed that the characters grow as the story progresses.
I think I watched too much friends tv show. I remember episodes like some scenes in this book.
Certainty is sexy - I agree with this.
There would be nothing more impressive than someone who will actually tell you that he/she likes you without any hesitations or doubts.
The story is light, the plot is simple & the first point of view is used. Her Filipino setting is highly commendable.
In the story, readers can see the Filipino traditions like simbang gabi, courting at home, family oriented, etc. However, it was contradicted a little by the act of pre-marital sex which shows the modern side. And even though it's a typical love story, it was not one of those pedantic, annoying and stretching but it was a cute one. It can be noticed that the characters grow as the story progresses.
Certainty is sexy - I agree with this.
There would be nothing more impressive than someone who will actually tell you that he/she likes you without any hesitations or doubts.
September 23, 2018
This has been on my TBR for the looongest time, and I'm glad I finally picked it up because it was worth the wait (lol)! I enjoy good girl-bad boy stories, so I was ecstatic to find just how ~perfect this was. It opens on a relatively painful phase—the aftermath of a breakup, wherein Julie —instead of the beginning of the relationship, and I loved that because it kept me turning pages. I wanted to know the hows and the whys, it was like playing detective! (So, you know, I read this EVERYWHERE. I couldn't put it down.) Julie, I rally, was right to have done what she did—something about the relationship didn't feel right, so she recognized it, assessed it and did something about it. It's not often that I find this happening in romance stories with themes like this, so I appreciated the different cry of ~fight for love. Now one of my favorites from this author, and one of my favorite reads this year.
March 29, 2017
This was incredibly cute. I loved the journey of Julie & Anton's romance, especially the what we got to see from the past before everything happening in the present.
3.5-4 stars. This is my first book from this author and I'll definitely be reading more.
3.5-4 stars. This is my first book from this author and I'll definitely be reading more.
August 12, 2016
What to do when you're bored out of your wits--read a Mina V. Esguerra novella. Good thing my bi-weekly client call was cancelled. Finally. FINALLY. Read this. =)
*Review to Follow*
Original review posted @ Off the Wall
Manang is commonly used as a term for an elder sister or an older female. It’s also used to show respect when speaking to an elder woman who you don’t know by name. [1] This is also used to describe an old maid or a laid back, conservative female or someone who isn’t easily swayed by today’s mainstream culture. So what happens when a Filipina Manang meets a hot, player guy that is totally out of her league?
This is the third Mina V. Esguerra book I’ve read and she still makes me giddy and mushy with her storytelling. I love most of the guys in her books and as a self-confessed sucker for reformed bad/play boys expect fangirling in this review. But I promise to keep the fangirling to a minimum, there are a lot of things to like in this book and the uber hot Anton is just an icing on the cake. Yes, that’s the tame version of my fangirling! Haha!
Julie is your typical goody two-shoes. Meeting and dating a guy that is the exact opposite of her lifestyle would certainly raise doubt and insecurities that would make you question whether this would last or if she’s just a passing flame. I don’t blame her for wanting an established relationship. Who wouldn’t want to have that special someone you are certain you’ll end up with? Not all of Julie’s decisions in her life are right but I don’t have to be manang to understand her. I like how her relationship with Anton grew and how she learned to accept change. She is aware that they don’t have anything in common. They have different types of friends, hang out places and hobbies. Yes, she’s innocent and all but she isn’t stupid to just fall for a pretty face. She did try to avoid Anton, right?
One of the things I like in Mina’s heroines is how they evolve through out the story. Julie blossomed from an uptight, conforming girl to a woman who knows what she wants, what she needs and how to get it. Certainty is sexy, yes, but there are also things that are worth risking for. Her decisions are somewhat stupid, who wouldn’t say yes to someone like Anton? (I would definitely say yes!), but it’s her way of finding what she truly wants in life. And even if it pissed me to death that she has to compare herself to Anton’s ex-es, chronicle their time and reasons for breaking up, doubt the guy’s intentions, try to settle for a good guy, and then experience how Anton treats his ex-es, I still salute her for not taking the easy route. In the end, she came out victorious.
Now Anton, oh-lalala Anton, is the typical player, bad boy kind of guy that most girls fell for which good guys can’t understand why. [2] If you’ve read Mina’s books before, he is Carla’s best friend in No Strings Attached and Lucas’s roommate/officemate in Fairy Tale Fail. I haven’t read all of Mina’s books yet but he is, by far, the most in depth male lead in her novels. He is also a proof that players also do fall in love. Anton is a swoon-worthy guy but Lucas is still my first love.
Note:
“Who wouldn’t say yes to someone like Anton? I would definitely say yes!” << This is me fangirling.
Honestly, if I was in Julie’s shoes, I would also decline the proposal but I’ll clearly explain why. It was just a wrong move from Anton to propose after getting the cherry popped. That is so medieval. The fact that he never had a relationship with someone like Julie would make me doubt his intentions. Guilt, regret and responsibility are the reasons in my head why he proposed. I know, that is so judgmental but you can’t blame me for thinking that way, right? 11 months may not be enough for Julie to really know Anton but one thing I know is for sure, all girls out there who want to be married one day would want to do it for love and not out of obligation. The four-letter word is important.
[1] Definition from Urban Dictionary
[2] Reminds me of a discussion in the green car in one of TFG’s late night talkathon after an F2F. We even had a poll about this in FB!
Challenges:
Book # something of 2013
****
Review also posted @ Off the Wall.
Original review posted @ Off the Wall
Manang is commonly used as a term for an elder sister or an older female. It’s also used to show respect when speaking to an elder woman who you don’t know by name. [1] This is also used to describe an old maid or a laid back, conservative female or someone who isn’t easily swayed by today’s mainstream culture. So what happens when a Filipina Manang meets a hot, player guy that is totally out of her league?
This is the third Mina V. Esguerra book I’ve read and she still makes me giddy and mushy with her storytelling. I love most of the guys in her books and as a self-confessed sucker for reformed bad/play boys expect fangirling in this review. But I promise to keep the fangirling to a minimum, there are a lot of things to like in this book and the uber hot Anton is just an icing on the cake. Yes, that’s the tame version of my fangirling! Haha!
Certainty is sexy. – Julie
Julie is your typical goody two-shoes. Meeting and dating a guy that is the exact opposite of her lifestyle would certainly raise doubt and insecurities that would make you question whether this would last or if she’s just a passing flame. I don’t blame her for wanting an established relationship. Who wouldn’t want to have that special someone you are certain you’ll end up with? Not all of Julie’s decisions in her life are right but I don’t have to be manang to understand her. I like how her relationship with Anton grew and how she learned to accept change. She is aware that they don’t have anything in common. They have different types of friends, hang out places and hobbies. Yes, she’s innocent and all but she isn’t stupid to just fall for a pretty face. She did try to avoid Anton, right?
One of the things I like in Mina’s heroines is how they evolve through out the story. Julie blossomed from an uptight, conforming girl to a woman who knows what she wants, what she needs and how to get it. Certainty is sexy, yes, but there are also things that are worth risking for. Her decisions are somewhat stupid, who wouldn’t say yes to someone like Anton? (I would definitely say yes!), but it’s her way of finding what she truly wants in life. And even if it pissed me to death that she has to compare herself to Anton’s ex-es, chronicle their time and reasons for breaking up, doubt the guy’s intentions, try to settle for a good guy, and then experience how Anton treats his ex-es, I still salute her for not taking the easy route. In the end, she came out victorious.
Now Anton, oh-lalala Anton, is the typical player, bad boy kind of guy that most girls fell for which good guys can’t understand why. [2] If you’ve read Mina’s books before, he is Carla’s best friend in No Strings Attached and Lucas’s roommate/officemate in Fairy Tale Fail. I haven’t read all of Mina’s books yet but he is, by far, the most in depth male lead in her novels. He is also a proof that players also do fall in love. Anton is a swoon-worthy guy but Lucas is still my first love.
Note:
“Who wouldn’t say yes to someone like Anton? I would definitely say yes!” << This is me fangirling.
Honestly, if I was in Julie’s shoes, I would also decline the proposal but I’ll clearly explain why. It was just a wrong move from Anton to propose after getting the cherry popped. That is so medieval. The fact that he never had a relationship with someone like Julie would make me doubt his intentions. Guilt, regret and responsibility are the reasons in my head why he proposed. I know, that is so judgmental but you can’t blame me for thinking that way, right? 11 months may not be enough for Julie to really know Anton but one thing I know is for sure, all girls out there who want to be married one day would want to do it for love and not out of obligation. The four-letter word is important.
[1] Definition from Urban Dictionary
[2] Reminds me of a discussion in the green car in one of TFG’s late night talkathon after an F2F. We even had a poll about this in FB!
Challenges:
Book # something of 2013
****
Review also posted @ Off the Wall.
July 11, 2012
The cover
At first I thought the girl (let’s call her Julie) was reading a book here but she wasn’t. At one part of the story, you’ll discover that this was actually her notebook of Anton’s (her ex) hook-up stories, that Anton never know of and that she reads (and updates) every now and then to remind herself that it was worth saying no to him when he proposed marriage to her.
Review
I never thought that Anton, would be this swoon-worthy type of guy because of his no serious, playboy attitude but thank heavens for Julie and this book that made all the difference. The book highlighted how hot and likable Anton is for making Julie speak her mind, for getting along well with her family and for making me all kilig with all his simple moves. It made me realize that these bad boys really have their soft sides and will always settle for someone who’s smart and made them change for the better (not saying that Julie changed him but maybe subconsciously) once they found the one for them regardless of the age. Case in point when Anton popped The Question the morning after they became one. But surprise, surprise, good girl Julie said no. (Find out why!) The story also made me hate Anton at one point because of his lame dating skills which Julie got to experience firsthand by her choice but that’s forgiven because what do you expect from a bad boy, right?
In the end, I love That Kind of Guy because not only did it show the better side of a bad boy, but also because it did emphasize how a risk (in love and life) is always worth taking.
Once again, Mina did an excellent job at writing this book as it made me turn every page with enthusiasm and curiosity because of the questions thrown which made me hanging but were answered later on. I love every sudden turn of events, how the story progresses and the way Mina ended the story! OMG, it’s sooo good and unexpected! And I want you to know why!
At first I thought the girl (let’s call her Julie) was reading a book here but she wasn’t. At one part of the story, you’ll discover that this was actually her notebook of Anton’s (her ex) hook-up stories, that Anton never know of and that she reads (and updates) every now and then to remind herself that it was worth saying no to him when he proposed marriage to her.
Review
I never thought that Anton, would be this swoon-worthy type of guy because of his no serious, playboy attitude but thank heavens for Julie and this book that made all the difference. The book highlighted how hot and likable Anton is for making Julie speak her mind, for getting along well with her family and for making me all kilig with all his simple moves. It made me realize that these bad boys really have their soft sides and will always settle for someone who’s smart and made them change for the better (not saying that Julie changed him but maybe subconsciously) once they found the one for them regardless of the age. Case in point when Anton popped The Question the morning after they became one. But surprise, surprise, good girl Julie said no. (Find out why!) The story also made me hate Anton at one point because of his lame dating skills which Julie got to experience firsthand by her choice but that’s forgiven because what do you expect from a bad boy, right?
In the end, I love That Kind of Guy because not only did it show the better side of a bad boy, but also because it did emphasize how a risk (in love and life) is always worth taking.
Once again, Mina did an excellent job at writing this book as it made me turn every page with enthusiasm and curiosity because of the questions thrown which made me hanging but were answered later on. I love every sudden turn of events, how the story progresses and the way Mina ended the story! OMG, it’s sooo good and unexpected! And I want you to know why!
January 2, 2015
Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld.
QUICK REVIEW: Julie describes herself, or at least her sister, Andrea, as manang or “older woman” as defined in the book. But it is not the age that actually makes a manang in this country, but the conservative ways that one firmly believes in. I used to think that I am manang too, considering that I am the eldest of three siblings and I used to have younger friends who look up to me for advice (not fashion advice, though.) I didn’t date around like Julie and I don’t call up a guy I haven’t met before to set a date. I had my first boyfriend at 29 then got married to him the following year. That is why I don’t exactly believe that Julie is manang. Still, I like this book because of Anton. I like it that he is willing to pursue Julie, who, in my opinion have serious self-esteem issues. No, she is not strong with her convictions. She is a coward and prejudiced. She doesn’t know a good guy when she sees one. Yes, I’m a bit of biased here because, heck, Anton is that kind of guy who shouldn’t be shunned like that because of his social status. And that list of Julie’s? It’s simply a confirmation that she isn’t comfortable with who and what she is. Read this book to see what I mean.
QUICK REVIEW: Julie describes herself, or at least her sister, Andrea, as manang or “older woman” as defined in the book. But it is not the age that actually makes a manang in this country, but the conservative ways that one firmly believes in. I used to think that I am manang too, considering that I am the eldest of three siblings and I used to have younger friends who look up to me for advice (not fashion advice, though.) I didn’t date around like Julie and I don’t call up a guy I haven’t met before to set a date. I had my first boyfriend at 29 then got married to him the following year. That is why I don’t exactly believe that Julie is manang. Still, I like this book because of Anton. I like it that he is willing to pursue Julie, who, in my opinion have serious self-esteem issues. No, she is not strong with her convictions. She is a coward and prejudiced. She doesn’t know a good guy when she sees one. Yes, I’m a bit of biased here because, heck, Anton is that kind of guy who shouldn’t be shunned like that because of his social status. And that list of Julie’s? It’s simply a confirmation that she isn’t comfortable with who and what she is. Read this book to see what I mean.
June 1, 2017
3.75/5.0
I really liked this book. My friends keep talking about Mina Esguerra nonstop and we're all reading her books like crazy, I decided to read this one next since I've already met Julie and Anton in Better At Weddings Than You.
I wasn't expecting much, but I loved it anyway. The only thing I didn't like was that there wasn't so many dialogs between Julie and Anton in the present, so I felt I still didn't know him that much in the end, but I did enjoy them as a couple.
I liked to see Julie and Daphne meeting for the first time and I really enjoyed seeing Julie growing as a person, finding herself and realizing the things she liked and who she was.
I really liked this book. My friends keep talking about Mina Esguerra nonstop and we're all reading her books like crazy, I decided to read this one next since I've already met Julie and Anton in Better At Weddings Than You.
I wasn't expecting much, but I loved it anyway. The only thing I didn't like was that there wasn't so many dialogs between Julie and Anton in the present, so I felt I still didn't know him that much in the end, but I did enjoy them as a couple.
I liked to see Julie and Daphne meeting for the first time and I really enjoyed seeing Julie growing as a person, finding herself and realizing the things she liked and who she was.
July 2, 2012
I like it enough because it made me laugh.
What I think lacking is the description of the female protagonist. After reading this, all I know is her attitude toward relationships. I didn't get a good grip of her personality. Other than her face scrunched up when she's lying, I don't know what she looks like. I guess, I'm used to characters with their facial trademarks.
The book is a nice afternoon snack. It is entertaining and funny. 3 stars.
What I think lacking is the description of the female protagonist. After reading this, all I know is her attitude toward relationships. I didn't get a good grip of her personality. Other than her face scrunched up when she's lying, I don't know what she looks like. I guess, I'm used to characters with their facial trademarks.
The book is a nice afternoon snack. It is entertaining and funny. 3 stars.
April 6, 2017
i noticed i was bitchy with the books i've read today. i dont know if it was because of my high fever or i just dont really enjoyed them much
anyway i planned to give this book 3 stars but i realized i gave no strings attached 3 stars and i liked that book better than this one so i stick to 2 stars. i like Anton but i dont like Julie much and her indecisiveness.
okay ill stop before this turns into a rant.:-)
anyway i planned to give this book 3 stars but i realized i gave no strings attached 3 stars and i liked that book better than this one so i stick to 2 stars. i like Anton but i dont like Julie much and her indecisiveness.
okay ill stop before this turns into a rant.:-)
January 4, 2015
Summit is a publisher of magazines in the Philippines. They have a line called Summit books which my sister collects the books in support of the local authors. The stories revolve around finding love and the protagonists are college to mid-30s, most are very easy reads and a reader can finish in one sitting.
Different but one of the better Summit Books I've read. I liked the time hop within the story. Got me feeling kilig and sappy at the time.
Different but one of the better Summit Books I've read. I liked the time hop within the story. Got me feeling kilig and sappy at the time.
July 11, 2020
I loved it even more on the reread so I upped it by .5 stars. One of my favorite second chance romances ever.
January 28, 2019
This is one of the CM books I hadn’t read before, although both characters appeared as secondary characters in No Strings Attached. I think this now might be one of my favorites.
Like the other books in this series, it’s told in the first person from the heroine (Julie’s) POV. And—as with most of the previous heroines—she’s not a traditionally “likable” female protagonist. Naturally, that means I adored her. She’s blunt to the point of sometimes being tactless, often judgmental, and a bit uptight. Anton is truly her opposite, and she can’t bring herself to believe that someone who has such a different lifestyle and who has had so much experience with casual dating will want to stay with her. So I found her this compelling mixture of very true to herself but also insecure.
This has a nonlinear narrative structure (another hallmark of this series in some ways): the book starts out in the present day, with Julie running into Anton’s various flings. None of them know she was the one serious girlfriend who actually dumped him. Then it jumps back in time, to when they were dating, before jumping forward again into the future. I’d consider this a second chance romance because in the present day, they’re broken up.
I can’t recommend this series enough to people who want to read about wonderfully flawed women getting a happy ending. I love Mina so much for writing these types of stories.
Like the other books in this series, it’s told in the first person from the heroine (Julie’s) POV. And—as with most of the previous heroines—she’s not a traditionally “likable” female protagonist. Naturally, that means I adored her. She’s blunt to the point of sometimes being tactless, often judgmental, and a bit uptight. Anton is truly her opposite, and she can’t bring herself to believe that someone who has such a different lifestyle and who has had so much experience with casual dating will want to stay with her. So I found her this compelling mixture of very true to herself but also insecure.
This has a nonlinear narrative structure (another hallmark of this series in some ways): the book starts out in the present day, with Julie running into Anton’s various flings. None of them know she was the one serious girlfriend who actually dumped him. Then it jumps back in time, to when they were dating, before jumping forward again into the future. I’d consider this a second chance romance because in the present day, they’re broken up.
I can’t recommend this series enough to people who want to read about wonderfully flawed women getting a happy ending. I love Mina so much for writing these types of stories.
August 18, 2018
Anton U. Santos may have been a player in his younger years, but he was willing to change for the better when he met editor Julie Crisostomo, a quiet, level-headed woman who never had a boyfriend before. While Julie thought that she may not be the kind of girl that instantly attracted the opposite sex, there was something about her that made Anton (and another guy) fall for her. Something that turned Anton’s life upside down.
As a woman, Julie’s instinct about Anton kicked up a notch when she non longer felt comfortable with their situation. How could she ever believe what’s in front of her when all the universe seemed to conspire against her beliefs?
I’m quite surprised about how the characters managed to blow me away with their relationship. I honestly didn’t expect Julie’s method of really knowing the person that intrigued her. It made me realize Julie’s character is way more mature and deeper than how I deal with relationships. Her reasoning about her breakup with Anton wasn’t really something I’ve thought of. I don’t know how to explain it, I thought there was something amiss with my reaction.
But in the end, I’ve come full circle and made me realize I still need more relationship lessons from Mina Esguerra herself. This awesome Filipina author never fails to surprise me with her stories. I’ve read about three or four of Mina’s books and I always end up learning something new. What I love most about her characters is that the readers aren’t only entertained, they also get the chance to contemplate and feel involved. That’s why I always trust Mina Esguerra to deliver a wonderful story.
I’ve always been a big fan of Filipino authors, writers, storytellers and am quite honored to have met a few of them in my lifetime. For this month, we are celebrating #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy to recognize, honor and commemorate talented Filipino writers and their exemplary stories. Mabuhay ang mga Akdang Pinoy!
As a woman, Julie’s instinct about Anton kicked up a notch when she non longer felt comfortable with their situation. How could she ever believe what’s in front of her when all the universe seemed to conspire against her beliefs?
I’m quite surprised about how the characters managed to blow me away with their relationship. I honestly didn’t expect Julie’s method of really knowing the person that intrigued her. It made me realize Julie’s character is way more mature and deeper than how I deal with relationships. Her reasoning about her breakup with Anton wasn’t really something I’ve thought of. I don’t know how to explain it, I thought there was something amiss with my reaction.
But in the end, I’ve come full circle and made me realize I still need more relationship lessons from Mina Esguerra herself. This awesome Filipina author never fails to surprise me with her stories. I’ve read about three or four of Mina’s books and I always end up learning something new. What I love most about her characters is that the readers aren’t only entertained, they also get the chance to contemplate and feel involved. That’s why I always trust Mina Esguerra to deliver a wonderful story.
I’ve always been a big fan of Filipino authors, writers, storytellers and am quite honored to have met a few of them in my lifetime. For this month, we are celebrating #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy to recognize, honor and commemorate talented Filipino writers and their exemplary stories. Mabuhay ang mga Akdang Pinoy!
March 9, 2013
More like a 3.5.
Full review here at Once Upon a Story
This is my first Mina Esguerra book and it won't be my last. I was drawn to the premise that the heroine, Julie, rejected the proposal of all-around hot guy and reformed player, Anton. While I could readily tell why Julie would've said no, I also wanted to know why she feels conflicted about her decision and what sort of guy Anton was. So even though I had a feeling it was going to be cliche, I set that aside and started reading. In less than four hours, I finished the book. I was so happy.
If Julie was a real person in the real world, I wouldn't have liked her. She seems so negative about life, bitter about her work, insecure about her appearance. It's hard to be around people like that, harder still to believe that the hot playboy would fall for her. But she grew on me as a character. I sympathized with her reservations about Anton. I mean who wouldn't be even a little suspicious, right? I sympathized with her work situation. I would probably be meaner if that ever happened to me. And I love, love, love her attitude towards her family. She's very close with them, and that's very Filipino. I, myself, am close to my family so I could easily identify with her.
Anton is a stuff nut to crack. He didn't have a traumatizing experience that made him a playboy. He just kind of decided that after his first girlfriend, he wasn't going to take anyone seriously until he met the right person. How he knew Julie was that person was vaguely explained, but he seemed to really be sure. Even though they seemed like an unlikely couple, they clicked. I think they balance each other out. And, to be honest, if a guy makes the effort to spend time with your crazy family every Sunday without complaining, for the entire duration of your relationship, you ought to know he's a keeper. Anyway, he proposed and she rejected him because she didn't trust him to be faithful, given his history.
I liked how they tried to be together again seven months after the break-up; this time, him treating her like the other girls. I thought it was funny how the role-playing made Julie more confident and more sure that he wasn't pretending to be a different guy with her. It was at this time, I think, that they really showed their true colors. They were finally ready to show their dark side, so to speak, and waited for the other to run away. But neither did. In fact, when they were confessing their baggage with the other, I was like:
Okay, maybe not exactly like that. But still.
Most of all, I loved the epilogue. We get a peripheral view of what happened to them a year later. It's in the POV of a stranger who didn't know Julie and Anton's story. So, the way their happy ending played out wasn't explicit. It was subtle in a good way. Like, you know that they aren't married but they're still so in love with each other. I liked that. I really liked that.
Full review here at Once Upon a Story
This is my first Mina Esguerra book and it won't be my last. I was drawn to the premise that the heroine, Julie, rejected the proposal of all-around hot guy and reformed player, Anton. While I could readily tell why Julie would've said no, I also wanted to know why she feels conflicted about her decision and what sort of guy Anton was. So even though I had a feeling it was going to be cliche, I set that aside and started reading. In less than four hours, I finished the book. I was so happy.
If Julie was a real person in the real world, I wouldn't have liked her. She seems so negative about life, bitter about her work, insecure about her appearance. It's hard to be around people like that, harder still to believe that the hot playboy would fall for her. But she grew on me as a character. I sympathized with her reservations about Anton. I mean who wouldn't be even a little suspicious, right? I sympathized with her work situation. I would probably be meaner if that ever happened to me. And I love, love, love her attitude towards her family. She's very close with them, and that's very Filipino. I, myself, am close to my family so I could easily identify with her.
Anton is a stuff nut to crack. He didn't have a traumatizing experience that made him a playboy. He just kind of decided that after his first girlfriend, he wasn't going to take anyone seriously until he met the right person. How he knew Julie was that person was vaguely explained, but he seemed to really be sure. Even though they seemed like an unlikely couple, they clicked. I think they balance each other out. And, to be honest, if a guy makes the effort to spend time with your crazy family every Sunday without complaining, for the entire duration of your relationship, you ought to know he's a keeper. Anyway, he proposed and she rejected him because she didn't trust him to be faithful, given his history.
I liked how they tried to be together again seven months after the break-up; this time, him treating her like the other girls. I thought it was funny how the role-playing made Julie more confident and more sure that he wasn't pretending to be a different guy with her. It was at this time, I think, that they really showed their true colors. They were finally ready to show their dark side, so to speak, and waited for the other to run away. But neither did. In fact, when they were confessing their baggage with the other, I was like:
Okay, maybe not exactly like that. But still.
Most of all, I loved the epilogue. We get a peripheral view of what happened to them a year later. It's in the POV of a stranger who didn't know Julie and Anton's story. So, the way their happy ending played out wasn't explicit. It was subtle in a good way. Like, you know that they aren't married but they're still so in love with each other. I liked that. I really liked that.
February 2, 2018
This book was so good?
Okay, so it's a sort-of-romance between this girl Julie (kind of boring, reliable, job as an editor) and a dude named Anton (well off, used to be a player, hangs in a fast and upper class crowd, crazy lifestyle). Julie broke up with Anton half a year ago...after he asked her to marry him because they'd been dating for a year. It's revealed through a flashback how Julie and Anton's relationship was back then, and then we see them meeting again in the present. Anton asks Julie what he did wrong, and she says she never felt like she fully knew him because of his player past. So Anton asks her to give him another chance so he can show her what he used to be like if that's what she wants, and Julie says...okay.
I don't mind giving that many spoilers (even though that's like half the book right there, this being a novella) because in many ways this book isn't so much about the plot as it is about the characters. Less happens externally than internally. Julie and Anton go on dates, Julie digs into Anton's past, Julie even goes on dates with another guy, but that's not what the book is really about. It's about Julie trying to figure out if she can trust Anton and more importantly, whether he's the kind of guy she can see herself being with permanently.
This is one of the few books that for me manages a nice-guy vs. bad-boy dichotomy in a way that feels fair. Admittedly I wasn't too fond of the nice-guy option but they got that kind of person's good points and flaws right: Good points--reliable, listens to you, wants to be serious. Flaws--feels like you owe him, badmouths people too easily, kind of clingy and just feels too much like a friend. For once, too, we don't see a heroine feeling indebted to the nice guy so much as sorry because she knows she doesn't really like him from the start. And I also thought Esguerra did an excellent job of showing the kind of fear a "good girl" has about the future: Is this it for me? Am I bound to end up with a guy like this because we're both reliable and stable? Is this all there is, just because I'm "that kind of girl"?
Even though this book is called "that kind of guy" it definitely revolves around Julie. I loved how deeply the POV was in her character. I felt like I knew Anton at the end, and Henry and Kat and all the rest, but I felt like I WAS Julie. She was a great character. I think it's hard to write a relationship so well that the reader both ships it and understands when the MC breaks it off, and Esguerra completely manages it. I also loved the setting of the Philippines--it doesn't dominate the story but here and there the setting breaks through with early early morning masses and Filipino food and various other markers. It's nice to read a story that isn't set in America or England for once.
Anyways, very good novella. Esguerra basically has a finger on the pulse of my fears lols. I will have to check out her other books at some point.
Okay, so it's a sort-of-romance between this girl Julie (kind of boring, reliable, job as an editor) and a dude named Anton (well off, used to be a player, hangs in a fast and upper class crowd, crazy lifestyle). Julie broke up with Anton half a year ago...after he asked her to marry him because they'd been dating for a year. It's revealed through a flashback how Julie and Anton's relationship was back then, and then we see them meeting again in the present. Anton asks Julie what he did wrong, and she says she never felt like she fully knew him because of his player past. So Anton asks her to give him another chance so he can show her what he used to be like if that's what she wants, and Julie says...okay.
I don't mind giving that many spoilers (even though that's like half the book right there, this being a novella) because in many ways this book isn't so much about the plot as it is about the characters. Less happens externally than internally. Julie and Anton go on dates, Julie digs into Anton's past, Julie even goes on dates with another guy, but that's not what the book is really about. It's about Julie trying to figure out if she can trust Anton and more importantly, whether he's the kind of guy she can see herself being with permanently.
This is one of the few books that for me manages a nice-guy vs. bad-boy dichotomy in a way that feels fair. Admittedly I wasn't too fond of the nice-guy option but they got that kind of person's good points and flaws right: Good points--reliable, listens to you, wants to be serious. Flaws--feels like you owe him, badmouths people too easily, kind of clingy and just feels too much like a friend. For once, too, we don't see a heroine feeling indebted to the nice guy so much as sorry because she knows she doesn't really like him from the start. And I also thought Esguerra did an excellent job of showing the kind of fear a "good girl" has about the future: Is this it for me? Am I bound to end up with a guy like this because we're both reliable and stable? Is this all there is, just because I'm "that kind of girl"?
Even though this book is called "that kind of guy" it definitely revolves around Julie. I loved how deeply the POV was in her character. I felt like I knew Anton at the end, and Henry and Kat and all the rest, but I felt like I WAS Julie. She was a great character. I think it's hard to write a relationship so well that the reader both ships it and understands when the MC breaks it off, and Esguerra completely manages it. I also loved the setting of the Philippines--it doesn't dominate the story but here and there the setting breaks through with early early morning masses and Filipino food and various other markers. It's nice to read a story that isn't set in America or England for once.
Anyways, very good novella. Esguerra basically has a finger on the pulse of my fears lols. I will have to check out her other books at some point.
March 29, 2013
Originally posted on Snapshot Inkblot Whatnot
It is not an uncommon trend on Philippine television shows and in romantic movies where the leading lady, often projected as someone who is plain-looking, will attract a bad boy type. You know the formula; boy is the appealing type with a long list of pretty and insecure girls that are now history, girl is your typical manang who still can't get over her last relationship which ended n years ago. Then the inevitable happened: boy meets girl, girl meets boy. For girl, the meeting was nothing special--she's wary of guys his type, and she's just not impressed. Meanwhile, the seemingly ordinary meeting for girl was actually a pivotal moment for boy, for he is, for the rarest of times, actually in love! We, girls, do not understand however this happened and so we begin to openly criticize the story for being so typical. But deep in our hearts, there is a very small question mark: "what are the chances that this can happen in real life?" Okay, I won't delve deeper into that. You get my point. There is a story that we know how it will end, always. Mina Esguerra's That Kind of Guy is not an exception. It is predictable, story-wise. But, as they say, it is not the destination, but the journey, which really matters. This chick-lit novella was a journey I was willing to take.
One of the reviews is right in saying that it is hard to put down. Primarily because it is a short and easy read. But mainly because it felt like listening to a girl friend I haven't seen for quite some time and there she was telling me her fairy tale all at once.
My imaginary girl friend is named Julie who finds herself involved with a hot Casanova type of guy, Anton, who all of a sudden, after being in a relationship with her, did not want to be a player anymore. At first she was okay with this--come on, who isn't a sucker for gentlemen?--but when he suddenly proposed, she turned him down. She was too scared he'll go back to his ways and inadvertently hurt her. For months after their breakup, she tried convincing herself that what she did was right. Perhaps no one can really decide to totally change overnight and have no lapses. Perhaps she is indeed meant for the pudgy lit-geek type. Perhaps she keeps on looking for reasons because she is just trying to mask her regrets. Anyhoo, the twist happens when this Anton guy, after finally extracting from Julie the reasons behind his rejection, tries his luck again but choosing to be the aggressive player this time instead of being the good guy. By the end of Chapter 15, I genuinely felt excited for Julie.
"And when I decided that I wanted to be with you, I was serious about it. But only because I thought--I think--you're the right person for me."
It is not an uncommon trend on Philippine television shows and in romantic movies where the leading lady, often projected as someone who is plain-looking, will attract a bad boy type. You know the formula; boy is the appealing type with a long list of pretty and insecure girls that are now history, girl is your typical manang who still can't get over her last relationship which ended n years ago. Then the inevitable happened: boy meets girl, girl meets boy. For girl, the meeting was nothing special--she's wary of guys his type, and she's just not impressed. Meanwhile, the seemingly ordinary meeting for girl was actually a pivotal moment for boy, for he is, for the rarest of times, actually in love! We, girls, do not understand however this happened and so we begin to openly criticize the story for being so typical. But deep in our hearts, there is a very small question mark: "what are the chances that this can happen in real life?" Okay, I won't delve deeper into that. You get my point. There is a story that we know how it will end, always. Mina Esguerra's That Kind of Guy is not an exception. It is predictable, story-wise. But, as they say, it is not the destination, but the journey, which really matters. This chick-lit novella was a journey I was willing to take.
One of the reviews is right in saying that it is hard to put down. Primarily because it is a short and easy read. But mainly because it felt like listening to a girl friend I haven't seen for quite some time and there she was telling me her fairy tale all at once.
My imaginary girl friend is named Julie who finds herself involved with a hot Casanova type of guy, Anton, who all of a sudden, after being in a relationship with her, did not want to be a player anymore. At first she was okay with this--come on, who isn't a sucker for gentlemen?--but when he suddenly proposed, she turned him down. She was too scared he'll go back to his ways and inadvertently hurt her. For months after their breakup, she tried convincing herself that what she did was right. Perhaps no one can really decide to totally change overnight and have no lapses. Perhaps she is indeed meant for the pudgy lit-geek type. Perhaps she keeps on looking for reasons because she is just trying to mask her regrets. Anyhoo, the twist happens when this Anton guy, after finally extracting from Julie the reasons behind his rejection, tries his luck again but choosing to be the aggressive player this time instead of being the good guy. By the end of Chapter 15, I genuinely felt excited for Julie.
"And when I decided that I wanted to be with you, I was serious about it. But only because I thought--I think--you're the right person for me."
May 23, 2012
One thing I like about That Kind of Guy: I can't relate to it. That's the thing about me: there are times I like to read and be able to relate, and sometimes I don't wanna be able to relate at all.
Perhaps most of you think that it's a bad thing. No, it's not. Especially, if the book is supposed to be a light read, it can never be bad. The story's strength, I strongly believe, is not about its capability to let readers relate to it. It's the characters' voices that make the reader understand what's going on, why those things are happening, and to what reason these characters make certain decisions.
The thing about TKoG is that I've never had a friend who's like Julie. Mine are unpredictable, and has the tendency to be really wild. I love people who will do the unexpected, and that's why I'm friends with these people. That's the reason why, for me, Julie is something fresh. Although, whether or not I like Julie than the other heroines in Mina V. Esguerra's universe is a different question. Yes, the voice Mina used for Julie is something that forced me to continue reading, because it sounds really genuine. It feels like someone's really telling me a story that has really happened, but I just can't relate to her. But I'm pretty sure that the reason to why the book worked on me is because Anton, a favorite character of mine from No Strings Attached, is now the one of the lead heroes of this story. He's the bad guy. In NSA, he even forced Carla, a girl he used to date, to But this time, I feel like the character I've always admired has been fleshed out. I actually think that the story is more about Anton than Julie, and I am glad that his playboy acts is just one of the many layers he can offer to us. I'm not surprised that even though Julie likes him, she
I believe that the book has its own share of flaws, but made its way to the end because of its characters. It's more character-driven than plot-driven kind of story, which I love about it. Girls will surely be able to relate to Julie, especially those who tries so hard to be the honest type of person and always seems to attempt to do the right things. But for the other type of girls, I think it will be really an eye-opener (and I can't believe I just used that word for a novel written by Mina); that something beautiful doesn't always mean it's good (and now I sound like preaching); that sometimes things have to go bad first to see the real beauty of it.
Definitely worth every penny (and I can say that, even though I just won a copy of it from a giveaway). If you like surprises, this book will definitely surprise you. Kudos, Mina!
Perhaps most of you think that it's a bad thing. No, it's not. Especially, if the book is supposed to be a light read, it can never be bad. The story's strength, I strongly believe, is not about its capability to let readers relate to it. It's the characters' voices that make the reader understand what's going on, why those things are happening, and to what reason these characters make certain decisions.
The thing about TKoG is that I've never had a friend who's like Julie. Mine are unpredictable, and has the tendency to be really wild. I love people who will do the unexpected, and that's why I'm friends with these people. That's the reason why, for me, Julie is something fresh. Although, whether or not I like Julie than the other heroines in Mina V. Esguerra's universe is a different question. Yes, the voice Mina used for Julie is something that forced me to continue reading, because it sounds really genuine. It feels like someone's really telling me a story that has really happened, but I just can't relate to her. But I'm pretty sure that the reason to why the book worked on me is because Anton, a favorite character of mine from No Strings Attached, is now the one of the lead heroes of this story. He's the bad guy. In NSA, he even forced Carla, a girl he used to date, to But this time, I feel like the character I've always admired has been fleshed out. I actually think that the story is more about Anton than Julie, and I am glad that his playboy acts is just one of the many layers he can offer to us. I'm not surprised that even though Julie likes him, she
I believe that the book has its own share of flaws, but made its way to the end because of its characters. It's more character-driven than plot-driven kind of story, which I love about it. Girls will surely be able to relate to Julie, especially those who tries so hard to be the honest type of person and always seems to attempt to do the right things. But for the other type of girls, I think it will be really an eye-opener (and I can't believe I just used that word for a novel written by Mina); that something beautiful doesn't always mean it's good (and now I sound like preaching); that sometimes things have to go bad first to see the real beauty of it.
Definitely worth every penny (and I can say that, even though I just won a copy of it from a giveaway). If you like surprises, this book will definitely surprise you. Kudos, Mina!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2012
I first heard about That Kind of Guy from Chachic. I have never read any novel from a Filipino author and I never did want to (it’s a matter of preference or you can count the fact that I am not that familiar with books by Filipino authors) until I saw this in Booksale. It was very thin, the thinnest I have read so far.
I didn’t know what to expect from Esguerra or from That Kind of Guy but I know it is Chick Lit (a genre tht I don’t usually read a lot) and with the ton of Paranormal and YA novels I have read, this was a great escape. So That Kind of Guy introduces us to Julie and Anton. Julie is described and called Manang (means someone older), doesn’t go out much or socialize, someone who doesn’t have tons of friends and who has a routine of home and work and that’s it. Some may find her life boring but that’s how Julie is until she met Anton. Anton on the other hand is a social butterfly, very confident and suave. Julie wasn’t into Anton that much unlike Anton’s curiosity with Julie. The two eventually went on dates and became a couple – it was a happy relationship until that morning of Anton’s proposal.
There are a lot of things I love about this book -
- It was written well and straight to the point.
- It was not only a love story but it also had lessons for both parties.
- I loved how Esguerra included Harry in the mix and Harry was a good contender to Anton. I almost thought he would win Julie over.
- Open-ended finish. It’s up to the readers how they want to imagine the story to end.
- Gorgeous cover, simple yet precise.
- It was very short but didn’t lack the progress and story needed for readers to enjoy Julie and Anton.
I’d like to point out though that the characters were not described thoroughly. I only visualized Julie based on the cover and that’s it. I would have love a little description of the characters appearance asides their personalities. Another was that it’s very short – ha! I know I said that’s one thing I love but because I enjoyed this so much I wanted more but I guess I have to settle for another Esguerra book. I would recommend this one to my friends, no doubt about it.
I didn’t know what to expect from Esguerra or from That Kind of Guy but I know it is Chick Lit (a genre tht I don’t usually read a lot) and with the ton of Paranormal and YA novels I have read, this was a great escape. So That Kind of Guy introduces us to Julie and Anton. Julie is described and called Manang (means someone older), doesn’t go out much or socialize, someone who doesn’t have tons of friends and who has a routine of home and work and that’s it. Some may find her life boring but that’s how Julie is until she met Anton. Anton on the other hand is a social butterfly, very confident and suave. Julie wasn’t into Anton that much unlike Anton’s curiosity with Julie. The two eventually went on dates and became a couple – it was a happy relationship until that morning of Anton’s proposal.
There are a lot of things I love about this book -
- It was written well and straight to the point.
- It was not only a love story but it also had lessons for both parties.
- I loved how Esguerra included Harry in the mix and Harry was a good contender to Anton. I almost thought he would win Julie over.
- Open-ended finish. It’s up to the readers how they want to imagine the story to end.
- Gorgeous cover, simple yet precise.
- It was very short but didn’t lack the progress and story needed for readers to enjoy Julie and Anton.
I’d like to point out though that the characters were not described thoroughly. I only visualized Julie based on the cover and that’s it. I would have love a little description of the characters appearance asides their personalities. Another was that it’s very short – ha! I know I said that’s one thing I love but because I enjoyed this so much I wanted more but I guess I have to settle for another Esguerra book. I would recommend this one to my friends, no doubt about it.
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