warm december

by Jasmin Tan, Don Bryan Bunag (Illustrator)

warm december is the second self-published poetry book by Filipina author Jasmin Tan, known online as The Clumsy Lass. Succeeding her debut work Fragile Interiors, this collection takes its readers to an honest and cathartic ride—from traveling the roads of unrequited love to arriving at a place where healing is found.

Featuring cover design, illustrations and layout by the author’s trusted collaborator and multi-awarded artist Don Bryan Bunag.

144 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2023

About the author

Jasmin Tan, also known as The Clumsy Lass, is a self-published Filipina author born and raised in the Province of Bulacan. She started to pen poems in high school as a hobby, and eventually fell in love with the craft. She graduated AB Journalism in 2014 from Bulacan State University, where she held the Editor-in-Chief and Literary Editor posts of its official student publication, Pacesetter.

Currently, she is working as an independent writer and a social media manager – with yaya-ninang duties to her two adorable nieces, and a lot of fangirling in between. She is also a volunteer at The Outstanding Students of the Philippines - Region 3 Alumni Community of Heroes.

Fragile Interiors is Jasmin’s debut book. To see more of her poetry, visit her page @theclumsylass on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*cries in emotional damage*

She has done it again, everyone! Soooo many good ones, I can't even pick a favorite. ❤️

This book will break your heart, but it will also give you hope and healing. Personally, reading it has been cathartic.

If you've ever experienced unrequited love or a broken heart, has gone through the ups and downs of falling in love, then this collection of poems will speak to you and tug at your heartstrings.

This book reminded me that love goes hand in hand with happiness and pain. It's never just the one or the other.

"Looking back, I'm sure I didn't stop caring about you. That would be impossible. But maybe this time around, I cared for myself a little more." - excerpt from 'this time around' (p. 106)

[Clarisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

warm december is for the ones who hold their pens with so much ardor every night, lips trembling because of all the words trying to escape their throats, carrying truths that are being held for a long, long time. It's a book that can represent a great sigh of relief when you are finally able to tell. Or if you are still choosing to stay behind and quiet, earnestly hoping for your time to admit, it's a piece of art that can be your hope while waiting. warm december will be with you until that one day when you will let your heart be free to tell its stories.

[Kattryn Erryc · Rating 5 out of 5]

this collection perfectly captures the vulnerability and torment of unrequited love — from longing and wishful thinking to healing and still believing.

each poem not only paints a story but also makes you feel things even if you've never experienced them before.

it's reminiscent of taylor swift's teardrops on my guitar, i'd lie, invisible, red, clean, and august, if you ask me.