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Manila Takes Manhattan
Fans of Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang will adore this irresistibly engaging story of two Filipino celebrities caught between everything they want…and everything they are.
How do you follow your heart when it’s in two places?
Filipino musician and producer Mon Mendoza has been in New York for less than a day. Just long enough to feel like he doesn’t belong despite landing a life-changing opportunity. All he can do is set a date night for just himself and some pancit canton. Which, as it turns out, is the only invitation his gorgeous Pinoy neighbor needs…
Actress Olivia Angeles can wear a character like a well-fitted dress. It’s her real self she’s having a hard time fitting into, craving a niche in Hollywood that doesn’t compromise her identity in the name of success. And right now, all she wants is comfort in the form of tasty noodles and her outrageously hot new neighbor. One night. Just enough to lose herself in his touch and the feel of his lips…
Only their sexy little tryst isn’t quite what they signed up for. Because for the next month, Mon and Olivia are working on the same movie. Together. Now they’re discovering they have a lot more in common than Pinoyness and sizzling chemistry. But how do you find yourself and your person when you’re caught between two different worlds?
From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky
The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera
The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
Fake Flame by Adele Buck
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
How do you follow your heart when it’s in two places?
Filipino musician and producer Mon Mendoza has been in New York for less than a day. Just long enough to feel like he doesn’t belong despite landing a life-changing opportunity. All he can do is set a date night for just himself and some pancit canton. Which, as it turns out, is the only invitation his gorgeous Pinoy neighbor needs…
Actress Olivia Angeles can wear a character like a well-fitted dress. It’s her real self she’s having a hard time fitting into, craving a niche in Hollywood that doesn’t compromise her identity in the name of success. And right now, all she wants is comfort in the form of tasty noodles and her outrageously hot new neighbor. One night. Just enough to lose herself in his touch and the feel of his lips…
Only their sexy little tryst isn’t quite what they signed up for. Because for the next month, Mon and Olivia are working on the same movie. Together. Now they’re discovering they have a lot more in common than Pinoyness and sizzling chemistry. But how do you find yourself and your person when you’re caught between two different worlds?
From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky
The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera
The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
Fake Flame by Adele Buck
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2024
56 people are currently reading
10349 people want to read
About the author
Carla de Guzman
25 books177 followersAuthor, occasional illustrator, full-time traveler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
June 10, 2024
… So this was really, really yucky. And I'm not talking about the weird cheese foreplay.
March 27, 2024
DNF at 40%, though honestly I wasn't feeling it from the very first chapter.
This is SUPER instalove, within a few pages they meet and are hooking up. This was an immediate turnoff for many reasons: 1) instalove in general isn't my thing, 2) what sensible woman would see a random man sitting on the floor outside her apartment and invite him in for sex (he's wearing a mask so she can't even see his face, plus she's a famous actress and should be much more cautious about these kinds of things), 3) he's literally just been on a 15 hour flight and doesn't shower or freshen up or even WASH HIS HANDS before they hook up (omg I can't even tell you how much this grossed me out).
Beyond the instalove, there was just no tension or stakes and no real development beyond the initial attraction. There were also a ton of pandemic references (I prefer books where covid isn't mentioned and didn't realize it would be so prevalent here), and pop culture references in general that I think are going to date the book quickly. I also just didn't vibe with the writing style.
I will say though that I loved how centered the Filipino culture and experience was in the story! I was tempted to finish for that alone but I will definitely seek it out in other books.
Thank you Harlequin and Afterglow Books for the review copy.
This is SUPER instalove, within a few pages they meet and are hooking up. This was an immediate turnoff for many reasons: 1) instalove in general isn't my thing, 2) what sensible woman would see a random man sitting on the floor outside her apartment and invite him in for sex (he's wearing a mask so she can't even see his face, plus she's a famous actress and should be much more cautious about these kinds of things), 3) he's literally just been on a 15 hour flight and doesn't shower or freshen up or even WASH HIS HANDS before they hook up (omg I can't even tell you how much this grossed me out).
Beyond the instalove, there was just no tension or stakes and no real development beyond the initial attraction. There were also a ton of pandemic references (I prefer books where covid isn't mentioned and didn't realize it would be so prevalent here), and pop culture references in general that I think are going to date the book quickly. I also just didn't vibe with the writing style.
I will say though that I loved how centered the Filipino culture and experience was in the story! I was tempted to finish for that alone but I will definitely seek it out in other books.
Thank you Harlequin and Afterglow Books for the review copy.
June 30, 2024
Insta-Love is fr not for me and I wanted to love this so much bc of the representation but how she gonna fuck some random dude on the street (during the pandemic no less) 😭
December 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ moderate
Mon Mendoza is a rising musician and producer from the Philippines, brought to New York for a life-changing opportunity. He quickly runs into his Pinoy neighbor, who finds herself craving more than Mon’s pancit. Turns out, she’s Filipina-American actress Olivia Angeles, and precisely the reason Mon was invited to NYC, but they only piece this together AFTER their one-night stand. As both of their careers are taking off both in the U.S. and the Philippines, Olivia and Mon will have to decide whether they chase fame, or each other.
If there’s one phrase to describe Carla de Guzman’s novel, it’s "unapologetically Pinoy.” The novel is intentionally set in Spring 2022, during both the COVID pandemic and the Filipino presidential elections. It’s a great way to incorporate representation and politics into a romcom, and it definitely supported the plot! I enjoyed the novel, and honestly the Pinoy aspects set it apart from others. While I like the idea of falling for someone over pancit, the whole novel’s pacing felt a bit off. Gab Pangilnan & Jef Flores did a great job of narrating, and I sincerely appreciate that their voices were representative of the characters and the culture. I’d recommend this to anyone looking to diversify their romance shelves!
Reviewed as part of an #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Harlequin Audio/Afterglow Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
#hiveinfluencer #HQNShamelessRomantics #HarlequinBooks
Read this book if you:
🍜 have ever craved a pancit meet-cute
🇵🇭 want a plot about Pinoy partnership
🎥 love the forced proximity trope between two rising celebrities
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
🌶️🌶️🌶️ moderate
Mon Mendoza is a rising musician and producer from the Philippines, brought to New York for a life-changing opportunity. He quickly runs into his Pinoy neighbor, who finds herself craving more than Mon’s pancit. Turns out, she’s Filipina-American actress Olivia Angeles, and precisely the reason Mon was invited to NYC, but they only piece this together AFTER their one-night stand. As both of their careers are taking off both in the U.S. and the Philippines, Olivia and Mon will have to decide whether they chase fame, or each other.
If there’s one phrase to describe Carla de Guzman’s novel, it’s "unapologetically Pinoy.” The novel is intentionally set in Spring 2022, during both the COVID pandemic and the Filipino presidential elections. It’s a great way to incorporate representation and politics into a romcom, and it definitely supported the plot! I enjoyed the novel, and honestly the Pinoy aspects set it apart from others. While I like the idea of falling for someone over pancit, the whole novel’s pacing felt a bit off. Gab Pangilnan & Jef Flores did a great job of narrating, and I sincerely appreciate that their voices were representative of the characters and the culture. I’d recommend this to anyone looking to diversify their romance shelves!
Reviewed as part of an #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Harlequin Audio/Afterglow Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
#hiveinfluencer #HQNShamelessRomantics #HarlequinBooks
Read this book if you:
🍜 have ever craved a pancit meet-cute
🇵🇭 want a plot about Pinoy partnership
🎥 love the forced proximity trope between two rising celebrities
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
January 21, 2024
Manila Takes Manhattan is a fresh rom-com, unlike anything I've read in this genre, simply because it was so completely unapologetically Filipino. Carla de Guzman wrote two dynamic, flawed characters, and I absolutely loved reading about Mon and Olivia and how they reaffirm their love and consideration for one another. Mon is an up-and-coming music producer and rapper, and Olivia is an actress acting in her first ~real~ movie musical who fought hard to have Mon produce the tracks for the film.
I loved how much de Guzman centered the Filipino immigrant experience in America from Mon and Olivia's similar but very different experiences. I also really, really enjoyed how inexperienced and not-at-all-macho Mon came across. His desire to freely access all his emotions made him (unsurprisingly) a much better communicator than men bogged down by hyper-masculinity and what it demands of men. Olivia was the more assertive, dominant force in their dynamic, but it worked for them.
I admit to feeling like the beginning was a bit rushed to establish a connection between the main characters. Still, I enjoyed the parts of their situationship where they were getting to know each other, exploring each other's wants and needs safely. Sometimes, I felt like I didn't quite understand or believe the closeness of their relationship. Most of those times, I felt it was okay that I didn't understand because it worked for them.
Overall, I enjoyed this. It was a quick read, it was well-written most of the time (other times I cringed, but I cringe a lot with romcoms, and Mon and Olivia are self-proclaimed cheeseballs), it was diverse, and made me crave lots of yummy Filipino food.
Thank you to Harlequin Romance, Afterglow, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 ⭐️s
2 🌶️s
🚨 Pub Date: 3/26/24
I loved how much de Guzman centered the Filipino immigrant experience in America from Mon and Olivia's similar but very different experiences. I also really, really enjoyed how inexperienced and not-at-all-macho Mon came across. His desire to freely access all his emotions made him (unsurprisingly) a much better communicator than men bogged down by hyper-masculinity and what it demands of men. Olivia was the more assertive, dominant force in their dynamic, but it worked for them.
I admit to feeling like the beginning was a bit rushed to establish a connection between the main characters. Still, I enjoyed the parts of their situationship where they were getting to know each other, exploring each other's wants and needs safely. Sometimes, I felt like I didn't quite understand or believe the closeness of their relationship. Most of those times, I felt it was okay that I didn't understand because it worked for them.
Overall, I enjoyed this. It was a quick read, it was well-written most of the time (other times I cringed, but I cringe a lot with romcoms, and Mon and Olivia are self-proclaimed cheeseballs), it was diverse, and made me crave lots of yummy Filipino food.
Thank you to Harlequin Romance, Afterglow, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 ⭐️s
2 🌶️s
🚨 Pub Date: 3/26/24
April 22, 2024
I don’t love or believe for a second that a famous actress meets an unknown, masked (Covid-setting) man in her hallway and brings him into her apartment to have sex with him.
An instant love story where the obstacle isn’t really an obstacle - they will be working together on a movie! Gasp! (Said nobody) A more believable obstacle would be the conservative Filipino culture but ok. Let’s say I buy it, there’s no real tension here. There’s a barely there triangle and some location issues. And smut. So much smut. Smut with a stranger after a 15 hour flight without a shower, gross smut.
But I love both the main characters here and what they represent! Olivia or Emma as her real name is - grew up outside the Philippines and has found success in the states. But with that she has missed out on parts of the Filipino culture, one that Mon brings with him to the US and shares with her as they start collaborating. It’s a familiar scenario - becoming more Filipino in the presence of other filipinos.
I can’t help myself, I love the representation here! I love reading a scene where the characters eat pancit canton, drop Tagalog phrases and have Filipino mannerisms. But it just didn’t weigh up for the lacking tension and it fell it little flat for me.
An instant love story where the obstacle isn’t really an obstacle - they will be working together on a movie! Gasp! (Said nobody) A more believable obstacle would be the conservative Filipino culture but ok. Let’s say I buy it, there’s no real tension here. There’s a barely there triangle and some location issues. And smut. So much smut. Smut with a stranger after a 15 hour flight without a shower, gross smut.
But I love both the main characters here and what they represent! Olivia or Emma as her real name is - grew up outside the Philippines and has found success in the states. But with that she has missed out on parts of the Filipino culture, one that Mon brings with him to the US and shares with her as they start collaborating. It’s a familiar scenario - becoming more Filipino in the presence of other filipinos.
I can’t help myself, I love the representation here! I love reading a scene where the characters eat pancit canton, drop Tagalog phrases and have Filipino mannerisms. But it just didn’t weigh up for the lacking tension and it fell it little flat for me.
September 16, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up. This was really fun and fresh - Mon, a Filipino musician and music producer, gets a big break scoring a movie in New York City. Upon arrival he falls in love at first sight (complete with immediate steam) with his hotel neighbor.
However, he soon finds out that his new love Olivia is the famous actress starring in the movie he’s been hired to score. They try to stay away from each other while they’re working, but soon realize it’s futile, and have to navigate the realities of two successful but completely different celebrity careers if they want to be together.
This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I was really invested in Mon and Olivia’s relationship. The writing style was casual and stream of consciousness, but I thought it worked well in conveying the vibe of the scenes. I loved how supportive they were of each other’s careers, total competence porn.
If I had one criticism it was that there were a few too many pop culture references- I’m a fan of 90’s movies so they didn’t bother me too much, but it was distracting. Overall though, this was such a fun journey and I enjoyed every minute!
However, he soon finds out that his new love Olivia is the famous actress starring in the movie he’s been hired to score. They try to stay away from each other while they’re working, but soon realize it’s futile, and have to navigate the realities of two successful but completely different celebrity careers if they want to be together.
This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I was really invested in Mon and Olivia’s relationship. The writing style was casual and stream of consciousness, but I thought it worked well in conveying the vibe of the scenes. I loved how supportive they were of each other’s careers, total competence porn.
If I had one criticism it was that there were a few too many pop culture references- I’m a fan of 90’s movies so they didn’t bother me too much, but it was distracting. Overall though, this was such a fun journey and I enjoyed every minute!
August 10, 2024
this was....a book. lol.
very cringey dialogue and even cringier smut scenes. but i really did appreciate the filipino representation!
very cringey dialogue and even cringier smut scenes. but i really did appreciate the filipino representation!
April 1, 2024
this one was fun and cute! it interested me because it’s about two filipino celebrities lol so it probably wouldn’t resonate with everyone. the spice was nice 😝
March 24, 2024
I adored this fish out of water, dual POV, celebrity romance between two Filipino MCs who fall in love while working together in NYC! This was such a sweet romance, I couldn't help falling for both actress Olivia and rising star musician Mon who travels from Manila after Olivia lobbies for him to be the one to produce her songs on a new movie she's starring in.
With lots of romcom references and delicious food references plus tons of spicy open door scenes, this was my first Carla de Guzman book and it definitely won't be my last. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Helen Hoang, Jackie Lau or Cathy Yardley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital and physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Steam level: open door
With lots of romcom references and delicious food references plus tons of spicy open door scenes, this was my first Carla de Guzman book and it definitely won't be my last. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Helen Hoang, Jackie Lau or Cathy Yardley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital and physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Steam level: open door
Read
July 26, 2024the insta-love was too much for me, esp for an adult novel, and also covid was mentioned like every other page. unfortunately, DNFing this one, but the elements about the Philippines are cool!
March 20, 2024
Really enjoyed all the Manila and Philippines! After living in Manila for 5 years and moving away this was a great trip down memory lane.
Read
September 1, 2024Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
:), such a fun read. ~ Kim
:), such a fun read. ~ Kim
August 19, 2024
Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla De Guzman — ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tropes 🌷
- celebrity
- forced proximity
- one night stand
- Filipino culture
“Sometimes you have to trick yourself into believing you can do something, then you surprise yourself when you can actually do it.” — Mon
Wow, I was genuinely surprised by the amount of spice and tension in this book. I’m definitely not complaining! Normally, I’m not a fan of insta-love/lust in a story, but this one completely changed my mind. 🤭
Just a few pages in, I was already giggling and couldn’t stop smiling about Mon and Olivia! It’s incredible how I felt so at home reading this book. For those who don’t know, it’s written by a Filipina author, so you might encounter some Tagalog words that you'll need to look up, but I promise it’s so worth it! 💕✨
Actress + Music Producer = a perfect match! This book was such a pleasant surprise for me, and I’m so glad I picked it up. The story is set in April-May 2022, during the election when Filipinos rallied for change, hoping this time would be different. One line truly resonated with me: “Ang hirap mo mahalin, Pilipinas,” which roughly translates to “You make it hard to love you, Philippines.” 🥹
This was such an emotional and delightful read at the same time. I highly recommend it! 🫶🏻
Tropes 🌷
- celebrity
- forced proximity
- one night stand
- Filipino culture
“Sometimes you have to trick yourself into believing you can do something, then you surprise yourself when you can actually do it.” — Mon
Wow, I was genuinely surprised by the amount of spice and tension in this book. I’m definitely not complaining! Normally, I’m not a fan of insta-love/lust in a story, but this one completely changed my mind. 🤭
Just a few pages in, I was already giggling and couldn’t stop smiling about Mon and Olivia! It’s incredible how I felt so at home reading this book. For those who don’t know, it’s written by a Filipina author, so you might encounter some Tagalog words that you'll need to look up, but I promise it’s so worth it! 💕✨
Actress + Music Producer = a perfect match! This book was such a pleasant surprise for me, and I’m so glad I picked it up. The story is set in April-May 2022, during the election when Filipinos rallied for change, hoping this time would be different. One line truly resonated with me: “Ang hirap mo mahalin, Pilipinas,” which roughly translates to “You make it hard to love you, Philippines.” 🥹
This was such an emotional and delightful read at the same time. I highly recommend it! 🫶🏻
May 12, 2025
This book was a quick read (less than 300 pages), but it was quite boring and way too insta-love for my liking. The author also wrote in the author's note that there's no glossary for the Filipino words and phrases she uses, and that it's intentional. While I appreciated that, it sometimes took away from my understanding of the story.
Olivia, a Filipina-American actress, meets Mon, a Filipino music producer, in the hallway of their short-stay apartment. They have a romantic moment (first chapter) and neither of them know who each other are in that moment. Then they come to find out that they are working together on an upcoming film.
They are attracted to each other but have vastly different life experiences, which gets in their way. Olivia grew up in America but Mon is just visiting the US for his first time as he lives in the Philippines. They like each other enough that they want to keep seeing each other, but when Olivia proposes that Mon leave the Philippines to stay with her in the US, Mon is taken aback as he can't believe Olivia would ask him to leave his country for her (especially as he wants to vote in the upcoming election). The book ends with them being back together in a long-distance relationship.
Olivia, a Filipina-American actress, meets Mon, a Filipino music producer, in the hallway of their short-stay apartment. They have a romantic moment (first chapter) and neither of them know who each other are in that moment. Then they come to find out that they are working together on an upcoming film.
They are attracted to each other but have vastly different life experiences, which gets in their way. Olivia grew up in America but Mon is just visiting the US for his first time as he lives in the Philippines. They like each other enough that they want to keep seeing each other, but when Olivia proposes that Mon leave the Philippines to stay with her in the US, Mon is taken aback as he can't believe Olivia would ask him to leave his country for her (especially as he wants to vote in the upcoming election). The book ends with them being back together in a long-distance relationship.
April 25, 2024
Thank you to Harlequin for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
This book didn't work well for me. I found the opening scenes outlandish and off-putting. On first meeting, they moved too quickly from distrust without any character progression. I think I could have enjoyed the book is those scenes were removed because there were other aspects I appreciated. But it was tough to get past those first impressions.
I did appreciate the culture, food, art, and music. So many aspects of each were well related and moving. And I was glad to see a very strong female main character who was advocating both for herself and for better representation of Filipina women in film.
I would be willing to read another book from this author because there was enough to make me think she would write it well.
2.5 stars rounded up
This book didn't work well for me. I found the opening scenes outlandish and off-putting. On first meeting, they moved too quickly from distrust without any character progression. I think I could have enjoyed the book is those scenes were removed because there were other aspects I appreciated. But it was tough to get past those first impressions.
I did appreciate the culture, food, art, and music. So many aspects of each were well related and moving. And I was glad to see a very strong female main character who was advocating both for herself and for better representation of Filipina women in film.
I would be willing to read another book from this author because there was enough to make me think she would write it well.
2.5 stars rounded up
October 12, 2025
3.75
I saw this book displayed at the local library and was intrigued. I wasn’t expecting this book to be the way that it was, especially the beginning.
I love touched of Filipino culture in it without relying on the stereotypical Pinoy attributes. I like that it didn’t focus or give Mon a “pinoy accent” to show that he’s Filipino and new to the U.S. I also liked that he chose to go home rather than be swept-away by love which could’ve totally derailed his life and career. Lastly, the ending was great and realistic—willing to try a long-distance relationship but not knowing whether it would work or not.
I gave a 3.75 because I think the pacing just wasn’t for me. But overall, easy read book.
I saw this book displayed at the local library and was intrigued. I wasn’t expecting this book to be the way that it was, especially the beginning.
I love touched of Filipino culture in it without relying on the stereotypical Pinoy attributes. I like that it didn’t focus or give Mon a “pinoy accent” to show that he’s Filipino and new to the U.S. I also liked that he chose to go home rather than be swept-away by love which could’ve totally derailed his life and career. Lastly, the ending was great and realistic—willing to try a long-distance relationship but not knowing whether it would work or not.
I gave a 3.75 because I think the pacing just wasn’t for me. But overall, easy read book.
Read
March 12, 2024I wanted to check this out for my Celebrity Romance Book List and it definitely fits the bill.
Mon is a Filipino musician/music producer is hired for a job in New York, tries to check into his hotel, can't get into his room, and ends up in a very steamy encounter with another guest. Oh, well. Just a random hookup with a stranger, right?
No. He's been hired to write the score of a movie and soon discovers that ... Olivia (his hook-up) is the star. The two try to work around this awkwardness and their attraction to each other.
Loved learning more about Filipino culture and the Filipino-American experience. The musical elements were a lot of fun.
Two things I'd mention:
One: quite a few pandemic references.
Two: I read more mystery than romance and was a little taken aback at the very stream-of-consciousness writing style of this story. I never quite adjusted to it. If you like your books to be more methodical and measured in the way they introduce you to a story world, you might want to read a few pages first.
The writing style does fit with the more improvisational, emotional feel of the story ... and the music themes. But I did struggle with it because I'm pretty left-brained. I'm sure it was good for me to try to just go with it!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Mon is a Filipino musician/music producer is hired for a job in New York, tries to check into his hotel, can't get into his room, and ends up in a very steamy encounter with another guest. Oh, well. Just a random hookup with a stranger, right?
No. He's been hired to write the score of a movie and soon discovers that ... Olivia (his hook-up) is the star. The two try to work around this awkwardness and their attraction to each other.
Loved learning more about Filipino culture and the Filipino-American experience. The musical elements were a lot of fun.
Two things I'd mention:
One: quite a few pandemic references.
Two: I read more mystery than romance and was a little taken aback at the very stream-of-consciousness writing style of this story. I never quite adjusted to it. If you like your books to be more methodical and measured in the way they introduce you to a story world, you might want to read a few pages first.
The writing style does fit with the more improvisational, emotional feel of the story ... and the music themes. But I did struggle with it because I'm pretty left-brained. I'm sure it was good for me to try to just go with it!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
did-not-finish
May 9, 2024DNF at 50%
I picked this one up for a book club, and I was excited to read a new to me Filipina author, but I really lost interest. I couldn't really tell you what the plot of the book is, and the vibes sure weren't enough to carry it alone. Life is too short to finish books you aren't enjoying, so I let this one go, but I would try again with another book of hers someday.
I picked this one up for a book club, and I was excited to read a new to me Filipina author, but I really lost interest. I couldn't really tell you what the plot of the book is, and the vibes sure weren't enough to carry it alone. Life is too short to finish books you aren't enjoying, so I let this one go, but I would try again with another book of hers someday.
May 10, 2024
There are a lot of great insights and beautiful moments here, but the editors really needed to put in some more work. There’s a great story in here, with some keen insight into diaspora, but it kept getting bogged down by clunky writing and pacing issues.
That aside, I think the writer has a lot of interesting things to say, so I wouldn’t rule out reading her work in the future.
That aside, I think the writer has a lot of interesting things to say, so I wouldn’t rule out reading her work in the future.
March 27, 2024
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA gago kinilig ako sobraaa
this made me so emotional like ??? and it has non cringe smut in it hell yea, im so tempted to preorder the physical copy at fullbooked
i need more books like this, literally stopped doing things i needed to do because i NEEDED to finish this book
MON WAS SO DREAMY he was very pambansang crush coded. and olivia was everythiiiing
this made me so emotional like ??? and it has non cringe smut in it hell yea, im so tempted to preorder the physical copy at fullbooked
i need more books like this, literally stopped doing things i needed to do because i NEEDED to finish this book
MON WAS SO DREAMY he was very pambansang crush coded. and olivia was everythiiiing
May 3, 2024
I wish there was more drama at the start, but I respect Olivia and Mon for wanting to set boundaries. Five out of five because I like seeing Pinoys being successful. Happy AAPI month, ate! 🇵🇭
July 16, 2025
They are cheesyyyy! Also, love that the timeline was set in May 2022 🌷
November 27, 2024
A rare pinoy-on-pinay story full of glitz, down-to-earth heart, and pancit to boot that truly makes you feel good while and after reading!
May 14, 2024
This is not a 1 star read. The prose is beautiful and yes there is some instalove, but there is also conflict both internal and external. The book is a bit quiet for my tastes. Overall an enjoyable read that didn't leave me begging for more.
March 30, 2024
Manila Takes Manhattan is an achingly sweet romance between Olivia Angeles, Filipina American Hollywood tv and movie star, and Raymond “Mon” Tindalo Mendoza, indie music producer from Manila, as they work together on the film, Overexposed, in New York City. After Mon’s music as Mountainview goes viral on Tiktok, he finds that not only was he plucked from the Philippines for this job, he was specifically handpicked and advocated for by Olivia herself. Theirs is a story of falling in love with each other within the harmonies and melodies of their souls and the music that guides them— with the caveat of a 30 day time limit before they’re separated by their respective jobs, lives, and homes that span an entire ocean and over 7000 miles.
I absolutely love Olivia Angeles. She’s exactly the actor I wish I had grown up watching on screen and had represented even today. Her story is rooted in what it means to be a Filipina American actor in Hollywood— often relegated to being merely the best friend— until she lands her once in a lifetime role as the space opera queen. However, she understands that not even roles and fame like that which she’s gained from this one show guarantee that she’ll be able to continue working in jobs that she *wants* in terms of being the lead who gets to fall in love without being racially profiled for sidelined. She is strong and determined and works hard to achieve her dreams and open to love despite the challenge of her career. She is everything I strive to be.
I love reading Mon from Olivia’s perspective. He is sweet, attentive, genuine, and supportive. I didn’t particularly love reading from his point of view, however, because despite his character being 32, his voice had a tendency to rub me the wrong way; for example, his parenthetical of, “look at him finally understanding Google Maps, like a grown-up!” I’m aware the Mon is treated as the baby of his friend group, but there were times I felt like reading his voice, I was reading the mind of a still developing teenager (and don’t get me wrong— I really love reading YA, but I don’t love when my character is an actual supposedly fully developed adult who grew up being teased for being too smart yet reads as immature).
My favorite thing about this book though was how Filipinx and Filam it is. While there is absolutely a difference between the experience of being a Filipinx coming to the US from the Philippines versus the experience of growing up Filipinx in America (especially since there is no One Singular experience that encapsulates the entirety of what it means to be Filipinx or a Filipinx hyphenate), as an American born and raised daughter of Filipinx immigrants, it felt like reading *home.* My people, my culture, my values, my language. Extra emphasis on seeing the Filipino language casually and constantly mixed into the text— *home.* While I am a heritage speaker who understands far more than can speak and still had to look up/ask the people in my life for translations, it still felt heartwarming that I *could* ask my parents and my besties for translations. As an avid reader who grew up desperately deprived of representation within the literature I grew up with, reading the solid throughline of Filipinx representation felt ✨healing✨. As Olivia said, “Just diaspora things.” Additionally, I recently returned to the motherland for the first time in ten years and stayed with family along EDSA, and this only brought me a greater sense of connection as a daughter of immigrants from the Philippines. <3
I’ve admittedly read one other Carla de Guzman book, which wasn’t the right book for me, so Manila Takes Manhattan was my giving this author a second chance. I’m glad that this was the book that brought this author back into my reader’s sphere. Thank you, Netgalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin, for the ARC!!
I absolutely love Olivia Angeles. She’s exactly the actor I wish I had grown up watching on screen and had represented even today. Her story is rooted in what it means to be a Filipina American actor in Hollywood— often relegated to being merely the best friend— until she lands her once in a lifetime role as the space opera queen. However, she understands that not even roles and fame like that which she’s gained from this one show guarantee that she’ll be able to continue working in jobs that she *wants* in terms of being the lead who gets to fall in love without being racially profiled for sidelined. She is strong and determined and works hard to achieve her dreams and open to love despite the challenge of her career. She is everything I strive to be.
I love reading Mon from Olivia’s perspective. He is sweet, attentive, genuine, and supportive. I didn’t particularly love reading from his point of view, however, because despite his character being 32, his voice had a tendency to rub me the wrong way; for example, his parenthetical of, “look at him finally understanding Google Maps, like a grown-up!” I’m aware the Mon is treated as the baby of his friend group, but there were times I felt like reading his voice, I was reading the mind of a still developing teenager (and don’t get me wrong— I really love reading YA, but I don’t love when my character is an actual supposedly fully developed adult who grew up being teased for being too smart yet reads as immature).
My favorite thing about this book though was how Filipinx and Filam it is. While there is absolutely a difference between the experience of being a Filipinx coming to the US from the Philippines versus the experience of growing up Filipinx in America (especially since there is no One Singular experience that encapsulates the entirety of what it means to be Filipinx or a Filipinx hyphenate), as an American born and raised daughter of Filipinx immigrants, it felt like reading *home.* My people, my culture, my values, my language. Extra emphasis on seeing the Filipino language casually and constantly mixed into the text— *home.* While I am a heritage speaker who understands far more than can speak and still had to look up/ask the people in my life for translations, it still felt heartwarming that I *could* ask my parents and my besties for translations. As an avid reader who grew up desperately deprived of representation within the literature I grew up with, reading the solid throughline of Filipinx representation felt ✨healing✨. As Olivia said, “Just diaspora things.” Additionally, I recently returned to the motherland for the first time in ten years and stayed with family along EDSA, and this only brought me a greater sense of connection as a daughter of immigrants from the Philippines. <3
I’ve admittedly read one other Carla de Guzman book, which wasn’t the right book for me, so Manila Takes Manhattan was my giving this author a second chance. I’m glad that this was the book that brought this author back into my reader’s sphere. Thank you, Netgalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin, for the ARC!!
February 16, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC of Manila Take Manhattan!
I really enjoyed this book and was surprised how quickly I read through it! The plot was well paced and I like the change up of the hook up then falling for one another especially with the couple working together.
The themes of loneliness and falling into a routine that makes you lonely now matter how extravagant the routine is was a really nice touch and I loved all the different references throughout the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans or romance that love fun characters!
I really enjoyed this book and was surprised how quickly I read through it! The plot was well paced and I like the change up of the hook up then falling for one another especially with the couple working together.
The themes of loneliness and falling into a routine that makes you lonely now matter how extravagant the routine is was a really nice touch and I loved all the different references throughout the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans or romance that love fun characters!
December 5, 2023
Wow, I have never read a romance quite like Manila Takes Manhattan! It's the beautiful self-contained love story of a first generation Filipino-American actress and a musician from Manila who is charged with writing the music for her first big movie. While I loved the meet cute and the forced proximity, the most interesting parts were all the aspects of Filipino culture and language scattered throughout the book.
When Mon Mendoza finally arrives in New York City for his big break into the music industry, he's exhausted. He ends up waiting in the hall of his temporary apartment for his keys - and runs into popular actress Olivia Angeles, though he doesn't recognize her at first. They end up having a one night stand but realize afterwards that they are working together on Olivia's movie musical. Though things are awkward at first, Mon and Oliva bond quickly over their hopes, dreams, and a sense of familiarity from their shared heritage. They cannot deny that they are attracted to each other, but a relationship seems impossible when they are from two totally different worlds. Is their chance meeting fate? Or are they only meant to be together for a moment in time?
Sweet Mon is adorably awkward and shy. He's so cautious with Olivia, and though he yearns to be back home, he seems to sense a kindred spirit with her. Olivia seems bubbly and charismatic, but she's a bit of an enigma too. She dreams of being a famous actress, but constantly worries that she will be overlooked because of her heritage or that she's only getting noticed because of her closeness with her male costar. Some of the spice scenes were delightfully awkward, but I kind of liked that! S3x scenes in romance are often SO perfect it's unrealistic, so I loved that they were a little more real.
Though I loved the romance in this one, I was SO interested in all of the references to Filipino culture. The food, the places, the music - I was going nuts looking stuff up. And while there is commentary on some negative aspects, particularly the racism both Olivia and Mon face and some of the intricacies of Filipino politics, I felt like I came away with a much greater understanding of the characters and their lives. I am SO grateful to Harlequin Romance, Carla de Guzman, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book!
When Mon Mendoza finally arrives in New York City for his big break into the music industry, he's exhausted. He ends up waiting in the hall of his temporary apartment for his keys - and runs into popular actress Olivia Angeles, though he doesn't recognize her at first. They end up having a one night stand but realize afterwards that they are working together on Olivia's movie musical. Though things are awkward at first, Mon and Oliva bond quickly over their hopes, dreams, and a sense of familiarity from their shared heritage. They cannot deny that they are attracted to each other, but a relationship seems impossible when they are from two totally different worlds. Is their chance meeting fate? Or are they only meant to be together for a moment in time?
Sweet Mon is adorably awkward and shy. He's so cautious with Olivia, and though he yearns to be back home, he seems to sense a kindred spirit with her. Olivia seems bubbly and charismatic, but she's a bit of an enigma too. She dreams of being a famous actress, but constantly worries that she will be overlooked because of her heritage or that she's only getting noticed because of her closeness with her male costar. Some of the spice scenes were delightfully awkward, but I kind of liked that! S3x scenes in romance are often SO perfect it's unrealistic, so I loved that they were a little more real.
Though I loved the romance in this one, I was SO interested in all of the references to Filipino culture. The food, the places, the music - I was going nuts looking stuff up. And while there is commentary on some negative aspects, particularly the racism both Olivia and Mon face and some of the intricacies of Filipino politics, I felt like I came away with a much greater understanding of the characters and their lives. I am SO grateful to Harlequin Romance, Carla de Guzman, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book!
March 28, 2024
2 Stars
I had such high hopes for this one (especially as a Filipina myself, I'm always down to read anything I could find relatable) but I had a hard time getting over the Covid setting (I know we all lived through it but it feels weird to read about it in a fiction book to me). Mon and Olivia were cute but I found them a bit boring and this whole storyline felt a bit unrealistic to me (I have so many questions lol). Personally, I enjoyed the Filipino references but if you're not or don't know anything about the culture, it would probably get tiring.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC!
I had such high hopes for this one (especially as a Filipina myself, I'm always down to read anything I could find relatable) but I had a hard time getting over the Covid setting (I know we all lived through it but it feels weird to read about it in a fiction book to me). Mon and Olivia were cute but I found them a bit boring and this whole storyline felt a bit unrealistic to me (I have so many questions lol). Personally, I enjoyed the Filipino references but if you're not or don't know anything about the culture, it would probably get tiring.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC!
January 8, 2024
I was so grateful I received an ARC of this one! I've enjoyed a lot of Carla's self pubbed works as well as her traditionally pubbed ones with Carina. In this one Mon and Olivia’s romance starts off steamy. They just meet and fall into the sheets and lo and behold they realize they have to work together. He’s the new producer on her song for her movie. Carla brought the fire early on and balanced it off nicely with the sweet moments between them.
I loved how the MCs played off of each other as they hang out and get to know each other and of course inevitably fall into sexy times…again. LOL. I do wanna note there was a moment where I found Olivia was being selfish about a situation but she does actually point that out herself so I wasn’t too vex with her for long. It just shows the characters are so multifaceted, flaws and all. I do wish she had called out her co-star more (meh Colin can choooke!) but I understood why she had to strike a balance of going with things as they are while somewhat taking him to task as she’s a Filipino American actress in a still very white space.
As someone whose read a good few romanceclass books before there were little moments that especially delighted me when I noticed mentions of people and things not only from Carla’s other books but other romanceclass authors and went ahhh I see what you did there.
Honestly, I can visualize this as such a sweet, swoony romance on the screen. Hello get this into a rom com movie STAT!!!
I wondered how Carla would wrap up that ending, given the circumstances but I think it all came together perfectly for our lovebirds 😊
Alsooo, helloooo as a BTS fan I’m pretty sure Mon was patterned after our tol, buff, slightly klutzy leader (I HAVE CONNECTED THE DOTS! LOL) which made the reading even more delightful hehe.
I loved how the MCs played off of each other as they hang out and get to know each other and of course inevitably fall into sexy times…again. LOL. I do wanna note there was a moment where I found Olivia was being selfish about a situation but she does actually point that out herself so I wasn’t too vex with her for long. It just shows the characters are so multifaceted, flaws and all. I do wish she had called out her co-star more (meh Colin can choooke!) but I understood why she had to strike a balance of going with things as they are while somewhat taking him to task as she’s a Filipino American actress in a still very white space.
As someone whose read a good few romanceclass books before there were little moments that especially delighted me when I noticed mentions of people and things not only from Carla’s other books but other romanceclass authors and went ahhh I see what you did there.
Honestly, I can visualize this as such a sweet, swoony romance on the screen. Hello get this into a rom com movie STAT!!!
I wondered how Carla would wrap up that ending, given the circumstances but I think it all came together perfectly for our lovebirds 😊
Alsooo, helloooo as a BTS fan I’m pretty sure Mon was patterned after our tol, buff, slightly klutzy leader (I HAVE CONNECTED THE DOTS! LOL) which made the reading even more delightful hehe.
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