My Lola’s Love Letters

by Ines Bautista-Yao

College junior Natividad “Nat” Torres feels like her life isn’t going anywhere. The ex who still takes her breath away keeps breaking her heart and the high school she teaches in reassigns her because she isn’t living up to her potential (or so they say). But one day, when clearing out her lola’s dusty basement, Nat chances upon letters from her lola’s sister, the one she was named after. The one she has always been fascinated by. The one she has never met. These letters were written when Lola Natividad was in her twenties in the 1950s, when the world was completely different from the world young Nat now lives in. In these letters, Nat not only finds the painfully romantic story of her lola’s past, but the courage to become the strong, courageous woman she used to doubt exists inside her. Alongside her family, friends, and a very cute boy named Luis, Nat learns that the best place to find herself is with family—thanks to her lola’s love letters

228 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2024

About the author

Reading and writing are close to Ines Bautista Yao's heart ever since she was a child. She graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in AB Communication Arts. She has been a teacher at the Assumption College San Lorenzo and the Ateneo de Manila University's English department.

Her debut novel One Crazy Summer was first penned in 2007 when she was pregnant with her first daughter Addie. Being a mother has taken much of Ines' time so she was only able to write 13 pages of her novel. She completed her story in April 2011, while three-year-old Addie was sleeping and inspiration struck her again. Two months later her story was complete. After eight months, her dream of publishing her own book came true. The book was only launched last January 26, 2012, but Ines is already writing her second novel.

Most readers can remember Ines as the former editor-in-chief of K-Zone Magazine and Candy Magazine . At present, Ines is working as an editor of Summit Books. She is also married to photographer Marc Yao, whom she says she consults whenever she's stuck in the middle of a story she's writing.

Sources:
One Crazy Summer Author Ines Bautista Yao on Juggling Writing and Motherhood by Belle Yambao
Spotlight on Filipino Authors: Ines Bautista-Yao

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story and twist behind those "love letters" was pretty interesting. nat, the main protagonist, was really unlikeable at first but character development was pretty early than i thought so that's a plus for people who get easily irritated like me 😆 you should have expected that the character will come of as childish to you as this is young adult and coming of age

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope that someday, Filipino authors can get to share their novels to the world, that big publishing houses in the US will take a chance.

From Summit Books in the early 2000s, I have enjoyed these releases. Happy to have another one. A tad predictable but a new angle to look at. Coming of age, fear of the unknown, discovering love.... to be young and be full of idealism and hopes 🤣.... good luck in the real real world.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It resonated with me on many levels, feeling incredibly close to home. From the grandmother's secrets to the strong bonds within the family and with friends, as well as the experiences of breakups and new love, it all struck a chord with me. I'm particularly close to my grandmother, so it really hit home.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those things that you read when you don’t want to think too much, or just want a break from dark and depressing stories. How I wish to be like Nat who is surrounded with love and her only problem is discovering what she wants to do and maybe get a boyfriend. Overall it’s a light and easy read.

I bought this because of the cover and it’s worth it even if it’s predictable.

[C.L. Balagoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

KUNG SAKALING NASA PANGALAN MATUTUKOY ANG TUNAY NA PAG-IBIG
Isang Personal Book Rebyu para sa nobelang YA na My Lola's Love Letters ni Ines Bautista Yao

Hindi lahat ay fan ng mga aklat na pumapaksa ng romance, pero masasabi natin na malaki rin ang populasyon ng mga mambabasang kumokunsumo nito. Tama kayo, isa rin ako sa kanila. Sa totoo lang, nagsimula ang pagbabasa ko sa mga kuwento ng pag-ibig, bago ako maging bukas sa iba't ibang uri ng panitikan at genre, lubog na lubog ako sa mga kuwento tungkol sa pag-iibigan, kaya kahit siguro nasa ganitong estado na ako ng aking pagkatao, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang bumalik sa pagbabasa ng mga aklat ng pag-ibig. Ang My Lola's Love Letters ni Ines Bautista Yao ang isa sa mga aklat ng Ateneo Press na unang kita ko pa lang sa kanilang facebook page, itinatwa ko na sa bato, magkakaroon ako ng kopya nito. Akala ko, baka by the end of the year ko pa siya mababasa, pero dahil naging mabait ang mundo sa anyo ni Sir Ricky Lee, nabili ko ang kopya ng nobela noong Philippine Book Festival 2024, bonus pa na nakilala ko ang manunulat at nakapagpapirma ako ng aklat. Binahagi ko sa kaniya ang excitement ko na mabasa ang aklat, at masasabi ko ngayon, hindi nga ako binigo ng aklat.

Tungkol ba saan ang nobela, ang nobelang ito ay nakapokus sa ating 19 years old heroine na si Natividad "Nat" Torres, at mayroon siyang beef sa kaniyang pangalan. Ipinangalan kasi siya sa kanilang Greataunt, kaya iniisip niya, iyon din ang dahilan kung bakit may unfortunate event na nangyayari sa buhay niya, especially ang pang-ghost sa kaniya ni Gabe na taong gusto niya bukod pa roon, parang sinasabi rin ng universe sa kaniya na wala siyang direksyon sa buhay (na sobrang relate ako as reader) kaya kanino niya ulit iyon isisisi? Sa pangalan na bitbit niya. Pero things will eventually change nang pumasok sa buhay niya si Luis na mayroong personality na maging superhero kahit kanino at makita ni Nat ang isang kahon na naglalaman ng mga sulat na isinulat ng taong ipinangalan sa kaniya. Sa ngayon, sana naipaliwanag ko nang maayos ang premise ng nobela.

Ang gaan-gaan niya basahin sa totoo lang, ang dali-dali rin sakyan ng mga eksena. Naiisip ko nga, while reading this, sana ma-pick up ng Netflix Philippines ang rights nito to make a mini series. Gusto kong makita si Nat alive and in flesh, kasi sa utak ko, buhay na buhay sila. Nagustuhan ko rin ang pagtatangka na ilangkap ang authenticity ng experience ng mga sulat sa nobela. Yung mga sulat din ang isa sa mga paborito kong bahagi, tulad ng mga karakter sa nobela, super invested ako sa kasunod na mangyayari, hanggang dumating ako sa bahagi na napamura ako (hindi ko sasabihin dahil spoiler), ganyan ang epekto sa akin ng nobela. Sa totoo lang, natatakot ako magtunog OA o nag-exagerate ng karanasan ko sa pagbabasa, pero trust me, super na-enjoy ko siya basahin. Pinipilit kong ibaba yung aklat para harapin ang ibang gawain, pero hindi puwedeng hindi ako magbabasa ng isa pang kabanata...na naging dalawa...na naging tatlo---hanggang sa ibinaba ko na talaga para humarap sa ibang gawain.

Personally, nakaka-relate din ako sa protagonist ng nobela, kay Nat, hindi dahil yung pangalan ko ay galing sa kung sino. Nakaka-relate ako, kasi, nasa edad din ako na hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang career path ko. Bakit pakiramdam ko, I fail on things, na akala ko I can do good. This novel, ipinaramdam niya sa akin `yung hope, na baka I will have my own moment na ma-realize ko kung ano ba talaga ang gusto ko. Hindi lang basta-basta Young Adult Romance ang My Lola's Love Letters katulad siya ng maraming aklat na para sa akin ay magandang naisulat. Umiigpaw ang mga salita sa pahina, higit pa sa kanilang talagang gustong sabihin. Iyon lang, sana sa susunod na makita niyo ang kopya ng aklat na ito ay bigyan niyo ng chance, at basahin. Maraming salamat!

Available ang kopya ng nobela sa Ateneo Press (Physical Store, Shopee, Lazada and their Website)

[Justine Camacho-Tajonera · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Lola's Love Letters: A Book That's Like a Hug

My Lola’s Love Letters is a heartwarming story that pulled me in from the first page and kept me rooting for Nat, the main character, all the way to the end. Nat is the kind of protagonist who’s so authentic and sincere that you can't help but cheer her on, even when you’re tempted to give her a gentle bop on the head—just like her best friend, Martin, might want to do sometimes. But her journey of self-discovery and growth makes her a character worth loving, flaws and all.

What I adored most about this story is how everything is deeply rooted in family. It’s not just about Nat’s immediate family but also the intergenerational connections that make her who she is. The love letters from her lola are a beautiful, heartfelt touch, guiding her through questions that so many young people grapple with: Where am I going? What am I good at? Who am I? Without giving away any spoilers, it’s safe to say that the letters weave a moving thread of wisdom and love throughout Nat’s struggles and triumphs.

Amid all the challenges of an identity crisis, there’s something incredibly refreshing about how the story portrays what a healthy relationship looks like. Nat’s growth and realizations, especially with the support of those who love her, felt genuine and uplifting. It’s a journey of learning and understanding, wrapped in a story that’s perfect for anyone who enjoys YA romance and wants a lovely peek into Filipino family life.

I highly recommend My Lola’s Love Letters to anyone looking for a read that warms the heart and brings a smile to your face. Ines Bautista-Yao has created something special here—an honest, hopeful story that stays with you long after you finish the last page.

[The Reading Koala · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of the day, when we truly know what’s in our hearts, that’s more than enough. Everything will be okay… we will be okay.

I didn’t expect to find a young adult book this relatable and delightful at my age. At first, I thought, “I’ve graduated from that phase already.” But reading My Lola’s Love Letters by Ines Bautista-Yao reminded me that stories about figuring out life, identity, and navigating the highs and lows of love, family, career, and friendship — they never really get old.

We (I) sometimes assume that YA books have nothing new to offer us, especially when we’ve already lived through those chapters of our lives. But this one brought me back — back to the joy of nostalgia. It made me relive my high school and college days, when I was still discovering who I was, what I was good at, and learning how to be comfortable in my own skin. It reminded me of lessons I didn’t realize I’d forgotten.

I found myself giving in to all the “awwwws”, “LOLs”, “ayiiis”, and “oh no’s”. And yes, I felt a kind of kilig I didn’t know I needed.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming and cozy read, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

[Ronabear · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was okay. As always, i’m blindly reading books without checking what it’s about. At first I thought it was focused on the fmc’s love story. However, it tackles something deeper. What do you really want to do in life? I think we all have that phase wherein everything is going wrong and you don’t know how to go about life anymore. At the same time, i would’ve loved more letters from Lola Natividad, focusing on her career so she can inspire and motivate Nat more. The story is going back and forth the romance and the problem. It could’ve been more cohesive. The plot twist was anti climactic. I feel that the ending was rushed.

[kc · Rating 3 out of 5]

at first, i wasn’t sure i’d finish this. it started out slow, and i felt like a lot of the early parts dragged. but when i got to lola natividad’s letters, something shifted. my interest was piqued. although i do wish there had been more historical depth, i respect the author's choice to focus on quiet, simple stories. this is the kind of book that’s easy to read and yes, predictable—but that’s exactly what gives it heart.

[Sha Hernandez]

This one started off a bit slow, and eventually gained its pace midway through. The story took a couple of twists and turns, but still managed to end in a clean and satisfying way. Although I won’t be rating this (due to conflict of interest), I will gladly recommend this book to my nieces and nephews.

[Miera · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an easy read and tackles issues that college students often struggle with—love and feeling lost. I especially enjoyed the letters from Lola Natividad. I also liked seeing the contrast between how the sisters communicated in the 1950s compared to now, which is more casual—from letters to text messages!

[Ace · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as it teaches people to love themselves before materializing their relationships, it also emphasizes the importance of support systems. This book was absolutely adorable and I'm thankful that it's the first YA romance I've ever read.

[Pam Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished and surprisingly enjoyed this so much more than a YA romance. Generational inspiration.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute read. Nat was a little unlikable from the start but you could see her mature side at the end.

[Andrea Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one helped to get out of my reading slump. This is a quick read giving you comfort and fluff. I am rooting for Nat's journey in life.

[yanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

lola natividad ur a baddie

[Jeng · Rating 4 out of 5]

June 2024 is for Filipino authors, starting with this heartwarming read I picked up from the Ateneo de Manila University Press during the Philippine Book Festival 💕

It’s a predictable story, but it’s good nonetheless. Nat’s grip on the past to navigate her present and to decide on her future is endearing. At her age, you don’t expect her to be fully decisive (she’s confused at times), but a well-defined set of values to live by (thanks to her Lola) helped her face the skeletons in her closet.

Lola’s girls would definitely enjoy reading Lola Natividad’s letters 🥹