All About You

by Shaina Veronica

To be with the boy of her dreams, she must first fake-it with the boy of her nightmares

HOPELESS ROMANTIC 18-year-old Jaslene Garcia has finally met the love of her life in a swoonworthy bookstore meet-cute of all places. Could this love story be anymore perfect?

There’s only one problem. Marlon Salvador - the devil incarnated, the bane of her existence. And the son of her Mum’s best friend.

Jaslene and Marlon have been betrothed since birth. Kind of.

Their Mums, who have been best friends since forever, are both convinced their children are made for each other, setting them up on playdates, study dates and spontaneous hangouts throughout their entire lives. What they don’t understand is Jaslene wants nothing to do with Marlon, and Marlon wants nothing to do with Jaslene.

Yet, Jaslene soon realises that she cannot have her happy-ever-after until both their families stop trying to get her and Marlon together. Reaching peak desperation, she proposes a ruse with Marlon. To fake-date and stage a grand, dramatic break-up in front of their families, burying the idea of their pairing once and for all. That way, they can have their happy ending with the one they want.

And so, as the two are forced to put on a loving facade in front of their gushing families, they find themselves blurring the lines between fiction and reality, leading the two to question whether their idea of happy ever after was with the right people after all.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fake Dating, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Young Adult Contemporary

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

About the author

Shaina Veronica is a Filipino-Australian author and certified hopeless romantic who loves to immerse herself in narratives that will make her laugh, cry. With her degree in film production, she strives to translate her knack for visuals into words.

Through her works, she aims to elevate her voice as a Filipino storyteller and bring light to her cultural experience. She hopes that you can find a new comfort character, a new comfort place, a fictional boyfriend to raise your standards or even just a new favourite you can cosy up to.

When she's not writing, you can find her watching edits of her kpop celebrity crushes, rewatching her favourite fluffy cdrama or rereading Pride and Prejudice for the 10(0)th time.

Reviews

[๑ seungchaccomin ๑ · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘in your vast arms
searching for our planets
my uncompromised heart
that no one can come in
hold on to me, yeah
so i can still breathe’
- all about you, ateez

now this is how you write a ya fake date rom-com. this give me a romantic excitement while reading this (well, in filipino terms, this book give me kilig.) this is giving 2000's rom-com movie. also, MARLON MF SALVADOR 🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

but there's a small problem. i'm kinda irritated by marlon's childish antics at the beginning of the book. also, i wanna pull jaslene in the hair. liek i get it, you're a hopeless romantic whose focuses on fictional boys and kpop men. but when you put it in real life of finding your happy-ever-after, her delusion is out of her line. oh, speaking of delusion, talk about their parents and relatives, joking marlon and jaslene to be together even though these two cannot stand each other.

all in all, it's cute and fluffy love story. and i hope i read her future works soon 💞

───────────────────────

‘to all the hopeless romantic hearts out there waiting for their magical meet-cute moment.’

a ya fake dating romance written by a filipino-austrailian author? count me in!

also, guess who's receiving my first ever arc??? 🤭

thank you so much to shaina veronica for sending an arc for your debut novel 💓

[Yesmina · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be a bitch or not to be! That's the question when you write a (low- rating) review for a debut novel!

First of all, I loved the author's note in the beginning. It set the mood for the whole novel. The author is 18 going to uni. Her parents met when they were 18, had a meet-cute and lived happily ever after. The author is a hopeless romantic who dreams about her own great love story.

So her FMC is someone EXACTLY like her. She resorted to fake dating her childhood nemesis in order to convince the family shipping them together that they're not IT for each other.

However, the plot was unnecessary as in it did not make sense. The FMC knows that her large family won't force her together with the MMC in an arranged marriage. The farce of fake dating didn't hold up.

And I'm sick of the FMC claiming to hate the MMC but when he shows her a single iota of him being a decent human being, she's actually like "It's always been you".
Also, the novel moved at a snail-pace. It's a 260 pages novel and the fake dating farce begins at 110 mark. Any kind of chemistry begins at 200 pages mark. In fact, the writing style and the dialogue felt childish. 18 years old authors who claim going to Film University could write way better.

Also, what bothered me are the multiple cultural references. FMC doesn't just like 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie, noooooooooooooooooo, she gives a long ass monologue about it. (especially the fucking hand flex). The MMC would listen patiently then says: okay it's romantic but it's not doable in real life. Only to do the same things at the end of the novel. A compilation of the FMC movies references.

The kiss under the rain (the notebook), the "I love you most ardently" (Pride and prejudice)... yada yada.

At the end, I think the author wanted to write something like (Better than the movies) and failed because the MCs are better off like friends or even siblings. They're simply not romance material.

[zai · Rating 5 out of 5]

aby is a wholesome, just sunshine and rainbows, I'm so thankful to shaina for giving me an early copy because this is now one of my fav romcoms ever !!!

This book is for everyone who love:
✦ rivals to lovers
✦ fake dating
✦ kpop / fangirling
✦ food food asian food ( because lots of mention )
✦ simp boys
✦ wholesome sisters bond

plot : aby is a very cliche rom com with enemies to lovers fake dating but it’s the type of cliche you’d want to come back to again and again. The same old tropes done so well in a completely new way, will make you fall in love with it all over again.

Main Characters : The two main characters Jes and Marlon have my heart, my babies, so well written complete characters on their own, and when they came together it was just pure fluff with some rivalry of course

Jes, is someone that i think all the fangirls would relate to, her random name drops and enthusiasm for kpop was so relatable. However she goes beyond just being a fangirl, she is sensitive, strong and a lovable main character, she is romantic and throughout the book you root for her to have that epic romance, she is for the eldest daughter kpop girlies.,

Marlon, is everything jes needs, a green flag, no, a green forest, he is understanding, sensible and a lover boy through and through, certain scenes would make you swoon for him, wishing a maarlon for your own self. If Jes is a kpop fangirl then Marlon is the supportive boyfriend every fangirl deserves !!!!!

”Don’t lose your love for love, you may be hopeless, and a romantic, but that the best part about it you. It makes you shine. So, promise you’ll keep being insufferable about love, okay?”

Romance : Definitely one for the books!! Their rivalry and the slow turn into love is so well written, you can actually feel them falling in love as the book progresses, the dates they went to had me screaming because nothing could top them bookstore date and he buys her all the books she wants and the last confession ?????? hello, it was like all your favourite 90s romcom with pride and prejudice into the most beautiful sequence ever.

All in all and incredible ya romcom and an amazing debut, can't wait to follow shai on her author journey and read more such books by her.



initial review
laced with crack because i couldn't stop reading and that confession MY GOOOOODDDDD I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I WANT TO SCREAM

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIS SLAYED ONCE MORE

SO CUTE EVEN SECOND TIME ROUND 😭😭

MARLENE FOREVERRR

PROPER REVIEW TO COME

-

[Review Written: 29th August 2024]

All About You

“Childhood enemies joining forces to help each other with our failed love lives. Who could’ve imagined?”

The epitome of every 2000s rom-com that we all used to indulge in for comfort as a child, has been brought to life in Shaina Veronica's breathtaking, beautifully comedic and heart-warming debut, “All About You”, which revolves around our hopeless romantic protagonist, Jaslene Garcia, who navigates the first steps of adulthood. Jaslene constantly dreams of what her perfect “meet-cute” would be like, while being surrounded by people her age who flood her social media with countless engagement posts and big leaps in real life.

“Maybe one day, I would fall, in a bookstore, into the arms of a guy” – Like the Movies, Laufey

And then, Jaslene finds her perfect “meet-cute” at a bookstore, but in order to make her love life a success, she must first break the betrothal that she has been bounded to since birth—to Marlon Salvador, her mother’s best friend’s son, but not only that, but ever since childhood, Marlon has constantly tormented her and made her life insufferably. Yet, the two must engage in a fake-dating ruse that ends in a huge “break-up”, to end their betrothal once and for all.

“And if the poets didn’t know us better, they would call us soulmates.”

This book is everything you’ve been searching for in a romantic comedy—it makes you giggle, kick your feet, and squeal and combined with all the pop culture references (from favourite animes like Sailor Moon, to mentions of many K-Pop and Pinoy Pop, and, of course, timeless literature), “All About You” is surely an unforgettable novel with a swoon-worthy romance portrayed through beautiful, cozy prose. Not only that, but you really do grow attached to the characters and their relationships—a personal favourite was the family dynamics, and the sisterly bond between Jaslene and Ria (a little too real), as well as with Jaslene and her friends! And one that really touched the spot was the exploration of Filipino culture—from the chaotic family gatherings to the cute karaoke sessions and countless, countless Filipino food provided! I guarantee, you will finish this book CRAVING Filo dishes like Palabok, Kare Kare (YUMMYYY), and more! Oh, but PLEASE you must try Ube Leche Flan, simply one of THEEEE best Filipino desserts out there!

Our characters are flawed, but that’s what makes them so beautiful. They are so real in every way. They are not perfect and that’s what makes us attached to hopeless romantic characters like Jaslene, a strong independent woman who isn’t shy to deny her love for love, how every tainted romance she ever had didn’t stop her from romance being her one true love. And Marlon, he’s not even a green flag—he’s a whole green forest. He’s the most swoon-worthy book boyfriend, so caring and kind and stands up for those he cares about. He indulges in interests that aren’t his own, but so long as it puts a smile on their face, their happiness is his happiness. And Ria! This little chaotic girl, she is me, I am her (no, I’m serious, I’m actually her). She was a backbone to Jaslene’s decisions and wasn’t afraid to offer her opinion and advice, even if it meant crossing the line.

“Your love for love is infectious because look what it’s done to me. I’ve become hopeless.”

“All About You” is a phenomenal debut by my lovely sister, and I’ve always known she’s been destined for great things. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my sister—this book has given me the same emotions that all my favourite ones do. In all the endeavours my sister has pushed through, I always knew deep down that writing is her passion, and was so happy when she decided to self-publish, because now the world will finally see her amazing ideas and writing! Like, it’s about time!

If you haven’t already added this book to your TBR, then what are you waiting for? This cute as freak rom-com novel releases November 7!

[‧₊˚ ellie ♡ (إيلي) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thanks to Shai for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’m not a romcom fan, and I’m possibly one of the most anti-romantic people out there, but this went way beyond my expectations as a reader, and I loved every single word poured into writing this book!

4.5 ⭐️

KINIKILIG PA RIN AKO GRABE TALAGA

Better than The Movies meets Love Next Door in this lighthearted and humorous read about two childhood frenemies unexpectedly becoming something more in the most cliché way possible. I cannot even begin to describe how much I relished in Jaslene and Marlon’s story. Ang ganda ng pagkakasulat ng kwento and I am not exaggerating. I received a deliciously satisfying slowburn. Shai really took her time giving us build-up instead of the insta-love that I so despise. The MMC was sweet and in his own way, perfectly contrasting the FMC who wears her heart out on her sleeve. For my hopeless romantics out there, y’all deserve this so much!

It also warmed my heart to read about my culture and heritage represented in literature. This book was not only one to give you butterflies, but it is loudly centered on family and the Asian diaspora. Anyone reading this could feel the writer’s love of being Filipino <3 I highly recommend this charming romcom to binge and scream about!

[lina ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ★

“You never had someone to dance with, remember? But I’m here now.”

This book reminded me of why I love the fake dating trope. I started with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and I realize I’ve been subconsciously comparing every book I’ve read with the fake dating trope to that. All About You gave me the closest feel to Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky. I got similar vibes from the two books so if you loved To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, you’ll definitely love this one.

What I love about this book is the natural progression from childhood enemies to friends to best friends to lovers. As friends/best friends, Jaslene and Marlon talk about their relationship issues with one another and give each other advice. I usually don’t like it when the main characters pursue other people before each other, but it works in this and actually made their eventual relationship more realistic. You don’t just one day figure out you’re in love with your childhood “enemy” without another “bad love interest” to compare to. This lets Jaslene see the positive things in Marlon compared to whatshisname (Ralph).

Jaslene and Marlone’s dynamic is so funny, I love their banter so much.

“Oh my gosh, that’s the house I broke isn’t it?”

Nothing better than two people who’ve known each since childhood, letting their guard down around one another because they’ve known that person since forever so they’re like, might as well because they’ve already seen the worst of me anyway. Also the “no one knows you like I do.” 🥹

I live, laugh, Marlon texting Jaslene like they’re best friends: “GARCIAAAAAA. Haul pic pls, you went to the markets right?”

My main point is, the story has a natural flow—there’s actual plot and it makes sense.

Jaslene is a relatable character—she undergoes major character development, and she has flaws. She has this idea of a “perfect romance” and reads way too much into things, bordering on delusional. We get to see how this flaw manifest when she realizes the perfect romance she’s chasing after is not what she thinks it is. She’s not the same character at the end as she was in the beginning, and that is what you call superb character development!

“I hate this guy. He’s an absolute nightmare, like, I literally spent my childhood fighting for my life with this guy, but for some reason, everyone around us thinks we’re perfect together. Even though we’re not.”

There are lots of references to pop culture, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and other popular authors/books (Ann Liang and Chloe Gong mention + Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me!) that can bother some people, but I thought it added to Jaslene’s charm and supports her hopeless romantic character. I don’t think there was much character development for the side characters, if at all, but I think Jaslene’s character arc really made up for it and it didn’t take away my enjoyment from the story. I understand that the author has plans for two other books in this series, so I’m excited to see other side characters get explored in their own story!

This book was so addicting, I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one day. This is really inspiring me to give Pride and Prejudice another try since it seems to be the classic rom com/enemies to lovers. All in all, was this cliché? Yes. Did I still eat this up? Yes, yes, and yes!

🍓Thank you Shaina Veronica for the E-ARC in exchange for a honest review! <3

—

Book so good, you can't put it down. When the author says this is for the hopeless romantics, it's true 🥺

[gia · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you so much to the author for the arc in exchange for a review!

let's start with that i REALLY wanted to love this book and i tried so hard to find parts i enjoyed but at the end, the negatives outweighed the positives. i feel so bad about writing this review because shaina is so sweet but i want to be truthful and let my inner hater out so here we go. something I liked about this book was the kpop and jjk references; i would text my friends who don't read but love these topics and we would giggle over it so it was a nice bonding activity!

it's been a while since i've read young adult romcoms but i'm literally the target audience for it so i thought it'd suit my taste... but it didn't. i'm going to be so fr right now and say that jaslene is older than me yet she acts like she's in elementary school trying to get the attention of a boy by doing dumb things. obviously, i think it's probably more realistic that she's not a "perfect" character, but i couldn't empathize with her at all. marlon is honestly not a bad character, he just needs a little push (aka a very big shove) sometimes.

another thing is the way jaslene and marlon's families treated them. maybe it’s because my family has never been like that (i literally come from an asian family too…) but they were SO pushy to the point where i was so pissed off and personally i would not put up with their treatment. i pitied marlon's ex so immensely for having to endure that and they were so immature and outright disrespectful even if they shipped their children together.

basically to sum up all my rambling, this is all obviously my personal opinions and i don’t have anything against the book (no matter how aggressive my review sounds!) i know many people who loved the book and i can maybe understand that a little bit but this book just didn’t fit my vibe so if you're interested in reading this book, just disregard me and maybe you'll love it!

[Sofi Mascaró · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you so much to the author for the early copy! all opinions are my own!

BUT WHY WAS THIS SO CUTE 4.5 STARS FILLED WITH CUTENESS AAAAAAAAAAAAAA 😱😍😱😍
i just wasn't expecting this at all. i started this book LAUGHING. and the two times i picked this book (because yes, i read it in two sittings) i couldn't help but smile. Jaslene's desire to have her own love story relates so much to my own, when i'd started college and all i wanted was to find someone who would love me. so it truly felt like a love letter to that younger me, and i appreciate what this book did to me. and Marlon was just amazing 😂🥰 every time he showed up on page i knew i was gonna have a blast, he is so funny and sweet and i loved how their story developed. the Filipino aspects were amazing, i always love learning about new cultures and food, specially the food. all the side characters were great and added a lot more to the story. and i have to admit, i was giggling and kicking my feet at all the books, movies, series and song mentions because i could recognize them all; my favourite part happened in a kpop store and i had to send my boyfriend an audio message and fangirl with him because i couldn't believe my happiness 😍😍😍
so yeah, just in case you hadn't picked it up, PLEAAASE GO READ IT AND SUPPORT A NEWBIE AUTHOR, SHE DESERVES THE WORLD!

[Samantha Suralta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure of being able to read the e-arc of All About You and I've got to say it's been a fun little roller-coaster of emotions while reading this book in between work breaks and late into the night after evening shifts

I've always enjoyed reading books with fake dating/enemies to lovers tropes. I feel like it's knowing that in the end they'll fall in love is something that I've always enjoyed. Personally I'm not the biggest fan of childhood friends to lovers, but when it came to Jaslene and Marlon I couldn't help but enjoy it.

As an Aussie born Filipino myself, I've loved seeing bits of our Filipino culture included in the book. The big family gatherings and celebrating over large amounts of food has always been something on our culture which I've enjoyed. Coming in second to that would definitely be singing on whatever latest karaoke machine the host has purchased on their recent trip back home to the Philippines 🙈

Jaslene has been such a fun female lead to read about. I see parts of myself in her, wanting to also find that person who you can wholeheartedly love but also feeling that fear of not being enough for someone to love. To question if you're worthy of the same calibre of love and affection of those around you. But what I love most about her is that despite things not going the way it should, she doesn't lose her spark and still continues to love the idea of love despite experiencing these hardships in her love life.

Marlon really is such a green flag kind of guy. Yeah he may irritate Jaslene but he truly cares and is aware of her feelings when things get rough. I really love and appreciate the way that he doesn't belittle her for the things that she finds interests in which some people could call childish, but it's the fact that because he knows that these are things which brings her joy that he doesn't make her feel any less for it.

Another aspect of the book I've really found to be a favourite of mine is the relationship between Jaslene and Ria. The way she let's Jaslene indulge in her romance fantasies but also grounds her back to reality in the most important of times. It reminds me of my own relationship with my sister and it just makes me feel grateful to have her on my side to ground me when I need it, but let's me have my moments to dream.

Personally I feel like there's just so much I could say about this book, from its fun little anime, kpop and bookish references, the heartbreaks, friendships and healing. But I guess doing so would just take away all the fun in giving you readers the opportunity to immerse yourself in Jaslene and Marlon 🙈

[☆⋆｡naija kelise°‧★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭑.ᐟ *arc review*

”Of course. Anytime. Always.”

Mmhm, now that’s what I’m talking bout. This was so freaking cute, Miss Veronica devoured I’m afraid. This did exactly what I need ya rom coms to do🧎🏽‍♀️. Very reminiscent vibes of Better Than the Movies and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Gave me that same giddy feeling of being obsessed and rooting for the mcs. So fluffy and cute, nothing too stressful. Loved all the kpop and Hamilton references. Need to watch Pride and Prejudice now. I am Jaslene. Jaslene is me. She’s so relatable. And her sister is literally my sister. Kind of wanted to know more about her friends and more about Marlon even because he’s perfect. Funny and real. Predictable but in a comfortable way. Many banger lines though.

Quotes::

ᯓ★ I wonder what it’s like to be a pair, have an and with someone.

ᯓ★ ”He doesn’t deserve you... He’s just lost the best thing that could’ve ever happened to him, if there is a fool between the two of you, he is the biggest fool of them all.”

ᯓ★ ”Don’t lose your love for love, you may be hopeless, and a romantic, but that the best part about it you. It makes you shine. So, promise you’ll keep being insufferable about love, okay?”

ᯓ★ ”And in a world of billions, you choose them every single time. They’re your person.”

ᯓ★ She loves romance, but doesn’t know she’s the incarnation of romance itself.

Thank you so much to Shaina for providing me with the opportunity to read this wonderful story <3

[Kaya&#x1f9b7; · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25💗💗💗💗

ARC review!!🤍
As many of you may have noticed I am not the biggest romance reader. Nevertheless, when Shai announced she was accepting ARC readers for her debut novel All About You I simply couldn’t resist!
Thanks bestie, for letting me read your precious work!!
All About you is all about Jaslene and her (childhood) enemy Marlon. Their moms are besties and therefore Marlon and Jaslene who grew up together would clearly become best friends as well, right? Wrong. Marlon’s teasing and their fights quickly caused them to become sworn enemies even though both their families are secretly hoping for them to fall in love.

This, however, sounds like Jaslene’s worst nightmare but when she catches another boy’s attention she needs to get that idea out of her mom’s head to secure her love life. With all her knowledge from reading hundreds of romance novels she comes up with the perfect plan. She will fake date Marlon and stage their breakup to finally shake off their family’s impossible hopes and dreams and find her true love.
Well… we all know how the story continues from here hehe!

This book had me giggling on my bus rides and grinning at the abundance of Kpop, anime and video game references! This book also makes you want to rewatch Pride and Prejudice, which Shaina quotes and references absolutely perfectly!!!

If you enjoy sweet, heartwarming, funny and perfect romance stories I urge you to pick this one up when it comes out in November!!

[rhi rhi (a literal angel) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“i think i’m more afraid of not finding love, than experiencing it.”

~ ♡ 5/5

(ARC)

there is nothing i didn’t like about this book. all the main tropes are in my top five, which just made me live it more. jaslene and marlon are everything to me. i just love them forever and i can’t wait to read the full published version, and hopefully get my hands on a paperback sometime soon!!

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Current rating: 4 stars!

This was really cute! I've seen so many positive reviews about this book, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm the opposite of Jaslene, more of a Ria, so I'm interested in seeing Ria's story when it comes out. However, I found hopeless-romantic Jaslene to be somewhat of a refreshing protagonist, and I liked her character arc. I also liked the references to her interests and how passionate and full of life she was.

The pacing was good, and I liked the progression from childhood annoyances to friends to lovers by way of fake dating. The set-up for the fake dating was understandable, and while I did love Jaslene's familial relationships, I was annoyed from the start by how pushy they could be, even when Jaslene would try to make her feelings clear. Their treatment of Marlon's ex was also not great, especially considering they were high schoolers... So, I was glad when Jaslene eventually set things straight, but it wasn't super satisfying, mostly because the fact that Jaslene had to go to the lengths of fake-dating just shows how tiring this constant pushing must have been. BUT it does show that people aren't perfect, and there is room for growth!

Romance was very cute, and the banter was very enjoyable to read. Also, I think this is the first time in a while where I've actually enjoyed an epilogue in a romance novel!!

Overall, this was a sweet read that's cliche in a charming way!

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating - 4.75⭐️

I couldn’t get enough of this book to the point where I thought the book was finished and I was hoping for an epilogue. In my head I was like “epilogue?🥺” and when I flicked the page I SAW THE EPILOGUE TITLE and I was literally cheering AYEEEE‼️ because I was so happy lmaoo

This book really grew on me! I admit the first half I was less invested in the romance, I thought it was cute but I wasn’t obsessed, but after the halfway mark I did a full 180 and ended up being head over heels for Jas and Marlon. THEY’RE LITERALLY SO PRECIOUS TO ME😩😩 LIKE GENUINELY🥹🥹. And THE ANGST?!? It was so good😭😭😭.

That confession scene? It’s now on my top ten fav romcom book confessions. I also thought this book felt so cinematic, the author’s film studies really shone through. I could picture every scene I read as a whole romcom movie and if this was adapted into a Filipino movie?? I can guarantee this would hands down become a Filipino classic 🙂‍↕️.

Also I really enjoyed the kpop references, i especially couldn’t stop smiling whenever Ateez, stray kids or seventeen were mentioned 😋. Ugh as im writing this, scenes from the book that I loved keep coming into my head I have to take a moment because I can’t stop cheesing so hard 😭😭😭. The bookstore trail?😭 The dancing?😭 The kpop album store?😭 IM GONNA MISS THOSE TWO SO MUCH😭.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

All About You tells the story of Jaslene Garcia, an 18-year old hopeless romantic. Jaslene is convinced she’s met the love of her life during a bookstore meet cute, she realises she must first fake date the bane of her existence and son of her mum’s best friend Marlon Salvador if she wants a shot at her happily ever after.
 
Jaslene Garcia: booksxkpop girlie
Oh my god, I love Jaslene SOOO MUCH!!! Jaslene is such a relatable main character; there was not a single chapter where I wasn’t rooting for her. I loved Jaslene’s bond with her family; it was incredibly heartwarming. She is also in film school, SO COOL!!!!
 
Marlon Salvador: animexgamer fanboy
Marlon is everything you want in a love interest—a guy who doesn’t get weird when someone is talking about K-pop???? Where can one find their Marlon 😇???
 
Family gatherings: Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of family gatherings (introvert alert), but I LOVED THEM IN THIS BOOK!!! They resulted in a lot of chaos and made me crave Filipino food 😭.I absolutely loved all the interactions between the cousins and mcs.
 
Jaslene and Marlon’s relationship
I’m not lying when I say that these two will be on my mind for the foreseeable future. They were so sweet, they got me giggling and kicking my feet. Bookstore to K-pop store dates oh my god, and Sailor Moon watch parties I’m smiling just thinking about it. I love how both of them root for each other and assure each other. Music plays a big part in my life, and I love books where the main characters also feel the same way I do for music. Overall, it was an amazing debut novel, and I will for sure be rereading this whenever I’m in need of comfort.
 
Thank you author for writing this gem, and I’m excited beyond words for your author journey.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with an early copy of this book!

This book was just all I could ever dream of. Books, kpop, pride and prejudice references, fake dating and so much more. This really made me fall in love with cutesy romcom books again and I loved that the mc’s were at uni, without it being an adult book. And I mean all the references to other romantic books! It made me so happy as a book lover. And ooooo how she incorporated some iconic scenes it had me swooning and giggling a lot.

Another thing I loved was the Filipino culture in the book. I haven’t read many books with the Filipino culture in it and all the food descriptions oooo (even though my ibs would not like it but o well😂) and just all the cute family moments!

The fake dating part had me giggling so much as well. Not Marlon just being the best fake boyfriend ever and reminding Jaslene that she should not loose her spark about romance had me just squeeling and omg the fake dates AAAAH. Bookstores and kpop stores????? I mean HEAVEN. The kpop references and Ateez songs!!!! And him calling Jas by her last name?? It just does something

Basically this is just one of my fave romcom books out there and it reminded me I need to read this genre more (but idk if they will be this level of giggling and great times)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely in love with this book. it made me feel warm inside. can marlon and jas be any cuter!? as a hopeless romantic i related to jas a bit too much. but i loved her character and marlon was absolutely adorable! and omg the bookshop date!! SWOON! i love an enemies to loves book, especially when the guy falls first. this book was everything and I will be recommending and talking about this book to everyone i know for the rest of the year. what an absolute banger of a debut novel!

[P :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I NEED A MARLON PLEASE!!!! THE P&P REFERENCES ARE INSANEEEEE

[Clover · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you shania veronica for providing me with an arc in return for an honest review <3 eek baby’s first arc from the author themselves i can’t believe it. and my god what a perfect book.
now, i want to start off by saying: i wouldn’t say romance is my favourite genre. sure i like books where there is romance, but usually it’s a subplot. so i’ll be honest and say i was a bit worried i wouldn’t enjoy this. well lucky this book proved me wrong!!!!!!!
never before in a book have my emotions followed the main character so closely. at the beginning of the book i was right there with jaslene with hating marlon, and ended the book literally kicking and squealing because THEYRE JUST SO CUTE!!!!!!! like my god. some of the scenes in this book with the two of them?????? who do i need to sell my soul to to get a female-marlon in real life. please i beg universe.
jaslene herself as a character is so relatable it almost hurts. and it’s not even in a try-hard way that some books have the mc be relatable and quirky. nope! jaslene feels so authentic, like i feel like i know this girl. i’ve walked past her. i went to school with her. the way she is written is so realistic, and that extends to every other character. her family’s dynamics, marlon, even rita felt like people i know. i think some of that can be attributed to veronica’s writing style, as homegirl was whipping out kpop & book references like it was nobody’s business. mind you im not knocking it!!!! i’m so autistic about until dawn im not kidding when i say reading a line about it in this book literally had my apple watch alerting me because i was so excited. DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IVE BEEN WAITING FOR A BOOK TO REFERENCE UNTIL DAWN??????? a million brownie points from me for that. and i mean hello all the other references just kept adding to the brownie pile.
i do find that sometimes romance books can use tropes as a bit of a crutch, and i was worried this book would. but IT DIDNT!!!!!! like cmon now the fake dating trope was so cute here, especially with how it ties in to the general plot (as in, how it starts). sometimes i find fake dating to feel a bit hamfisted but the reason for this book’s fake dating worked so well. and that goes for every other “trope”in this book. veronica sets it up, and then delightfully grows and expands beyond tropes. i loved it.
i also need to shout out marlon’s writing cuz thank GODDD his characterisation at the beginning wasn’t something like he’s an actual asshole, i liked that it was lowkey both of them just being stubborn and enjoying fighting with each other 💀💀💀 godddd i relate to jaslene SO HARD.
anyways, tldr; pick up this god damn book.

[Gayathri Maniratnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

DO NOT READ IF : If you're a classic romance reader, cuz all you'll find is cringe, cliche & childish.


Just as the dedication says.......this book is for those hopeless romantic human beings, this book is about me, about you, about US!!!
The delulu bookgirlies who's dreaming about a rom-com love life.

This is a story of two teens who's just 18, & the FMC is getting into her 1st ever relationship, so there's it's on flaws in the character. Whereas the MMC is trying to become a better boyfriend.

The story is set in the Philippines & it shows us Filipino references, culture, etc.

And it's an 'enemies to lovers' just for the namesake only, no hard feelings, the fmc is just annoyed by the mmc.

The plot : Irritated by the teasing by their family & precisely their mom's who are bestfriends as they try so hard to set up both the MCS together, they end up with the idea of fake dating & then to orchestrate a fake break up.

(Here, the idea of them creating such a situation makes no sense, ik, & that's why I said they're 18 & teens do tend to take dump decisions 😌 but atm their only concern was to stop people from shipping them together & teasing them which annoys them eveytime.)

And making a deal that they'll help each other with their own love life.

But end up falling for each other. And having a slight communication problem.

But damn !!! Morgan is such a good boyfriend material!!!!

So, as I said, read it ONLY if you can handle some amount of childishness, else you're wasting your time over 260 smthg pages.

For me, I really enjoyed the book & I liked it. As a hopeless romantic bookgirlie, I could easily relate with the hopeless FMC. Just a cute, fluffy rom-com with a bit of childishness.

[Ann Yelena · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, not perfect, but good. It’s her first novel, so let’s not be too harsh.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Jaslene and Marlon, the teasing, their growing closeness, all of it. But I have to admit I was a little disappointed because, in my opinion, their relationship didn’t take up enough space in the story. And I still don’t understand why their families were so involved in their love lives. It was borderline ridiculous. Actually, it was downright annoying. They all got on my nerves, I rolled my eyes every time one of them spoke. Like, you’re adults, don’t you have anything better to do than try to marry off two teenagers who are still figuring things out? At no point did Jaslene’s parents talk to her about anything other than Marlon or romance. No conversations about her future? College? The writing career she’s considering? Is your daughter’s entire existence just about being Marlon’s future wife? Come on now.

Also, all the pop culture references and mentions of her favorite movies felt a little forced. It would’ve been perfect if they had been more subtle. That said, I loved their bonding moments over Sailor Moon. That was adorable.

Lastly, I hated Christine’s intervention at the end. It would have been so much better if everything she said had come from Marlon instead. The story had the perfect setup for a heartbreaking, romcom-worthy declaration, him pouring his heart at her feet, telling her she had always been his choice. But alas.

I think I would have enjoyed this more a few years ago, but I also believe this author has a lot of potential. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

[aqeelah ❀༉˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

NEW FAVOURITE ROMANCE NOVEL UNLOCKED!

what to expect from this swoon-worthy indie author debut:
- filipino MCs
- matchmaking families
- childhood enemies to friends to lovers
- fluffy silly chaotic escapist ya

you MUST read this book if you're:
- a hopeless romantic
- a book-lover
- a dreamer
- a fan of kpop, anime, manga, films, writing, drawing, gaming- really anything considered "nerdy" or creative!

This one is for the slightly delulu hopeless romantics who may or may not have waaaay too many special interests.
So basically me. I am the target audience.
And, boy, this one sure hit DIRECTLY into the target on my heart!

Reading this book during the month of love was perfect because this book is the epitome of love. Family love, friendship love, food love, identity love, heritage love, hobbies/special interests love, and of course romantic love! I especially adored the bonds of sisterhood, big close-knit families, and friendships new & old. So wholesome, so heartwarming, so needed in these dark and dreary times 🥺❤️‍🩹

I found sooo much relatable. Jaslene (FMC) is basically a brighter, more delulu, extroverted version of me. Like if I was super cute and unapologetically me? That's Jaslene. She's such a sweetheart and "betrothed-since-childhood" Marlon is the kind of intentionally annoying, undeniably charming, and overwhelmingly caring MMC that everyone loves (or at least everyone *should* love! he's so lovable!). If your heart seeks softness and warmth like mine does, this book and these characters will weave their way straight to your core... and I say, let it!!!!!

[joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

first of all, thank you so much to the author for the arc and congratulations on your debut novel!

this book has the tropes i usually avoid but the mcs having filipino blood made me curious. i love the filipino representation. the big family gatherings. the karaoke. having a tupperware to store leftovers. the filipino time. mentions of filo foods made me crave them that i avoided reading at two in the morning. some filo sentences need to be edited tho bc some are grammatically incorrect.

the fake dating in here is not what the usual books with fake dating trope do where they'll only see each other during the duration of them faking a relationship. in here, they see other people—jaslene's new crush and marlon's ex. it's not that bad but having OW & OM almost made me wanna put the book down, but hey, them helping with each other's love lives is one of the rules they set. that part just really upset me tho.

nevertheless, the rest of the book is cute. jaslene's such a hopeless romantic you really can't help but relate to her. loved how marlon's very supportive of jaslene. he never once made her feel small. loveee ria and jaslene's relationship and how ria's the one who always put jaslene down from her delusions.

[Virgil · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the lovely author!

All About You was a cute, albeit cheesy as hell, fun read for the delusional girlies who still think about the hand flex scene from Pride and Prejudice (2005). There was something very refreshing about reading a cute little romance book set so close to home in Sydney as I found it easy to resonate with Jaslene as a hopeless romantic uni student (guys she's literally me). I also have to give such a big vouch to Shaina Veronica, watching her publishing process has been a delight and I am so glad that Twitter led me to her. I'm so incredibly inspired by her dedication, her joyful demeanour, and her passion for writing.

I ultimately rated All About You 4/5 stars. For a majority of the book I was sitting at a 3.5 for a few reasons. Jaslene fell into a couple of "not like other girls" tropes; there's an abundance of popular culture references which are usually not my jam; and the plot felt a little outlandish. It ultimately gained the other .5 of a star in the final 20-30% where Marlon and Jaslene's characters really start to shine. This was a feel-good, easy, cute read that I absolutely devoured.

Congratulations to Veronica on the publishing of All About You I wish nothing but success for this book and future endeavours!!

[Mikee Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book through the author’s posting on the Subtle Filipino Traits group on Facebook.

0-30%: Initially, the book felt very niche. The abundance of anime references, Filipino culture nods, Kpop songs, and book girlie moments were tailored for a very specific audience. I was worried these traits might reduce the story to be viewed as gimmicky and without substance.

30-90%: Once I got over my internalized racism, I was all in. This is because Veronica’s ideal audience is me 🧏🏽‍♀️ I’m a kpop-crazed, romance loving Filipino. I ate all the kilig moments up, even if the main character was delusional.

90-100%: By the end, the story hit so close to home that I teared up. Maybe it wasn’t that deep, but the generational trauma of familial “good intentions” that spiral into peer pressure felt painfully rooted into my DNA. The fake dating scenario may seem over the top, but the cultural pressures driving it are real. Even now, I struggle to navigate Filipino culture, but I believe many people can relate to similar challenges rooted in their own upbringing. I’m grateful that the author chose to shed light on these experiences.

[rey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biggest thank you to author Shaina Veronica for the ARC. She’s truly the sweetest human and deserves a good debut.

This story was a sweet yet cheesy one. I love getting to kick my legs and screech when reading romance. You could tell that the author herself is a hopeless romantic herself, she truly put her soul into Jaslene. Such a sweet character to get to know.

However, there’s one thing that bugs me. Not just about this book but generally.

I can’t handle modern language in books. Dialogues? Sure, it makes sense when it takes place in recent times. However, when it’s in the actual text of descriptions etc it just gives me an ick. Yes, books can be fun without any depth but I believe they need proper structures. It feels more like reading a personal diary than a book in a not so nice way when it happens.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaina Veronica's debut novel, "All About You", is a charming and witty romance that will capture your heart.

The premise is clever, and executed with skill and humor. The characters are well-developed and endearing, with Jaslene's sassiness and Marlon's brooding nature making them a compelling pair. The supporting cast, particularly the meddling moms, adds to the comedic relief and chaos.

The writing is engaging, with a conversational tone that makes you feel like you're part of Jaslene's inner circle. Veronica tackles themes of love, family, and identity with sensitivity and insight, making this a delightful read for fans of romantic comedies.

What sets "All About You" apart is its fresh take on the fake-dating trope, combined with the author's Filipino culture and the relatable struggles of navigating family expectations. Veronica's debut is a promising start to her writing career, and I'm excited to see what she has in store for us next!!!!

Overall, "All About You" is a lighthearted, feel-good read perfect for anyone looking for a romantic comedy with a dash of humor, heart, and a touch of sass.

[tahlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANKYOU to Shaina for sending me a copy of this book for review!! it was such a joy to read your book <3

"Childhood enemies joining forces to help each other with our failed love lives. Who could've imagined?"

This book has my entire heart! ITS A REALLY CUTE BOOK

Firstly, THE SETTING. It's always so wonderful to read books set in Australia, especially romance books. I don't want to spoil it, but the characters in this book got to live out my dream NSW date. I was sooo jealous of a fictional character.

This book will make you hungry, soo soo hungry. Absolute perfect descriptions of so much food.

Obviously, the most important part is the actual plot which is soo fantastic. The biggest issue I have with fake dating is how unrealistic the plot can be. NOT WITH THIS BOOK, it made sense and there wasn't really issues with miscommunication or complicated schemes to make the main characters fake date. PLUS THEY WERE JUST A REALLY CUTE COUPLE

ALSOOO university aged characters in a YA book!!! This is so important, and the characters felt like real people

I will admit there's a lot of references to other media like kpop, anime, and books WHICH I LOVED - especially all the references to sailor moon! those had me feeling so nostalgic

Thankyou and Congrats to Shaina for writing this book and I can't wait to see this book release!!

[Marielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who’s always looking for books with Filipino representation because there are not so much out there and it's sad because I do, but I can't understand my native language. Shame on me on that one. I came across this one and I’m so glad I did. I enjoyed it so much; it was incredibly cute and wholesome. The vibes reminded me of Ann Liang and Jenny Han in the best way. And finding a character like Jaslene, who loves palabok just like me? That instantly made me smile.

I really hope the author writes more because I love her writing style, and I can’t get enough of Marlon and Jaslene. They’re genuinely so cute together.

[Lem · Rating 5 out of 5]

movie-like and cutesy! packed with references