Always Never Knowing

by Georgiana Quintanilla Tyquiengco

Always Never Knowing is a collection of stories following Jiavonna “Vonna” Cepeda as she navigates adolescence, from friendships and crushes to cultural identity and family dynamics. Each short story explores a different moment in Vonna’s life where she faces one question after another—about her home, her relationships, and herself. With both humor and wit, Always Never Knowing depicts the village girl coming of age in contemporary Guam.

148 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[sun ♡]

Local literature is difficult to come across where I am from, but whenever I am met with a piece from home, I hold onto it the same way nine-year-old me would have held onto a seashell—delicately, on an open palm. Revisiting Guam through the lens of someone else's past still ignites the same nostalgic feelings and memories I have of my own childhood. I laugh at the cultural references embedded in Guamanian speech and sigh at the end of each story as I am pulled out of the illusion that I am back on that tiny rock. Tyquiengco clearly writes from a place of love, from the people she has mentioned and the places from which she drew inspiration. I miss Guam dearly, and even if only temporarily, Tyquiengco graciously led me back and welcomed me with open arms.

[mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Is this story about us? I really enjoyed the different stories and adventures Vonna goes through. Her stories remind me much of my own. What makes it even more special is that takes place on Guam. My first time reading a local book and I felt super immersed in the story. I would definitely recommend and re-read it!

#verytouching #wow

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-stars for writing and publishing a book of short stories from the author's mixed (Chamoru-Filipina) heritage, and "local girl" perspective. Entirely myopic, it is truly a microcosm of life in Micronesia.

[Donna Hattori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with heart, soul, and raw emotion, Always Never Knowing echoes the richness of Sandra Cisneros’s storytelling in The House on Mango Street. Tyquiengco’s coming-of-age story of Vonna’s life in Guam left me wistful and lingering in its pages long after I finished. I laughed out loud, let the tears well up, and felt my heart break.