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Warga Kesunyian
Enam orang. Enam kehilangan. Enam pertemuan tak disangka.
Via bertemu semula lelaki asing yang pernah menyelamatkan malam paling kelam dalam hidupnya. Ronald, sendirian selepas ditinggalkan keluarga, bersahabat dengan seorang budak kecil yang mencari kunci dan jalan pulang. Gemma, dengan hati berat, menjejak kembali ibunya yang hilang dalam kabus Alzheimer. Cindy kehilangan cincin pertunangan -- dan dalam pencarian itu, mungkin juga cintanya. lan menerima mesej misteri selepas telefon lamanya hilang. Dan Marya, penjaga buku log barang hilang, perlahan-lahan menemui keberanian untuk menyembuhkan dirinya sendiri.
WARGA KESUNYIAN - novel dari Filipina tentang kehilangan, pertemuan, dan peluang kedua.
Via bertemu semula lelaki asing yang pernah menyelamatkan malam paling kelam dalam hidupnya. Ronald, sendirian selepas ditinggalkan keluarga, bersahabat dengan seorang budak kecil yang mencari kunci dan jalan pulang. Gemma, dengan hati berat, menjejak kembali ibunya yang hilang dalam kabus Alzheimer. Cindy kehilangan cincin pertunangan -- dan dalam pencarian itu, mungkin juga cintanya. lan menerima mesej misteri selepas telefon lamanya hilang. Dan Marya, penjaga buku log barang hilang, perlahan-lahan menemui keberanian untuk menyembuhkan dirinya sendiri.
WARGA KESUNYIAN - novel dari Filipina tentang kehilangan, pertemuan, dan peluang kedua.
300 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 10, 2025
“6 orang. 6 kehilangan. 6 pertemuan tak disangka.”
Ini adalah dunia yang penuh dengan kehilangan, 6 jiwa yang patah dan sunyi mencari makna di sebalik apa yang telah cicir dari genggaman mereka - Via, yang kehilangan bukan sekadar cinta tapi juga kepercayaan pada cinta, cuba menebus luka silam dengan memulangkan dompet seorang asing yang pernah menyelamatkannya; Ronald, yang ditinggalkan keluarga, menemui seorang kanak - kanak hilang dan dalam pencarian kunci, dia sendiri cuba mencari arah pulang dengan hati yang sunyi; Gemma, yang kembali kepada seorang ibu yang tak lagi mengingatinya, terpaksa berdamai dengan masa lalu demi mencari saudaranya yang hilang - dan mungkin juga dirinya sendiri; Cindy, yang kehilangan cincin tunang, akhirnya menyedari bahawa yang benar - benar hilang adalah keyakinannya terhadap cinta yang pernah dia pertahankan; Dan Ian, yang kehilangan telefon, mula menerima mesej - mesej misteri yang menghidupkan semula bayang - bayang cinta lama yang belum reda; dan Marya, penjaga senyap buku log barang hilang, menyusun serpihan kisah orang lain sambil perlahan - lahan menyusun semula dirinya sendiri yang sangat rapuh. Dalam setiap kehilangan, mereka menemui sesuatu yang lebih mendalam - sebahagian diri mereka yang telah hilang, dan mungkin, jalan pulang yang tak mereka sedari sedang mereka cari.
Sebagai peminat setia Fixi Verso, koleksi peribadi aku memang lengkap dengan semua terjemahan mereka. Namun, saat buku ini berada di pasaran, timbul juga persoalan - kenapa aku langsung tak kenal penulis yang bernama Kannika Claudine D Pena ni? Dengan bantuan Goodreads, barulah aku tahu bahawa dia berasal dari Filipina. Dari situ, hati aku mula tertanya - tanya pula - apa yang menyebabkan penterjemah Ali Rafiq Ibrahim memilih karya ini untuk diterjemahkan?
Segala persoalan itu menjadi teka - teki yang ingin aku bongkar segera. Tapi disebabkan maklumat yang begitu terhad, aku tak menunggu lama - sebaik sahaja dapatkan ia di #SIBF2025, aku terus mulakan bacaan.
Dan aku harus akui - it was surprising good.
Membaca kumcer ini umpama meneliti bagaimana helaian - helaian jiwa yang koyak, dijahit semula dengan benang - benang takdir yang rapuh. Setiap kisah bermula dengan sesuatu yang hilang, dan dalam kehilangan itu, muncul pertemuan yang tak dijangka. Penemuan itu tak semestinya hadir untuk memulihkan, tapi ia hadir untuk mengingatkan bahawa luka itu masih ada, masih berdenyut.
Terus terang, terjemahan Ali Rafiq Ibrahim agak asing bagi aku - sedikit canggung & tak mengalir lancar; tapi yang ajaibnya, gaya bahasa yang asing ini berjaya menghidupkan suara - suara yang sunyi, lalu menyatukannya menjadi satu irama yang perlahan, pilu, dan kelam, sesuai dengan tema buku ini - kehilangan.
Kehilangan dalam buku ini bukan tentang objek fizikal semata, juga tentang kehilangan yang tak dapat disentuh - kasih yang tak sempat diucap, identiti yang terhakis oleh waktu, impian yang perlahan - lahan layu dalam diam… Objek - objek fizikal itu hanyalah bayang kepada sesuatu yang lebih dalam, lebih menyakitkan - sesuatu yang pernah memberi makna, dan kini hanya tinggal ruang kosong yang tak tahu bagaimana mahu diisi.
Ia mengingatkan aku kepada Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine oleh Gail Honeyman. Kedua - dua novel genre Slice of Life ini menekankan bagaimana objek kecil atau peristiwa impromptu boleh membuka pintu kepada transformasi besar. Kedua - duanya berkongsi nada melankolik tapi penuh harapan: bahawa lehilangan bukan noktah, tapi peluang untuk menulis semula hidup. Sesungguhnya setiap apa yang berlaku tu ada hikmahnya.
Overall, ini sebuah karya yang tak menjerit untuk didengari, tapi berbisik perlahan - lahan ke dalam lubuk hati. Ia mengajak kita merenung: apabila kita kehilangan sesuatu yang sangat penting atau sangat disayangi, adakah kita benar - benar kehilangan segalanya? Atau adakah kita sedang ditakdirkan untuk menemui sesuatu yang lebih penting - mungkin, diri kita sendiri?
Sebuah bacaan yang sunyi, namun penuh gema. Menyayat, namun tak putus harapan. Dan dalam diam, ia menyembuhkan.
3.9 / 5 stars
Ini adalah dunia yang penuh dengan kehilangan, 6 jiwa yang patah dan sunyi mencari makna di sebalik apa yang telah cicir dari genggaman mereka - Via, yang kehilangan bukan sekadar cinta tapi juga kepercayaan pada cinta, cuba menebus luka silam dengan memulangkan dompet seorang asing yang pernah menyelamatkannya; Ronald, yang ditinggalkan keluarga, menemui seorang kanak - kanak hilang dan dalam pencarian kunci, dia sendiri cuba mencari arah pulang dengan hati yang sunyi; Gemma, yang kembali kepada seorang ibu yang tak lagi mengingatinya, terpaksa berdamai dengan masa lalu demi mencari saudaranya yang hilang - dan mungkin juga dirinya sendiri; Cindy, yang kehilangan cincin tunang, akhirnya menyedari bahawa yang benar - benar hilang adalah keyakinannya terhadap cinta yang pernah dia pertahankan; Dan Ian, yang kehilangan telefon, mula menerima mesej - mesej misteri yang menghidupkan semula bayang - bayang cinta lama yang belum reda; dan Marya, penjaga senyap buku log barang hilang, menyusun serpihan kisah orang lain sambil perlahan - lahan menyusun semula dirinya sendiri yang sangat rapuh. Dalam setiap kehilangan, mereka menemui sesuatu yang lebih mendalam - sebahagian diri mereka yang telah hilang, dan mungkin, jalan pulang yang tak mereka sedari sedang mereka cari.
Sebagai peminat setia Fixi Verso, koleksi peribadi aku memang lengkap dengan semua terjemahan mereka. Namun, saat buku ini berada di pasaran, timbul juga persoalan - kenapa aku langsung tak kenal penulis yang bernama Kannika Claudine D Pena ni? Dengan bantuan Goodreads, barulah aku tahu bahawa dia berasal dari Filipina. Dari situ, hati aku mula tertanya - tanya pula - apa yang menyebabkan penterjemah Ali Rafiq Ibrahim memilih karya ini untuk diterjemahkan?
Segala persoalan itu menjadi teka - teki yang ingin aku bongkar segera. Tapi disebabkan maklumat yang begitu terhad, aku tak menunggu lama - sebaik sahaja dapatkan ia di #SIBF2025, aku terus mulakan bacaan.
Dan aku harus akui - it was surprising good.
Membaca kumcer ini umpama meneliti bagaimana helaian - helaian jiwa yang koyak, dijahit semula dengan benang - benang takdir yang rapuh. Setiap kisah bermula dengan sesuatu yang hilang, dan dalam kehilangan itu, muncul pertemuan yang tak dijangka. Penemuan itu tak semestinya hadir untuk memulihkan, tapi ia hadir untuk mengingatkan bahawa luka itu masih ada, masih berdenyut.
Terus terang, terjemahan Ali Rafiq Ibrahim agak asing bagi aku - sedikit canggung & tak mengalir lancar; tapi yang ajaibnya, gaya bahasa yang asing ini berjaya menghidupkan suara - suara yang sunyi, lalu menyatukannya menjadi satu irama yang perlahan, pilu, dan kelam, sesuai dengan tema buku ini - kehilangan.
Kehilangan dalam buku ini bukan tentang objek fizikal semata, juga tentang kehilangan yang tak dapat disentuh - kasih yang tak sempat diucap, identiti yang terhakis oleh waktu, impian yang perlahan - lahan layu dalam diam… Objek - objek fizikal itu hanyalah bayang kepada sesuatu yang lebih dalam, lebih menyakitkan - sesuatu yang pernah memberi makna, dan kini hanya tinggal ruang kosong yang tak tahu bagaimana mahu diisi.
Ia mengingatkan aku kepada Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine oleh Gail Honeyman. Kedua - dua novel genre Slice of Life ini menekankan bagaimana objek kecil atau peristiwa impromptu boleh membuka pintu kepada transformasi besar. Kedua - duanya berkongsi nada melankolik tapi penuh harapan: bahawa lehilangan bukan noktah, tapi peluang untuk menulis semula hidup. Sesungguhnya setiap apa yang berlaku tu ada hikmahnya.
Overall, ini sebuah karya yang tak menjerit untuk didengari, tapi berbisik perlahan - lahan ke dalam lubuk hati. Ia mengajak kita merenung: apabila kita kehilangan sesuatu yang sangat penting atau sangat disayangi, adakah kita benar - benar kehilangan segalanya? Atau adakah kita sedang ditakdirkan untuk menemui sesuatu yang lebih penting - mungkin, diri kita sendiri?
Sebuah bacaan yang sunyi, namun penuh gema. Menyayat, namun tak putus harapan. Dan dalam diam, ia menyembuhkan.
3.9 / 5 stars
August 24, 2025
All the Lonely People delivers exactly what its title promises— interconnected stories of people fighting their own battles.
I am amazed at the diversity of these character-driven stories which explored loss, grief, remorse, heartbreak, frustrations, and the struggle to prove yourself, to turn your life around. The writing is elegant, similar to how Fredrik Backman in Anxious People so precisely captures human thoughts and emotions. I tabbed so many lines, especially the ones that make me feel like I am experiencing them secondhand. The book also portrays different kinds of relationships such as between lovers, parents and children, colleagues, and friends. Some scenes feel so ordinary, yet the writing makes them extraordinary and memorable. I was moved to tears in several stories.
The stories flow seamlessly together, and each can stand on its own. The author vividly depicted the busy, claustrophobic life in the metro and the daily struggles- commuting, working, underemployment, making ends meet… These are perfect backdrops to the relatable situations of the characters.
Among the many, my favorite storylines were of Ronald’s, the Cordero women, and of course, of the main character, Marya. Her journey is complex, layered, and compelling.
The stories present unvarnished truths about messy, imperfect, real lives. The open endedness added to the authenticity. If there’s one thing I wished more of, it would be to take away just a bit more glimmer from the collection as a whole.
All the Lonely People reminded me of Plato’s words: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” I may have already quoted this in a caption or review in the past. Still, it rings so true. Makes you think about the stories of strangers we encounter everyday. Be kinder, be more compassionate. And in your own battles, be kind to yourself. 🥹
I highly recommend All the Lonely People and I look forward to read more works from the author. ❤️❤️❤️
4.25/5
I am amazed at the diversity of these character-driven stories which explored loss, grief, remorse, heartbreak, frustrations, and the struggle to prove yourself, to turn your life around. The writing is elegant, similar to how Fredrik Backman in Anxious People so precisely captures human thoughts and emotions. I tabbed so many lines, especially the ones that make me feel like I am experiencing them secondhand. The book also portrays different kinds of relationships such as between lovers, parents and children, colleagues, and friends. Some scenes feel so ordinary, yet the writing makes them extraordinary and memorable. I was moved to tears in several stories.
The stories flow seamlessly together, and each can stand on its own. The author vividly depicted the busy, claustrophobic life in the metro and the daily struggles- commuting, working, underemployment, making ends meet… These are perfect backdrops to the relatable situations of the characters.
Among the many, my favorite storylines were of Ronald’s, the Cordero women, and of course, of the main character, Marya. Her journey is complex, layered, and compelling.
The stories present unvarnished truths about messy, imperfect, real lives. The open endedness added to the authenticity. If there’s one thing I wished more of, it would be to take away just a bit more glimmer from the collection as a whole.
All the Lonely People reminded me of Plato’s words: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” I may have already quoted this in a caption or review in the past. Still, it rings so true. Makes you think about the stories of strangers we encounter everyday. Be kinder, be more compassionate. And in your own battles, be kind to yourself. 🥹
I highly recommend All the Lonely People and I look forward to read more works from the author. ❤️❤️❤️
4.25/5
January 27, 2024
I struggled to finish it. I found myself checking how many pages were still left in a chapter.
I bought it hoping to find solace in what is familiar, to know that I am not alone in feeling lonely in this (as how the review puts it) ‘city that refuses to feel like home’.
But the book, for me, fails to deliver that. I could feel the book’s intent to comfort, to tell me it’ll be okay. It wasn’t just that effective.
For what it’s worth, maybe it’s my fault as a mood reader. I wanted a reprieve from this noisy city; I wanted to take my mind off it, not be reminded of it. Right now, I wanted to escape reality, not see it reflected on a page.
But the book also has its strength. The author is very good at portraying human relations, the way how the brain thinks and how people interact. Thus, three stars.
I bought it hoping to find solace in what is familiar, to know that I am not alone in feeling lonely in this (as how the review puts it) ‘city that refuses to feel like home’.
But the book, for me, fails to deliver that. I could feel the book’s intent to comfort, to tell me it’ll be okay. It wasn’t just that effective.
For what it’s worth, maybe it’s my fault as a mood reader. I wanted a reprieve from this noisy city; I wanted to take my mind off it, not be reminded of it. Right now, I wanted to escape reality, not see it reflected on a page.
But the book also has its strength. The author is very good at portraying human relations, the way how the brain thinks and how people interact. Thus, three stars.
May 31, 2024
A good mix of Filipino stories, surprisingly interconnected with each other at the end. I fell in love with the author's writing style, and I wanted to highlight so many passages! It was disappointing that I read and finished this book while I was outside, without my beloved pens and tabs.
Kudos to the author! I'm inching to read more of your work!
Kudos to the author! I'm inching to read more of your work!
August 4, 2023
Following the lives of six different people (and more, really), All the Lonely People banks on the inevitable intersections of human connection and the very real emotion and process of loss. While the theme of lost things in every POV is apparent, the deeper you get into the weave of the story, the more you absorb that of course the things are not just things but also representations of some precious intangibles. Lost relationships, yes, in every sense; loss of memory, identity, health, dream, hope, and purpose.
Read full review on Bookbed.
Read full review on Bookbed.
October 16, 2024
The book consists of stories of six different people, all related to a lost object—a lost ID, ring, wallet, key, and mobile phone. Via, Ronald, Gemma, Cindy, and Dan Ian all navigates and commutes in the chaotic world of Metro Manila. Some hailed from the province and ended up as minimum wage earners in the city, some are battling romantic despair and failed family relationships. In the midst of them all is Marya, the custodian of a lost-and-found logbook in an apartelle where she works. Marya thrives connection whenever she traverses in EDSA, a congested highway in Metro Manila.
I easily finished this book because of the impressive writing of the author, Kannika Claudine D. Peña @notkonicareads . There are many quotable quotes, mostly relating to the perspective of a lonely person. A lonely person here is not necessarily alone, but sometimes coping with grief due to sudden departure of a loved one, longing for a romantic relationship that has ended, or failure to establish a connection with a family member. The short stories are inter-related with each other, in the sense that they are stories of a person whom you might happen to pass by while walking on the street, or your seatmate at the city bus, or the narrative of a person you used to know and accidentally saw again after several decades.
The tone of the book is melancholic but hopeful. Indeed, there were times when we feel pensive without realizing that we are still far more fortunate than the others facing a worse battle.
These are my favorite lines from the book:
“I guess all lonely people are in their own self-made bubble, thinking no one could possibly feel the way they do now. But if we could really hear other people’s thoughts, perhaps everyone’s just thinking about the same sad and lonely thoughts.”
I easily finished this book because of the impressive writing of the author, Kannika Claudine D. Peña @notkonicareads . There are many quotable quotes, mostly relating to the perspective of a lonely person. A lonely person here is not necessarily alone, but sometimes coping with grief due to sudden departure of a loved one, longing for a romantic relationship that has ended, or failure to establish a connection with a family member. The short stories are inter-related with each other, in the sense that they are stories of a person whom you might happen to pass by while walking on the street, or your seatmate at the city bus, or the narrative of a person you used to know and accidentally saw again after several decades.
The tone of the book is melancholic but hopeful. Indeed, there were times when we feel pensive without realizing that we are still far more fortunate than the others facing a worse battle.
These are my favorite lines from the book:
“I guess all lonely people are in their own self-made bubble, thinking no one could possibly feel the way they do now. But if we could really hear other people’s thoughts, perhaps everyone’s just thinking about the same sad and lonely thoughts.”
December 22, 2025
You can also read my review here. <3
there is something about commuting around metro manila that forces you to slow down. the long travel time leaves you alone with your thoughts, long enough to notice the things you have been carrying quietly while trying to get through everyday life.
——
all the lonely people follows six characters whose lives intersect in small and almost accidental ways, all against the backdrop of metro manila’s daily commute. each of them is dealing with loss, loneliness, and the quiet weight of ordinary moments. the stories are connected through a series of lost objects: wallets, keys, a cellphone, a pwd id, and even an engagement ring. what begins as the search for something misplaced slowly becomes a reflection on what is missing beneath the surface.
what struck me most was how the book treats loneliness not as something dramatic, but as something lived alongside routine. sadness does not arrive loudly here. it exists in errands, in waiting, and in holding on to something you have already lost. the stories do not try to fix loneliness, but instead show it as something shared, something human, and almost tender in its ordinariness.
some of the stories feel unfinished, as if they stop just when you expect clarity or resolution. at first, this can feel slightly unsatisfying, but the more i sat with it, the more it felt intentional. life rarely offers clean endings, especially when it comes to grief and loneliness. in that sense, the open endedness adds to the book’s quiet honesty and beauty.
the fragmented structure mirrors how people pass through each others lives briefly and imperfectly. <3 moments of connection feel fleeting but meaningful, offering subtle glimmers of hope rather than clear resolutions. the logbook of lost items becomes a quiet archive of absence, reminding us that what we lose is not always just an object.
all the lonely people is an honest book. it understands that loneliness does not always need closure. sometimes being seen, even for a moment, is enough.
——
i read this as part of the #akdangpinoyreadathon earlier this year! thank you @booklovertitas for the thought provoking questions during the discussion! 🤍
there is something about commuting around metro manila that forces you to slow down. the long travel time leaves you alone with your thoughts, long enough to notice the things you have been carrying quietly while trying to get through everyday life.
——
all the lonely people follows six characters whose lives intersect in small and almost accidental ways, all against the backdrop of metro manila’s daily commute. each of them is dealing with loss, loneliness, and the quiet weight of ordinary moments. the stories are connected through a series of lost objects: wallets, keys, a cellphone, a pwd id, and even an engagement ring. what begins as the search for something misplaced slowly becomes a reflection on what is missing beneath the surface.
what struck me most was how the book treats loneliness not as something dramatic, but as something lived alongside routine. sadness does not arrive loudly here. it exists in errands, in waiting, and in holding on to something you have already lost. the stories do not try to fix loneliness, but instead show it as something shared, something human, and almost tender in its ordinariness.
some of the stories feel unfinished, as if they stop just when you expect clarity or resolution. at first, this can feel slightly unsatisfying, but the more i sat with it, the more it felt intentional. life rarely offers clean endings, especially when it comes to grief and loneliness. in that sense, the open endedness adds to the book’s quiet honesty and beauty.
the fragmented structure mirrors how people pass through each others lives briefly and imperfectly. <3 moments of connection feel fleeting but meaningful, offering subtle glimmers of hope rather than clear resolutions. the logbook of lost items becomes a quiet archive of absence, reminding us that what we lose is not always just an object.
all the lonely people is an honest book. it understands that loneliness does not always need closure. sometimes being seen, even for a moment, is enough.
——
i read this as part of the #akdangpinoyreadathon earlier this year! thank you @booklovertitas for the thought provoking questions during the discussion! 🤍
April 19, 2025
The last line of the book: 😩😭😭😭😭
Cheers to all the lonely people.
Cheers to all the lonely people.
July 13, 2025
In one of our kotse chronicles, dok bb mentioned that he doesn't cry much because his tear ducts are tinier than any other person. Instead, whenever he feels like crying, it was his runny nose doing the deed. Whenever he feels deep sadness, he said, "kinokotse ko lang. huling hagulgol ko ay yung huling heartbreak ko eh." I guess at least with movement, he can find his release (without judging his runny nose and his huge mess of used tissue paper).
Movement and mementos are the big themes in Kannika's first novel of remembering loss and its adjacent emotions of grief, and how we have found ourselves looking for a company to share our loneliness with. With company comes empathy and reason, and may it not be a concrete form of happiness, but rather a release and a relief. Then hope. After all, hope if what gives us tenacity to brave the rage we experience everyday in the Metro.
Mandirigmang imortal, amirite?
If you are burned out from the daily life of the Metro, this time may not be a perfect chance to read the novel. Maybe this book is meant for people who wanted to enjoy the slow days in their homes, or want to relish the feeling of rawness of emotions. I can only opine on my reading experience, since I finished the whole book during the hours when the Globe Internet is down in Pasig area.
The six stories in the novel were done in a "hand-off" fashion, where the omniscient POV is moved from one character to another, its main goal is to share their little sob story. At the center of it all is Marya, and her own history of loss and longing for company, her sentiments poured out to the Lost and Found Logbook of the old Apartelle where she is currently working (and living in).
What I liked about the novel is how the story weaves and how it pulls the emotions out of me. I feel that my chest hurt everytime I read a snippet of their sad histories, and at some instances, I see my persona as a composite from the characters in the novel. I reflected at the what-ifs (like, if I was Gemma, will I still be ok managing my mother if she has Alzheimer's?) I even see my work colleague in Cindy's story. I loved how relatable the stories are.
Also, the author has effectively inserted her criticisms in our love for sad tropes ("Sadness that sells because it's everyone's sadness"), the dismal commute and horrendous traffic ("This city has no time for your heartbreak. So you move on"), and her leeway to explain why there are tendencies to romanticize this chaotic city ("But perhaps she's looking for a way to feel again"). The universality of stories and the feelings it evoked within me are remarkable. For less than 30 pages, I shed my tears as if the loss was my own. Good thing I don't have dok beside me because it is hard to explain why are you crying over a page you just read.
I think what wanes the reading experience for a bit is my introduction to Cindy's story. It felt abrupt. It's the sudden insertion, nothing weave-like. I was so used to the chaotic EDSA or slower moments in Pasay (where I think Via is from), and then Cindy opened her story with "Pillow crease on face." The momentum faltered from there. And just before the novel ended, the connection was made too convenient. Also, I personally felt that the stories of queer characters (Jona and Dan Ian, respectively) are tokens of inclusivity. Nonetheless, they are relevant stories. Including their snippets means that all of us walk and manage the loneliness of everyday.
What redeemed me in the end is the seemingly magical realism / romantic narrative at the bus station that even I (as the reader) was rooting for. That was so effective! It feels like watching the final sequence of Kimi No Nawa, two total strangers on the different lines of trains getting off on stations abruptly and meeting at the Suga Shrine.
"It's possible to be content with whatever and whoever is right there, even and especially with the knowledge that they will soon be gone, that nothing lasts forever—love, happiness, but also heartbreak, sadness, pain." And I thank this novel for giving me back my reading groove again, after managing the more challenging novels at the first half of the year. Thanks to Kannika for giving me a chance to slow down and just cry it out and breathe.
Movement and mementos are the big themes in Kannika's first novel of remembering loss and its adjacent emotions of grief, and how we have found ourselves looking for a company to share our loneliness with. With company comes empathy and reason, and may it not be a concrete form of happiness, but rather a release and a relief. Then hope. After all, hope if what gives us tenacity to brave the rage we experience everyday in the Metro.
Mandirigmang imortal, amirite?
If you are burned out from the daily life of the Metro, this time may not be a perfect chance to read the novel. Maybe this book is meant for people who wanted to enjoy the slow days in their homes, or want to relish the feeling of rawness of emotions. I can only opine on my reading experience, since I finished the whole book during the hours when the Globe Internet is down in Pasig area.
The six stories in the novel were done in a "hand-off" fashion, where the omniscient POV is moved from one character to another, its main goal is to share their little sob story. At the center of it all is Marya, and her own history of loss and longing for company, her sentiments poured out to the Lost and Found Logbook of the old Apartelle where she is currently working (and living in).
What I liked about the novel is how the story weaves and how it pulls the emotions out of me. I feel that my chest hurt everytime I read a snippet of their sad histories, and at some instances, I see my persona as a composite from the characters in the novel. I reflected at the what-ifs (like, if I was Gemma, will I still be ok managing my mother if she has Alzheimer's?) I even see my work colleague in Cindy's story. I loved how relatable the stories are.
Also, the author has effectively inserted her criticisms in our love for sad tropes ("Sadness that sells because it's everyone's sadness"), the dismal commute and horrendous traffic ("This city has no time for your heartbreak. So you move on"), and her leeway to explain why there are tendencies to romanticize this chaotic city ("But perhaps she's looking for a way to feel again"). The universality of stories and the feelings it evoked within me are remarkable. For less than 30 pages, I shed my tears as if the loss was my own. Good thing I don't have dok beside me because it is hard to explain why are you crying over a page you just read.
I think what wanes the reading experience for a bit is my introduction to Cindy's story. It felt abrupt. It's the sudden insertion, nothing weave-like. I was so used to the chaotic EDSA or slower moments in Pasay (where I think Via is from), and then Cindy opened her story with "Pillow crease on face." The momentum faltered from there. And just before the novel ended, the connection was made too convenient. Also, I personally felt that the stories of queer characters (Jona and Dan Ian, respectively) are tokens of inclusivity. Nonetheless, they are relevant stories. Including their snippets means that all of us walk and manage the loneliness of everyday.
What redeemed me in the end is the seemingly magical realism / romantic narrative at the bus station that even I (as the reader) was rooting for. That was so effective! It feels like watching the final sequence of Kimi No Nawa, two total strangers on the different lines of trains getting off on stations abruptly and meeting at the Suga Shrine.
"It's possible to be content with whatever and whoever is right there, even and especially with the knowledge that they will soon be gone, that nothing lasts forever—love, happiness, but also heartbreak, sadness, pain." And I thank this novel for giving me back my reading groove again, after managing the more challenging novels at the first half of the year. Thanks to Kannika for giving me a chance to slow down and just cry it out and breathe.
August 23, 2025
“They walked amidst and against an onslaught of people who all look and sound like they’re not from here but nowhere else to be, all equally lost and stuck and right where they needed to be, a million other stories playing out simultaneously.”
All the Lonely People presents us with a simple premise. It is a novel composed of stand-alone stories about items we often misplace and objects we hold so dearly, but still somehow lose.
The stories are interconnected through the perfect protagonist, Marya, who’s no stranger to big and irretrievable losses herself. Zooming in on the lives of ordinary working people, Kannika Claudine Pena fleshes out the nuances of human emotions that often stand too little for the buildings of Makati, the cramped MRT trains, and the usual 9 to 5s.
When I first read the synopsis, I cannot help but point out its striking resemblance to Chuckberry Pascual’s “Ang Nawawala,” which is also structured as a novel composed of integrated short stories delving on missing objects.
When a thing is lost, there is a story into it. It could have been forgotten, deliberately abandoned, or regretfully misplaced. When things are lost, we search for them — and this very human tendency to seek what has been and should be “there” makes these stories worth following.
And this is exactly what Peña did in her 200-page novel. She starts with a missing piece and leads us to how it was lost and eventually found. In cases where the lost item remains missing, the characters discover something else — mostly about themselves.
I nearly cried reading Gemma’s story about her estranged mother, who now has Alzeihmers after 20 years of no contact. I also liked the story behind Cindy’s missing engagement ring and how the search allowed her to understand what she has been feeling all along. Both are stories involving irretrievable loss but still somehow ends with hope.
Beyond the missing items, however, the novel actually confronts us that we humans are actually missing as well.
Because in reality, aren’t we all lost? Does anyone in this city actually believe that they are certain, still and found? Does anyone really know where they are headed?
If to be found means to be owned by someone, does it mean that to be lost is to be free and untethered?
Often poignant, reflexive, and sometimes snarky, All the Lonely People has proven to be an enjoying read from start to finish.
The last line serves as a fitting reminder on how we should deal with loneliness in this city that seems to never stop: “She continues to walk amidst strangers, all transplants in this city that refuses to feel like home, thinking for the first time in a while, or perhaps even ever, how living is such a good problem to have.”
All the Lonely People presents us with a simple premise. It is a novel composed of stand-alone stories about items we often misplace and objects we hold so dearly, but still somehow lose.
The stories are interconnected through the perfect protagonist, Marya, who’s no stranger to big and irretrievable losses herself. Zooming in on the lives of ordinary working people, Kannika Claudine Pena fleshes out the nuances of human emotions that often stand too little for the buildings of Makati, the cramped MRT trains, and the usual 9 to 5s.
When I first read the synopsis, I cannot help but point out its striking resemblance to Chuckberry Pascual’s “Ang Nawawala,” which is also structured as a novel composed of integrated short stories delving on missing objects.
When a thing is lost, there is a story into it. It could have been forgotten, deliberately abandoned, or regretfully misplaced. When things are lost, we search for them — and this very human tendency to seek what has been and should be “there” makes these stories worth following.
And this is exactly what Peña did in her 200-page novel. She starts with a missing piece and leads us to how it was lost and eventually found. In cases where the lost item remains missing, the characters discover something else — mostly about themselves.
I nearly cried reading Gemma’s story about her estranged mother, who now has Alzeihmers after 20 years of no contact. I also liked the story behind Cindy’s missing engagement ring and how the search allowed her to understand what she has been feeling all along. Both are stories involving irretrievable loss but still somehow ends with hope.
Beyond the missing items, however, the novel actually confronts us that we humans are actually missing as well.
Because in reality, aren’t we all lost? Does anyone in this city actually believe that they are certain, still and found? Does anyone really know where they are headed?
If to be found means to be owned by someone, does it mean that to be lost is to be free and untethered?
Often poignant, reflexive, and sometimes snarky, All the Lonely People has proven to be an enjoying read from start to finish.
The last line serves as a fitting reminder on how we should deal with loneliness in this city that seems to never stop: “She continues to walk amidst strangers, all transplants in this city that refuses to feel like home, thinking for the first time in a while, or perhaps even ever, how living is such a good problem to have.”
August 18, 2025
Every lost thing carries a story, and every story leads us back to connection.
📚Genre: Literary Fiction
📅 Pub Date: Feb 2023
⭐️ Star Rating: 5/5
Six strangers. Six stories of loss. And at the heart of it all, Marya, the quiet keeper of a lost-and-found logbook. Through these interconnected tales, Peña paints a tender portrait of ordinary lives shaped by loss, chance encounters, and the fragile threads that bind people in a crowded city.
This 224-page novel stirred my emotions. I was so immersed despite its melancholic tone. The multiple POVs didn’t intimidate me at all. Instead, they drew me deeper into each character’s world. Their struggles felt achingly familiar.
I deeply appreciate this as Peña’s debut novel. Her writing is so evocative and powerful, and I truly hope she publishes more in the future. Peña’s atmospheric prose captures not only the intricacies of her characters’ inner worlds but also the pulse of their surroundings. I found myself highlighting so many lines, each one striking a quiet, resonant truth.
Reading this also made me recall the people I’ve encountered in different seasons of my life (former Pinoy co-workers abroad, parents of my NICU patients, even old roommates). In one way or another, we’ve shared pieces of our stories, fragments of loneliness. All the Lonely People reminded me that these connections, however brief or lasting, are what stitch our lives together and make the weight of solitude a little lighter.
💔 Lost love / heartbreak 🧳 Chance encounters 📱 Lost & found objects 👩👩👧 Family estrangement 🗝️ Searching & rediscovery 🌆 Metro life / urban loneliness 🤝 Interconnected stories
👥 Multiple POV
A poignant, five-star read that made me feel every ache of loneliness while reminding me of the small sparks of hope that carry us through. Lonely or not, I hope you give this beautiful book a chance to be read and felt.
📚Genre: Literary Fiction
📅 Pub Date: Feb 2023
⭐️ Star Rating: 5/5
Six strangers. Six stories of loss. And at the heart of it all, Marya, the quiet keeper of a lost-and-found logbook. Through these interconnected tales, Peña paints a tender portrait of ordinary lives shaped by loss, chance encounters, and the fragile threads that bind people in a crowded city.
This 224-page novel stirred my emotions. I was so immersed despite its melancholic tone. The multiple POVs didn’t intimidate me at all. Instead, they drew me deeper into each character’s world. Their struggles felt achingly familiar.
I deeply appreciate this as Peña’s debut novel. Her writing is so evocative and powerful, and I truly hope she publishes more in the future. Peña’s atmospheric prose captures not only the intricacies of her characters’ inner worlds but also the pulse of their surroundings. I found myself highlighting so many lines, each one striking a quiet, resonant truth.
Reading this also made me recall the people I’ve encountered in different seasons of my life (former Pinoy co-workers abroad, parents of my NICU patients, even old roommates). In one way or another, we’ve shared pieces of our stories, fragments of loneliness. All the Lonely People reminded me that these connections, however brief or lasting, are what stitch our lives together and make the weight of solitude a little lighter.
💔 Lost love / heartbreak 🧳 Chance encounters 📱 Lost & found objects 👩👩👧 Family estrangement 🗝️ Searching & rediscovery 🌆 Metro life / urban loneliness 🤝 Interconnected stories
👥 Multiple POV
A poignant, five-star read that made me feel every ache of loneliness while reminding me of the small sparks of hope that carry us through. Lonely or not, I hope you give this beautiful book a chance to be read and felt.
December 27, 2025
ATLP is a surprising read! I was in a mood for something comforting after finishing a chunky experimental fiction and this book showed up in our doorstep at the perfect time.
I’ve seen raves about ATLP for years but I keep on putting it down since I want to secure a signed copy as I missed Kannika’s book fest appearance a couple of years ago but when @booklovertitas announced this as their August pick, I did not think twice and added it in my prio TBR.
Why did I enjoy this book? First, it was relatively familiar. The six different characters and their respective stories read like something I experienced or, if not, I heard from a family or friend. The way these people navigate their messy lives was oddly relatable and how they face the boulders that they encounter made them easy to root for.
Cliche as it goes, the people we meet in our daily commute or travel have their own stories to tell.
And speaking of commute, these stories are somehow connected by various modes of public transportation—buses, jeepneys, tricycles, motorcycles. Most of the pivotal scenes in this collection happen in shared transport.
Another common denominator in these stories is the touch on losing and finding. Be it a lost umbrella someone found at work or finally locating someone who you thought was untraceable already, ATLP highlighted these entries that hit close to home.
Yes, I enjoyed all of the stories especially Ronald & Waldo’s, and Gemma & Ching’s. If there is one thing that I want to improve, it’s the amount of pages because I need more.
I’ve seen raves about ATLP for years but I keep on putting it down since I want to secure a signed copy as I missed Kannika’s book fest appearance a couple of years ago but when @booklovertitas announced this as their August pick, I did not think twice and added it in my prio TBR.
Why did I enjoy this book? First, it was relatively familiar. The six different characters and their respective stories read like something I experienced or, if not, I heard from a family or friend. The way these people navigate their messy lives was oddly relatable and how they face the boulders that they encounter made them easy to root for.
Cliche as it goes, the people we meet in our daily commute or travel have their own stories to tell.
And speaking of commute, these stories are somehow connected by various modes of public transportation—buses, jeepneys, tricycles, motorcycles. Most of the pivotal scenes in this collection happen in shared transport.
Another common denominator in these stories is the touch on losing and finding. Be it a lost umbrella someone found at work or finally locating someone who you thought was untraceable already, ATLP highlighted these entries that hit close to home.
Yes, I enjoyed all of the stories especially Ronald & Waldo’s, and Gemma & Ching’s. If there is one thing that I want to improve, it’s the amount of pages because I need more.
September 26, 2024
This book shows how people in such a big city are connected in so many ways. Perhaps you and your taxi driver are thinking about a loved one who's about to give up on life in the hospital. Or maybe you and ten more in a cabin in the MRT feel dreaded going to work because it's not a friendly place anymore. Or you and three more in your work are feeling lost and empty in the current relationship you're in. This was how I felt while reading All the Lonely People of Kannika Claudine Pena : that majority of us share the same struggles in different layers. This novel tells the story of six different people who are unknowingly connected with one another for they share the sentiments of loss, loneliness, and emptiness but in various degrees. Set in Metro Manila, a place that many Filipinos may call the land of milk and honey. A bustling city and yet so heartless that all you need to do is survive. Perhaps if I read this book years ago when it felt like living and working in Metro Manila was like a punch in the gut, I probably could've sulked in a corner or maybe decided to stay in the province for good or perhaps continue to thrive because I know that I'm not alone. I guess that's the effect of a city: it's promising and depressing.
October 27, 2024
I saw this book during the Philippines Book Festival last year. When I passed by the booth, the author was there signing her books and I decided to get my copy. Fast forward to more than a year after, I was able to read it, finally.
All the Lonely People is an interconnected stories of six different people navigating the streets of Metro ManIla from their own personal losses. Via still reeling from a breakup met an unexpected stranger; Waldo at a loss when he as left behind by his family met a ten year old boy and helps him find his key and his way home; Gemma, who is not recognize by her mother with Alzheimer, reunites with her mother in helping her find her mother’s long lost sister; Cindy loses her engagement ring and in search for the ring, realizes the reason behind it; Dan Ian losses his phone and receives anonymous texts that he hopes from his ex. Among these stories is Marya, the keeper of the lost and found book in her work. Through all the loses, she also faces her own loss and struggles rebuilding her life.
There are so many things to like about this book. I like the author’s writing, so easy to get into the story and be captivated. The way the author describes the ordinary life of these ordinary people, knowing at the back of mind that I could be that person, or the same people I passed by on the streets, never knowing what they went through or are going through. I also like how the author makes the reader feel the crowded Metro, the lively street, the feel of public transport and the daily grind of the workers.
Each story is distinct and heartbreaking but one thing all their stories have in common is their losses, be it an object, a memory or a person. Each goes through a series of guilt, grief, pain and losses. And despite the busyness of the surrounding, you can always find somebody who is lonely, alone on their losses, coming to terms with their grief. Their stories are poignant and woeful but there is hope and there will always be a future in the midst of the crowded street of the metro.
All the Lonely People is an interconnected stories of six different people navigating the streets of Metro ManIla from their own personal losses. Via still reeling from a breakup met an unexpected stranger; Waldo at a loss when he as left behind by his family met a ten year old boy and helps him find his key and his way home; Gemma, who is not recognize by her mother with Alzheimer, reunites with her mother in helping her find her mother’s long lost sister; Cindy loses her engagement ring and in search for the ring, realizes the reason behind it; Dan Ian losses his phone and receives anonymous texts that he hopes from his ex. Among these stories is Marya, the keeper of the lost and found book in her work. Through all the loses, she also faces her own loss and struggles rebuilding her life.
There are so many things to like about this book. I like the author’s writing, so easy to get into the story and be captivated. The way the author describes the ordinary life of these ordinary people, knowing at the back of mind that I could be that person, or the same people I passed by on the streets, never knowing what they went through or are going through. I also like how the author makes the reader feel the crowded Metro, the lively street, the feel of public transport and the daily grind of the workers.
Each story is distinct and heartbreaking but one thing all their stories have in common is their losses, be it an object, a memory or a person. Each goes through a series of guilt, grief, pain and losses. And despite the busyness of the surrounding, you can always find somebody who is lonely, alone on their losses, coming to terms with their grief. Their stories are poignant and woeful but there is hope and there will always be a future in the midst of the crowded street of the metro.
October 24, 2025
What I love about the book is that it doesn’t treat loneliness as some kind of taboo or sickness that needs to be cured. It treats loneliness as a natural human experience—one that is worth embracing, even in its most shameful and depressing form. And I think there’s a lesson in that, coz as a society, we have stigmatized loneliness so much that we can’t talk about it without feeling embarrassed.
Aside from its take on loneliness, the book’s seamless transition from one character to another is just brilliant. It clearly shows that we are lonely in our own ways. Though we don’t experience the same loneliness for being a victim of our own circumstances—just like the characters in this book—we are still creatures that quietly yearn for deeper human connection.
Lastly—and this might be my optimistic, extroverted self speaking—the book reminds me that sometimes, the only way to get by in life is through a soul-warming yap session with a stranger.
Aside from its take on loneliness, the book’s seamless transition from one character to another is just brilliant. It clearly shows that we are lonely in our own ways. Though we don’t experience the same loneliness for being a victim of our own circumstances—just like the characters in this book—we are still creatures that quietly yearn for deeper human connection.
Lastly—and this might be my optimistic, extroverted self speaking—the book reminds me that sometimes, the only way to get by in life is through a soul-warming yap session with a stranger.
February 18, 2025
"i think we should all be burdened by everyone's sob stories. We should all care about everyone's stories... that's the least we can do as human beings."
Actual Rating: 3.5/5, phys book borrowed from Shen
a book full of short stories will actually save my reading life. i take the fact that most of the stories do not hit home as a blessing. pero gets ko sila this place (metro manila) (derogatory) can really make u sad as hell
Actual Rating: 3.5/5, phys book borrowed from Shen
a book full of short stories will actually save my reading life. i take the fact that most of the stories do not hit home as a blessing. pero gets ko sila this place (metro manila) (derogatory) can really make u sad as hell
May 3, 2025
takes the record for the most highlighted sentences in any fiction book i’ve ever read - the passages were timely, deeply relatable, and thought provoking.
in all the lonely people, we follow 6 unique individuals go through the motions of life
there’s a theme of loneliness surrounding the characters — which funnily enough is contrasted as their stories “connect” in the form of lost, mundane objects or simply them being in the same vicinity that moment in time.
the key takeaway though, is that, in their encounters with lost objects or metro manila commuters serve as the catalyst of them confronting their feelings and finding ways to move forward in spite of it.
in all the lonely people, we follow 6 unique individuals go through the motions of life
there’s a theme of loneliness surrounding the characters — which funnily enough is contrasted as their stories “connect” in the form of lost, mundane objects or simply them being in the same vicinity that moment in time.
the key takeaway though, is that, in their encounters with lost objects or metro manila commuters serve as the catalyst of them confronting their feelings and finding ways to move forward in spite of it.
September 26, 2025
This is the first Filipino author book that I have read and it gives you so much perspective about life in general. I took the time to read it during my everyday commute to work because I feel like its the best place to read it, knowing that somehow, every single person there is connected with one another - one way or another.
August 15, 2025
Heavy, meaningful, and beautifully written. Peña captures loneliness in all its raw, complex forms, weaving a story that lingers long after the last page. I only wish the ending gave a little more — but maybe that’s what makes it so haunting.
October 2, 2025
the title is true to its content.
November 18, 2025
i love me a good book with interconnecting stories, and this one is that. it’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
August 9, 2024
In the face of failures, emptiness, and even the erosion of memory is the shared humanity of these characters whose loneliness affirms that they are alive. (Book blurb)
October 28, 2025
People pass you by without you knowing the stories they bear.
Do you go people watching? Do you just sit in the park, at the cafe--anywhere, really--and just observe the people around you? Do you think about where they're going, what they're doing?
This book is a reminder that people have their own lives, going through their own stories. Battles we know nothing about. Burdens we can't see on their shoulders—on their ankles, weighing down their every step. We pass each other by with a polite smile or even without one at all, but that's all you can see. We're all just a bunch of lonely people trying to make it through our day-to-day.
I'm sentimental about my belongings, but there's now a new profound appreciation thanks to this book, when you think of the stories these objects hold. I can pick out many items on my table right now and tell you a significant story where they were used. Where they came from, who gave them to me. I look around, and I see them. And a lot of them were memories shared with people I no longer talk to. But it doesn't make me love it any less. More, even, because I have something to hold on to.
Do you go people watching? Do you just sit in the park, at the cafe--anywhere, really--and just observe the people around you? Do you think about where they're going, what they're doing?
This book is a reminder that people have their own lives, going through their own stories. Battles we know nothing about. Burdens we can't see on their shoulders—on their ankles, weighing down their every step. We pass each other by with a polite smile or even without one at all, but that's all you can see. We're all just a bunch of lonely people trying to make it through our day-to-day.
I'm sentimental about my belongings, but there's now a new profound appreciation thanks to this book, when you think of the stories these objects hold. I can pick out many items on my table right now and tell you a significant story where they were used. Where they came from, who gave them to me. I look around, and I see them. And a lot of them were memories shared with people I no longer talk to. But it doesn't make me love it any less. More, even, because I have something to hold on to.
September 21, 2025
Actual Rating: 4.5
"Run, Via," he says. "If you're tired of crying, run."
When I picked up All the Lonely People by Kannika Claudine D. Peña, I didn’t expect it to feel this personal. I’ve always been taught not to trust strangers, to keep my guard up. But this book reminded me that strangers are human too, carrying their own stories, and sometimes that’s all the reason we need to trust—even just a little.
The book is made up of six stories, each about someone lonely in their own way. Their lives cross in small, almost forgettable moments, yet those moments matter. It’s not grand or dramatic, but it feels so real, like life itself. What made it even more powerful were the subtle nods to our reality—paid trolls, broken transportation, corrupt leaders. It wasn’t preachy, just honest, and it grounded the stories even more.
In the end, this book made me feel seen. It reminded me that emotions are valid, no matter how small or heavy. Even in the most ordinary things, there can be light. There can be hope. Hence, I know I’ll read this again when I need a reminder that the mundane can be beautiful, and that we’re never really alone in our loneliness.
I read this as part of the #BayanihansaPagbasa book club pick of @booklovertitas in collaboration with Akdang Pinoy, @thefilipinoshelf, and @milfloresbooks.
"Run, Via," he says. "If you're tired of crying, run."
When I picked up All the Lonely People by Kannika Claudine D. Peña, I didn’t expect it to feel this personal. I’ve always been taught not to trust strangers, to keep my guard up. But this book reminded me that strangers are human too, carrying their own stories, and sometimes that’s all the reason we need to trust—even just a little.
The book is made up of six stories, each about someone lonely in their own way. Their lives cross in small, almost forgettable moments, yet those moments matter. It’s not grand or dramatic, but it feels so real, like life itself. What made it even more powerful were the subtle nods to our reality—paid trolls, broken transportation, corrupt leaders. It wasn’t preachy, just honest, and it grounded the stories even more.
In the end, this book made me feel seen. It reminded me that emotions are valid, no matter how small or heavy. Even in the most ordinary things, there can be light. There can be hope. Hence, I know I’ll read this again when I need a reminder that the mundane can be beautiful, and that we’re never really alone in our loneliness.
I read this as part of the #BayanihansaPagbasa book club pick of @booklovertitas in collaboration with Akdang Pinoy, @thefilipinoshelf, and @milfloresbooks.
September 10, 2025
This book feels like sitting on a crowded MRT train and realizing that everyone around you carries their own quiet ache. All the Lonely People is a collection of interconnected stories set in the chaos of Metro Manila, but instead of focusing on the noise, it zooms in on the silences—the ones that come from lost things, broken relationships, and all the versions of loneliness we rarely talk about.
Each story starts with something missing—a ring, an ID, a phone—but you quickly realize these objects are only the surface. What's really lost here are people's anchors: memories slipping away, love that’s slowly unraveling, families that no longer feel whole. And somehow, these separate lives cross paths, even if the characters themselves never know it. That's the magic of this book. It reminds you how connected we all are, even when we feel most alone.
The writing? Simple, but it hits deep. So many lines made me stop and just… feel. It's melancholic, yes, but not hopeless. There's always this tiny flicker of warmth—proof that even in loneliness, there's room for empathy and maybe even grace.
If you're looking for something comforting and escapist, this isn't that book. But if you want a story that sits with you in your quiet moments and whispers, “Hey, you're not the only one,” then this one's worth your time. 🥹
Each story starts with something missing—a ring, an ID, a phone—but you quickly realize these objects are only the surface. What's really lost here are people's anchors: memories slipping away, love that’s slowly unraveling, families that no longer feel whole. And somehow, these separate lives cross paths, even if the characters themselves never know it. That's the magic of this book. It reminds you how connected we all are, even when we feel most alone.
The writing? Simple, but it hits deep. So many lines made me stop and just… feel. It's melancholic, yes, but not hopeless. There's always this tiny flicker of warmth—proof that even in loneliness, there's room for empathy and maybe even grace.
If you're looking for something comforting and escapist, this isn't that book. But if you want a story that sits with you in your quiet moments and whispers, “Hey, you're not the only one,” then this one's worth your time. 🥹
January 20, 2025
(urban) loneliness, yearning (not solely for love but also for a better life), loss, regret, grief
Can't write a proper review but I was inspired to "curate" a playlist (consisting of strictly homegrown music) to articulate how this book made me feel (thought of the characters, especially Marya, Via, Peter, and Meg while making it). Nahirapan ako magisip ng kanta para kay Roland, pero buti naalala ko ang Moving ng Malay.
If you would like to listen to the playlist to get an idea on the "feels" of this book, here's the link:
https://spoti.fi/4fI4DJ4
The films "Lucid" and " Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus" also came to mind while I was reading this.
Can't write a proper review but I was inspired to "curate" a playlist (consisting of strictly homegrown music) to articulate how this book made me feel (thought of the characters, especially Marya, Via, Peter, and Meg while making it). Nahirapan ako magisip ng kanta para kay Roland, pero buti naalala ko ang Moving ng Malay.
If you would like to listen to the playlist to get an idea on the "feels" of this book, here's the link:
https://spoti.fi/4fI4DJ4
The films "Lucid" and " Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus" also came to mind while I was reading this.
August 22, 2025
3.5★
I would describe this book as a collection of short stories of people, the things that they have lost and how those seemingly trivial objects are a representation of something they hold dear to their hearts. This book perfectly captures what it feels like to be lonely in a big city filled with so many people.
I found it quite relatable because it puts to light feelings we all have but somehow fail (or refuse) to truly process—wanting to belong somewhere, the desire to make more out of your life, being constrained by your economic situation, craving for connection in a fast-paced city where people's faces are a blur and feeling left behind in life.
The author employs one of my favorite storytelling techniques that I usually refer to as "The Handoff" where one story (because these are told in vignettes) hands off the narrative to the next story by way of subtle coincidences or overlap— something like: the main character of the current story saw the main character of the next story riding the bus across the street and then it cuts to the next story where we're inside that bus, in the POV of the new main character. Does that make sense?
I love how this style of storytelling actually supports and even makes stronger the idea of interconnectedness in a city where people feel disconnected. People who might be feeling the exact same way that you do is just across the street, inside that bus.
Overall, it's a melancholic book that will encourage you to examine the things you project feelings and values to and the connections you make to the people around you.
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡
booktube / bookstagram / storygraph
I would describe this book as a collection of short stories of people, the things that they have lost and how those seemingly trivial objects are a representation of something they hold dear to their hearts. This book perfectly captures what it feels like to be lonely in a big city filled with so many people.
I found it quite relatable because it puts to light feelings we all have but somehow fail (or refuse) to truly process—wanting to belong somewhere, the desire to make more out of your life, being constrained by your economic situation, craving for connection in a fast-paced city where people's faces are a blur and feeling left behind in life.
The author employs one of my favorite storytelling techniques that I usually refer to as "The Handoff" where one story (because these are told in vignettes) hands off the narrative to the next story by way of subtle coincidences or overlap— something like: the main character of the current story saw the main character of the next story riding the bus across the street and then it cuts to the next story where we're inside that bus, in the POV of the new main character. Does that make sense?
I love how this style of storytelling actually supports and even makes stronger the idea of interconnectedness in a city where people feel disconnected. People who might be feeling the exact same way that you do is just across the street, inside that bus.
Overall, it's a melancholic book that will encourage you to examine the things you project feelings and values to and the connections you make to the people around you.
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡
booktube / bookstagram / storygraph
September 28, 2025
Beautifully written intertwined short stories about loneliness that were mostly set in Manila. I fell in love with the author’s writing style! Ended up highlighting so many passages & a lot of characters and scenes were super relatable. Hope to read more of her works!
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