I Am Joey: Based on the Incredible True Story of a Young Woman in War-Torn Manila

by R Ghrist

"Valor doesn't belong only to the strong."

In 1941, Manila, Philippines was the hidden gem of the Far East and set to become an independent sovereignty in a few short years. On December 8, 1941, immediately following the Pearl Harbor attack 5,200 miles away in Honolulu, the Japanese Imperial Army bombed the city of Manila and began an occupation that would last more than three years and culminate in a battle for the capital city that would go down as one of the deadliest in World War II history.

I Am Joey follows the incredible story of Josefina Guerrero, a socialite in the prestigious Ermita District, as she navigates the devastation of a medical diagnosis at the same time bombs begin raining down on her city. When the Japanese Imperial Army marches into Manila in January of 1942, Josefina enlists with the underground resistance and soon discovers a secret weapon she alone has against the Japanese soldiers at the checkpoints set up throughout the city.

But as the months stretch into years, will Josefina be able to survive the war happening right outside her doorstep and hold out for an illusory cure, or will promises she made long ago have a stronger pull on her destiny?

Genres: History

254 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 28, 2026

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been said that Filipinos are like bamboo. Strong yet flexible. Not easily broken. Bending with the wind, they can survive the fiercest of nature’s tropical storms.

This historical fiction novel opens just as Josefina Veluya Guerrero’s life falls apart. It’s 1941, and Joey has risen from rural poverty and obscurity to the highest social level of the Philippine capital city with a renowned husband and a precious daughter. Almost simultaneously disease, separation, and war take it all away. Rather than falling apart, Joey transforms herself, using her status as a social outcast to provide aid and information to the emerging resistance movement as the Japanese Empire overruns and occupies the Philippines.

Company is the most valuable thing of all that leprosy has taken from me.

This chronicle of World War Two in Manila follows a real protagonist through her actual life story, although the presented thoughts, emotions, and some interactions are fictional. Ghist skillfully relates the ordeal of Joey who becomes a survivor, spy, hero, and eventually a symbol. I am Joey is a first-person, real-time memoir rather than a third-person biography.

But if I can live through this next bit of my mission, it will no doubt be my last sorry attempt at dying. And the war will be over.

Ghist stays close to Joey’s life story while painting a vivid picture of her inner struggles and indomitable spirit which extend beyond the war and liberation. Fact and fiction are skillfully melded to bring the reader into Joey’s doubts, fears, daring, and triumphs. The result is an engaging story of personal struggle and triumph the substance of which is true.

You never forget the souls you left behind, the ones you couldn’t save. And the ones you sent to their deaths in order to save the innocents.

(My father was in the force liberating Manila and mentioned the destruction of the Intramuros.)

This review appears in the May 2026 Historical Novel Review.

[Akiam08 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading I Am Joey by R. Ghrist felt like stepping into a richly layered world where history, identity, faith, and love all intertwine with remarkable emotional depth.

For me, the novel’s strongest trait is its atmosphere. The descriptions of pre-war Manila are vivid and immersive, filled with sensory detail that makes the setting feel alive; from the elegance of the Ermita District to the bustling Escolta and the intimate rhythms of Filipino family life. The use of Tagalog terms and cultural references adds authenticity without feeling overwhelming, and the glossary thoughtfully supports the reader’s experience. There’s a clear love for Philippine history woven throughout the narrative, and it gives the story a strong emotional and historical foundation.

I especially admired the way the novel balances grandeur with intimacy. Against the looming threat of war and political tension, Joey’s personal conflicts remain at the heart of the story: her abandoned calling to religious life, her struggle to fit into elite society, her deep love for Renato, and her search for purpose. These internal tensions make her compelling because they feel honest and nuanced rather than overly romanticized.

If I had one overall reflection, it’s that the novel shines brightest in its character-driven moments. The quieter scenes: conversations, memories, emotional realizations. All of it often carries just as much power as the larger historical backdrop. Joey’s emotional voice is the anchor of the novel, and it’s what gives the story its heart.

[Susan Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure about this book for the first many pages. It seemed wordy, with too many descriptors. As I read on and war came to Manila — particularly when the protagonist faced adversity on her own — the writing style more and more fit the narrative. The urgency of particulars situations during wartime came across in a way I could physically feel. It’s astonishing that Joey was a real person, having read her harrowing story. I’ve read quite a bit of WWII historical fiction, but this was an absolutely fresh take. Highly recommend.

[Crystal Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Am Joey is emotional journey of a determand Filipina women. This story brings you back in time and reminds you that heros come in many forms.