Fudge My Life

by Agay Llanera

Kimberly Diaz, Malumanay High School’s baking wiz, has simple wishes: win this year’s Bake-Off championship, ace the entrance exams, save up for college, rinse, repeat. No one has ever dared to shake her perfectly sifted plans . . . or so she thinks.

Because when Tyler Nuñez, a member of their school's dance club, charms his way into Kim’s life with crutches and crooked smiles, things start to get messy. And just when she thinks she has the recipe for control, someone from her past returns—someone who once made her world crumble like an overbaked cupcake.

Will Kimberly stick to her own recipe? Or will she take a chance on a messier mix that could change everything?

Genres: Young Adult

316 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

Agay is a freelance writer for TV and print. In her spare time, she enjoys writing Romance, New Adult, and Young Adult novellas.

Reviews

[Allaine | sunlitpagesby.a]

actual rating: 4.5 ⭐️

I have this book lined up for Akdang Pinoy Readathon Year 3 for the prompt Nanam (hiligaynon) which means flavor, taste, and the enjoyment of good food. Despite Fudge My Life being categorized as a young-adult, coming-of-age romance story—it features themes of family dynamics, addiction (alcoholism), and the love for food (with basis from the prompt, ofc! 😄)

I loved this book because it’s light, fluffy, and something I actually resonate with (even in the heavy themes it tackled). Kimberly Diaz is such a sweet girl; despite having her walls closed off because of someone from her past, she still remained this teenage girl who made really sensible choices in life (which brings me to a realization that maybe she had these kind of perspectives in life because she had to grow up quickly :<). Nonetheless, her character growth is so satisfying; to see her slowly unravel her true self to others and just owing herself the happiness that she deserves despite all the messy and unexpected things happening in her life. I am rooting for her as she resonated so much with my real life circumstances and hurdles. If she were a real person—I wish I could taste her baked goodies as much as my teeth can haha

I also love how the heavy themes were handled. It wasn’t just like a fantasy or happy ending type of book that immediately works its way for the protagonists. Reality is bounded with every scenario that has happened in Fudge My Life… like the uncertainty of healing from addiction, the failure of securing a college spot application, scholarships that aren’t really full-ride but is enough because talent is recognized, etc.

The side-characters are also such a great fit (like a perfect puzzle piece to be honest) because they weren’t underdeveloped at all; their chemistry is something worth noting… like their family dynamics (kim’s parents), tyler, jessie, dave, and even lala towards the end.

Also, the kilig!? i caught myself screaming in bed because I genuinely felt like I’m being courted again for the first time 😂

Thank you for this wonderful story, Ms. Agay! I hope I can read Jessie’s story 💛

[Joyce AP]

Actual Rating: 4.5⭐️


Sometimes, we really do learn the most unexpected things from YA stories—even as adults.

This was such a great read, but don't let that cute cover fool you! 😂 And fair warning: every chapter comes with something that will make you crave food, a drink, or dessert. Consider yourself warned. 🤭

What I loved most was how it balances light and heavy themes so well. It captures the slice-of-life experience of senior high school while exploring choices, failures, expectations, friendship, and first love. It also doesn’t shy away from exploring alcoholism and its effects on the family.

I honestly wish I had a book like this during my high school years. Maybe I would've understood some things a little better. I may not have read it during my own YA years, but even now, there were words and experiences that still spoke to me. And my biggest takeaway is that growing and healing often happen through messy experiences—and that’s okay. You don’t have to have everything figured out just yet.

A fun, heartfelt, and surprisingly meaningful read—proof that YA isn't just for young adults.

[Pamela]

love how foods’ comfort making its way to the book’s heartwarming story

[Arystine]

4.5⭐️

[Tess Blanch]

There is nothing on Kimberly Diaz’ mind than to win the school Bake-off championship for the 4th time, pass the entrance college exams and save up. Everything is in placed and perfectly laid out. Enter Tyler Nunez, a member of the school’s dance club who worms his way into Kimberly’s life. Things get complicated for when somebody from her past suddenly makes an appearance, that somebody once upend her life and her mom. Kimberly has to decide whether she will take a chance on something that will make her life a bit messier.


I love reading this book, the yummy chapter titles that will make you hungry, quick and easy read plus the cover is gorgeous. This is YA and a fun read, makes you reminisce your high school days, from cafeteria baons to cramming in exams, from club activities competitions to young love crushes. It perfect describes the high school life back then when everything is as simple as what was depicted in the story.

Though don’t get fooled by the cover, there are heavy themes that were discussed here. And I think the author handles and approaches it very well. She faces it head on and gives a very realistic scenarios when it comes to dealing with it. The ending is perfect, while not yet happy ending but one full of hope and love for Kimberly’s family.

[Eliza Janiel]

My pick for Buwan ng Wika. 🫶🏼

I started reading this book expecting mouth-drooling descriptions of Filipino food that makes you crave for it, and I was not disappointed. What I didn’t expect was for this book to tackle a difficult topic, which is alcoholism and its effects to the family, not just the alcoholic. Books like this that puts sensitive topics like these in a book, puts them into the character’s lives which makes it easier to empathize with people who struggle with them, I appreciate these books so much. 🥹

But I think my favorite part is the realism, or maybe the simple mention of mundane things that I crave from slice of life books. I like reading about how Kim saves up for college, how she would bring her own water tumbler, pack her own lunches (tinola, canned pork and beans). It’s such a sweet representation for normal people’s lives. It’s like the written version of Studio Ghibli’s amazing food/cooking shots.

Overall, I wish the author releases another book with a cover very much like this one, showing our unique food! I’d love to read about Kim’s college life. 🫶🏼

[audrereads]

I finished this book in two days! I didn’t read much on the first day, but I finished the whole thing in one sitting on day two. It was such an easy read for me. There weren’t many plot twists, but I think that’s what made it a good palate cleanser, perfect if you just want to read and relax without thinking too much. One of the good things about this book is that it has a lot of lessons that you can actually apply to real life. Overall, it was an okay read for me. Nothing too mind-blowing, but definitely a nice and easy book to pick up.

[Cam]

I love this so much! It's so heartwarming and kilig. Everyone's interesting and lovable that I find myself wishing that there are also other stories (aside from Choco Chip Hips) within the same universe. I wouldn't mind reading few more books focused on Kim's parents, Lala, or Rose.

And of course, I'll grab my copy of Choco Chip Hips!

[Joalan Loraine]

3.75 stars!
Light hearted read that’s easy to finish!
Loved how Alcoholism was part of the book and showed how the relatives deal with this reality.
Slightly annoyed with Kim’s behavior but it’s the adult me talking, I’m pretty sure that if I was at Kim’s age I’d feel the same way.
Brought back a bit of my HS feels thru this book ☺️

[Gabriela Francisco]

"Llanera’s story, then, becomes a touching story on the power of forgiveness and redemption, and gives a nuanced description of a societal problem that plagues almost every home, while offering an action plan forward for those afflicted."

Read the rest of the review at our website:
https://exlibrisphilippines.com/2026/...

[seas__dday]

Enjoyed reading this book so much! Super cute and kilig from start to finish!

Wish the cupcakes Kim made were real bc they sounded soooo yum. The younger me was for sure the one reading this :D

I’d love to read Choco Chip Hips, too!

[Rai]

blind bought this during mibf 2026 and i must say i'm glad i did. it made me feel kilig as if i'm a high school student and even opened my eyes about Al-Anon. Thank you for this great book, Ms. Agay!! Will definitely keep my eye out for your next books ♡

[yelleui]

cutie nung book! so good for teens, first ever book i’ve read again :,)

[joy evangelista]

4.5 stars

[April Rhea]

4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this book!

[Cielo Austria]

Do not read on an empty stomach 😂😂😂😂

[Cecille]

A light hearted read that the young at hearts can read. It is relatively fast paced. I liked the chapter names based on food that is related to the story as well.

[Neil Franz]

I love this!

[Katrine Madayag]

“Some people were naturally hopeful, and I envied them. But maybe hope could be practiced, and maybe by moving forward, I could learn it.”

Fudge My Life by Ms. @agayllanera, is a young adult novel about Kim, who has her priorities mapped out until graduation, then along came Tyler. A member of the Hoofer dance group, known for his charm.

I dived into this novel expecting a cute teenage romance, but wasn’t prepared for the depth of Kim’s emotional trauma, and the journey toward forgiveness.

The Good Riddance recipe resonated with me the most. It captured the feeling of those who’ve been (or currently in) in Kim’s situation.

Glad that I picked it up last year, and had my copy signed during the Philippine Book Festival. ❤️

[Rinoa]

Such a lighthearted and heartwarming story about a life of a teenager that is slowly entering the life of young adulthood. The emotions and situations that are portrayed in this book is certainly accurate of the seasons you go through—expectations, promises, romance, crisis, and imperfections—how you overcome them and what you realize after everything.

As a Filipino, some of them definitely hit home for me. I wish to read more books like this.