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Good People
What does it really mean to be good?
Set across Southeast Asia, we meet a thief who finds stealing easier than belonging; a serial cheater longing for connection; an ex-prostitute haunted by the life she escaped; an influencer in a world where likes matter more than life.
These are stories about people who want to do right, but do it all wrong - good people grappling with class divide and complicated kinships, testing moral boundaries in the name of love and survival in a world that offers them too little.
Set across Southeast Asia, we meet a thief who finds stealing easier than belonging; a serial cheater longing for connection; an ex-prostitute haunted by the life she escaped; an influencer in a world where likes matter more than life.
These are stories about people who want to do right, but do it all wrong - good people grappling with class divide and complicated kinships, testing moral boundaries in the name of love and survival in a world that offers them too little.
168 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 22, 2026
Yet another book that proves my belief in life—that everything!!!! is rooted in love. 🙂↕️✨
I feel like each story showed so many different lives; the majority are far from my own experiences. But it’s fascinating how I see myself relating to different parts of them. We are so different, yet the same!!!! Because again, our common denominator is love. Every decision, every action, every question and every answer... all rooted in love :)
I feel like each story showed so many different lives; the majority are far from my own experiences. But it’s fascinating how I see myself relating to different parts of them. We are so different, yet the same!!!! Because again, our common denominator is love. Every decision, every action, every question and every answer... all rooted in love :)
March 29, 2026
can we all agree that the greatest campaign of ngisngis is the best story in this collection 🥹
March 28, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Really like the short stories especially Good People (impactful), The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan (napa-kaya pala ako 😅 kasi I did expect something) and Alter Life (what you see isn't always the truth).
And Tita Claire's prose is really good (for me)!
Really like the short stories especially Good People (impactful), The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan (napa-kaya pala ako 😅 kasi I did expect something) and Alter Life (what you see isn't always the truth).
And Tita Claire's prose is really good (for me)!
June 4, 2026
Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Please be advised that my opinions about this book were not influenced by this arrangement.
If I could describe this book in just one word, it would be kindness.
I had a good cry after finishing it. This book feels especially fitting for the Lenten season. Most of the stories made me reflect deeply on life and the choices we make. The collection is filled with narratives that keep you grounded and encourage you to remain morally conscious. It made me ask myself: What does it really mean to be good? Is there a standard for goodness, or is goodness measured by people like us—individuals who are also subject to flaws and imperfections?
Good People Stories by Claire Betita De Guzman introduces readers to the concept of change. Despite the judgments and burdens that people carry, and despite the limitations others place on them because of their past mistakes, they still have the choice to change. More often than not, they seek to correct themselves and walk a better path. This made me realize that the book reminds us that we are all human and bound to make mistakes. However, it also echoes a powerful truth: we are all given opportunities to redeem ourselves—not to impress others, but to rebuild and strengthen our character.
Another reflection I had while reading this book is that people like us can also contribute to the actions of those we label as "bad." Sometimes, through our judgments, neglect, or treatment of others, we help create the very monsters, villains, and bad actors that we condemn. The book presents this reality in a way that encourages readers to look beyond surface-level judgments and consider the circumstances that shape a person's actions.
There are many remarkable stories in this collection, but here are my top three—the ones that truly spoke to me the most:
The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis
Good People
The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan and A Lifetime of Luxury
Overall, this book is a must-read because, in one way or another, we have either lived through or encountered stories like these in our own lives. The book has many layers, largely because of its complex and well-crafted characters. It challenges your moral compass and encourages you to reflect on what you have read. Through its various stories, it sends different messages about goodness and reminds us that, despite the flaws, mistakes, and labels we place on people, there is always goodness that exists within them.
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I just finished reading Good People by Claire Betita De Guzman (@clairebetita).
I had a good cry after finishing it. This book is so perfect for the Lenten season. Most of the stories here made me realize and reflect on things in life.
The last story feels like a warm hug. Good job, Ngisngis, for doing what you think is right. Thank you for doing that for these good people. 🥹🥹
April 20, 2026
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Good People is as much an exploration of the self as it is a deep dive into what it means to be human, and to be “good” at that.
What I love about this short story collection is that it doesn’t show only “good” people. Instead, it shows people—flawed, hurting, trying—grappling with hardships, whether self-inflicted or born from someone else’s trauma, in a not-so-good world.
These are realistic (albeit fictional) portraits of people doing their best—to do good, or simply to survive. And maybe the meaning of being “good” isn’t universal after all, yeah?
Personal faves from this collection:
>The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis
>A Lifetime of Luxury
>Online Soulmate
>Wake Party
Also sharing my fave quotes:
“For the longest time, I believed that this was what independence looked like: You survive because you expect nothing.”
“How this particular shape of loss—no argument, no ending, just a disappearance—had visited her before.”
Good People is as much an exploration of the self as it is a deep dive into what it means to be human, and to be “good” at that.
What I love about this short story collection is that it doesn’t show only “good” people. Instead, it shows people—flawed, hurting, trying—grappling with hardships, whether self-inflicted or born from someone else’s trauma, in a not-so-good world.
These are realistic (albeit fictional) portraits of people doing their best—to do good, or simply to survive. And maybe the meaning of being “good” isn’t universal after all, yeah?
Personal faves from this collection:
>The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis
>A Lifetime of Luxury
>Online Soulmate
>Wake Party
Also sharing my fave quotes:
“For the longest time, I believed that this was what independence looked like: You survive because you expect nothing.”
“How this particular shape of loss—no argument, no ending, just a disappearance—had visited her before.”
April 4, 2026
ngisngis has my whole heart
March 31, 2026
real-core, 4.5stars!
June 25, 2026
if you’re looking for something beautifully written that captures how complicated and tender human beings can be, something that reminds you that people are never just one thing, this book is absolutely for you.
i really love a book that leaves me staring at the ceiling for hours, just sitting with everything it made me feel!!! that’s Good People for you.
YOU CAN WATCH MY FULL REVIEW HERE.
i really love a book that leaves me staring at the ceiling for hours, just sitting with everything it made me feel!!! that’s Good People for you.
YOU CAN WATCH MY FULL REVIEW HERE.
April 30, 2026
Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
This book asks what it truly means to be a good person in a very complicated world.
The plot consists of short stories where it follows a cast of flawed characters: a thief who finds stealing easier than fitting in, a serial cheater searching for real connection, an ex-prostitute haunted by her past, and an influencer trapped in a life driven by validation. Each story shows people who want to do what is right but often fail, shaped by class struggles, family ties, and the need to survive.
It is a thoughtful look at how morality is rarely simple, and how even the best intentions can lead to the wrong choices.
I also love how the author can easily transport readers into the settings of the book. I think that’s one of her strengths, especially since this is the second book I’ve read from her.
Here are my top three favorites:
The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan
BLOCKED
Online Soulmate
Four stars.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
This book asks what it truly means to be a good person in a very complicated world.
The plot consists of short stories where it follows a cast of flawed characters: a thief who finds stealing easier than fitting in, a serial cheater searching for real connection, an ex-prostitute haunted by her past, and an influencer trapped in a life driven by validation. Each story shows people who want to do what is right but often fail, shaped by class struggles, family ties, and the need to survive.
It is a thoughtful look at how morality is rarely simple, and how even the best intentions can lead to the wrong choices.
I also love how the author can easily transport readers into the settings of the book. I think that’s one of her strengths, especially since this is the second book I’ve read from her.
Here are my top three favorites:
The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan
BLOCKED
Online Soulmate
Four stars.
May 10, 2026
oh, claire betita de guzman when i catch you...
May 14, 2026
Five stars! I am blown away! Will share more next week during my book tour stop 💯❤️🥰
Book Tour Stop: May 14, 2026
It is finally my tour stop for the Good People Stories Book Tour! It took me several drafts because I want to write something that gives this book the justice it deserves. I am not sure I am doing that, but I tried 🥹
I went in already a fan of Claire Betita De Guzman, Tita Claire, whom I have been a fan of since Sudden Superstar. Now I am an even BIGGER fan. 💯
Good People Stories lingers long after each story, long after the last page. It is slim yet satisfying and definitely a book I would come back to. The book delivers on many of the reasons why we read, and that was what I am conveying here. (Please indulge me with the long-ish notes🥰)
In here you will meet people whom we might have written off, and maybe ask what they deserve. Yet for one reason or another, I find myself rooting for some of them… For the world to give them a second chance. And for the others, (hint: Europe), well, do live with the consequences of your actions.
The short of it is this: I HIGHLY recommend it. See list below to see why. And check out the other tour stops to know more about Good People Stories. Thank you for coming to my TED talk 🥰
===
1. the stories offer a way of seeing: We read to understand people.
Good People Stories features those "who want to do right but do it all wrong… in the name of love and survival in a world that offers them too little." The stories don't let them off the hook but offer a way of seeing. They prompt us to look deeper beneath the façade and understand how different yet alike we all are. There is, generally speaking, innate goodness in people, but the paths leading them into their choices and actions are complex and nuanced. Mistakes come with being human.
2. the book presents a mirror: We read to see ourselves in the stories.
These stories reflect the parts of us we might have avoided looking into — the feelings of yearning, bitterness, deprivation, the experience of being victimized, and being in an endless loop of shortage, loss, and despair. There is more to us than what we let other people see; there are facets of us we keep to ourselves. And so this book makes you sit with such reflections.
Which situations felt familiar? Some emotions I have felt before. I ask myself, what would I have done? What about my regrets, desires, and life plans? What about my relationships? Reading Good People Stories made me reckon with my own story. It is cathartic.
And speaking of mirrors, it reflects our realities as a society, too, and how that inevitably shapes parts of ourselves.
3. the writing is precise and it hits: We read simply because we cannot help but be drawn to the story.
So immersive. So visceral. So many hard-hitting lines that made me stop mid-page. These people are not me, but those lines felt familiar, so accurately described. Tita Claire finds the exact way to write emotions and situations that make me take a second look. I have read three of her full novels and have always admired her character-driven style, the vivid settings, and her endings that are not necessarily neat, but they feel earned. She brings all of that into each short story and into the collection as a whole. I am fascinated by the twists and details that caught me off guard, and yet it all makes sense.
4. the stories are short but tell so much: We read to live vicariously through others.
The volume is slim and yet, as a collection, this was highly satisfying. Each story left a mark, and I found it hard to choose favorites (I still came up with a top 3!).
Ten stories. About someone “small” potentially bringing down someone “big.” About a person who feels everything has been taken away and had nothing to give. About a woman who had been proven wrong about everything she believed in. About a cat deciding to intervene. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, just as much as I alloted time to let everything simmer and sink in.
I remember each character, left me contemplating their backstories and motivations. Every story is tight, not a waste of words, and full.
5. the stories are varied and all eye-opening: We read to discover how many ways there are to be human.
Each story stands on its own, and altogether, they paint a colorful portrait of humanity.
6. the book says enough yet left me wanting for more: We read because a book like this makes the time worth it.
More stories, more good (or otherwise) people, more of this writing, more of this way of seeing the world. Tita Claire has written thought-provoking stories that will stay with me. Every second spent reading is time well spent.
===
my top 3!
THE FABULOUS FORMER LIVES OF MR. AND MRS. CARANGALAN How ironic the name, hahaha. This brings forward a topic we need to talk more about.
THE GREATEST CAMPAIGN OF NGISNGIS I love the voice of Ngisngis! I would read a whole book with Ngisngis as MC. And what happened here is so real, so heartwarming. Such fitting finale!
GOOD PEOPLE Ahh, this collection landed from the very first story. The lessons here are for everyone to take away. The layers of Max are delightfully painful to peel.
Book Tour Stop: May 14, 2026
It is finally my tour stop for the Good People Stories Book Tour! It took me several drafts because I want to write something that gives this book the justice it deserves. I am not sure I am doing that, but I tried 🥹
I went in already a fan of Claire Betita De Guzman, Tita Claire, whom I have been a fan of since Sudden Superstar. Now I am an even BIGGER fan. 💯
Good People Stories lingers long after each story, long after the last page. It is slim yet satisfying and definitely a book I would come back to. The book delivers on many of the reasons why we read, and that was what I am conveying here. (Please indulge me with the long-ish notes🥰)
In here you will meet people whom we might have written off, and maybe ask what they deserve. Yet for one reason or another, I find myself rooting for some of them… For the world to give them a second chance. And for the others, (hint: Europe), well, do live with the consequences of your actions.
The short of it is this: I HIGHLY recommend it. See list below to see why. And check out the other tour stops to know more about Good People Stories. Thank you for coming to my TED talk 🥰
===
1. the stories offer a way of seeing: We read to understand people.
Good People Stories features those "who want to do right but do it all wrong… in the name of love and survival in a world that offers them too little." The stories don't let them off the hook but offer a way of seeing. They prompt us to look deeper beneath the façade and understand how different yet alike we all are. There is, generally speaking, innate goodness in people, but the paths leading them into their choices and actions are complex and nuanced. Mistakes come with being human.
2. the book presents a mirror: We read to see ourselves in the stories.
These stories reflect the parts of us we might have avoided looking into — the feelings of yearning, bitterness, deprivation, the experience of being victimized, and being in an endless loop of shortage, loss, and despair. There is more to us than what we let other people see; there are facets of us we keep to ourselves. And so this book makes you sit with such reflections.
Which situations felt familiar? Some emotions I have felt before. I ask myself, what would I have done? What about my regrets, desires, and life plans? What about my relationships? Reading Good People Stories made me reckon with my own story. It is cathartic.
And speaking of mirrors, it reflects our realities as a society, too, and how that inevitably shapes parts of ourselves.
3. the writing is precise and it hits: We read simply because we cannot help but be drawn to the story.
So immersive. So visceral. So many hard-hitting lines that made me stop mid-page. These people are not me, but those lines felt familiar, so accurately described. Tita Claire finds the exact way to write emotions and situations that make me take a second look. I have read three of her full novels and have always admired her character-driven style, the vivid settings, and her endings that are not necessarily neat, but they feel earned. She brings all of that into each short story and into the collection as a whole. I am fascinated by the twists and details that caught me off guard, and yet it all makes sense.
4. the stories are short but tell so much: We read to live vicariously through others.
The volume is slim and yet, as a collection, this was highly satisfying. Each story left a mark, and I found it hard to choose favorites (I still came up with a top 3!).
Ten stories. About someone “small” potentially bringing down someone “big.” About a person who feels everything has been taken away and had nothing to give. About a woman who had been proven wrong about everything she believed in. About a cat deciding to intervene. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, just as much as I alloted time to let everything simmer and sink in.
I remember each character, left me contemplating their backstories and motivations. Every story is tight, not a waste of words, and full.
5. the stories are varied and all eye-opening: We read to discover how many ways there are to be human.
Each story stands on its own, and altogether, they paint a colorful portrait of humanity.
6. the book says enough yet left me wanting for more: We read because a book like this makes the time worth it.
More stories, more good (or otherwise) people, more of this writing, more of this way of seeing the world. Tita Claire has written thought-provoking stories that will stay with me. Every second spent reading is time well spent.
===
my top 3!
THE FABULOUS FORMER LIVES OF MR. AND MRS. CARANGALAN How ironic the name, hahaha. This brings forward a topic we need to talk more about.
THE GREATEST CAMPAIGN OF NGISNGIS I love the voice of Ngisngis! I would read a whole book with Ngisngis as MC. And what happened here is so real, so heartwarming. Such fitting finale!
GOOD PEOPLE Ahh, this collection landed from the very first story. The lessons here are for everyone to take away. The layers of Max are delightfully painful to peel.
June 28, 2026
This book is a quiet punch to the gut that I managed to read in a single sitting. Less than 2 hrs I think. But the thoughts it left behind will stay with me for a long time.
It is a dark, deeply introspective collection of stories that zeroes in on a fundamental human truth and that is most people don't set out to do wrong. They want to do right, but life happens, options narrow, and they choose the wrong things anyway. There were so many unforgettable characters in the book like Max, who is suffocated by a desperate struggle for belongingness; Jane, caught in a destructive loop of cheating; Vicky, a mother working herself to the bone for her child; and Gi, who wants nothing more than to "ahon sa kahirapan"and live life's luxuries w/o being judged how she got there BUT is relentlessly haunted by her past because she used to be a prostitute. There's so much more and I could go on and on.
After reading, I realized the book is less about poverty and more about psychological survival. It's about keeping your head above water without losing yourself entirely to the dark side. It forces you to look inward and realize that because we are all the main characters in our own lives (kwento ko ofc ako main character), we easily justify our actions as self-care or necessity, even when the outside world views those same choices as flawed. This collection shines a harsh light on the lack of opportunities that drive people to these crossroads. When you are left with no good paths, you are forced to navigate difficult, messy ones just to survive, often bending your own moral compass or ruining complicated relationships even when your initial intentions were entirely pure.
This is definitely one of those books you spend time with long after closing the cover. It doesnt give you neat, tidy answers to the messiness of human relationships and broken dreams. Even right now, while typing my thoughts, my head is filled with questions.
What does it actually mean to be really good? And what does it take to be considered one of the "good people" in a world that rarely gives you a fair chance?
It is a dark, deeply introspective collection of stories that zeroes in on a fundamental human truth and that is most people don't set out to do wrong. They want to do right, but life happens, options narrow, and they choose the wrong things anyway. There were so many unforgettable characters in the book like Max, who is suffocated by a desperate struggle for belongingness; Jane, caught in a destructive loop of cheating; Vicky, a mother working herself to the bone for her child; and Gi, who wants nothing more than to "ahon sa kahirapan"and live life's luxuries w/o being judged how she got there BUT is relentlessly haunted by her past because she used to be a prostitute. There's so much more and I could go on and on.
After reading, I realized the book is less about poverty and more about psychological survival. It's about keeping your head above water without losing yourself entirely to the dark side. It forces you to look inward and realize that because we are all the main characters in our own lives (kwento ko ofc ako main character), we easily justify our actions as self-care or necessity, even when the outside world views those same choices as flawed. This collection shines a harsh light on the lack of opportunities that drive people to these crossroads. When you are left with no good paths, you are forced to navigate difficult, messy ones just to survive, often bending your own moral compass or ruining complicated relationships even when your initial intentions were entirely pure.
This is definitely one of those books you spend time with long after closing the cover. It doesnt give you neat, tidy answers to the messiness of human relationships and broken dreams. Even right now, while typing my thoughts, my head is filled with questions.
What does it actually mean to be really good? And what does it take to be considered one of the "good people" in a world that rarely gives you a fair chance?
June 11, 2026
Would you still call them good people if you knew what they’ve done?
Some of the people in this book lie, cheat, steal, disappear, hurt other people, and hurt themselves too. But somehow, Claire Betita de Guzman writes them with so much tenderness that you can’t reduce them into simply “bad” or “good.”
“For the longest time, I believed that this was what independence looked like: You survive because you expect nothing.”
Every story in this collection feels deeply human in the way it explores loneliness, survival, guilt, connection, and the quiet desperation of wanting to belong somewhere. These characters are flawed in painfully familiar ways. They make selfish decisions. They hurt people they love. They carry grief, resentment, shame, and longing so heavily that it spills into every part of their lives. And yet, I still found myself understanding them.
That’s what I loved most about this collection: the compassion it extends toward its characters. Claire Betita de Guzman doesn’t excuse the things they’ve done, but she allows them to exist in all their contradictions. No one here feels simplified into a lesson or a stereotype. Every story felt like peeking into someone else’s life for a brief moment and realizing how complicated people really are.
There’s also something so quietly intimate about the writing. Even in its heaviest moments, it never feels melodramatic. The emotions sneak up on you instead—through small conversations, silences, memories, and the ache of unmet needs. I found myself annotating a lot because there was just so much realization and quiet understanding woven into its pages.
“And you’re used to receiving so little and giving so much, so this is all okay with you.”
And maybe that’s the point of the title. Maybe being “good” isn’t as simple as we want it to be. Maybe goodness exists somewhere in the messy space between trying, failing, surviving, hurting, loving, and wanting to be better.
This collection made me feel deeply seen in ways I didn’t expect. Tender, heartbreaking, and incredibly human from beginning to end. 🥹
Some of the people in this book lie, cheat, steal, disappear, hurt other people, and hurt themselves too. But somehow, Claire Betita de Guzman writes them with so much tenderness that you can’t reduce them into simply “bad” or “good.”
“For the longest time, I believed that this was what independence looked like: You survive because you expect nothing.”
Every story in this collection feels deeply human in the way it explores loneliness, survival, guilt, connection, and the quiet desperation of wanting to belong somewhere. These characters are flawed in painfully familiar ways. They make selfish decisions. They hurt people they love. They carry grief, resentment, shame, and longing so heavily that it spills into every part of their lives. And yet, I still found myself understanding them.
That’s what I loved most about this collection: the compassion it extends toward its characters. Claire Betita de Guzman doesn’t excuse the things they’ve done, but she allows them to exist in all their contradictions. No one here feels simplified into a lesson or a stereotype. Every story felt like peeking into someone else’s life for a brief moment and realizing how complicated people really are.
There’s also something so quietly intimate about the writing. Even in its heaviest moments, it never feels melodramatic. The emotions sneak up on you instead—through small conversations, silences, memories, and the ache of unmet needs. I found myself annotating a lot because there was just so much realization and quiet understanding woven into its pages.
“And you’re used to receiving so little and giving so much, so this is all okay with you.”
And maybe that’s the point of the title. Maybe being “good” isn’t as simple as we want it to be. Maybe goodness exists somewhere in the messy space between trying, failing, surviving, hurting, loving, and wanting to be better.
This collection made me feel deeply seen in ways I didn’t expect. Tender, heartbreaking, and incredibly human from beginning to end. 🥹
March 29, 2026
finished this on a sunday afternoon, heat still scorching, my electric fan loud as ever, banana leaves making their soft, restless sounds with the wind, and birds chirping somewhere in between. a good book, and a good kind of background to read in, makes a good people.
they are just all humans. it is their first time to live, and they are all still figuring it out. this book is a reminder of the roots of love, and what we choose to do for love. thank you so much, tita claire, for writing this beautiful collection of stories. how amazing it is that we are all different in our own ways, and still carry the same, beautiful similarities
none may seem feels right, but it’s okay :)
they are just all humans. it is their first time to live, and they are all still figuring it out. this book is a reminder of the roots of love, and what we choose to do for love. thank you so much, tita claire, for writing this beautiful collection of stories. how amazing it is that we are all different in our own ways, and still carry the same, beautiful similarities
none may seem feels right, but it’s okay :)
March 25, 2026
Ang ganda! Congrats Tita Claire! My favorite is the Mr. And Mrs. Carangalan story! Sana magkatotoo!😝
June 11, 2026
“For all our shortcomings and fractures, we were all just tethered together by the simple, resolute act of believing in each other’s goodness.”
As someone who needed to restore her faith in humanity, this book came to me at the perfect time. I absolutely love the concept of inherently good characters who still make mistakes because of their circumstances. My favorite stories in this collection were The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan, Online Soulmate, Blocked, and The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis. I’ve written my individual reviews below:
Good People - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
A petty thief who started out robbing Jollibee trays as a dare questions his decisions as he begins to see traces of his late ex in random strangers. I love Max’s character development here. I think it’s written in a very realistic way since it’s shown in small steps (like returning a stolen journal) rather than big gestures. It’s a reminder that growth can start at the smallest of actions. I also found the contrast between Max’s morally gray character and Dani’s angelic disposition interesting, especially since Dani inspired him to become a better person. It was also interesting to see how financial circumstances made it more difficult for Max to be a “good person”. This might be a personal preference, but I think I just don’t like when authors use a character’s death as a plot device. I don’t know, it gave me the impression that Max was acting out of guilt and grief rather than a genuine desire to improve. I also felt like the stranger’s dialogue at the end felt a bit unrealistic and forced. Other than that, I love the message of this story.
Black - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
A woman who lacks adventure in her marriage seeks the momentary thrill and pleasure of a hookup with a Thai masseur. I found the woman’s dissatisfaction in her marriage interesting since it seems to be a symptom of a bigger problem, like a lack of excitement in her life in general. However, the ending felt like it was cut too short and there wasn’t any proper resolution to the woman’s internal turmoil. I also felt like, compared to the other stories, the protagonist didn’t get as much character development (which I’d kind of expect from an anthology entitled “Good People”).
Pseudologia Fantastica - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sophia feels the drift in her friendship with Amor as the latter is unable to make it to their annual trip together. She instead invites Amor’s sister Grace to accompany her, only to later find out that Grace is a pathological liar. I found the falling-out between Sophia and Amor interesting and relatable, since I’ve experienced similar conflicts with my own friends. I also like how Amor’s absence in the trip and Sophia’s growing closeness to Grace show the change in their values. While I found the twist unexpected (I didn’t know what pseudologia fantastica meant before reading this), I felt like the shock factor was irrelevant to the story and didn’t actually resolve the tensions between Sophia and Amor. It would have been a lot better if the author had focused on developing their friendship instead rather than writing an unrelated plot twist.
The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A maid begins working for a wealthy family in Paris only to realize that her boss was the politician involved in the recent flood control scandal. I personally loved this one! I like how it tackles a very relevant issue—corruption—in a very true-to-life way. I also found it interesting that the author used the second person narration (and rarely used the protagonist’s name) to highlight her invisibility and the commonness of Vicky’s experience. Vicky in this story is all of us: all the Filipinos who suffered from countless failed flood control projects and who work multiple jobs just to survive while corrupt politicians enjoy luxury products and lavish wedding anniversaries in Venice. I also found Vicky’s moral dilemma interesting since she had to choose between her daughter’s future or the greater good: should I keep working for a corrupt family to pay for my daughter’s tuition or finally deliver justice to the flood control victims? It was nice living in this alternate universe where justice was finally served. I also enjoyed the twist because all of the clues—the family’s unexplained wealth and secrecy—finally made sense. My only gripe (and this is already very nitpicky!) is that some of the circumstances are a bit unrealistic. For instance, I think an actual corrupt politician would be a lot more careful in hiding his whereabouts than, say, living in a penthouse suite and hiring a Filipina maid to work for him. Also, a scandal like that would be all over the news (and it was), so I doubt that even someone like Vicky would be unfamiliar with the politician’s name. Inconsistencies aside though, I still think this was a well written story.
Online Soulmate - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Martine decides to go to Singapore with her friend to meet a supposed “soulmate” that she met online. Little does she know, her friend has been the soulmate messaging her this entire time. I was blown away by the twist here! I knew the soulmate would be a catfish but I didn’t expect it to be the protagonist herself. Talk about an unreliable narrator! But now that I’ve reread it, I realize that there are so many clues sprinkled throughout the story: Anna’s two phones, her fluency in French, her tendency to conceal the parts of her she didn’t like, and her reaction to Martine’s excitement. I relate to Martine’s desperation in finding a soulmate (which you can tell from her trusting Anna after just one year of meeting her and meeting her “soulmate” after just a few months of messaging). I think it shows how much she fears loneliness more than anything. Now that I think about it, both characters are lonely: although Anna is married, she still misses the excitement and affection that she felt during her younger years. From what I understand, she’s using Martine as a way to relive that youthful passion and adventure that she no longer felt after her sickness. This was actually very cleverly written: in such few words, the author manages to say many things about these two characters.
Wake Party - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Carmen attends her late father’s funeral, only to receive snarky remarks from her father’s original family. I thought the family dynamics in this story were interesting, especially with the father’s alcoholism and the mother’s toxic standards for her daughter. It was interesting how she thought Carmen was being “immature” for crying even though it’s a normal and healthy way to grieve. The conflict between the original family and the mistress’ family also had potential, though I guess I just wasn’t as attached to this story as I was to the rest. Maybe it’s because the conflict and characters weren’t as developed.
A Lifetime of Luxury - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Gi finally thinks she’s “made it” by living a life of luxury and being engaged to a wealthy foreigner, she runs into an old friend who threatens to reveal the secrets of her old life. At first I judged Gi for being superficial and materialistic, but after reading this I can empathize with her more. It was interesting reading the commentary about how lower class women are often pressured to enter prostitution because of a capitalistic society that pushes them to the brink of poverty and a misogynistic system that objectifies women’s bodies. However, I felt like the blackmail and abusive ex sub-plot weren’t as developed and the ending was a bit lacking for me.
Alter Life - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jade would do anything to achieve superinfluencer status like her idol Zadie Garcia, so she’s ecstatic when she’s invited to the same exclusive creative retreat as Zadie. However, she soon realizes that being a superinfluencer comes with a cost. Like with the previous story, I also initially judged Jade for her superficiality, but at the same time I understood her need for validation. I like how it exposes the pretentiousness and performative aspect of social media. However, I felt like I’ve already read many similar stories before, and that this story didn’t add anything new to the conversation on social media. Although I didn’t expect Zadie’s suicide, you can still predict the direction in which the story will go based on its first few pages. What I did find interesting was how Jade completely forgot about Zadie’s death after receiving another like for her post. It just goes to show how social media has turned into a numbers game that dehumanizes personal experiences.
Blocked - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After garnering a reputation of being the teacher that always plays it safe, Miss Len makes an audacious move and accepts a job offer in Vietnam. I feel like this is the most underrated story of this collection. I loved it because I related to Len a lot as someone who’s always overly cautious and not much of a risk-taker. I like the quiet growth in this story because you see how Len evolves from always choosing the tried-and-tested option to gradually exploring new things out of her comfort zone—whether it be moving to a new country, listening to new music, or even making friends with your taxi driver. Although Tan’s sudden distance didn’t make sense to me, I did appreciate the message of going at your own pace and reevaluating what you want.
“For the first time in a long while, she did not feel behind. She felt—simply—where she was.”
The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A cat named Ngisngis reconciles an OFW couple that has grown apart due to a miscarriage. Another one of my favorites! I didn’t expect this to be narrated by the cat herself so this was a pleasant surprise. I like how, through the cat’s eyes, you can sense the tension between the two characters even though they only have minimal dialogue. I find it so wholesome that Ngisngis finds ways to bring them together and to help them acknowledge their loss rather than escape it. We all need a Ngisngis in our lives.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this collection. I recommend this to anyone who needs a reminder that many people still try to be good even when the world makes it hard for them to do so.
As someone who needed to restore her faith in humanity, this book came to me at the perfect time. I absolutely love the concept of inherently good characters who still make mistakes because of their circumstances. My favorite stories in this collection were The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan, Online Soulmate, Blocked, and The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis. I’ve written my individual reviews below:
Good People - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
A petty thief who started out robbing Jollibee trays as a dare questions his decisions as he begins to see traces of his late ex in random strangers. I love Max’s character development here. I think it’s written in a very realistic way since it’s shown in small steps (like returning a stolen journal) rather than big gestures. It’s a reminder that growth can start at the smallest of actions. I also found the contrast between Max’s morally gray character and Dani’s angelic disposition interesting, especially since Dani inspired him to become a better person. It was also interesting to see how financial circumstances made it more difficult for Max to be a “good person”. This might be a personal preference, but I think I just don’t like when authors use a character’s death as a plot device. I don’t know, it gave me the impression that Max was acting out of guilt and grief rather than a genuine desire to improve. I also felt like the stranger’s dialogue at the end felt a bit unrealistic and forced. Other than that, I love the message of this story.
Black - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
A woman who lacks adventure in her marriage seeks the momentary thrill and pleasure of a hookup with a Thai masseur. I found the woman’s dissatisfaction in her marriage interesting since it seems to be a symptom of a bigger problem, like a lack of excitement in her life in general. However, the ending felt like it was cut too short and there wasn’t any proper resolution to the woman’s internal turmoil. I also felt like, compared to the other stories, the protagonist didn’t get as much character development (which I’d kind of expect from an anthology entitled “Good People”).
Pseudologia Fantastica - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sophia feels the drift in her friendship with Amor as the latter is unable to make it to their annual trip together. She instead invites Amor’s sister Grace to accompany her, only to later find out that Grace is a pathological liar. I found the falling-out between Sophia and Amor interesting and relatable, since I’ve experienced similar conflicts with my own friends. I also like how Amor’s absence in the trip and Sophia’s growing closeness to Grace show the change in their values. While I found the twist unexpected (I didn’t know what pseudologia fantastica meant before reading this), I felt like the shock factor was irrelevant to the story and didn’t actually resolve the tensions between Sophia and Amor. It would have been a lot better if the author had focused on developing their friendship instead rather than writing an unrelated plot twist.
The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A maid begins working for a wealthy family in Paris only to realize that her boss was the politician involved in the recent flood control scandal. I personally loved this one! I like how it tackles a very relevant issue—corruption—in a very true-to-life way. I also found it interesting that the author used the second person narration (and rarely used the protagonist’s name) to highlight her invisibility and the commonness of Vicky’s experience. Vicky in this story is all of us: all the Filipinos who suffered from countless failed flood control projects and who work multiple jobs just to survive while corrupt politicians enjoy luxury products and lavish wedding anniversaries in Venice. I also found Vicky’s moral dilemma interesting since she had to choose between her daughter’s future or the greater good: should I keep working for a corrupt family to pay for my daughter’s tuition or finally deliver justice to the flood control victims? It was nice living in this alternate universe where justice was finally served. I also enjoyed the twist because all of the clues—the family’s unexplained wealth and secrecy—finally made sense. My only gripe (and this is already very nitpicky!) is that some of the circumstances are a bit unrealistic. For instance, I think an actual corrupt politician would be a lot more careful in hiding his whereabouts than, say, living in a penthouse suite and hiring a Filipina maid to work for him. Also, a scandal like that would be all over the news (and it was), so I doubt that even someone like Vicky would be unfamiliar with the politician’s name. Inconsistencies aside though, I still think this was a well written story.
Online Soulmate - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Martine decides to go to Singapore with her friend to meet a supposed “soulmate” that she met online. Little does she know, her friend has been the soulmate messaging her this entire time. I was blown away by the twist here! I knew the soulmate would be a catfish but I didn’t expect it to be the protagonist herself. Talk about an unreliable narrator! But now that I’ve reread it, I realize that there are so many clues sprinkled throughout the story: Anna’s two phones, her fluency in French, her tendency to conceal the parts of her she didn’t like, and her reaction to Martine’s excitement. I relate to Martine’s desperation in finding a soulmate (which you can tell from her trusting Anna after just one year of meeting her and meeting her “soulmate” after just a few months of messaging). I think it shows how much she fears loneliness more than anything. Now that I think about it, both characters are lonely: although Anna is married, she still misses the excitement and affection that she felt during her younger years. From what I understand, she’s using Martine as a way to relive that youthful passion and adventure that she no longer felt after her sickness. This was actually very cleverly written: in such few words, the author manages to say many things about these two characters.
Wake Party - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Carmen attends her late father’s funeral, only to receive snarky remarks from her father’s original family. I thought the family dynamics in this story were interesting, especially with the father’s alcoholism and the mother’s toxic standards for her daughter. It was interesting how she thought Carmen was being “immature” for crying even though it’s a normal and healthy way to grieve. The conflict between the original family and the mistress’ family also had potential, though I guess I just wasn’t as attached to this story as I was to the rest. Maybe it’s because the conflict and characters weren’t as developed.
A Lifetime of Luxury - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Gi finally thinks she’s “made it” by living a life of luxury and being engaged to a wealthy foreigner, she runs into an old friend who threatens to reveal the secrets of her old life. At first I judged Gi for being superficial and materialistic, but after reading this I can empathize with her more. It was interesting reading the commentary about how lower class women are often pressured to enter prostitution because of a capitalistic society that pushes them to the brink of poverty and a misogynistic system that objectifies women’s bodies. However, I felt like the blackmail and abusive ex sub-plot weren’t as developed and the ending was a bit lacking for me.
Alter Life - 3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jade would do anything to achieve superinfluencer status like her idol Zadie Garcia, so she’s ecstatic when she’s invited to the same exclusive creative retreat as Zadie. However, she soon realizes that being a superinfluencer comes with a cost. Like with the previous story, I also initially judged Jade for her superficiality, but at the same time I understood her need for validation. I like how it exposes the pretentiousness and performative aspect of social media. However, I felt like I’ve already read many similar stories before, and that this story didn’t add anything new to the conversation on social media. Although I didn’t expect Zadie’s suicide, you can still predict the direction in which the story will go based on its first few pages. What I did find interesting was how Jade completely forgot about Zadie’s death after receiving another like for her post. It just goes to show how social media has turned into a numbers game that dehumanizes personal experiences.
Blocked - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After garnering a reputation of being the teacher that always plays it safe, Miss Len makes an audacious move and accepts a job offer in Vietnam. I feel like this is the most underrated story of this collection. I loved it because I related to Len a lot as someone who’s always overly cautious and not much of a risk-taker. I like the quiet growth in this story because you see how Len evolves from always choosing the tried-and-tested option to gradually exploring new things out of her comfort zone—whether it be moving to a new country, listening to new music, or even making friends with your taxi driver. Although Tan’s sudden distance didn’t make sense to me, I did appreciate the message of going at your own pace and reevaluating what you want.
“For the first time in a long while, she did not feel behind. She felt—simply—where she was.”
The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis - 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A cat named Ngisngis reconciles an OFW couple that has grown apart due to a miscarriage. Another one of my favorites! I didn’t expect this to be narrated by the cat herself so this was a pleasant surprise. I like how, through the cat’s eyes, you can sense the tension between the two characters even though they only have minimal dialogue. I find it so wholesome that Ngisngis finds ways to bring them together and to help them acknowledge their loss rather than escape it. We all need a Ngisngis in our lives.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this collection. I recommend this to anyone who needs a reminder that many people still try to be good even when the world makes it hard for them to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2026
This book made me realize just how big the grey area between good and bad is. Nothing in this world is black and white. I loved this book so much that I ended up finishing it within the day. I was supposed to read it slowly and savor each short story, but I ended up flipping to the next story and the next and the next.
This book is a must read! It is also now one of the books on my "Books I Won't Stop Recommending" list!
This book is a must read! It is also now one of the books on my "Books I Won't Stop Recommending" list!
June 2, 2026
Good People was one of the most hyped-up releases in the recent Philippine Book Fair, as per what I’ve seen in my immediate book-related circles. The attendance and energy in the room where it was launched also showed how loved it was even before it even came out. With a cute minimalist cover design and an interesting one-line hook of “people who want to do right, but do it all wrong”, I also got curious to read it. Thanks to Talk Bookish To Me, The Filipino Shelf, and Anvil Publishing for the review copy.
Good People is a light-to-carry, 164-page collection of 10 short stories by former journalist and lifestyle editor Claire Betita de Guzman who with her career, as her website reveals, has travelled to at least 51 countries. This shows in the choice of having the stories set across Southeast Asia, with multiple characters traveling or said to travel a lot. I’m glad that one could tell familiarity with how the settings were written instead of just having them for the sake of it, whether it’s a detailed day-to-day life in Huê City, Vietnam or a vivid portrait of the closer seaside town of Botolan, Zambales.
The characters, as far as the story has revealed, are all Filipino though, and with the book’s premise, they were expectedly the highlight of the collection. The 10 stories are disconnected from one another and they all feature characters “testing moral boundaries”. The major thing I wanted to look at was to what extent of moral complexity the author was willing to have the characters and what this exploration would look like. Morally grey figures, after all, have always been a trigger for the ever-recurring discourse on media representation. What metric or scale of “goodness” would be used in the first place, given the stories are set in 2025, as informed by its cultural references?
The first and titular story establishes one of its central ideas – “The world still worked because of this silent, unspoken trust” – as it is favorable to its main character, seasoned pickpocket Max. However, hardened-by-life Max meets his contrast with Dani, a person with a wider and higher imagination on what good he can contribute to the world. Their interactions and its implications provide another of the recurring ideas, that socio-economic backgrounds shape, but do not limit, people's choices and opportunities for goodness.
That the book will continue with tales of redemption is quickly subverted by the second story, “Black”, a depiction of another anti-social actor “starved for something [but] was just not sure what”, without sign nor desire of changing. This is followed by “Pseudologia Fantastica” which despite my reservations on the handling of the plot device, gives a nuance on what might be behind puzzling patterns of behavior.
The author consciously removes any nuance for the fourth story, “The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan” born out of the frustrations with the flood control scandal where the accommodations given to most of the characters in the book are withdrawn to set clear lines between them and the outright morally corrupt. At this point, the author’s liking to enumerate famous brands to illustrate ostentatious material wealth serves its best purpose to contrast lifestyles in its extremes.
The “unspoken trust” theme is employed again in “Online Soulmate”, a story I found weirdly comedic in its abruptness.
“Wake Party” is an excellent application of the established themes to show a person who, upon death, has left a contentious legacy to the people he interacted with. There’s a show of restraint and a quieter quality compared to the stories that it is sandwiched between. Another favorite is “A Lifetime of Luxury” with its relative length that made room for the author’s narrative style of alternating between past and present events, creating suspense, and a more defined sense of completeness by its end. “Alter Life” is a satirical commentary on content creation and influencer culture that explores the desire to want collective good in a world that rewards individual gain with so much.
“Blocked” is about people who courageously leave their former lives behind in the pursuit of knowing the self better, in a foreign land where one can start anew. The selfishness of the choice left for debate. Finally, “The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis” a story that would've felt wrong if placed elsewhere, is an illustration of second chances, somewhat circling back to the first story, but in a new different angle. Perhaps in questioning the good of humanity, an outside perspective might help.
The stories worked the best for me when they take time to establish and spend more time with the subject and accompany them in their various crossroads, making me resonate with some stories more than the rest. Still, Good People offers a peek into a plurality of experiences, some more common than the others, but all the same showing how good isn’t an absolute. While being really accessible in length and language, it thankfully did not go into a didactic self-help route. Good People is a tired but relevant nudge for us to think that extending grace and kindness might lose us something but is still worth doing.
Good People is a light-to-carry, 164-page collection of 10 short stories by former journalist and lifestyle editor Claire Betita de Guzman who with her career, as her website reveals, has travelled to at least 51 countries. This shows in the choice of having the stories set across Southeast Asia, with multiple characters traveling or said to travel a lot. I’m glad that one could tell familiarity with how the settings were written instead of just having them for the sake of it, whether it’s a detailed day-to-day life in Huê City, Vietnam or a vivid portrait of the closer seaside town of Botolan, Zambales.
The characters, as far as the story has revealed, are all Filipino though, and with the book’s premise, they were expectedly the highlight of the collection. The 10 stories are disconnected from one another and they all feature characters “testing moral boundaries”. The major thing I wanted to look at was to what extent of moral complexity the author was willing to have the characters and what this exploration would look like. Morally grey figures, after all, have always been a trigger for the ever-recurring discourse on media representation. What metric or scale of “goodness” would be used in the first place, given the stories are set in 2025, as informed by its cultural references?
The first and titular story establishes one of its central ideas – “The world still worked because of this silent, unspoken trust” – as it is favorable to its main character, seasoned pickpocket Max. However, hardened-by-life Max meets his contrast with Dani, a person with a wider and higher imagination on what good he can contribute to the world. Their interactions and its implications provide another of the recurring ideas, that socio-economic backgrounds shape, but do not limit, people's choices and opportunities for goodness.
That the book will continue with tales of redemption is quickly subverted by the second story, “Black”, a depiction of another anti-social actor “starved for something [but] was just not sure what”, without sign nor desire of changing. This is followed by “Pseudologia Fantastica” which despite my reservations on the handling of the plot device, gives a nuance on what might be behind puzzling patterns of behavior.
The author consciously removes any nuance for the fourth story, “The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan” born out of the frustrations with the flood control scandal where the accommodations given to most of the characters in the book are withdrawn to set clear lines between them and the outright morally corrupt. At this point, the author’s liking to enumerate famous brands to illustrate ostentatious material wealth serves its best purpose to contrast lifestyles in its extremes.
The “unspoken trust” theme is employed again in “Online Soulmate”, a story I found weirdly comedic in its abruptness.
“Wake Party” is an excellent application of the established themes to show a person who, upon death, has left a contentious legacy to the people he interacted with. There’s a show of restraint and a quieter quality compared to the stories that it is sandwiched between. Another favorite is “A Lifetime of Luxury” with its relative length that made room for the author’s narrative style of alternating between past and present events, creating suspense, and a more defined sense of completeness by its end. “Alter Life” is a satirical commentary on content creation and influencer culture that explores the desire to want collective good in a world that rewards individual gain with so much.
“Blocked” is about people who courageously leave their former lives behind in the pursuit of knowing the self better, in a foreign land where one can start anew. The selfishness of the choice left for debate. Finally, “The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis” a story that would've felt wrong if placed elsewhere, is an illustration of second chances, somewhat circling back to the first story, but in a new different angle. Perhaps in questioning the good of humanity, an outside perspective might help.
The stories worked the best for me when they take time to establish and spend more time with the subject and accompany them in their various crossroads, making me resonate with some stories more than the rest. Still, Good People offers a peek into a plurality of experiences, some more common than the others, but all the same showing how good isn’t an absolute. While being really accessible in length and language, it thankfully did not go into a didactic self-help route. Good People is a tired but relevant nudge for us to think that extending grace and kindness might lose us something but is still worth doing.
May 16, 2026
If Jerry Maguire had Dorothy at hello, this book had me at page zero. Before the stories even began, the dedication already pulled me in:
“For those who try to be good in a world that makes it hard, and keep choosing tenderness anyway.”
Good People is a collection of ten short stories exploring what it really means to be “good” in a world shaped by survival, loneliness, desire, class divides, and complicated relationships. The characters are flawed, messy, and painfully human. Some long for connection but sabotage it. Some know they are doing wrong but continue anyway. Others are simply trying to survive with whatever little life has given them.
What I appreciated most was how every story made me reflect. None of them felt simple or clean-cut. Some stories unsettled me more than others, but these were the ones that stayed with me most:
“Good People”
One line lingered in my mind: “What do you want most, Max?” Made me ask myself the same thing. It also made me reflect on how deprivation shapes people. If survival teaches someone only how to take, how do they learn goodness and generosity?
“Black”
This one genuinely disturbed me. Jane is addicted to affairs outside her marriage and seems unable to stop herself. There’s guilt in the story, but also compulsion, loneliness, and self-destruction. Her lingering anxiety: “How long will I be doing this, how long before they find out, how long before I get punished?”
“Alter Life”
A sharp commentary on influencer culture and curated online identities — “contrived perfection made to get attention.” Beneath the polished posts is loneliness, pressure, and the exhausting need for validation.
“Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan”
A portrait of corruption, wealth, and a family living luxuriously in Paris while the consequences of their greed are left behind in the Philippines. The story felt infuriating because of how normal and insulated their lives seemed despite everything underneath it all. I finished this story wanting handcuffs and convictions.
“The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis”
This one felt cute and quietly hopeful. “The door will open. Everything that matters eventually does.”
Overall, Good People felt deeply observant and emotionally intelligent. It doesn’t try to give easy answers or perfectly moral characters. Instead, it shows how complicated goodness becomes when people are lonely, desperate, wounded, or simply trying to be loved.
“For those who try to be good in a world that makes it hard, and keep choosing tenderness anyway.”
Good People is a collection of ten short stories exploring what it really means to be “good” in a world shaped by survival, loneliness, desire, class divides, and complicated relationships. The characters are flawed, messy, and painfully human. Some long for connection but sabotage it. Some know they are doing wrong but continue anyway. Others are simply trying to survive with whatever little life has given them.
What I appreciated most was how every story made me reflect. None of them felt simple or clean-cut. Some stories unsettled me more than others, but these were the ones that stayed with me most:
“Good People”
One line lingered in my mind: “What do you want most, Max?” Made me ask myself the same thing. It also made me reflect on how deprivation shapes people. If survival teaches someone only how to take, how do they learn goodness and generosity?
“Black”
This one genuinely disturbed me. Jane is addicted to affairs outside her marriage and seems unable to stop herself. There’s guilt in the story, but also compulsion, loneliness, and self-destruction. Her lingering anxiety: “How long will I be doing this, how long before they find out, how long before I get punished?”
“Alter Life”
A sharp commentary on influencer culture and curated online identities — “contrived perfection made to get attention.” Beneath the polished posts is loneliness, pressure, and the exhausting need for validation.
“Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan”
A portrait of corruption, wealth, and a family living luxuriously in Paris while the consequences of their greed are left behind in the Philippines. The story felt infuriating because of how normal and insulated their lives seemed despite everything underneath it all. I finished this story wanting handcuffs and convictions.
“The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis”
This one felt cute and quietly hopeful. “The door will open. Everything that matters eventually does.”
Overall, Good People felt deeply observant and emotionally intelligent. It doesn’t try to give easy answers or perfectly moral characters. Instead, it shows how complicated goodness becomes when people are lonely, desperate, wounded, or simply trying to be loved.
May 23, 2026
What does it really mean to be good?
This has been the question instilled in me while reading each of the stories in this book. It goes beyond the norms and morals of society. At some point, I even annotated, “This is hard to explain.” Probably, it is because of the complexities of the human mind and behavior.
There are gray areas in determining what is good and bad, as portrayed by the characters. No matter their choices and actions, there will always be dozens of questions as to why they acted that way.
Bakit kung kailan handa na, hindi na puwede?
Bakit niya ginawa iyon?
Ano ang tamang batayan sa pagpili?
The book is socially relevant as it points out current situations and issues happening around us — corruption, individualistic delusions, obsession with fame, and many others. No matter which story one reads, it gives a glimpse into questioning humanity itself.
It is interesting to have discussions with fellow readers about some of the stories. Personally, Pseulogica Fantastica was one of my favorites, and I gained a different perspective from another reader when we talked about it. The Soulmate is also an interesting story, as I encountered different theories from the readers. However, it was widely agreed upon that anger plays a significant role in understanding The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan.
It was my first time reading Tita Claire’s writing, and I truly enjoyed it. Her writing is easy to read, and it is easy to become immersed in the characters and their lives. Tita Claire connects the readers to the characters in a way that makes them experience the pain, angst, doubt, and other emotions alongside them. Reading the book leaves readers pondering: to what extent should we measure goodness?
This has been the question instilled in me while reading each of the stories in this book. It goes beyond the norms and morals of society. At some point, I even annotated, “This is hard to explain.” Probably, it is because of the complexities of the human mind and behavior.
There are gray areas in determining what is good and bad, as portrayed by the characters. No matter their choices and actions, there will always be dozens of questions as to why they acted that way.
Bakit kung kailan handa na, hindi na puwede?
Bakit niya ginawa iyon?
Ano ang tamang batayan sa pagpili?
The book is socially relevant as it points out current situations and issues happening around us — corruption, individualistic delusions, obsession with fame, and many others. No matter which story one reads, it gives a glimpse into questioning humanity itself.
It is interesting to have discussions with fellow readers about some of the stories. Personally, Pseulogica Fantastica was one of my favorites, and I gained a different perspective from another reader when we talked about it. The Soulmate is also an interesting story, as I encountered different theories from the readers. However, it was widely agreed upon that anger plays a significant role in understanding The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan.
It was my first time reading Tita Claire’s writing, and I truly enjoyed it. Her writing is easy to read, and it is easy to become immersed in the characters and their lives. Tita Claire connects the readers to the characters in a way that makes them experience the pain, angst, doubt, and other emotions alongside them. Reading the book leaves readers pondering: to what extent should we measure goodness?
April 19, 2026
This book is a collection of short stories about people who have good intentions but end up making bad decisions, as humans often do. It showcases how morality can be all different shades of gray, depending on their circumstances.
There were stories here that resonated with me more than others, but overall, these were so relatable and so relevant. "Goodness" for me is a relative function, and I empathized and understood all the characters in the stories. The author was able to tackle some deep and heavy subjects like corruption, domestic abuse, suicide, poverty, prostitution, death of a loved one, etc., within seemingly innocent, humorous, and light storytelling. I love that the writing was kept simple yet mysterious in a way that makes you want to read more.
The thing that I also loved about this book is the settings of these stories! The mentions of familiar and exotic locations, the sights and different kinds of food transported me from place to place. Baler was even mentioned a few times (I live here by the way) and I recognized a lot of the local places that were mentioned which made for a cool reading experience.
Some of the stories have abrupt endings though, but the kind that makes you speculate, theorize, and crave for more. Personally, as the book progressed the stories got better and better. They could be made into full length novels each and I would still read them 😊
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
There were stories here that resonated with me more than others, but overall, these were so relatable and so relevant. "Goodness" for me is a relative function, and I empathized and understood all the characters in the stories. The author was able to tackle some deep and heavy subjects like corruption, domestic abuse, suicide, poverty, prostitution, death of a loved one, etc., within seemingly innocent, humorous, and light storytelling. I love that the writing was kept simple yet mysterious in a way that makes you want to read more.
The thing that I also loved about this book is the settings of these stories! The mentions of familiar and exotic locations, the sights and different kinds of food transported me from place to place. Baler was even mentioned a few times (I live here by the way) and I recognized a lot of the local places that were mentioned which made for a cool reading experience.
Some of the stories have abrupt endings though, but the kind that makes you speculate, theorize, and crave for more. Personally, as the book progressed the stories got better and better. They could be made into full length novels each and I would still read them 😊
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
April 24, 2026
Here are three reasons why you should read Good People by Claire Betita de Guzman.
First, I love the writing style. I love Tita Claire's storytelling. It's honest. These are unconventional stories, but you'll feel how real they are. Characters you'll love, characters you'll hate, and sometimes, you'll see yourself in them. We're all connected... yet somehow still disconnected too.
Second, it broadens your perspective. These stories give you a glimpse into lives you don't fully see, the life of strangers, the life of your acquaintances, even people already in your life. This reminds you that everyone carries stories you'll never know. So maybe... judge a little less.
And lastly, we are "Good People".
We Are All Good People. We make mistakes, we try to do better, we fail, we grow. But most importantly we have the so much power in us, but also we are the worse. I know it's messy but that’s deeply real.
Plus... if you love cats, theres that too
Well My top stories? Good People, A Lifetime of Luxury, and The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis.
So if you're looking for something that's, well, again human, this book might just stay with you. And maybe, it'll make you see people... including yourself... a little more kindly.
“𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞” 𝐁𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First, I love the writing style. I love Tita Claire's storytelling. It's honest. These are unconventional stories, but you'll feel how real they are. Characters you'll love, characters you'll hate, and sometimes, you'll see yourself in them. We're all connected... yet somehow still disconnected too.
Second, it broadens your perspective. These stories give you a glimpse into lives you don't fully see, the life of strangers, the life of your acquaintances, even people already in your life. This reminds you that everyone carries stories you'll never know. So maybe... judge a little less.
And lastly, we are "Good People".
We Are All Good People. We make mistakes, we try to do better, we fail, we grow. But most importantly we have the so much power in us, but also we are the worse. I know it's messy but that’s deeply real.
Plus... if you love cats, theres that too
Well My top stories? Good People, A Lifetime of Luxury, and The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis.
So if you're looking for something that's, well, again human, this book might just stay with you. And maybe, it'll make you see people... including yourself... a little more kindly.
“𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞” 𝐁𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 30, 2026
Rating 4.5
I always believe that people in general are good people. That’s why this is a perfect title for these short story collections.
Good People is compose of ten short stories, set across Southeast Asia. We meet different kinds of people, each with their own challenges in life, always wanting to do the right things but ending up doing it all wrong.
The stories are easy to easy and easy to be familiarized with. People who cannot stand with their conscience and want to right things, who cannot decide if they want to be good, justifying bad deeds by doing right, making ourselves feel good but not through a good way. People are complicated enough. But these stories show that there is still a decent goodness in all of us.
When we right a wrong doing by doing good, are we good? When face with choices, one that favors us but for the detriment of others, can we do good next time? If we did a selfish act, and think that we will compensate it with another good, are we still considered good? Such thought provoking stories, that make me ask these questions to myselfwhile reading these stories. I know there are goodness in each one of us. We just have to look deeper and recognize that whatever life throws us, doing good is the decent thing to do.
Among the ten stories here are my favorites in no particular order:
* Online Soulmate
* The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis
* Pseudologia Fantastica
* The Lifetime of Luxury
So what does it really mean to be good people?
I always believe that people in general are good people. That’s why this is a perfect title for these short story collections.
Good People is compose of ten short stories, set across Southeast Asia. We meet different kinds of people, each with their own challenges in life, always wanting to do the right things but ending up doing it all wrong.
The stories are easy to easy and easy to be familiarized with. People who cannot stand with their conscience and want to right things, who cannot decide if they want to be good, justifying bad deeds by doing right, making ourselves feel good but not through a good way. People are complicated enough. But these stories show that there is still a decent goodness in all of us.
When we right a wrong doing by doing good, are we good? When face with choices, one that favors us but for the detriment of others, can we do good next time? If we did a selfish act, and think that we will compensate it with another good, are we still considered good? Such thought provoking stories, that make me ask these questions to myselfwhile reading these stories. I know there are goodness in each one of us. We just have to look deeper and recognize that whatever life throws us, doing good is the decent thing to do.
Among the ten stories here are my favorites in no particular order:
* Online Soulmate
* The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis
* Pseudologia Fantastica
* The Lifetime of Luxury
So what does it really mean to be good people?
June 6, 2026
Good People is part of a book tour in collaboration with Talk Bookish To Me PH, The Filipino Shelf, and Anvil Publishing. Receiving a copy did not influence my review.
Claire Betita de Guzman once again delivers a collection that feels like an emotional rollercoaster disguised as quiet literary fiction. Each story presents characters who are deeply human—messy, flawed, and often uncomfortable to sit with—but never unbelievable.
What I appreciated most is how the book refuses to label people as simply “good” or “bad.” Instead, it leans fully into the idea that people can exist in both spaces at once, sometimes within the same decision. That moral ambiguity is where the book shines.
The writing, as expected from Tita Claire, is immaculate. It’s sharp without being distant, emotional without being overly sentimental, and grounded in real human behavior that makes you pause and reflect between stories.
This collection gave me a mix of enjoyment, discomfort, and reflection—the kind that lingers after you’ve closed the book.
Overall, a powerful and thoughtful read that reinforces what makes her work stand out.
If you enjoy character-driven literary fiction that explores moral complexity, this is worth picking up.
Claire Betita de Guzman once again delivers a collection that feels like an emotional rollercoaster disguised as quiet literary fiction. Each story presents characters who are deeply human—messy, flawed, and often uncomfortable to sit with—but never unbelievable.
What I appreciated most is how the book refuses to label people as simply “good” or “bad.” Instead, it leans fully into the idea that people can exist in both spaces at once, sometimes within the same decision. That moral ambiguity is where the book shines.
The writing, as expected from Tita Claire, is immaculate. It’s sharp without being distant, emotional without being overly sentimental, and grounded in real human behavior that makes you pause and reflect between stories.
This collection gave me a mix of enjoyment, discomfort, and reflection—the kind that lingers after you’ve closed the book.
Overall, a powerful and thoughtful read that reinforces what makes her work stand out.
If you enjoy character-driven literary fiction that explores moral complexity, this is worth picking up.
July 1, 2026
Good People is a collection of ten short stories centered on ordinary individuals navigating the complexities of life and making choices that are not always morally straightforward. Through these stories, the author showcases the skill and insight of a seasoned writer—someone who has observed and experienced life through many different lenses.
I may never live lives similar to those of the characters in this collection, but reading their stories deepened my understanding of how people become who they are: through the accumulation of countless choices, circumstances, and experiences over time.
More importantly, this book reminded me that there is rarely such a thing as a purely black-and-white moral reality. It reinforced the idea that we often lack the full context of another person's life and the circumstances that shaped their decisions. In that sense, Good People is not only a collection of stories about ordinary lives, but also an invitation to approach others with greater empathy and understanding.
I may never live lives similar to those of the characters in this collection, but reading their stories deepened my understanding of how people become who they are: through the accumulation of countless choices, circumstances, and experiences over time.
More importantly, this book reminded me that there is rarely such a thing as a purely black-and-white moral reality. It reinforced the idea that we often lack the full context of another person's life and the circumstances that shaped their decisions. In that sense, Good People is not only a collection of stories about ordinary lives, but also an invitation to approach others with greater empathy and understanding.
May 13, 2026
“I want to go to a tea shop." She let the first two words – "I want" – roll off the tip of her tongue for a moment longer. Was it possible to be both pleased and terrified that you were beginning to know what you want, even the little things?
– Blocked
Synopsis:
Good People is a collection of 10 stories of people across Southeast Asia, and even France, who are struggling with expectations and obligations. They want to be good, but what does that mean for them?
Thoughts:
Deep, thoughtful, and a little darker than I thought.
This collection is an exploration of actions and intentions that left me satisfied in the end. The stories were so introspective. They really showed the complexities of each human being, how their struggles and experiences color their perceptions.
It made me root for characters who I didn’t think I would root for. It made me feel uncomfortable with how some push the boundaries of what is ‘good’. It made me appreciate pets that can simply show love and not complicate it like humans do.
All the stories offer something different, but here are my favorites in order: "The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis", "Blocked", and "A Lifetime of Luxury".
Don’t be fooled by the cute cover. Just like the characters in it, the book Good People is deeper and so much more than what it seems on the surface.
***
Other quotes I like:
“...we were all just tethered together by the simple, resolute act of believing in each other’s goodness.” – Good People
“And you’re used to receiving so little and giving so much, so this is all okay with you.” – The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan
“What happened with Jess–did it make her good or bad? Or had it simply made her someone who chose to live?” – A Lifetime of Luxury
May 23, 2026
A thought-provoking collection of short stories about different types of people going through life. Claire Betita de Guzman's prose takes you to the characters' place no matter which walk of life they're from. Some stories are cautionary tales, some stories provide hope, while some provide a brief look on how good people deal with life for better or for worse.
Favorites:
"Good People" as the starter got my heart hurting in all the best ways.
"The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan" is a compelling read through the eyes of its protagonist and de Guzman's writing on how the story unraveled. A timely read as well.
"Blocked" and "The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis" as the last two stories provided the warm ending I needed.
Favorites:
"Good People" as the starter got my heart hurting in all the best ways.
"The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan" is a compelling read through the eyes of its protagonist and de Guzman's writing on how the story unraveled. A timely read as well.
"Blocked" and "The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis" as the last two stories provided the warm ending I needed.
May 29, 2026
This book got me out of my very loooong reading slump. It was an easy read and each story left me with something to ponder about. It showed the reality that life circumstances really affect how a person, despite all efforts to do “good”, could end up doing “bad”. It reflects the idea that no one is inherently bad, however upbringing, environment, and privilege influence one’s moral choices. Although I felt like some of the stories were cut too short, I would say that this book would have to be one of my favorites from a Filipino author.
My personal faves from the collection of stories were “The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan”, “Online Soulmate”, “Blocked”, and my number one being “The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis”.
My personal faves from the collection of stories were “The Fabulous Former Lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carangalan”, “Online Soulmate”, “Blocked”, and my number one being “The Greatest Campaign of Ngisngis”.
March 24, 2026
oh this was beautiful! you know, some days, it’s hard to see the good in this world, and in people, and well, the stories in this book just reminds you that no matter how crazy life is, there’s still some good in the world.
I like that you can take your time with this, and read like, a chapter or two at a given time; or read it during your break time or whatever.
That last story made me bawl. idk if it’s the cat parent in me — (don’t worry; no one dies, but it’s beautiful!) or if I’m just hormonal lol. I barely cry at books, but this one just did something to me. I guess, it’s also because I know the magic that cats can bring.
anyway, what a beautiful collection of stories!
I like that you can take your time with this, and read like, a chapter or two at a given time; or read it during your break time or whatever.
That last story made me bawl. idk if it’s the cat parent in me — (don’t worry; no one dies, but it’s beautiful!) or if I’m just hormonal lol. I barely cry at books, but this one just did something to me. I guess, it’s also because I know the magic that cats can bring.
anyway, what a beautiful collection of stories!
April 16, 2026
Good People Stories is such a cool collection of shorts about people who want to do good but somehow messes it up. Honestly, I don't read as much Fil-Lit as I’d like - not because it’s not good, but just because it’s ironically not as accessible as you'd think. After my last Jose Dalisay read, I wasn't expecting much despite the hype, but this book blew me away.
I’m still thinking about how much Claire Betita de Guzman packs each story into more or less 20 pages. It’s rare to find short stories that feel this sensible and interesting in such a small space, but she nailed it. The prose is beautiful and the storytelling just draws you in. I seriously loved it!
I’m still thinking about how much Claire Betita de Guzman packs each story into more or less 20 pages. It’s rare to find short stories that feel this sensible and interesting in such a small space, but she nailed it. The prose is beautiful and the storytelling just draws you in. I seriously loved it!
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