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Chic Manila #8
Iris After the Incident
Which moment has defined your life so far?
Whether she likes it or not, Iris’s life has been divided into two: Before the Incident, and After the Incident. Something very private was made very public, and since then life has been about recovering from being shamed, discovering her true friends, and struggling to find a new normal.
Two years into this new life and she finally connects with a guy again. He lives in the apartment down the hall, he’s hot, and he doesn’t look at her that way. He doesn’t know what happened. But he also won’t give her his name, not right away—which has to mean he’s got something to hide too.
Iris wants to start over. Should she do that with the only person who will understand, or is this the same idiotic decision that got her in trouble in the first place?
Whether she likes it or not, Iris’s life has been divided into two: Before the Incident, and After the Incident. Something very private was made very public, and since then life has been about recovering from being shamed, discovering her true friends, and struggling to find a new normal.
Two years into this new life and she finally connects with a guy again. He lives in the apartment down the hall, he’s hot, and he doesn’t look at her that way. He doesn’t know what happened. But he also won’t give her his name, not right away—which has to mean he’s got something to hide too.
Iris wants to start over. Should she do that with the only person who will understand, or is this the same idiotic decision that got her in trouble in the first place?
ebook
First published August 5, 2016
About the author
Mina V. Esguerra
48 books603 followersMina V. Esguerra writes contemporary romance and young adult novellas. She has a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Development Communication, put to good use in her work as trainer and content management consultant. Mina lives in Metro Manila, Philippines, with her husband and daughter.
She finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people, so the answer to "Is this story based on you?" is always, always "No."
She finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people, so the answer to "Is this story based on you?" is always, always "No."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
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March 8, 2018A romance novel with a lot of heft, a lot of depth, and a powerfully feminist spine. Also another amazing title. I envy this author's way with titles bitterly.
The Incident was Iris's home video with her boyfriend being leaked onto an amateur porn site, causing massive scandal, public shaming, and a deep rift with her humiliated family. That was two years ago and she's rebuilding her life after losing a lot of friends and having a lot of therapy. Then she meets Gio--who also has an internet scandal following him around. Does he understand? Will he cope with her sex video being online as her then boyfriend couldn't? Can she start coming to terms with her own sexuality again after the trauma? And how bad could it get if these two inadvertent internet porn stars are seen out together?
This is a terrific read. Iris is a lovely character, hurt but never wallowing, sticking up for herself, learning to own her past and not because of a man either. She takes the lead wonderfully, and Gio is a lovely partner. (I like the way he seems more at peace with the past at first, but as we go on we see that he mostly ran away, whereas Iris is coping.)
Sexy, compelling, well written. I'm loving this author's work. Off to see which one next.
The Incident was Iris's home video with her boyfriend being leaked onto an amateur porn site, causing massive scandal, public shaming, and a deep rift with her humiliated family. That was two years ago and she's rebuilding her life after losing a lot of friends and having a lot of therapy. Then she meets Gio--who also has an internet scandal following him around. Does he understand? Will he cope with her sex video being online as her then boyfriend couldn't? Can she start coming to terms with her own sexuality again after the trauma? And how bad could it get if these two inadvertent internet porn stars are seen out together?
This is a terrific read. Iris is a lovely character, hurt but never wallowing, sticking up for herself, learning to own her past and not because of a man either. She takes the lead wonderfully, and Gio is a lovely partner. (I like the way he seems more at peace with the past at first, but as we go on we see that he mostly ran away, whereas Iris is coping.)
Sexy, compelling, well written. I'm loving this author's work. Off to see which one next.
July 19, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book.
It was well-written, the characters were fresh, interesting, often either too bad baddies and too good goodies, and the topic appears to be a hot one for the millennials.
Where the story transcended the idiocy of the occurrences causing the problems, the story excelled and managed to brush ultimate truths about humiliation and group behaviour. Where it tried it darnedest hardest to be sex-positive it utterly failed the facts (sorry, but filming oneself during sex on a hackable and practically public appliance or having a threesome with media persons are both so idiotic behaviours that I haven't got even a figment of pity), and the romance itself was slightly bland, but likeable. And the families were... curious. This may be cultural.
I liked that for once there was no alpha male in the entire getup. I would have preferred more depth.
It was well-written, the characters were fresh, interesting, often either too bad baddies and too good goodies, and the topic appears to be a hot one for the millennials.
Where the story transcended the idiocy of the occurrences causing the problems, the story excelled and managed to brush ultimate truths about humiliation and group behaviour. Where it tried it darnedest hardest to be sex-positive it utterly failed the facts (sorry, but filming oneself during sex on a hackable and practically public appliance or having a threesome with media persons are both so idiotic behaviours that I haven't got even a figment of pity), and the romance itself was slightly bland, but likeable. And the families were... curious. This may be cultural.
I liked that for once there was no alpha male in the entire getup. I would have preferred more depth.
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March 2, 2020DNF 35%. Surprisingly well-written from an author I'm not familiar with. Likeable characters. Set in Manila, which in itself is quite interesting. I just can't do NA.
February 5, 2017
Iris After the Incident is the most feminist & empowering romance book I've ever read. It's about a woman whose privacy was invaded. It's about a woman embracing her sexuality in a society that shame women for it.
I like the romance as well, it's so hot. Hah.
I like the romance as well, it's so hot. Hah.
December 24, 2018
A deeply compassionate M/F romance centering Iris, who hasn't dated since a sex tape she made with her now-ex-boyfriend was stolen and posted on the internet. Iris's life was turned upside down by that event, dividing everything into before and after, and so far "after" has been kind of treading water. When she encounters Gio, a cute neighbor who just might understand what she went through, she has to figure out whether she'd ready to trust again.
I love how the romance trust-building storyline is braided with Iris being offered a promotion at the job she's passionate about, but had retreated from because of the "incident." It reinforces that she's at a decision point, whether she's going to let the incident continue to define her, or whether she's healed enough to move forward. I also appreciate how strong it makes Iris feel to reclaim parts of her life, including sex. Extra kudos for NOT having Iris forgive her family members who treated her so harshly! When someone is a jerk, sometimes it's their job to fix things, not yours.
This is part of Filipina author Esguerra's Chic Manila series of romances set in contemporary Manila, but can be read as a standalone.
I love how the romance trust-building storyline is braided with Iris being offered a promotion at the job she's passionate about, but had retreated from because of the "incident." It reinforces that she's at a decision point, whether she's going to let the incident continue to define her, or whether she's healed enough to move forward. I also appreciate how strong it makes Iris feel to reclaim parts of her life, including sex. Extra kudos for NOT having Iris forgive her family members who treated her so harshly! When someone is a jerk, sometimes it's their job to fix things, not yours.
This is part of Filipina author Esguerra's Chic Manila series of romances set in contemporary Manila, but can be read as a standalone.
August 27, 2021
This book gave me everything I had never expected from a romance read. In a good way. Definitely deserves the 5 stars.
August 12, 2016
Two days after finishing it, I'm still thinking about it. My standard of a 5-star read.
My favorite Mina books have always been her darker, sharper ones: Love Your Frenemies; the Scambitious series; The Future Chosen. Her spare and clean writing style just works so well with incisive commentary and a biting tone. Iris After The Incident is the apex of that marriage of style and message.
And what a message it is. The book deals with shame, public humiliation (of unimaginable proportions--the stuff that her characters go through, but most especially the titular Iris, are the stuff of post-social media age nightmares), female agency and the forcible stripping thereof, familial expectations, labeling people and betrayal. The feelings the story conjure up are brutal and bitter, but because Mina has such a deft and light touch, you never feel overwhelmed.
I underlined so many passages in this book, but this exchange with Kimmy (YASSS QUEEN KIMMY) and Matilda (who was a weird side character in Welcome to Envy Park but is amazing here) is my favorite:
"...shame is useless to himself and to others. Don't you think so, Iris?"
"Shame is someone else's way of putting you into a box, to control you, and take away what you could have," Matilda declared, swooping back in with new wine. "But it's useful for something."
"And that is?" Kimmy demanded.
"It can give you a goal." Matilda said.
"You and your goals," Kimmy teased.
"I believe in that," Matilda told me. "Own the thing that someone used to humiliate you. Then you overcome it."
Chills, man. Favorite Mina book of all!
My favorite Mina books have always been her darker, sharper ones: Love Your Frenemies; the Scambitious series; The Future Chosen. Her spare and clean writing style just works so well with incisive commentary and a biting tone. Iris After The Incident is the apex of that marriage of style and message.
And what a message it is. The book deals with shame, public humiliation (of unimaginable proportions--the stuff that her characters go through, but most especially the titular Iris, are the stuff of post-social media age nightmares), female agency and the forcible stripping thereof, familial expectations, labeling people and betrayal. The feelings the story conjure up are brutal and bitter, but because Mina has such a deft and light touch, you never feel overwhelmed.
I underlined so many passages in this book, but this exchange with Kimmy (YASSS QUEEN KIMMY) and Matilda (who was a weird side character in Welcome to Envy Park but is amazing here) is my favorite:
"...shame is useless to himself and to others. Don't you think so, Iris?"
"Shame is someone else's way of putting you into a box, to control you, and take away what you could have," Matilda declared, swooping back in with new wine. "But it's useful for something."
"And that is?" Kimmy demanded.
"It can give you a goal." Matilda said.
"You and your goals," Kimmy teased.
"I believe in that," Matilda told me. "Own the thing that someone used to humiliate you. Then you overcome it."
Chills, man. Favorite Mina book of all!
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March 22, 2019The strongest romance novel I've read by Esguerra yet. As the title suggests, this is a heroine-centered book, and it takes Iris's emotional well-being, and the work she puts into it, so seriously. I loved that so much.
This is also very--to use a buzzword I will probably regret--millennial. Surveillance culture, particularly social media surveillance, feels like a very millennial theme to me, and while the idea that one has a relationship to one's own sexuality--and that it is a work-in-progress cultivated with yourself and others you choose--is not exclusive to millennials, I thought Esguerra's take was very contemporary, too. Iris and Gio have both been burned by mistakes that blew up into scandals, when very private moments of theirs were exploited publicly--and due to the nature of the Internet, that exploitation continues. They're both still very young--twenty-four-ish--and Iris is in therapy (yay), and the little details Esguerra develops to demonstrate their differences in coping methods--how to protect themselves, how to make each other feel safe as they proceed, the stories of how they've been processing their experiences--were well drawn. While the book is very serious, I didn't think it tipped over into angst or overwroughtness.
(On an minor, irrelevant, shallow note, I was VERY STRESSED about the jigsaw puzzle and the possibility of puzzle pieces having already gotten lost or STOLEN by heartless strangers and Gio not finding out until he was almost done. I mean, there's probably a big thematic metaphor there and all, and this is absolutely irrelevant, but I was seriously antsy during puzzle scenes that we'd find out the puzzle couldn't be completed after all.)
This is also very--to use a buzzword I will probably regret--millennial. Surveillance culture, particularly social media surveillance, feels like a very millennial theme to me, and while the idea that one has a relationship to one's own sexuality--and that it is a work-in-progress cultivated with yourself and others you choose--is not exclusive to millennials, I thought Esguerra's take was very contemporary, too. Iris and Gio have both been burned by mistakes that blew up into scandals, when very private moments of theirs were exploited publicly--and due to the nature of the Internet, that exploitation continues. They're both still very young--twenty-four-ish--and Iris is in therapy (yay), and the little details Esguerra develops to demonstrate their differences in coping methods--how to protect themselves, how to make each other feel safe as they proceed, the stories of how they've been processing their experiences--were well drawn. While the book is very serious, I didn't think it tipped over into angst or overwroughtness.
(On an minor, irrelevant, shallow note, I was VERY STRESSED about the jigsaw puzzle and the possibility of puzzle pieces having already gotten lost or STOLEN by heartless strangers and Gio not finding out until he was almost done. I mean, there's probably a big thematic metaphor there and all, and this is absolutely irrelevant, but I was seriously antsy during puzzle scenes that we'd find out the puzzle couldn't be completed after all.)
February 8, 2017
This book has an interesting premise. Both hero and heroine are recovering from the impact of sex scandals. I haven't read Mina V Esguerra's entire backlist (because it's extensive) but based on what I have read, I feel like her writing has reached a new level with this book. Iris After The Incident expresses very complicated issues in simple, poignant ways. Although the story deals with darker issues, the tone isn't oppressive. On one hand, I wanted more feels (there were some, but I'm used to more in my romance). On the other, the complexity is surprising and amazing.
March 3, 2021
A romance set in Manila between two people who've been shamed online by leaked material from their sex lives.
There was a lot here I liked. I particularly liked the sex positivity. Not just in Iris' story, where it's never implied that the problem is that she never should have done the video with her boyfriend that was leaked, but also in the rest. Gio's sexual partners were never demonised, for instance. It's society and its hypocrisy that's the villain here. (That said, there's a truly odd interaction close to the end between Iris and one of Gio's former sex partners, where things get really personal in a way that I found very unbelievable).
The setting was also very interesting to me. We're in upper middle class Manila, which is something I was so there for, as there was a lot that reminded me of my life growing up in Uruguay. Although, because both Iris and Gio are kind of hiding away for much of the book, the setting is also quite narrow. We spend most of the book in their apartment complex and we don't get to see much of Manila itself.
What didn't work so well, unfortunately, was the romance. The big problem was that there was a great big hole where the hero should have been. Gio is very undeveloped. All we really know about him is that he has big blue eyes, that he has reacted to his internet shaming by withdrawing from online life and deciding to ignore any discussion about him (to be fair, that seems to me a somewhat healthier approach than Iris's obsessive scouring of every gossip blog), and that for years he helped his former girlfriend play to the gossip press's Madonna/whore complex. Personality-wise, he was very wet. Just not very interesting at all, particularly in comparison to Iris.
There was a lot here I liked. I particularly liked the sex positivity. Not just in Iris' story, where it's never implied that the problem is that she never should have done the video with her boyfriend that was leaked, but also in the rest. Gio's sexual partners were never demonised, for instance. It's society and its hypocrisy that's the villain here. (That said, there's a truly odd interaction close to the end between Iris and one of Gio's former sex partners, where things get really personal in a way that I found very unbelievable).
The setting was also very interesting to me. We're in upper middle class Manila, which is something I was so there for, as there was a lot that reminded me of my life growing up in Uruguay. Although, because both Iris and Gio are kind of hiding away for much of the book, the setting is also quite narrow. We spend most of the book in their apartment complex and we don't get to see much of Manila itself.
What didn't work so well, unfortunately, was the romance. The big problem was that there was a great big hole where the hero should have been. Gio is very undeveloped. All we really know about him is that he has big blue eyes, that he has reacted to his internet shaming by withdrawing from online life and deciding to ignore any discussion about him (to be fair, that seems to me a somewhat healthier approach than Iris's obsessive scouring of every gossip blog), and that for years he helped his former girlfriend play to the gossip press's Madonna/whore complex. Personality-wise, he was very wet. Just not very interesting at all, particularly in comparison to Iris.
May 20, 2017
Eu terminei o livro faz um tempinho, mas ainda não consigo parar de sorrir!!! A Iris e o Gio são tão fofos juntos que eu só queria gritar quando tava lendo. Eu tava ansiosa pra ler esse livro de Chic Manila porque todo esse plot do ~incidente~ da Iris me interessou muito. Apesar de já conhecer o trabalho da autora e amar muito, ainda tava com um pouco de medo de como ela abordar isso, mas eu amei??? Achei tudo???? O desenvolvimento dos personagens, do casal e dos seus traumas é tão delicado e certeiro que é bem difícil não se apaixonar por essa história. O Gio e a Iris se entendem, se respeitam e aprendem tanto juntos, fazem tão bem um pro outro...
Além do romance fofura, os pequenos detalhes da história conquistam fácil. As amizades femininas, o trabalho top da Iris, os dramas familiares, a forma como vamos vendo Iris e Gio aprendendo a lidar com as treta do passado e com esse novo relacionamento... Não tinha como eu terminar esse livro de outra forma que não fosse sorrindo feito boba.
Ah! Os livros que li até aqui de Chic Manila não trazem lá muita representação LGBT+ (na verdade, não tinha nadinha nos outros que li, rs), então fiquei muuuuuito feliz de ver essa representatividade aqui (ainda foi bem pequena, espero encontrar mais em outros livros da autora, mas amei muito o Liam, melhor irmão).
P.S.: Eu fico sempre feliz de ver como coadj outros protagonistas que conheci na série, e dessa vez fiquei mais feliz ainda de ver o Damon e Andrea, porque amo muito. Eles nem apareceram muito, mas ver o Damon super investido em comprar camisetas pro time já me deixou super feliz.
Além do romance fofura, os pequenos detalhes da história conquistam fácil. As amizades femininas, o trabalho top da Iris, os dramas familiares, a forma como vamos vendo Iris e Gio aprendendo a lidar com as treta do passado e com esse novo relacionamento... Não tinha como eu terminar esse livro de outra forma que não fosse sorrindo feito boba.
Ah! Os livros que li até aqui de Chic Manila não trazem lá muita representação LGBT+ (na verdade, não tinha nadinha nos outros que li, rs), então fiquei muuuuuito feliz de ver essa representatividade aqui (ainda foi bem pequena, espero encontrar mais em outros livros da autora, mas amei muito o Liam, melhor irmão).
P.S.: Eu fico sempre feliz de ver como coadj outros protagonistas que conheci na série, e dessa vez fiquei mais feliz ainda de ver o Damon e Andrea, porque amo muito. Eles nem apareceram muito, mas ver o Damon super investido em comprar camisetas pro time já me deixou super feliz.
December 28, 2017
Finished this two weeks ago, and I'm still thinking about it. I had my doubts going into this because *personal, private reasons* (see what I did there, heh) but I was impressed. This book's daring and stimulating, in both mind and body. There's meaningful introspection, there's strong character growth. The plot and the conflicts had me very much invested. Made me think about no matter how broken somebody was once, they can still pull through and get things and be happy. My favorite MVE book to date.
March 30, 2017
Xander: You have no shame.
Cordelia: Oh please. Like shame is something to be proud of.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Earshot"
A+ choice of epigraph. So much to like here: Iris and how she's dealing with The Incident, how The Incident is NOT the result of an Evil Ex Taking Revenge on the Poor Innocent Heroine (nice for a change), the setting (Manila), and just in general I really like Esguerra's style. Just as in Learning to Fall I was less interested in the hero's life/issues and would have just liked MORE of the heroine's story, since it's all her POV anyway. So maybe like 3.5 stars?
June 5, 2026
Finished via audiobook :) The narrator, Rachel Coates was FANTASTIC. SUPERB. WORLD-CLASS.
This is my 6th Mina Esguerra book and I love every single one I read. I especially love the people her main characters represent. They are not without flaws, in fact, all of them have baggages, wounds and difficult circumstances they have to navigate. The way they grow feels believable, convincing and the happy ever afters well earned.
The romance always lands! And another fave element of mine is the extensive discussion about the MCs respective careers and families. I get to know them beyond the love-struck character. So by the time I get to the ending, I feel happy and satisfied because the story had my concerns covered. Plus the deeply meaningful, inspiring advocacies woven in the story.
So that’s how it was for me with Iris After the Incident. I love them both as characters. And I admire how they both rose from rock bottom. Nothing felt forced.
I’ve always been impressed with the author’s writing style yet something about this book makes it my favorite by far.
Just some quick thoughts for GR purposes. Easy five stars ❤️❤️❤️
This is my 6th Mina Esguerra book and I love every single one I read. I especially love the people her main characters represent. They are not without flaws, in fact, all of them have baggages, wounds and difficult circumstances they have to navigate. The way they grow feels believable, convincing and the happy ever afters well earned.
The romance always lands! And another fave element of mine is the extensive discussion about the MCs respective careers and families. I get to know them beyond the love-struck character. So by the time I get to the ending, I feel happy and satisfied because the story had my concerns covered. Plus the deeply meaningful, inspiring advocacies woven in the story.
So that’s how it was for me with Iris After the Incident. I love them both as characters. And I admire how they both rose from rock bottom. Nothing felt forced.
I’ve always been impressed with the author’s writing style yet something about this book makes it my favorite by far.
Just some quick thoughts for GR purposes. Easy five stars ❤️❤️❤️
April 13, 2021
I loved #4 of this series so I picked this one up because I read Kimmy made an appearance. This book is longer, and is really well written. I mean, characters talk and behave like humans (harder to come by than you'd think!) and the progression of their relationship made sense. However I didn't enjoy it as much because I... really did not connect to Iris and her plight. I think maybe this is my fault because I did not read what the book was about beforehand. Sorry!
August 18, 2016
3.5 stars
A refreshing read from our writing mentor. After writing so many romance novellas, I love that she can still offer something new and refreshing to her readers. This story is different from her usual light, fluffy and steamy books. It tackles Iris’ life journey that involved bullying, public humiliation and shaming — not only from random people but from relatives, as well (tsk tsk). This is more about Iris’ story on rediscovering life after the incident than finding new love. My feels may have plateaued late in Act 1 to Act 2, but I love the conflict in the end and the advice Iris got from her support group: that there are times in life that you don’t have to give a fuck. Lovely.
A refreshing read from our writing mentor. After writing so many romance novellas, I love that she can still offer something new and refreshing to her readers. This story is different from her usual light, fluffy and steamy books. It tackles Iris’ life journey that involved bullying, public humiliation and shaming — not only from random people but from relatives, as well (tsk tsk). This is more about Iris’ story on rediscovering life after the incident than finding new love. My feels may have plateaued late in Act 1 to Act 2, but I love the conflict in the end and the advice Iris got from her support group: that there are times in life that you don’t have to give a fuck. Lovely.
September 22, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5
Iris's story is important and empowering (love the resolution with her family) but I didn't quite fall in love with the romance. I listened to this on audio, and though Rachel was a fabulous narrator, I kinda wish I'd read this in physical form still because I think I'd have connected more if I could see the words to instead of just hearing them. I was personally surprised by the level of heat but I'd definitely recommend it to readers who love their romances hot.
Iris's story is important and empowering (love the resolution with her family) but I didn't quite fall in love with the romance. I listened to this on audio, and though Rachel was a fabulous narrator, I kinda wish I'd read this in physical form still because I think I'd have connected more if I could see the words to instead of just hearing them. I was personally surprised by the level of heat but I'd definitely recommend it to readers who love their romances hot.
May 28, 2018
This book was everything I wanted out of a contemporary romance. The sex positivity was such a relief and the characters were bold but realistic. I devoured this in one morning! Also bonus points to this story if you, like me, have Filipina aunties who would definitely center themselves in your personal scandal.
September 27, 2016
This book was actually a bit special. It raises the issue of slut shaming without moralizing. I love that the setting is in Manila and I liked that the relationship was handled with depth. A bit short maybe?
January 7, 2022
Aside from the protagonist having the same name as me, I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting.
Sometimes I wonder when the worst of things has happened to you, would the world be as forgiving? Forgiving enough to give you the opportunity to lead a new life kicking the past behind you? Forgiving enough to welcome you wholeheartedly once more, putting everything where it should be....the past? But the thing is the world is cruel. Realistically, the world IS a place where hurt people hurt people. Where everyone tramples on anyone just to make themselves better or so that they could drown themselves into a warped sense of reality that another person has it worse and so they amplify that stranger's mistake in order to feel good about themselves. I think that's what Iris and Gio could teach us. How to navigate in a world that's cruel and judgemental, where someone's business is everyone's business. I find Iris strong, like a phoenix whose risen from the ashes. All the hurt and the consequence of a momentary excitement changed her in ways she never thought she could. It's kinda sad though that the world sometimes could also be as unforgiving. That regardless of everything good you've done, it will always remind you of that mistake you made. It reminded me of one conversation I heard a long time ago, people are like clean sheets of paper, if you draw even a small dot anywhere, everyone will focus on that dot and not the fact that there are cleaner parts of the paper.
Yep, I enjoyed reading Iris and Gio's story. They deserve the happy ending as they navigate into the cruel world.
Sometimes I wonder when the worst of things has happened to you, would the world be as forgiving? Forgiving enough to give you the opportunity to lead a new life kicking the past behind you? Forgiving enough to welcome you wholeheartedly once more, putting everything where it should be....the past? But the thing is the world is cruel. Realistically, the world IS a place where hurt people hurt people. Where everyone tramples on anyone just to make themselves better or so that they could drown themselves into a warped sense of reality that another person has it worse and so they amplify that stranger's mistake in order to feel good about themselves. I think that's what Iris and Gio could teach us. How to navigate in a world that's cruel and judgemental, where someone's business is everyone's business. I find Iris strong, like a phoenix whose risen from the ashes. All the hurt and the consequence of a momentary excitement changed her in ways she never thought she could. It's kinda sad though that the world sometimes could also be as unforgiving. That regardless of everything good you've done, it will always remind you of that mistake you made. It reminded me of one conversation I heard a long time ago, people are like clean sheets of paper, if you draw even a small dot anywhere, everyone will focus on that dot and not the fact that there are cleaner parts of the paper.
Yep, I enjoyed reading Iris and Gio's story. They deserve the happy ending as they navigate into the cruel world.
July 9, 2025
First, can I just say that Rachel Coates did a fantastic job with the audiobook? Please, more audiobooks please, Rachel!
And, of course, Mina Esguerra more than did her part in giving Rachel a compelling, funny, and thoughtful story to read. I am really impressed with the power of Mina's realism: who else can take what, based on description alone, would seem like an outlandish scenario (in this case, two characters with sexually embarrassing videos gone viral) and use that extremely contrived setup to explore very real, very relevant, and very relatable life, relationship, and career problems? Again, it is worth emphasizing, it's not that Mina applies a realist aesthetic to realistic problems; in a much more remarkable move, she uses realism to draw out the lived and felt complexities of situations that are far-fetched and extraordinary.
I mean, take Gio: he is an utterly impossible character! From his blue eyes to his lack of a cell phone to his wacky rich family to his celebrity threesome -- who IS this guy! But somehow Mina manages to humanize him, to make his childhood experiences real and resonant. I love Gio's puzzle obsession! It is these small details that make Mina's characters come alive.
Characterization is a big part of what I've been calling Mina's realism, but also, the banter! Omg, the banter. It's so good. Yes, Mina writes banter, not dialogue.
I know that some characters such as Kimmy appear in other books in this series, so I am eager to see how characterization happens across novels. And eager to read/listen in general.
And, of course, Mina Esguerra more than did her part in giving Rachel a compelling, funny, and thoughtful story to read. I am really impressed with the power of Mina's realism: who else can take what, based on description alone, would seem like an outlandish scenario (in this case, two characters with sexually embarrassing videos gone viral) and use that extremely contrived setup to explore very real, very relevant, and very relatable life, relationship, and career problems? Again, it is worth emphasizing, it's not that Mina applies a realist aesthetic to realistic problems; in a much more remarkable move, she uses realism to draw out the lived and felt complexities of situations that are far-fetched and extraordinary.
I mean, take Gio: he is an utterly impossible character! From his blue eyes to his lack of a cell phone to his wacky rich family to his celebrity threesome -- who IS this guy! But somehow Mina manages to humanize him, to make his childhood experiences real and resonant. I love Gio's puzzle obsession! It is these small details that make Mina's characters come alive.
Characterization is a big part of what I've been calling Mina's realism, but also, the banter! Omg, the banter. It's so good. Yes, Mina writes banter, not dialogue.
I know that some characters such as Kimmy appear in other books in this series, so I am eager to see how characterization happens across novels. And eager to read/listen in general.
May 12, 2026
Mina V. Esguerra I had picked this book as a buffer read, never imagined it would turn out this good, fantastic and stir up so many emotions to think about. The author has a very structured, mindful and humour filled writing style and I absolutely adored it.
I am sooo impressed with the author's perspectives on similar emotions of two people who have gone through not the same but similar harsh public scrutiny and violated personal space of privacy. There's emotion, there's spice, there's understanding, there's a level of communication people in general would rather run away from, there's the yearning of just being seen and there's acceptance, so much heartfelt practical acceptance that it makes your heart feel full. Absolutely loved it.
Iris, the female lead, I'm in awe of how she is healing herself and such a brave/strong presence she has in general.
Gio, the male lead, is cute, communicative, easy going science nerd and a man who yearns to learn his woman inside out by himself; discovering her layer by layer without any judgement or assumptions because of their past. Such a lovely man.
Both have flaws, as every human does, but it's all so humane in nature it makes you think and question yourself and your regularised convenient basis beliefs.
PS: This book convinced me to pick up the rest of the books and complete the Chic Manila Series. 😍
I am sooo impressed with the author's perspectives on similar emotions of two people who have gone through not the same but similar harsh public scrutiny and violated personal space of privacy. There's emotion, there's spice, there's understanding, there's a level of communication people in general would rather run away from, there's the yearning of just being seen and there's acceptance, so much heartfelt practical acceptance that it makes your heart feel full. Absolutely loved it.
Iris, the female lead, I'm in awe of how she is healing herself and such a brave/strong presence she has in general.
Gio, the male lead, is cute, communicative, easy going science nerd and a man who yearns to learn his woman inside out by himself; discovering her layer by layer without any judgement or assumptions because of their past. Such a lovely man.
Both have flaws, as every human does, but it's all so humane in nature it makes you think and question yourself and your regularised convenient basis beliefs.
PS: This book convinced me to pick up the rest of the books and complete the Chic Manila Series. 😍
October 2, 2022
Ya lo dije en mi blog, esta es una historia sencilla pero preciosa, y con la originalidad de estar ambientada en Manila.
Iris sufrió un escándalo sexual en internet y lleva una vida muy retraída. La historia nos la cuenta ella, en primera persona. Como lo que tenía que contar era interesante y su cabeza estaba bastante bien amueblada, esta vez no me molestó esa forma de narrar.
Se fija en un vecino, y empiezan a tratarse. Solo que es un tipo todavía más reservado que ella. ¿Y eso...? Pues resulta que él también se vio implicado en un escándalo.
La novela trata de temas serios, aunque el tono sea más bien ligero. Tiene momentos que te hacen sonreír y otros que te entristecen porque sabes que en este mundo, una vez que pierdes la reputación es para siempre. Internet siempre está ahí.
Iris sufrió un escándalo sexual en internet y lleva una vida muy retraída. La historia nos la cuenta ella, en primera persona. Como lo que tenía que contar era interesante y su cabeza estaba bastante bien amueblada, esta vez no me molestó esa forma de narrar.
Se fija en un vecino, y empiezan a tratarse. Solo que es un tipo todavía más reservado que ella. ¿Y eso...? Pues resulta que él también se vio implicado en un escándalo.
La novela trata de temas serios, aunque el tono sea más bien ligero. Tiene momentos que te hacen sonreír y otros que te entristecen porque sabes que en este mundo, una vez que pierdes la reputación es para siempre. Internet siempre está ahí.
May 1, 2021
Told in a straightforward writing style that holds a lot of depth as we follow Iris's personal thoughts as she gradually moves on with her life after scandal.
July 9, 2018
I've read several Filipina contemporary romance novels now, and while I respect them, I've decided they're just not my cup of tea. This novel has a lot to say about reclaiming yourself after public shaming, and the horrible, inescapable differences between the reactions faced by a man and a woman who are in similar positions. I admired Iris, I wanted her to be happy, but there was just something missing in the romance and chemistry between her and Gio. Maybe it was a little too matter-of-fact. Could be cultural differences, could be age differences (Iris is a good 30 years younger than I am, I'm sad to admit), but I think my dalliance with these novels is over. I wish Esguerra, Six de los Reyes, and their fellow Filipina authors nothing but the best; we need more diversity in the genre.
July 14, 2017
5.0/5.0
As a woman myself, this book was really emotional to me. Iris is such a good person, I just wanted to protect her, and to be honest, it was a little bit hard for me to read this story, I felt SO bad about what'd happened to her, I felt really anxious while reading this. I was a difficult story, darker than the other books of this series, but it was a necessary one, now I hold this character close to my heart.
Mina V. Esguerra has proved to be a versatile author, she reached something deeper with this story. She wrote something important here, she wrote more than a romcom, in fact, I didn't care that much for the romance, I was interested in Iris as a person, as a woman.
As a woman myself, this book was really emotional to me. Iris is such a good person, I just wanted to protect her, and to be honest, it was a little bit hard for me to read this story, I felt SO bad about what'd happened to her, I felt really anxious while reading this. I was a difficult story, darker than the other books of this series, but it was a necessary one, now I hold this character close to my heart.
Mina V. Esguerra has proved to be a versatile author, she reached something deeper with this story. She wrote something important here, she wrote more than a romcom, in fact, I didn't care that much for the romance, I was interested in Iris as a person, as a woman.
June 20, 2021
3.5 stars
My favorite in this series so far — for a book dealing with public humiliation and trauma, this was incredibly intimate. I adored Iris and found her growth really powerful and believable. I felt a bit more distance from Gio, likely just because we’re never in his head and the characters are very much in their own bubble for much of the story. Also, the third act break up (or rather, last few chapters break up) didn’t quite give me enough time to warm up to his character again for a satisfying HEA, but I did like his grand gesture and their reunion scene. All in all, though, this worked for me because I liked Iris so much.
My favorite in this series so far — for a book dealing with public humiliation and trauma, this was incredibly intimate. I adored Iris and found her growth really powerful and believable. I felt a bit more distance from Gio, likely just because we’re never in his head and the characters are very much in their own bubble for much of the story. Also, the third act break up (or rather, last few chapters break up) didn’t quite give me enough time to warm up to his character again for a satisfying HEA, but I did like his grand gesture and their reunion scene. All in all, though, this worked for me because I liked Iris so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2023
Thought provoking.
I found it quite though provoking and real. The heroine had a bad experience that changed her life forever. It changed how she felt about herself, how others saw her, how her friends and family treated her, her work, where she lived, everything. I liked the characters, especially the heroine’s internal dialogue. Plus the fact that she was having counselling - yay for emotional intelligence!
However I wasn’t a big fan of the way the ending was written - only because I was looking to read a romance and this had more of a chic lit style finish. Not a bad thing, just not what I was wanting or expecting today.
I found it quite though provoking and real. The heroine had a bad experience that changed her life forever. It changed how she felt about herself, how others saw her, how her friends and family treated her, her work, where she lived, everything. I liked the characters, especially the heroine’s internal dialogue. Plus the fact that she was having counselling - yay for emotional intelligence!
However I wasn’t a big fan of the way the ending was written - only because I was looking to read a romance and this had more of a chic lit style finish. Not a bad thing, just not what I was wanting or expecting today.
Read
June 22, 2021I struggled with this one for a reason I didn’t expect: the age of the main characters. This had a kind of new-adult-y vibe to it, almost YA for reasons I cannot put my finger on.
I think this would hold a lot of appeal for older high schoolers, and college students, who want a nuanced perspective on revenge porn, and how the world takes ownership of your image and your story.
The closest books that come to mind are Kate Clayborne, Beginners Luck in particular, and Jackie Lau’s Baldwin Village books (especially the Pie one). I’m having a hard time with RA for this one.
I think this would hold a lot of appeal for older high schoolers, and college students, who want a nuanced perspective on revenge porn, and how the world takes ownership of your image and your story.
The closest books that come to mind are Kate Clayborne, Beginners Luck in particular, and Jackie Lau’s Baldwin Village books (especially the Pie one). I’m having a hard time with RA for this one.
April 8, 2018
We all have secrets, but not all of us have had the misfortune of having some of those secrets leaked and plastered all over the Internet for everyone to see, ready to be pulled up with just a few taps on the screen or keyboard, and making other people feel like they have the right to shame or humiliate us, like what happened to Iris Len-Larioca.
Iris is the heroine of Mina V. Esguerra's book, Iris After the Incident.
Full review on http://www.krissyfied.com/2018/04/iri....
Iris is the heroine of Mina V. Esguerra's book, Iris After the Incident.
Full review on http://www.krissyfied.com/2018/04/iri....
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