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What Kind of Day
It's a bad day for Ben. After years of earnest work, he's been fired from his job as a speechwriter for a Philippine senator. Name tarnished and bridges burned, he steps into what he thinks is a shuttle ride home, and accidentally joins a tour of his own city. It was supposed to be a good day for Naya. Her passion is traveling, her hobby is discovering cool things to see and do, and taking people on tours of Metro Manila is her only job right now. An extra person at the last minute isn't ideal, especially if the person is a former colleague and the subject of the day's hottest political trash fire. But work is work, and she decides to let him stay in the tour. She's hoping she won't regret it. He's hoping his day turns around. What kind of day could it be? Maybe the best kind.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2018
11 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
Mina V. Esguerra
47 books595 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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June 3, 2018Loved this book. Esguerra's writing is always terrific--vividly realised characters, well drawn settings--and this one works particularly well IMO. Slightly older characters (early 30s) with very relatable career and family and life issues including real talk about work compromises and following dreams. More steam than I've seen from this author before also, and really well done. Mostly though a really convincing romance because it showed marvellously how the right person can turn a bad day good, but never falls into the trap of suggesting that love can fix things. Ben and Naya can help one another, but they don't turn their connection into a HEA till they've both got a grip on their own lives.
A marvellous romance, highly recommended, and it's the start of a series too. *celebrates wildly*
A marvellous romance, highly recommended, and it's the start of a series too. *celebrates wildly*
June 10, 2018
4.5 stars!
There's just something about Mina's characters that get to me every single time. Her heroes and heroines speak to me on a visceral level. Ben and Naya are no different. Loved both of them.
Full thoughts on What Kind of Day to follow...
There's just something about Mina's characters that get to me every single time. Her heroes and heroines speak to me on a visceral level. Ben and Naya are no different. Loved both of them.
Full thoughts on What Kind of Day to follow...
February 19, 2019
What Kind of Day is both an inspiring and kilig read! Being on both sides of employment and unemployment is a struggle. You decide what you get to do might work might not. All roads end up with oneself, we all have to work hard to get all through it and decide what kind of day will it be. And the romance in will get you gripping more!
2/14/19
Reread! It's even better the second time around.
More What Kind of Day • Instagram • Twitter • Ko-Fi
2/14/19
Reread! It's even better the second time around.
More What Kind of Day • Instagram • Twitter • Ko-Fi
October 9, 2020
Despite featuring a steamy sex scene and an adorable story of two people being what the other needed at the exact moment, what I really loved about What Kind of Day is how Ben and Naya’s life experiences are those of every millennial right at this moment. We tend to think of millennials as older teenagers or people in their early twenties, but the truth of the matter is the majority of millennials are in their mid-twenties and early thirties, are gainfully employed, and are struggling with life and with who they are and what they want to be.
This is a book for people who are struggling to find the happy medium between stability and happiness. For people who want to believe that everything will be okay even when everything and everyone else tells them otherwise.
Basically, read this if you:
a) are an adult getting burned out in your career
b) are intrigued by the idea of seeing Manila in a new light
c) are losing faith in the concept of "doing the right thing"
d) want to read steamy sex scenes
Read my full review here.
Find more from me:
Blog || Instagram || Twitter || YouTube
This is a book for people who are struggling to find the happy medium between stability and happiness. For people who want to believe that everything will be okay even when everything and everyone else tells them otherwise.
Basically, read this if you:
a) are an adult getting burned out in your career
b) are intrigued by the idea of seeing Manila in a new light
c) are losing faith in the concept of "doing the right thing"
d) want to read steamy sex scenes
Read my full review here.
Find more from me:
Blog || Instagram || Twitter || YouTube
September 23, 2018
I've read Mina V. Esguerra's books at various stages in my life, and every time, it feels like "omg has this author been stalking me, how could she have known?!" (She isn't but then again who knows?) Her stories often hit home, and reading them is like a constant throwback, reawakening and reliving certain moments and events from the past.
This one, I've long been excited about, because principled government worker + passionate dream chaser (in the form of a travel guide), and I'm so happy to report that it's everything I hoped it would be and more. I've been in both shoes and it's kind of surreal and impressive how accurately the conflicts and emotions are portrayed in the story. I think I may have highlighted 80% of the book because of things—things I agreed with, things I wished I was able to do, things I hope I'd be able to achieve.
This book cements Mina V. Esguerra as one of my all-time favorite authors. She makes good—really good—books. Congratulations on this new series; can't wait to see what's next!
Read the rest of my review on Bookbed.
This one, I've long been excited about, because principled government worker + passionate dream chaser (in the form of a travel guide), and I'm so happy to report that it's everything I hoped it would be and more. I've been in both shoes and it's kind of surreal and impressive how accurately the conflicts and emotions are portrayed in the story. I think I may have highlighted 80% of the book because of things—things I agreed with, things I wished I was able to do, things I hope I'd be able to achieve.
This book cements Mina V. Esguerra as one of my all-time favorite authors. She makes good—really good—books. Congratulations on this new series; can't wait to see what's next!
Read the rest of my review on Bookbed.
June 2, 2018
I've never met a Mina book that I didn't like, and What Kind of Day has a special place in my heart now. The message was simple, but it only hit me by the time Naya and Ben were wrapping things up. There's so much bad in the world right now, that reminding yourself to Make Good Days is now more important than ever.
I can't wait to see what happens next in this series! A little birdie told me that a short story (?) with the Senator and his new Comms Officer is in the works and SIGN. ME. UP.
Thank you this has been my TED Talk.
I can't wait to see what happens next in this series! A little birdie told me that a short story (?) with the Senator and his new Comms Officer is in the works and SIGN. ME. UP.
Thank you this has been my TED Talk.
June 16, 2018
I’ve had a couple of Mina’s books for a while now, but I’ve kept them on my TBR still unread. This May, in celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I decided to prioritize romance novels written by authors from the Pacific region and/or set there. When the opportunity to receive an ARC of Mina’s latest book came, I took it right away.
I had been expecting NA characters and storyline and was pleasantly surprised by the maturity of the themes in What Kind of Day. I didn’t think I was going to be able to relate to Naya and Ben at all. I was happy to be proven wrong. It helped that I have family and friends in the Philippines who are in politics. The situation that Ben found himself in sounded true to me. Same with Naya floating around with her hobby. Yep. Been there, done that at the same age.
Now, for the romance. The speed of the physical hook-up was unexpected. Yes, there was a proper build-up of mutual attraction, but I didn’t think they’d act on it so quickly. It worked for the story, however. It gave them a bond that would not have been there if they just went their separate ways that first day. It reminded me of Before Sunrise in some ways, which I love.
Inasmuch as I liked Naya’s strength of character, I liked her more when she displayed some vulnerability. I wish there’s a lot more of that. She’s the one dictating the relationship and although I recognize this to be true in many unions in the Philippines, I wanted there to be more balance. I like Ben. I only wish he’s less nice. I also want I love you’s but there wasn’t any between the romantic leads.
A final note - I haven’t lived in the Philippines for fifteen years so I appreciate the “See This Manila” tour.
I had been expecting NA characters and storyline and was pleasantly surprised by the maturity of the themes in What Kind of Day. I didn’t think I was going to be able to relate to Naya and Ben at all. I was happy to be proven wrong. It helped that I have family and friends in the Philippines who are in politics. The situation that Ben found himself in sounded true to me. Same with Naya floating around with her hobby. Yep. Been there, done that at the same age.
Now, for the romance. The speed of the physical hook-up was unexpected. Yes, there was a proper build-up of mutual attraction, but I didn’t think they’d act on it so quickly. It worked for the story, however. It gave them a bond that would not have been there if they just went their separate ways that first day. It reminded me of Before Sunrise in some ways, which I love.
Inasmuch as I liked Naya’s strength of character, I liked her more when she displayed some vulnerability. I wish there’s a lot more of that. She’s the one dictating the relationship and although I recognize this to be true in many unions in the Philippines, I wanted there to be more balance. I like Ben. I only wish he’s less nice. I also want I love you’s but there wasn’t any between the romantic leads.
A final note - I haven’t lived in the Philippines for fifteen years so I appreciate the “See This Manila” tour.
June 5, 2018
LOVED IT!
Review coming soon
This book was my first by Mina V. Esguerra and it won't be my last for sure. What Kind of Day is a lovely, very real contemporary romance set in Manila, a kind of fall-in-love-in-one-day adventure but quite.
I really enjoyed this story and absolutely loved both the hero and heroine. My favourite aspect was that both of them are in their early 30s and still haven't figured their lives, neither professionally, nor personally. They act like adults and take life seriously but we also see them as vulnerable, feeling unsettled, questioning their choices which I find most natural state of being.
To some extend I related to this book on a personal level, as someone who works in government in my own country thus touching a bit on politics and policy making. The way this topic was explored in the story form the different perspectives of Naya and Ben resonated with me a lot.
I loved the meet cute and the idea of meeting someone on the worst day of your life and having them quite unexpectedly make it a much better day for you. I also loved how the romance acknowledged there is such a thing as bad timing and sometimes people need time to sort some things, their romantic feelings included, on their own before entering a relationship. The attraction was there from the start but it was not really a love at first sight. Neither Nay, nor Ben was really looking for a relationship, the change of attitude happened naturally, over time, along with other choices they had to make regarding their lives.
I found the flow of the story smooth and the writing was fun and engaging, we get to see a lot of Manila in this story (somewhere I have never been) and it felt good, like going on a trip and making new friends. It's a feel-good romance which I greatly recommend.
Review coming soon
This book was my first by Mina V. Esguerra and it won't be my last for sure. What Kind of Day is a lovely, very real contemporary romance set in Manila, a kind of fall-in-love-in-one-day adventure but quite.
I really enjoyed this story and absolutely loved both the hero and heroine. My favourite aspect was that both of them are in their early 30s and still haven't figured their lives, neither professionally, nor personally. They act like adults and take life seriously but we also see them as vulnerable, feeling unsettled, questioning their choices which I find most natural state of being.
To some extend I related to this book on a personal level, as someone who works in government in my own country thus touching a bit on politics and policy making. The way this topic was explored in the story form the different perspectives of Naya and Ben resonated with me a lot.
I loved the meet cute and the idea of meeting someone on the worst day of your life and having them quite unexpectedly make it a much better day for you. I also loved how the romance acknowledged there is such a thing as bad timing and sometimes people need time to sort some things, their romantic feelings included, on their own before entering a relationship. The attraction was there from the start but it was not really a love at first sight. Neither Nay, nor Ben was really looking for a relationship, the change of attitude happened naturally, over time, along with other choices they had to make regarding their lives.
I found the flow of the story smooth and the writing was fun and engaging, we get to see a lot of Manila in this story (somewhere I have never been) and it felt good, like going on a trip and making new friends. It's a feel-good romance which I greatly recommend.
March 15, 2024
my only complaint is that it was too short
April 17, 2024
AUGUST 2022:
NAUR BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK 😭 YOU COULD TELL IT WAS WRITTEN BY SOMEONE WHO LOVES MANILA
MARCH 19, 2024:
I completely forgot I read abt this before. TY Des for u patience------------- it was tough going for a while. Ugh Ben what a simp 😭
NAUR BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK 😭 YOU COULD TELL IT WAS WRITTEN BY SOMEONE WHO LOVES MANILA
MARCH 19, 2024:
I completely forgot I read abt this before. TY Des for u patience------------- it was tough going for a while. Ugh Ben what a simp 😭
June 25, 2018
I'm in a gross reading slump at the moment, couldn't finish anything I read, and the fact that I finished this all in one sitting is probably a miracle plus Mina's magical talent. I've been hoarding her books since forever and this is actually my first Mina book??? and I'm mentally kicking myself for not reading her sooner.
I can relate to Ben and Naya; they're in their 30s and still figuring out what to do in life, and I like that because I'm also in the same position. I love the development of Ben and Naya's relationship. It's not a conventional hero-meets-heroine setup. They didn't actually stay together throughout the book; there's a big time gap between their first meeting and the later ones, but they have strong chemistry to make me root for the romance.
I love the concept of Days, I think waking up and asking yourself "What kind of day do you want today to be?" is a good way to live. I also love the feeling I had while reading this book. I love both Naya's and Ben's voices, and I would also like to go on a See This Manila sort of tour someday (flights to Manila from KL are actually fairly decent????? ONE DAY).
I should probably go read the other Mina books I have (and I have a lot of them) maybe they will get me permanently out of this slump-
I can relate to Ben and Naya; they're in their 30s and still figuring out what to do in life, and I like that because I'm also in the same position. I love the development of Ben and Naya's relationship. It's not a conventional hero-meets-heroine setup. They didn't actually stay together throughout the book; there's a big time gap between their first meeting and the later ones, but they have strong chemistry to make me root for the romance.
I love the concept of Days, I think waking up and asking yourself "What kind of day do you want today to be?" is a good way to live. I also love the feeling I had while reading this book. I love both Naya's and Ben's voices, and I would also like to go on a See This Manila sort of tour someday (flights to Manila from KL are actually fairly decent????? ONE DAY).
I should probably go read the other Mina books I have (and I have a lot of them) maybe they will get me permanently out of this slump-
June 23, 2018
"You decide what's right for you, Naya," he said, into her forehead. "Or you stick around long enough to be the last one left."
"You mean out-demon all the demons?"
"That's everyone's game plan, I think."
Sign me up for everything Mina Esguerra writes, please and thank you.
What Kind of Day was such a breath of fresh air for me. There were still a lot of smiles had during my read, but there were more times when I had to stop myself from reading and reflect on my own life. AND I LOVE BOOKS LIKE THAT. Ones that I can see myself so clearly in the character's shoes. And that's exactly how I felt reading about Naya and Ben. Their story is something special and I hope everyone reads this! If you're a new reader to Mina's books then this is a great place to start. . . But definitely go back and read her other books because those are just as great! ;)
"You mean out-demon all the demons?"
"That's everyone's game plan, I think."
Sign me up for everything Mina Esguerra writes, please and thank you.
What Kind of Day was such a breath of fresh air for me. There were still a lot of smiles had during my read, but there were more times when I had to stop myself from reading and reflect on my own life. AND I LOVE BOOKS LIKE THAT. Ones that I can see myself so clearly in the character's shoes. And that's exactly how I felt reading about Naya and Ben. Their story is something special and I hope everyone reads this! If you're a new reader to Mina's books then this is a great place to start. . . But definitely go back and read her other books because those are just as great! ;)
May 20, 2018
3 1/2 STARS!
I really enjoyed my first time with Mina V. Esguerra, and will be looking for more of her books in the future. What Kind of Day is a quick read, and spans a very quick time frame. Which means the romance is quick, and the ending is a bit more of a HFN than anything else. I'm not necessarily complaining about any of that, just letting potential readers know ahead of time.
This book is set in Manila. Our heroine used to work with the government's tourism department, but after quitting due to a shitty boss, she's become a freelance tour guide of her beloved city. Which is how she meets the hero, a former lawyer and recent politician speechwriter (he just lost said job before the story starts) who is walking around in a bit of a fog and doesn't realize he was on her tour van. Not sure what to do with his life, he gives her the money for a place on the tour and figures he'll just sit back and ignore everything, getting off at a later stop and returning home. Instead, she draws him out, bit by bit, until he ends up quite enjoying his formerly shitty day. They hook up -- it's a mild scene, yet delivers a good dose of heat regardless -- before parting ways. Fast forward some months later and they meet up again to help each other out with their career plans, and, you guessed it, end up sleeping together again (and again, mild but well done scene).
These two were just cute together, and I really enjoyed watching them help one another on their 'bad days". Like I said, the ending is really more of a HFN, which isn't really my thing but I didn't HATE it, so there's that.
All in all, a quick, charming read with a surprising dose of heat.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
If you wish to look at some quotes/thoughts I highlighted, please check out my Twitter feed
I really enjoyed my first time with Mina V. Esguerra, and will be looking for more of her books in the future. What Kind of Day is a quick read, and spans a very quick time frame. Which means the romance is quick, and the ending is a bit more of a HFN than anything else. I'm not necessarily complaining about any of that, just letting potential readers know ahead of time.
This book is set in Manila. Our heroine used to work with the government's tourism department, but after quitting due to a shitty boss, she's become a freelance tour guide of her beloved city. Which is how she meets the hero, a former lawyer and recent politician speechwriter (he just lost said job before the story starts) who is walking around in a bit of a fog and doesn't realize he was on her tour van. Not sure what to do with his life, he gives her the money for a place on the tour and figures he'll just sit back and ignore everything, getting off at a later stop and returning home. Instead, she draws him out, bit by bit, until he ends up quite enjoying his formerly shitty day. They hook up -- it's a mild scene, yet delivers a good dose of heat regardless -- before parting ways. Fast forward some months later and they meet up again to help each other out with their career plans, and, you guessed it, end up sleeping together again (and again, mild but well done scene).
These two were just cute together, and I really enjoyed watching them help one another on their 'bad days". Like I said, the ending is really more of a HFN, which isn't really my thing but I didn't HATE it, so there's that.
All in all, a quick, charming read with a surprising dose of heat.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
If you wish to look at some quotes/thoughts I highlighted, please check out my Twitter feed
April 20, 2020
From the short length and the cute setup I was expecting a light and fluffy read, and was pleasantly surprised to see how deeply it got into the characters' careers and what-am-I-doing-with-my-life dilemmas. They're rightfully jaded and cynical about a lot of things and Esguerra builds a happy ending out of that in a way I feel like I've rarely seen in romance; not giving them a neatly wrapped up path to happiness, but just enough to work with.
December 11, 2023
I think maybe I wasn’t in the right headspace for this? Not sure. Didn’t hit.
Also, the tour was literally TWO places and two meals. ???????
Also, the tour was literally TWO places and two meals. ???????
June 22, 2025
A lovely read, about a 3.5
June 29, 2018
which tour should i sign up for to get a relationship like this
June 20, 2019
I'm........... not sure what to say? This book was very highly recommended by pretty much everyone I know, but when I finally read it I was left scratching my head because really? Really???
There are great things about this book! The themes are great and there is some chemistry between the characters. I liked that it was about people drifting around in their professional lives, unsure of their future, feeling like they're old enough they should have everything together. I also liked that Naya was sick of the expectations and hopes her family was putting on her, and how she just wanted to live her life without said baggage. Naya and Ben were two kind, gentle people that respected each other. There was also a lot of explicit consent not only around sex, but about things in general. That was great. Wonderful, even.
But. BUT.
Oh my god the writing is atrocious. The entire book is written in this clanky, juvenile way that kept dragging me out of the story. Strange word order, missing punctuation, it's everywhere in this book. Here are some random lines I highlighted. This is what the entire book looks like:
"Instead, that was only the soundtrack to watching her against the backdrop of a beautiful building and a purple then orange sky."
"She eyed him like she was wondering what he had done or said to them, and he held his hands up because he had nothing."
I was willing to power through these, if the plot was okay. But then the first sex scene happened and something inside of me snapped. I'm not sure about the rules about posting explicit quotes but, here's some choice lines:
They hadn’t even kissed yet, again. She told herself it didn’t need to go so far, maybe she’d be content making out until she needed water, then she’d kick him out, and enjoy her staycation in peace. Tell that to Naya five minutes into the future, one leg wrapped around this guy like he was a tree and she was about to freaking climb. Naya was a quick decision maker, sometimes. Climb it is. He took his shirt off and hello, familiar body from this morning.
Hello, body she’d observed earlier, nice to meet you again. Now she had permission to take a long hard look. She had permission to touch. She had permission to taste.
and even worse, this one:
The day that marked his exit from his government job could have been much, much more humiliating. Much, much more demoralizing. Much, much more terrifying. That was just the way of the world now. Instead… Instead it was still the same day, and yet at this moment he was rolling a condom over his hard, so hard, so painfully hard d*ck and pushing it into her.
Am I the only one seeing this??? People call this "beautiful writing"??? WHAT
Anyway I didn't want to be mean about it and honestly, arguing about someone's quality of english when they're not a native speaker makes me feel a bit like a dick, but this isn't a debut and it's a professional product for purchase, so. I'm genuinely wondering if somehow I got an unedited draft instead of the book everyone is raving about. I made it about 60% in and had to tap out because I really felt like I was losing it
There are great things about this book! The themes are great and there is some chemistry between the characters. I liked that it was about people drifting around in their professional lives, unsure of their future, feeling like they're old enough they should have everything together. I also liked that Naya was sick of the expectations and hopes her family was putting on her, and how she just wanted to live her life without said baggage. Naya and Ben were two kind, gentle people that respected each other. There was also a lot of explicit consent not only around sex, but about things in general. That was great. Wonderful, even.
But. BUT.
Oh my god the writing is atrocious. The entire book is written in this clanky, juvenile way that kept dragging me out of the story. Strange word order, missing punctuation, it's everywhere in this book. Here are some random lines I highlighted. This is what the entire book looks like:
"Instead, that was only the soundtrack to watching her against the backdrop of a beautiful building and a purple then orange sky."
"She eyed him like she was wondering what he had done or said to them, and he held his hands up because he had nothing."
I was willing to power through these, if the plot was okay. But then the first sex scene happened and something inside of me snapped. I'm not sure about the rules about posting explicit quotes but, here's some choice lines:
They hadn’t even kissed yet, again. She told herself it didn’t need to go so far, maybe she’d be content making out until she needed water, then she’d kick him out, and enjoy her staycation in peace. Tell that to Naya five minutes into the future, one leg wrapped around this guy like he was a tree and she was about to freaking climb. Naya was a quick decision maker, sometimes. Climb it is. He took his shirt off and hello, familiar body from this morning.
Hello, body she’d observed earlier, nice to meet you again. Now she had permission to take a long hard look. She had permission to touch. She had permission to taste.
and even worse, this one:
The day that marked his exit from his government job could have been much, much more humiliating. Much, much more demoralizing. Much, much more terrifying. That was just the way of the world now. Instead… Instead it was still the same day, and yet at this moment he was rolling a condom over his hard, so hard, so painfully hard d*ck and pushing it into her.
Am I the only one seeing this??? People call this "beautiful writing"??? WHAT
Anyway I didn't want to be mean about it and honestly, arguing about someone's quality of english when they're not a native speaker makes me feel a bit like a dick, but this isn't a debut and it's a professional product for purchase, so. I'm genuinely wondering if somehow I got an unedited draft instead of the book everyone is raving about. I made it about 60% in and had to tap out because I really felt like I was losing it
December 15, 2018
4.5 stars, rounding down
This author has such a distinctive writing style, and once again she has delivered a book that has so many unique features that really worked for me. First off, chronologically, this book takes place over the course of individual days but spaced out over a few months. Also, the characters' careers (which play a huge part in the story) are interesting: Ben is a speechwriter for a senator (who is actually a good guy) and Naya is a video editor by profession who is providing unconventional tours of Manila as an "income-generating hobby" when the book opens. The first half of this book has a vacation/tourism feel to it, even though Ben is essentially taking an unplanned "staycation" around Metro Manila.
What I loved about this book is how the protagonists' interactions with each other and their connection allows them space to explore how their professions and career choices are tied into their own identities. I've found with this author that her characters often indulge in quite a bit of internal monologuing, and there is a lot left unspoken. This would be a shortcut for lack of development in the hands of someone who is less talented. But instead, I feel Esguerra almost asks her readers to delve into the characters' minds and read between the lines.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of quotable passages in this book, but a few highlights I loved included an exchange during a group meal on Naya's tour about not catering to a Western "ick factor" with regards to Filipino food; Naya and Ben standing at an art museum in front of an exhibit that's a "wall of monsters" and discussing which monster they are; and Ben revealing "make good days."
Naya doesn't think of herself as an optimist--and she's not, really--yet she does make "good days." She gives people that experience with her tours and her passion. Ben benefits from this, of course, but he gives back, as well. Their interactions are funny, a little snarky at times, and really endearing. If you're wondering whether a deep connection can be formed between two people based on only spending a few days together, I'd say, don't we make this jump in romance novels all the time? Maybe there is some suspension of disbelief, but I totally bought it here.
This author has such a distinctive writing style, and once again she has delivered a book that has so many unique features that really worked for me. First off, chronologically, this book takes place over the course of individual days but spaced out over a few months. Also, the characters' careers (which play a huge part in the story) are interesting: Ben is a speechwriter for a senator (who is actually a good guy) and Naya is a video editor by profession who is providing unconventional tours of Manila as an "income-generating hobby" when the book opens. The first half of this book has a vacation/tourism feel to it, even though Ben is essentially taking an unplanned "staycation" around Metro Manila.
What I loved about this book is how the protagonists' interactions with each other and their connection allows them space to explore how their professions and career choices are tied into their own identities. I've found with this author that her characters often indulge in quite a bit of internal monologuing, and there is a lot left unspoken. This would be a shortcut for lack of development in the hands of someone who is less talented. But instead, I feel Esguerra almost asks her readers to delve into the characters' minds and read between the lines.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of quotable passages in this book, but a few highlights I loved included an exchange during a group meal on Naya's tour about not catering to a Western "ick factor" with regards to Filipino food; Naya and Ben standing at an art museum in front of an exhibit that's a "wall of monsters" and discussing which monster they are; and Ben revealing "make good days."
Naya doesn't think of herself as an optimist--and she's not, really--yet she does make "good days." She gives people that experience with her tours and her passion. Ben benefits from this, of course, but he gives back, as well. Their interactions are funny, a little snarky at times, and really endearing. If you're wondering whether a deep connection can be formed between two people based on only spending a few days together, I'd say, don't we make this jump in romance novels all the time? Maybe there is some suspension of disbelief, but I totally bought it here.
November 19, 2018
Eu demorei um pouco pra escrever essa resenha e tô aqui pensando que talvez eu tivesse gostado mais se estivesse esperando menos. Porque a verdade é que eu não achei tão ruim, fiquei animada com o começo, inclusive, mas depois achei que tudo ficou meio mediano. O problema, porém, é que eu TAVA ESPERANDO MUITO POR ESSE LIVRO, pois viciadíssima nos livros da Mina, e daí isso pode ter me deixado com uma hype muito grande. Eu ainda consigo ver umas coisas bens legais nessa novela, mas não é uma das minhas favoritas.
December 16, 2018
Oh this is so cute! It takes place over three days (well, four counting the epilogue) spread out over the course of a few months. This is the first time I’ve read a book set in the Philippines, and I really enjoyed it. For such a short novel, it’s also surprisingly deep.
Naya’s a freelance tour guide in Manila. Her tours have ridiculous waitlists (and a ridiculous cost), but she loves showing off all the facets of her beloved city, with a focus on creative arts. After getting fired from his speechwriter, Ben mistakenly hops on her tour bus, thinking it’s just a shuttle, and then opts to take the tour, thinking he’ll just zone out. Almost against his will, though, he gets drawn into the tour and spending time with Naya. It’s such a sweet meet-cute, and in such an unexpected place! They have instant chemistry – helped by the fact that they eventually figure out they worked together before – though after the initial “travel fling” – as Naya describes it – the romance turns into more of a slow-burn.
One of my favorite things about the book was both character’s soul-searching about their jobs. Ben, of course, being newly jobless, is understandably worrying about what to do next. He’s highly principled and moral, and even after being unjustly fired, he still speaks highly of his senator. Naya, on the other hand, despite being apparently gainfully employed, continuously insists that her tour company is just an “income-generating hobby,” just a sort of stop-gap until she can find her “adult” job. At one point, she, too, worked for the government as part of a tourism initiative (and actually knew Ben from her government work), but she literally rage-quit when she realized that all they were interested in promoting was a fairy-tale version of Manila devoid of any of its character. I loved rage-quit Naya – the Naya who’s not afraid to speak her mind – and in that way she was a perfect match for Ben. They both struggle with the balance of doing something they love versus something that will pay the bills. Since this takes place over the course of a few months, we get to check in on Naya and Ben as they come to terms with their jobs and hopes for the future.
Overall, I loved the characters and the setting, and will definitely be looking up more of Ms. Esguerra’s books!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“All right,” she said. “And you can call me Naya.”
“I’m Ben. And if my presence makes you uncomfortable, you don’t need to call me anything. I will be quiet as a mouse.”
“I don’t like mice.”
“I will be as quiet as your favorite quiet thing.”
Naya’s a freelance tour guide in Manila. Her tours have ridiculous waitlists (and a ridiculous cost), but she loves showing off all the facets of her beloved city, with a focus on creative arts. After getting fired from his speechwriter, Ben mistakenly hops on her tour bus, thinking it’s just a shuttle, and then opts to take the tour, thinking he’ll just zone out. Almost against his will, though, he gets drawn into the tour and spending time with Naya. It’s such a sweet meet-cute, and in such an unexpected place! They have instant chemistry – helped by the fact that they eventually figure out they worked together before – though after the initial “travel fling” – as Naya describes it – the romance turns into more of a slow-burn.
“So many people working so hard to take a freaking baby step. So many things were so difficult, and she wasn’t sure if it was the world changing, or just that she got older and saw it for what it was. The idea that you could do that thing you love and change the world…did that really happen? Because if no one ever found out about it, then what world did it change? Naya thought of all the artists who stopped creating, just among those she knew of. All the well-meaning establishments, all the non-profits, all the tour concepts, travel-more campaigns…coming and going, whimpers in the greater noise of a world generally not caring about any of this.”
One of my favorite things about the book was both character’s soul-searching about their jobs. Ben, of course, being newly jobless, is understandably worrying about what to do next. He’s highly principled and moral, and even after being unjustly fired, he still speaks highly of his senator. Naya, on the other hand, despite being apparently gainfully employed, continuously insists that her tour company is just an “income-generating hobby,” just a sort of stop-gap until she can find her “adult” job. At one point, she, too, worked for the government as part of a tourism initiative (and actually knew Ben from her government work), but she literally rage-quit when she realized that all they were interested in promoting was a fairy-tale version of Manila devoid of any of its character. I loved rage-quit Naya – the Naya who’s not afraid to speak her mind – and in that way she was a perfect match for Ben. They both struggle with the balance of doing something they love versus something that will pay the bills. Since this takes place over the course of a few months, we get to check in on Naya and Ben as they come to terms with their jobs and hopes for the future.
Overall, I loved the characters and the setting, and will definitely be looking up more of Ms. Esguerra’s books!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 27, 2019
"What kind of day do you want this to be?”
I love it when an author makes a reader feel like the books was written solely for them because this is how this book spoke to me. Not that it’s anywhere true because let’s face it, we ain’t that interesting. Self-absorbed, much? LOL.
This is the nth book that I’ve read from Mina and each story always offers something new. I look forward to the HEA stories I get to experience and I love how cute and funny the characters can be. What Kind of Day is no different. What resonates with me most was Naya’s life. I’ll add in some quotes from the book that I highlighted to make my comments clearer.
There were so many things I could relate to with Naya. I’ll start off with something simple, her whole name and her NBI experience:
“That’s why I’m always clear. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for a name some kids made fun of when I was young, but gets me through every time now because no one with the same name has committed a crime.”
Honestly so true. It’s one of the best things about having a unique name.
Next up is her career path.
“…sometimes I suspected that they’d only hired me to look pretty on camera, but they never said it, so I went on pretending they needed my point of view, my ideas”
For the early years of my career, I got a job in marketing, never mind that it has nothing to do with the course I graduated in and that it wasn’t the first thing in mind when I applied, but every time I had a job interview, I’d always be asked if I could do marketing. I questioned why because I’ve always been inherently shy, but then someone hinted out, in a sense that I’d be “the face” for the company. So it wasn’t entirely about skill, it was about the way I looked. So you can imagine how somewhat insulting it felt. If you’ve read the book, I think you get why I found this relatable to her job crisis.
“I think it’s about the kind of life you want to secure… you want to hit all the right notes, you know? Something you’re good at so you can move up and grow, something you’re interested in so you have an instinct for it that bored uninterested colleagues won’t… Something that will carry you through hard times, if life happens”
It was part of why I chose to pursue freelancing as a career after pregnancy. I wanted to see how life will be with me being my own boss instead of working in a place where they value how you look rather than what you can offer in terms of skills and talent. While I did thankfully land an office job that took me in for my skills, it didn’t last long, so my next goal was to have my own business. But there will always be that lingering fear whether you’re doing the right thing and until when can this passion sustain you financially, especially considering I have a child to support. So, Naya, girlfriend! You are my soul sister!
“You don’t have to figure it all out today… This is a moment. Don’t pin everything you’ve go on this day. It’s too much pressure.”
So like I said, I love how relatable the characters are. They showed vulnerability and found strength in each other. I love that there is no age limit as to when you get to figure out life and how to work around any circumstance. That every moment in your life is a learning curve.
I love it when an author makes a reader feel like the books was written solely for them because this is how this book spoke to me. Not that it’s anywhere true because let’s face it, we ain’t that interesting. Self-absorbed, much? LOL.
This is the nth book that I’ve read from Mina and each story always offers something new. I look forward to the HEA stories I get to experience and I love how cute and funny the characters can be. What Kind of Day is no different. What resonates with me most was Naya’s life. I’ll add in some quotes from the book that I highlighted to make my comments clearer.
There were so many things I could relate to with Naya. I’ll start off with something simple, her whole name and her NBI experience:
“That’s why I’m always clear. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for a name some kids made fun of when I was young, but gets me through every time now because no one with the same name has committed a crime.”
Honestly so true. It’s one of the best things about having a unique name.
Next up is her career path.
“…sometimes I suspected that they’d only hired me to look pretty on camera, but they never said it, so I went on pretending they needed my point of view, my ideas”
For the early years of my career, I got a job in marketing, never mind that it has nothing to do with the course I graduated in and that it wasn’t the first thing in mind when I applied, but every time I had a job interview, I’d always be asked if I could do marketing. I questioned why because I’ve always been inherently shy, but then someone hinted out, in a sense that I’d be “the face” for the company. So it wasn’t entirely about skill, it was about the way I looked. So you can imagine how somewhat insulting it felt. If you’ve read the book, I think you get why I found this relatable to her job crisis.
“I think it’s about the kind of life you want to secure… you want to hit all the right notes, you know? Something you’re good at so you can move up and grow, something you’re interested in so you have an instinct for it that bored uninterested colleagues won’t… Something that will carry you through hard times, if life happens”
It was part of why I chose to pursue freelancing as a career after pregnancy. I wanted to see how life will be with me being my own boss instead of working in a place where they value how you look rather than what you can offer in terms of skills and talent. While I did thankfully land an office job that took me in for my skills, it didn’t last long, so my next goal was to have my own business. But there will always be that lingering fear whether you’re doing the right thing and until when can this passion sustain you financially, especially considering I have a child to support. So, Naya, girlfriend! You are my soul sister!
“You don’t have to figure it all out today… This is a moment. Don’t pin everything you’ve go on this day. It’s too much pressure.”
So like I said, I love how relatable the characters are. They showed vulnerability and found strength in each other. I love that there is no age limit as to when you get to figure out life and how to work around any circumstance. That every moment in your life is a learning curve.
May 15, 2018
Just like any #romanceclass book, What Kind of Day is pretty short, sweet, but still very much impressionable!
Word vomit review / Points that I loved:
- I loved that the story opens up with a meet cute that takes place somewhere similar to a UV terminal. Not at all your typical meet cute spot, but the author made it very memorable.
- The MC is a fierce, independent tour guide who enjoys taking and posting videos of local scenes, while the LI is a passionate and very, very lovable speechwriter. Both have civil backgrounds and both are battling their own inner demons, which I found to be realistic and very relatable.
- The slow-burn romance was superb for me, and it also helped that Naya and Ben have this undeniable chemistry since chapter 1 and THE STEAM (!!!)
- And the idea of both these characters making each other's day was so, so heartwarming, and the fact that they brought out the best in each other made me ship and root for them until the end.
- NAYA'S TOURS ARE THE BOMB, and I want to go on one, even if we're only touring around Metro Manila. :) :) :)
"What Kind of Day is a story about two people meeting at the right place, at the wrong time. (At least in my opinion.) It's a story that has the ability to teach its readers about the importance of failures, and how one can stand back up after being downed. It somehow sheds light on modern, relevant issues / topics like the Philippine government and tourism, and the addition of various tourist spots like Intramuros gave it a local vibe, one that a lot of readers, especially those who reside in Manila, would no doubt appreciate. Easily a 5-star read for someone who loves light yet extremely steamy contemporaries such as myself."
Word vomit review / Points that I loved:
- I loved that the story opens up with a meet cute that takes place somewhere similar to a UV terminal. Not at all your typical meet cute spot, but the author made it very memorable.
- The MC is a fierce, independent tour guide who enjoys taking and posting videos of local scenes, while the LI is a passionate and very, very lovable speechwriter. Both have civil backgrounds and both are battling their own inner demons, which I found to be realistic and very relatable.
- The slow-burn romance was superb for me, and it also helped that Naya and Ben have this undeniable chemistry since chapter 1 and THE STEAM (!!!)
- And the idea of both these characters making each other's day was so, so heartwarming, and the fact that they brought out the best in each other made me ship and root for them until the end.
- NAYA'S TOURS ARE THE BOMB, and I want to go on one, even if we're only touring around Metro Manila. :) :) :)
"What Kind of Day is a story about two people meeting at the right place, at the wrong time. (At least in my opinion.) It's a story that has the ability to teach its readers about the importance of failures, and how one can stand back up after being downed. It somehow sheds light on modern, relevant issues / topics like the Philippine government and tourism, and the addition of various tourist spots like Intramuros gave it a local vibe, one that a lot of readers, especially those who reside in Manila, would no doubt appreciate. Easily a 5-star read for someone who loves light yet extremely steamy contemporaries such as myself."
September 16, 2018
When I read What Kind of Day's synopsis, I knew I had to read this book (I was absolutely horrified for Ben).
What Kind of Day tells the story of Ben and Naya and well, their respective career crisis. Ben is a speechwriter for a Philippine senator (or at least until that day when he accidentally joined Naya's city tour because unfortunately, he got fired!) while Naya makes a living from her passion and that's guiding people through Metro Manila's scenic and historic spots. Anyway, when Ben got fired from his job, he accidentally stepped inside Naya's tour van thinking it was his shuttle ride home.
And this is what I love about Mina V. Esguerra's writings, it's not the usual girl-meets-boy, they fall in love, then there's drama, then the couple resolves their conflict, and then they lived happily-ever-after. I'm not saying there's something wrong with that, I'm not saying that. In fact, writing structures and romance formula exists for a good reason. It's just that Mina writes likable characters with real-life problems making their story relatable and yes, unforgettable. I'm pretty sure at one point in our life we all had career problems, maybe we lost our job like Ben (oh, no!), maybe we got disillusioned like Naya, or maybe we don't know what to do anymore because we got bored with what we were doing and it's no longer challenging. Oh, and I learned something, too: make good days. I love that advice. 😍
That being said, here's to Mina's next book. Cheers!
What Kind of Day tells the story of Ben and Naya and well, their respective career crisis. Ben is a speechwriter for a Philippine senator (or at least until that day when he accidentally joined Naya's city tour because unfortunately, he got fired!) while Naya makes a living from her passion and that's guiding people through Metro Manila's scenic and historic spots. Anyway, when Ben got fired from his job, he accidentally stepped inside Naya's tour van thinking it was his shuttle ride home.
And this is what I love about Mina V. Esguerra's writings, it's not the usual girl-meets-boy, they fall in love, then there's drama, then the couple resolves their conflict, and then they lived happily-ever-after. I'm not saying there's something wrong with that, I'm not saying that. In fact, writing structures and romance formula exists for a good reason. It's just that Mina writes likable characters with real-life problems making their story relatable and yes, unforgettable. I'm pretty sure at one point in our life we all had career problems, maybe we lost our job like Ben (oh, no!), maybe we got disillusioned like Naya, or maybe we don't know what to do anymore because we got bored with what we were doing and it's no longer challenging. Oh, and I learned something, too: make good days. I love that advice. 😍
That being said, here's to Mina's next book. Cheers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2019
The second book I've read by Mina Esguerra, and another really fun contemporary romance story. I love the Manila setting, I love the characters, I wanted more book! (the last couple books I read were suuuper long so I was bummed how fast this one went by :) A scene set at a Manila ice skating rink? Yep Mina's got me on board. I loved how Naya knew what she wanted at so many times in the book, not only in running her tour group, but in her first time with Ben when she was laying out exactly what was going to happen and what it would mean, her system of travel flings, all of it. The sexy times were very sexy!
Again I had fun learning new tagalog words that were sprinkled in. We have the good old "tita" (auntie), "kuya" (older brother), "chismis" (gossip), "beso" (kiss), "trapos" (a raggedy guy in this context - "He'll hit forty then he'll start looking like them. Trapos all look alike, it's wild" I LOVE IT). Never quite figured out if Six 32 Central is a real district of Manila or a construct for the book, google makes me think it is fictional. No fun new english phrases like "do an ocular" from Better At Weddings Than You.
I love Ben coming to do the talk at the college, hoping it was requested by Naya.
I think the short length of the book made a few bits surprise me, the scene when Naya talks to the senator didn't seem to flow from what we'd read earlier, but thinking about it now, Naya's own frustrations from earlier in the day could have come out there so I should just chill and say I had a great time reading it. :)
Def need to read more of Mina's books.
Again I had fun learning new tagalog words that were sprinkled in. We have the good old "tita" (auntie), "kuya" (older brother), "chismis" (gossip), "beso" (kiss), "trapos" (a raggedy guy in this context - "He'll hit forty then he'll start looking like them. Trapos all look alike, it's wild" I LOVE IT). Never quite figured out if Six 32 Central is a real district of Manila or a construct for the book, google makes me think it is fictional. No fun new english phrases like "do an ocular" from Better At Weddings Than You.
I love Ben coming to do the talk at the college, hoping it was requested by Naya.
I think the short length of the book made a few bits surprise me, the scene when Naya talks to the senator didn't seem to flow from what we'd read earlier, but thinking about it now, Naya's own frustrations from earlier in the day could have come out there so I should just chill and say I had a great time reading it. :)
Def need to read more of Mina's books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 29, 2024A fun read, though I did feel like it could’ve been a bit longer. The two main characters were very likable, I enjoyed their chemistry a lot, and definitely did buy their sort of surprisingly grounded whirlwind trip romance because it felt like they really understood each other. I think the thing that feels like it was missing or some of the other subplots – it felt like with Ben‘s job and all the political stuff that there was a lot more going on that didn’t make it onto the page and so that was kind of confusing. It makes sense, from the authors note, that his whole situation may have been part of a bigger world that didn’t end up translating to this story. And for both of them, they sort of have this moment where they have their own rock-bottom and then end up in a different job and have worked through that stuff and we sort of don’t see that on page in a weird way, it’s like we see the catalyst and the conclusion is now she works at a university so something about that was a little lacking. Maybe especially because the beginning of the book is so beat by beat of that one day that it feels strange when we skipped forward in time more than more because I expected it to be keeping in that tighter time range. Not enough for me not to recommend the book, I enjoyed it a lot and I think it’s a nice light touch romance.
July 8, 2025
This was my first Mina Esguerra book, and now I am determined to read everything she's written! What Kind of Day was the perfect balance of fun and serious. There's something lighthearted and breezy about the tour bus set up, yet Naya and Ben also have many deeply relatable conversations about life, work, and relationships as they navigate the different "kinds of day" they encounter separately and together.
I'd initially expected a larger or more "political" message about Naya's and Ben's respective careers in tourism and government -- and it's interesting, too, that tourism and government are related, i.e. the government has a stake in touristic presentations of the Philippines. There's a quiet idealism in making Ben a principled and morally pure character, despite his career in politics, and there's an even more potent idealism in casting David, the senator, as someone who (despite not having any actual political positions or social agendas) is hopeful and good. As for tourism, I love how Naya's tour of Manila focuses on quirkier and less familiar sites and experiences, and this is implicitly cast against more sanitized and/or exoticized versions of tourism. Ultimately, though, I can appreciate Esguerra's decision to primarily focus on what government and tourism jobs mean for the characters in their personal lives and career development.
I'd initially expected a larger or more "political" message about Naya's and Ben's respective careers in tourism and government -- and it's interesting, too, that tourism and government are related, i.e. the government has a stake in touristic presentations of the Philippines. There's a quiet idealism in making Ben a principled and morally pure character, despite his career in politics, and there's an even more potent idealism in casting David, the senator, as someone who (despite not having any actual political positions or social agendas) is hopeful and good. As for tourism, I love how Naya's tour of Manila focuses on quirkier and less familiar sites and experiences, and this is implicitly cast against more sanitized and/or exoticized versions of tourism. Ultimately, though, I can appreciate Esguerra's decision to primarily focus on what government and tourism jobs mean for the characters in their personal lives and career development.
June 4, 2018
Read the book in one go because it’s so good. So good that I wanted to cry sometimes because Ben and Naya are precious people and I just wanted them to be happy.
In one night, this book made me smile, cry internally, laugh, squeal, cry some more, squeal some more, smile wider, laugh harder, and just…okay?
Other things I love:
-Look. At. That. Cover. My favorite MVE cover so far!!!
-The book has art! Like real illustrations!
-New series meant new characters and you’ll meet some of them here. I’m excited for the next books!
-The See This Manila tour itself. I need an adventure like that.
-Naya’s full name. I love it so much.
- Make good days. Make good days. Make good days. Every time I see this I feel like crying out of happiness. It’s something that gives you hope whenever you feel like you’re in a dark place. ✨
What Kind of Day easily became a favorite because I’ve read it at a time when I needed something to remind me that it’s okay not to have it all figured out. And yes, that means I’m giving this book my honorary infinity symbol. ∞
Make good days. Read this book.
Full review on my book blog: https://bibliophilesoprano.wordpress....
In one night, this book made me smile, cry internally, laugh, squeal, cry some more, squeal some more, smile wider, laugh harder, and just…okay?
Other things I love:
-Look. At. That. Cover. My favorite MVE cover so far!!!
-The book has art! Like real illustrations!
-New series meant new characters and you’ll meet some of them here. I’m excited for the next books!
-The See This Manila tour itself. I need an adventure like that.
-Naya’s full name. I love it so much.
- Make good days. Make good days. Make good days. Every time I see this I feel like crying out of happiness. It’s something that gives you hope whenever you feel like you’re in a dark place. ✨
What Kind of Day easily became a favorite because I’ve read it at a time when I needed something to remind me that it’s okay not to have it all figured out. And yes, that means I’m giving this book my honorary infinity symbol. ∞
Make good days. Read this book.
Full review on my book blog: https://bibliophilesoprano.wordpress....
July 17, 2018
3.5 stars
Naya is a working as a tour guide, hiding from her former tourism job with the government. Ben's whole career has come crashing down and he needs to escape. When he finds himself in Naya's van he has no idea how his life is about to change.
First off, this read as a love letter to Manila - the food, the sights, the way the whole of the city was meant to be appreciated not just the fancier touristy bits. I've never been to the Philippines and honestly, I don't think I've even seen a food tourism show (and I've watched quite a few) that covered it. So reading a romance set there that gives you such a loving vision of the city is awesome. It's honestly a great advertisement for visiting!
Ben and Maya were cute together and I liked how they encouraged each other and helped each other throughout. While there was sizzle between them, I wish it had been built up to more before they get together. There was one scene in the kitchen but other than that, I didn't feel like there was much spark in the beginning until they really decide to get together. I wish there had been more because that's always so much fun to read.
But despite that, this is definitely a cute one to check out, particularly if you like travel/food!
Naya is a working as a tour guide, hiding from her former tourism job with the government. Ben's whole career has come crashing down and he needs to escape. When he finds himself in Naya's van he has no idea how his life is about to change.
First off, this read as a love letter to Manila - the food, the sights, the way the whole of the city was meant to be appreciated not just the fancier touristy bits. I've never been to the Philippines and honestly, I don't think I've even seen a food tourism show (and I've watched quite a few) that covered it. So reading a romance set there that gives you such a loving vision of the city is awesome. It's honestly a great advertisement for visiting!
Ben and Maya were cute together and I liked how they encouraged each other and helped each other throughout. While there was sizzle between them, I wish it had been built up to more before they get together. There was one scene in the kitchen but other than that, I didn't feel like there was much spark in the beginning until they really decide to get together. I wish there had been more because that's always so much fun to read.
But despite that, this is definitely a cute one to check out, particularly if you like travel/food!
June 19, 2018
Full review at www.jenniferhallock.com.
What Kind of Day is the romance of two dreamers. It is quintessential Mina V. Esguerra—and yet it is also enough of a departure to justify a new series. Naya has an “income-generating hobby” running boutique culture tours under the name of See This Manila. Naya’s video background has helped her carve out a presence online, and her customers pay a premium to be shown her favorite exhibits, the best sunsets, and the most unlikely ice skating shows. Stuck in Manila's notorious traffic, she dispenses “mentory” advice to her younger admirers—and to Ben Chaco, Esquire, former senatorial speechwriter, who has literally jumped into her van. Ms. Esguerra takes two people who have been burned—and burned by a similarly cruel aspect of the world—and helps them find each other. What Kind of Day is a smart, fast-paced, beautifully-crafted novel. This book is both on brand and a trend-setter at the same time.
What Kind of Day is the romance of two dreamers. It is quintessential Mina V. Esguerra—and yet it is also enough of a departure to justify a new series. Naya has an “income-generating hobby” running boutique culture tours under the name of See This Manila. Naya’s video background has helped her carve out a presence online, and her customers pay a premium to be shown her favorite exhibits, the best sunsets, and the most unlikely ice skating shows. Stuck in Manila's notorious traffic, she dispenses “mentory” advice to her younger admirers—and to Ben Chaco, Esquire, former senatorial speechwriter, who has literally jumped into her van. Ms. Esguerra takes two people who have been burned—and burned by a similarly cruel aspect of the world—and helps them find each other. What Kind of Day is a smart, fast-paced, beautifully-crafted novel. This book is both on brand and a trend-setter at the same time.
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