Karinderya Love Songs

by John Pucay

For those who enjoy crass prose like Bukowski (Women). And a streak of drinking and adventuring like The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway). And writing like Murakami — This novel is likely for you.

Set in the 2020s, the 23-year-old unnamed narrator is recovering from a bad breakup. He meets Kayla, a college freshman he approached at a cafe. And they spend a Viagra-assisted night together. Then they each confess a secret. She had two abortions. And he can't get an erection unless his partner is cheating on someone by sleeping with him.

The narrator, Kayla, and R — a friend who broke off her engagement — spend drunken nights in Metro Manila and Baguio City. They purge all that alcohol through mountain excursions. And they struggle against a modern dating landscape akin to a Filipino karinderya: Bland, readily-available food that gorges but doesn't sate.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2022

About the author

Born in a tiny mountain village in the Philippines, and raised by a jeepney driver father and a budget-savvy mother; John Pucay moved to Metro Manila after university to pursue tech and marketing.

He got fired in half a year.

During his 3rd month of unemployment, frustration led him to write an essay that he sent to a national newspaper. The paper published his piece in a week and readers started offering him a job. That's how he discovered he could probably write for a living.

He worked a year in corporate before quitting everything in early 2020 to pursue writing full-time.

He has since published short stories in several international literary journals. And he received a few awards and distinctions for his writing (including the 2025 Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award). His fiction mostly involves magical realism while his creative non-fiction deal with relationships, polyamory, running, and life.

You can check more of his writing on his personal website:

johnpucay.com

Karinderya Love Songs is his first novel.

Reviews

[mayumireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a story of a young man in rediscovering love through modern dating apps —until he met a girl named Kayla that made him accept his naked self and “shed his perfect stranger mask.”

To be honest, I judged this book too quickly. I thought it’s all about sex and stuff, and I said, this ain’t for young readers. But as I went along, I’ve came to realize that it’s just a facade, this is not a romance novel or what they called it “spicy” book. There are lessons about life, love, relationship and self-discovery that we can dig underneath.

If you’re going to read this novel and think that this might not for you, I’m telling you, don’t DNF this book, wait until you reach the Part II. 😊 Because everything will make sense.

I love how the author use “Karinderya” in the title, and it’s fascinating to uncover the meaning of it. I found this word in the book as a metaphor. Another thing about this book that makes it special — the setting. It was very recent, set in 2020s. Pandemic, lockdowns, vaccines were being mentioned here. Everyone could relate about the corona virus era. Also the places, the story happened in some parts of Metro Manila and Baguio. You can vividly imagine the scenes in the book like an indie film. And the description — the author spitting straight facts.😅

My takeaway? No apps or algorithms can intervene a heavenly force. It’s destiny that made imperfect lovers crossed their paths.

[Jhepay | nothingbutbooktalks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5
⚠️ Tws: sex, abortion, cheating

“When logic is not the way, emotion is."

💭
A wistful memoir—the first thought that came into my mind after finishing the book. Maybe bcos it made me feel “the feels” of the (fairly) good old days during my 20’s.

To be honest, I thought this book includes smuts & whatnots bcos of the blurb, but this was actually not about the spice. ‘Twas more on the naked truths about life, relationship & dating most especially nowadays wherein finding “your match” was just one swipe/click away. The author really achieved to make the story a relatable one, not just because of some certain places that I’ve known & been to, but also the self-discovery phase during our 20’s whilst entering crucial years of early adulthood.

I also like how the author used “karinderya” as one of the many metaphors in this book. Though this one’s slow-paced; there’s a part in the story that made me a little lost in which my thoughts were in a muddle. Nevertheless, I’m invested already on how will the narrator overcome his mishaps, & also bcos of the simplicity & rawness of everything, hence I pushed through ‘till the end, which I’m certainly glad I did.

So, if you’re into short novels & wants to have a chill & laid-back read with a glimpse of how’s the dating scene during this modern time. I highly recommend this book. Lastly, let’s support our very own Filipino authors—their talents should be known internationally.

Kudos to the indigenous (Kanknaey-Ibaloi) writer from Baguio City, John Pucay, for creating such wonderful prose for his debut. I’m beyond grateful that you trusted me (& my ramblings) by sending me this eARC. And again, CONGRATULATIONS!! All your hard works are slowly paying off. Cheers! 🥂

PS. Karinderya Love Songs’ paperbacks will be published on August 01, 2022. You can pre-order at: johnpucay.com 🌻

🐧

[Shanaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐ rounded up

I'll be honest, this is not something I'd usually go for. My personal values and beliefs are in direct contrast with the narrator's, but I plunged ahead to learn more about the realities of today's dating culture.

"We learn our lessons through the broken shards we pick up, piece by piece, later, when everything is over, and apologies are realized too late."

The book follows our unnamed narrator who recounts life as an early 20-something in the era of online dating. He meets and dates Kayla, and through their adventures (along with their friend R), we get to learn about their backstories - his inability to have sex with a woman unless she was cheating by sleeping with him, her bad breakup and two abortions.

Kudos to the author for the clever use of sex and dating, as well as creative metaphors, to discuss philosophical points about life, relationships, privilege, the choices you make, the maturity it requires to deal with the aftermath.

It was written like a biography, and played in my mind like a movie. Maybe because the scenes were familiar, like I was watching the likes of I'm Drunk, I Love You and That Thing Called Tadhana. I enjoyed the social commentary as well.

It was kind of hard to read at times because of the mentions of sensitive topics, so please, heed the trigger warnings. It is crass, but honest and raw - I appreciate that.

Trigger warnings: sex, cheating, abortion, emotional manipulation

This was my first novel from a Filipino author since I started reading again, and I'm happy to report that I liked it. Thank you @johnpucay for sending me an ARC of your debut novel. Congratulations!

Preorder your copy at: johnpucay.com

[Maixee Francisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a filipino bookworm who dreams of reading a story that is actually set where I am set both in place, time and culture, this short novel by John Pucay gave me a glimpse of the possibility of Filipino stories making it in the global scene. You see, reading about the past couple of years since 2020 from the POV of someone else just helped put things in perspective for me. John writes as if he were stripping the characters barenaked to show the reader what goes on in their minds.

I guess when it feels "real", it gets a bit cringy. First few pages in, I found myself making a face at what was happening. Made me look back to a time when I was in that "exploratory" stage and realized I haven't actually been through that phase, yet. The way this story gave us a glimpse of how crass we can get when we don't watch ourselves is a painful truth that some people might not be akin to. This book will make you fidget, feel guilty, but also see the beauty in realizing how much you can control in making life a little better with acceptance of our toxic traits and red flags.

I usually resonate with the female characters in books I read, but in this one at some point I found myself in the grips of the darkness that was within the main character and how he was blind to see it at first. It might just be me but I found it a bit off how he went through the entire ordeal he was in; somewhat making me feel uncomfortable, but also aware. I might not really be "in the know" of how present day dating or hooking up is but I guess to each his/her/their own huh?

John's voice over all is powerful and we better be ready when he releases a new story hopefully soon. But also, he will have to be cautious about getting his message across, especially if he means to target all generations.

[Angeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a smut book with 🔥 spicy 🔥 scenes based on the blurb but I was wrong and I don't mind. I'm actually glad it didn't have detailed smut scenes as I was more invested in the story and getting to know the unnamed narrator and reading about his confessions, his realizations. The narrator is not like one of those guys we often read about in romance novels and swoon over because they're like Prince Charming or something who can do no wrong, perfect inside and out. Nope, there's none of that in this book. In this book, you'll get to see what goes through a guy's mind, how dating life is from a man's perspective.

I don't know why I felt nostalgic while reading this book even though it talks about modern dating culture. It's nice to read about the narrator's struggles of getting back into the dating pool and finding a person to match with on the dating apps. There were some scenes I could actually relate to and some that made me feel uncomfortable.

I got the book from the author sometime in June and it took several attempts before I got past the prologue. I did not like how that scene in the coffee shop with Ana was written. I had a hard time picturing that scene in my head. But once I started reading Part 1, I felt like I was reading a different book by a different author.

[Raphael Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading it once I started.

It felt like drinking with an old friend telling his spicy stories while being open and vulnerable. It felt weirdly nostalgic. Reading the description of the book I expected dull sexcapade but came out with stories about growth and self discovery.

Seeing how the narrator evolves as time goes by is like a seeing friend completing his character development arc. As human beings we go though a lot of things in life but we tend to hide them especially in the age of social where everything has to be perfect.

This book made me feel I did not have to be perfect. It made me feel that being imperfect is perfectly normal

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A speaker during a Philippine Book Fair seminar I attended years ago urged writers to write lengthier stories, saying that the Philippines doesn't have enough novels and that we need more of them. When I finished Karinderya Love Songs, I remembered that talk and thought, This is what he meant when he said that. These are the novels we need.

Karinderya Love Songs is a raw, unfiltered look into a man's life – and into his mind. The man tells his story himself, in a cynical, self-aware, Bukowski-esque voice where you can almost hear the dryness of his drawl in your mind as he speaks nonchalantly about his escapades. Whether he's your typical good or bad guy doesn't matter. Morality is blurred here and deciding on the virtues of his character is entirely up to you, the reader, if that's something important to you. But what the narrator clearly is, as the rest of us are, is human. This is what kept me rooting for him, despite the fucked-up-ness of his experiences and personality and certain sexual quirks. I liked him and hated him all at once, because in his thoughts and words I found pieces of exes and old bridges that I thought I'd burned and buried away in the recesses of my mind... but at the same time I found pieces of myself. The best stories are the ones that serve as mirrors into your soul and force you to look at yourself and think about difficult things.

Inasmuch as it is an ode to being human, Pucay's debut novel is also a beautiful love letter to Baguio. As someone born and raised in Baguio myself, this was something I deeply appreciated as I found mentions of familiar places and experiences strewn across the chapters. I am proud and grateful that the book's descriptions did justice to my home. And it isn't just Baguio that Pucay honors with his writing. There is also much love in the pages he dedicates to running. All the pain, exhaustion, beauty, and fulfillment of the run is there in his words.

I guess that's pretty much why I'll be keeping an eye out for Pucay's future works and recommending this book to all my friends: it holds so much love and passion in its pages, even in the crass parts. Karinderya Love Songs unapologetically shows us what it is to be human, from the mundane to the painful to the trial-and-error slog of relationships, to what true friendship looks like, to the messiness and darkness of our minds, to the strange, surreal events the universe brings us to sometimes. Pucay writes about how many things aren't always as they seem, and how oftentimes it's our own selves that keep us from seeing things clearly. There's a quote from the narrator that shows exactly this, where he effortlessly spews one of the most poetic lines in his narrative before backtracking and saying he isn't a poet.

"And I wished I was blessed with the talent of poetry, of forming and arranging words in a sonata of the soul where I might sing my pain, my gratitude, my meager, little happiness, into the echoes of the universe and maybe, hopefully, people who feel the same might find this song and find comfort in it and, for an inch of a moment, we'd be together; a virtual community beyond tech platforms, across space and time. But I'm no poet."

I would argue wholeheartedly that he is.

[Coffee Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am usually hesitant to accept books from authors because i feel obliged to read and review which will take time from my routine and schedule but since the author is from my hometown and i love supporting local talents, i readily accepted.
I started browsing this book after unboxing it and gladly, it did not feel like an obligation at all but more like a walk in the park especially since it's my first time to read a book with oh so familiar settings given that i grew up in Baguio City then was based in Quezon City for work.
I've been to most places mentioned in the story: Rumours, Session Road, Cedar Peak, Mt Ulap, Gateway, Araneta, Katipunan (Nono's is my favorite resto in UP Town Center) etc. It's like watching an indie film in a familiar setting.
This is an easy and quick read, it's simple yet realistic about modern dating that people regardless of age can easily relate to.
It's absolutely not a romance novel, although the narration revolves around casual dates with different girls after a heart break, it's more about finding one's self and healing in the process.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I have to describe this book in one word, it’s nostalgic, but of course you’d probably only feel the same if you are from the province who moved to manila for college or work.

The characters were introduced well and their character development was on point. There were a lot of parts wherein I got frustrated with the narrator but I knew somehow that he would have his character development eventually. This book talks about life and the struggles of not knowing one’s self at the age of 20s. It felt like I was listening to a guy bestfriend opening up about emptiness. All in all, I found the book as depicting the reality of modern dating. As much as i’m anxious on reading about cheating by other characters, I know that it really happens in reality and it is not that addressed.

If you’re not a fan of slow-paced books, this might not be for you. I almost dropped it but my curiousity did not want me to stop as I wanted to know the narrator’s ending.

[Jing_Doctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warning: Sex, manipulation (emotional and
mental), and abortion

While browsing #kindleunlimited for new books to read,
I found @johnpucay 's Karinderya Love Song. The title
itself intrigued me plus it is written by a Filipino Writer
that I found rare to be available on @amazonkindle
books recommendation.

This novel made me smile, cry, hurt, made me feel
things I'm refusing to feel and made me realize some
points that I'm trying to bury from deep down in my
heart.


Here is my favorite line:

They never saw each other again, I said. Because
sometimes, life gives us one chance and no more.
Sometimes there are no second chances. And either
we take that chance now or we miss it forever.

[Ara · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book felt like watching a Filipino indie film. I got that vibe almost immediately after reading the blurb.

Karinderya Love Songs follows an unnamed narrator as he navigates modern-day dating and ends up meeting a college girl named Kayla. The two of them, along with the narrator’s friend, R, go on alcohol-fueled escapades in Metro Manila and Baguio City, sharing stories from their own experiences.

This book explores the truths and realities of sex and dating, relationships, social status and privileges, life, and a bit of adulting that we don't get to talk about more. I loved its sense of realness and how unfiltered it is.

Reading about dating from a man's perspective was somewhat new to me. To be honest, the narrator disgusted me and got me frustrated in some parts, but that is the point of the character. He isn't some perfect prince charming; he is flawed and he's aware he has a problem.

The metaphors and prose in this book were so creative, it's one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading it. However, I did get confused with some parts of it, especially with the timeline.

I don't usually read a lot of books from Filipino authors, but this was a good one. I'd recommend this if you want a fast-paced book that's morally bending yet honest.

If you do decide to read it, check the trigger warnings first.

[Julia Soriano · Rating 5 out of 5]

this novel took me back to a forgotten lifetime of drinking, dating and having "karinderya-styled love affairs". I never looked at that time as something beautiful or worth going-back to. In the contrary, I saw it as a phase I could have lived without. but that is a lie, and this book helped me realize how HUMAN and even grounding my experiences were. My experiences, like the characters' in this story did not have to be "romantic" or "life-changing" to be talked about. It is enough that you acknowledge the experience and carry something from it.

This book tackles sensitive topics that are so important as they reflect our current society. It is stripped-off of the traditional romantic antics (and may leave you questioning the morality of it), but leaves us with a raw description of 2020's life and dating, making us feel as vulnerable as the characters. This novel also gives us amazing prose and vivid & beautiful depictions of familiar places in the Philippines.

Most importantly, it tackles the universal concept of self-discovery and learning through fire, and the continuous growth we are going through as young adults of this generation. Would definitely recommend!

[Sebastian Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in a committed relationship, so I don't approve of a lot of things in this book. I would punch a man's gut until he puked blood if he fucked my girlfriend. Karinderya Love Songs made me paranoid. There are men with the sweetest of words, sweet enough to lure even the most faithful of women to commit infidelity. And the narrator fucked his homie's girl, damn. Just imagining one of my dudes betraying me like that already fills me with Spartan rage. I want to break skulls just by imagining this crap. I have cut off a friend because of how he proudly told stories about how he cheated and how hard he tried to coerce me to do the same. I wanted to break the neanderthal's skull so bad, but I had to stay calm. It also doesn't help that the author/narrator (who is actually such a nice guy, replies quickly on Instagram) doesn't seem to feel any remorse for his actions., at least in the way he wrote his anecdotes in the book.

So this is a perspective that I wouldn't typically give my attention to. But doing so would be purposely locking yourself in an echo chamber, full of thoughts and stories programmed not to hurt your feelings or principles. So Karinderya Love Songs is a perspective I absolutely abhor.
But it is a perspective nonetheless. It is a story still worth listening to even if you don't agree with anything that's being said. It's a huge plus that John's writing is so vivid, so grounded, and so candid, it's like I'm listening to him talk at a coffee shop. He is acknowledging that he has a problem, but his tone isn't preachy or apologetic. He's just telling his stories, his perspective. And that fucked up people like him aren't fucked up 24/7. They're human, they do normal stuff, talk about normal stuff, form relationships, etc.

I also love the minute details added in the narrative. Stuff like how much of a Baguio local John Pucay is. As a "taga-baba" who has moved to Baguio for studies, I feel an immense amount of respect for Baguio culture. I also love the inclusion of the narrator's life growing up, that his family was broke so he learned early on he had to grind while his peers were too well-off to care. I also LOVE this part where he talked about a dude dancing solo in Ampersand (a bar I frequented when I was very stressed with school). Like true, man, when you go to a bar like that, it doesn't always mean you're there to hit on girls. I'm always there for the music and dancing. My girlfriend and I sometimes fought whenever I went to places like that, as she was developing suspicions that I was doing some debauchery. Debauchery with excessive amounts of alcohol, yes. But women? Why the hell would I even care about those boring girls when the DJ is f***ing cooking? Not to mention I want to marry her so bad, which makes me insanely mad at what I'm reading in this book.

So anyway, it is a very entertaining, fast-paced experience having to read John Pucay's debut novel. Again, a perspective I abhor but a perspective nonetheless. And one that is worth reading until the end.

[Naomi Villafuerte · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this book in three hours. it was… extremely, unapologetically honest. there were so many things i realized in my own life as i was reading. the ending was exactly that. an ending. but it was also the beginning. the story came to full circle by the end and it made me love it even more. so many relatable quotes. it’s brutal in the way it talks about dating and sex in a modern filipino setting. it does not shy away from the grittiness of today, and i think that’s why it appealed so much to me. i love it. definitely one of my top reads this year.

[Jillanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murakami-ish but set in Baguio and Manila. Very descriptive, and what I loved most is how words used for settings in every chapter felt so vivid like the reader is seated there and seeing the same things-colors,lights sounds and even smells- as the characters are supposed to. I don't know if I just missed it, but was the issue he's dealing with on the first part of the book resolved? For most parts the main MC only talked about his “serial dates” with a date and a good friend.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

With the nonchalant narration, it feels like it’s trying to sound like Haruki Murakami. With all the millenial references, it’s definitely trying to sound like Sally Rooney. But ultimately, it’s just the musings of a self-centered, privileged, female-objectifying, full-of-himself yuppie about his unremarkable dating and sex life.

[Yra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me miss Baguio and Manila more.
Love the nostalgia, straightforwardness and the humor. A must read!

[Cris Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your average book! It's full of honest takes about relationships. The smut doesn't bother me; the naked truth in the story does. Get it, read it, learn from it.

[Juana Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply enjoyed this book! Looking forward to the author's next work :)

[prettysureannereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Thank you, universe for the uwak uwak days." was what I said when I finished reading this.
I accidentally came across this book when I was browsing thru Instagram. The title and the blurb took my attention immediately and when I tell you, I started reading it at 3 in the morning and finished it in less than 4 hours— that's how much I was invested in the story line.

First, reading the book brought me back to college and post-college days when I was the "party girl with an attention span of a fish" ha! That stuck to me like how uwak-uwak did. *hehe* Reading something that rings so close, gave me such a rush. The places (Katips, Pobla, Elyu, Baguio, man those were the days,) the people we meet, our circle of friends, this book hits hard home.

"Growing up stoic and quiet, I hated the flamboyant, noisy folks. I found them superficial."
- Oh, this one hit a nerve! Ha! After all of my years of being a part of the noisy folks, I'm now too old enough to know who the superficial ones are in the crowd. And that's a really nice realization.

Second, and I agree with the other review that I saw on Instagram, these happen in real life. Real life problems, about the world of online dating, the pressures of being the family's breadwinner, the pressures (and misconceptions) of society about sex and relationships. Man, this is real life, thru a raw point of view.

"Because sometimes, life gives us one chance and no more. Sometimes there are no second chances. And either we take that chance now or we miss it forever."
- Too real.

And lastly, I love the fact that I finished the book and thought to myself, "huh, so what was his name?" Yep, that part? That was fun. Also, The Tunnel gave me chills, I thought I was reading a thriller at four in the morning.

Really looking forward to more books!

[Alden Acain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in a total of about 6 hours or less and these are a few of my sentiments:

1. It's real. Stories happen in real life to anyone which makes it relatable. Especially, those who had the same experiences as the MC did.

2. It has a few characters which makes you more invested in reading because you grow connection with each one through each individual story. Thus, you'd want to find out more until, without you noticing, you already finished the book. It's like a Neflix Series where you'd keep saying, "Just one more episode."

3. It's grounded. It wasn't ashamed to expose everything from sex life to wiping snot using his hand.

4. It's honest. No walls barred. No secrets kept.

5. It's loaded with life realizations throughout the book and a big one towards the end. It makes you look at yourself and what have you been doing in your life as well. It teaches you that life isn't as it is pictured on ideals.