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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
4⭐️
This was so so cute! It wasn’t the best thing i’ve ever read but it kept me super entertained.
This was so so cute! It wasn’t the best thing i’ve ever read but it kept me super entertained.
I’ve enjoyed Melissa de la Cruz’s recent releases, and have begun to look forward to each one, even if the story lets me down. But I was intrigued to hear that her next book was an adult romance, as all her prior work, as far as I’m aware, has been YA or middle grade. Granted, it has become more common for authors to write across age groups, although some do it more successfully than others. Fortunately, The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos is a successful transition to adult romance for Melissa de la Cruz, not to mention a solid genre transition to pure contemporary, something she hasn’t dipped her toe in much.
While I’m fairly sure I’ve read other books from her that have Filipino influences, I loved how overtly these were incorporated here. The book centering on the Five Stages of Courtship tradition among Filipinos is the most prominent, and is a fun way to center the romance in a culturally conscious way. The family dynamics also shine through, especially the role of Dalisay’s mother.
Evan and Dalisay are both compelling characters. Evan faces some challenges at work that immediately felt relatable, not to mention being challenged when Dalisay made him work for her affection by putting him through the Five Stages. Dalisay is a romantic who has grown up hearing about her parents’ love story courtesy of the Five Stages.
While they come from different places culturally, the two have a lot in common. Evan isn’t one to give up easily and perseveres with the challenges put forth for him in the Five Stages. And he and Dalisay both have a confidence and passion, which wins her over once she recognizes that in him. There are still other differences related to their backgrounds to navigate, but they do so in a relatively mature and realistic way.
This was a sweet read, and I hope Melissa de la Cruz writes more in this vein. If you’re interested in a contemporary romance infused with Filipino culture.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fun and spicy fake dating romance that explores filipino culture, and specifically highlights traditional courting of the Philippines.
I don't usually do romance and I'm not someone who seeks out spicy books, but this one was cute and had a lot of heart. As a Filipino-American who wasn't raised in a conservative or traditional household it was interesting to see how that played out through Dalisay and her family. And how Dalisay (newly immigrated) and Pinky (Fil-Am) are different.
It was tough reading through Nicole's storyline but I appreciated it's honesty and the fact there are no characters that excuse Dalisay's mom. My favorite laugh out loud moment is when the siblings divulged their secrets to stand in solidarity with Nicole.
Personally I wish there was no spice but I liked this overall and would recommend!
I don't usually do romance and I'm not someone who seeks out spicy books, but this one was cute and had a lot of heart. As a Filipino-American who wasn't raised in a conservative or traditional household it was interesting to see how that played out through Dalisay and her family. And how Dalisay (newly immigrated) and Pinky (Fil-Am) are different.
It was tough reading through Nicole's storyline but I appreciated it's honesty and the fact there are no characters that excuse Dalisay's mom. My favorite laugh out loud moment is when the siblings divulged their secrets to stand in solidarity with Nicole.
Personally I wish there was no spice but I liked this overall and would recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is a great read! I loved learning a bit about Filipino culture and traditions. It was also awesome to read about the complexities of emigrating and staying true to yourself.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A nice quick one! If you like YA romance then this may be your thing, it’s got love, challenges, and an interesting looking into Filipino dating culture!
The books didn’t fully land the mark with me, I will be honest I almost dnf’d, the story was cute and I liked the chemistry between the MC’s but I just kept turning to other things instead of finishing this, but I pushed through and ended up enjoying the story but not my favorite! 3.5 ⭐️’s
Thank you to the Author Melissa De La Cruz for writing this, and to the Narrator Amielynn Abellera as well, I appreciate you sharing it with me!
Big Thank you as well to RB Media and NetGalley for my no cost audiobook copy of “The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos”.
I received this advance review copy at no personal cost and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The books didn’t fully land the mark with me, I will be honest I almost dnf’d, the story was cute and I liked the chemistry between the MC’s but I just kept turning to other things instead of finishing this, but I pushed through and ended up enjoying the story but not my favorite! 3.5 ⭐️’s
Thank you to the Author Melissa De La Cruz for writing this, and to the Narrator Amielynn Abellera as well, I appreciate you sharing it with me!
Big Thank you as well to RB Media and NetGalley for my no cost audiobook copy of “The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos”.
I received this advance review copy at no personal cost and I am leaving this review voluntarily.