You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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:
Yes
This book was read thanks to NetGalley.
I am torn, sometimes I loved it, sometimes it hurt me in a not so positive way,
He comes from a toxic family environment, and it clearly affected his relationship with Kira, to the point that it was hurtful to read, he had a redemption arc that made it worth it.
If the books with toxic families trigger you, I do not advice to read it.
I am torn, sometimes I loved it, sometimes it hurt me in a not so positive way,
He comes from a toxic family environment, and it clearly affected his relationship with Kira, to the point that it was hurtful to read, he had a redemption arc that made it worth it.
If the books with toxic families trigger you, I do not advice to read it.
Childhood friends to lovers theme with gradual/slow burn towards the romance. You get bits and pieces of flirting & romance but have to wait a little while for it to really climax. Think of it as mental foreplay. At first I was worried about my own attention span & being used to instant gratification from quick burn books. However those tend to leave me feeling fizzled out after because its too much too fast & not plausible. The pacing is a nice change from many books where the characters fall in love instantly without reason. Love has always been there for the 2 main characters but it takes time for them to really be motivated by that love and act on it. You get a chance to really know the characters & why they are the way they are, what motivates & moves them. There is some witty banter, heartfelt moments, & heartbreaking moments. Carla builds layers upon layers.
As a white American (with Filipino in-laws) I did not find this book hard to follow. Yes there are different customs, foods, & bits of Tagalog peppered through out but the surrounding context makes it all make sense to those not familiar with Filipinos/Philippines. I think it will be important to keep an open mind towards the family dealings in this book. Knowing the families (however good or bad) will help you to understand the choices the characters make.
The initial time jumps/timelines were a touch confusing in the beginning of the book. Aside from that I enjoyed this book.
To me the book shows that family is not always blood but your community & friends can really be the ones to build you up & cheer you on.
As a white American (with Filipino in-laws) I did not find this book hard to follow. Yes there are different customs, foods, & bits of Tagalog peppered through out but the surrounding context makes it all make sense to those not familiar with Filipinos/Philippines. I think it will be important to keep an open mind towards the family dealings in this book. Knowing the families (however good or bad) will help you to understand the choices the characters make.
The initial time jumps/timelines were a touch confusing in the beginning of the book. Aside from that I enjoyed this book.
To me the book shows that family is not always blood but your community & friends can really be the ones to build you up & cheer you on.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I’ll start off with the good: love the descriptions on chocolate-making. Like Sweet on You, Carla de Guzman really knows how to whet her readers’ appetites.
Also love the community of the Laneways. I feel like you want to visit and eat their food. Also love the little reference to Nero and InLab from the Talking Nerdy crew!
Also love the community of the Laneways. I feel like you want to visit and eat their food. Also love the little reference to Nero and InLab from the Talking Nerdy crew!
If I were solely rating Anton Santillan, I'd probably give him all the stars (and then some). That man sounds like a bad idea, but I'm down to make a bad decision.
Final impressions:
• First, before anything else, I want to commend Carla de Guzman for choosing violence. She really cracked her author knuckles and went, "Listen, we all make fun of Ateneans - but at the end of the day, we still want to get underneath them." (Kidding.)
• I delved into this novel with the expectation of finding an endearing, hopeful love story between childhood friends. But amidst the holiday warmth and merriment, there was a lingering undercurrent of melancholy and yearning that tugged at my heartstrings. With Santi torn between prioritizing his happiness and conforming to his family's ideals, reading A Match Made in Lipa felt very heavy and even triggering at times.
• Speaking of, Santi is truly the shining star of this book. Estranged from the Villa side of his family while constantly taken for granted by the Santillan side, behind that Uniqlo polo lies a hurting heart that just wants to love and be loved properly in return. (I'm a simp for him, your honor.)
• In contrast, I looked at Kira in the same way that you'd look at a pesky housefly. Not quite as annoying as a mosquito, but would still prefer its absence.
- While I liked her in the beginning, I struggled to connect with her as the story progressed. Which had initially baffled me because she's very much a confused, still-figuring-life-out millennial (and so am I).
- But I think the roadblock lies in her exceedingly privileged lifestyle and circumstances.
• I also can't help but feel that the writing in Sweet On You was much stronger in comparison. While I still really enjoyed the story, I occasionally struggled with the writing style due to the following reasons:
- A Match Made in Lipa often came across as, for lack of better adjectives, aggressively upper-class millennial. This was notably more evident in Kira's POV.
- Some attempts at humor did not land very well, while some jokes were overly repetitive.
• For a contemporary romance novel, I was genuinely more invested in Santi's character arc (and his struggles with his toxic family) than in the romantic development between him and Kira.
- My initial kilig died down once I concluded that I wouldn't be getting some nice 'will they, won't they' tension between childhood friends.
- Instead, Santi and Kira quickly established their mutual attraction and were essentially together without labels, so it felt like their relationship plateaued too early on. Moreover, while I recognize that malabo relationships are a common happenstance in real life, it wasn't particularly compelling to read about.
• On a more praising note, I appreciated how this book delved into the toxicities of some Filipino families and the additional burdens placed on panganay (eldest) children. I also really liked the emphasis on different forms of love, be it between partners, among friends, or within families - and how sometimes people just can't love us in the way that we need them to.
• Criticisms aside, I still think that this book has much to offer and is worth picking up. More than a romance, A Match Made in Lipa is an incredibly evocative story about growth and the difficult choices to be made in order to grow into the person you want to become.
Recommended!
* I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are all mine.
[ Content/Trigger warnings: ]
Final impressions:
• First, before anything else, I want to commend Carla de Guzman for choosing violence. She really cracked her author knuckles and went, "Listen, we all make fun of Ateneans - but at the end of the day, we still want to get underneath them." (Kidding.)
• I delved into this novel with the expectation of finding an endearing, hopeful love story between childhood friends. But amidst the holiday warmth and merriment, there was a lingering undercurrent of melancholy and yearning that tugged at my heartstrings. With Santi torn between prioritizing his happiness and conforming to his family's ideals, reading A Match Made in Lipa felt very heavy and even triggering at times.
• Speaking of, Santi is truly the shining star of this book. Estranged from the Villa side of his family while constantly taken for granted by the Santillan side, behind that Uniqlo polo lies a hurting heart that just wants to love and be loved properly in return. (I'm a simp for him, your honor.)
• In contrast, I looked at Kira in the same way that you'd look at a pesky housefly. Not quite as annoying as a mosquito, but would still prefer its absence.
- While I liked her in the beginning, I struggled to connect with her as the story progressed. Which had initially baffled me because she's very much a confused, still-figuring-life-out millennial (and so am I).
- But I think the roadblock lies in her exceedingly privileged lifestyle and circumstances.
Spoiler
Should I ever be unceremoniously fired from a corporate job (knock on wood), my family can't afford to soften the blow by gifting me a whole ass property to manage. At the end of the day, Kira is a wealthy, educated woman running a quirky business that's generously funded by her family's massive pockets.• I also can't help but feel that the writing in Sweet On You was much stronger in comparison. While I still really enjoyed the story, I occasionally struggled with the writing style due to the following reasons:
- A Match Made in Lipa often came across as, for lack of better adjectives, aggressively upper-class millennial. This was notably more evident in Kira's POV.
- Some attempts at humor did not land very well, while some jokes were overly repetitive.
• For a contemporary romance novel, I was genuinely more invested in Santi's character arc (and his struggles with his toxic family) than in the romantic development between him and Kira.
- My initial kilig died down once I concluded that I wouldn't be getting some nice 'will they, won't they' tension between childhood friends.
- Instead, Santi and Kira quickly established their mutual attraction and were essentially together without labels, so it felt like their relationship plateaued too early on. Moreover, while I recognize that malabo relationships are a common happenstance in real life, it wasn't particularly compelling to read about.
• On a more praising note, I appreciated how this book delved into the toxicities of some Filipino families and the additional burdens placed on panganay (eldest) children. I also really liked the emphasis on different forms of love, be it between partners, among friends, or within families - and how sometimes people just can't love us in the way that we need them to.
• Criticisms aside, I still think that this book has much to offer and is worth picking up. More than a romance, A Match Made in Lipa is an incredibly evocative story about growth and the difficult choices to be made in order to grow into the person you want to become.
Recommended!
* I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are all mine.
[ Content/Trigger warnings:
Spoiler
Toxic/Dysfunctional family (with financial manipulation, emotional blackmail, estrangement, parental neglect); epilogue set in COVID-19 pandemic; sex (graphic)
I had to stop reading this a few times to soothe my aching chest. There is an undercurrent of melancholy in Carla de Guzman’s A Match Made in Lipa that gives depth to the sweet and hopeful childhood friends to lovers romance.
Kira and Santi played together as children in Lipa until Santi’s grandfather demanded the family move to Manila. Years later, Santi is wandering through Osaka, having just been fired from the family hotel business and cut off from all family money. He runs into Kira in a convenience store when they both reach for the same onigiri. Their conversation sets Santi on a path back to Lipa, and though they kiss, their relationship stays firmly platonic for another few years. Kira has also been let go from her dream job, so she pivots to chocolate making and managing her family’s commercial property, The Laneways. Two things, I would love to go back to Japan and this time I will know to go into every convenience store I find. Second, A Match Made in Lipa is a gloriously foodie romance. So much good food is described.
Santi and Kira have been in a holding pattern. Santi wants to prove to his grandfather that he deserves to be brought back into the family business by making a falling down old hotel into a shining star. But, he also knows that his grandfather is manipulative and will always withhold approval. He wants Kira, but he doesn’t want her to be exposed to his toxic family. Family and business are tightly linked for both Santi and Kira. Kira has been waiting, for something? For love to come along? She’s not sure. She knows she loves making chocolate, her chocolate shop, matchmaking, The Laneways, and her family. She’s frustrated with Santi’s “we’ll talk later” line. When her family lets her know that the family board will be reviewing their investment in her chocolate shop, Kira realizes she has to stop waiting and work on saving herself. When Santi’s grandfather asks Santi to do something that will hurt Kira, he knows he needs to choose between returning to his old life in Manila or the life he’s built in Lipa.
Carla de Guzman gives everything layers and complexity. Kira’s family loaned her the money he start her business, but they also want her to justify that investment. She has built a community around her, but she’s convinced she has to solve her problems herself. Santi’s grandfather is objectively awful, but he remembers the loving grandfather of his childhood. Kira and Santi don’t have to learn to love each other, because they have always loved each other. They do have to learn that they don’t have to solve problems alone. Time and again, their community comes together to help. There is a constant awareness of impermanence and fragility, and a tension between family and individual. But community comes together and generosity inspires more generosity.
If you are not familiar with Filipino food and culture (my familiarity is limited) have Google at the ready. It is absolutely worth the time.
CW: toxic family, threats of financial ruin, and an epilogue set during the pandemic.
I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and Carina Press. My opinions are my own.
Kira and Santi played together as children in Lipa until Santi’s grandfather demanded the family move to Manila. Years later, Santi is wandering through Osaka, having just been fired from the family hotel business and cut off from all family money. He runs into Kira in a convenience store when they both reach for the same onigiri. Their conversation sets Santi on a path back to Lipa, and though they kiss, their relationship stays firmly platonic for another few years. Kira has also been let go from her dream job, so she pivots to chocolate making and managing her family’s commercial property, The Laneways. Two things, I would love to go back to Japan and this time I will know to go into every convenience store I find. Second, A Match Made in Lipa is a gloriously foodie romance. So much good food is described.
Santi and Kira have been in a holding pattern. Santi wants to prove to his grandfather that he deserves to be brought back into the family business by making a falling down old hotel into a shining star. But, he also knows that his grandfather is manipulative and will always withhold approval. He wants Kira, but he doesn’t want her to be exposed to his toxic family. Family and business are tightly linked for both Santi and Kira. Kira has been waiting, for something? For love to come along? She’s not sure. She knows she loves making chocolate, her chocolate shop, matchmaking, The Laneways, and her family. She’s frustrated with Santi’s “we’ll talk later” line. When her family lets her know that the family board will be reviewing their investment in her chocolate shop, Kira realizes she has to stop waiting and work on saving herself. When Santi’s grandfather asks Santi to do something that will hurt Kira, he knows he needs to choose between returning to his old life in Manila or the life he’s built in Lipa.
Carla de Guzman gives everything layers and complexity. Kira’s family loaned her the money he start her business, but they also want her to justify that investment. She has built a community around her, but she’s convinced she has to solve her problems herself. Santi’s grandfather is objectively awful, but he remembers the loving grandfather of his childhood. Kira and Santi don’t have to learn to love each other, because they have always loved each other. They do have to learn that they don’t have to solve problems alone. Time and again, their community comes together to help. There is a constant awareness of impermanence and fragility, and a tension between family and individual. But community comes together and generosity inspires more generosity.
If you are not familiar with Filipino food and culture (my familiarity is limited) have Google at the ready. It is absolutely worth the time.
CW: toxic family, threats of financial ruin, and an epilogue set during the pandemic.
I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and Carina Press. My opinions are my own.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Reading circumstances/Disclaimers:
*I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*First Carla de Guzman read
*Informal buddy read with Sunnybook Farm book club members
*Not a regular romance reader with an aversion to smut
I rarely pick up romance books but wanted to expand my horizons a little bit with this one. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. While A Match Made in Lipa sparks a very important discussion on toxic family relationships, especially when business is involved, I found it lacking in emotional depth in almost all other respects.
Except for a few lines of dialogue, I felt next to nothing in terms of the romance. I didn't think we really got to see how Kira and Santi's feelings developed for each other. They were just kind of there. I also found it incredibly frustrating to be in their heads when they would still be confused about their feelings despite multiple undoubtedly romantic interactions.
I also found the main character to be incredibly annoying. While I have nothing against astrology, Kira's obsession with it to the point of being a whole personality trait was irritating to say the least. That said, if you love astrology, there's a good chance you might love this book. I also didn't really feel her passion for chocolate. Much of it was told but not really shown.
The thing that probably diminished my enjoyment of the book the most was the writing style. I just could not get into it. While there is much to be appreciated about the narrative voice feeling authentic and almost stream-of-consciousness-like, I did not vibe with it at all. There were too many side comments and unfunny jokes. If you like books that read like a friend is telling you a story on the fly, de Guzman's writing style might be for you.
From reading this, I have decided that de Guzman just might not be the author for me. It was worth a shot though.
*I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*First Carla de Guzman read
*Informal buddy read with Sunnybook Farm book club members
*Not a regular romance reader with an aversion to smut
I rarely pick up romance books but wanted to expand my horizons a little bit with this one. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. While A Match Made in Lipa sparks a very important discussion on toxic family relationships, especially when business is involved, I found it lacking in emotional depth in almost all other respects.
Except for a few lines of dialogue, I felt next to nothing in terms of the romance. I didn't think we really got to see how Kira and Santi's feelings developed for each other. They were just kind of there. I also found it incredibly frustrating to be in their heads when they would still be confused about their feelings despite multiple undoubtedly romantic interactions.
I also found the main character to be incredibly annoying. While I have nothing against astrology, Kira's obsession with it to the point of being a whole personality trait was irritating to say the least. That said, if you love astrology, there's a good chance you might love this book. I also didn't really feel her passion for chocolate. Much of it was told but not really shown.
The thing that probably diminished my enjoyment of the book the most was the writing style. I just could not get into it. While there is much to be appreciated about the narrative voice feeling authentic and almost stream-of-consciousness-like, I did not vibe with it at all. There were too many side comments and unfunny jokes. If you like books that read like a friend is telling you a story on the fly, de Guzman's writing style might be for you.
From reading this, I have decided that de Guzman just might not be the author for me. It was worth a shot though.