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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
slow-paced
Many thanks to the author Carla de Guzman and Carina Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
OTHER CONTENT WARNINGS: food descriptions, astrology, toxic family dynamics (including but not limited to financial manipulation, intervention, and estrangement), eldest sibling perspective, COVID-19 pandemic setting in one chapter
I’m not big on astrology and all its trappings, but for Kira Luz, one of the most memorable characters from Carla de Guzman’s first Laneways book (Sweet on You), I had been more than willing to enter the second Laneways book with an open mind. When I started reading at last, though, I quickly became more and more impatient for A Match Made in Lipa to end already.
My first issue: this book really should have come with content warnings. The New Year’s Eve scene alone at the beginning of the story contained so many elements I personally find triggering about Filipino families, with none of the heads-up. After that, the chapters were just landmine after landmine of more triggering, toxic family scenes. And they all hit extra-close to home because the book and author are Filipino like I am.
Second, I was not a fan of the author’s writing style, though I acknowledge it’s something that other readers would enjoy. At some point, the many segues and side comments were no longer cute, just unnecessary. For example, in one paragraph I was reading about Kira chaperoning a younger couple’s date, but in the next I was reading about her opinion of focaccia bread, and then suddenly Kira was back to musing about her childhood friend-turned-lover Santi. The lack of transitions proved to be more grating on paper in A Match Made in Lipa than in the previous book, which I had consumed as an audiobook. (At least audiobooks could be sped up.)
Third, other minor details in the story constantly had me raising my eyebrows. At some point, I was glossing over the astrology parts because I didn’t understand them, but I thought someone else’s comment on Goodreads was valid. There really was some over-stereotyping according to the characters’ star signs, that at times got in the way of actual characterization. Same goes for stereotyping according to schools attended and clothing brand preference. (Full disclosure: I attended the same university as Kira Luz and minor character Gabriel Capras, and only about a quarter of the people I knew there fell under the school’s stereotype.)
Also, I’m quite sure that the waters next to Nasugbu, Batangas are the West Philippine Sea. Why was it still called the South China Sea?
Anyway, to end this review on a less critical note, I did thoroughly enjoy the observations on culture that were not about family. Also, a shout-out to the best salon name ever: Curl Up and Dye.
OTHER CONTENT WARNINGS: food descriptions, astrology, toxic family dynamics (including but not limited to financial manipulation, intervention, and estrangement), eldest sibling perspective, COVID-19 pandemic setting in one chapter
I’m not big on astrology and all its trappings, but for Kira Luz, one of the most memorable characters from Carla de Guzman’s first Laneways book (Sweet on You), I had been more than willing to enter the second Laneways book with an open mind. When I started reading at last, though, I quickly became more and more impatient for A Match Made in Lipa to end already.
My first issue: this book really should have come with content warnings. The New Year’s Eve scene alone at the beginning of the story contained so many elements I personally find triggering about Filipino families, with none of the heads-up. After that, the chapters were just landmine after landmine of more triggering, toxic family scenes. And they all hit extra-close to home because the book and author are Filipino like I am.
Second, I was not a fan of the author’s writing style, though I acknowledge it’s something that other readers would enjoy. At some point, the many segues and side comments were no longer cute, just unnecessary. For example, in one paragraph I was reading about Kira chaperoning a younger couple’s date, but in the next I was reading about her opinion of focaccia bread, and then suddenly Kira was back to musing about her childhood friend-turned-lover Santi. The lack of transitions proved to be more grating on paper in A Match Made in Lipa than in the previous book, which I had consumed as an audiobook. (At least audiobooks could be sped up.)
Third, other minor details in the story constantly had me raising my eyebrows. At some point, I was glossing over the astrology parts because I didn’t understand them, but I thought someone else’s comment on Goodreads was valid. There really was some over-stereotyping according to the characters’ star signs, that at times got in the way of actual characterization. Same goes for stereotyping according to schools attended and clothing brand preference. (Full disclosure: I attended the same university as Kira Luz and minor character Gabriel Capras, and only about a quarter of the people I knew there fell under the school’s stereotype.)
Also, I’m quite sure that the waters next to Nasugbu, Batangas are the West Philippine Sea. Why was it still called the South China Sea?
Anyway, to end this review on a less critical note, I did thoroughly enjoy the observations on culture that were not about family. Also, a shout-out to the best salon name ever: Curl Up and Dye.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship