A review by yuck1209
Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I was looking forward to reading another Filipino author, and thought a short story collection would be a good change in pace. I’m Filipino American, though I identify more with the latter since I grew up in the US, don’t speak Tagalog, and have only visited once. In a way, the stories made me sad/wistful since there were so many tidbits in the characters’ experiences, dialogues, and so on that I couldn’t relate to. Some stories reminded me of my mom and her offhand references to school, batchmates, family history… how little I know of her childhood and teenage years.

Anyway, I enjoyed this collection overall. There was a darker tone, with themes around family and girlhood. Lots of references to Filipino mythology, too. Some standouts for me:

• A Spell for Foolish Hearts 
• Asphalt, River, Mother, Child 
• How to Swallow the Moon
• A Canticle for Lost Girls