A review by serendipitysbooks
The Mango Bride by Marivi Soliven Blanco

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 The Mango Bride begins with an attention grabbing opening scene - the matriarch of a wealthy family in the Philippines is stabbed by a well-loved servant - and refuses to let an ambulance be called because it would give the neighbours something to gossip about. From there the novel shifts back in time to follow Amparo and Beverly, two Filipino women who migrate, separately and under different circumstances, to the United States where a surprising connection between them, and a long hidden family secret, is eventually revealed. This story examines the intersection of gender and class in the Phillipines and its exploration of issues like mail order brides made it a tough read at times. Manila was brought vividly to life. The food descriptions especially caught my attention - and had me heading to a local Filipino bakery to pick up some tasty ube treats.

This is a solid story that held my attention from beginning to end. While the book involves a tragedy and covers some tough topics it does end in a way that felt both hopeful and realistic. Just don’t read it if you are after a nuanced or sympathetic portrayal of male characters. They are mostly an unlikeable bunch in this book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings