Filipino-Authored Books I Read For Wikathon 2022 – Wrapping Up

Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol

🌼 format: audiobook

Set in mid-80s Philippines, the story follows Primi Peregrino who uses her love for books to distance herself from terrible realities — grief over her parents’ deaths, life as an orphan, and growing political unrest — in the most bizarre way: by hooking up with authors, writers, and even booksellers.

How wild is it that my first Wikathon read turned out to be my biggest favorite? Bibliolepsy is such a strange book, and I say this lovingly! Told in vignettes and flourishes, it’s evocative, thought-provoking, and gloriously indulgent. And of course, reading this book on the same year that the late dictator’s son clawed his way back into Malacañang Palace — oof, the girls that get it, get it. 🎗✨

Freddie vs. the Family Curse by Tracy Badua

🌼 format: audiobook

In his quest to break a generational curse, Freddie also reconnects with his family’s past and his culture in the process. At its heart, this debut novel is about a young Filipino-American boy summoning his courage and taking ownership of his fate.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated, which is always a neat surprise! It does a great job at creating tender moments of connection, while also shedding light on darker parts of Filipino history. And of course, its main attraction lies in its young hero, Freddie, who is endearing and very easy to root for. (By the way, check out Tracy Badua’s Wikathon 2022 author interview.)

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

🌼 format: paperback (advanced reader’s copy)
🌱 wikathon prompts: billie and emma; enteng kabisote

Most popularly known as the queer vampire throuple book where, to quote the author, “Two vampires find a vampire hunter in the trash and take them in.”

My reading experience with SIlver Under Nightfall was a little shaky at first. But I was soon won over by the deliciously cinematic atmosphere and sinful tension. While I enjoyed how the romance played out, I was more captivated by Remy’s relationship with his kingdom — his unceasing loyalty and dedication, despite public distrust, media slander, and corrupt officials.

(And yes, for the benefit of everyone, I asked Rin Chupeco to play fuck, marry, kill with their characters. Check out their answers — and mine! — in my recent author interview. 😜)

The Son of Good Fortune by Lysley Tenorio

🌼 format: audiobook

Admittedly, this was a hidden gem that I came across on Scribd. It follows an undocumented Filipino mother-son duo living in California.

The story is narrated from the son’s POV. But what shined brightest was his mother, Maxima, a former movie action star who now scams men online for a living. I mean, a ruthlessly determined, street-smart Filipino woman making white men with an Asian fetish fall in love with her and then taking their money? Truly, not all heroes wear capes!

My live-reading thread on Twitter does not do this book justice. But I will say that Reuben Uy’s audiobook performance was spectacular, and I had a lot of fun! A great read if you’re in the mood for Hustlers (2019) but less glamorous and more character-focused.

At Home with Crazy by Katrina Martin

🌼 format: paperback

I’ve been wanting to explore more locally published work, and I’m glad that At Home with Crazy landed on my lap. This is a much-needed, deliberately provocative book that shows what it’s like for a child to take care of a parent with mental illness. Or at the very least, provides a perspective of it.

Despite its delicate subject matter, the story also offers lighthearted and even comedic moments. I loved getting to know Cayt, shaking my head at her fascination with zombies, and seeing her use filmmaking to navigate her messy, complicated feelings. (More about this book in my exclusive author interview with Katrina Martin!)

The Body Papers by Grace Talusan

🌼 format: audiobook
🌱 prompts: bukas nalang kita mamahalin

From being sexually abused to dealing with cancer to living life as an undocumented immigrant, this memoir is a lovingly written ode to the body’s resilience. In many ways, it takes on too many things — to the point of asking, “Maybe the author should’ve written separate memoirs, each focusing on a singular topic.” However, I believe that this was a deliberate, stylistic choice. And perhaps the book’s most hard-hitting parallel: After all, how much have our own bodies taken on and endured?

Given its nonlinear structure and disjointed writing style, this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Nonetheless, I’d still recommend giving the audiobook a try, especially since it’s narrated by the author herself.

Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin

🌼 format: audiobook
🌱 prompts: billie and emma; enteng kabisote; oro

True to its title, this YA fantasy debut tackles courage — and its many, beautiful forms. The story begins when a warrior-girl-in-training meets a strange girl with even stranger origins. From there, we see how two opposing factions can come together and navigate the same space (without resorting to weird kumbaya nonsense, if I may add).

Although it took me a while to find my footing in this vivid world of giant trees and dangerous beasts, I was eventually swept away. Without giving too much away, Dauntless challenged my expectations of YA fantasy. And for that alone, I will happily recommend it! (I also recommend checking out Elisa A. Bonnin’s Wikathon author interview.)

The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo

🌼 format: audiobook
🌱 prompts: bukas nalang kita mamahalin; one more chance

Best believe that I will continue to scream this from the rooftops: Do not trust this book’s marketing team! Despite its synopsis, The Key to Happily Ever After is far from a romantic comedy. Instead, its story follows three sisters as they come to inherit their family’s wedding planning business.

Lots of sisterhood and exquisite family drama that’s on par with Filipino teleserye! But what I adored the most is that the book plays around with traditional scripts of family roles (e.g. panganay, bunso) and manages to subvert them. For fans of Roselle Lim‘s books, you’ll likely enjoy this one, too!

Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese SFF Anthology edited by Charles Tan

🌼 format: ebook
🌱 prompts: enteng kabisote; shake, rattle, and roll

This anthology promises a diverse mix of Filipino-Chinese speculative fiction stories. Truthfully, before reading it, I had no idea what that would look like or how it would translate on page. Even more honestly, I still don’t.

I can only say that Lauriat has delivered the most eclectic, imaginative collection of short stories I’ve ever read. I was also struck by how horror elements recurringly appeared. Definitely worth looking into!

Truth or Dare by Brianna Ocampo

🌼 format: ebook
🌱 prompts: one more chance

This short novella delivers the classic friends-to-lovers trope in a pretty brazen way. If I were to sum things up, I’d describe Truth or Dare as short, steamy, and a bit unconventional. It’s not a full-length love story; but rather a snapshot of two lifelong friends navigating uncharted territory and confronting their romantic feelings in the process.

With that said, do not read this if you want to see characters falling in love on-page. But do read it if you’re in the mood for a quick read that’s angsty and steamy — and involves a threesome mixed with some exhibitionism. (I said what I said. 👀)

Your Place Next Year by Mina V. Esguerra

🌼 format: ebook
🌱 prompts: one more chance

I’ve been wanting to pick up a post-pandemic romance, and thankfully, this novella delivered. Set in Manila still recovering from COVID-19, Your Place Next Year tells a quiet, low-key romance between two tired adults who are irreparably disillusioned by the unforgiving grind of capitalism.

Although this novella doesn’t really stand out, it does offer a nice change of pace and a fresh perspective. A good read for escapism that’s still somewhat rooted in current realities.

Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay

🍄 status: ongoing / currently reading (33%)
🌼 format: audiobook
🌱 prompts: enteng kabisote; oro

Set in a remote village during the Philippine-American War, Samkad’s initiation into manhood is interrupted by a bad omen. And with a quick Google search, I’ve confirmed that the story takes place in Bontoc, which is inhabited by the Igorots.

I am so glad to have stumbled across a Filipino-authored book with Indigenous representation. So far, I’ve loved seeing the tribe’s beliefs, practices, and rituals. And I’m excited for the plot to pick up.

How to Read Now: Essays by Elaine Castillo

🍄 status: ongoing / currently reading (5%)
🌼 format: ebook

Castillo’s latest work is a collection of essays that seeks to navigate contemporary reading culture — what it is and what it could be.

In today’s world where media consumption is (misguidedly) linked to activism, I’m eager to engage in a larger conversation about reading. Admittedly, I’ve made very little headway with this book due to mood reader reasons. But despite the liberal use of Filipinx and the American lens, I remain cautiously hopeful about what awaits me.

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

🍄 status: ongoing / currently reading (18%)
🌼 format: ebook (advanced reader’s copy)
🌱 prompts: shake, rattle, and roll

My first-ever (and still ongoing) attempt at reading YA horror! This is set on an allegedly cursed island with terrifying balete trees, where a filming crew decides to make a docu-series about said curse.

Not going to lie, my brain is still resisting. Hence, my sluggish reading progress. As someone who avoids all things horror, this one’s truly a challenge for me. But I’m still determined to see it through! You know, eventually. Nonetheless, the creep factor is definitely there.

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

🍄 status: abandoned (35%)
🌼 format: paperback
🌱 prompts: bukas nalang kita mamahalin; enteng kabisote

My first and only DNF for the month. A classic case of it’s not you, it’s me. While the world-building and technological apparatuses were fascinating, I really couldn’t power through the rest of the story.

My struggle was rooted in the main characters being sidelined in their own arcs. Maybe it was due to the synopsis, but I was expecting Rhee and Aly to take on more active roles as the protagonists in the story. And I just can’t be bothered with all this passive energy in what was promised to be a high-stakes, high-adrenaline space opera.