I’ve been trying to read more #romanceclass novels, and as I was about to start another one, this popped up on NetGalley! I knew I had to read it, especially after seeing the gorgeous cover and the storyline, so I downloaded it and fell in love with this book.
Elan was bewildered when Caty, an upbeat and lively girl, suddenly barged into his car and ~kindly~ demanded that he take her to the airport. On the trip there, they slowly got to know one another, despite their opposite personalities. Elan and Caty found themselves getting along and in the process, started developing feelings for one another. Unfortunately, Caty lived all the way in New York while Elan lived in Manila. They end up meeting again and again over the course of the book, and their relationship develops from strangers to acquaintances..to friends…to maybe something akin to best friends, and then to something more special. It’s always just never the right time, but fate had something in store for them.
I really like the idea of fate. That Thing Called Tadhana is one of my favorite Filipino movies, and Stay a Little Longer, though very different, really reminded me of it. Maybe it was the airport scene or just the idea of tadhana, but I loved reading about Elan and Caty meeting over and over again. This wasn’t just insta-love or slow-burn. It really felt so natural and authentic. Getting to see the two characters develop from people who are afraid to let others in… to people who gradually learn to trust others with their hearts…was nothing short of beautiful. Dawn Lanuza has a way with writing that makes you feel as if the real world is really filled with magic that leads the right people to one another.
This is especially close to my heart since Elan and Caty both feel like people I know in real life. There’s just something about their characters that are so authentic and I loved being able to read their story. Stay a Little Longer wasn’t as long as I’d like it to be, but looking back at it now, I adore the length since it kept me in a little bubble the whole time I was reading it. I’m really excited to check out Dawn’s other books now!
Stay a Little Longer releases on the 28th of May, so if you’re interested in pre-ordering, here are some links that you’ll find helpful:
Goodreads | Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | BAM
Got any book recommendations written by Filipino authors? Let me know in the comments below!
