A review by illstoptheworldandreadwithyou
Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman

3.0

Filipino musician and producer Mon Mendoza’s viral hit on social media helped land him an opportunity to come to New York to work on a film project. After a rough arrival to the United States, he expects a quiet night in. A chance meeting with his Pinoy neighbor from the apartment next-door leads to a steamy encounter instead. They expect it to be a one-time thing but soon discover they will be working together on the same film. She’s cast as the lead. 
 
What to expect: 
  • Instalust
  • Forced proximity (neighbors)
  • Celebrity romance
  • Workplace romance
  • Some pandemic representation (how it impacted their lives + Mon still wears a mask)
  • Discussions of how other cultures are treated by Americans and how they are represented in American media
  • A couple figuring out if they should continue together / how to navigate a romance between lovers based on different continents
 
Highlights for me include 
  • The rom-com references peppered throughout the story (Olivia is a huge fan of romantic comedies.)
  • Song titles included at the beginning of each chapter like a soundtrack to the story
  • Mon’s optimistic personality

What didn’t work as well for me: 
  • I wish there had been more development in the love story.
  • Some parts and passages felt a bit disjointed.


 
I received an advance copy of the book from Harlequin and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.