Kiss and Cry

Six 32 Central #2

by Mina V. Esguerra

Calinda met Ramirez when she was 20 and he was 22. She was the rising star of women's skating, and he was the superstar forward of men's hockey. Her parents and coach were against their relationship, and because Calinda wanted to prove that no hot guy would ever distract her from her dream, she chose skating over him — and also avoided him all together. Ten years later, they meet again as gold medalists and prominent sports advocates, still single and undeniably attracted to each other. It's still not a good time for them, because Ramirez is retiring from hockey and moving back to the United States. Calinda doesn't do relationships, really, and proposes they use his final three weeks in Manila to explore what might have been, and do all the things they wish they'd done (there's a list!). Then he can leave for good, and they can both move on with their lives without this one regret.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Sports, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Sports Romance

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2019

About the author

Mina V. Esguerra writes contemporary romance and young adult novellas. She has a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Development Communication, put to good use in her work as trainer and content management consultant. Mina lives in Metro Manila, Philippines, with her husband and daughter.

She finds inspiration in the lives and experiences of other people, so the answer to "Is this story based on you?" is always, always "No."

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

A hugely readable Manila-set romance that feels intensely realistic. Ram and Cal are both successful sportspeople, but not megastars: they've reached 31, their sporting careers are done with, and now they both have entire new lives to build and a lot of regrets to face up to. Like the fact that Cal stayed in the Philippines when perhaps a richer country could have given her the training that might have taken her to a higher level, that Ram basically has no fallback career because he kept quitting jobs in his US home to come back and play for the Philippines...and of course that they ended their fledgeling relationship a decade ago because Cal's family and coach forbade her from dating because of her career, and she accepted it.

I wouldn't call it melancholy, but there is definitely a pensive feel to the book--the inexorable passage of time and its effects on bodies, the reality of letting a dream go, and the hard truth of choosing between living your life or disappointing your parents. That's a big part of what drives the conflict. Cal is sitting on an untapped volcano of resentment about the way her life was trammelled by other people's demands, so she is determined to control what she gives, feels and owes. Ramirez is stuck by grim financial necessity: he and his family live in the US, and he simply can't afford to hop back to Manila for a LTR, even if he was sure he wants to turn his back on the chances of a potentially richer and safer life. (This book loves Manila but doesn't soft-soap its problems.)

But as a couple, they absolutely shine. Super sex positive (this is much steamier than anything else I've read by this author, and I'm pretty sure I've read everything), with an experienced heroine who is unashamed in demanding what she wants, a deeply kind, incredibly giving hero, and a romance of mutual truth and generosity, which gives Ram the courage to ask himself what he wants, and Cal the courage to let go of her need to control her own emotions. Sophisticated, thoughtful, grown-up romance.

Also, it is lovely to see Cal's brother's bisexuality casually acknowledged and I'm really hoping he gets a book. *big puppy eyes*

I had an ARC copy from the author.

[aarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Waite of The Seattle Review of Books referenced this review in her column! Ah! Weird but very cool: https://seattlereviewofbooks.com/note...

***

Calinda Valerio is a former ice skater in the Philippines. After retirement, she’s been choreographing routines for other skaters and is the creative director of the Six 32 Central’s ice rink. Ramirez Diaz-Tan is a forward for the Philippine national hockey team and is on his way to retirement. He’s a Filipino-American and a 1st gen immigrant to the U.S. Even though he moved to the U.S. when he was a kid, he still came back to Manila annually and played hockey, eventually rising up to the national team. He currently spends most of his time in the U.S. working as a teacher and comes back to the Philippines intermittently to play for the team.

Cal and Ram have a history. Ten years ago, they started hanging out… until Cal’s strict parents created a no-dating rule because they didn’t want her to get distracted from her skating career.

They parted in amicable terms and went on to be successful in their respective careers. But they’re both missing closure from the incident - they’re basically each other’s “the one that got away.” Ten years later, Cal is retired and Ram is on his way out of the hockey team. They’re both chosen for Parchment magazine’s 30 Most Accomplished In Their 30s, and meet up for the first time in a decade during their joint interview. Sparks fly during their reunion. Seriously, I was fanning myself at how much tension there was during the interview. Almost immediately afterwards, Cal proposes a temporary and exclusive relationship. Temporary because Ram is flying back to the U.S. in a couple weeks (and never returning to Manila as he’s retiring). She wants to recapture their relationship, even if it’s for a little while, to get some closure on a relationship that never happened ten years ago. Ram, who clearly feels the tug of attraction even now, agrees and their relationship begins at the start of the novel. They actually make a list of all the things they want to do in their relationship - some sexual (no, I won’t give it away, but it’s terrific) and some more innocent (like going to Cal’s Sunday dinner with her family or kissing outside in a public park). I was melting at how cute and romantic this all was.

There are mild spoilers ahead, so I'm putting the rest of the (very lengthy!) review under spoiler tags.



1) Can I just say how refreshing it is to have a couple without communication issues? They can (gasp!) actually talk to each other and solve problems by expressing how they feel. I’ll give you a minute to pick up your jaw from the floor. Right off the bat, Ram is very honest to Cal about his misgivings re: starting a relationship again.

There’s no deception or malice in any of their interactions. Ram didn’t enter the relationship feeling nervous or worried that Cal might screw him over again. He voiced his concerns, Cal reassured them, they got past the issue, and then they began the relationship like reasonable adults. This happens over and over again in the book. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have conflict or have struggles (the opposite is true), but it is so *good* to see a portrayal of a healthy and functional relationship. Sometimes in romance, I worry that couples constantly hide important things from each other and refuse to communicate. It makes me doubt their HEA. The opposite is true here.

2) I love Cal so much. She’s an athlete who’s risen to the top, but she never forgets the importance of giving back to the community and helping other ice skaters. The interviewer asks her why she wants to improve the ice skating program - especially if new skaters would outdo her achievements. Cal is actually *confused* by the question because she can’t believe it.

Cal also feels frustrated because her parents have never respected her agency or trusted her to date. Her younger brother Colin, who is also an ice skater and bisexual, never had a no-dating rule; Cal is bitter that her parents imposed that rule on her unfairly; they didn’t want her to accidentally get pregnant and ruin her ice skating career. She’s frustrated because they didn’t trust her to put her career (which she loved) ahead of any relationship.

She’s not angry at her parents and her coach, but does want closure. That’s why Sunday dinner with the parents is part of their relationship contract. She doesn’t want to start a fight, but she wants to show her parents that what they did hurt her.

3) This is an odd thing to love about a book, but there was a feeling of melancholy that permeated the entire book.

It wasn’t exactly verbalized, and there were plenty of funny moments, but the entire book had a melancholic tone throughout that really worked: Ram finishing a chapter in his life and retiring from his hockey team, never to return to Manila ever again; Ram struggling between two countries - The Philippines and the United States; Ram and Cal expressing regret that their relationship ten years ago ended too soon, and that they might have missed out on something wonderful; and the protagonists facing financial troubles, both personally and within their sports (winter sports aren’t exactly popular in a country without winter, so funding and exposure are difficult to get).

It didn’t make me sad as a reader, but I became more appreciative of the characters’ struggles. There is no “dark moment” in the book where the protagonists have a giant fight/misunderstanding and storm out. The pensiveness is omnipresent and builds up slowly outside the cocoon of Ram and Cal’s budding romance. But the bubble can’t protect them forever, and eventually the melancholy seeps in and forces them to make a serious decision about their relationship. There is a happy ever after, and it’s well-earned and fought for with every ounce of strength. I’ve never cheered so hard as when I was reading the epilogue. It was incredibly tough, but these crazy kids made it across the finish line (skated a triple axel? Scored a goal? Running metaphors don’t work when the book is about winter sports!).

4) The final reason I loved this book is a bit personal. Like Ram, I’m a first generation Asian immigrant to the U.S. (Indian, not Filipino) and moved here when I was a kid. I identified so strongly with his struggles and experiences. It kinda scared me that he seemed so relatable.

At one point, Ram is scared to try a favorite dish at a beloved restaurant. He craves this one dish all year and he can only have it when he visits Manila. But he’s afraid to eat it - what if it’s not as good as his memory remembers? What if he can’t get past that disappointment?

For a split second before he put the first spoonful in his mouth, Ram was worried that it would be a bad batch or just not-perfect, because sometimes it was like that. Sometimes, the meal you only ever really had in one place would be bland after a year or so of not having it. It might have been an off day for the restaurant or it might be you, not liking it the same way or just being wrong about its greatness all this time.

I was just about crying here. I feel this exact same way every time I go back east: freshly crisp jangri in Rishikesh, paper dosa with spicy sambar in Mylapore, and fresh coffee in stainless steel cups sold by Chennai street stalls. One of my favorite restaurants in Singapore is called Whole Earth and it serves Peranakan cuisine, or a mix of Chinese-Indonesian-Malay influences. My favorite dish is Penang Rendang. It’s this delicious mushroom dish that’s cooked in a mouthwatering mix of spices. You can’t get it in the U.S. And even if someone made Penang Rendang for me, it wouldn’t taste the way that Whole Earth makes it. My sister and I will text each other every once in a while and say, “Remember Whole Earth? Sometimes I feel like paying $1500 for a flight just to taste it again.” And when we do go back to Singapore, my stomach is filled with butterflies at the thought that it won’t be good or that I’ve built up my expectations for nothing. But like Ram and his sisig, my Penang Rendang always, always turns out to be delicious. But I’ll still worry the next time I go back.

There are other little but relatable markers. Ram having a gigantic shopping list to get Filipino specialty products for his mom in the U.S. We always, always bring empty suitcases with us when we go to Asia and bring back special spices and dry food materials (everything has to be packaged really well because U.S. Customs will not hesitate to confiscate it. I speak from experience). And Cal mentioned having to pick up a special lipstick at Target for her mom because it wasn’t available in the Philippines. When we visit Asia, our relatives send us a giant list of Western products to buy (things that are cheaper in the U.S. or not available at all in India). We’ve brought back cosmetics, tennis rackets, and even Nike sneakers.

Ram and I also share a sadder similarity: there is a very minor subplot of how Ram's grandfather's health is in decline. Ram's uncle mentions that he contacted his brother (Ram's dad) in the group chat and told him to come back to visit, but that Ram's dad hadn't replied. The uncle then asks Ram to convey the message to his father, hoping that he'll listen to Ram and see the declining grandfather before his death.

“He shouldn't have to come back only for a funeral.”

This hit really, really close to home for me. Out of my four grandparents, both of my grandfathers have died in the past four years. I've only seen them twice and thrice respectively since moving to the U.S. First, we didn't have a green card. Later, it cost a lot of money to travel so we couldn't go regularly during school vacation. Then, I was in college and I had to do summer internships to make my resume look good. There just wasn't enough time. Skype was an option, but it felt like I was talking to a stranger and the conversation always trailed away awkwardly after I conveyed how I got good grades that semester. And for both cases, I either went back east for the funeral or didn't go at all. It all seemed so pointless and miserable at the time - what's the point of going to the funeral if you weren't there for their life? On my dad's side, my family felt a lot of guilt because we knew his health was weakening but we couldn't leave because a) it was around the same time as my high school graduation and b) we were in the process of selling the house, changing jobs, and moving-out-of-state. Only my father went to the funeral as I was preparing for college orientation. On my mom's side, it was especially difficult because my grandfather had Parkinson's disease for over a decade. Toward the end of his life, he couldn't move by himself or speak. For us grandkids, the calculation to visit was difficult: should we uproot our regimented schedules and spend $3000 to visit someone who barely knows that we're there? We decided no, but my mom visited a lot. Unlike the previous time, both my sister and I went back to Singapore for the funeral.

Not that my life story is especially relevant to the review, but I want you to understand how emotionally wrenching this one line was to me. For a lot of us immigrants, we sometimes forget that there's a time limit to return home. We assume that our relations are immortal. And we only remember that's not true when we have to book a flight home for a funeral - to celebrate the life of someone you barely remember. Sometimes books just hit you in the right way and it feels like they're speaking directly and only to you. This line felt like that to me.

I honestly lost count of all the things that Ram did that I had done, too. I completely understand the feeling of desolation and struggle to attain an identity when you’re stuck between two places. Ram’s parents don’t want him to stay in the Philippines because 1) flights are expensive so they’ll never see him frequently and 2) they worked so hard to get American citizenship. They did it for him, so that he would have a better life and better career opportunities in the U.S.

In case you didn’t know: getting a visa to live in the U.S. is incredibly difficult. It’s like winning a lottery. Getting a green card and citizenship is even harder. I moved to the U.S. when I was six; my dad kept on applying to renew his temporary work visa every year and we had to mentally prepare to leave the country if it wasn’t renewed. I wasn’t able to see my family in India and Singapore until I was 12 because that’s when we got the green card. One of my clearest memories is the day the green card acceptance letter came in the mail; my mom took us to Barnes & Noble in celebration afterwards because I had been begging to buy some of the Kate Daniels books (I read them repeatedly in the library but she wouldn’t let me buy the whole series). I don’t feel an urge to enter the powerball lottery because I already know what it feels like to win one. Getting American citizenship felt like that. We had gotten an opportunity to live in the most incredible country in the world, and they couldn’t kick us out now.

So yes, I completely understand where Ram’s parents are coming from. Returning to Asia is difficult. Flights are expensive, and you’ve basically destroyed any chance to maintain a close relationship with grandparents and cousins. But it’s not just about finances and opportunities. I understand why Ram is struggling to leave Manila, why he doesn’t want to see Manila through rose-colored glasses - it’ll hurt too much.

Every time you go back, you mourn a little of what could have been - another version of “the one that got away.” You look at the delicious sweet shops and the local durian vendors and your cousins who also happen to be strangers. And you wonder: “Could I have had this every day? Is this what I gave up?” And every time you come back, something changes. New stores replace old beloved restaurants. A street is closed down, so you have to change your usual route to walk to the temple. The longer you’re away, the more it feels like a strange land that you don’t belong to. It hurts to go back because it’s a reminder that your life had another path, and you’ll never know if that life is better than the one you have now.

You can’t have both countries. You have to choose. Ram eventually chooses the two things that matter most to his heart: the ones that got away - Manila and Calinda. He earned his happily ever after, and it made me a little sad inside because I made a different choice.


Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have interacted with the author on social media, but these are my honest feelings about the book.

[Adele Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, sexy read that doesn’t skimp on deep emotion and family drama. There’s a lot to love about this book (and I can say I concur with everything Aarya Marsden says in her very lengthy review), but I want to focus on how much I loved the heroine, Cal. Cal is both dispassionate and entirely passionate. Independent as a cat and logical as an equation. The kind of heroine I wanted to have as part of my friend group. Ram is a wonderful character too and I don’t want to sell him short. But CAL. Watching them navigate and negotiate their relationship is fascinating, hot, and delicious.

Anyway, highly recommended.

I was given an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen (mrs-machino) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Cal and Ram’s second chance story - their journey down the list of things they’d missed out on was so joyful and fun. Ram’s journey to find what he wanted for his own life explored some interesting themes of home and family.

[Moras Dela Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook! I love how the accents change but I wish the breath intakes were edited out. Made me feel like someone was breathing on my neck, I had to listen in 1.8x speed so it wouldn't be noticeable.

[Kris Mauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a complete sucker for a good sports read with a sweet romance attached to it. I don’t watch much hockey or know much about the sport, but for some reason I’m constantly drawn to stories that include hockey players. So when I first heard Kiss and Cry featured one, I was ready to dive into this story! Being set in the Philippines was the cherry on top.

“Calinda kissed Ramirez like she was taking something she deserved. He kissed her like he was taking something he needed.”

It was easy for me to fall in love with Calinda and Ramirez. As I witnessed how hard they both work to better the future for other athletes I was drawn into their story. Just to give you a snippet of who they are: Calinda wishes for figure skaters to be better than she ever was and Ramirez helps kids who can’t afford to participate in hockey actually get a chance to play the sport. They were refreshing.

Calinda and Ramirez’s romance started right off the bat. I loved that this was a second-chance romance because it didn’t leave me with would they or wouldn’t they? The electricity in the first chapter alone made me want to scream for these two to be together! So I was happy when they eventually did.

And I have to tell you now. . . The heat in this book is TURNT up! I was happily surprised by this. I’m a huge Mina V. Esguerra fan. Her swoony romances are always perfection, and the high heat level in Kiss and Cry just fit the story well. She continues to grow in her writing and this might be my favorite book from her yet! I can’t wait to see where she continues from here.

“It was like she won something, maybe proved to herself that she was worth this hug, this love, this kindness.”

As they navigate their way through their new, shared life they begin to discover themselves and what they want from their own future. I enjoyed everything about this book. The plot, sports, all of the characters, and of course, the romance. If you’re looking for a fun sports romance then Kiss and Cry is for you! Highly recommend.

[Yna from Books and Boybands · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for lovers of sports romances and steamy reads. I've been going through Ms. Mina's books and teenager me is a little surprised with how sex-positive her writing is turning out to be.

[Chachic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss and Cry by Mina V. Esguerra is a diverse and own voices contemporary romance set in the Philippines. Cal is a retired figure skater, now working behind-the-scenes in the local figure skating scene. While Ram is a hockey player planning to retire from the local team. They knew each other ten years ago and could have had something if Cal's parents hadn't forbidden them to date. They're basically each other's "the one who got away." Now they have one last chance to reconnect before Ram permanently leaves Manila to start his life in the US. ⁣⁣
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I have to admit that I know next to nothing about winter sports athletes here in the Philippines, and all I know about hockey and figure skating are from watching the Mighty Ducks and Yuri on Ice. That didn't stop me from enjoying this second chance romance. Kiss and Cry is a fun and flirty read, filled with discussions about Filipino food that can make you crave while reading. And there's also a nostalgic tone to it, given that Ram is Fil-Am, lives most of the time in the US and only really travels to Manila to play hockey. As someone who had lived abroad for a couple of years, I understood what it felt like for him to try to hold Manila at arms' length because he didn't want to fall in love with the city and make it even harder to leave each time. I feel you, Ram. Manila isn't an easy city to love but I love it all the same, and it was always painful to leave.⁣⁣
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I also appreciated that the characters in this book are in their 30s, and closer to my own age than most characters I read about in contemporary romances. I enjoyed learning more about both Cal and Ram, who have accomplished so much in their respective careers and are trying to pay it forward. Both of them are strong and resilient in their own way. I liked how easy things were between them, and how they fit into each other's spaces once they let the other person in. ⁣⁣
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Immensely readable and an overall enjoyable book, I recommend Kiss and Cry to fans of contemporary romance. Looking forward to the next title in this series! I heard that Cal's brother Colin will get his own book, and I'm hoping Ram's best friend Teban will as well.⁣⁣

[kb · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes a thing wasn't mean for you but damn you wanted it anyway, didn't mean you'd stop trying. Never mind if you had to knock on more doors and need to work so much harder. Sometimes even years at it wouldn't be enough and the next thing to do was help make it easier for those coming in after you." /mic drop

Read my full review on Bookbed. Check out my ~BoJo art:



... and the BTS video!

Here are all the books I read in 2019! :)

[Jennifer Hallock · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

More romance as you want romance to be: skilled heroine, handsome hero who adores her, and sexy consent. And both are exceptional athletes: Calinda (Cal) a championship figure skater and Ramirez (Ram) the leading scorer for the Philippine national hockey team. Both were chosen for a "30 Most Accomplished in their Thirties" feature for a society magazine. So, they are effin' competent, and thank you very much for asking.

Many other reviews will cover key reasons why this book stands out: the intersectional feminism that underlies the text, the underrepresentation of winter sports athletes in a tropical country, the massive readability, the feels (kilig!), casual bisexuality in a side character, and the delicious steaminess complete with a blindfold scene that was exquisite.

What felt so real to me, though, was the h/h's dance around each other's careers and life goals. As a person who has moved overseas to accommodate my husband's career goals, and my husband has moved back to the States to accommodate mine (and then moved back overseas for me), I know how difficult it is for two people to truly partner each other in every way and in every place. (The issue is complicated even further by the fact that there is no divorce in the Philippines.)

Calinda is resentful of the way her family had forbidden a relationship with Ram the first time around because they assumed that Cal would automatically give up her skating career to follow Ram, a Filipino-American, overseas. The complexities of the dual citizen identity, the Fil-Am community, and the ambivalent attitudes toward balikbayans, or returned overseas Filipinos, was all very well handled and very real.

Cal believes her family underestimated her and her dedication for excellence, because of course they did. But that also means she does not want prove them right by following Ram anywhere. Her life, her business, her art, and her world is in Manila, moreover. Could she ask Ram to stay? Or would that would be asking Ram to make a sacrifice that she is not willing to make?

Ram's family hates his annual pilgrimage to Manila to play hockey because they feel they sacrificed so much already to emigrate to the US, including somewhat severing relations with their extended family. Would Ram "throw this away" by returning to the Philippines? Ram, who resented the move even as a child, has to figure out how to measure what HE wants from life as compared to what his parents want from his life. This is a classic 1.5-generation issue, just spread out over the Pacific.

Both characters are in their 30s (yay!), and yet they still feel a very real pressure to live up to their families' expectations. They love their families, despite the dysfunction. All this reads true. How to balance the hopes of the families, along with the hero's and heroine's mature career goals, is a very nuanced conflict, which is especially terrific in contemporary (and sports) romance.

And, oh, that cover. While I read an ARC given to me by the author in consideration for an objective review, I did also buy a copy of the book. Because the cover.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounding down

Mina never disappoints and this instantly became one of my favorites of hers. Ram and Cal are each other’s “one who got away” because Cal wasn’t allowed to date when she was a teen and because Ram is an expat who lives most of the year in the US. What is meant to be a short-term relationship where they make “lists” for each other and try new things turns into more, of course. I loved the exploration of Ram’s Fil-Am identity; Mina always writes with a certain amount of... realism? And I especially loved how this took on Cal’s feelings about her parents and dating—she’s angry, but it’s such a subtle and really compelling exploration of that anger. Loved her on-page bi brother (hope he gets a book!). And I loved the setting with Filipino winter sport athletes. Had no idea these even existed in the Philippines tbh!

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

Meh. I just couldn’t get into this one. It felt like the characters were floating from scene to scene. Like they only existed in the moments I was reading — there was no depth or grounding or complexity to the characters or the world. I also didn’t feel the connection or chemistry between our main characters at all.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance romance, retired figure skater heroine, retiring hockey player. Low conflict, atmospheric (Manila and its food and customs/culture), immigrant/ex-pat life, tonnes of consent.

Full review 

This is a nice, easy going, low conflict romance with some angst and lots of realistic talk about sports behind its glamourous facade. I loved that we a different aspect of professional sports, one where it’s like a day job – some fame and popularity on local level, but none of the huge wealth and celebrity. status. Both MCs love their sport despite it not being the most popular in their country and they are trying to a living out of it.

The story also gives us a lot of thoughts on leaving and staying, on living in two countries and not feeling truly at home in either. The story is very atmospheric, set in Manila, we see s much of life there - the food, the local customs and everything. At the same time we get enough glimpse of Ram’s life in the US to see how the immigrant experience shapes who he is.

It's a second chance love story where the MCs are in their 30s and get together in some sort of belated fight for independence, some sort of revenge, of taking back control over her life that was taken from them 10 years ago. In reality though, this is just the continuation of their love story that started all those years and they never stopped wanting to be together. 

It's deeply romantic but both acting very practical on the surface. I loved how neither of them wanted to force the other person to shape their whole life around you. I appreciate the open discussions of consent and the respect the MCs showed each other.

I felt the story lost some momentum around the middle but in the end it all worked well. I absolutely loved how simple and ordinary his grand gesture was, how fitting to both of them. Their love was not an easy solution of a difficult life situation. The practical difficulties of being together were not glossed over but rather discussed between the MCs and a solution was found that worked for both of them.

Light-hearted, yet with some unexpected depth, this is a lovely sports romance and I highly recommend it to everyone. 

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: nothing that I can recall??

This was............fine? But also fairly forgettable. I did like the "they had a thing in the past and now they've reconnected" aspect of the story. But I genuinely feel like in a month's time, I will have forgotten basically everything about this tbh.

[Xan]

Content Warnings Parental controlling behavior. References to grandparent being at the end of his life. On the page sex. Consensual light kink.

I really enjoy Esguerra’s romances, her writing style, the way she approaches tropes and twists them just enough that they feel specific and unique but still really hit that sweet spot, give me as a reader what I’m looking for from my favorite tropes. This was no exception. I loved this romance, it’s one of my faves I’ve read in 2019, and it beat out my former favorite Esguerra romance for the top slot.

Read my full review on my blog.

[Verity W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me in the end. I wanted more skating and more romance and this didn’t really deliver on either the way that I was hoping. I found the heroine quite self-absorbed and didn’t get what the hero saw in her

Nb I started this months ago, got distracted and then came back and started it again and read in one sitting on a plane trip.

[nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, let me tell you everything that I like about this book: EVERY DAMN THING. This book is the perfect mix of cute, hot, and (a little bit) of angst.

The two leads are [100 emoji]. They're the cutest couple????????? And the sexiest too because yes, consent is sexy. I love them, they're my children from now on. (I need more deets about Colin though, is he fine, how's he and Lexa)

My usual issue with #romanceclassbooks is that I get so bitin :( Fortunately, this one didn't leave me hanging. Everything happens in the span of a couple of weeks. There's not much time-skipping that happened. It's paced very well.

A note though, there's something so gut-wrenching about Ram and Calinda not wanting to give themselves the right to be happy with each other; that the couple of weeks they have together would suffice for the ten years that they could've had with each other. You two, ugh, I love you both but you were a couple of dumdums.

"He was declaring it: they'd won. No matter how his season ended, and never mind that she wasn't competing anymore. They'd won this."

"He was here. It was like she won something, maybe proved to herself that she was worth this hug, this love, this kindness."

Now excuse me as I reread the whole book again.

[Megan]

A retired figure skater and a retiring hockey player meet up again ten years after their mutual crush was prematurely halted. Calinda doesn't do romance or relationships, and Ramirez is leaving the Philippines for good in a couple weeks. Both of them are determined to keep their lives on the tracks they've chosen for their post-retirement selves, but their second chance reunion involves looking deeper at what they're capable of, what they want, and how to get there.

Esguerra creates a unique space in her books, a space for characters to breathe and struggle and figure out what they want, all without having to ride pre-determined romance genre default narratives rails. The energy of her books is so internal and so personal to the characters, so that even in the tropier books, I'm always gently surprised by how the characters move through the story. I know I'm explaining this in very abstract terms, but I'm just in awe of how Esguerra does the work she does.

It's not for everyone--I suspect readers lured in by the figuring skating & hockey concept might be surprised by how this is not a competitive, bouncy, upbeat romance with a narrative driven by passionate ambition (Esguerra's chosen emotional palette is a lot more subtle than that)--but I really liked it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the same things about this as I loved about What Kind of Day; the author packs so many big questions and issues into a slim novel. It works so well because the big ideas are expressed in such down to earth terms; careers and family relations and decisions of which country to live in are huge but on the page they're little everyday moments and subtle shifts in feeling.

I also appreciate seeing a couple of grown, mature characters who have learned how to communicate openly and don't get swept up in shame or jealousy about the ten years they spent dating other people. The obstacles to their relationship are the big life decisions facing them, with all the constraints of money and family and international travel, and that gives us plenty of low key drama.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and light, a little steamy (which I wasn't expecting lol), can finish in half a day. I liked the characters but I felt kind of disconnected to them... hmm...

Mina always writes believable characters, though, so I liked how human these two were! Like, to the point that, if they were my friends, I would totally be frustrated with how they were acting, haha! And Ram was such a cute little puppy and Cal was a go-getter, I love her.

Officially soft for them both. Didn't blow me away, hence the midway mark, but would probably reread?

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute take on a figure skater and hockey player romance. I liked the second-chance romance aspect of this, the little moments when they think what might have been in their careers and their relationship but also revel in their relationship now. Low conflict, mostly internal and a sweet HEA.

[Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect perfect book

Every once in a while I think I may be getting burnt out on romance, but then I read a phenomenal book like this one. Nothing like getting punched in ALL the feels to restore your faith in the genre.

[Amy's Book Cafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet story of longing and love for sports romance lovers

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short love story about rekindling with an old flame with an ending that doesn't leave the couple look back to the past and onwards to their future.

As a couple, they didn't have much conflict between them and actually talk things through. They really do have a healthy and great communication and that is very refreshing to see.

The plot of this story really sounds interesting and would make you want to read it but unfortunately I couldn't click with it.

[Katt Briones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Six 32 Central universe and I definitely felt a shift from the previous ones I’ve read from Mina (the Chic Manila series) and it feels like we’re growing with her writing. 💕 The characters, Cal and Ram, are both in their thirties now and are sure of themselves and what they want. Tension, kilig, and conflicts are already well established in the first chapter and it got me invested agad agad. Pace was also refreshing, like less of the mating dance now though maybe it’s because they’ve already had ten years of pining haha, though that was more on Ram’s part methinks. Which is... lol melt dammit soft boy.

Calinda quickly grew on me, with how firm she was and how sure she had been of things she wanted. I especially loved the parts when she looked back on her former self and, well, not just ~hated it but more like mocked herself for being cute and dainty and obedient to her folks and coach and oh how she disowns that version of herself now. 😂 It was fun to read from her point of view, how she owned it and was like ‘ano ha I’ll do what I want bahala kayong lahat’. Her idea of bringing Ram to dinner with her family was genius. Like girl you are the level of petty we all aspire to be. Also “I am what you made me” still resonates to me like rawr girl YAS you are not cute anymore you are fierce!

Ramirez Diaz-Tan oh man where to start. Soft boy who melted at the sight of Cal getting lost in his huge jersey, we melted with you, man. Wow. I loved how he didn’t force anything on Cal and was clear and transparent with things. The conflict was mostly with him, because he was the one moving and had the big decision to make, but I really loved how the decision making process for him was narrated and established because it didn’t revolve around Cal and his love for her. Not that it was undermined but it was realistic, and there was that support system that reminded him of what had to be considered and that there were spreadsheets to be made and expenses to be estimated. His character was also refreshing and relatable what with his struggles with money and his living with his relatives, the instances mentioned where he had something labeled / considered to be his but did not feel like home? Man. Boom. Right to the heart. Yes soft boy thank you are you me? 😂

Also, Teban. Omg. You need a separate paragraph because thank you for being the voice of reason and you were funny af. (Does he want an MC? Bcs I volunteer.)

Thank you, Mina, for this amazing ride of a book. Wow. (Cal almost dethroned Kimmy in my heart 😂)

[Claire DeHaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 A perfect read for Winter Olympics season.

Ram is a Fil-Am who travels to Manila from Texas a couple times a year to play for the Philippines Hockey team. The long distance relationship with his sport is wearing on him, so he’s decided this is his last season. Cal was the one that got away. She’s a former figure skater for the Philippines who has transitioned to coaching and choreography. When she learns this is Rams last trip, she proposes they finally date for the summer so she can get closure on being forced to break up with him as a 20-year-old.

The book is impressively nuanced, treating finances, diaspora, and daughter/parent relationships with care.

Ice skater/hockey player is a trope, but Esguerra brings it to the fresh setting of Manila which breathes new life into it. I realize it’s crazy to tag a book about a hockey player and an ice skater “real jobs”, but this book justifies it. Cal and Ram are people who play winter sports in a country without winter and the have to do more than sports to pay the bills.

The book is also clear eyed about Manila as a city with rich culture and real downsides. Ram is nostalgic for the city(and especially the food) but describes it as a moody city that rarely makes things easier. Ram feels his expat status keenly - he is neither fully at home in Manila nor in Texas. He’s grateful for his parents’ sacrifices and he has to do what’s right for him. Cal has a sense of being left behind by people who move out of Manila, but can’t blame them or ask them to stay because she understands. It’s complicated and meaty.

Cal was forbidden by her parents and coach to date Ram when she was 20. It hurt her that they didn’t trust her to focus on her sport without being forced to. The double standard with her brother being allowed to date highlighted sexist expectations. It’s another complicated and real issue at the heart of the book.

This is a low angst book - Ram and Cal are very open and communicative with each other. Everyone in this book loves and wants the best for everyone. As someone who likes angst, I didn’t find the romance the most compelling, but I’m so impressed with the topics and setting that I recommend it to anyone.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books
This was a total random find that I found in the book blogger tag on Twitter, where the author was promoting pre-ordering the ebooks version. She marketed it using The Cutting Edge, so I was sold. Also it was about hockey, and a book about hockey in a country that is a non-traditional market for the sport, so I was super interested in this one!

I haven't read a lot of books set in The Philippines, other than Crazy Rich Asians, so this was a different book than what I was used to. I definitely like to read books outside of myself, so I was really interested to read about this book and see the culture and what life was like in Manila. I definitely loved reading about how Ram was trying to help grow hockey in this non-traditional market.

The romance in this one was cute. It's a second-chance relationship between a figure skater and hockey player who were attracted to each other when they were younger, but Calinda let her parents tear them apart. The figure skating and hockey parts of this was very minimal, which was slightly disappointing to me. It feels like more of a backdrop since the book is more about the romance between these two. It's really about them trying to make up for lost time, and knowing that Ram is not going to be staying in Manila, so their relationship has an expiration date.

My heart kind of broke for these two later in the book, and I also wanted to shake them. They were both being so stupid, because I knew they loved each other, but it seemed like there just weren't fighting for that love. There are definitely some sexy romance times in this book, but I don't think they were too many or that descriptive. I'd say this is low to mild heat rating in the romantic scenes in this one.

There are other books in this series, but I'm more interested in the hockey part of it, so I haven't decided if I'm going to read book one yet. I definitely think if you like a good second chance romance you will like this book.

[Gel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Mina V. Esguerra for providing me a digital review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Aside from being a fan of friends-to-lovers trope, I’m also a sucker for the-one-that-got-away love stories. I just love being told a good story about lovers who went their separate ways only to find themselves back in each others’ arms again after a few years. So when I read the synopsis of this book I know that I HAVE to read it.

Cal and Ram aren’t quite lovers when they first met each other. Things between them are just beginning when they had to end it. Ten years later, older and perhaps, wiser, they meet each other at an interview,. They talked and created a list (one for each of them) of the things they want to do together before Ram has to go back to America, for good.

Like I said I’m a HUGE fan of the-one-that-got-away love stories so I obviously swooned hard throughout the book. I love their relationship and the mature feels that is included with it. Lately, I’ve been wanting to read New Adult and Adult romance and Kiss and Cry satisfied my cravings!

Cal and Ram are 30 and 32 years old respectively and it really showed their maturity. I love how they really thought of things and important life decisions and didn’t just swooped into the love battle just for the name of love. I rooted for them so much and wished that they could think of ways on howthey can make their relationship work.

I just wish that there were glimpses or little scenes/chapters of their younger selves. I would just like to read about little Cal and Ram spending time together! (Please Ms. Mina write a novella or something hihi!)

Can I also say how I annoyed I am by Cal’s parents and coach?! I’M. JUST. SO!!! I also wished it didn’t take them ten years to reunite but whatever love takes time or something lol.

Read more of my bookish and not so bookish wanderings at Whimsy Wanders!

[H. Bentham]

"Baby, you got lucky cause you're rocking with the best⁣
And I'm greedy . . .⁣
You know that I'm greedy for love."⁣
•⁣
That's NOT a quote from the book, but a line from an Ariana Grande song that resonated with me while I was reading 😅, and I felt like Cal could def be skating to this to Ram bec look, She is the actual BEST (!!!) and in the context of their relationship running out of time (he's set to leave again and for good this time; this is not a spoiler), she's allowed to be greedy for love. 😏⁣
•⁣
This book came out in March, but I held off on reading it until July (when I needed comfort reads) bec my friends, @readbyher especially, said I would cry at important points, and they were right! LOL . It's a good cry, though, and I appreciate the uncomplicated handling of complex modern-day themes like migration, and athletes, and LDR, etc.. It was also refreshing to read about adults excelling at sports like Ice Skating and Ice Hockey, ones that are usually brushed off as just a kid's fleeting hobby or a career that isn't as lucrative as others in a country like the PH. ⁣
•⁣
"I am what you made me."⁣
•⁣
It was also v interesting to be in Cal's PoV at times bec her talking about trainings since she was young reminded me so much of my little sisters and ballet. It's quite different but also the same. With Ram, I found it endearing how he kept choosing to go back even when it's so much easier not to. ⁣
⁣
Also, I'm always happy to read about people who not only become the champions in the fields they're passionate about, but also do more to lift others and do even better and reach even better heights. :)⁣
•⁣
“Calinda kissed Ramirez like she was taking something she deserved. He kissed her like he was taking something he needed.”⁣
•⁣
The romance is just so Good and Delicious from the start to the HEA, and I'm probably super biased bec this is Mina hitting all the tropes I like: 2nd Chance w/ TOTGA, Competence Porn, the balance bet giving & taking, and agh, the steamy scenes🔥🔥🔥!!! Also, I cried. Hay Grabe. 🥰⁣

[Diane RB (booksandthensome) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I am very much drawn to the premise of this book— a second chance romance between two consenting adults (30 FMC, 32 MMC). Wait.. they didn’t set out for a second chance romance. Both just wanted to see how far they could go and make the most of the six weeks they had together. The obstacles that stood in their way ten years ago are gone now. But the bigger questions are: How much are they willing to plan for a future of them together? Can they figure out how?

Before I get into the romance, I have to gush about the sports angle❤️ I am aware that these ice sports exist in this tropical country of ours. And I love how these were referenced and described in the story. A very important bonus for me are the references to the Mighty Ducks films! Ahhh… the nostalgia! And of course, I was also reminded of the film, Cutting Edge 🩷This was a favorite from my teens, and I recently watched it at Netflix (or Prime ata, have to check hihi)

Back to the story…I was hooked right away by the audiobook narration, and I binged through the last 5 chapters in my physical copy. Every scene and dialogue was on point for me. And I fell in love with the characters as the story progressed. As with Mina’s previous books, despite the length, there were no stones left unturned. The ending was both satisfying and convincing. The HEA, and the way the independent and empowered Cal paired perfectly with the green flag that is Ram were fully developed.

This is my fourth Mina Esguerra book, and I still can’t pick a favorite 🤔 I also loved very much What Kind of Day, Better at Weddings Than You, and The First Time for Everything. ❤️

The copy I read is the older cover, and I saw the newer illustrated cover and love it! 😍