Although I initially felt overwhelmed by all the names being tossed around (which is the natural response to meeting a big family, in my opinion), every Capras sibling had a distinct and dynamic personality, and by the end of the book, I just wanted to learn more about all of them! Plus, I thought it was fantastic how the Capras family effectively represented the essence of a Filipino family.

Quite frankly, what I loved the most about Chasing Mindy was not the romance aspect, which basically constituted the primary plot of the story. Instead, what I loved the most about Chasing Mindy was the dynamic, multi-layered character growth of both Mindy and Javier as individuals – watching them both navigate and negotiate between who they are outside of the shadows of other people and who they can be, in order to figure out whom they want to become. Underneath their personal battles with inner demons lies a really powerful and empowering message which, I think, can resonate deeply with everyone.

Chasing Mindy is a cute, heartwarming romance set in one of the most magical places in the world and manages to thoughtfully explore struggles with self-image and self-identity. Carla de Guzman’s latest book is definitely a read I’d recommend, especially to people, like myself, who still have tons of shit to figure out.

Quick disclosure: I received a digital advanced reader’s copy (ARC) of Chasing Mindy from the author herself in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Carla de Guzman!