Mina V. Esguerra

Ellie thought she knew what she wanted in a guy: someone dependable, and someone she could bring home to her parents. In other words, a good guy to complete her happily-ever-after fairy tale. But when her good guy boyfriend all of a sudden dumps her in the place she least expected -- saying that she is "a failure at relationships" -- Ellie feels she has to fight harder to make her fairy tale come true. But when Lucas, whom Ellie secretly calls Rock Star, enters her life and starts challenging everything she believes in, she has to face the truth about her goals and dreams. Will Ellie find the fairy tale she's always dreamed of? And more importantly, who will fill the swashbuckling shoes of Prince Charming to give her story the happy ending she so deserves?

College student Hannah Maquiling, also temporarily working as the Goddess of Love, has had enough of everyone asking for her help when it comes to relationships. It's her turn to find romance! She deserves it, after serving as matchmaker and confidant to everyone else in Ford River College for the past year. She's had a crush on handsome senior (and God of the Sun) Quin forever, but he's destined to fall in love with an extraordinary mortal woman, so she's figured her chances with him have pretty much dropped to zero. It's not like she doesn't have any options for a classic college romance though. There's Diego, God of the Sea and Quin's best friend/enemy. And regular guy Robbie is stepping up, making sure she knows how he feels about her. How hard can it be for a goddess to find someone to love, and be loved in return?

Older YA/new adult/sweet College sophomore Hannah Maquiling doesn't know why everyone tells her their love problems. She's never even had a boyfriend, but that doesn't stop people from spilling their guts to her, and asking for advice. So maybe it shouldn't be a surprise when the cutest guy in school tells her that she's going to have to take on this responsibility -- but for all humanity.The Goddess of Love has gone AWOL. It's a problem, because her job is to keep in check this world's obsession with love (and lack of it). The God of the Sun, for now an impossibly handsome senior at an exclusive college just outside of Metro Manila, thinks Hannah has what it takes to (temporarily) do the job.While she's learning to do this goddess thing, she practices on the love troubles of shy Kathy, who's got a secret admirer on campus. Hannah's mission, should she choose to accept it, is to make sure that he's not a creepy stalker and they find their happily ever after -- or at least something that'll last until next semester. (As if she could refuse! The Sun God asked so nicely. And he's so, well, hot.)

Which moment has defined your life so far? Whether she likes it or not, Iris’s life has been divided into two: Before the Incident, and After the Incident. Something very private was made very public, and since then life has been about recovering from being shamed, discovering her true friends, and struggling to find a new normal. Two years into this new life and she finally connects with a guy again. He lives in the apartment down the hall, he’s hot, and he doesn’t look at her that way. He doesn’t know what happened. But he also won’t give her his name, not right away—which has to mean he’s got something to hide too. Iris wants to start over. Should she do that with the only person who will understand, or is this the same idiotic decision that got her in trouble in the first place?

The heart starts to race, blood rushes to our face, butterflies flutter in our stomachs, and with rose-colored glasses, the universe appears to conspire in our favor - this is the romantic excitement called KILIG. Whether the romance is our own, or experienced by others, fictional or real people, authentic or for show - we feel the thrill and excitement anyway. Kilig makes us feel special, because we all are. It is human to have a heart, and to open it reveals our truth - we are infinite sources of love and kilig. Kilig is a feeling that can be shared, kilig is an experience best shared with someone, or everyone. This romance comics anthology is a once upon a time collaboration between RomanceClass Books and Komiket. And all stories fulfill the required Happily Ever After or Happy For Now endings of romances.

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.

Kimmy knows everyone hates her, but when she comes back after a long disappearance, she has a nagging feeling that things aren't exactly what she thought them to be. First of all, there's her first love, the very sexy Manolo who used to have a nasty habit of breaking her heart. Then there's her bride-to-be BFF whom Kimmy means to write out of her life right after the wedding. And there's her mother who Kimmy can't wait to abandon - again. Is Kimmy headed for more disaster, or can a girl everyone hates finally get a clue and find happiness? Librarian's Note: This is an alternate cover edition, ISBN 10: 9719902248

Here's what happens when you play pretend. When Zack asks Jasmine to pretend to be his ex-girlfriend, she gamely agrees, thinking it would be fun. A few years later, she still has to keep convincing people that they were never together! Then one day, she finds out he’s getting married—to someone she'd just met once! All of a sudden, things aren’t so clear-cut anymore. Can Jasmine sort out her feelings (sometimes, she can't even tell real from pretend when it comes to her and Zack) before it's too late?

It's too easy to fall in love with Jake. Don't do it.Lindsay and Jake have loved each other (as friends) since their senior year in college, and she made sure they didn’t become more than that. The guy now known as Jacob Berkeley, star of a wildly successful TV show, was always too much for her. Too handsome, too many questionable hookups, too restless. Also sensitive, fun, and genuinely caring. She's his emergency contact, his "zombie apocalypse buddy," his holiday dinner companion.They've kept up this low-maintenance friendship for years, surviving graduation, their new careers, her move to New York City to work as an environment consultant. But then, days before a big climate change conference, he shows up, with big news. Jake wants to pick up what he never managed to finish in college. He wants to save forests again, work in environmental research - and he wants her.Don't fall in love with Jake...Why again?

Carla is a whiz at her she's efficient, reliable, and a total genius when it comes to putting something together at the last minute. The snag is she's single and turning the big three-oh in a few months. her girl best friend (yes, she's married just like mthe other girls in Carla's barkada) keeps trying to set her up with stable banker-types, while her guy best friend (single–the other single one) encourages her to play the field–no strings attached. Then, through no set up or extraordinary circumstances, Carla meets Dante. Hot, smug, sexy Dante. Definitely not a banker-type and seemingly too good to be true. So there's got to be a catch. There is. He's five years younger. Is the universe telling Carla to finally let loose and enjoy a fling with a younger man? Or is there a lot more to this awkward situation than she bargained for?

If you've been feeling neglected by the Goddess of Love lately, don't worry -- Hannah Maquiling, college sophomore, is in training to take over. The Original Goddess is missing, but Hannah is Interim Goddess now, and she should figure out how to solve humanity's love problems soon. Quin (God of the Sun) is still her mentor, still really hot, but apparently isn't as honest about his other earthly relationships as she thought. It's frustrating, and enough to make her check out possibilities with Diego (God of the Sea) and Robbie (Cute Human). In the meantime, she's decided to spend some of her precious training time helping to break up a relationship, instead of putting one together. Why? Because the girl in question happens to be her best friend Sol, whose boyfriend is stealing not just from her, but from other people on campus. Sol didn't exactly summon the Goddess, but this is what power over Love is for, right? Surely it's not just about matchmaking, but ending doomed relationships too. (Even when it's not what people want.)

Colin Valerio has been performing practically all his life. From national team figure skating, to underwear modeling, and now posting (shirtless) selfies daily for his adoring audience. Many don’t know though that at 29, he’s quietly earning his MBA degree—that is, if he can fix his final paper. It’s got too much heart, not enough business. National hockey team medalist, outstanding young professional, MBA prof on leave...Lexa Lorenzo is determined and driven, and did all that by age 32. She should be her family corp’s next CEO. But she’s all business, not enough heart, and her mentor/boss/aunt wants her to be more accessible, approachable, “charming.” As luck would have it, Lexa’s alma mater calls her in to help a graduating MBA student—and it’s Colin Valerio, fellow winter sports athlete, walking/talking ball of charm. She has the sports and business background he needs. He is a natural at all the things she’s told to improve on, and may be able to teach her a thing or two. Let the lessons begin. [Part of the Six 32 Central series, but can be read as a standalone.]

Women who had a fling with my -Rikki, accountant, yoga class -Mika, cocktail waitress/culinary arts student, friend’s wedding -Lani, November, seven years ago -Annemarie, six years ago, sought him out to get back at Lani -Carla, admin assistant/best friend, eleven years ago Nobody knew about my notebook of Anton’s hook-up stories. This was my secret shame for the past seven months, the exact amount of time since Anton and I had broken up. During our entire relationship, I avoided asking him about the sordid details of his past. Now that we were no longer together, I was actually collecting them. Do these stories make me feel any better about saying no when he asked me to marry him? Every day, I have to remind myself that they do. Good girl Julie never expected her hot former-player boyfriend to propose marriage. But when he did, she turned him down for reasons even she couldn’t figure out. Will she settle for a nice, safe guy instead? Or will she let him find his way back into her carefully guarded heart? “This book is unexpected and exciting! You won’t be able to put it down.” -Cosmopolitan Philippines

The nation of Isla has a No two politicians from the same family. Two elected officials who marry make their families one; only one can continue to serve. In the future, Maria Lourdes and Andres Miguel could very well be their country's best and most influential leaders. She could be president one day, like her grandmother. He could be a senator one day, like his uncle. Marrying another politician is against the law, but why should it matter? Today they’re just young people who want to be together. They’ll deal with the rest of it tomorrow.

She knows it won't last... Nicholas is unlike anyone Daria has ever dated, and yet he hasn't left her mind since she got her hands on the 23-year-old rugby player when he took a tumble during a game. But they aren't even really dating; a fast fling is all they have time for. He's heading to Japan to play pro and is only in town to tie loose ends. She's graduating in three weeks, and is only covering his struggling rugby club to win a internship spot in a documentary that'll start filming in Europe. Getting what they want means they don't get to stay together. But that doesn't mean they can't have fun -- as long as they don't fall hard.

Rose Alban, 41, has been happily living alone and single in Manila. When her entire family moved to the US she became responsible for their house and since then she's transformed it into her home, her sanctuary, and base for a new and more fulfilling career. She was even able to convert the garage into a studio apartment, that she's now renting out to her friend's brother Pascal Cortes, 39, former MBA professor who's now heading operations at an exciting education startup at a nearby business district. That's not enough for her mother and well-meaning relatives, who want nothing more than to see her join them in the US by any means necessary. When they surprise her with a visit, Rose knows the only way they'll finally stop plotting to get her a green card is if they see her settled down—so of course she asks the hot prof next door to pretend to be her fiancé. (Part of the Six 32 Central series, but can be read as a standalone.)

It's a bad day for Ben. After years of earnest work, he's been fired from his job as a speechwriter for a Philippine senator. Name tarnished and bridges burned, he steps into what he thinks is a shuttle ride home, and accidentally joins a tour of his own city. It was supposed to be a good day for Naya. Her passion is traveling, her hobby is discovering cool things to see and do, and taking people on tours of Metro Manila is her only job right now. An extra person at the last minute isn't ideal, especially if the person is a former colleague and the subject of the day's hottest political trash fire. But work is work, and she decides to let him stay in the tour. She's hoping she won't regret it. He's hoping his day turns around. What kind of day could it be? Maybe the best kind.

It's the classic one-night stand: Beach wedding, bridesmaid, groom's friend. When Andrea and Damon meet, sparks fly, and they give in to the attraction. Sounds simple, but Andrea's still getting over someone, and Damon thought he'd be hooking up with another person that night. It could still be simple, really, if they chalk it up to a weekend tryst and move on. But one night becomes lunch the week after, and then dinner the next weekend...and before they know it, Andrea and Damon are still together, dealing with the feelings they know they might still have for other people. How hard can it be to get exactly what you want? How do you even know what it is?

Alia Monterojo may be the country director of one of the largest consulting firms in Manila, but she absolutely doesn't want to be at this important breakfast meeting right now. In another time she would have been in La Union, spending her only free week a year at the beach, with a certain someone who doesn't even know her full name. She's missed the trip for several years now, for good reason, but she still wishes things were different, that she was with him instead. This year, she gets her chance, when he shows up at the breakfast meeting as an invited guest—because he's the CEO of the small company they might acquire. Content notes: As of 2021, this is set in a somewhat near (and safer) future, and the covid lockdown/various quarantines in the Philippines happened as is, are mentioned, and have an effect on the plot and characters.