Book Review: Interim Goddess of Love by Mina V. Esguerra

Rating:

Genre: Filipino Fiction > Contemporary | Fantasy

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.)

*****

I have a sucky history with Filipino-written pocketbooks. Way back in the 90’s, I got to read these 100+ pages or so of romance novels by Filipino authors. I was stuck in the province with nothing to do during Holy Week. I asked my aunt if there was something, anything to read. I was given 3 pocketbooks written in Tagalog-English and it was awful experience. Awful in a sense that the authors were trying very hard to inculcate Western cliches into their stories. Awful because I never once thought that the authors were Filipinos while reading it.

I stopped reading them.

Last Saturday, I saw Mina V. Esguerra during my good friend KD’s birthday celebration. She’s very nice. Maybe i can sample one of her books for nicety’s sake?

I bought Interim Goddess of Love in Amazon for $0.99 only. Boy, it was a steal! Kinda short, but I was surprised to have ‘kilig’ or swoon moments here and there. Hee! The mythology angle was fun to read. 🙂

Hannah‘s character was okay, although i felt she was more like a high school kid than a college sophomore. Quin… erm, i have a crush on him. *blushes* all business about gods and goddessess; not bothering to take Hannah’s bait in showing any emotion. But Quin in Hannah’s dreams are the best! Can i be stuck in a little bamboo raft with you? *winks*

Then there’s (rough) Diego and (sweet) Robbie. C’mon now, why do i like all of these guys, huh?!

I was like Hannah once. The shock absorber of my friends’ woes on love. I didn’t mind. I just hate it when they come to me and ask for advice but do the opposite. 😦 Yeah, yeah. the story of my life (with friends, that is).

Interim Goddess of Love is a light read. Pretty cute, if you ask me. Just enough to warm me on these typhoon-infested days.

Can i get another dose of Quin, please?