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sigmaforsale's review
5.0
A heartwarming and uplifting book, full of sunlight, about a girl and her great-grandfather. This really puts me in my Filipino feelings.
carnisht's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a bit of a rollercoaster. It was by no means a groundbreaking story, but there were still enjoyable heartwarming aspects of it. Specifically, the relationship between Kaia and her Tatang. However, it was also quite boring. The characters were lovable, but there was just nothing really happening to maintain my interest for the first half of the book. Once they started filming the movie, though, my interest came back a bit more. The mishaps they had while filming (like the scene getting ruined by bird poop, the food fight, the lack of audio), as well as Kaia’s determination for perfection to convince Tatang to stay, were exciting enough elements to keep me interested and entertained.
Speaking more on Kaia’s relationship with Tatang: I absolutely loved it, and it was probably the best part of the whole story for me. It very much exemplified the whole “middle child syndrome” and highlighted Kaia’s feelings of unimportance and insignificance. Tatang was the only one who really saw and valued Kaia, so her investment in him staying felt like it had real stakes to it. I will say that she got slightly annoying with her constant harping on this fact, but I was ultimately able to overlook it (even though it almost reached a point of unbearability because it was ALL she talked about).
Her relationship with Tatang did, however, allow for a great deal of focus and appreciation for Filipino culture throughout the entire story. The stories that Tatang told to Kaia and the brief glimpses into life in the Philippines were probably my favorite part of the story. I really wanted to learn more and hear more about all of these fascinating elements of this culture.
To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2022/12/19/any-day-with-you-by-mae-respicio/
Speaking more on Kaia’s relationship with Tatang: I absolutely loved it, and it was probably the best part of the whole story for me. It very much exemplified the whole “middle child syndrome” and highlighted Kaia’s feelings of unimportance and insignificance. Tatang was the only one who really saw and valued Kaia, so her investment in him staying felt like it had real stakes to it. I will say that she got slightly annoying with her constant harping on this fact, but I was ultimately able to overlook it (even though it almost reached a point of unbearability because it was ALL she talked about).
Her relationship with Tatang did, however, allow for a great deal of focus and appreciation for Filipino culture throughout the entire story. The stories that Tatang told to Kaia and the brief glimpses into life in the Philippines were probably my favorite part of the story. I really wanted to learn more and hear more about all of these fascinating elements of this culture.
To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2022/12/19/any-day-with-you-by-mae-respicio/
spiffysarahruby's review
5.0
I loved this book SO MUCH! I could FEEL Kaia's anxiety when she would think about her great-grandfather (Tatang/Celestino) moving away. The "Kaia, where are your feet?" I need to remember that for myself. I also loved Tatang, but of course I would because everybody who meets him would fall in love with him! His shirts, his purple shoes, the answers he'd give the kids when they'd shoot questions at him. This book was really a warm hug, in spite of the fear of change within.
earldizon's review
4.0
Any Day with You is probably my favorite #Filipino middle grade novel I've read! It has everything that represents the Philippines to me- a large multi-generational family who love each other even if they're oceans apart and, of course, delicious food to punctuate any event.
Kaia wants more than anything to stand out from her big sister's shadow and she has the creative talent of using special effects make-up to help her. She and her friends enter a movie making contest. With the sudden news that her great-grandfather will be moving back to the Philippines, Kaia needs to win the contest to make him proud of her and stay. A tender tale about learning to say goodbye and being okay to new experiences.
It's a shame it was released during the start of the pandemic and was not given the proper attention it deserved. But it's available now in paperback (link below) so don't miss out on it any longer. I know I'll be reading her other books soon!
Kaia wants more than anything to stand out from her big sister's shadow and she has the creative talent of using special effects make-up to help her. She and her friends enter a movie making contest. With the sudden news that her great-grandfather will be moving back to the Philippines, Kaia needs to win the contest to make him proud of her and stay. A tender tale about learning to say goodbye and being okay to new experiences.
It's a shame it was released during the start of the pandemic and was not given the proper attention it deserved. But it's available now in paperback (link below) so don't miss out on it any longer. I know I'll be reading her other books soon!
sunflowerjess's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A tender, sweet story of a girl and her great-grandfather. I just love the family in this story and I loved learning about Filipino culture and folklore through this book.
selm's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
idk why i spent 6 days for reading this book 🤓 such a fun read, informative too. i highlighted most of the Philippine’s terms and myths. there are some great quotes too!
genielyssereyes's review
5.0
This book had so many pieces of my own experiences in here, and I am so, so grateful. Kaia and her Tatang are beautiful characters, and I could spend any day celebrating them and their family’s stories.
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
This is really a three and a half stars, but it hard to do a half star.
This is the second book by Mae Respicio that I've read, and while I love how she weaves in her filipino heritage into the story, the region that this story took place, Santa Monica/Venice Beach in Southern California did not feel as real as the first book, which took place in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since I grew up with a father who worked in the "industry" as they called the TV and Movie business back then, some of the main characters experience are not a bit like mine, but perhaps things have changed, and I am looking at this through nostalgic eyes.
I did like how detailed the book was about the filming of her movie, from the script to the problems that she had in making it, for the contest that she hopes will make her great grandfather want to stay in California, instead of moving back to his home village in the Philippines.
I also liked how author worked into the story, the Bataan Death March, which was part of her own history, and she made it real for the readers.
Though the story started off a little slow, with the MC being a bit whiny, things picked up and the story got better, along with the secret in the ending.
The great grandfather was full of life, and had a great personality too.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reivew.
This is the second book by Mae Respicio that I've read, and while I love how she weaves in her filipino heritage into the story, the region that this story took place, Santa Monica/Venice Beach in Southern California did not feel as real as the first book, which took place in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since I grew up with a father who worked in the "industry" as they called the TV and Movie business back then, some of the main characters experience are not a bit like mine, but perhaps things have changed, and I am looking at this through nostalgic eyes.
I did like how detailed the book was about the filming of her movie, from the script to the problems that she had in making it, for the contest that she hopes will make her great grandfather want to stay in California, instead of moving back to his home village in the Philippines.
I also liked how author worked into the story, the Bataan Death March, which was part of her own history, and she made it real for the readers.
Though the story started off a little slow, with the MC being a bit whiny, things picked up and the story got better, along with the secret in the ending.
The great grandfather was full of life, and had a great personality too.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reivew.