Celestina's House/ Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez. Set in the Philippines, which is what attracted me to this book. The story is somewhat incoherent, partially a ghost story, partially about Celestina and her lovers.

Celestina, living in Manila, granddaughter of a very wealthy businessman is the daughter of a disinherited mother and her husband of choice who lacked family approval. Celestina finds herself as the heiress of a home, formerly belonging to an aunt. Malas are in the air. Evil sprits abound. Is the house really haunted? Is there bad juju? Celestina is searching to find love and find herself if she is able to succeed at pleasing the forces that lurk within her walls.

Written by a debut author of Filipino/ Canadian ancestry, this book is chock full of glimpses into life in the Philippines, Manila in particular. There are scrumptious food descriptions amidst a very dark tale that includes incest, illegal abortion, secrets, and even a horrifying pre teen circumcision. .

The story line was a bit uneven in flow and enjoyment level and yet as I stayed with the plot , I found an interesting, provocative, glimpse into a culture and people previously unknown to me. I love books that teach me something.

Three and a half stars rounded to four for a good read. I will look for future works by this promising author. It is being published on October 22, 2024. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. My thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance readers copy in exchange for my review.

Celestina’s House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez begins with a betrayal, leading to chaos that disrupts Celestina Errantes’s family. An unexpected gift from her wealthy Lolo offers her a chance to escape to a haunted property in Manila’s bohemian district. Here, Celestina finds herself and learns life’s hard lessons, eventually captivating an aristocratic restaurateur. However, sinister whispers from the past threaten their love, compelling Celestina to confront the evil in her house.

The positives first: Gonzalez’s prose is atmospheric and rhythmic, perfectly fitting the gothic theme. The vivid descriptions of Manila and Filipino cuisine bring the setting to life, using a “show, don’t tell” technique effectively. The book immerses readers in Filipino life through cultural and religious references, creating an authentic backdrop. However, the book has significant issues. The blurb promises a haunted house filled with secrets, but this potential is underutilized. The magical realism is sidelined, making the story feel more like a romantic pursuit than a supernatural exploration. The narrative’s engagement with disturbing themes, such as Celestina’s abuse, is handled awkwardly, lacking depth and sensitivity.

Characters and plot events appear and disappear without meaningful integration into the story. Additionally, the writing style, though engaging, can be overly simplistic, detracting from the overall experience. In summary, while Celestina’sHouse has atmospheric writing and cultural depth, it falls short in plot execution and character development. The book’spotential remains largely untapped, leaving readers with an unsatisfying and disjointed narrative. Recommended with reservations.

Richly crafted, immersive and beautifully written, this is a must-read for all who love contemporary fiction with Filipino culture impeccably exhibited throughout. I absolutely loved this suspenseful and engaging read. Being a Filipina myself, this book is something we need more of in the literary space.

This is a book with several elements. There are spirits of the dead who talk to the living and some of the dark side of Filipino culture: incest, illegal abortion, and a barbaric preteen circumcision.
One quote from the blurb: " The House of the Spirits meets Mexican Gothic in a tale of love and betrayal, belonging and exile, and the supernatural forces that pervade life in the Philippines."
There are also mouth watering descriptions of Filipino food.
The book was written by a Filipino-Canadian who grew up in the Philippines. It is narrated by Celestina Errantes, who is the main character in the book. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Filipino culture. The incidents of incest, abortion and circumcision are covered with brief descriptions. The after effects of these incidents are a major part of this book.
Two quotes:
Celestina's grandma: "Let swerte flow into your house like water,' her grandma had said. Indeed, Celestina was grateful that good luck had been visiting her lately."
Food: "A large table was covered with an island-style feast featuring spicy pork satays, slivers of green mango with shrimp paste, impeccably crisp shrimp and cabbage fritters. and grilled chicken inasal, golden and redolent with lemongrass."
I rate this book 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thanks to Dundurn Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

Celestina's House is a captivating tale that weaves together mystery, family secrets, and the power of love. The author skillfully creates a sense of atmosphere and suspense, drawing readers into the heart of the story from the very first page.

The characters are richly drawn and complex, each with their own motivations and secrets. The relationships between them are nuanced and believable, adding depth and emotional weight to the narrative.

The setting, a dilapidated house with a mysterious past, is almost a character in itself, its secrets and echoes adding an extra layer of intrigue to the plot.

Celestina's House is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. It is a well-crafted novel that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Celestina's House is just the book I've been waiting for, for the longest time - a magical realism/gothic/supernatural book set in the Philippines.

What I liked most in the book is the vivid description of Manila in the Marcos era, the food, culture and superstitions. However, for a reader who has no background of these, it would be nice to have the Filipino words in italics and the description provided.
I absolutely love the cover! So beautiful!

The book was nicely written and has the potential to have more in depth backstories that will add more meaning and address some unanswered questions in the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dundurm Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

DNF.

Didn't like the writing style or the voice, our MC was kind of a non-entity and the father/daughter 'relationship' had so many icks.

Not for me.

A tragic story, be sure to check trigger warnings, but beautifully and emotionally written, I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending but I enjoyed this book.

First of all, the cover of "Celestin's House" is really beautiful, a real eye-catcher. I loved to delve into the life in the Philippines, to feel the taste of filipino food on my tongue. Although a gothic novel with some gruesome moments, there were also some cozy moments. It's an interesting contrast to the really cruel and morally reprehensible scenes. It is a story of the the fall of three generations, of trauma, lust and pain. The women of Celestina's family do not have an easy life. Celestina inherits the dragon towers from her grandfather, a house with ghosts who can't let go of the past. The relation with Celestina and her father is ..complicated and I think a lot of readers won't like the book because of its controversial themes. The publishing house compares this book with "Mexican Gothic". Besides featuring a beautiful young heroine, I could not see any similarities. I would have wished for less stereotypes in this book. All the protagonists are somehow totally beautiful, but acting morally grey. I did not know what to think of Celestina. Is being beautiful her curse? She is not an MC I immediately liked. Often, she seems really naive and at the same time demanding. Celestina expects people to serve her, maybe because of her heritage or beauty. I liked her photographer friend much more. Also, I've expected a real tragic love story. I was a bit disappointed at the end.

Still, I've thought about this book. I think I will read further books from the author.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dnf at page 72. This is a reminder to publishers (and authors when they have a say in this) to include trigger warnings. Yes even when it's horror. Readers who don't want potential spoilers are free to simply not read the content warnings page.

This is a book marketed as similar to Mexican Gothic and other books in this interesting trend of horror or horror-leaning novels written by women of colour, specifically non-US and non-euro centric. Although it had good prose, not only do I not have the stomach to read incest and sexual abuse which felt gratuitous, but I also did not see where the story was going after the first 70 pages.

Celestina's House by author: Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez had potential with ghosts and internal demons however plot points never felt fully realized and the characters were not relatable. I never really liked any of the characters, many are selfish and unkind.

This novel is a mix of Filipino culture, myths and superstitions interwoven with real life drama. I was disturbed by the handling of the father/daughter relationship.

I found the narrative excessive and did not advance the plot, including characters that were introduced and then never seen again. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Celestina was born to a mother who was a rebel and an artistic father. When she finishes high school, the gift from her maternal grandfather was a small trust fund and a house that belonged to her aunt who was murdered during World War II. But it is through that house ( and the ghosts who reside there) that Celestina learns how to heal from her traumatic childhood. Celestina has a few relationships and many one-night stands trying to shut out her past, but when she meets a handsome restauranteur, she finally finds the courage to deal with the trauma from her past. There is a beautiful found family that gives Celestina the courage to heal, but there is some trauma at the beginning of the book that is described on the page. A beautiful and haunting debut novel.

I enjoyed reading Celestina's House! I was looking forward to it as it perfectly fits my reading goal (to read 40 books by authors of different nationalities). I had never read a book by a Filipino, so this was a nice first.

Celestina's mother chose love, but that choice leads to a lot of unhappiness in both their lives. Her father causes them both a lot of trauma due to which Celestina is incapable of normal relationships. Celestina's constant quest for peace of mind is heartbreaking. Trying to find happiness in a cursed house, in relationships that aren't meant to be... Trying to fill up the void within yourself. I think it's very relatable for some people. It is very well done.

Sometimes the dialogues didn't feel a 100% natural, but what I did enjoy a lot were the descriptions of Manila, its nightlife and Filipino society in general. Even though I have never been there, I felt like I could picture it. It made me want to travel.

Thank you NetGalley and Dundrum publishing for the ARC

Atmospheric and filled with yearning, this book tells the story of a young woman haunted by her past and the ghosts of her ancestors.

This richly woven world brings the reader into the superstitious, hyper-religious world of the artistic and upper-class Philippines in the 1960's through the 1990's. Celestina is the child of a disinherited heiress who married the rebellious writer who captured her attention in college. Her parents' uneasy love story forms the base of her life, even as it ends in the ultimate betrayal.

When Celestina inherits the gorgeous home where her great-aunt was murdered years earlier, she chooses to move in, making peace with the ghosts who interfere in her life. She enters a bohemian phase of life, splitting the house into apartments that she rents out to friends and diving into nightlife, though she never really feels at peace.

Years later, Celestina struggles to believe herself worthy of love, even as she yearns for it in her relationships with Johnny, the tattooed singer, and Josemaria, the famous restauranter. But the shadow of the past looms over them, bringing darkness into the present.

A bittersweet tale of trauma, forgiveness and a search for belonging and a place to call home.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting way to delve into the culture and folklore of Manila. The story was a mix of two kinds however and I prefered the folklore one. The cover is stunning and it reflected the inside words and culture well.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have not read a book based in the Phillipines before and I was surprised at the amount of Spanish, but really enjoyed the other dialects mentioned, as well as a nod to French language and English music. The vibrancy of the Phillopeno world was really portrayed well in food, beliefs, customs, religion, relationships and the importance of status. I really enjoyed being immersed in a new culture. The detail the author goes into when Josemaria was preparing the duck for Celestina was really good - I really felt like the author really knows, understands and appreciates the Phillopeno culture.

I found the beginning of the story really well written. The relationship between Antonio and Celestina is well depicted and disturbingly believable. The abortion scene is pretty graphic and made my stomach turn - clearly well written.

I immediately liked Verg and wanted him and Celestina to have a life together. He only had her interests at heart. I initially thought the Priest with no light was bad, but I'm not really sure if he actually was - was Verg already damaged from events leading up to his time with the Priest? We don't know.

I liked Johnny and hoped they would get back together after the 2 year trip. I wanted them to end up together even at the end! I could not get along with Josemaria - I couldn't imagine him in my mind and his character did not seem to fit what I imagine a restauranteur to be.

I have to also talk about Stella. She had a fairly minor role in the book, but she had an epically sad life. When she meets Celestina at the parking lot the atmosphere between the two is palpable and such a shame. I really felt for her Mum - she's probably the character I could most closely relate to.

My favourite line in the book is "the rain fell like the sky had ripped open". It was very apt, really good imagery for the scene and original.

I would definitely read more from Trinidad Gonzalez.

This book left me with mixed feelings. I enjoyed learning about Filipino culture, especially their daily life, myths, and superstitions. The supernatural parts were well-done too. But the writing style was different, and the characters wasn't develop much. I also didn't like how women were portrayed, especially Celestina's troubling relationship with her father.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC

I received this book from NetGalley and Dundurn Press | Rare Machines in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book tackles ideas about connections, found families, supernatural incidences and trauma. After a traumatic event Celestina feels a need for connection and tries to find love with a series of partners, but due to her experiences she is unable to give affection readily. She is gifted a house by her grandfather and whilst there she begins to assemble her own found family. I found the book fascinating especially learning about Filipino superstitions, nightlife and cuisine (this book is a foodies dream with lots of food descriptions). I think that the trauma and its effects were quite realistic. I would recommend this book but advise readers to lookup the trigger warnings.

In “Celestina’s House,” Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez weaves a spellbinding tale that merges the supernatural with a rich tapestry of Filipino culture and history, reminiscent of “The House of the Spirits” and “Mexican Gothic.” The novel begins with an act of betrayal that fractures Celestina Errantes’s family, leaving her yearning for escape from her unhappy home. Her opportunity arrives unexpectedly through a gift from her wealthy grandfather—a long-abandoned property in Manila’s bohemian district, steeped in mystery and haunted by ghosts.

Celestina’s journey unfolds against the backdrop of Manila’s vibrant but seedy underworld, where she discovers both solace and peril within the walls of her ancestral home. The author expertly explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of family dynamics across three generations. As Celestina immerses herself in the pleasures and darkness of her new life, she confronts the emptiness within herself, seeking fulfillment amidst the echoes of familial secrets and supernatural forces that refuse to be silenced.

The prose in “Celestina’s House” is lush and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a Manila infused with gothic romance and palpable mystique. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to blend the personal struggles of its characters with the broader historical and cultural context of the Philippines. Celestina’s journey towards self-discovery is poignant and haunting, as she grapples with her past, present desires, and the relentless pull of her family’s legacy.

The praise from authors like Kim Echlin, Andrew Pyper, and Patria Rivera is well-deserved, underscoring the novel’s depth and emotional resonance. This novel is a testament to the author’s storytelling prowess, crafting a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking. “Celestina’s House” is a remarkable exploration of identity, memory, and the enduring power of place, offering readers a mesmerizing glimpse into a world where ghosts and human desires intertwine in unexpected ways.

For readers captivated by atmospheric settings, complex characters, and narratives that blend the mystical with the deeply personal, “Celestina’s House” is a compelling and unforgettable read.