1. The "Just Friends" trope is probably the most exploited one, but it still remains as one of my ultimate favorites. Ana Tejano effectively played with my feelings with all the subtle displays of affection and longing looks. The confusion and the overthinking were also so agonizingly real. Not that I've experienced those in real life, but these were what made me kilig and root for the characters to finally realize their feelings. “Only best friends can keep this dancing game on for so long.” 
2. That the characters liked each other more than because of their looks made them more real to me. It's also refreshing to read a New Adult book without the sexy times! We have too many romance books where the plot was driven by the characters' attraction to one another, but here, the affection stems from friendship, and that for me, was beautiful. 
3. Meah and Faith were loyal friends of Rain and they were definitely for keeps. I loved Meah especially. Out of the trio, I think I'm more like her: the honest friend who will encourage you to be brave and to say what needs to be said. 
4. Love interest is Type B, woop woop! Mark was Mr. Nice Guy and his subtle displays of affection were endearing. Sure, he's kind of torpe, but I liked how he sorted his feelings out first after his breakup with Camilla. Although, I don't really appreciate him waiting for Rain to reach out first, he more than made up for it for being so adorable. 
5. Rain's struggle to admit her feelings to Mark was the main story, but we also see her finding her true self and strengthening her relationship with her friends and family towards the end. The ending was satisfying in a way that you felt like everything fell into its rightful place. The timing was just right - Rain learned how to get out of her shell, be brave and admit to her mistakes. That I say, was good character development. 

1.  This is my second C. P. Santi read and she's fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Like on Maybe This Time, I was delighted by her poetic way of describing things. It was amazing how she painted in the readers' minds the picturesque places Gia and Alex visited during the course of the story.
2.  Gia was passionate about her work and was a strong and loving mother to her twins. She was jaded by her hurtful past and was too cautious not to fall for our charming love interest. She was careful and I appreciated that she was someone who learned from her mistakes. In many romance novels, I get annoyed by the main character's indecisiveness, but here I understood where Gia was coming from that made me root for her happy-ever-after with Alex. 
3. Alex Roces seemed like a poster boy for Heartbreakers United with his handsome face and tattoed body. But he broke all the stereotypes that can be attributed to him and effortlessly proved himself to be worthy not just of Gia's affection, but of her adorable children as well. One order of an uber attractive scholar who will catch you when you fall, please!
4. The priests! Here we see priests not as mass celebrators, but as family members. This delighted me because I made friends with some friars and priests recently and I saw their playful and funny side that was also described by Santi in this book. I love how Uncle Emong and Nic were depicted as accepting and loving, as opposed to the misconception that all priests are uptight and judgey.
5. This book is very Pinoy, from the food, to the setting, the humor, and family values. 
6. I have highlighted many parts of the book and these are my favorite lines:

“Only two things were important: what you felt and what you were going to do about it.” 

“There are people who are capable of worming themselves into your life . . . quietly, stealthily. Until one day you’re surprised that they’ve made a place for themselves without you noticing. Until you’re so used to the fluttering butterflies in your stomach that you can’t imagine how life had been without them.” 

“Not everyone is made to follow the same road. But that doesn't make you bad—just different.” 

“But first we have to accept that our perfect vision of love often doesn't exist. Because love—true love—isn’t about perfection, it’s about faith.”

1. They say "don't judge a book by it's cover," but you can go against that with this one. The story is as lovely as the book cover!
2. The book starts with Martha coming home from Seoul and her description of the city's autumn feels was perfect!
3. This doesn't happen a lot, so I'm quite surprised that I cannot seem to decide which character I loved more, Martha or Max. The main character, Martha, is on the heavier side of the scale. She has a love affair with food, and though she has a complicated relationship with her weight, she knows how to carry herself well. She is strong, confident, and loving. Her interests include FOOD, caramel macchiato, dogs, travel, theatre, events planning, and problem-solving. She even thinks that tapsilog is the breakfast for champions. Martha and I could be BFFs if she exists in real life. I can even relate to her having a quirky family. Our only distinct difference would be her proficiency in numbers. Max, on the other hand, is a cute and funny character. He became a vet because of Hagrid (he's a character from Harry Potter, for all you Muggles) and he loves to read! He likes listening to music and even sings Aegis while on a road trip. He's also a very dependable friend and he seemed humble, despite his being well-off. He's another character that shows that guys do not need to be an alpha male type to be swoon-worthy. Gaaaaah! I need a Maxwell in my life!
4. This story touched on the theme of body positivity. Martha often received unsolicited advice and unpleasant comments about her weight. These things made her uncomfortable but she took them bravely and confidently (with a milk tea on the side). I admire her for that, but there were times when I wished that she would call people out on their rudeness. This thing is deeply ingrained in Filipino culture and it annoys me. 
5. The Just Friends trope is always a winner for me! 
6. Trainman was mentioned! I really like it when authors cross-reference each other. It's like those characters exist in one universe. It pretty much shows how they support one another. #RomanceClass canon FTW.
7. First date. OMG. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but OMG. 
8. There were a number of relatable lines and moments for me. So much feels, I kennat. These are favorites:

"My relationship with food was long, simple, and absolutely delicious. My relationship with my weight was a little more complicated. I carried it around, and I was good at making it look effortless."

"Food has always been a part of my life. I ate when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was bored and sometimes when I was sleepy. It’s part of my growing up, and most of my memories are associated and celebrated with it. I didn't hate that I liked to eat. In fact I liked that about myself." 

"One of my least favorite things about coming home from a trip is the inevitable realization that you’re back to your usual routines." 

"I was a problem-solver, which worked well with my inherent need to help people. Everyone knew that "I need you” was my weakness." 

"She has to be my best friend," he said simply, so sure of himself that I envied his confidence. "That's all you ever want in your person, right?" 

"I'm actually happy with my weight, even though it's hard to believe. I like that I can work it, because it's mine . Everyone makes me feel so guilty for it, like there's something wrong with me. But come on. I look amazing . And honestly? I don't say it enough. I LOOK AMAZING."

1. I am sure I'm not alone when I say I love stories where the guy falls in love first. It was so obvious and I wanted to smack Cassie in the head for being so oblivious.
2. Cassie was a go-getter, a control-freak if I may say so. Hello, "she neeeded dates, details and logistics" to plan a vacation. A girl after my own heart. But she learned to be spontaneous enough to go on a summer adventure with a guy she barely knew, and for that, I admire her. 
3. There was something about the character of Joey that when he asked Cassie "on a date" while she already was in a relationship with Mark, it did not annoy me. I don't know what it was, but instead of me being judgey on him, I found his efforts cute. 
4. There weren't a lot of kilig scenes (and I wish there were more!), but when they happened, they were perfect. I especially liked the scene where Joey told Cassie, "I remember a lot of things when it comes to you." I wouldn't just be weak-kneed when someone tells me that, I'd surely have heart-eyes instantly. 
5. I love how the author showcased some spots in Dumaguete. It made me want to see those places and I'm sure others who will read this will feel the same way.
6. This little tidbit, which I will keep in mind for future use: “When you think you’ve found the right guy,” she had said, “try replacing the word love in 1 Corinthians 13: 4–7 with the guy’s name. If he measures up to each of those descriptions, then he really is the right guy for you.”

Summary:   

Is there a science to falling in love? 

Carlisle Santiago is through with men. After the devastating end of a seven-year relationship, she's trying to put her life back together. What she doesn't know is that she is the subject of the patient and methodical observations of blue-haired scientist Matteo Villegas, who just wants to find love himself. She must decide whether she's ready to give love another shot or if this is doomed to be one failed experiment.