This was a decent read! I don’t think I’d recommend for the writing style but the plot was cool! Maybe I’m not the intended audience

Totally enjoyed this books, and I prbly need to go look up the movie the author said it was inspired by. The concept of the book was really fun and well executed. Jay and Mara were were funny and sweet as they maneuvered this dynamic of her wanting him to be her first time and this supposed kiss curse of his.

I've been reading Carla's self published books for years now so I've familiarized myself with certain aspects of Filipino culture through her work and that of other romance class authors. But it's always exciting to learn more!

Jay, my guy, was so gone for Mara and I love a man who falls first and wonders what the hell is happening to him lol, especially one who doesn't believe so much in this thing called love. There there my poor man, just give in!

The chemistry of these two was also chef's kiss so when they finally get a bit more intimate I'd say it's worth the wait!

The Last Guy You Kiss by Carla de Guzman was a good quick read.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

A charming, sweet romance featuring two Filipino leads who find love in an unexpected way when one frustrated florist tries to find her true love by kissing the guy who is rumored to be a good luck charm for others. This was a feel-good read with tons of heart and humor, perfect for fans of authors like Mia P. Manansala. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

3.5/5 stars

The Last Guy You Kiss is a romance between panganay Mara Barretto and bunso/only son Jay Montinola. Mara is a florist designer and the eldest daughter of three sisters, the middle for whom she plays Maid of Honor. Because her younger sister is getting married before her, Mara feels the pressure to settle down as well despite her serious lack of love life. At her sister’s wedding, she runs into Jay, who’s been cursed 10/10 for being the last guy kissed before the other finds/marries the love of their life. Besides (or possibly because of) this curse, Jay is also one of love’s biggest cynic, especially in the Philippines where divorce is not legal therefore not an option. Between Mara desire for a love life despite her lack of experience and Jay’s adamant aversion to believing he could provide love, both characters find each other as they figure out their places in the lives of their families as the very structure of those families change and grow.

I love that this book tackles the question of what a happily ever after could look like for adult Filipinxs in their 30s, especially in a culture where family is such a core part of who these characters are. However, something about their romance didn’t land right for me. While I know weddings and especially vacations heighten emotions, Mara and Jay’s love story felt a little too quick. I fully, wholeheartedly understand what it’s like to be the angry Filipina daughter with certain expectations and a lack of love life and experience, but I was not understanding Mara’s quick change of emotions. Perhaps I am too close to her. Perhaps as a fellow fat Pinay with little romantic experience, I was not able to get out of my own head and into hers. Perhaps because I was not able to see beyond the way I, myself, would react to what Mara was facing, I could not comprehend her turns of emotions and was therefore unable to fully buy into her falling for Jay. It was honestly a bit disappointing *because* this book holds so many elements that mean so much and are also so fun to me— fat independent Pinay in her 30s asking for love lessons *should* have been *chef’s kiss* for me, which it is on paper, yet somehow these pages were lacking for me.

<spoiler> I really didn’t buy into Mara’s change of heart when she asks Jay not to move, especially since she went to him with the expectation of breaking off their situation. I reread the paragraphs to see if maybe I missed some vital detail that had her changing her mind, but it simply wasn’t enough for me. I don’t necessarily need the most dramatic moment for her moment of realization, but I certainly needed *more.*</spoiler>

As a second generation Filipina immigrant, being of the diaspora and coming home to the motherland is always such a privilege, and reading places I’ve been to personally feels like home is calling to me, recognizing that my roots in this place echo out to me despite the thousands of miles that live between me and the motherland; I felt this in reading about Las Casas, Boracay, and every time traffic in Manila was discussed, all major markers of my most recent visit to the Philippines. And especially(!!!) reading the mention of Zambales when talking about the essential beaches because I!! have never!! seen my own mother’s home province!! written in a traditionally (American) published book before!!! That’s home!!!! I’m not sure how to accurately portray the sense of rightness and home that settled into my heart upon specifically reading the mention of Zambales.

Similarly, it was nice getting to learn more about and feel like I’m connecting with the motherland through fiction when it’s not feasible to be there in real life. While I’m lucky to have spent several weeks in the Philippines the last time I was there, there’s still something about reading/living the daily life of characters who actually live in the Philippines (as opposed to following along host family members for a limited time) that allows for me to imagine what it might/could have been like if I actually lived in the country where my parents were born. Sure, there are a bunch of factors that play into what that would realistically look like, but I loved having this book paint a possible picture of some alternate life of mine.

On a completely different note, this could quite possibly just be another me-thing; however, I am not a fan of the cover art for this book. While I’m usually one to love and adore a beautiful cartoon cover, this one feels like it’s meant for that of a children’s book, which feels to contrary to the contents of this very adult romance book.

I had a lot of conflicted feelings about this book. De Guzman’s writing style is not quite for me. (I personally cannot stand the overuse of interjections, for it threw me out of the book /every single time./) However, reading the setting and the culture and the strong family ties settled like home inside my soul. While I was not a fan of the romance itself, nearly everything else felt like healing the part of me that craves reading my family, my friends, my heritage, my traditions, and my motherland in the pages of romance where I find joy and home and safety. I loved reading home within home. 🩷

Thank you, Netgalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin, for the ARC!

The Last Guy You Kiss is achingly sweet, honest, and funny. It’s a gorgeously layered romance about the courage of choosing to love when the world makes you want to guard your heart.

Carla de Guzman is one of the authors I wish more people read. She’s so good. Her books are like a tapestry with rich and intricate details. The Last Guy You Kiss reminded me a bit of Cara Bastone’s Promise Me Sunshine in that the characters are trying to get through a life in which grief and love, joy and pain are inseparable. They want love and connection, but also to protect their hearts and keep expectations low. The desire for all kinds of love (romantic, family, friendship) is inseparable from the fear of getting hurt. Love is a choice, relationships are work.

Mara Barretto is trying to live her life, and Jay Montinola is making it more difficult. First, he’s handsome and charming. Second, he turned Mara’s face into a meme that her family, friends, customers, and strangers keep bringing up; and third, he kissed her and she didn’t find her soulmate afterwards! According to the lore, Jay is the last guy you kiss before you find your one true love. But when he kisses Mara, no one true love walks into her life. Just Jay hanging around, not wanting anything permanent and not sure he would deserve love even if it found him. Mara would be okay with being single for life (she likes her life!), but she would like to explore the option of having a relationship. She would like someone who looks at her the way Jay looks at her (but obviously not actually Jay). So when no one true love comes along, Mara and Jay make a deal to give Mara some of those experiences she has missed out on.

Carla de Guzman’s romances are full of complexity. Mara and Jay have to contend with other people’s expectations of who they are and what they are supposed to be. Mara has to deal with fat phobia, even from people who love her, and though she loves her body, it still hurts. Early in the book, the idea of One True Love is discarded, but it takes Mara and Jay a while to recognize that their romance ideals are not reality. They have to make a choice to love or to push love away.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

This charming romance follows Mara Barretto, a floral designer feeling the pressure of being single at her sister’s wedding. When she meets Jay Montinola—a guest known for bringing luck in love—a spontaneous kiss sets off an unexpected romance. Their slow-burn connection unfolds against a beautifully woven backdrop of Filipino traditions, adding depth and warmth to the story. While the ending feels slightly rushed, the novel remains a sweet, heartfelt read perfect for fans of international love stories, slow-burn romance, and cultural richness. It’s an engaging escape that leaves you smiling.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Last Guy You Kiss is Carla de Guzman’s second book in the Afterglow line, and I enjoyed this just as much as the first, for the most part, While I haven’t seen the romcom this is based on, I immediately got those vibes, along with the immersive Philippines setting and the strong cultural touchstones, including Tagalog phrases, with the book being set around a family wedding.
Mara is incredibly sympathetic, with her experiences of not having even been in a romantic relationship and being pitied by her family (albeit lovingly) hitting home for me, to the point where she’s willing to entertain almost any prospect, including something ridiculous like kissing a guy whose kiss will supposedly lead her to love soon after. And seeing the other side of it with Jay was nice too, as he’s much different (and better) than the rumor has built him up to be. Their romance is a sweet, somewhat slower burn, and they were easy to root for.
I enjoyed the family dynamics overall, but I did find it a little difficult to keep track of everyone at times, especially when the sisters had similar names (Mara/Marina/Mabel). However, it was fun to see Mon and Olivia from Manila Takes Manhattan again, with Mon being one of Jay’s friends.
Minor quibbles aside, I enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to readers looking for a fun romcom chock-full of Filipino culture.

carla de guzman, i adore you! what a sweet slow burn romance, in the same universe as manila takes manhattan so if you loved that book you’ll love this one, though i think this one is stronger :) very cute, very soft, perfect romance

The story follows our main character, Mara, who is a florist, an eldest daughter, and the unfortunate subject of a meme. She’s become so popular due to an unflattering picture posted of her. It’s truly become a huge part of her life, and it’s all due to Jay, a guest at her sister’s wedding.

The two met first at a date organized by their mutual friend, who is now getting married to Mara’s sister. Since Jay is close to the groom, they’re all stuck together no matter what. At first, Mara is determined to ignore him, but the two end up talking and having some chemistry. Things are going great until Jay comes clean about his curse.

Any woman who kisses him ends up finding her true love after him. Mara is single so she decides to kiss it and see if it works for her. Spoiler alert: It doesns’t and she keeps running into Jay along the way. The most interesting part of this story is just how easily everything fell into place with these two and just how oblivious they were about it.

While this book is a slow burn, it was clear the sparks were there. Honestly, I adored seeing them reunite at another wedding and seeing how interwoven the two were. Given that The Last Guy You Kiss was a shorter book, the pace was great, and it was nice to see just how fate was working to get these two together. This story was short and sweet and gave us that little bit of spice, making it the perfect book to read this spring or pack in your beach bag this summer.

Mara cree en el amor y sueña con encontrarlo algún día, pero al estar en sus treintas y no haberlo logrado, comienza a perder la esperanza. Por otro lado, Jay está convencido de que el amor no existe y se considera maldito, pues todas sus novias o citas han encontrado el amor verdadero justo después de que él las besara. Cuando empieza a sentir algo por Mara, no sabe si debería besarla y dejarla ir para que encuentre a alguien más o arriesgarse a salir lastimado y demostrarle que él es el indicado.

Fue una lectura rápida y entretenida, además de despertar mi curiosidad por los libros anteriores.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was such a cute book. I loved the story line and how they came to be together. The oldest daughter, youngest son dynamic was nice to see. Also being the only son is something that can be hard especially if you are the youngest. I loved learning new words and enjoyed the kpop bits too. Such a sweet cute fluffy read, especially for someone who reads fantasy or heavy books. This is a perfect palette cleanser.

This was very cute! It was a bit short but the characters were realistic and relatable. The spice was well balanced with plot and neither over powers the other.

I really just loved this book -- and every time I see the cover in my Kindle app, I can't help smiling. It's SO dang cute, and the story and characters are just as delightful. I've been reading Carla de Guzman for years and this is one of my favorites. I love the fat rep, the banter, the setting...I will be recommending this widely and I've got it pre-ordered for my own bookshelf! (I'm also hoping to choose it as a future A Bookish Affair book club pick -- maybe 2026!) Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Mara is an eldest daughter who has never had a romantic relationship. She decides to kiss Jay, the friend of her brother-in-law, who believes himself to be cursed because every girl he kisses meets The One right after.

I enjoyed Mara and Jay as characters. All of the characters in this book are really funny, and I found myself laughing out loud several times. What didn't work for me was the pacing of the book. At times, the plot moved too fast, and others it moved too slow. I feel like it was unrealistic for the timeline. The characters didn't really get to know each other at all, and the ending felt super rushed.

#TheLastGuyYouKiss #NetGalley

It's a sweet, slow burn romance. Less of a spicy read.

The reader is immersed in the experiences (where the road traveler is stymied by the sheer amount of traffic elongating a short trip to take hours) customs where multiple sponsors play an essential part of the Filipino wedding ceremony, and dialogue is a mix of English and Tagalog. It may be the post pandemic modern world but the stigma of an unmarried older daughter exists. Would say all of above are pretty accurate (and this is from a reader located outside of the Philippines.).

In my opinion, slow start but the story gained traction when they encountered each other by pure happenstance in another city.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic romantic comedy novel, it had that element that I was wanting from the description. I was hooked from the first page and thought it was a strong start to this story, the characters had that charm that I was looking for and enjoyed from the genre. Carla de Guzman wrote this perfectly and thought it used the culture perfectly in the story.

At her younger sister's wedding, Mara Barretto has had just about enough of the familial pressure to get married herself. When she learns of the infamous Jay Montinola, Mara decides to go for it. Rumor has it that any woman who kisses Jay finds their person soon thereafter.

I loved the cultural traditions portrayed in this book. Mara and Jay had great chemistry and were very sweet with one another. If you're looking for a slow burn that's a bit lower on the spice scale, this is a great choice!