Thank you to the folks at #penguinbooks #arcs #randyribay #netgalley for this very timely piece on the problems that ail the youth in Manila. In fact, it's something that affects not just the youth, but practically the whole of the archipelago if the president of the Philippines is to be believed.

Randy Ribay's insightful and very gritty look at life in the Philippines during the last few years' war on drugs is so real. I've read and seen too many articles written about the lives of the youth of Manila, who are killed by the big war on drugs dragnet led by the Philippines' version of the US president. Before you read any further, know that it's also a political commentary on how our youth's lives are primarily and summarily discounted by its leaders, so much so that they pay for the sins of the world in the drug underbelly painted in the book.

The story takes place fairly recent in Michigan, US of A. Jay Reguero is a young man set to go to the University of Michigan when he receives news that his cousin, a contemporary of his, named Jun, has died. More specifically, killed because he was involved in drugs in Manila. The shock and disbelief of Jay is pretty normal--and so is the reaction he seems to be getting from his family. Part of that is likely because if one spends enough time with Filipino families, as I have, one thing we learn about is that we don't air out our dirty laundry. So Jay pretty much gets the run-around from his family about the whys on his cousin's demise. He tries to lean on his best buddy Seth, and notices that his own friend sees him as someone who's basically "white", because Seth doesn't think that the problems in Manila really affect Jay as much. This shows the reader just how most of the world sees Filipinos--that we blend so well with our adoptive countries that we practically become them. In some ways that's good, and in many ways kinda crappy. I mean who wants to be seen as something other than unique?

Jay ends up investigating his cousin's death, and stumbles on a whole world of videos and stories about the atrocities that plague the families of those involved in drugs in Manila. It's something that seems to be shut out from mainstream media, and he's not having it.. Convincing ones parents isn't as easy as it is in the movies, and he does a fairly good job trying to get his folks to let him go to Manila on his own. Which he does, and it's his journey home that he will find out just why Jun was killed. Why his family keeps mum on it, and why he needed to do this. So many facets of this book was so good especially since it brings to light the problems in Filipino families about how they deal with "unmentionable" topics like drugs, illegitimacy, or other ridiculous topics that aren't allowed at the dinner table. Ribay spins his tale beautifully, and I recommend this read to any and all who want to see a different side to the Manila. Kudos to this author!

The writing in this is superb, which helps portray the intense sense of grief from the protagonist. Only with a few pages you get sucked into the story, and you can tell this is going to be a gripping read.

I'm really excited to read the rest of this book! Already, the story has drawn me in. The portrayal of grief is hard to read because it's so realistic. I'm impressed by how the author has handled diaspora and that feeling of disconnect, as well as the "I don't see color" ideology that some well-meaning people have. The chapter titles being the last few words of the chapter is a small detail, but a fun one, and it makes me feel like I have a peek into the future even though the words might not mean what I think they do.

There's not much waiting around before you get right into the action with this book. Luckily, that doesn't make it feel rushed, and there's still character development elegantly woven in. From the very first sentence, I knew I was going to love the writing style. And even after I read the second sentence - just to make sure it wasn't a fluke - I was even more sucked in. Clever parallels in the writing (chapter name = final words of the chapter) combined with difficult and complex questions about morality and suffering are going to make this book an absolute powerhouse. June 18 Can't come fast enough!!

-Read a sample courtesy of NetGalley, will review in full upon release!-

I received a sneak peak of Patron Saints of Nothing, a book I have been anticipating since December, and as far as I can tell from the first few chapters I read, I am not disappointed. This is my first time reading a YA novel with a Filipino American character, and this book has brought to my attention many of the issues happening in the Philippines. I hope to read the rest of the book and see where the story goes, but as for now I can definitely say that I'm hooked. I hope that there is more YA about Filipino characters in the coming years, and more that handle tough topics like this one.

This sneak peak for Patron Saints of Nothing really left me wanting to read the full book. It is so powerful, and in just a few chapter you are quickly thrown into the grief Jay feels after his cousin's death. The upcoming adventure of him finding out the truth of what happens really gets your attention, and I can't wait to find out how it all goes down.

This is heart clenching novel. A book that will open up the eyes of every body about how Filipinos is struggling to fight drugs, poverty and politicians manipulating our life. All in all this is a good book for me. Like it is a reality which is written. As we always said our life is not a always a fairytale.
This is a book that will teach many teens about drugs.

The beginning of the book, Jay's first look at death, sets the grim and morose setting for the book. I'm sad to see it's only a sneak-peek, and even though the story looks to be a tear-jerker, I'm desperate to find out more about Jun and Jay's journey with seeking answers about his cousin's death.

From what was available to read, I loved the parallelism of the beginning and when Jay talks to his mom - where she holds him during both moments to try and shelter her child from a hard fact of life. With the puppy, death is something that Jay can come to accept, but with the death of his cousin at the hands of the government's police, it's not something he can easily accept like he did as a child.

The book also brings notice to America's isolation to outside-World events - I personally had no idea of the War on Drugs going on in the Philippines. Whether to blame myself or the lack of media attention, I will do neither, and instead educate myself on this terrible event to try and better understand the story as well.

I look forward to picking up this book when fully available.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the e-ARC of a Sneak Peek of Patron Saints of Nothing.

After reading the first 59 pages of Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay via this Netgalley excerpt, I can say that I, as a Filipino, deserve to have and badly need a copy of this book.

Focusing on the story of a Fil-Am teen whose whole life turned upside down after knowing that his childhood cousing bestfriend was killed by a policeman after being involved in the globally-critiqued war against drug campaign by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Knowing how true the story behind this book is, I think every Filipino needs to have a copy of this book to know how impactful this mania-ed Oplan Tokhang by our current President.

Many lives had been taken already and the mountain of corpse from the bloodbath continue to tower after the President continue to overrule the international call to stop the campaign and follow the standard procedure in chasing criminals. Many Filipinoas has been criticizing this program but much more of my countrymen continue to support this bloody campaign. I hope everyone in the near future see that this does not do any of us good.

Anyway, before my rant goes on and on, I am praying and fingers crossing that I will be approved for a complete e-galley of this book so I can read the whole story of Jun and how his cousin, Jayson, braved the way to show the world the true story behind Jun's death. For now, I'll be thanking the publishers in advance. Salamat po.

The sneak peek for Randy Ribay’s new book, Patron Saints of Nothing has me hooked! Seventeen-year-old Jay has just learned that his cousin in the Philippines has been murdered. His dad will not give him any details about the murder and insists that Jay not ask any questions about it. After receiving a small bit of information from his mother and doing a little digging online about the drug war in the Philippines, Jay decides that he must travel back to the Philippines to uncover the truth about how his cousin died.

I cannot wait to read the rest of this book! A Filipino-American voice in diverse YA literature is an exciting thing. Fil-Am youth walk an interesting path that you can clearly see in Ribay’s main character, Jay. Not quite “white” and not quite “Asian.” I will be interested in reading about how Jay re-connects with his Filipino side by traveling back to the Philippines. Will he break communication barriers with his father and uncle? Will he be able to make a difference fighting social injustice overseas? Will he find the truth behind his cousin’s murder? We will have to wait until June 2019 to find out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing a sneak peek of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Sneak peak was amazing and powerfull. This book deserve every good review. I can't wait to read the full book. Thanks Netgalley for this sneak peek.

I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this book. I feel like this book is accessible to anyone, never mind whether you have any kind of connection to the Philippines or Filipino culture. I’ve never come across anything like this before, and I look forward to recommending it to anyone who is looking for something new and different to read. This sneak peek has opened my eyes to something I had no real idea was going on, and I look forward to learning a lot more when the book is released.

Thank you to NetGalley for the sneak peek to this upcoming title in exchange for an honest review.

I can't wait to read the full book. As someone who is half Filipino, and has lived there as a child, this has probably been the first time I have ever read anything with a Filipino main character. I still have plenty of friends and family who live in the Philippines and can't wait to read more.
*Thank you for Netgalley and the books publishers for allowing this sneak peek to be read by me*

Powerful, poignant, and moving. This is a tale to be cherished. I cannot wait to read the full book.

<i>Patron Saints of Nothing</i> by Randy Ribay begins with one of the more rough scenes I've read. Perhaps it says something about me that I have a rough time reading about animals, and dogs in particular, that have died. But the thing about the way this books begin is that it really does grab your attention and keep you fairly engaged throughout. And it relates to the later plot of the story.

I wasn't a huge fan of Seth and found the portions of the book that included him rather dull, but for the most part I feel as though the story picked up after that initial introduction of him. Readers are given a sizable sample that moves quickly to the beginning of the novel's plot and immediately promotes the questioning that is suggested in the synopsis.

Overall, I enjoyed the reading. The writing is well done and the story definitely seems like an important one. While I've never been a huge fan of books that involve murder, I can definitely see this one as a worthwhile read for all the important issues that it seems to be preparing to discuss.