This was a great book. I always absolutely enjoy her poetry but this was new and interesting from. I can't wait to read more in the near future. I highly recommend it.

One of my top reads for 2019! I will always be in awe of this book and Lanuza's writing style. I can re-read this one over and over again and I'm sure I will still get THAT feeling.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. After some time and consideration, and after loving other books from this author, I have decided that this one was not for me.

A fantastic book about a long-distance relationship! I love Elan and Caty's romance here! Looking forward to this author's next book!

Elan is added to my bookish jowa. Elan and I will live together and make lots of babies. There. That's the review!

Chos. Here's the link of my spoiler-free book review for Stay a Little Longer by Dawn Lanuza - https://youtu.be/nYJ44xzroHg

Not a fan of stories about long distance relationship. Because honestly, I don't think it works.

But then the story was good. It was sentimental and very heart-warming. If you are into this kind of stories, I think you will love it.

Wonderfully written. Caty and Elan being in a long distance relationship helped distinguish them on their own that coming together only solidified what they had apart. The slow burn romance was everything and more.

This was a cute story about a long distance relationship. It was great seeing this relationship develop. I only wish the story was longer.

I loved this book maybe just a little too much. I had a few problems with one of the characters, but without that, I don't think I would've loved it as much as I did. I do wish there wouldn't have been an epilogue because I believe it ended in a way that would've kept the reader captivated instead of now know how their future held. Overall, would never recommend.

I love this book! It’s fun to read and totally relatable. I couldn’t help but ask for more. Wonderfully written.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.

📚 Series: No. But it is a companion novel to the author's other work.
📚 Genre: New Adult.
📚 POV: Third person.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.

⚠ Read if: you are looking for a quick bittersweet swoony read.

Stay a Little Longer is my first Dawn Lanuza read. I feel so happy to finally get to read one of her works, knowing this one was from #romanceclass and I love Ms. Mina V. Esguerra so much!

To be honest, I thought the author only wrote poetry. Surprisingly, she has other NA romance reads that I am very excited to add to my endless TBR pile.

This is the story of Elan, a lawyer from Manila, and Caty, a girl trying to find her place in the world (at the beginning, it was Toronto). I initially thought this was a happened-in-one-night read. It wasn't, but it was still a romantic adventure.

This novel is a Will They? or Won't They? type of read. Two people who are insanely attracted to each other, who do not really know much about each other and are literally miles apart have to decide whether or not to take chances on a budding romance.

All in all, a quick read but definitely ticked all the kilig boxes.

☁ THE CRITERIA ☁

🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Hero:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.63/5 ☁

This was my very first read from Dawn Lanuza. I’ve been hearing about her and her works (mostly some of her poems) from my fellow Filipino reader friends but I haven’t had a chance to get into them. I was a little sceptical at first to be honest because I thought this was one of those meet cute stories which I mostly (if not, always) end up not loving. But Stay A Little Longer is so much more!

At first I thought Caty was a bit of intimidating and domineering. She has a very strong personality but underneath she’s hurting and scared. Elan on the other hand is reserved and introverted but loyal and very loving. The two get along despite of their differences. Opposite attracts, right? The chemisty between these two is obviously there and it’s strong eventhough they only spent less 24 hours together. Eventually, they have started a long-distance “relationship” and it wasn’t easy for the both of them. They live in a different continent and timezone. They both have their own dreams and priorities.

The writing is simple and easy to get into which made this a light read. The amount of romance is perfect. Personally, I would prefer more if this book is written in first person perspective. But I loved that it’s not an insta-love. The characters take their time and consider a lot of things like their families and careers before making their decisions. I liked that this book is not only set in the Philippines but also in New York. The side characters were enjoyable to read too especially Lucian. Jules and Kip were an interesting couple too and I didn’t know that the first book from this series is about them. Don’t worry because you can definitely read this book as a stand-alone.

Aside from reminding us that love isn’t always enough, Stay A Little Longer also reminds us to be brave and seize the moment. Overall, this was really a satisfying and wonderful read.

"When you're in love, everything seems urgent."

This book gave me so many emotions that it made me cry so hard. I can totally relate to Catalina, but unlike her, things didn't end well for me.

I have read the poetry books written by Dawn, and all I can say for this one is that it's a good and pretty realistic read.

Writing style is not complicated. I'm not into romance novels but I really enjoyed reading Stay A Little Longer.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of a fun modern woman and a shy, timid man. Both are heartbroken, sad and lonely although they try very hard to convince themselves and the people around them otherwise. On a chance encounter they find unexpected warmth in each other’s arms, albeit knowing it’s only temporary. They met at a point in their lives when the familiarity of a lover with the coldness of a stranger is just exactly what they needed. Their story takes place over a span of years, in between the quiet of rural San Juan and glitzy New York.

As fluffy and sweet as the book is, it also touches briefly but powerfully on grave topics about various complex relationships such as unrequited love, cheating husbands, long distance love affairs, and even domestic violence. It reminds us that it is okay not to be fine all the time, and acknowledging that there might be something wrong in our current situation is always the first step to healing.

People can be blind and stupid when in love. In order to get a chance at happiness, one needs to remember to be brave. This book is all about seizing the moment. It’s about knowing what you want, and trusting your instincts to guide you home. One of my favorite takeaways is how the author also portrayed love as a sense of urgency. How, we only know that we are truly in love when we can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives with that one person. And when you are finally with your person, love is also about choosing each other everyday.

*A big thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for this eARC in exchange for a honest review*

I think I'm in love again
In my head yeah you're in my head
I think I'm in love again
In my head yeah you're in my head
I didn't think it could be true
Let alone that it would be you

While reading this book, this song keeps in my head over and over again. From start to finish, damn, it is so good. I’m so proud of this book since it’s from a Filipino author and I really admired it. Also, I can totally picture the characters very clearly in my head and everything is just magical-romance read. I love the twist, the plot and the ENDING! Oh that ending! I just want to hug the book and owned it!

This kind of love-story surely I want to treasure of. We have both characters that really strangers and they just met like it’s destiny for them to meet. Caty is loud, charming and always making fun of Elan. I really like her character in this book, it feels so real. Then we have Elan, patience, quiet and fear of getting angry. Very much opposite to Caty, but we always knows the saying “Opposite attracts” I think this is why both of them clicked for the first time. We all know that long-distance relationship is really hard but I think Caty and Elan nailed it even though they’re both far away, miles away from where they are. They both try everything to work it and fight for it. I think I got some tips on how to handle good relationship with your partner, it’s that good.

Overall, one the best romance book that I’ve ever read so far. I did have roller coaster ride of feelings and emotions. Giggle, crying, laughing, name it! This is how this book is great. I felt the story so real that I think it happened “MAYBE” in real events and real characters, not just fiction. If this will be becoming in big screen like the other books, I think it will be one of the blockbuster. I suggest that Caty could be played by Angelica Pangiliban and Elan could be John Llyod Cruz.

I love this book. It made me feel so much emotions, most probably because I could closely relate to.the events take place or the things mentioned in the book. When you read this book, expect insta-love, expect romance, expect indecisiveness, expect two human beings with their own issues and struggles when it comes to having a relationship.

I know when I mentioned insta-love, most people who is not into this trope wold just click away, but this is one good insta-love. They don't directly fall in love with one another, they were awkward at first but then, very quickly something happens, then insta-love happens. So, if you're curious, check out this book.

Talking about the characters, at first, I hate Caty. I thought she was that biatch. But, surprisingly, I started to understand her feelings so so much and I love how she and Elan both remind me of myself when I was a teenager.

Overall, this book is very basic, it's simple, nothing too complicated. It reminds me how simple love stories were back then. It's good.

Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored. I was part of the International Blog Tour for this book and I was given an e-ARC of the book by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Now, where do I start?

I will be very honest with you. This was the first book I’ve read from Dawn Lanuza, but I wasn’t a stranger to who she is. I’ve been seeing a lot of poems from her poetry collections, and I was able to meet her in February during her book signing event. Her event started after Lang Leav’s book tour. Lang even asked her readers to stay a little longer (yes, pun intended) and meet Dawn.

When I discover artists and new authors, I only look for one thing in particular — they should be relatable. Their works should make me feel that I am a part of their stories. Whether that’s a poem, an artwork, and even in a fictional world.

And guess what? I felt that in Dawn Lanuza’s new book, Stay A Little Longer.

The story was realistic and brave. Initially, I thought that the plot would just have a 24-hour timeline (because of the title). I was surprised that it wasn’t. It wasn’t very hard to follow.

Elan and Caty were also easy to love. I didn’t expect too much because I’m afraid I would be engulfed by my own expectations and I wouldn’t enjoy the book. I’m happy I decided to do that. Dawn’s writing style and character building brought the best out of Elan and Caty. The plot is not your typical boy-meets-girl setting. It shows how couples start and maintain their relationship (bad decisions included). They’re complete opposites, but they also complement each other.

There were multiple times where I just stop for a while and grin because those were some of the best parts of this book. Again, relatable.

Have I told you that this book was also set in the Philippines? I always feel that Filipino pride when Filipino authors (yes, Dawn Lanuza is a Filipina) don’t forget their heritage.

And can we talk about the cover? I love how simple it is — Caty as the subject with her lips painted red and Elan as this mysterious faceless guy. If this cover doesn’t make you want to read the book, I don’t know what will!

In totality, Stay A Little Longer by Dawn Lanuza captivated my heart. Every page gave me hope in finding the strength in love by always trusting the process. It has a mature take on relationships and it will bring you nostalgic feelings of meeting your first love and your first heartbreak. Now, I’m ready to read more of Dawn Lanuza’s works.

I have a confession.

I am just a little bit in love with Stay a Little Longer.

Okay, I lied. I’m in love with this book. Like a lot in love.

With a realistic storyline a lot of people would be able to relate to, likable and believable characters, and straightforward and succinct writing, there’s a lot to love in this little book. It was a quick read, with only 200++ pages. I managed to finish reading this within the same day I started it. But, even with its brevity, Dawn Lanuza made every page count. She wielded perfect control of the story’s pace, dropping hints for readers to pick up just enough to tease them and unloading revelations about the characters in all the right places. Maybe the third person perspective made me feel like there’s still somehow a transparent wall in between me and the characters, but nevertheless, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying the story.

As much as I loved the writing though, it was the characters – Elan and Caty – who were the stars of this book.

When we first meet Elan and Caty they were both in love with other people. Living in opposite halves of the world, the two wouldn’t have met but chance brought them together.

Caty and Elan couldn’t be more different from one another. She’s loud and sometimes brash, while he’s quiet and closed-off. However, as they began to get to know one another, the two discover unlikely similarities until what started off as awkward became familiar, instinctual even – strangers becoming friends then evolving into something more, always hovering over an invisible line.

I loved Caty and Elan. I think most people will find a bit of themselves in both characters. They were real and relatable, and so, so easy to like. I rooted for them from the get-go. They had great chemistry and their attraction was very obvious right from the beginning of the story. It was truly a treat watching these two come together in the end, frustrating and tough as it was at times.

Stay a Little Longer perfect captures the push and pull of falling in love – its sweetness and urgency, its mess and complications. It didn’t discount the difficulties of maintaining a long distance relationship, which I, as a person whose own LDR burned out, appreciated. The ending was perfect and entirely satisfying, a balm to my jaded heart.

This book has my highest recommendations. Romance and NA readers will definitely find it easy to fall in love with this one, but I think everyone else will find something in Stay a Little Longer that they will enjoy. I will definitely explore other #romanceclass titles after this.

Elan is getting his car back borrowed by his friend (and secret long-time crush) Jules, the main character in the author’s earlier work, “The Hometown Hazard”. It so happens that Caty, Jules’ childhood BFF, needs a ride to the airport. The meet-cute ensues when Elan lets Caty in his car. After a long ride from the town to the city, with a disastrous detour to the house of Caty’s ex, this couple of strangers kinda hit it off and ends up in an almost one-night stand. Caty shrugged off kissing Elan as her seeking some sort of validation and Elan is excessively full of self-preservation to argue with that. Of course, the readers know that they are genuinely attracted to each other. But there’s not enough time for them to hash these feelings out as Caty’s flight approaches. So starts a series of rush meetings that almost always end up in either of them caught in the throes of a trip to the airport.

“Stay a Little Longer” is a leap from the couple of books that I have read from the same author before. I already know that Dawn tastefully writes sweet kissing books but this book is a revelation that she can also pull off books with steamy bed scenes. The first few chapters of sexual tension pretty much sets me up to the maddening attraction between the main couple. And the thirsty woman inside of me is not complaining with the level of heat in the bed scenes that followed, whether something actually happens or not.

Also, introducing two unlikable main characters is another gamble. When we first met Caty, she is injected with so much personality to the point of being annoying. Elan comes off to me initially as a pushover. But their seeming unlikability later plays off as byproducts of their insecurities or fears. As the book delicately peels the other facets of their characters, like Caty’s dedication to her big city dreams or Elan’s filial devotion, they become more endearing. I made a 360 flip before the book ends: the woman I thought was a pest becomes a free spirit, the man I thought was boring becomes an old soul.

The book is neatly split into four parts and an epilogue. After the meet-cute part, the next part is a kind of fantasy fluff, romance books are made of. The fantasy is summed up in a picture of two attractive people dressed to the nines, ballroom dancing with all eyes in the hall on them. The third part is my favorite because this is where the book slowly unveils the fictional ideation of romance to the reality of making a relationship actually work, especially if it’s a long-distance relationship between two people with different priorities. I really felt the frustration in these characters’ conflict that there were moments in the fourth part where I stopped believing that they could be happy together in the end. But as you know romance books persist for HEAs, so both Caty and Elan persisted, and I loved them more for it.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley. I would also like to thank Raf of The Royal Polar Bear Reads and Erika of The Nocturnal Fey for hosting this international blog tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.



A quick and delightful read, Stay A Little Longer captures the exciting and terrifying feeling of two people falling in love who have miles between them.

I rarely read romance novels because I felt most of them have the ‘Insta-Love’ trope which I dislike the most. Thankfully, this novel made readers understand what drew the two main characters together and why I should root for them. Caty and Elan are complete opposites: Elan is quiet and reserved, while Caty is outgoing and jaunty. Despite their conflicting personalities, they find it easier to open some hard truths about themselves in a very short time of being together. Neither did the two knew the connection made in their first meeting will develop into something more.

Caty’s and Elan’s story resonates with so many feelings. Even when I haven’t been in any relationship, the story paints in words how it feels to love someone. However, theirs is not like a fairytale where everything goes well for them. Because of the distance between them, they have to exert more effort, patience, and faith to make their relationship work. There are also issues regarding their careers and family matters. These factors help grow Caty’s doubts and Elan’s hesitations about their relationship. Seeing them going through this is quite frustrating, but I also understand why they are feeling this way. But in the end, I’m glad that they worked it out without asking the other one to stay and settle down for one’s sake.

Stay a Little Longer teaches us that love itself is not enough, but we also have to be brave: brave enough to take risks; brave enough to meet each other halfway; and brave enough to stay for the one we love.

4/5 stars!