𝗠𝗖𝘀: Dalisay + Evan
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝘂𝘀𝗮—𝗶𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲, 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲.

This was my first book by Melissa and truthfully, my first experience reading such a culturally diverse cast of characters and it was SO much fun in the beginning! Dalisay is Filipino and Evan is a second (or third) generation Persian immigrant descendant. When Evan first spots Dalisay at work, he’s bold enough to ask her out, but she turns him down flat until his friends tell him about the Five Stages of courting that traditional Filipinos go through to prove their worth and devotion to their potential partner.

At first I was iffy. Call it my American upbringing because I don’t feel like anyone should have to prove their worth to get a chance at anything. That feels like judging before a verdict. But it was actually kind of fun and sweet watching Evan stumble through all the stages. And Dalisay admitted there was an unbalance as Evan learned everything about her but she learned nothing about him. Both of them were open to what they were feeling and I LOVED that!

But what didn’t work for me was the last third of the book. I knew at 50% when the initial courting was done and things heated up, that we were going to have a third act break-up. In this scenario, it was done for drama and not needed. That, honestly, ruined what could have been a 4-5 star read for me. A gap in time and then a repeat of certain things that late in the game? Nah, Dalisay didn’t win brownie points from me. I adored Evan, but she was just stuck in her traditions without really respecting them herself (as she demonstrated many times throughout the story). I couldn’t move past my annoyance with Dalisay and that makes me so sad!

Regardless, if you don’t mine third-act breakups and the drama that comes with it, don’t let my review sway you because the writing is great and the premise is fun!

𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: NOW AVAILABLE
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

4★ For this very cute read novel! As a Filipina, reading this book made me proud. I love how our culture is adapted into this novel. I do know of the courting traditions here in the Philippines but I didn’t really know the stages or the actual steps a man has to go through.

In this day and age, courtship has evolved into something that fits the modern world. But in this novel, there are stages where Evan was challenged to determine his intents for Dalisay.

I find it beautiful, really. Some might view it as a little too much but if a man is really set to winning the heart of the woman he loves, he will go through these stages.

And in doing so, not only did he won the woman’s heart but also of her family.

Anything for love.

QOTD: What is your country’s dating tradition like or what is your favorite stage in dating? Let me know in the comments section <3

When Evan Saatchi shoots his shot with his new coworker, he's surprised, and confused, by her rejection. She tells him he's going to have to try a lot harder. He gains some clarity when his friends inform him about the Five Stages, a set of courtship rituals in the Philippines. Evan is hesitant at first, but eventually starts to work through the five stages, proving that he's a romantic at hear, just like Dalisay.

I haven't read a book by Melissa De La Cruz in a while - I was a big fan when I was a teen. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to finish this book before its street date, but my library has purchased a copy.

i was so excited since the book is about Filipino traditions. i really tried to finish the books but i can't really. the five stages mentioned in the book is not something we still do. or at least its not really how its called? i dont even know what the 5 stages are. i dont want to say anything about it anymore. i just dont like the book.

Let me start off by saying the idea behind this book is wonderful. I loved learning about the Five Stages of Courting and really understood why our main girl was so adament about it. I think it also was such a good base line for them to slowly fall for eachother vs insta love most books have.

I also really enjoyed the fact we got to see the aftermath of the Five Stages, not just the end of the book. Reading about them dating really was sweet.

It just lost me at the last half of the book. That was a really hard few chapters to get thru imo. The miscommunication and everything really had me wanting to pull out my hair.

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos is about respect, traditions, and dating. Seeing both of their POVs is the key to what makes this book so good. With Evan and Dalisay it's about meeting in the middle. About making it work, being a team when the world has something to say about us. There are scenes of fake courting, real love, and two people wondering if they can surpass these obstacles. I cannot stress it enough, seeing both of their POVs strengthens the depth of their connection, to see both of their opinions.

I really enjoyed this story of family and traditions and figuring out which traditions are important to continue in a modern world. Dalisay was determined not to let Evan in but as he completed every challenge she started to let him in. Of course there is conflict between family expectations and love, will the relationship of Dalisay and Evan survive? I loved seeing the different cultures and how Evan was willing to learn for Dalisay. The characters were interesting and I would love to hang out with them. This is a story about learning how to be yourself and to be open to love that is a perfect summer read.

Two coworkers begin an unlikely bet: if Evan Saatchi can complete the Filipino courtship practice of "the five stages" then he can win a date with Dalisay Ramos. It's insta love for Evan and Dalisay when they first meet at work... until he asks her out and she hard rejects him expecting him to court her through the Five Stages. Evan has never heard of that but Dalisay is a new hire from the Philippines and she does not want to date the American way, she wants the courtship, she wants the fairytale experience her parents had, and despite liking Evan, she wants him to properly court her. Evan can't resist a bet and he definitely would like a date from Dalisay... if only he could figure out the five stages and how to get her to say yes. This started off fun but then kind of fell completely flat for me. I really didn't see the chemistry between Dalisay and Evan, and unfortunately I really did not like either character all that much. The romance just didn't feel there for me and while I do appreciate getting to learn new cultures and traditions and having a cute side cast of characters, when your main characters are actually lacking a good story and real emotional depth, it kind of makes the read a bit lackluster. While this book was a miss for me, if you would like to try reading a book with two individuals from different cultures trying at romance, then I'd say give it a go maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

Release Date: July 9,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing | Union Square & Co. for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

It’s difficult to reconcile the fact that this author is the same one that wrote Encanto’s Daughter. Sure, there are some similarities, mostly the Filipino representation, but whereas that one held my interest and kept me glued to it with the adventure and action, this one did not. I enjoyed hearing about the various articles they were working on at the magazine and would love to read a few of them, particularly the one comparing European and Asian cities but the rest of the book reminded me of the variety shows I would see on TV in the Philippines, cheesy and overacted, and besides the wonderful descriptions of the food, I felt, put Filipinos in a bad light. This was not for me.

I was underwhelmed. These characters are in their thiries and act like middle schoolers. Being a half-Filipino I was excited to learn about the 5 stages because this is not something my family partakes in. My disappointment sunk deeper and deeper with how forced it feels to talk about and showcase the Filipino heritage and traditions. This story is also highly based on the region on Luzon, which differs from the more Southern Islands. While I grew up with many of the traditons, I would say I grew up with none of the traditions in the novel. Manila is alot more rigid in their lifestyle and it shows in Dalisay's character. I find her to be uptight and her "maturity" comes off as entitled and immature.

Evan is a redeeming character. He is funny and realistic and "whole-asses" his challenges. Dalisay basically shuits down his honest attempts at the stages and she bullies him thorugh much of the first third of the book.

As for the romance aspects, I see where it is trying to have a crush fall into real love but it feels so surface level, even when they start to open up to one another. The connections and the growth are not there for me and I don't find myself saying "awe this is cute".

Learning about culture is the main idea of The Five Stages of COurting Dalisay Ramos and I think that hit the nail on the head. There is a decent amount of compare and contrast between SEA and US culture as well as generational culture. If you enjoy very niche stories, this is great, it teaches alot with some aspects of a romance.

Thank you to Love Notes PR & Union Square Co. for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

eBook and Audiobook duo review!

Dalisay Ramos and Evan Saatchi are co-workers at a travel website, and Evan has been mesmerized by Dalisay from her first day at work. He quickly learns that courting Dalisay is not as easy as simply asking her out for a drink. Moving to the States from the Philippines, Dalisay is a romantic at heart who wants her suitor to complete the Five Stages, or five acts in a courting ritual from the Philippine culture.

Evan was a trooper through all the stages! Even when he was trying to convince himself that it was all an effort to win a bet, there were moments when his romantic intentions really showed through. I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful for him to revisit these when he knew that Dalisay was the one. The passion that Dalisay has for her family, traditions, and culture is evident as it guides the whole story and foundation for her relationship with Evan. I liked her character for most of the book. I was a little taken aback and confused as to her motivations for stepping away from pursuing a relationship. It felt very miscommunication heavy for what was happening.

The family dynamics between Dalisay and her large Filipino family are wonderfully written, and I felt engaged and invested in their stories as well. I love Lola. I learned so much about Filipino culture and practices from this book! I loved reading a well-done romance with multicultural characters and culture.

I loved this story in audio format. The narrator, Amielynn Abellera, adds so much to the story with her accents and passion in her voice. I found myself going back to the audio version because I truly enjoyed the performance, or I would hear Abellera's different accents while I was reading the eBook copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Union Square & Co., and RBmedia for providing me with an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Maria de la Cruz brings a delightful tale about dating rituals across cultures that brings a little bit of uncertainty and a lot of laughter and promise of future for Evan and Dalisay. The Five Stages of Dating Dalisay Ramos shares the beautiful Filipino dating courting culture with Americans like myself who had no idea about these five stages and brought a beautiful appreciation to this story in a unique and fun way! Fun, flirty, and fresh, this is a great summer read!

i rly loved reading abt the cultural dynamics of an interracial relationship especially since being in one myself i was able to relate to a lot of the sentiments shared by the mmc. the five stages of courtship are a representation of dating culture within Filipino families and I think the concept of a non-Filipino love interest going through these stages to win the girl’s heart and her family’s approval is so sweet and demonstrates a special intentionality in displaying love through acts of service.

unfortunately throughout the courting stages of this story, i was not sold on the chemistry between the leads. their attraction was very quickly birthed and stifled again after a misunderstanding on the fmc’s part leads to the mmc getting basically dared to go through the “five stage process” to prove he was worthy of a date with the fmc. he accepts the date but under the premise that he was no longer even interested anymore and just wanted to prove he could succeed so the courting process started off on strange terms.

his journey of efforts made it seem like the interest was all one sided and some of this is due to the moderate distance that must be kept during the courtship but once the fmc started to somewhat reciprocate, the mmc was still put into positions to prove himself worth, apologize and feel less than despite jumping through all those hoops. there was a lot of “telling” the readers the characters were madly in love with each other, but it wasn’t shown so much through the writing.

if you’re looking for a quick read and don’t mind a 3rd act breakup, i’d still recommend as there are some high points:
• Filipino representation
• cute/funny dialogue
• cosplay culture
• fun supporting cast
• mmc has a dachshund 🥹🫶🏻

thanks so much to netgalley, the author and union square & co for the digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I've been a fan of this author since her "Blue Bloods" series. Her books are always entertaining, and I was thrilled to dive into a story about Filipino courtship traditions. I loved that Dalisay wasn't afraid to stand her ground and preferred the traditional Filipino approach to dating over the more casual American style.

Evan's commitment to completing all five stages of the courtship ritual, despite not knowing Dalisay well, truly impressed me. It spoke to the hopeless romantic in me. However, the realist in me couldn't help but wonder if his motives were genuine, considering his initial goal was just to grab a drink. Could this whole thing be a game to him?

Dalisay's character also presented a bit of a conundrum. While she clearly liked Evan, her hot-and-cold behavior, where she pushed him away and then pulled him back in, became frustrating at times (at least from my perspective, and maybe the cynic in me talking).

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Union Square Press for the ARC. I was sooo excited to get this ARC because 1) the cover is so cute 2) the premise is so unique and 3) I'm half-filipina !!! This was the perfect fluffy romance. Good banter and love that she demanded the best.

This was such a cute rom-com! I loved the concept of a proper courtship rather than “hey you want to go for drinks?” It is just extra romantic. Dalisay is from Manila and the culture has “The Five Stages” to court someone. Evan is American and has no idea of this, but Dalisay bets that he can’t do it and so he’s not going to be made a fool right? But as he is going through the steps, he realizes he is putting more intent behind it than if it really was just a bet, and finds that he really does like Dalisay.

And as he goes through the stages, Dalisay is realizing that she really likes him too. After he completes the final stage, the two make it official and actually give their relationship a shot. But then they run into a lot of cultural differences that threaten— and succeed— in tearing them apart. But time apart makes them realize how much they really miss each other and that they were happiest with each other. So Evan does the Five Stages again, but in earnest.

I really loved this book, how it highlights the two different cultures, and how blending them can be just as beautiful. Tradition isn’t always the way; what’s real is loving someone who they are.

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tour for the gifted copy!

3 stars.

"The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos" by Melissa de la Cruz is, unfortunately, not my favorite book. Let's start with what I liked. First, I loved the Filipino representation. I enjoyed learning about the five stages, the Filipino customs surrounding dating, the immigrant experience Dalisay faces moving to the states after the death of her father, the familial bonds, the food, and seeing the differences between American and Filipino cultures in life, love, and work. There is some funny dialogue and some zany situations between the characters that made me chuckle. Some of the side characters were excellent. I really wanted to like this book more, but the rest of it is a choppy mess. The insta-love between Evan and Dalisay would have been fine if I had felt any spark between them, but I didn't. The first half of the book, Evan has to go through the five stages to prove to her, her family, and her friends that he is serious about her, but he doesn't even know her! He just thought she was cute and proceeds to get swept up in a plot to date her. He hits on her on her very first day with the company, and she assumes that he wants to get married and have kids when all he wants is a drink. It's giving ICK on both ends. I'm not saying he couldn't fall in love with her in the process, but I didn't feel any sort of yearning or pining between the two of them until about 70% into the book. The spicy scenes feel superfluous, added only to appease the TikTok crowd...and this is coming from someone who loves and appreciates a heavy spice level in their books! They didn't add anything to the story, or to Dalisay and Evan's romance. There was still no spark between them, even after they do the deed. The pacing is also atrocious. The beginning feels like it moves too quickly, but the ending is slow as molasses. I think this book could have benefitted from a lot more editing. That being said, I loved Amielynn Abellera's narration. I think she brought these characters to life in a big way. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, but there is most definitely a set of readers out there who would like this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa de la Cruz, and Union Square & Co. for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This one missed the mark for me a little bit. I think it started with some really interesting and sweet potential, but i ended up skimming the last 50 or so pages because i just wasn't invested.

I enjoyed the characters, Dalisay and Evan are really sweet and the side characters were also so lovely! I loved learning so much about a different culture. The 5 Stages was such a fun and unique way to see a couple get to know one another.

Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't doing it for me. There was a lot that felt really cheesy or out of place. I felt like much of this book fell victim to "show don't tell". We don't really even get to see conversations happen between the couple, it's majority all done through internal dialogue and reflecting back on conversations had off-page. I also felt like there was a lot of depth missing from the relationship. Almost all of Dalisay's thoughts about Evan were about how she wanted to hook up with him which felt really disjointed from her actual personality since she was more modest.

I just couldn't get invested in this story despite the elements I did enjoy.

Thank you, Netgalley, for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

(Review available on Sunday in my other platforms)

First of all, I'd like to paraphrase and redo a couple aspects from the synopsis, because I got some ideas from it that I did not like that much but they happened differently in the book.

Evan Saatchi is deeply curious about his company's new recruit, who has arrived from Manila not long ago. Dalisay not only looks confident and put-together, but she is also beautiful and he cannot resist asking her out. After being turned down, he thought he would not have another chance with her, but then she proposes a bet: pass the five stages of courtship that hopeful suitors perform in the Philippines. Dalisay does not believe he will pass the test and Evan does not want to give up, so they place a bet about it. However, whilst the five stages are in process, they see themselves being drawn to each other and thinking about the other person more than they should.

I want to stress that both parties know and are present when placing the bet, it is not something one of them does behind the other's back and will come back in the third act to break them up. It is a fun challenge that is proposed to see if Evan could pass the five stages; they both believe the bet is not really about their feelings, as what is a stake is a work's project/vacation. (But of course it is also about them and their feelings).

One of the aspects that worried me about the book was the introduction to the five stages; I was afraid it would be presented unseriously or that Dalisay would appear pretentious, but it was a good scene and Evan knew how important it was. Moreover, seeing bits of Filipino culture and the different family and relationship dynamics was fantastic; I knew we would see that aspect but I really appreciate it and liked it.

Evan is a charming man, respectful and attentive, and he was so good to Dalisay. He tried and did his best with her, but I feel like sometimes that was not mutual. We know that Dalisay has had to leave the Philippines, and having to adjust to a new culture and country is not an easy task, yet she sometimes takes her frustration on Evan, who does not deserve it, and without previous notice. There were a couple scenes were Dalisay called Evan out for being too American and not taking her culture into consideration when he has always had her interests at heart and has been very open-minded and considerate; I did not think it was fair.

I have a lot of thoughts on that, because it is really important to maintain one's culture, but it was rather one-sided, Evan had to adapt and be considerate of her beliefs but Dalisay did not. Girl, TALK TO HIM! He is doing his best but if you do not let you know how you feel, how can he know? And try meeting him in the middle sometimes, it takes two to tango.

Again, that was a small part but it bothered me and I had to let it out. I knew only snippets of Filipino culture so I was happy to get to know more, but it was not front and center in the book; this is a romance, it just happens to be about the five stages of Filipino tradition, which is how it should be. If you are not familiar with what the five stages are, do not worry, I also wasn't, but it is made quite clear in the book; you do not need to research for it (I did when finishing the book), if you know about it, that is fine, but it is also fun finding out just as Evan does. JM and Pinky, two of Evan's friends, were a delight and I wish we could have seen more of them.

Overall, it was a sweet, but also a bit spicy later on, romance that incorporated Filipino traditions and centered on family dynamics. Seeing Dalisay interact with her family was a joy. Evan was an amazing male lead; he was such a good person with amazing manners, and I wish he had been more appreciated.

This is such a fascinating book. A romantic story of passing five stages to love someone. Is that a real thing in real life? Might be? Well, let’s set that aside for now. Anyway, let’s continue. The chemistry between Evan and Dalisay is good and sometimes awkward. I like the characters, especially Evan’s friends and Dalisay’s family. I notice one character’s name coming from… well I’m not going to say it hehehe. I get to know a bit about Filipino culture, which is awesome. Overall, I enjoy this book!

I received a free copy in exchanged for review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!