Seeing this ARC got me excited because I love seeing Filipino representation in romance books! The whole premise intrigued me as I was eager to see how Evan would woo Dalisay through traditional Filipino courtship. At that point, it was so fun and adorable. However, there were some aspects that didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Learning that Dalisay was not a Filipino born in the US but had recently migrated got me hooked. I wanted to see how a character with purely Filipino roots would be portrayed. In this regard, the book did not disappoint. Dalisay was relatable and valued her family and their traditions. It was wonderful to see how deeply the culture was embedded in her and her family members. The Filipino representation was done well, reflecting many practices familiar to my own family. Even the mention of the song "Maharani" by Alamat made me giddy because I enjoy listening to that song. The stages of courtship were really enjoyable, particularly how Evan executed them towards Dalisay. I also loved how strongly the family and extended families got involved. To be honest, I wasn’t really aware that there were “officially” five stages of courtship, but I recognized all these different ways of courting from my own experiences, though not to this extent. The courtship stages were my favorite parts of the book because they were so fun and endearing. Evan really put effort into respecting Filipino culture and traditions. However, I felt that this part was rushed. The pacing was off, making it hard to stay engaged with the book after that.

Evan was an adorable character. He seemed very harmless and wasn’t arrogant or presumptuous throughout the courtship. He definitely passed all the stages with flying colors! I really appreciated how he tried his best to execute everything respectfully. Although he was motivated by their challenge, he was genuine and sincere throughout. He was a delightful character, and I was rooting for him to succeed. Dalisay, however, was a disappointment. She was so unlikable as a character. Her dismissiveness and arrogance were off-putting. While we’re past the conservative expectations of women, Dalisay’s behavior towards Evan was neither conservative nor respectful. Women were expected to repress emotions and affection in the olden times, but Dalisay was dismissive and disrespectful. She didn’t speak properly to him, initiate friendly conversations, or make an effort to get to know him during the courtship. This felt so off-putting for me. Of course, women are allowed to say “no” to men and push them away if they act predatorily. But since she made this agreement fair and square, she could have at least put some effort into acting civil. One of the things that really pissed me off was when she threw away the gifts Evan gave her daily, in full view of him! That was just plain rude. As a Filipino, we were taught to be respectful and not waste money or things. She could have given these things to charity and moved on with her day. But no, she had to show him that. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I was more interested in getting to know Nicole and Pinky! Speaking of Nicole, she is Dalisay’s twin. I was weirded out that a parent would give a beautiful Tagalog name like “Dalisay” to one child and a generic “Nicole” to the other. I expected parents to follow a theme with names, so it was strange that the twins' names lacked an apparent likeness. I’m not sure if this was even explained in the book because I wasn’t invested in it after the first half.

After the whole courtship, I was already disengaged from the story because I didn’t feel any connection or chemistry between them. They weren’t really talking or making moves to get to know each other. The timeline felt disjointed, making it hard for me to continue investing in the story. I hoped that the courtship storyline was stretched out and they developed a slow-burn romance through that. This book had great potential and aimed to tell a beautiful story, but the execution just wasn’t for me. I would still recommend this to my fellow Filipinos because of the representation of Filipino culture and traditions. That part was truly a treat for me.

A fun romcom that features MMC Evan Saatchi and FMC Dalisay Ramos. Dalisay moves to America to run a travel app division and meets Evan. He feels an instant attraction and asks her out, but she honors tradition so she rejects him. She wants the traditional five stages of courting ritual that has been done in the Philippines for generations. They make a bet on whether he can complete all the stages.

I love the Filipino culture and family traditions that were in this book. I have some family that are Filipino so it was nice to see. I found it to be well written and engaging. The characters were great and relatable. I love Dallas Lola. The relationship was heartwarming. If you like romantic reads, this one’s for you.

This book was fun look into Filipino culture, I truly enjoyed getting a look into how another culture does things when it comes to dating. I’d never heard of this custom and was very intrigued with it and how it means so much to them.

Dalisay was an interesting character, and I related a lot to her in the way she’s cautious about jumping into things and like to have lists and plans but she was kind of self-centered, Evan did everything, and she didn’t make much effort and that could be part of the courting, but it made the book kind of flat. I also thoroughly enjoyed that it takes place in SF, I’m from the Bay Area and not enough books are set here. I do wish the courting had better pacing and there wasn’t much said about Evan’s background/heritage which I feel was a missed opportunity. Loved the D&D and Evan’s character, he felt more fleshed out than Dalisay which was unfortunate. Overall, it was a decent read but did drag.

I was excited for this book because we Filipinos hardly ever get representation in books. However, I felt like I was trudging through this read. There is something about the main character that just irks me. I also think that Melissa dela Cruz’s writing is probably just not for me. I’m sure someone out there will appreciate the story this book wants to tell, it’s only unfortunate that I wasn’t one of them.

I loved the premise of this book and learning a bit about Filipino culture was interesting to me. I would like to see if the courting could’ve been spaced more. I appreciated Dalisay’s perspective on her heritage. With that being said, I wish that I learned more about Evan’s heritage. It was missing.

While there were some parts of the story that I struggled with, I did find this book to be an enjoyable read.

I was interested in how Evan tried to win over Dalisay; I adored the diversity and chemistry that was great to see; however, the writing style wasn’t for me. I wasn’t connecting with the story most of the time and felt myself getting easily distracted.

This doesn’t take away from the author. I’m more of a fast-paced suspense person, and I’m sure this is someone’s five-star read!! The book's third part also ruined it for me; I'm not a fan of those breakups when there was so much time spent on getting the characters together. I would still recommend reading another book by the writer.

This was a huge disappointment. I love the idea behind The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos and was especially excited to learn about the Filipino tradition--especially since it's one I hadn't heard of before--but the execution was shockingly bad.

It's been a while, but I've read books by Melissa de la Cruz before and don't remember having such a hard time with her writing. To be blunt, it read like something an elementary school student would write. The sentences are pretty straightforward and there isn't a lot of variation in sentence structure. In terms of content, a bulk of the story is devoted to dry and unnecessary descriptions of people (ex. a "dark-skinned Asian woman") or rote recitations of their actions. It reads more like the mini descriptors in a script or screenplay than part of an actual novel.

I also wasn't a fan of the actual story. The pacing felt off--we get through all five stages within the first half of the book and the "tension" at the midpoint was pretty disappointing. From the outset, I didn't really buy the premise and am not sure why de la Cruz chose to abruptly pivot from an insta-love at first sight to some kind of psuedo rivals-to-lovers dynamic, but neither were particularly convincing. I just never really bought the stakes and felt like Dalisay and Evan's relationships never went beyond the physical. Some of the more serious aspects of the book like Dalisay and Evan's anxiety, the complex family dynamics, and cultural differences were glossed over, and I was disappointed they felt like they were treated pretty superficially.

As much as I like the idea behind The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos, it think it needs a lot more development.

2.75 stars

I was really hoping to love this more than I did. I loved Evan right away, the nerdiness, D&D, rescuing an elderly dachshund, just seemed like a genuine guy. And the fact that he was willing to go through the 5 Stages without really knowing if he was going to win her over or not.

But Dalisay... She was a really unlikeable character for me. She seemed to put zero effort into knowing Evan or showing that she was interested. She made him do ALL the work. I was really bothered by the fact she threw away all the gifts during that stage, I get that it was a form of "banter." But she did nothing at all to encourage him in these stages.

It's a fine book for people who like the 'insta love' trope. I loved the diversity in characters (side and main), the traditional values and cultures. The pacing of the book was off for me. I would have liked them to get to know each other a bit first before jumping right into the 5 Stages. Plus, there isn't much development between them or the characters after they get together.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This felt like it should be YA rather than new adult or adult?

I didn’t mind the main characters. I liked the nerdiness of Saatchi with his comic con, staying fit to play certain characters, D&D group, and everything. I felt like he was multi-dimensional and we would’ve been friends irl. Dalisay, on the other hand just felt really entitled and spoiled. I didn’t like how she handled herself - just was mean to flirt and it rubbed me the wrong way.

Overall, it’s a fine read. It did feel like it was over half way through. I almost wish it had been? Like that the focus was just on the five stages, stretch that out and build more character development just during that rather than an awkward ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dalisay is extremely unlikable, the entire time she wants Evan to compromise but is unwilling to do so herself. Very selfish and blames it on “tradition”. The author tried to show the importance of tradition but I feel like she made the character an entitled brat.

This is probably my sign that Melissa de la Cruz' writing style is not it for me. This book was very bland and the main characters don't have any chemistry. Evan acts like a creep towards Dalisay and I swear I don't see any love interest/boyfriend material traits from him. Both Dalisay and him acts too mechanical and didn't feel like actually human beings in the real world. It's not the worse, but I'm just over it.

This book was an extremely pleasant surprise. Firstly, it was super interesting to learn about the Filipino “five stages of courting.” It’s not something I ever heard of before, and I found the whole thing really cool. Would I die if a guy sang to me on the street? Yes, probably, but I would enjoy seeing it happen to someone else. I love that both main characters were attractive but also pretty nerdy. It made them more human in my eyes. The author has a great sense of humor, and I laughed out loud several times. All in all, this was a fun read and a cool insight into this age old tradition. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos by Melissa De La Cruz is a delightful romantic comedy that effortlessly combines humor, cultural nuances, and heartfelt moments. Set against the backdrop of Filipino courting traditions, the novel follows the journey of Dalisay "Daisy" Ramos, a charming Filipina-American woman, and her unexpected courtship by the charismatic lawyer, Alex Montes.
Daisy's character is relatable and endearing as she navigates the complexities of her dual identity, caught between her family's expectations and her own desires. Alex, on the other hand, is a refreshing blend of confidence and authenticity, making him a perfect match for Daisy.
What makes this novel stand out is its ability to weave together familiar romance tropes with a fresh perspective.
The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos" is a heartwarming and engaging read that offers a unique glimpse into Filipino culture while delivering a satisfying romantic story. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance looking for something fresh and heartfelt.

I've heard so much about this author's work but never really got a chance to read it, but the title of this book really caught my attention and I all knew was there's courting, Filipino rep in America and I knew I had to pick it up.

Evan Saatchi and Dalisay Romas are two really very written and strong characters individually as well as a couple. There are co-workers as well since Dalisay has been newly joined from Manila to lead their Asia division. They both are highly educated and equally good at their jobs.

The book starts off very strong, powerful and fun at the same time. All the five stages of the courting, friends and families involvement, the side characters and friendship. I liked it all. Almost at 50% is when we see both of them confessing their love and moving forward.

Things that put me off were how hard Dalisay was trying to push him away inspite of her having some feelings for him and degrading his efforts at every level of courting. At the later stage where a little bit of miscommunication and realisation takes place, I did not like the solution given by Evan. (IYKYK like I was shouting on top of my voice to not repeat the whole process).

The third act break-up was done very easily between the couple which again did not work for me and that too for what? Starting the courting stages all over again!? 😭 Overall, I enjoyed the first half and did not like the second half of this book. I liked the cultural references and how the differences between the two MCs were handled.

The Five Stages is Melissa’s adult romantic comedy that shows a lot about Filipino culture and deals with family expectations.
As Evan meets Dalisay and immediately jumps to ask her out, he discovers that she is not easily won over. We then get to unveil and experience the five stages of Filipino courtship with Evan, where sparks will fly, frustration will be in the air as well and they’ll have to find a way to see and get what they truly want amidst what tradition may say is right or wrong.
••••••
As soon as I started this book I was hooked. The characters are sweet, fun and they make you want to spend time with them to see what they’re up to. It also helps that there’s a dachshund in the book, my favorite ever.
It was very fun to read about every characters reactions as the five stages actually happened. Following tradition, it was interesting that there weren’t much interactions between the main characters on certain settings but I feel like that led to there being some very cool secondary characters. I was veeery interested to learn so much about the Filipino culture from this modern point of view, as well as discover how many similar things we also have in Colombia, ranging from food to celebrating holidays.

I feel like at certain point I was feeling like some scenes were cut short, where I would have loved to see our characters interact much more, or it is implied that they did interact more but we don’t actually “see” those moments, out of which there are a couple at least that would have been very sweet to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. – A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Melissa de la Cruz delivers a cute, if predictable love story with The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos, whose primary story revolves around a man named Evan Saatchi who meets his match (in more ways than one) in the Filipina Dalisay Ramos, a hardworking journalist who just moved to San Francisco from Manila.

Those who love side characters and charming Lolas will surely enjoy thus story about tradition, following your heart, and learning when it’s time to stand up for what’s right despite your upbringing.
Those with Filipino family or friends will be very familiar with undercurrents of pakiramdam and how this clashes with Evan’s blunt American sensibilities. Couples with one half from the Philippines and the other born in America will especially see themselves in this book, just as I saw myself and my partner in it at times with the differences and conundrums Dalisay and Evan faced. I only wish I had understood better about these cultural values when I was going through it clueless, much like Evan starts clueless and over time learns about Dalisay’s culture. These things don’t suddenly go away once you step off the plane.

The reason for the low rating?

This is another book that isn’t for me. I would have enjoyed it better if the characters had a greater range of expression beyond smiling. I was both pleasantly surprised and a bit disappointed by how the queer facing family/culturally inbred homophobia line made the side characters so much more interesting to me than the main characters. I'd also enjoy a bit less predictability, but this also came off cute at times. So…

Truthfully, I don’t know if I’m someone who can handle pure romance. Perhaps I’m just meant for romantasy? This is why I would still recommend it to people who love a beautiful sweet ending, great side characters, and a strong Filipina character, infusing the whole story with Filipino values, not just sprinkles.

This was such a fun read and I absolutely loved it! Melissa De La Cruz is one of my favorite authors and getting to read this book was such a treat! Dalisay was such a great character and I really enjoyed her development throughout the novel and how she wasn’t afraid to advocate for herself when necessary. I also loved how tradition and culture was a big part of the narrative of the book and how it wasn’t made out to be odd or unusual but something to be proud of and something to celebrate. Would highly recommend this book!

I received an ARC of The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos and was delighted to read a contemporary romance with a Filipino FMC.

As a Filipino, it was lovely to read about my culture in the book and the struggles we often faced navigating our way through life whilst trying to keep our parents happy and sticking to tradition.

Dalisay and Evan are a sweet couple and I adored how Evan tried his best to follow the traditional way of dating a Filipino girl. Their instant connection was unexpected and i was hoping for a slow burn romance.

In saying that, the story is fast paced and the 5 stages felt rushed and happened almost straight away. The timing of events that occurred threw me off, but watching Dalisay and Evan fall in love with the support of Dalisays family made up for it.

Overall an enjoyable read.

I was full on ready to give this book 4 stars because it was such a fun romcom buuut... the third half of the book kind of ruined that for me. I hate a third act break up and it just feels like a waste of time. (My opinion!) However, I do think that so much of this book is worth reading. I loved learning about the Five Stages and all of the Filipino traditions. I did not know anything about that and that was so fun to read! I think a lot of people will love this book so please don't let me review persuade you not to!

I loved the found family that they had and I wish we could've gotten to know Nicole even more. I would've loved to watch both of the sister's navigate their love stories! I did love that this was a dual POV. I am starting to think that is the only way I will devour romance novels.

There were parts of this book that felt like it did not flow well but overall I think this is a solid summer read and it comes out July 9. :)

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & co for an ARC for my honest opinion!

If you are an avid Romance reader, you need to pick this one up. It has everything a romance novel should have, a hot sweet guy, a cool lady with her huge family, a whole bunch of neat friends who help the couple at times when they are being too stubborn. This book was definitely a rollercoaster, so be ready to finish this book in one day like I did. You will not want to put it down.


Part of a series or Standalone: Standalone


Genre: Romance


Tropes: Tradition, family is everything, co-workers, prove your love, hopeless romantic, Fish Out Of Water


Things I liked: Dalisay's family wasn't perfect, but they loved each other. It was really nice to read about such a large family that actually loved each other and cared for each other.

Evan was really sweet. He also was a whole person, I enjoyed learning about him while Dalisay also learned about him. Sometimes, it was sad that his inner monolog was so negative to himself at times, but this also made him really relatable. He always did his best, and we were rooting for him the whole time.


Things I disliked: The pacing of the book could have been better, at times I was confused since we got through the five courtship stages so quickly I think the drama of this could definitely have been drawn out more.


Extras: Evan and Dalisay's POV