Breathtaking prose and a tension-filled romance that had me rooting for them at every second. The exploration of generational trauma was impressive and moving. Clare Osongco is such a talented writer and I will be reading all of her books!

This book is realness. Messiness. Rawness.

When I say you will feel everything these characters feel it will be that and more. The hurt and sadness will have you longing to give them a hug and stay you are enough. And maybe a carb, because when there are emotions I bake. Or else I get awkward.

Be mindful of serious situations before going into this one but if the TW are okay for you then you should read this powerful story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

<i>Midnights With You</i> is a heart-achingly beautiful debut. I read this across three sittings, and I was blown away by not just Clare’s ability to weave a cast of real and raw teenage characters, but also by her writing. I was fully immersed in Deedee’s head from page 1, feeling her emotions, her awkwardness, her trauma, and her desires with her.

What I especially loved about the book is how none of the characters are all good or all bad, but layered, and humanly flawed. I dove into this expecting a romantic road-trip story, but ended up feeling gutted (in a good way). Deedee and Jay are both such complex characters, and I was blown away by how REAL Clare made them feel, like I could reach through the pages and touch them, like they exist in some part of the world. I seldom come across YA books that so impeccably portray the complex dimensions of the teenage mind, and this one had some of the best characters developments and arc resolutions I’ve seen in a long, long while.

There were so many moments that I found myself feeling frustrated by the characters’ actions, and mind you, these two teens, while in love, weren’t perfect for each other. So often, media makes us feel as if a romantic relationship will magically cure all of our problems for us, but MWY dismantled exactly that. The lesson that the main character eventually learns is that Jay and her whirlwind romance with him isn’t going fix her life, and she’s going to have to attempt to do it herself if she wants a fruitful and long-lasting relationship with Jay.

Spoiler: The ending was PERFECT. It took them both years to heal from their trauma and put their lives into perspective and settle their issues with their families, and I love and appreciate how Clare took the narrative decision for them to wait to be with each other. So many times people get into relationships when they’re not ready yet, in the process of putting their own pieces back together, thinking a relationship will fix them, developing this toxic co-dependency that can only be further damaging to their psyche. I’m so glad Deedee and Jay took time apart and found their way back to each other (though I admit when I read the part about Jay seeing someone else I screamed at my Kindle in frustration).

And oh, Jay! When I went into this book, I was expecting him to be a dreamy, rose-coloured love interest that you see so often in teen novels, ones that can seemingly do no wrong. But he was…gosh! He was vulnerable and beautifully written, and while he wasn’t always good for Deedee, his growth and willingness to change and accept responsibility for his actions helped me see him as his own person rather than just a love interest for Deedee. Their romance was tense, electric, and poignant, and I felt every push and pull in their relationship.

I spent so much of the book being annoyed with Deedee’s mom, and I do still stand by the fact that there are a lot of parents who aren’t good parents and/or ready to be parents and that results in their children having traumatic childhoods. I was so ready to villainise Deedee’s mom…but yet again, Clare showed us the truth behind the person she was, what made her the way she was, and made us empathise even with her. I don’t know how she did it, but that’s what makes this book all the more special.

As for Suzy, at first, I wasn’t what to feel about her, but I was struck and touched by how good of a friend she was, and pleased by the narrative priority that was given to her friendship with Deedee rather than dismissing her as just that side character best friend. I adored Suzy so much.

The setting descriptions were brief and beautiful, and every detail, down to the tiniest thing, was written from Deedee’s view, so I didn’t feel any unnatural break in the prose. There were instances where Clare could’ve easily taken a deep-dive into describing say, New York, and the Met, but she chose to instead make us experience these places through Deedee’s eyes and emotions, which I loved.

It’s been so long since I read a gutting YA book like this, with diaspora feels and mental health, and paired with the road trip motif I love most? I’m so grateful to have experienced this stunning book.

This book explores the coming of age of a Filipino-American teenager who lives in heteronomy with her immigrant mother.
Their relationship is heavily flawed and marked by trauma. Where does this trauma stem from? Deedee explores this question as she, step-by-step and with the help of her new neighbour Jay, reclaims her autonomy.
I admire the way in which Clare Osongco depicts this complex mother-daughter relationship in which the mother is fighting with her own demons and projects her anger and fears onto her daughter.
Midnights With You is a reflective journey and it had me crying on the subway.

I could relate to Deedee in a lot of ways; during her first driving lessons with Jay, during her internal struggle each time she thought about or faced her mother whom she loved but at the same time struggled to communicate with and who hurt her with encroaching behaviour and abusive words, and when she struggled to fit in with her peers from school.
Clare Osongco resolves the story in a careful and therapy-positive, realistic way. The monsters in each character's life won't be gone by the end of the book, but you will get glimpses at their healing journey and I love that so much.

Deedee's best friend Suzy also has a lot of depth and we also get glimpses at her more functional family life. I enjoyed the friendship between them so much, and how they grow apart and resolve their conflict in the end. It sets some great examples for teenagers with similar friendship dynamics and I wish I'd had more books like this 10+ years ago.
Deedee and Jay also face challenges in their growing friendship and these challenges are heavily linked to their family trauma.
Doesn't sound healthy, right? Yes, and I adore how Osongco wrote their relationship arc. You'll have to read the book to find out.

There are books, and then there are books that tumble into your life when you need them most and become a confidant and friend.

MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU is one of those books for me.

When I started reading it, I was going through a really hard time mentally, physically, and emotionally due to circumstances in my personal life. Clare's words in those moments were like a healing salve. I related so much to DeeDee and certain aspects of her relationship with her mother; it felt as if Clare cut me down the middle, pulled my heart out, sat on it, squeezed it, and then tenderly put it back with a whisper that it'll be okay.

I cried multiple times while reading. The brutal reality Osongco was able to infuse alongside stunning prose that reads like poetry is a balance few writers can achieve. The room she gives her characters to be human is humbling, and I can learn a lot from her as a fellow writer. Reading her words feels exactly like being alone in your room by the window at midnight, the world asleep before you, the moon above you, and you yourself feeling so very small.

Midnights with You remind me of the Before movie series, boy meets girl, girl meets boy, no one really knows they know each other, and they can only really be themselves with each other. A slow burn of a romance, but more than satisfying than the over the top telenovela dramas usually in teenage romance. Real life makes frequent interruptions in their worlds and in between Deedee and Jay in a way that keeps the the story flowing and interesting, while making me cheer even harder for each and both of them to find their happiness.

There is truly so much to love about MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU. The writing style, the themes, the characters and, of course, the tenderness of the romance. Clare Osongco is already an underrated voice in YA and I can't wait to keep following her journey through her books!

This was a much harder read than I anticipated it being. I guess I didn't fully realize what it was about when I picked it up. I have never been through what the main characters have in this book so I guess in that regard it was very eye opening. I would imagine for someone who has lived through this these characters and story line could be very affirming. I also feel like I have a better idea of what it would be like to have experianced life this way. I was so very glad to see that Deedee's mom got help in the end.

4.25 stars
Thank you to the Disney Publishing and NetGalley for the galley of Midnights With You!

In Midnights With You, 17 year old Deedee longs to escape her life full of family secrets and questions that haunt her. But two things stop her from leaving—guilt, and the fact that her strict, single mom won’t let her learn how to drive. But after a sleepless night, Deedee becomes entangled with Jay, the new boy next door, whose family life also keeps him up all night. As late nights bleed into early mornings, Jay secretly teaches Deedee how to drive and they begin to imagine a brighter future and a growing romance. But as Jay and Deedee both begin to dig into their family experiences and trauma, it threatens to tear them apart. They must decide if their inherited trauma will choose their fate for them, or if they have the power to take control of their lives for themselves.

MWY is a story of first love and heartbreak, but also of trauma and complex family dynamics. I think every young adult would want to pick this up, especially those struggling with intergenerational trauma and growing up. You'll giggle at Deedee and Jay's teenage escapades, but also cry at their pains. I can't wait to see what Clare Osongco writes next!

Thank you for sending this book for review! I read it as part of my reading for a YA award committee and cannot give my full review here, but I appreciate the chance to read it and give it consideration!

Chapter Two starts with the line "If I could drive, i could fix it." and as someone who resorts to midnight driving whenever things became out of control, I could not agree more.

Midnights with You is one of my most anticipated 2024 YA releases since the author posted the prompts about this book and I became even more excited when I saw the cover art looking both calm and mysterious.

In this story, we follow two high school seniors as they get to know each other over late-night driving lessons while also talking about the one thing they have in common: family trauma.

First thing that I want to highlight is how beautiful the author's writing style. MWY is written in a way that it celebrated the characters' honesty and vulnerability as something synonymous to strength. Both MCs are aware of the reality in their respective houses and they decided to try to control it on their own thinking that they should carry the burden alone along with the fear of bothering others. But the story progression showed that through mutual connections, heavy things became bearably lighter.

The story is wrapped in a theme that is relatable to many - intergenerational trauma. Deedee and Jay grew up in a house with single mothers who are suffering from painful experiences and it was heartbreaking how these translated to the MCs feeling accountable not only for their own survival but for their household as well.

Filipino representation is the biggest factor why I want to read, review, and promote this book. I am always on the lookout for Akdang Pinoy (releases from Filipino authors both locally and internationally) and after reading, I want to commend how fitting November as its release month given the plenty of scary references - both fictional and anecdotal.

Romance happened realistically and I like how the discussion of their feelings did not overshadow the equally-important discourse about the MC's respective mental health. Who would have thought that having a new neighbor will result to being able to conquer your fear of acknowledging your feeling and learning to drive a stick? Definitely not Deedee.

There are so many things to talk about this book and I highlighted so many lines that really resonated with me but what made this debut novel stood out is the realistic and soulful interpretation of young adults who are attempting to find answers even when their closest ones try to bury the truth.

There are different ways of handling and healing from trauma - in the story of Deedee and Jay I'm grateful that they found solace through each others' presence and conversations about their shared wounds.

This is definitely a five-star read and I highly recommend if you want a hard-hitting YA that tackles generational trauma, family secrets, grief and healing, while taking you to multiple late-night drives.

MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU by Clare Osongco is a heart-wrenching, emotional story in the vein of Kelly Loy Gilbert's novels. The depth of the characters is exquisite the story keeps things on the quiet side, rather than revealing things in loud, bright scenes. I really appreciated that romance was not depicted as some magic "fixes all" resolution for the characters. The story felt grounded. I'm recommending this to my students to read and will be building a creative writing craft lesson about getting emotion on the page with this book as an exemplar text.

Simultaneously sweet and painful to read. A realistic look at falling in love while dealing with one's own trauma. It is sometimes hard to get through verbal abuse directed at DeeDee, but I appreciate the story nonetheless and am glad that the characters' love story is not painted as a fix all for the serious family issues they face.

WHAT A BOOK! I mean, my heart was wrenched out of my chest and put back in bleeding. This had such emotion and tragedy and sadness that I barely breathed the whole time I was reading it. It reminded me a bit of Kelly Loy Gilbert's When We Were Infinite and Kristin Dwyer's Some Mistakes Were Made in the sense that both reads are so emotional and painful, and real. And being Filipino myself, this was a special read.

Definitely a worthy addition to our collection!

Ahhhh… this is such a heartfelt and moving story that lingers long after you finish. Deedee and Jay’s journey is raw and honest, tackling big emotions like generational trauma, first love, and learning to find strength in yourself, all while capturing the sweetness of late-night drives and stolen moments. I couldn’t help but feel deeply for these characters—this book is a powerful reminder of how love, in all its forms, can heal and transform.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Clare Osongco, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Deedee’s life is full of family ghosts and questions she can’t ask. She longs to get away, but between guilt and her strict Filipino single mom won’t let her learn to drive. But one night leads Deedee down a road she never thought possible: secret driving lessons with the new boy next door, Jay, who's family keeps him up at night too.

As midnights stretch into days, Jay helps Deedee begin to look at her past, Deedee starts to imagine a life where happiness is possible. Can Jay and Deedee find happiness in their lives and with each other?

A touching YA read that all teens should read!

I presented this book at NCTE! Thank you for sharing it in this format. :)

I will also be using this with my pre-service teachers in the fall!

What a beautiful, heartbreaking debut novel! A deep examination of family trauma, abuse, neglect, and diaspora, but told with a gentle quietness rather than a heavy hand. Both Dee Dee and Jay feel the pressure of family expectations and do all they can to hide their hurt from all the misunderstanding and neglect they are given in return. While this story is raw it is also very powerful, and so very hopeful.

A gut wrenching story about growing, grief, and the complications of love. A girl who yearns to escape her house finds herself sneaking off to get driving lessons from her neighbor... a boy who is also trying to run away from his own problems... yet as they find comfort and romance in each other... so do the complications of their own family lives begin to grow and soon they'll have to learn to grow and face their issues head on. This was a gut wrenching coming of age story about a seventeen year old girl who's whom life is horrible, with a mother who is constantly telling her she is a disappointment to wishing she was never born, every interaction is volatile and has her questioning her own worth and if she is only alive to ruin everyone's life.... and then she meets her new neighbor, a boy struggling to just stay above water to help his family yet growing up too fast with all the burden on his own shoulders... yet they find a comfort in one another as they begin to spend late nights sneaking off and driving... yet their lives are only getting more complicated and they can't run from their problems for long. This was such a hard story to read because you truly are in it with the characters, they are going through so much and you just want to go into the book and give them a hug. They're both just kids yet being made to endure so much and seeing them grow, and seeing them set boundaries and work on themselves before finding their way back to one another was so perfect and well done. I really do think this is a story everyone should read because it really hones in on so many important things. It's a beautiful story and definitely touches your heart.

Release Date: November 12, 2024

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

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide | Disney Hyperion for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

two insomniacs, a girl learning to drive against her mother’s wishes, a boy wanting to escape his responsibilities, will love be their salvation or damnation?

thanks to clare osongco and disney hyperion for sending me an eARC through netgalley! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. out today!

“I’m sure the things that haunt us wouldn’t be the same. But I kind of wonder if they’d rhyme.”

this book. i-- idk what to say to do justice this masterpiece of writing. this is a painstakingly raw book that deals with the life of an immigrant child and how her mother's inability to process her grief healthily, deeply affected her.

reading this book was hard, cause i could see bits of my life reflected on those pages and i did not know whether i should be grateful, that my situation was never as bad, or guilty that what deedee went through, is real life for someone else out there. writing this review, is more personal than anything i’ve ever reviewed, and for that this one will always hold a part of my soul evermore.

miss clare's words twists upon your heart with each page and wrenches it dry. this book will sink its claws into your heart and leave flesh wounds for life. i don't know if i will ever be able to completely reread this book. especially not the first half.

“I’m like the aswang in reverse—a child draining the life out of her parents, one quick, one slow. It’s not the traditional story, but these shapeshifters are tricky. They adapt.”

ᯓ★ deedee my darling little girl, you did not deserve that life, hiding yourself at home and school, constantly feeling out of place and lost. and if i could i would hug you close for life and never let you experience any sort of pain ever again. that constant need to hide everything you love in the fear of losing it, is something i can relate to and god do i wish life was different for all of us. deedee is me in another universe, who thankfully gets her closure and gets to mend her broken relationships.

this book is eyes brimming with tears, trying hard to blink them away, screams stuck in your throat, so painful you try to swallow it all down, but it feels as impossible as ingesting knives. it’s the pressure building in your throat, your nose burning from choked emotions. it's love, it's hope, it's pain, it's everything. it's life.

“The thing that surprised me was: It’s not actually an either-or choice. Sympathizing with your parents or with yourself. I think that’s what can get easier. Learning to do both. But it kind of falls apart if you don’t start with yourself first.”

ᯓ★ deedee’s relationship with her mom is a very painful thing to experience even as just the reader. and when we read the book, especially in the beginning you can’t help but hate her mother for the way she treats deedee. i mean come on! you are her mother!! and the amount of tears i shed over this fictional mother-daughter is endless. maybe because it slightly reflected my own relationship with my mother. and just like me and my mom, i cant hate deedee’s mom cause ms. clare humanizes her and tells us her story. now as a reader, you can't help but sympathize and understand that they were mere victims of generational trauma. but as a person, as a daughter, even if i can define it, it doesn’t make it hurt any less. and i admire the way she and her mom were able to understand and rectify the mistakes.

“How are . . . things with your mom?” Jay whispers.
*Why would he ask me that now?*
I scoff. “Aren’t you just going to tell me to try harder?”
“No.” He sounds so serious, and his hand squeezes my arm, through my jacket. “I don’t want anyone to be mean to you.”

ᯓ★ and at the heart of it all, this is a love story that was so right person wrong time coded. jay and deedee are the most perfect imperfect couple. the way they helped each other become better people was everything. and even if i wish the ending happened differently, i know deep down this was the best and healthiest way for them. because as young people, we tend to think that love will fix everything, even if we know it doesn’t. the only thing it can do is make you want to become a better person, if not for yourself, at least for the person you love. and this is shown in mwy in a heartwarming manner.

ms clare also does a fantastic job of showing the different kinds of immigrant family dynamics, because while deedee’s is one, it’s not the norm. we get to see that through the other characters, and i absolutely adored that!

all in all, miss clare you will be getting my future therapy bills (cause yes i ugly cried like a baby reading this 😭😭) and please never stop writing! your book is the light at the end of the tunnel, that ray of hope that everything will be better 🥹🫶