I had a lot of expectations from this book, it was one of my anticipated releases of the year as well as many of my friends loved it, and this book went ahead and beyond those expectations, it made me feels in a way that no recent book has, the fights, the midnight conversations and the experiences went straight to my heart. It was sad and made me cry thrice but it is a book that i'd recommend to everyone, people who love fleshed out characters, complex relationships and a romance that doesn't fix all but encourages one to be better and fix it.
It is marketed as YA but i think even older readers will appreciate it and take something back, All it all reading it was am experience that will stay with me for a long long time.

Several aspects of this book resonated with me: generational trauma, low self esteem (and how verbal abuse affects that), mental health issues. I liked the authentic voices and second generation immigrant perspectives. *Slight spoiler* I do think that the whole "let's just be pen-pals until we are less damaged humans" plan didn't feel super organic. They both accepted that a little too easily. Also the MC's breakthrough with her mom seemed a little abrupt.

Overall a good read and a nice look at teenagers making healthier mental health decisions.

I wasn’t able to finish this which sucks because I was so excited to read this. It wasn’t my style but it may be someone else’s.

The first two thirds of this story felt heavy because several of the main characters kept their feelings inside but were acting out on the outside. So as the story went on, you would get glimpses of what was going on in their minds. This went on for quite a while as the angst built up.
The last third of the story saw the characters confront, process, and deal with their issues and move on with their lives. It felt a bit contrived and unrealistic since they never showed this willingness to change in the first part of the book.
The boy - girl romance worked well but at times I wondered how they ever developed a bond as they were never really honest with themselves or each other.
Overall I have mixed feelings about this book but it did make me think about how people process their emotions so it was very successful in that way.

This book was devastating and beautiful.

I have never felt so seen before...these characters were so messy and REAL

The ups and downs, why is growing up so hard? Why is love so many things at once?

Im still trying to process this amazing book but it is a 5 star read and I really hope you pick it up.

This review is based on an ARC.

I enjoyed this read. It was fun to talk to my spouse about all the Filipino folklore and cultural things. The tone was a bit standoffish and cold at times but the main POV character had these characteristics due to things in her life and it made sense as the book continued. It was an intentional stylistic choice that added depth to the novel. I recommend this book to anyone who feels like an outcast and tends to keep things to themselves but desperately wants a connection with someone who understands.

MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU is a book about inherited trauma, but it's also about the kind of love that heals. Deedee and Jay are carrying guilt and grief and a sense of responsibility that's slowly suffocating them. In each other, they find a different way to live. This is a beautiful, cathartic, and ultimately hopeful story steeped in Filipino-American culture and folklore. Highly recommend!

I don't read contemporary YA very often, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the cover and premise drew me in. And I'm so glad I read this because I was blown away by this story!!

It captures so many things so well - that quiet yet electric feeling of driving at night, learning to overcome your trauma, being the daughter of immigrants, caught between two worlds. As a daughter of immigrants myself, I felt so seen in terms of Deedee's relationship with her mom, the past, and heritage. I LOVED the theme of ghosts throughout the story. Both Deedee and Jay seemed so raw and real and I was rooting for them the whole way through. I even teared up a bit at the end!!

Definitely a standout book of 2024 - go read this now!!

This was such a brutal story, particularly with the generational trauma Deedee experiences through her relationship with her mother, but also such a beautiful story, and beautifully told—Deedee and Jay's relationship was so raw; they both dealt with such heavy things in uniquely human and imperfect ways. I'm so glad I read this one; it's going to stick with me for a long time.

Within the first few chapters of this book I felt deeply invested in Dee Dee's story. The themes of biracial identity crisis and a disconnect from your culture hit hard, and my heart ached to see so many similar struggles reflected in this book. This is a YA romance but it felt incredibly mature, dealing with intergenerational trauma, emotional abuse, and a relationship that was complex and in need of growth - much like these characters. All in all, a very impressive YA story that even as an adult reader, I could love.

I really love how Jay and Dee Dee's relationship was handled, and although my heart was in my throat the entire time, their resolution was handled perfectly. I'm so excited for this book to get published so more readers can fall in love with them!

Stunning! This book needs a huge hug and all the attention! Osongco's book immerses the reader in the challenges many young adults face, especially Southeast Asian adolescents with immigrant parents. It unpacks so many things, from abuse to working at a young age to provide financial demands on family and the need to find one's own worth before being with someone.

I fell in love with "Midnights With You" five pages into reading it, and this book WRECKED me! It hit so close to home. The themes of generational trauma wrapped around Jay and Deedee's story reflect deeply in this chain that many Asian Americans experience. The relationship between Deedee and her mom was heartbreaking but healing simultaneously, and I deeply connected to this book from the bottom of my heart. For the first time, I finally felt like I was seen in a book, as my experience is represented in Deedee and Jay's story.

As a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, I have felt isolation, identity crisis, and the pain of navigating through adolescence, loving people who need to seek professionals for their mental health. Also, Deedee and Jay's tribulation is not sugar-coated, which I LOVE because it makes their story even more authentic and genuine. Their journey through love and hurt was terrific. I will forever love Deedee for being brave and doing her best to stand up and end the generational trauma she experienced--even when driving a stick shift became a challenge!

This is a stunning debut novel, and also the cover???? Hello!! I will need to re-read this story once it comes out and unpack all of my feelings again. Needless to say, this book has helped me unravel all of the generational trauma I hold.

My Rating: 5/5

Thank you, NetGalley, Disney-Hyperion, and the author, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have been aching to read Midnights With You since it was in the Pitchers Showcase a few years ago. And to finally get to read it has been a dream—literally. Osongco has created this dreamy, liminal state of these two teens meeting in the middle of the night to share their trauma, their fears, their hopes, all while learning to drive. The dedication of this book reads, "for the diaspora kids, for the daughters," and Clare delivered on that dedication with wit, deep emotion, and a beautifully heartbreaking depiction of what it means to be the daughter of a mother you wish were different.

Wow, this book was super emotional. I will definitely be re-reading it when it comes out. Again, I am so grateful to see more books by Filipino authors starring a Filipino main character. The mother-daughter relationship tugged at my heart.

This is no doubt an amazing debut. I'm honestly glad it came across my radar. I loved reading about these characters because they frustrated me and made me empathize with them. The plot, as simple as it may seem leads to such a beautiful story. I'm glad it took the route it did. Clare clearly knows what she's doing and I can't wait for whatever she writes next. I really did enjoy this and learnt new things about Filipinos. I would love to read a horror book featuring an aswang. Finding out how the CIA used them to strike fear into the hearts of Filipinos, yikes. The USA is almost always on the wrong side of history. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, even though it deals with a lot of hard topics it's really well-written and beautiful.

An absolutely gorgeous debut. This book reminded me why YA contemporary holds such a special place in my heart, and its wonderfully layered story is a testament to the best that this genre can offer.

Thank you Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Midnights With You" by Clare Osongco is a deeply moving and evocative YA book that explores themes the power of connection between two teenagers dealing with their own struggles. The main focus lies in Deedee, who is dealing with a broken mother-daughter relationship. This book is both heartbreaking and achingly beautiful, and I absolutely loved every second of it.

The book revolves around late-night conversations and midnight drives that connect the two main characters, Deedee and Jay, who are two teenagers grappling with their own struggles and secrets. Deedee, burdened by the weight of her emotionally abusive mother's expectations, longs for freedom and acceptance. Jay, the new neighbor with his own hidden pain, offers Deedee a sense of companionship and understanding that she desperately craves.

Osongco's writing beautifully captures the raw emotions and complexities of adolescence, drawing you into the quiet anguish of Deedee's world. The characters, especially Deedee, felt authentic and real. The emotions she felt throughout the book were just so raw. Deedee isn’t perfect; no one ever is, and this book makes sure to show that everyone has things they’re dealing with, allowing readers (especially teenage readers) to connect to her character and her struggles. Through her lyrical prose, Osongco explores the intricacies of family dynamics and the search for self-acceptance in a way that felt fully developed.

The book’s portrayal of Deedee's journey is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, as she navigates the challenges of adolescence and discovers the strength to confront her demons. The relationship between Deedee and Jay is tender and authentic, offering moments of solace and vulnerability amidst the darkness. Again, the relationship between the two of them felt authentic. There weren’t any instances of insta-love; their relationship developed in a realistic way.

The heavy themes of depression and family struggles made it worth reading this book in segments and slowing down my reading in order to better understand and experience the story without feeling bogged down by these heavy themes. I really did appreciate the book's honest exploration of these issues. Osongco's vivid characterization and introspective storytelling invite you to empathize with Deedee's journey and reflect on their own experiences.

Overall, "Midnights With You" is a powerful coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers of all ages. I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more from Osongco.

This was a great read! It reminded me a little of my teenage years and driving around at night with my boyfriend. The characters were well developed and relatable. I enjoyed the deepness of the story. Deedee and Jay had reasons for behaving and thinking the way that they did. Even the parents had history to explain their behaviors too and weren't just one note. There was also resolution and the characters evolved and grew. It was a little heartbreaking and I'm happy there was a happy ending.

"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."

I really loved the premise of this book: two young people, each with their own share of baggage and generational trauma, getting to know each other through secret nighttime drives. It took me a while to warm up to the writing style, and the confrontations with Deedee's mother were difficult (in a good way in that it was realistic) because they were so emotional, raw, and hurtful. I really did come to love the characters, though. It reminded me of nights with my own friends when we were teens, sneaking out and meeting up to talk about our families. The resolution was lovely. From a teacher and parent perspective, I love the lesson of healing yourself first.

Thanks to NetGalley and Osongco for the ARC!

Thank you so much Clare and NetGalley for this e-arc.

Deedee's journey was heartbreaking to read. I wanted to hug her the whole way through. Her and Jay's romance really had a way of sinking under your skin and staying with you. I won't soon forget them. The nights they spent driving together were so vividly written. They had such a cinematic quality even in Deedee's later reflection of them. And this had so many of my favourite tropes from the shared bed, to the boy across the street, letter writing and sitting on rooftops. Love it all!

A beautiful debut!

Absolutely devastating in the best way. The main character was flawed and so beautifully written. I absolutely loved this book. It was very real.