I had to stop reading it because of the allusion to sexual abuse inside the family. I think it should come with a trigger warning.

# Celestina's House
⭐️⭐️½ | 🏚️ Gothic vibes without the payoff

Filipino culture, food and superstitions? Absolutely DELICIOUS. The characters and promised supernatural elements? Serving crumbs.

Gorgeous Manila setting and mouth-watering food descriptions can't fully compensate for Celestina's frustrating choices and the ghostly plot that basically ghosted us halfway through.

The vibes we're tracking:
🍜 Food descriptions that'll make you HUNGRY
👻 Supernatural elements that play peek-a-boo
🏘️ Setting > characters (not always a good thing)
💔 Trauma that deserved more careful handling

It's like ordering a fancy dessert based on the beautiful menu photo, only to get something that looks amazing but leaves you still kinda hungry. Worth trying if you love cultural immersion, but don't expect the haunted house thrills promised on the cover!

Gonzalez masterfully animates the lush, tropical world, taking readers on a sensory journey through the Philippines. The house itself becomes alive, with whirling spirits that guide and challenge Celestina along her journey. As she claims the dilapidated property as a successful home, she embarks on a parallel journey of self-discovery, revealing family secrets and facing personal demons along the way.

The tale delves into matters of love, betrayal, and searching for identity. Celestina's behavior is multifaceted and complicated, replicating the intricate ballet of obligation and desire. The use of supernaturalism creates an atmosphere of mystery, replicating the definition of reality and the unknown.

While the prose is lush and evocative, there are moments when the pace slows and some of the plot twists require more fleshing out. These are minor quibbles, however, and they don't detract from the overall reading experience.

Overall, Celestina's House is a richly textured novel that combines gothic sensibilities with a fierce examination of personal and cultural identity. It's a novel that haunts, much like the ghosts that haunt Celestina's inherited mansion.

This was an interesting read and clearly well researched book about a young woman who has inherited a house that she hopes with allow her to escape her current situation. I've long been fascinated by the Philippines and really enjoyed the culture and backdrop of the country in this book, which I felt really helped hold the book together at times when the narrative felt a bit disjointed.

I felt really bad for Celestina who has experienced some difficult things in her life and, therefore, seems to be suffering from internalised misogyny. I wish we could have seen her manage to step away from that.

That said, this is a very interesting book about generational trauma and the lengths we go to to try and escape it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for an honest review.

I have held back in writing this review because I attempted again and again to read the entire book. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish it. I really wanted to enjoy this novel since it had been compared to The Hacienda and Mexican Gothic. I was intrigued with the spanning of multiple generations, but that's about the only positive thing I have to say about it. Maybe I had received a copy earlier on and there were changes and edits later on.

TW: SA, child abuse, abortion

The story for the book seems to be interesting – the long lasting effects of Celestina’s experiences in her younger years – but unfortunately, the writing wasn’t compelling enough to honor how Celestina’s story deserved to be told.
I expected the house on itself to be a character, and I see how the author tried to make it a more significant part of the plot, but it really wasn’t, it didn’t work.
The narration was off, and I could not connect with the story or with Celestina. The many characters POV was unnecessary.
The book cover is beautiful.

"Celestina's House" by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez is an enchanting and heartfelt story that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the magic of home. Gonzalez's writing is rich with cultural nuance and vivid imagery, bringing Celestina’s world and her cherished house to life in a way that feels both intimate and universal.

The narrative is deeply engaging, though it occasionally lingers too long on descriptive passages, which may slow the momentum for some readers. Despite this, the book’s emotional depth and beautifully layered storytelling make it a rewarding read.

I didn't get very far with this, unfortunately. The writing style is too much - reads like a parody.

My heart feels like it’s been through the wringer having read this! This was an intense story centred around the violence and shame experienced by a young woman, with lasting ramifications. I did think the narrative felt a bit disjointed at times, and personally did not always enjoy reading the particularities or the misogynistic, victim-blaming language in full force, particularly when employed by the protagonist Celestina herself. And yet it comes across as believable, if bleak, in the knowledge that this mindset is still prevalent in so many cultures. What I did really love was the world-building, a love for the rich tapestries of history, culture, and cuisine of the Phillipines clearly evident. I appreciated how the storytelling stayed true to the cultural beliefs of the time and place, spirits that haunt extending beyond the personal to the land and its people. Amidst the blood and tears that have permeated, creative hopes yet abound. I look forward to experiencing more of the author’s storytelling in future! My sincere thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this complimentary copy, very grateful!

Celestina’s House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez is an evocative and haunting debut novel that masterfully weaves family drama, love, betrayal, and supernatural elements. Set in the Philippines, it follows Celestina Errantes as she grapples with a legacy of betrayal that shatters her family. A mysterious inheritance—a long-abandoned house in Manila—offers her an escape and a chance to redefine her life. However, the house is steeped in secrets and echoes of the past that intertwine with her journey toward self-discovery and healing.

The novel is an intergenerational tale rich in gothic atmosphere, blending magical realism with deeply personal and cultural themes. Gonzalez vividly captures the Filipino setting, its cultural nuances, and its complex history, bringing depth and texture to the story. The characters are flawed yet relatable, and their struggles with grief, identity, and forgiveness feel profoundly human.

With lush descriptions, especially of food and daily life, and a slow-burning plot, Celestina’s House delivers an unforgettable narrative. Fans of Mexican Gothic or The House of the Spirits will find its mix of familial bonds and the supernatural irresistible. A poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience, this novel is a gem worth savoring.

Celestina's House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez is an interesting, character-driven novel.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The cover of this book is just gorgeous.
Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The writing is compelling and poetic. This follows the odyssey of Celestina. Reading all about her parents made me happy but reading about her life made me sad because it was not easy. Celestina’s life wasn’t easy. It was filled with all the unsettling and disturbing memories and emotions. It is shocking, touching, unsettling and poignant read.

Thanks to the Publisher and Author.

i'm not rating this why in 2024 are we using insane victim blaming language for INCEST that isn't even relevant to the story. the misogyny in this one was coming from inside the house. absolutely insane.

I wanted so badly to like this book. It was marketed as a haunted house novel and was compared to The Hacienda and The Mexican Gothic but was a complete letdown.

Celestina's House is a vivid tribute to the phillipino culture and is beautifully written, however, because of the blurb I expected more. There's horror, supernatural, and everyday life in the book, and in spite of previous comments it was entertaining.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the Publisher for providing me with a Arc in exchange for an honest review.

C.W.: rape, acts of pedophilia, abortion.


Celestina's House is the debut novel by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzales, it is a love letter to her homeland, to the Philippines, of which she talks about the beauties of Manila, its neighborhoods and landscapes, its folklore and culinary traditions, myths and legends. There is a black lump in the story which is perversion, darkness and evil of the human soul. This is a novel for adults, I would not recommend it for anyone under 18 because the writer gives glimpses of carnal violence within a family and acts of pedophilia by religious figures.
Celestina's House, in its narrative style, recalls the magical realism of "100 Years of Solitude" by Garcia Maraquez and "The House of the Spirits" by Isabel Allende.
The novel is set during the thirty years of Marcos' presidency, in Manila at a sumptuous and mysterious palace, 'Twin Dragon Towers' where Celestina Errantes, the protagonist, lives.
Her house is full of mysteries and ghosts.
Celestina is a beautiful woman with a dark past, her mother is Stella Sytanco, daughter of a Chinese magnate, her father Antonio Errantes is a Filipino teacher and writer. Celestina's life, since her childhood, has been marked by bad luck. In her childhood, she was ‘ her father beloved daughter’ but afterwards, her relationship with him changed into something sick and monstrous, which had ended in abortion.
After this devastating experience, Celestina, who is a strong, courageous and a fighter, ‘as all the Sytanco’s women are’, is determined to live and overcome the trauma and redeem herself from a past of pain.
Celestina is frequently in and out of love. In her love life, she meets different types of men: Verg ‘A beautiful eunuch’; Johnny, the singer, a long-distance love and finally, Josemaria, a rich Filipino entrepreneur who is madly in love with her, but he doesn’t understand Celestina’s traumas. His love towards Celestina is a tragic one, it’s made of possession and obsession like her father's.
The father-master figure, a diabolic and evil man, is omnipresent in the story, Celestina is destabilized by him, she feels sad and impotence.
Reading the Advance Readers Copy several times I got the impression of a well-structured narrative: the flow of events is, at first, slow; then faster in the central part, slows down once again to pick up speed when the final tragedy occurs . Beyond the shocking experiences, the writer leaves us, however, a glimmer of hope.
I also discovered, thanks to this novel, the Hispanic culture of the Philippines, previously unknown to me and I appreciated the hints on traditional Philippine Cuisine, for example ‘Chicken Tinola was the magical soup that got you on your feet when you were laid down with illness. Maybe the soup will help heal whatever ailed their household.'
I've noticed that there are many negative reviews of this novel, I wouldn't be so negative considering her true narrative talent.

Writing: 4 stars
Cover: 4 stars Very beautiful indeed.
Plot: 4 stars
Final rating: 4 stars

This review will be posted today on Ig Eng, Goodreads Eng

On La Bardo Lettrice Blog on the 31st of October, www.labardolettrice.it (it's underconstruction) only in Italian.

Oh, my heart! There were moments of genuine beauty in CELESTINA'S HOUSE by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez, but not enough for this contemporary fiction lover. Feeling more literary experiment than full-blown story, the story of a house and its people had such promise for a house-loving reader. However, it felt jagged and disjointed for me, a narrative arc that I had to put together for myself rather than a tale well told. The moments are vivid, the people in them are occasionally so, but overall, a did not finish with regret experience for me. In ways, it felt like a very full outline rather than a fully blown and completed novel. I hope that Ms. Gonzalez continues with her storytelling and develops the fascinating people and places hinted at in this debut novel. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

This was an intense story that dealt with some intense topics. Celestina admired her father so much; it was a terrible blow to have him break her trust in such a horrible way. She tried to find herself and move past what happened, but it was always in her mind. By meeting all those different men, she was able to heal at least some parts of herself while also learning to find a bit of joy in life again. While her story did not end the way people would hope for, I think it ended ideally once she heals her relationship with her mother and perhaps looks for help in a new place where she may be offered resources to deal with her past and able to finally let go of her past and forgive herself for what happened and learn to love freely again.

It is such a beautiful book that will break your heart. Thanks to the publisher for the arc; all opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley & Rare Machines for an eARC ♥️

Imagine stepping into a grand, old mansion, expecting whispers of secrets and shadows. Instead, you're lost in a labyrinth of disconnected rooms, each filled with unfinished stories.
This Gothic haunted house novel promised suspense and intrigue but delivered a disjointed narrative. It's like trying to assemble a puzzle with missing pieces.

A House of Broken Dreams

Celestina's family history unfolds like a tapestry, but the threads are frayed. Her mother's defiance, the wartime romance, and Celestina's own tangled love life – all intriguing, yet isolated, storylines.

Character Silhouettes

The cast is more sketch than portrait. Celestina's family is introduced, then fades into the background. Love interests materialize, only to disappear.

The Haunting – A Ghostly Afterthought

Unexplained forces lurk, but the tension dissipates, lost amidst the narrative chaos.

Manila's Vibrant Facade

The city shines bright, a vivid backdrop for this fractured tale.

A Disjointed Whole

"Celestina's House" feels like multiple novels wrestled into one. I searched for cohesion, but it remained elusive.

3.5 stars but I rounded up.

This is very much a modern, literary gothic. It’s not magical realism and it’s not a haunted house story though it does have supernatural elements. I really think the promo focused much to much on the house of spirits Celestina moves in to when this story is much more about Celestina and how she moves through the world than on her experience in the house.

Celestina experiences betrayal and horror in her teenage years (trigger warning for SA) and it destroys her relationship with her family and her sense of self. The book explores Celestina’s attempts to create an identity and a home for herself in a world that only values her beauty. The book is very atmospheric with gorgeous depictions of the Philippines, and especially its food and culture.

Unfortunately, the narrative is choppy and clunky and for all the beautiful language and individual scenes, it’s just not cohesive. A bunch of beautiful ideas but not knitted together. But I know it’s a book that will stay on my mind.