Celestina's House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez is a poignant, character-driven novel that captures the essence of community, family, and the weight of personal history.Gonzalez's prose is rich with cultural detail and atmospheric descriptions, drawing readers into the world of a small, tight-knit community. The novel’s exploration of loss, healing, and resilience is beautifully handled, with an underlying warmth that permeates even its most somber moments. A heartfelt read that lingers long after the final page.

Did not finish. I was intrigued by the description of this book & the writing style was fine but storyline wise it was a bit too chaotic for me - it seemed like the author just used all the ideas they'd had rather than editing & making them into something coherent.

This one was tough for me. I want to start this by saying if you are a victim of sexual assault, child abuse, and/or abortion then read with caution as these are all depicted in the book, and I wish someone had warned me because I was caught off guard in a way that left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. Now, I’m pretty neutral towards the idea of putting trigger warnings in the front of your book, but I think in the case of this book they would be definitely useful as this graphic content isn’t forewarned by the premise of the book, and catching people off guard with such intense subject matter could end up being to this book’s detriment.

Moving past that, I did really enjoy this book until I didn’t. I really liked how deeply the author developed the characters. I’m a very character driven reader so being able to understand them and their motivations really enriched my reading experience. Unfortunately, this book does not live up to the concept of a haunting story as it is described. There are haunting elements throughout, but they are only ever really small asides and that concept is all but nonexistent by the last third of the book. I think this book would have been better served without them, and just focused on Celestina and her story and her development throughout the duration of the book. Or, more thoroughly develop the haunting element, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

I’ll stop being a Negative Nancy and say that I adored the writing, and I will be picking up this author’s books in the future as well. Their descriptions of the Philippines were so rich it felt like I was there. This book was so Filipino, I loved that! It is very clear this author has a profound love and appreciation for Filipino culture as evidenced by this book. Overall, I thought it was alright, but the story itself left me a little unsatisfied. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future, though!

Thanks to NetGalley & Dundurn Press for the eARC!

This book is tonally WILD, and not in a good way. It is marketed as a Gothic haunted house novel compared to The Hacienda and Mexican Gothic. It starts promising - a derelict house being dismantled - but we then don't get to see the haunted house for about a third of the whole book. Instead, we follow the story of Celestina's family, her mother's defiance of the clan patriarch and marriage for love. Okay, maybe Celestina's House is her dynasty, and the haunting is going to be about the family? Nope, the family is never explored as characters. We get glimpses here and there, but that's it. Instead, the story turns into a tale of parental sexual abuse, exploring Celestina's dad assaulting his daughter (yep, the dad her mom married 'for love'). Okay, so this is a literary drama about sexual assault? Nope, not again. The book does yet another 180, and the promising exploration of what the assault does to Celestina's relationship with her mother is promptly dropped. Now it is Bright Young Things of Manila set in a haunted house. Via a completely underdeveloped story of Celestina's aunt's dalliance with a Japanese officer during WWII, which reads like a Tan Twan Eng novel synopsis. Synopsis, because we get about 10 pages of that story in a 300-page novel. Then, for some reason, the story becomes a love square (yup, a whole three guys are into Celestina) 'worthy' of a third-rate telenovella. We get tons of completely unnecessary backstory into the three guys, even though two of them matter for a whole total of about 5 pages each. I won't even go into the last 'romance' as it is as toxic as the male protagonist is underdeveloped. And yes, the hauntings are sort of there, too, and the main malevolent one is never explained and does not affect the plot in any way beyond abruptly killing off a secondary character.

I guess the sense of place was sort of there. We do get quite a lot of Manila. There were one or two promising ideas somewhere underneath the 197 different novels the author was trying to write at the same time. I wanted to DNF, but sunken investment cost won. It was like watching a train wreck.

Honestly, folks, what have I just read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I can understand why many people would love this book. It was certainly entertaining but it was not come of the plot was too much/over dramatic. I could see my patrons enjoying this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

I found the idea of ​​talking about generational trauma in such a magical and somewhat fantastic way that the author used in this book very interesting. And despite understanding that it was a writing choice that matches the idea of ​​the book's aesthetics, I was a little tired with the loose reading, without a timeline and a bit vague of some parts of the story. In general, it's a good book that teaches a lot about a culture that I've never had the opportunity to get to know before and I would definitely read something by the author again.

Celestina's House, by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez. I enjoyed reading this beautiful debut, and I look forward to reading her future works.

I really enjoyed Celestina’s House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez. In this fictional tome, set in the Philippines, we learn about “malas”. Malas are things that bring bad fortune to your home and family. Celestina’s mother and grandmother are superstitious and wary of anything that could potentially bring “malas” to the family.

The titular character, Celestina, is traversing this world of “malas” and “buenos” when she deals with early abuse by her father. She grows up well ahead of her time and ultimately ends up inheriting a home “Celestina’s House” from her grandparents at a young age. Strange things begin happening to her once she visits this home and the story progresses with her looking for love while dealing with something eerie within her new home.

It took me a little while to warm up to this book as it deals with heavy topics such as molestation, subjugation, superstitions, etc. I did enjoy learning a little more about Philippine culture and picked up a few vocabulary words via this book.

Overall, I think the book could have been more evenly spaced out in terms of the plot, which felt choppy at times, but it was an interesting read - different from other books I have read this year, yet somehow reminiscent of the Mexican Gothic and the Haunting of Alejandra.

This wasn't quite what I hoped. I love family generational sagas filled with magic, trauma, love, and family craziness. This was more focused on the one character and was more of a romance. Not a bad book, but not for me so I don't feel right rating bad.

Celestina's House/ Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez. Set in the Philippines, which is what attracted me to this book. The story is somewhat incoherent, partially a ghost story, partially about Celestina and her lovers.

Celestina, living in Manila, granddaughter of a very wealthy businessman is the daughter of a disinherited mother and her husband of choice who lacked family approval. Celestina finds herself as the heiress of a home, formerly belonging to an aunt. Malas are in the air. Evil sprits abound. Is the house really haunted? Is there bad juju? Celestina is searching to find love and find herself if she is able to succeed at pleasing the forces that lurk within her walls.

Written by a debut author of Filipino/ Canadian ancestry, this book is chock full of glimpses into life in the Philippines, Manila in particular. There are scrumptious food descriptions amidst a very dark tale that includes incest, illegal abortion, secrets, and even a horrifying pre teen circumcision. .

The story line was a bit uneven in flow and enjoyment level and yet as I stayed with the plot , I found an interesting, provocative, glimpse into a culture and people previously unknown to me. I love books that teach me something.

Three and a half stars rounded to four for a good read. I will look for future works by this promising author. It is being published on October 22, 2024. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. My thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance readers copy in exchange for my review.

Celestina’s House by Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez begins with a betrayal, leading to chaos that disrupts Celestina Errantes’s family. An unexpected gift from her wealthy Lolo offers her a chance to escape to a haunted property in Manila’s bohemian district. Here, Celestina finds herself and learns life’s hard lessons, eventually captivating an aristocratic restaurateur. However, sinister whispers from the past threaten their love, compelling Celestina to confront the evil in her house.

The positives first: Gonzalez’s prose is atmospheric and rhythmic, perfectly fitting the gothic theme. The vivid descriptions of Manila and Filipino cuisine bring the setting to life, using a “show, don’t tell” technique effectively. The book immerses readers in Filipino life through cultural and religious references, creating an authentic backdrop. However, the book has significant issues. The blurb promises a haunted house filled with secrets, but this potential is underutilized. The magical realism is sidelined, making the story feel more like a romantic pursuit than a supernatural exploration. The narrative’s engagement with disturbing themes, such as Celestina’s abuse, is handled awkwardly, lacking depth and sensitivity.

Characters and plot events appear and disappear without meaningful integration into the story. Additionally, the writing style, though engaging, can be overly simplistic, detracting from the overall experience. In summary, while Celestina’sHouse has atmospheric writing and cultural depth, it falls short in plot execution and character development. The book’spotential remains largely untapped, leaving readers with an unsatisfying and disjointed narrative. Recommended with reservations.

Richly crafted, immersive and beautifully written, this is a must-read for all who love contemporary fiction with Filipino culture impeccably exhibited throughout. I absolutely loved this suspenseful and engaging read. Being a Filipina myself, this book is something we need more of in the literary space.

This is a book with several elements. There are spirits of the dead who talk to the living and some of the dark side of Filipino culture: incest, illegal abortion, and a barbaric preteen circumcision.
One quote from the blurb: " The House of the Spirits meets Mexican Gothic in a tale of love and betrayal, belonging and exile, and the supernatural forces that pervade life in the Philippines."
There are also mouth watering descriptions of Filipino food.
The book was written by a Filipino-Canadian who grew up in the Philippines. It is narrated by Celestina Errantes, who is the main character in the book. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Filipino culture. The incidents of incest, abortion and circumcision are covered with brief descriptions. The after effects of these incidents are a major part of this book.
Two quotes:
Celestina's grandma: "Let swerte flow into your house like water,' her grandma had said. Indeed, Celestina was grateful that good luck had been visiting her lately."
Food: "A large table was covered with an island-style feast featuring spicy pork satays, slivers of green mango with shrimp paste, impeccably crisp shrimp and cabbage fritters. and grilled chicken inasal, golden and redolent with lemongrass."
I rate this book 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thanks to Dundurn Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

Celestina's House is a captivating tale that weaves together mystery, family secrets, and the power of love. The author skillfully creates a sense of atmosphere and suspense, drawing readers into the heart of the story from the very first page.

The characters are richly drawn and complex, each with their own motivations and secrets. The relationships between them are nuanced and believable, adding depth and emotional weight to the narrative.

The setting, a dilapidated house with a mysterious past, is almost a character in itself, its secrets and echoes adding an extra layer of intrigue to the plot.

Celestina's House is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. It is a well-crafted novel that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Celestina's House is just the book I've been waiting for, for the longest time - a magical realism/gothic/supernatural book set in the Philippines.

What I liked most in the book is the vivid description of Manila in the Marcos era, the food, culture and superstitions. However, for a reader who has no background of these, it would be nice to have the Filipino words in italics and the description provided.
I absolutely love the cover! So beautiful!

The book was nicely written and has the potential to have more in depth backstories that will add more meaning and address some unanswered questions in the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dundurm Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

DNF.

Didn't like the writing style or the voice, our MC was kind of a non-entity and the father/daughter 'relationship' had so many icks.

Not for me.

A tragic story, be sure to check trigger warnings, but beautifully and emotionally written, I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending but I enjoyed this book.

First of all, the cover of "Celestin's House" is really beautiful, a real eye-catcher. I loved to delve into the life in the Philippines, to feel the taste of filipino food on my tongue. Although a gothic novel with some gruesome moments, there were also some cozy moments. It's an interesting contrast to the really cruel and morally reprehensible scenes. It is a story of the the fall of three generations, of trauma, lust and pain. The women of Celestina's family do not have an easy life. Celestina inherits the dragon towers from her grandfather, a house with ghosts who can't let go of the past. The relation with Celestina and her father is ..complicated and I think a lot of readers won't like the book because of its controversial themes. The publishing house compares this book with "Mexican Gothic". Besides featuring a beautiful young heroine, I could not see any similarities. I would have wished for less stereotypes in this book. All the protagonists are somehow totally beautiful, but acting morally grey. I did not know what to think of Celestina. Is being beautiful her curse? She is not an MC I immediately liked. Often, she seems really naive and at the same time demanding. Celestina expects people to serve her, maybe because of her heritage or beauty. I liked her photographer friend much more. Also, I've expected a real tragic love story. I was a bit disappointed at the end.

Still, I've thought about this book. I think I will read further books from the author.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dnf at page 72. This is a reminder to publishers (and authors when they have a say in this) to include trigger warnings. Yes even when it's horror. Readers who don't want potential spoilers are free to simply not read the content warnings page.

This is a book marketed as similar to Mexican Gothic and other books in this interesting trend of horror or horror-leaning novels written by women of colour, specifically non-US and non-euro centric. Although it had good prose, not only do I not have the stomach to read incest and sexual abuse which felt gratuitous, but I also did not see where the story was going after the first 70 pages.