I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos was honestly all kinds of cute. We get some romance, Filipino culture, and some lgbtqia+ representation. It was all quite entertaining from start to finish. I also really enjoyed the whole courting experience because it just made everything a bit more fun.

In this, you will meet Dalisay and Evan. At first, Evan asked Dalisay out and she respectfully declined. Not necessarily because she didn't think he was cute or anything; it just wasn't her cup of tea. The asking part, that is. So, when he reached out to one of his friends, who is also Filipino, he knew exactly what he needed to do moving forward. He's going to court her, but first, let's make it a bet.

Honestly, this whole thing was adorable. I liked how the romance flowed between them. Especially when things got a bit steamier and sex positive. I also really enjoyed watching her sister and Clare get some much-needed love too. The drama within the family just felt realistic, and I liked how, in the end, they were really trying to be more welcoming and understanding of everything.

It doesn't mean that we had to go with the drama and sadness before we got to that typical happy ending, though. In some ways, I just kind of hope and pray people are bit more welcoming to different kinds of love. Or at least different views of it. It's not really black and white anymore, and it just feels like characters in books (plus people in real life) should be able to accept that and move on.

In the end, this was cute and enjoyable. Easy to listen to, and I will most likely re-read it again.

Real rating: 3.5

Thank you netgalley and rb media for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. This cover and synopsis caught my eye and attention however found it incredibly boring and lack luster. It was the slowest of alow burns. It was my first by this author and will need to see if any of her backlist are available as audio.

3.5/5☆

(Review posted on my other platforms on Sunday)

First of all, I'd like to paraphrase and redo a couple aspects from the synopsis, because I got some ideas from it that I did not like that much but they happened differently in the book.

Evan Saatchi is deeply curious about his company's new recruit, who has arrived from Manila not long ago. Dalisay not only looks confident and put-together, but she is also beautiful and he cannot resist asking her out. After being turned down, he thought he would not have another chance with her, but then she proposes a bet: pass the five stages of courtship that hopeful suitors perform in the Philippines. Dalisay does not believe he will pass the test and Evan does not want to give up, so they place a bet about it. However, whilst the five stages are in process, they see themselves being drawn to each other and thinking about the other person more than they should.

I want to stress that both parties know and are present when placing the bet, it is not something one of them does behind the other's back and will come back in the third act to break them up. It is a fun challenge that is proposed to see if Evan could pass the five stages; they both believe the bet is not really about their feelings, as what is a stake is a work's project/vacation. (But of course it is also about them and their feelings).

One of the aspects that worried me about the book was the introduction to the five stages; I was afraid it would be presented unseriously or that Dalisay would appear pretentious, but it was a good scene and Evan knew how important it was. Moreover, seeing bits of Filipino culture and the different family and relationship dynamics was fantastic; I knew we would see that aspect but I really appreciate it and liked it.

Evan is a charming man, respectful and attentive, and he was so good to Dalisay. He tried and did his best with her, but I feel like sometimes that was not mutual. We know that Dalisay has had to leave the Philippines, and having to adjust to a new culture and country is not an easy task, yet she sometimes takes her frustration on Evan, who does not deserve it, and without previous notice. There were a couple scenes were Dalisay called Evan out for being too American and not taking her culture into consideration when he has always had her interests at heart and has been very open-minded and considerate; I did not think it was fair.

I have a lot of thoughts on that, because it is really important to maintain one's culture, but it was rather one-sided, Evan had to adapt and be considerate of her beliefs but Dalisay did not. Girl, TALK TO HIM! He is doing his best but if you do not let you know how you feel, how can he know? And try meeting him in the middle sometimes, it takes two to tango.

Again, that was a small part but it bothered me and I had to let it out. I knew only snippets of Filipino culture so I was happy to get to know more, but it was not front and center in the book; this is a romance, it just happens to be about the five stages of Filipino tradition, which is how it should be. If you are not familiar with what the five stages are, do not worry, I also wasn't, but it is made quite clear in the book; you do not need to research for it (I did when finishing the book), if you know about it, that is fine, but it is also fun finding out just as Evan does. JM and Pinky, two of Evan's friends, were a delight and I wish we could have seen more of them.

Overall, it was a sweet, but also a bit spicy later on, romance that incorporated Filipino traditions and centered on family dynamics. Seeing Dalisay interact with her family was a joy. Evan was an amazing male lead; he was such a good person with amazing manners, and I wish he had been more appreciated.

Summary: Evan Saatchi has just returned from a work trip to find that his newest coworker is the woman of his dreams. Taking a chance he asks her out but she flat out refuses him. But when he learns from his Filipino friends that maybe Dalisay requires him to follow the traditional Five Stages of Courting to win her affection. When Dalisay learns that Evan is interested in the Five Stages she bets him that he cannot make it through them but Evan is determined to win this bet. As they begin to court the heat between them rises and as romance blooms they have to decide if they are going to stay with the traditional courtship in this modern world.

My Thoughts: Insta-love is the theme for De la Cruz’s new book. I don’t know how I feel about that. From the very first moment they see each other they are head over heels. By halfway it seems like the book should be over but of course the romance genre has a set pattern (boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again).

I really enjoyed learning about the cultural aspect of the Filipino courting rituals. I have been trying to read more diverse stories and this one fit in perfectly. This book is a cute romance with some spicy bits.

The characters are not really developed but rather basic. They each have some baggage from their families that they have to deal with but I don’t feel like it developed the characters too much beyond the surface.

The audiobook was a quick listen and had a good narrator. If you want some fluffy story with a cultural aspect then this is perfect. I liked it. It fit what I was hoping for in a summer read.

Thank you to Union Square & Co. and NetGalley for providing me with an audio galley of this title to listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Evan can't keep his eyes off his new Filipino coworker Dailsay. When he asks her out and she rejects him, he learns from his Filipino friends there's more to dating in Filipino tradition than what American's know. On a bet, Dalisay encourages Evan to do The Five Stages of Courting traditional for her people. But along the way, things get blurry and Evan and Dalisay fall for one another. When Dalisay's world is turned upside down, she realizes going back to her traditions is best. But can she stay away from Evan? and most of all, does she want to?
I'm a nurse and have been immersed in a bit of Filipino culture since I started in the industry. I was anxious to read this book and learn some new information about the culture. And it was fun!
I really liked watching Evan learn about the Filipino courtship ritual. It was a testament to opening yourself up to new culture and realizing your way is not always the right way. But it was also interesting to watch Dalisay adapt to American culture and realize the same thing. Sometimes when we are so set in our ways, it can cause us to miss out on new things we may love.
The Filipino representation in the book was great. It absolutely sealed what I know of my friends and coworkers. It also made me want to learn more. Cruz captured what it means to be Filipino in America. How holding on to traditions is just as important as opening yourself up to new things.
The romance was nice, though a bit forced in the beginning for me. It was insta-love and I'm not really a fan of that. I understand attraction but it just seemed like more than that and I wanted more of a progression given the idea that the five stages were meant to take you through it.
This is not my first de la Cruz book and I can see her writing style does not change even with a change in genre. It's quite choppy. Her choice of third person narrative often took me out of the story. With romances I really like to hear the voice of the characters and the third person didn't convey this for me. This also made the pacing very slow for me and I felt myself having to push to pick the story back up once I set it down.
Overall I found the book a bit of a struggle but it's worth it for the cultural aspect if you're wanting to learn a bit about Filipino culture and tradition.

I really enjoyed this book! It was cute, funny, sad, and very emotional! I loved the relationship between Evan and Dalisay. I loved learning about the Philippine culture about love and marriage. Thank you for allowing me to read and review this ARC

I truly enjoyed this book! I was drawn into the exploration of differences in courting in other cultures. It was intriguing how the characters navigate their cultural differences, their different approaches to love and dating, and the compromises they make to foster their connection. This could be one of any multicultural couples trying to navigate their differences and balance the modern and traditional expectations and it was really sweet to read about.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the Advance Reader Copy.

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos was a sweet romance for someone who likes insta-love (not me). Dalisay and Evan's relationship begins quickly - as soon as Evan sees her in the office (after getting the promotion he wanted) and asks her out. However, due to the 5 stages of Courting, Evan actually knows nothing about Dalisay for at least 50% of the book. He is wooing her based solely on her looks from what I can tell because there is no opportunity for them to interact at all. It only started to turn around for me at the 60-70% mark, after they actually began their relationship, did the obligatory break up, and Evan tries to woo her back again. At least then you know that he is trying to woo back someone he actually cares for.

I did enjoy pieces of Filipino culture sprinkled throughout the book, food, values, and the 5 stages, all of which made this a unique romance to read. However, the cultural misunderstandings (mom hating having someone take off her shoes) felt contrived to create conflict and didn't really resonate as something that would happen in real life. Evan also should know better than to propose off-hand a few months into their relationship when Dalisay indicated how important it was to go slow. By the time he did propose, I wasn't convinced they had a foundation of love since so much of their on-page time after getting together was devoted to how well they connected in bed.

Overall, I WANTED to like this book because I love culturally infused romances and slow-burn connections, but the characters left me feeling disconnected.

I absolutely adored the 5 Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos! It was interesting to read about the cultural differences of Filipino/ American and the characters were all cute and relatable.

I was approved for the audiobook and enjoyed every minute of it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed the insight into the cultural aspects of this story. It was very interesting. I enjoyed the main couple and side characters. You can’t half-ass your way with this story. 😉

I absolutely loved this heartwarming romcom with Filipino-American blend, it was written beautifully that intertwines Filipino culture with the bustling charm of Bay Area. The story follows a Filipino immigrant navigating love, career ambitions, and cultural identity.

I really enjoyed the audiobook! The narrator did an incredible job capturing the nuances of cultural identity, making every character and setting feel authentic and alive. It has the perfect mix of humor, heartwarming moments, and insightful reflections on the immigrant experience. I highly recommend the audiobook for anyone seeking a pick-me up romcom that celebrates diversity, community, and family!

This was such an enjoyable read. I loved the courting of Dalisay by Evan and learning about some of the cultural differences was very interesting. I would absolutely read another of this author's books. And the narration for the audiobook was excellent as well, I felt the emotion with every word!

I initially wanted to read this book because of the author. Unfortunately, this book was a big let down. The story was good, but predictable. I loved the cultural aspects of the love story and trying to understand one another. This book is in real need of editing, however. The copy needs to be tightened significantly. In addition, there are sex scenes that seem to come out of nowhere. It felt like I was reading from two different genres. Is this a rom com or is it smutty? It just didn’t feel like a consistent voice throughout.

MF
Long timeline
Two different cultures
Workplace romance
Dual POV
Single narrator

Rating: 3/5 - I enjoyed this book but it isn't one that I will reread
🌶️: 1/5 - there were a few intimate scenes that were short and not particularly graphic

TLDR: Cute story

Overall, I enjoyed this read. It was cute and made me smile. The book covers more time than your typical romance novel which was interesting. The flirtation was cute but I do feel that the relationship wasn't that deep. I just didn't see where the love and devotion was steming from. It wasn't severe enough to make me DNF the book (which I will normally do if the MCs have a shallow connection). There was a strong focus on the FMC's culture which I enjoyed. I tended to agree with the FMC or at least understand her perspective but when she was wrong she was really wrong. I would not have blamed the MMC for letting the third act break up be permanent. Also who is the two years olds father?! Where is he?! Maybe I missed that explanation but that side detail bothered me for the entire book.

ARC Review:

This story had everything I look for in a Rom-Com. The awkward first encounter, the best wingmen of friends, family tension, steamy love scenes, and the big second chance (which I absolutely loved the second chance romance trope and how it was used in this book). And of course, the happy ending! This book was filled with humor, culture, and quirks. And I LOVED IT!

Since Evan had to go through five stages of courting, I will give the top five things I enjoyed about this book.
1. The way Evan respected and loved Dalisay ~ Having a character not be ready for intimate relationships is rare in romance books these days, and being in that same boat I loved the way the author wrote the feelings and standards that Dalisay had. I also loved that Evan respected and loved her to respect what she wanted.
2. The Courtship Ritual ~ This was so unique, I for one had no idea that this was even a thing. I loved learning a part of a culture. This ritual was full of humor and romance. I admired every aspect of it. I have new expectations now haha!
3. Dalisay's confidence in what she wants ~ I love a strong girl who knows what she wants in her future partner and won't settle for less! PERFECTION!
4. The narrator nailed the character's voices ~ I was given the ARC audio of this book and the narrator nailed the characters! She did amazing on the accents too making it clear to understand and sound realistic.
5. The cultural aspects of the characters ~ I loved seeing the heritage reflected in both Evan's and Dalisay's lives. I loved the traditional and strong family values in Dalisay but I also loved the modern and independent values in Evan. This was a unique opposites-attract aspect that I admired the contrast to.

Big thank you to the RBmedia Recorded Books and NetGalley for the awesome opportunity to dive into this audiobook! Thanks for letting me join the adventure early!

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos by Melissa De La Cruz

A heartwarming Asian American love story, full of new customs and traditions, funny dialogues and the perfect choice for all rom com lovers!

Dalisay is so warm and kind when she talks to her new team that is completely understandable why Evan can’t keep his eyes of her.
Evan “has to introduce himself” and soon, what if she’s already engaged or has a boyfriend, he’s not a home wrecker.
They have the most interesting dialogues and it shows how hard it is for Evan to navigate Dalisay’s customs and traditions. He definitely doesn’t know a thing about Filipino courtship rituals, he’s at a complete loss!
Tradition is important, at least for Filipinos and it doesn’t matter how well travelled he may be, he knows nothing of the Five Stages! Even less that they can take years! It’s hilarious!
Next step, Evan needs to get Dalisay to give him a chance to fulfill the tasks. Will she be able to get out of her comfort zone? After all when she got her promotion, her father got sick. She’s scared and that’s fine, but she can’t deny the attraction she feels for Evan.
I do assure you this: it will be an emotional rollercoaster and so many values will be put to the test. Sometimes, making the right decision and feeling peace in all areas of your life may take longer than expected and may even be extremely challenging.

For all spicy scene lovers, De La Cruz definitely knows what she’s doing! Those scenes were spicy! You’ll be delighted with this novel! I deeply enjoyed it!

Did not finish at 10%.

I received this for free as an advanced reader copy audiobook.

The premise sounded interesting; however, the writing drove me absolutely nuts.

I HATE third person present tense. I seriously do not understand why authors would ever use it. Like, why!? What are you trying to do? If it's first person present tense, at least I feel like I'm in their head as they go through life. But third person makes no sense. Do you have people following you around narrating your life?

Maybe it would be possible for me to persevere in reading this book if it were written differently; however, the story wasn't compelling enough to get me out of my absolute constant annoyance at hearing a third person narrate what is currently going on with the characters. And the constant cutaways to explain things? Ugh. This isn't my book.

Rated 3.5 Stars

The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos was cute with a bit of angst. I loved that it tackled the immigrant experience and what that looks like while dating someone outside your race, values and culture. I liked the characters however there were certain things that Dalisay did that didn't sit right with me and definitely impacted my overall enjoyment of this story. As for the narration I think the narrator did a great job of bringing this story to life. I loved the way she switched up the accents to suit who was speaking. Overall I found this to be enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

What a great romcom. I enjoyed this book all the way around, the story, the characters, the narrator, even the cover.

♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•rom-com
•Filipino Tradition
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The premise of this story is what caught my attention. The Filipino's tradition aspect of the five stages, the same courtship ritual that lovers in the Philippines have performed for generation. The pacing was a little weird to me, and I felt like the FMC Dalisay was a little selfish in the beginning. Even though it was a bet between her and Evans. I felt like if she wanted him to go through the five stages, she should have at least tried to get to know him as well. Like whats his favorite color, drink, flowers, etc. She didn't realize she didn't know that stuff until 50% in the book. The romance development throughout the book was good.
The narrator Amielynn Abellera did a good job telling this story! The audiobook is 4🌟.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 July.9
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Thank you, Netgalley, RB Media for the (ALC)-audiobook and Union Square for the (eArc)-eBook for my honest review.