u/Dense_Programmer4097

Please give me books na may after-breakup chapters, unlike yung close-the-curtains setup right after the peak breakup. Mapa-old or new books, parang very few books na lang 'yung may ganito.

Sometimes I would think authors use time skips as a shortcut para ma-change 'yung dynamics ng leads. Alam mo ’yun? Invested pa ako sa breakup, tapos next chapter okay na sila. Ang unfair lang. Minsan parang avoidant din ang authors pagdating sa pagsusulat ng real sad chapters outside of the breakup itself.

Kwento lang ako ng books na may ganitong chapters, and I really enjoyed them.

He's Into Her
This book has three breakups, and male POV pa. I loved it. But well, siya naman talaga ang real FL ng story nila. Part of why I liked it so much is that I enjoy reading people at their most vulnerable—when they’re past pretending and denying, kapag puso na talaga ang nagsasalita.

It also shows how we handle breakups in different stages of our lives. Dumaan siya sa loud sobbing stage, then sa “hindi na ako iiyak para sa’yo but that’s a lie" stage, tapos sa “do I even deserve you?” stage. Nag-time skip din naman ’to, but nothing really changed. He was still just as broken, mas natuto lang siyang magtago after those years.

Every Beast Needs A Beauty
Walang time skip kasi hindi siya nilubayan ever hahaha. I had no special feelings for this book at first, not until that plot twist nung dumating 'yung parents ni Rage. Actually, I hoped we could spend more time on that kaysa sa flirting nila. Sana mas maraming insights about Rage’s turmoil regarding who they really are.

This plot twist is also my perfect example of a surprise-drop twist done right. Maraming books na may surprise drops—whether plot twists or sudden genre changes—but kadalasan parang out of character na for the story. Hindi ganun yung na-feel ko sa EBNAB. Hindi naman siyang sobrang special on paper, siguro magic lang talaga ng libro.

A book na immaculate sana ang after-breakup chapters but were never written: Play the Game. Imagine them accidentally crossing paths at school, attending each other’s graduations or bar-related activities secretly, hanggang tingin lang. Then Kier enters the picture hanggang sa kinasal sila, and Jax witnesses all of it. Tapos after all that suffering and restraint, malalaman niya lang na murder suspect si Kitty while also being a victim of domestic violence. I really need the book in Jax’s POV. Ugh.

You see, tiningnan ko na buong library ko, but I could only find two books that really did this well. I’m sad. Please help me.

I’ve read all her books except Taming the Waves, Loving the Sky, and Could Have Been But Never Was. She gained popularity through books centered on mental health, yet I think she’s more driven when she’s writing about something else entirely.

Hindi ko na tinuloy ang College series because CTS became too much of a cryfest for me. Same with DOS, though Calix and Vina are better characters. Her writing improved in the Losers series, so I was able to continue even if I wasn’t really invested in Carsen and Mari’s stories. They were good naman, pero wala pa ring masyadong impact for me. Those were my expectations going into Mill’s story—parang “yet another Wattpad book” vibe.

However, I was genuinely surprised and hooked. Ibang-iba yung atake niya rito. She usually writes emotionally reserved girls, and the conflicts often revolve around miscommunication on both sides. Pero hindi si Juancho at Mill. Mill was truly a star from beginning to end, and she didn’t forgive easily either. Juancho knew exactly what went wrong between them and how to fix it, yet he intentionally chose to become the villain in her life. Iba siya sa other male leads who hurt their girls unintentionally, most of the time. Other boys would also pursue their girls relentlessly hanggang sa bumigay. Juancho tried that too, but when he realized that his presence was hurting her, his answer was to step away. Then when he approached her again, he was careful and matched her pace. I think si Juancho rin yung pinaka-secretly involved kay Mill during the breakup among all the male leads, he never truly left or forgot her.

As for the story itself, halos wala nang mental health themes sa WWIW. It’s more political and centered on seeking justice. Mas lumabas yung talent ni author dito. I honestly believe this is her best work so far. The settings are more diverse, the scenes feel richer, and the emotional tug-of-war is far more entertaining. The leads proved why they deserved to be the main characters of the story. They never shied away from their faults, but their sacrifices and strengths were far greater.

I also like the dynamics in DOS: finding and sharing peace and happiness within themselves. But it still became too much of a cryfest because of the dramatic conflicts.

I know na mas mature to say na mas maganda ang newer books kaysa older books because mas maayos ang pagkakagawa ng newer books, mas matatapang ang themes, at mas diverse ang character setups. Pero ewan ko ba, kapag pipili ako ng books to read, I’m still leaning doon sa mga nabasa ko na dati. For reference, I started reading on Wattpad in 2014. I’m not against sa mga sikat na author ngayon, ha. Don’t get me wrong. Sadyang ang puso ko ay nasa older generation of books.

Siguro kasi dati, Wattpad was a place for books na hindi mo makikita sa bookstores. Lahat raw, galing sa puso at passion lang ng mga manunulat. While ngayon, Wattpad became a stepping stone for aspiring authors, kaya ibang-iba na ang intentions. Dati, kahit simple lang ’yung story, ramdam mong talagang natutuwa both the author and readers. Siguro rin, hinahanap ko ’yung batang ako na masayang-masaya, kahit na Wattpad lang ang ganap niya sa buhay.

I’m not antagonizing anyone or anything sa post na ’to, ah. Reflection ko lang po ’to. Kaya rin natutuwa ako kapag nakakakita ako ng newer books at ramdam ko ’yung genuine love ng author for writing. Those are Made in Baguio and Fleeting Moments, btw.

While you’re here, please recommend books na may ganitong feel, na parang sinulat galing sa probinsiya. Thank you.

Will you sympathize with a poor man who got a well-paying job, pero umabot sa point na he needs to do corrupted things due to his contractual obligations? [similar to Iñigo Borromeo’s situation]

My stand: No. Bago niya pirmahan ‘yung kontrata, alam niya na ang pinapasok niya. Tumuloy siya kasi tempted siya sa benefits. It’s not as if end of the world na kapag hindi siya tumuloy. Binigyan siya ng ganung terms kasi maganda na ‘yung takbo ng career niya. He can use that instead para mag-apply sa mas maayos na company. ‘Yung time na dini-discuss ‘yung next contract is actually his chance na makaalis sa current company niya without legal issues. Wala naman kasing tao na corrupted na agad, lahat nagsisimula sa maliit at temptations.

Jail or no jail: Duke Laurence Sanders

My stand: No jail. Maaaring harmful ‘yung mga nasabi niya pero his actions had good intentions. He was just protecting the family of his brother. It’s never not wrong to choose your family, kung maayos naman, over love. He did those decisions while not knowing kung anong pinagdadaanan ni Solene. Iniisip niya rin na after those shits, makakabawi siya. Napabayaan niya si Sol during that time, masakit ‘yun. But I really can’t blame him kasi nakaka-overwhelmed naman talaga ang nangyayari sa family niya. Hindi ko lang gusto ’yung hindi niya in-explain ’yung kiss, kahit privately.

Gusto mo ba talaga na possessive ‘yung jowa mo?

My stand: No, tanggap ko lang kung hanggang pabiro. But kung ‘yung palaging seryoso, sobra na. Like let me have my space and normal life. Tingin ko rin, parang ang dating sa kanila eh, maaagaw ako ng isang hawak or isang bigay ng pagkain. Parang ang babaw ko naman nun, medyo objectifying din pag masyado kang sinosolo. I’d choose protectiveness over possessiveness at any time. Tipong aalalayan kang maglakad kasi ayaw ka niyang masaktan, hindi para ilayo ka nang ilayo sa ibang tao.

Will you accept a proposal only after months of dating?

My stand: No, wala akong tiwala sa love. Ang love ay lagi lang nababase sa feelings—na anytime pwedeng magbago. I rather have a test of time kaysa magpadala agad. Yes, after the test, pwede pa ring magbago ‘yung feelings at any moment. Pero atleast, kahit papano, may proof na ‘ko na may strength ‘yung love niya, na kinaya niyang tumagal sa akin. Mas may panghahawakan ako, bukod sa feelings namin, bago pumunta sa next level. I also believe na dapat muna nating kilalanin nang maigi ang tao. At for me, hindi ‘yun kaya ng months lang at walang intimate relationship na namamagitan, kahit na gaano pa kayo katagal na friends.

Gugustuhin mo ba siyang makasama kung matagal na siyang may gusto pero never ka niyang pinursue kasi takot siya?

My stand: Siguro hanggat hindi lang ako aware sa feelings ko. Pero after that, no. Naniniwala kasi ako na may power ang love. So kung ganun katagal ang reservations mo, it means nananalo pa rin ‘yung reasons mo over sa feelings mo. I don’t like din ‘yung kikilos lang dahil may nakitang ibang nagpaparamdam. Ano ako, trophy sa isang competition? Gusto ko ‘yung gusto mo ‘ko dahil gusto mo ‘ko, wala dapat ibang reason ng push.

Name a character who doesn’t deserve their happy ending.

My pick: Randall Echavez. His reason to date Kim is forever nonsense. Kahit sabihin pa nating guilt na lang ‘yung naramdaman niya kay Max, naghabol pa rin siya na parang jowa, while very much sleeping with Dein. It’s also not realistic that he became loyal after marriage, like wala namang nagbago except sa mas naging tanga si Dein. May chicks ‘yan, hindi lang natin alam. The only reason I could think is gusto niyang maging mabuting halimbawa sa anak niya, which is still not about Dein. Baka nga kay Dein siya ngayon nagi-guilty kasi (1) she really stuck with him mula simula ng heartbreak niya, (2) ang sakit nung pinagdaanan ni Dein, and (3) hindi siya natuloy sa pagdo-doctor kasi nagka-anak siya. Ah basta,I believe that what Randall feels for Dein is not pure love, mixture siya nang kung ano-ano. That the least thing he could give to her is a good home. Pasalamat talaga siya, tanga si Dein.

This is about Deib, Max, and Lovemir. Please note na mahaba ‘to, sorry po. Mayroon pa actually for the other characters of the same universe, kaso nakakahiya na.

Deib
Tingin ko rin may parts sa kanya na very red flag—pero for different reasons. Many jail him for his encounters with Eerah, but I think I can understand those actions. They’re not right pero naiintindihan ko ‘yung reasons, ewan ko ba. Una ‘yung kiss, I understood it na he was sexually frustrated kaya niya nagustuhan ‘yun. Sabik siya nun sa intimacy, tipong kahit sinong gumawa nun magugustuhan niya kasi he was very sensitive then. I believe walang actual feelings na involved dito. Same with the kubo scene plus he was drugged. Next ‘yung gala niya with Kim, he was genuinely trying to move on that time kasi ‘di ba alam niya pang patay siya nun. He was free to do everything that time, so we don’t have any right to police his actions. Nagmo-move on nga ‘yung tao eh, so normal lang na hindi siya mag-isolate. Mas ayaw ko pa ‘yung time na guard down siya kay Eerah, ‘yung time na medyo friends sila. Bakit niya nagawa ‘yun, eh alam na alam niyang pinagseselosan ‘yun ni Max? Dapat alam niya ‘yun bilang seloso rin. Tapos, ang sakit niyang magsalita tuwing nagseselos siya. (Kung ako ‘yun, hiwalay agad.) Then, ‘yung actions niya nung muntik nang maaksidente si Max sa jeep. Grabe, alam ko naman ‘yung surge ng emotions niya that time, pero hindi ba pwedeng isantabi niya muna ‘yun to comfort her. Kasi malala ‘yung nangyari sa kaniya.

Now, for his good side. He actually loved Max in her lowest point. Nung time na cold queen siya, Randall (the greatest ex) doesn’t even like this attitude, pero kayang sakyan ito ni Deib, minsan naku-cute-an pa si loko. Siya rin ‘yung kayang-kaya kang mahalin nang buo kahit hindi ka na magpakilala nang lubusan. Kahit umalis ka pa, you don’t even need to explain things to him. Basta bumalik ka lang and assure him. Iiyak siya not to question your actions, rather to question pa kung mahalaga ba talaga siya sa’yo. Never niyang tiningnan kung deserving pa ba ‘yung tao despite the obvious faults of the other side. He was never calculative. Yes, may times na napapagod siya. Pero basta ready na siyang maghabol at magmakaawa ulit, gagawin niya na. Balewala na sakaniya kung sino ‘yung nang-iwan or kung sino ang may kasalanan. Sobrang lalim niyang magmahal. I think ito mismo ‘yung kailangan at gusto ni Max. Isang taong bubuhusan siya ng pagmamahal without questions, conditions, and limitations. Hence, I believe Deib is still deserving of Max, as much as she’s deserving of him.

Maxpein
She is the greatest protector anyone could ever have. She’s a great person, friend, and family. Ang interesting nga kasi she has a cold personality pero ang daming time where she showed compassion for other people, while not making it na unrealistic na ‘yung cold personality niya. Her character is one of the most complete in the Wattpad world. Hindi mo iisiping eme eme lang ‘yung attitude niya. Instead, ganun ‘yung ugali niya because she was still the wounded child inside. Nawala ‘yun saglit nung nagkaroon siya ng kakampi kay Randall pero bumalik ito nang doble nung iniwan siya. So sa start pa lang ng S1, she was rebelling dahil she’s like homeless emotionally. Gusto niya ng diploma dahil nakikita niyang dahilan ’yun para makabalik sa mansion. Pero the bullying in BIS gave her the same feeling of homelessness, the feeling of not belonging anywhere. Hindi lang siya umalis dahil wala na siyang naiisip na ibang way, kaya hindi siya nagpatalo.

Kaya rin, I imagine ‘yung quiet comfort na nakukuha niya kay Deib nung bumait siya (ironic kasi napakaingay ng tao). Because siya lang ‘yung wala talagang nire-require sa kaniya. Ganito na siya simula pa nung nagkaayos sila. Deib is demanding kung siya lang, but he can set these aside kapag alam niyang hindi ito ang importante. For her, his love is solace against her world full of expectations and complexity. This is the reason why I think she has a soft spot for him. Para sa iba, simple lang ‘to or insignificant pa sa iba, but she was craving for this all her life.

However, I believe may pagkukulang din siya sa love aspect. Dala siguro ng pagiging independent or alone niya most of her life, she tends to isolate herself. Mas gusto niyang ilagay sa safe bubble ‘yung mga importante sa kanya. Kapag mas priority, mas makapal ang bakod. Kasi she believes they will be safer this way. Tipong siya ‘yung lilinis ng mga bato sa dinadaanan mo. It’s her protector instinct. Although, she doesn’t realize that this is also harmful to her relationship. Kasi she likes to carry the burden alone, ‘yung burden na dapat pinagtutulungan. Hindi lang naman siya kay Deib ganito, ganito siya sa lahat.

The girl whose shoulders were burdened from the very beginning never ran away. She walked every path she needed to take. Tinanggap niya lahat na parte ‘yun ng buhay niya. May iniiwan siya kapag masyado nang mabigat pero binabalikan niya pa rin eventually. She is the heart of all seasons, she will forever be.

Lovemir
We can never deny na ang ganda ng story niya. Ang kalaban na na-fall. He also fell whilst not being completely emotionally available. Max can really reach broken hearts, she can also mend them. But I think he didn’t outdo Deib. Dahil kung titingnan, may opportunity siya na ligawan nang seryoso si Max, nung malapit sila ng babae at hiwalay siya kay Deib. It was his chance to steal her, just like what Deib did in S2 when Max was still into Randall. But he never tried, hanggang pahangin lang siya. Kasi tingin ko, he was conflicted, yet mas lamang pa rin ‘yung kagustuhan niyang maghiganti. Sabi nga ni Max, her family is capable of punishing the evils in a more civilized way, kung gugustuhin lang ni Lovemir. Pero, he was still seeing red eh, he wanted blood and revenge deep inside. Kaya Christian’s death was an instant push for him to cruelly seek revenge again. He was mad for his brother’s death pero hindi niya ba naisip na importante rin si Chairman Moon for Max. Isa pa, walang kinalaman sina Max sa mga hinanakit nila. She was trying to be patient na nga pero, anong ginawa nila? Kinuha nila si Maxwell at ayaw pang ibalik, all while she was still very much grieving for her grandfather. If mas lamang na ‘yung goodness sa puso niya, I believe hindi ganun katindi ‘yung magiging reaction niya about the news, na kahit papano maiintindihan niya ‘yung side ni Max.