Book Review: Between then and now (Magnolia Heights #1) by Kyra Ysabel

jolaineabad
Aug 20
5 min read

Updated: Nov 9

Magnolia Heights Series

Between then and now

Between Here and There

Between Love and War

TBA

" Turns out, I like being needed by you."

Taken at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila City.

NEW ADULT

NA. CONTEMPORARY

NA. ROMANCE

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Rating: ★★★ (3 stars)

Genres: New Adult // Contemporary, Romance

Quick Thoughts: This story is overflowing with Filipino culture, which I absolutely loved! I just felt like it took a little too long before we finally got the love story I was waiting for.

⚠️ Warning/Disclaimer:

All the thoughts I’ve shared about this book are purely based on my own reading experience. Just because it wasn’t fully for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you. Everyone reads differently, so I still encourage you to give it a try—you might end up loving it!

BOOK TROPE GUIDE

𖠋𖠋 Friends-to-Lovers

˚ˋঌ˖ Slow Burn Romance

⛈ x ❁ Grumpy × Sunshine

ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Bonita Santiago (Bon, Bonbon) has just graduated from college and is eager to showcase her skills. To escape a colleague who constantly assigns her unrelated tasks, she convinces her boss to let her create a documentary. Once her superior agrees, she immediately begins brainstorming ideas for a compelling project that will not only help her escape those tasks but also establish her as a storyteller.

Ryan Miller, a doctor who believes Alex is the girl of his dreams, volunteers for a medical mission in Batanes. Without hesitation, he signs himself up, thinking it’s the perfect opportunity to finally make a move and win the attention of the girl he’s been pursuing.

When Bonita discovers that Ryan is one of the volunteers, her sunny and determined personality shines through as she convinces him to let her tag along. While she plans to focus on her documentary, she also helps Ryan prepare to win over the girl he likes—going as far as arranging practice dates and giving him notes on what to do. But as they spend a month together in Batanes, the line between friendship and something more begins to blur. Both start to realize they might be falling for each other, yet they’re determined to protect the lifelong bond they’ve shared since childhood. But what happens when one unexpected incident threatens to change everything? Will they finally confess their true feelings, or risk losing their friendship forever?

Initial thoughts 💬

This book is part of my book club’s pick for August in celebration of Buwan ng Wika (Language Month). We wanted to read something written by a Filipino author, and Kyra Ysabel truly won our hearts.

I was so excited to pick this up because it’s my second book by a Filipino author, and I had seen so many good reviews about it that I decided to mood read it alongside The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli. And since it’s also inspired by Batanes—one of the most beautiful places in my country—I couldn’t contain my excitement and dived right in as soon as I received the book.

At first, I thought this was going to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but it turned out to be a friends-to-lovers romance—one of my absolute favorite tropes. 💛

My Book Review ✎ᝰ.

" I don't need a charm to make me smile, Bonbon, it only takes one look at you. "

Bonita is determined to be the best at what she does—something many of us can relate to. But when she’s constantly asked to do tasks outside her role, she looks for ways to prove that she’s truly an asset to the company.

Ryan, on the other hand, is a timid guy when it comes to Alexa. Despite his good looks, he’s grumpy, organized, and always wants things to go according to plan—completely opposite from Bonita, who’s a ray of sunshine wherever she goes.

Their friendship, which started in childhood and remained strong as they grew up, becomes the foundation of this love story. It’s that deep bond that drives the whirlwind of emotions and conflicts they face as they slowly realize their true feelings for each other.

At first, I almost DNF’d this book because of how Ryan was written. His descriptions of Bonita sometimes felt inconsistent—on one hand, he admired her for being a social butterfly who could make friends instantly, but on the other, he compared her presence to a horror movie waiting to happen. Some of his narration also leaned more toward describing his surroundings rather than expressing his emotions, which came across a bit cringey for me. This was a sharp contrast to Bonita, whose exaggerated and vibrant way of seeing the world made her chapters feel more alive. However, as I continued reading, I realized these differences weren’t just quirks—they were rooted in the characters’ upbringings and the traumas shaped by their parents, whether intentional or not. That deeper layer gave me more appreciation for why they are the way they are, and it added meaningful dimension to their story.

The description of Batanes in this book was definitely on point, and I loved how the culture and beliefs of the locals were woven into the narrative. That said, I did find myself wishing that certain parts had been written a little more smoothly. I’m not an author or an editor, but as a reader, I felt that some scenes could have had more spark if they were crafted differently. To be completely honest, the slow-burn pacing was so drawn out that I was tempted to DNF even when I was just 20 pages away from the end. On the brighter side, the book did deliver plenty of humor and had moments that felt relatable in ways I couldn’t always put into words.

One last thing that stood out to me was the way the intimate moment between Bonita and Ryan was handled. Bonita was the one who initiated it, but then she just ran away afterward. I really wished that after such a pivotal moment, there had been a deeper conversation—especially about Ryan’s confession and where they stood in their relationship. Instead, it felt like the story circled back to repeated “what ifs” and constant “I’m a coward” reflections, which left me wanting a stronger resolution between them. On top of that, it felt strange that Ryan needed constant reminding that he actually liked Bonita from the very beginning, which made his feelings feel a bit inconsistent.

Overall, this book had its shining moments—it gave me butterflies in my stomach at times and even made me giggle. While it may not have been fully for me, I’m still eager to read Book 2 to see what happens with Emily, especially since I’ve seen good reviews about it. With that being said, I would still recommend this to anyone who wants to explore a story that celebrates the Philippines—our culture, our food, and the beauty of places like Batanes.