AS BOOKWORMS, we enjoy a variety of books: across genres, authors, styles, moods, and even pacing. But there are days when slow-burns and purely character-driven books won’t do. Days when you’re either stuck in a reading slump or when you need a book to completely hold your attention, the kind that keeps you turning the pages, asking “What happens next?”
Here’s a selection of books by Filipino authors that are impossible to put down: young adult and adult novels, short story collections, graphic novels, and nonfiction that grip you from beginning to end. And because this June, we’re celebrating Philippine independence and our sovereignty as Filipino people, this list highlights the best books you can’t put down by Filipino authors.
Shine by Candy Gourlay
A young girl named Rosa lives on the Island of Mirasol, a small community steeped in superstition where it rains every day. Living with a condition that has left her unable to speak and marked by scars on her neck, Rosa is hidden away in an isolated house, shunned by islanders who believe she is a monster. But her world begins to change when she befriends a boy online who calls himself Ansel95. As Rosa slowly opens her heart, the ghost of her dead mother returns. Beautiful, haunting, and deeply moving, this novel by acclaimed, award-winning author Candy Gourlay weaves myths and ghosts into a richly imagined contemporary setting.
Ang Nawawala by Chuckleberry Pascual
Ang Nawawala by Chuckleberry Pascual will not only have you turning the pages, but also laughing out loud and blinking back tears. Bree, a transwoman who works as a receptionist/ masseuse in Talong Punay’s barangay hall, starts to investigate a series of things that disappear in the district, such as a milkfish, a knife and a ring.
As the mystery deepens, what emerges is a delightfully absurd series of interconnected short stories that straddle comedy and crime fiction. Ang Nawawala challenges readers not just to solve the mystery, but to reflect on the deeper question: what is really missing?
Ella Arcangel: Lupa at Dugo by Julius Villanueva
This gripping comic book series takes you to the depths of Barangay Masikap, where monsters and shadows lurk in every corner. No one in the community is safe– whether from the monsters prowling in the dark, or humans whose greedy appetite makes them worse than monsters. The barangay’s ray of hope? A young mambabarang named Ella Arcangel, who swore on her Lola’s grave to protect her neighbors. Creator and illustrator Julius Villanueva weaves Filipino folklore into a searing portrait of life in Manila’s most impoverished communities. Soon to be adapted into an animated feature film by GMA Pictures.
School Run by Macoy and Ardie Aquino
Life is surprisingly good in post-zombie apocalypse Philippines, where zombies are treated much like typhoons—an inevitable part of life. With zombie invasion signals and anti-zombie measures in place, people have learned to adapt. However, an ordinary ride to school turns deadly when a school bus driver gets careless, and the bus gets swarmed by zombies. Will the kids run—or will they fight?
Sprinkled with humor and packed with suspense, this thrilling graphic novel will have readers breathless as the story unfolds, page after page.
Stray Cats by Irene Sarmiento
Eliza Paz and Raquel Madria are best friends and fellow bruhas in the magical world they’ve created. But when Racquel goes missing, Elisa must join forces with a talking cat named Oscar Santos to save Raquel. They search through clamorous city streets, bustling plazas, and gloomy districts where they face dark characters straight from Philippine folklore. A blend of fantasy, realism, and mystery, Stray Cats, as described in a review by author Angelo Lacuesta, “is culturally and authentically rich, enjoyably layered, and irresistibly readable.”
Kuwentong Butsero by JL Chua
In his debut book, veteran journalist and retired newsman JL Chua delivers a set of dark, unsettling, and grotesque stories. Each tale dives into the dark side of humanity, cut open to bleed and trickle, yet readers will be able to empathize with the fully fleshed-out characters rendered with great tenderness. You’ve been warned: dare to pick up this book only if you have a strong stomach. As JL Chua said in his interview with Manila Bulletin, “This is a crazy book! But aren’t we living in crazy times?”
WTF! (Women Turning Fifty) by Marga Ortigas
Veteran journalist Marga Ortigas’s WTF! is a candid collection of essays on finding herself at the edge of middle age. Having reported from some of the most high-profile conflict and disaster zones, Marga sheds all barriers as she reflects on life, aging, mortality, and loss with unflinching honesty. Whether you’re approaching middle age, or a twenty-something still figuring things out, or if you just need a good laugh, Marga Ortigas’ second collection of essays will have you tearing through the pages, and by the last page, you will emerge a different person– uplifted and full of hope.
(READ: Mok reviews WTF: Women Turning Fifty)
At Home With Crazy by Katrina Martin
At Home With Crazy is a tender, warm-hearted young adult novel that explores mental illness within the family. It follows 14-year-old Cayt, who is obsessed with zombies – whether in movies she loves, or a short film project she’s making for school. But there’s one zombie she wants to run away from – her own mother. Filled with rich insights and written with grace and a sprinkling of humor, At Home With Crazy feels like a warm hug to anyone young – or who was once young – who has struggled within cracks of family or home life. Cayt’s voice will win you from start to finish, and with tears in your eyes by the time the book concludes.
Hoy, Pong! By Macky Cruz
Macky Cruz’s Hoy, Pong! takes us back to 1999, on the brink of the Y2K Millennium Bug scare. After a dip in the Ilog of Lambakin, students Pong, Raya, and Dante suddenly gain the ability to hear people’s thoughts and see the kagluyag—sinister entities plotting to hurt attendees at the End of the World Party in their hometown of Lambakin. As the trio embarks on a bizarre adventure, they uncover secrets that could change their world forever.
Hoy, Pong! is a coming-of-age story blending fantasy, Filipino folklore, and humor, with a touch of romance. Set against the backdrop of Y2K paranoia and illustrated by Rombutan, this novel is perfect for speculative fiction fans and those intrigued by 90s nostalgia.
Whether you’re looking for page-turners or other great works of Filipino literature, we have more for you to browse and choose your next great read here: Filipino Reads Collection. Happy reading!
