Good-looking, popular, Manilla professional Kimmy has gone into hiding. She was just dumped over the phone a few days before her wedding, and she can’t face the humiliation at work or within her country club barkada. She is even taking a break from the digital world, ignoring both her cellphone and her email. She only returns a year later because her best friend Chesca has asked her to be maid of honor at her wedding. Kimmy reluctantly returns, this time with the resolution to stay away from hot, off and on childhood friend Manolo, who got her into the mess that is her personal life in the first place. But as part of the wedding and son of her mother’s friend, he keeps showing up. More than she knows, Manolo is serious about being in her life, but will Kimmy let him in as she learns from the mistakes of her diva ways?
After reading and enjoying Mina V. Esguerra’s last book My Imaginary Ex I was pleasantly surprised to learn she had another Kindle publication in the works. I was even more pleasantly surprised to discover the main character would be the villain of her last novel. All euphemisms aside the Kimmy from My Imaginary Ex is frankly a b*tch. Since I don’t want to give any spoilers away let’s just say it’s pretty obvious and undeniable based on her actions towards Zach. So I was very curious as to how Mina could flesh her out into a dimensional, sympathetic character. Because readers had no reason to like her by the end of MIE. Unexpectedly enough, Kimmy’s characterization is the strong point of Love Your Frenemies and why it stands out as one of my favorite books by Esguerra. Using an already familiar character was a smart move on her part since it essentially gave her two books to develop a side character into a really interesting protagonist. Even before you learn the circumstances surrounding the event that made Kimmy look like pure scum in MIE, I was rooting for her. Being left at the altar broke her, and now she’s willing to acknowledge her snobbish arrogance while still remain her confident, at times cockily assured self. Here’s one of my favorite, laugh-out-loud passages that illustrates how Kimmy has remained herself but a more sympathetic version:
“Okay, so your officemate really does seem to hate you,” he said, approaching after Marjorie dismissed me.
“You thought I was kidding? She thinks I stole her boyfriend. She won’t even share the hotel room with me.” I laughed softly. “She probably thinks I’m going to stab her in her sleep.”
“Yeah right,” Manolo said. “She’s just an assistant manager. It’s not worth it.”
I laughed from my belly at that, and it felt really good. It wasn’t polite to admit it, but being mean together was fun.
But don’t do it, kids.
Funny, huh? I love when I’m able to connect with a character who’s very different from myself. As expected I also enjoyed the writing, which is smooth and easy to read, and the other characters, especially Manolo, who surprised me. Overall Love your Frenemies was a delightful read that is highly recommended to chick lit fans and leaves me wanting more as a now very committed Mina V. Esguerra fan.
Second Opinions
Chachic’s Book Nook Review
One More Page Review
Finally! I’ve been trying to access your review since yesterday but my connection was acting up. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this one. I liked where Mina went when it came to Kimmy – she was still her mean self but we were able to relate and sympathize with her as a reader.
Exactly! I love when authors can make an essentially mean character likeable. Thanks for taking the extra effort for a comment – it’s always appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time out to read a Filipino novel! It’s always good to know how a novel set here would affect someone who’s based somewhere else.