Fairy Tale Fail [Kindle Edition]

Mina V. Esguerra (Author)

Book Description

New adult/contemporary/sweet romance: Ellie Manuel is a hopeless romantic, stuck in a cubicle all day. She's in her twenties and should be having more fun. But instead of doing what she really wants, like traveling wherever her Philippine passport can take her, she's hung up on the guy who dumped her for not being "ambitious enough." Someone should tell her that there are other cool guys -- who probably even eat at the same office cafeteria! -- who would encourage her just to be her fabulous self.

FAIRY TALE FAIL won the 2012 Filipino Readers' Choice award for Chick Lit.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mina V. Esguerra is a writer, editor and communications consultant based in Metro Manila. Her first novel, My Imaginary Ex, is available in print in the Philippines.

Product Details

• File Size: 174 KB
• Print Length: 112 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1453688609
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Bright Girl Books; 1 edition (April 17, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003HS5PXE
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,675 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick, entertaining read August 10, 2010

By VickiT

Format:Kindle Edition

Restless Ellie is always looking for excitement and her own fairy tale. Not surprising then that her hobby is researching and planning travel/trips abroad.

I enjoyed this novella. It's not a "girly" romance but it is an easy read. While there were times I would've liked to have shaken Ellie, her blinkered outlook added to the characterisation. Set in Manila, the story also gives a glimpse into another culture. I learned a few Filipino terms like "barkada" and "kuya" that I hadn't come across before.

Recommended for anyone looking for a quick, entertaining read.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute Asian Chick Lit April 25, 2010

By L. H.

Format:Kindle Edition

*There may be spoilers in this review*

I enjoyed this short novel/novella - cute chick lit set in the Philippines. I really enjoyed Ellie's voice, and Lucas was adorable. I rooted for them to get together, and I'm so glad that Ellie didn't go back to Don. He may have been a "good guy," but he was a "bad boyfriend."

I'm not totally sure I understood the sprinkling of Tagalog words throughout the story, but that didn't detract from my overall understanding. I was hoping for an author's note or glossary at the end to define these words, but I had to settle for Google ;) Still, I enjoyed learning new words, and I think they added to the feel of the book.

I wanted to see more of the development of Ellie and Lucas's friendship. What we did get to see was really sweet, and I liked it a lot, but I was left wanting to see more. I love stories in which the "true loves" start out as just friends and the friendship just grows and changes into something more, so this story was just the kind of story I like (could be why I love the Anne of Green Gables books so much - I love to watch the friendship between Anne and Gilbert grow into more).

I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick & Cute April 28, 2011

By Aly-oops!

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This novella was a cute little read with a decent plot & a heroine I could get behind. No, it wasn't perfect, but there weren't that many mistakes. (I've seen much worse by American indie authors.) And if the author is ESL or the book was translated, I'm more impressed.

B/c it's a novella, there's obviously gloss-overs, but Esguerra delivered enough dialogue & character insight that the gloss was acceptable. I enjoyed the references to fairy tales & how Ellie was so obsessed with reclaiming love. I believed Ellie's growth, & b/c I liked her, I was proud of her. Despite the use of non-English words (without any translation but enough clues to infer meaning), I could easily picture this tale in Chicago or some other US city (except, maybe, the typhoon...but that could easily become a blizzard or something). The dialogue was so comfortable to read, I could imagine the characters conversing. The storyline was standard, but it's an enjoyable one, which is why it's still around.

I've read some short stories written by ESL authors before, & this little tale was far superior. Esguerra has skill, & I like her style. Will definitely see what else she offers in English.

More About the Author

Mina V. Esguerra writes contemporary romance, young adult, and new adult novellas. Her young adult/fantasy trilogy Interim Goddess of Love is a college love story featuring gods from Philippine mythology. Her contemporary romance novella Fairy Tale Fail won the 2012 Filipino Readers' Choice award for Chick Lit. Through her blog Publishing in Pajamas (minavesguerra.com), she documents her experiments in e-publishing.

When not writing romance, she is president of communications firm Bronze Age Media, development communication consultant, indie publisher, professional editor, wife, and mother. She created the workshop series "Author at Once" for writers and publishers, and she currently runs a free online Contemporary Romance Novella writing class on Facebook.