Meant to Be in Manila

By Mica De Leon

She's done with destiny. He's chasing the past. But fate has other plans.

Sophia Joaquin is done believing in "meant to be." After uprooting her life for love--only to be ghosted the moment she arrived in Vancouver--she's heading back to Manila, heartbroken and humiliated. Rafael Herbert, an architect and artist, is on a mission to win back the girl who ghosted him. By a twist of fate on their flight home, they meet and strike an unusual deal: he'll be her fake fianc for her brother's wedding, and she'll help him track down his lost love.

As they navigate Manila's bustling streets, old churches, and hidden gems, their fake romance begins to feel surprisingly real. Maybe love isn't about finding the right person--it's about finding the right person at the right time. And maybe, just maybe, that time is now.

Before Sunrise meets Love Hard in this Romcom set on a walking tour of Manila, Philippines, following Sophia Eunice "Piayaya" Hermosa, a former Philippine history teacher, and Raphael Alfonso "Rafal" Herbert, an urban housing architect. Touring the city while seeking closure from their past relationships, they soon realize they're exactly where they're meant to be--with each other.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9815266128
• ISBN13: 9789815266122
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 368 Pages