Like Jo March of Little Women, one of the most admirable female protagonists in fiction, we’ve long grown past the narrative that “love is all a woman is fit for.” Women in diverse professional fields around the world have embodied this cultural shift through the years.
Amid persisting hardships and obstacles, Filipinas have taken charge, too—as community leaders, advocates, and artists who uplift each other’s stories without compromising their love for the world.
This year, the modern Filipina is taking her dreams, goals, purpose, and yes, even her love life to new heights with the revival of the Pinoy romance novel. Leading this new fun and flirty era of storytelling are the Indie Indays—five Filipina romance authors who are spreading all the feels across the country’s contemporary literary scene.
We’re getting to know them one by one this September—as prolific authors, “lover girls” by nature, and passionate working women with their hearts set on making their bestseller dreams come true.
Kyra Ysabel and her novels, Between Then and Now and Between Here and There. Photo: Kyra Ysabel
Filipina romance author Kyra Ysabel is fostering a safe space for our imperfections through her love stories, where all forms of courage and determination can thrive. For her, confidence is best found in the places, people, and memories we call home. No wonder her writing journey so far has already landed her a book-signing at the Philippine Book Festival (PBF), as well as a few televised interviews.
Our chat with Kyra proves that she knows kilig from the back of her head. Her ongoing four-part book series, Magnolia Heights, is her heartfelt way of chronicling the ups, downs, and in-betweens of four best friends’ chaotic yet endearing love lives.
For her, no love story is complete without the element of adventure, and that’s where her characters thrive. Always moving forward, always looking ahead, and always on a mission—only slowing down to savor the emotions brewing between them.
Let’s start by sharing a little about yourself, your pen name if you go by one, and your early days as an author.
Hi! I’m Kyra Ysabel, and I write rom-com novels with Filipino leads and stories that balance humor and heart. I’m lucky enough to be writing love stories that other people actually want to read, but when I’m not drafting, I’m probably working my day job, spending time with family, over-analyzing Taylor Swift lyrics, or over-caffeinating.
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Tell us more about the books you write. What can Filipino readers and aspiring authors expect from them?
Right now, I have three books that are all part of my Magnolia Heights series. Between Then and Now and Between Here and There are already out, while Between Love and War is coming out this October. Each story is set in a small town that’s nosy, loud, but ultimately full of heart. The series follows four best friends who embark on varying adventures in love and growth.
What ties them all together, aside from the romance, is the community around them. In Filipino culture, love doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists with friends and barkadas who tease you about your crush, titas who can’t resist commenting on your love life, and neighbors who know you’re dating before you’ve even told your family. That’s the texture of my books: kilig wrapped up in the everyday noise of Filipino life.
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Which of your titles would you recommend to first-time readers of modern Filipino romance?
I always recommend starting with Between Then and Now, which is the first book of my Magnolia Heights series. It’s a “friends to lovers” romance set partly in a small town and partly in the breathtaking landscapes of Batanes. I think it’s the perfect entry point because it introduces readers not only to the friend group at the heart of the series, but also to the sense of community and family that defines my books.
How would you describe a five-star Filipino romance novel?
For me, a five-star Filipino romance novel feels alive with the way we love. Filipinos don’t do things halfway. We laugh loudly, we eat a lot, we love obsessively. Our brand of love is full of teasing and chismis, but also tenderness. We show up for each other with food, jokes, late-night texts, and sometimes, with unsolicited advice that we never asked for, but secretly needed.
When a romance novel has that delicate mix of humor, heart, and everyday life, it feels real. And when a story makes you stop and think that it could happen to you, your friend, your loved ones, or the random people you know, then that’s when it stops being just a story and starts feeling like home.
Where can we purchase your books?
My physical books are available on Lazada and via direct orders from me. My e-books, on the other hand, are available on Amazon and the Reko platform!
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Who are your favorite Filipino rom-com couples and characters? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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