These self-published and indie Filipino authors deserve a spot on your shelves
I’ve always believed reading can change a person. I learn about other people and cultures, and I get to know myself whenever I see parts of me in the characters. I was the top borrower of our school’s library; librarians were curious how I could read so quickly. They’d even quiz me to check if I really understood what I read. For a while, I thought they just didn’t want to give me the prizes for top borrowers. But I loved how they challenged me, and it allowed me to read more books, even those out of my comfort zone.
Expanding my horizons in literature has led me to discover notable authors, including self-published and indie Filipino writers. Their published work has our Filipino identity printed on every page—I have felt at home through the vivid descriptions in each chapter. Meet six authors who deserve a spot in your never-ending to-be-read list.
From contemporary romance to musings on mental health, these books by six Filipino authors will make you feel at home on every page.
Anj Miranda
Anj Miranda always wanted to see herself and her culture in the books she reads, so she started writing them herself. Her debut, the slow-burning romance The Off-Chance of Me and You, was published in 2023. It was the first of The Reyes Siblings series, a trilogy of contemporary romance novels with flawed but resilient characters. The next two books are The Odds of Happily Ever After and The Fallacy of True Love—the latter is a strangers-to-lovers romance set in La Union, released just last August.
It’s important for Anj to write about universal concepts such as family, since her series is as much about the Reyes siblings’ relationships with each other. “It’s universally relatable and essential to our Filipino culture. I think it’s important to show that even though some details differ, there are still underlying threads of similarities that tie us together,” she says. “I think of home not just as a place, but as people who make you feel safe and loved.”
She adds, “I hope readers feel happy and giddy when they read (my book), and it provides them comfort.”
You can purchase The Reyes Siblings series through Anj’s website anjmiranda.com. Follow her at @authoranjmiranda.
Beatrice Pobre
An orthodontist by profession but writer at heart, Beatrice Pobre released her debut novel, The Town of Perpetual Autumn, in January. It’s about Sal, a burnt-out dentist who moves to a small town after inheriting a cozy woodland estate owned by her friend, Claire, whom she unexpectedly lost. In a fast-paced world, Sal reminds readers that life can be lived meaningfully and purposefully.
Beatrice writes about characters who feel close to the heart, since she wants her readers to feel seen, heard, and understood. “Sal and I are very alike, as I was always told to write what I know. Her experiences in the novel are quite similar to my own,” Beatrice reflects. “I want my readers to feel at home and cozy as they progress in my novel.”
You can buy the novel through her website beatricepobre.com or select FullyBooked branches. Follow Beatrice at @authorbeatricepobre.
Joline Lim
Joline Lim grew up in a family that shared the same love for stories, as her mother was an avid reader and her father an active storyteller. She recalls her childhood surrounded by laughter and stories. It was only recently that she realized it was more than fun; it was their way of expressing humor and love. Before I Go, Heart of the Moon Goddess, and the romantic comedy series The Romance Risk Assessment Club are the novels Joline has published under 8Letters Books.
“It’s important to honor the culture I’m portraying, so I make sure to do thorough research to keep my facts accurate and respectful. I also share my work with readers who understand the culture for sensitivity checks and honest feedback. This helps me catch anything that might unintentionally confuse readers,” explains Joline.
She hopes that, through her books, readers remember the warmth of home. She recalls a scene in her novel Before I Go, where the main character Rory celebrated her birthday with a cupcake from the supermarket. “It reminded me of a birthday I had where my cake was also a simple, inexpensive cupcake. That memory feels so heartwarming to me. I hope my audience also takes the same warmth Rory and I felt — the memories and feelings we carry from quiet little moments.”
Joline’s books are available at 8lettersbooks.com and select FullyBooked branches. Follow her at @authorjodiary.
Josue Mapagdalita
Mula Sa Kilometer Zero, a collection of 40 short stories about daily Manila encounters, and Still Here, a prose-poetry book on mental health and healing, are two titles often seen in the Filipino book community. The author of these two books, Josue Mapagdalita, is known not only to emphasize inner battles a person may encounter, but also the reality of Filipinos’ social conditions and experiences.
“I remember chasing butterflies and snails and running away from marshals in Fort Bonifacio with my friends. That moment was eye-opening for me because it inspired an essay I published in 2014 about my observations in politics and how it has affected me and the people I know,” Josue reminisces. He has encountered many different people in his life, from whom he draws inspiration when telling stories. One of Josue’s biggest dreams is to make the world a better place, which he strives to do through literature.
Josue’s books can be purchased on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop via Kudlit Books. Follow him at @josh._.e and @kudlit.books.
Noel Aquino
Since migrating to the US at a young age, Noel Aquino began relearning forgotten words because he felt disconnected from his mother language. “I began exploring the etymology of our language. I immediately saw how we elaborate on topics regarding nature. Filipinos seem in touch with nature, and I thought that our language beautifully reflects this,” Noel recalls. “I think our desire for connection is strong, maybe much stronger than I thought before.”
Noel’s This Adobo Life: A Poetic Autobiography shares stories of migrating to the US and navigating adulthood, romance, identity, and culture. “Most of my topics,” he says, “revolve around human connection as I consider my style of writing not only for myself, but for others as well.” The concepts of kapwa, bayanihan, and spirituality are some foundations of his writing; he hopes his work can give a voice to those who cannot speak and enlightenment to everyone who encounters his pieces.
“In my book, there’s no specific representation of home, but rather a discovery of where it can be found and experienced. The concept of home began as a physical location, to a person and community, and eventually to emotions anchored to memories,” explains Noel. He believes that our strongest stories come from places grounded in reality.
Noel’s poetry collection is available in select FullyBooked branches and online at Amazon and Shopee. Follow him at @imandq.
Shaina Veronica
Filipino-Australian writer Shaina Veronica lives in Australia but is always surrounded by her Filipino family, which she incorporates into her young adult romance novels. “I always turn to storytelling to express and understand myself. Writing is my outlet to feel seen, and also a way to see myself in different versions and ways I would want myself to be seen,” Shaina says. “I feel warmed when a reader who also lives in Australia reaches out and thanks me for representing the Filipino diaspora through the books I’ve written.”
All About You is her debut novel about hopeless romantic Jasleen, who ends up in a fake-dating situation with her childhood rival, Marlon. Shaina’s second novel, If Only, was released in July, revolving around two former high school classmates who reunite after graduation to address unresolved feelings from their past.
Copies in paperback and e-book formats are available on Amazon. Follow Shaina at shainaveronica.com or @shainaveronica and @sveronicabooks.
