Patron Saints of Nothing

I LOVED THE BOOK!! I'm not much of a reader and only read this book throughout my english class, yet I love how the author tackled deep topics in this book so realistically well, it was very heartfelt to read each chapter, and i'm glad to be informed more about the Phillipines, their culture, and their government. This book will stick with me for years probably, it touched my heart that much. I don't think it'd be for everyone, but i'll always reccomend this book and it will be 1 of my favorites

In this poignant and intense narrative, Jay Reguero’s plans for a carefree senior year are abruptly derailed when he learns of his Filipino cousin Jun’s murder, a casualty of President Duterte's controversial war on drugs. With his family unwilling to discuss the tragedy, Jay embarks on a journey to the Philippines to uncover the truth behind Jun’s death. As Jay delves into his cousin’s life and the circumstances surrounding his murder, he confronts not only the harsh realities of the drug war

FANTASTIC! Of all of the books I've read this year, I connected with this one the most! Patron Saints of Nothing follows Jay on his adventure to discover his homeland, his family, but most importantly the truth about his cousin Jun's murder. "There are moments when sharing silence can be more meaningful than filling a space with empty chatter." It's a cliche, but I truly could not put this book down! It's a roller coaster of emotion and twists as Jay journeys through middle-class homes, slums, and the countryside of the Philipines in order to find out what actually happened to his cousin. Along the way, he faces his shattered family's pride, injustice, and the harsh realities of extreme poverty. A huge thanks to Bookish and the publisher for my copy!