Review | MOMOL Nights on iWant (+ Book Recommendations!)

I’ve been noticing how iWant has been producing new and original streaming content for the past year, but it’s only this year I’ve actually tried watching them because Bagman was really good. I’ve yet to try John en Martian too, but last week, I was able to watch their latest offering, MOMOL Nights, which starred Kim Molina and Kit Thompson.

Watch MOMOL Nights on iWant

(Be warned: The following review contains spoilers. Scroll down at your own risk.)

iWant didn’t have to work hard to sell me this because 1) I adore Kim, and; 2) the trailer had rom-com beats, which I really liked. <3 Did I want to watch it? HELL YES. But was it a romance? That remained to be seen.

In case you’re wondering why the second question was important, here’s a quick explanation: As a romance author, I am very particular about certain media (books, movies, etc) being branded as a romance when they are very clearly not. Romancelandia’s rule is simple: If it doesn’t have a happy ending, it’s NOT romance.

So is MOMOL Nights a romance? Yes. And here are some things I liked about it:

  1. Our leading lady, Peng. I’m just gonna go straight to the point: I love Peng. The way she was written and portrayed just worked for me. You can totally imagine having a friend like Peng—lovable and honest, still reeling from a recent heartbreak but willing to open herself up again for love. Or just sex. Kim Molina has always impressed me with her acting chops, and she didn’t disappoint me here. If it were another actress playing Peng, I’m not sure she would have come off as awkwardly cute…which was one of the things Marco (Kit Thompson) loved about her.
  2. It’s sex positive. In the year of our Lord 2019, a lot of people still frown upon casual sex like it’s something to be ashamed of. And it’s REALLY not. (I’m saying this with exceptions, though, because if you’re married or in an exclusive relationship and you’re still enjoying casual sex with someone else, you’re just downright trash.) Just like it says in the movie, “Sex is not dirty. It’s being human.” I like that MOMOL Nights was able to show a woman being comfortable with her sexuality and just going for what she wants without feeling guilty about it. (Although there were casual hints of slutshaming from her friends, which confused me a bit because hey, looking for someone to MOMOL was their idea.)
  3. It promotes safe sex! It’s only a small fraction of the entire movie, but I appreciated that the screenwriter/s put it there. Practice safe sex, kids.
  4. The MOMOL rules. There are a LOT, but one of my favorites is, essentially, Do not hook up with someone who’s spoken for. Simple, but ethical. I’m all for fulfilling a basic need, but not at the expense of someone else, please.

And now for the things that didn’t quite work for me:

  1. Our leading man, Marco. He’s easy on the eyes, yes. And I agreed with Peng when she said when Marco speaks, everything sounds so nice. But I felt Kit Thompson was underutilized in this movie, which resulted to an underdeveloped character. Him talking about his personal loss didn’t quite do it for me. I wanted to see him do more—for and with Peng—so that the ending feels well earned.
  2. Peng’s friends. I liked them in the beginning, when they were supportive of Peng’s forays into MOMOLand (oops, my fingers slipped). But somewhere in the middle, I found them quite mean, which confused me because they knew Peng and her tendency to look for something more than sex. Why then, would they berate her for having feelings toward the guy she hooked up with? They could have talked her out of it in a more…encouraging way, I think, not in a way that dismissed her feelings.
  3. Consent, or the lack thereof. Okay, listen. Just because someone agrees to have sex with you doesn’t mean they’ve given you explicit consent to take photos of them while sleeping. Just. No. Ever heard of those pick-up artists who have sex with random women and take photos and videos with them while having sex and after sex? Disgusting, right? I had that icky feeling when both Peng and Marco were shown taken pictures of their sleeping partners. Please, people. Don’t do that.

I think MOMOL Nights had a nice story to tell, but a limited time to actually flesh out certain elements of the narrative. (Like, I was actually surprised it escalated THAT fast and ended so soon! I wanted more!) Overall, the sex positivity in this movie is appreciated as well as the nod to practicing safe sex. Kim Molina is a star.

* * * * *

If you liked MOMOL Nights, you might like
these #romanceclass books, too!

Feels Like Summer / Six de los Reyes

At a happening music festival north of Manila, Miss No-Room-For-Love Jett is asked to play five-minute girlfriend to band leader Adrian, who recently had his heart broken.

No Two Ways / Chi Yu Rodriguez

AJ doesn’t know the name of the girl she last had a one-night stand with, but damn if the Universe wasn’t a prankster, bringing Jackie back into her life and throwing in AJ’s ex-boyfriend in the mix, too.

What You Wanted / Mina V. Esguerra

It was only supposed to be a one-night-stand between Andrea and Damon. So why are they still seeing each other again?

How She Likes It / Carla de Guzman

Isabel, a CEO-in-training and heiress to a cosmetics company, needs to hire an assistant, stat. What happens when the eligible applicant in front of her is the same man she was in bed with the night before?

Submission Moves / Camilla Sisco

MMA fighter Niccolo and snarky feminist Rose have nothing in common. Save maybe for that insanely hot night in Vegas.

All of the book recommendations may also be found on romanceclassbooks.com and are available for purchase in print during our events and straight from the authors. For questions on any of the books, feel free to leave a comment below.

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Stay With Me: A Backstage Pass B-Side

Starting this post with a tweet–

–in which #2 means a spin-off novelette for Backstage Pass’ Gabriel and Fi! <3 Yeap, sometime during the editing process, my editor (Ninang Layla) told me she wanted to see Gabe and Fi in a book of their own. And because I’m an obedient godchild, Stay With Me was born.

Take a look at the lovely cover below.

Illustration by Shai San Jose. Layout/design by Tara Frejas.

Stay With Me
(A Backstage Pass B-Side)

“Come live with me for a while.”

Moving to Seoul for a job at an entertainment company has made a self-reliant woman out of Filipina. But when she gets injured in an accident and her boyfriend, Gabriel, proposes she move in with him until she’s back in shape, Fi reluctantly gives up her independence in favor of some TLC.

What happens when being under one roof ignites the desire she has been firmly keeping underneath the surface? Will she up and leave, or decide to stay?

This is a Backstage Pass B-Side.

Stay With Me is a short story that happens simultaneously with Play It By Ear. Official release date is May 31, 2019.

Stay tuned for more announcements!

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#RomanceClass Author Take Three | Take Me Away Edition

This month’s #RomanceClass Take Three Project will take you away to places you’ve never been, or have been, but want to go back to–through Filipino-authored romances! In this post, five authors share their favorite places, as seen in #romanceclass books. I have provided links to the books as well, in case any of them piques your interest.

Ready? Jet set? GO!

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BLOG TOUR: You Out of Nowhere by Jay E. Tria

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Happy Monday! Welcome to the first day of the You Out of Nowhere blog tour, and today I’m sharing an excerpt from Jay E. Tria’s wonderful new book! <3 But first, here’s what you need to know about the novel and our new imprint, #romanceclassFLAIR.

You Out of Nowhere
Jay E. Tria

FLAIR-YOON-RevealAt 31, Kris’s dating life is starting to resemble a reality show. So when she strikes up a conversation with a nerdy but gorgeous stranger on the train, getting serious is the last thing on her mind. Been there, done that, and she has the emotional baggage to prove it.

At 24, Ringo knows what he wants—and when a train flirtation turns into a night he can’t forget, he knows he wants Kris. But it’s clear she has other plans, and they don’t include him. So when they find themselves on the same flight to Seoul, it’s Ringo’s chance to turn up the heat, and convince Kris to take a risk.

In a new city, with someone new—the right someone—what could change? Maybe nothing. But also, maybe everything.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 4, 2017
Photography: Chi Yu Rodriguez

Cover Design: Miles Tan
Models: Bibo Reyes & Celine Bengzon

Get You Out of Nowhere on Amazon
Add it on Goodreads

About Flair

FLAIR (or #romanceclassFlair) is a new, ongoing project and it’ll bring you steamy contemporary romance (in English) by Filipino authors. There are four new titles from four different #romanceclass authors about to be released, and these books will be unapologetically sexy. What can you expect from Flair? HEAs, Filipino characters, fresh telling of familiar tropes, lots of heat.

Flair is not a publisher, but there is a single Flair team that is working with the authors on all the books. The team is composed of #romanceclass community authors, readers, editors, designers. Follow Romanceclass Books on FB, romanceclassbooks on IG, and #romanceclass on Twitter to get the updates!

Click on the Continue Reading button for a You Out of Nowhere excerpt!

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Deleted Scenes | “FIVE: Time Out” from Hustle Play

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In time for the Emerald Pep Rally (Settle the Score/Hustle Play blog tour) happening this weekend, I’m sharing a scene that didn’t make it to the final version of Hustle Play.

settle the score hustle play cover

Settle the Score/Hustle Play

SETTLE THE SCORE

College senior Garnet Figueroa lives and breathes basketball. A reliable asset to her varsity team, she is equipped with the skills and smarts to get the De La Sierra Lady Hunters closer to this year’s championship title. But Garnet soon finds out that her good friend (and long-time crush), cheerdancer Charles Crisostomo, is being cheated on by his girl, and she lets her emotions get the best of her.

Will she be able to come up with a game plan to save herself from heartbreak before the buzzer signals Game Over?

HUSTLE PLAY

Running on pure adrenaline and working with game strategies is something a basketball player like Garnet Figueroa is trained for. On the court, she is unbeatable. Off the court… that’s a completely different story.

Because falling in love is trickier than a ball game, and Garnet finds herself fumbling over her feelings for Charles Crisostomo. The fact that her attention gets divided between him and rival school hard-court hottie Chris Barcelo doesn’t help.

Or does it?

Buy Settle the Score/Hustle Play on Amazon
Order paperback
Add it on Goodreads

Click on the Continue Reading button to read the deleted scene, and why I decided to do away with it.

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