Once Upon a Sunset

By: Tif Marcelo

Narrated by: Joy Osmanski

The author of The Key to Happily Ever After—“a true gem filled with heart, laughs, and a cast of delightful characters” (Nina Bocci, USA TODAY bestselling author)—returns with a heartwarming and charming novel about a woman who travels to the Philippines to reconnect with her long-lost family…and manages to find herself along the way.

Diana Gallagher-Cary is at a tipping point. As a Washington, DC, OB/GYN at a prestigious hospital, she uses her career to distract herself from her grief over her granny’s death and her breakup from her long-term boyfriend after her free-spirited mother moves in with her. But when she makes a medical decision that disparages the hospital, she is forced to go on a short sabbatical.

Never one to wallow, Diana decides to use the break to put order in her life, when her mother, Margo, stumbles upon a box of letters from her grandfather, Antonio Cruz, to her grandmother from the 1940s. The two women always believed that Antonio died in World War II, but the letters reveal otherwise. When they learn that he lived through the war, and that they have surviving relatives in the Philippines, Diana becomes determined to connect with the family that she never knew existed, though Margo refuses to face her history. But Diana pushes on, and heads on a once-in-a-lifetime trip that challenges her identity, family history, and her idea of romantic love that could change her life forever.

Infused with Tif Marcelo’s signature “sexy, adorable, and heartfelt” (Kate Meader, USA TODAY bestselling author) voice, Once Upon a Sunset is a moving and lyrical celebration of love, family, and second chances.

Critic reviews

"Joy Osmanski narrates the story of a mother and daughter who find their lives turned upside down with the discovery of a stack of letters from family they never knew they had. . . . [Her] performance is loving and careful as she shares Tagalog terms of endearment and emphasizes the joys and frustrations of mother-daughter relationships. The audiobook is narrated beautifully, and listening is a joy."

Great story, meh narration

Loved this story about connecting with your Filipino heritage and love lost and found. But, I wish the narrator had worked to master the Tagalog language and pronunciations, or just get closer to sounding more authentically Filipino. For me, the awkward Tagalog spoken by the Filipino characters distracted from the believability. Overall, great story.

modern story of self-discovery.

I'm heading to the Philippines for a wedding and I read this book to get excited. it's a sweet story, kept me curious and laughing, also suggested some local foods and travel destinations.