Everything We Never Had by the author of Patron Saints of Nothing is a powerful, multi-generational novel exploring the complexities of Filipino American identity, masculinity, and father-son relationships. Spanning nearly a century, the story follows four generations of the Maghabol family. From Francisco’s struggles as a Filipino laborer in 1930s California to his son Emil’s determination to defy his father’s legacy in 1965, and Emil’s son Chris in the 1980s grappling with his ancestral history, to Chris’s son Enzo in 2020, trying to mend the rift between his father and his lolo during a global pandemic. Told through shifting perspectives, this emotionally charged novel delves into the burdens of family and identity, ultimately asking how each generation shapes the next.
