Meet the author

Carina Gaskell is a Philippine-based author of heartfelt contemporary romance books. Her stories feature sweet and swoon-worthy heroes, strong heroines, and a lovable cast of side characters. She loves indulgent wish-fulfillment romances, Happy Ever Afters, and a good turn of phrase.IF YOU LIKE: cozy settings, sweet romances with a women's fiction slant, gentle heroes, and lyrical prose, Carina Gaskell's books are perfect for you!

Romance books featuring the kind of love you secretly hope is still out there.

Featured in

Leipziger Buchmesse (2025)
Frankfurter Buchmesse (2024)

Second Chance Books

A girl must choose between the future she'd envisioned for herself and the beautiful reality of a secondhand bookstore her first love calls home in this heartfelt contemporary romance that explores the power of love, literature, and community when it comes to changing and saving lives.Only three things stand in the way of the life Nell had always envisioned for herself: a bookstore, its book club, and the boy of her dreams.When Nell's brother-in-law walks out on her pregnant sister, it falls on Nell's shoulders to cover their mountain of bills. To do so, she must convince the owner of a secondhand bookstore to sell his property so she can earn a commission.But when she visits the store, two unexpected things happen: the owner offers her a job sorting the shelves—extra income!—and her childhood crush, Thomas Whelan, turns out to be the only other employee there. Only a fool would turn that opportunity down.

True North (Invincible Summer #1)

A young woman jilted by her ex-fiancé is given a second shot at love when her meddling relatives contrive ways to pair her up with her handsome neighbor in this laugh-out-loud contemporary romance novella that will sweep you off your feet.After Sophie’s long-term boyfriend decides he doesn’t want to marry her, she flies back home to her native Philippines with her tail tucked between her legs. Forget romance. With the help of Ninang, her wealthy grand-aunt on her mother’s side, she picks her pieces back up and throws herself headfirst into her dream project: opening a coffee shop on the famous beach resort island of Dalisay.But there’s a catch. Ninang agrees to help fund the cost of starting a new business, if and only if Sophie hosts her younger sister, Narra, and their cousin, Layla for the summer. Fresh out of college, Narra and Layla have come to Dalisay for three months of fun and romance, and they refuse to leave Sophie out of it.Enter Archie Hastings. A smooth-talking, motorcycle-riding Brit, he moved to the island to work at a non-profit and nurse a heartbreak of his own. When Narra indulges in a little too much fun and romance, he’s there to help Sophie save the day, only to find himself pulled into a scheme to get Sophie—and by extension, himself—laid.Sophie just wants to be left alone. But love has a funny way of sneaking up on you, and this summer, on the beautiful sunny island of Dalisay, where the white sand is soft like powder and the blue sea impossibly clear, it might just catch her off-guard.

Trust Issues (Invincible Summer #2)

Two paths, one summer—what would you give up for forever?Faced with incompatible circumstances, two young lovers must choose between the commitment of a lifetime or going their separate ways in the second book of the Invincible Summer series by Carina Gaskell.After two weeks of a whirlwind summer love, Narra Fàbregas thought she could check her first relationship off her bucket list. But Théo Gallagher is back, and this time he intends to stay.When he proposes the most ludicrous of ideas, one which will be needing an answer by the end of the summer or else it’s goodbye forever, Narra envisions two paths branching out before her: one in which she spends the rest of her life with Théo, and the other without.The answer should be obvious, but with meddling relatives and the weight of familial expectations, Narra and Théo must consider everything they’ll have to give up in exchange for what they stand to gain, and whether the price is too steep to pay.

What are readers saying?

Second Chance Books

"This was such an adorable and cozy story! It has everything that will warm up your heart -- the cutest found family, a sweet romance with childhood friends, a strong sisterly bond and well developed characters." – Paola"This was SO wholesome 🥹 hands down a 5 star read for me!! I read this book in two sittings! Instantly hooked, and the chapters all flowed so well — I just couldn’t put it down! I loved each of the characters, and the community and love behind the bookstore just tugged at my heart strings! It was BEAUTIFUL! Thank you so much to the author for reaching out with a copy to read in exchange for my honest review." – Natalie"The writing style is simple but emotive, vividly bringing the small town setting and its beloved bookstore to life. The author's attention to detail not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also draws the reader deeper into the story. The dialogue between characters is natural and authentic, further deepening the emotional connection between readers and the characters." – Clay

True North (Invincible Summer #1)

"This novella is for the big sisters, but it’s also for the little sisters who remind us what we used to be like before life forced us to grow up. This novella is for the lovers, but it’s also for everyone trying to feel the floor again after the rug was pulled from right beneath them. This novella is for the Filipino people and everyone who wants to feel the warmth of the Philippines. This novella welcomes everyone, just like the shores of Dalisay." – Franzi"Nothing can ever make me feel more excited than a romance book set in the Philippines with swoon-worthy characters, female friendships, food, coffee shops, art, banters, and spice." – Pammie"True North is the perfect beach summer read, especially for those who want something short & sweet! I enjoyed every moment; Archie & Sophie’s story having me smile from ear-to-ear. I also loved how there was great focus on friendships & sisterhood." – Tine

Trust Issues (Invincible Summer #1)

"SO GOOD! I absolutely adore the characters in this series and was so excited to read them again. Narra and Theo are two hopeless romantics who know one thing for sure, they are meant for eachother. Read this in one sitting and smiled the whole way through. This is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump or for a summer read. It makes you feel warm inside and is just 1000/10 perfect!" – Claire"Just like the first novella in the series, this story feels like the hot sun beating down on you; it’s so cosy and sweet!! I absolutely adored the characters when they were introduced in the previous novella and was so excited to see how their story progressed! I read this in one day and spent the entire time smiling and kicking my feet!" – Lucie"If you love a good whirlwind romance with a mix of family drama, Filipino cultural charm, and real emotions, Trust Issues by @carinagaskellwrites is the perfect book to curl up with. Théo and Narra’s summer fling turned soulmates had me feeling so bubbly inside (ahhh to be young and in love!) It’s got all the makings of summer love, passion, feminine flair, and of course, so many ‘Kilig’ moments!! 😉 I highlighted and annotated tons in this book! Carina works magic with her words…each page had scenes that were so memorable! 😍 Loved the Filipino representation 🇵🇭 [...] If you love stories about family and second-chances, this is a must-read!" – Audrey

Spice Level Guide:
Vanilla - No spice, only kissing!
Low - Little to no spice, or otherwise closed door
Medium - Contains open door scenes
High - Contains multiple and/or explicit open door scenes

Two paths, one summer—what would you give up for forever?Faced with incompatible circumstances, two young lovers must choose between the commitment of a lifetime or going their separate ways in the second book of the Invincible Summer series by Carina Gaskell.Spice level: High

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Content Advisories

Readers who are sensitive to any of these elements, please take note and read with care.

Second Chance Books

Spice level: LowThis book contains mentions of suicide (past, off-page), death of a parent (past, off-page), cancer, infidelity (past, off-page, not between the lead characters), leaked nudes (past), physical violence (past), pregnancy complications (present, not between the lead characters), addiction (past), and drug use (past).NOTE: Off-page means the scene does not happen in explicit detail. It may be mentioned as something that occurred, and the aftermath may be discussed, such as in the case of a death of a parent in which grief follows.This book does not go into explicit detail about any of the mentioned subjects, especially those that are labeled as "present".

True North (Invincible Summer, #1)

Spice level: MediumThis book contains graphic language, sexually explicit scenes, alcohol use, mentions of a past partner’s infidelity, mentions of a controlling ex-partner, and a character healing from having an engagement called off.

Trust Issues (Invincible Summer, #2)

Spice level: HighThis book contains sexually explicit scenes, exploration of kink, racism against a protagonist by a side character, metaphorical gun mentions, alcohol use, mentions of infidelity (off-page, not committed by or done to either of the protagonists), parental abandonment, and terrible fathers.