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

Find love between the pages.

Stories with everything you love about your favorite romance books, but make it Filipino. 🇵🇭

Second Chance Books by Carina Gaskell
True North by Carina Gaskell
Trust Issues by Carina Gaskell
All's Fair by Carina Gaskell

Hi! I'm Carina Gaskell.

I'm a Manila-based contemporary romance author.I write my books to make sure they've got everything you love about your favorites: the hilarious banter, the sizzling tension, and chemistry that will have you giggling and kicking your feet. Oh, and spice. Did I mention spice? 🌶️My Happy Ever Afters are not just for anyone. I write it for Filipinos like me, and romance readers who know that falling in love isn't just exhilarating—it can be literary.

If you’ve ever clutched a book to your chest and whispered, “this is exactly what I needed,” you’re in the right place.

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

If you like...

đź’ś swoon-worthy love interests
đź’ś creative & relatable heroines
đź’ś cozy, sun-soaked settings
đź’ś meaningful character growth
đź’ś lush, lyrical writing
đź’ś Filipino main characters
đź’ś romance with depth
đź’ś stories about women, for women

You'll love my books!

Praise for 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

Praise for 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

Praise for 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 each other. 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

Featured in

Leipziger Buchmesse (2025)
Frankfurter Buchmesse (2024)

Kilig guaranteed.

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

Meet the Author

KILIG — the feeling you get when you're reading romance and start giggling and kicking your feet.

Think of your favorite romance novel. Chances are, it's set somewhere in the West, featuring a predominantly white cast of characters. That's fine and all, but when will YOU get your Happy Ever After?Right now!Carina Gaskell writes romance novels for Filipino readers who believe that romance can be whip-smart and sexy. Kilig guaranteed!Over a thousand readers from all over the world have fallen in love between the pages of her books—regardless of age, nationality, and gender. This speaks to the universal themes present in her works, and how she masterfully writes stories that anyone can relate to.When she's not writing, Carina is either playing with her three cats, hanging out with her artist best friend, eating good food with her partner, or advocating for Filipino romance books.Follow her on her social media profiles below or sign-up for her newsletter to stay updated on the latest news.

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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

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.Spice level: Low

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

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.Spice level: Medium

Two enemies must overcome their first impressions of each other after a hot summer night in the sheets, risking their closely guarded hearts for a shot at love in the final book of the Invincible Summer series by Carina Gaskell.Spice level: Medium

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Content Advisories

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

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

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.

All's Fair (Invincible Summer, #2)

Spice level: MediumThis book contains explicit language, sexually explicit scenes, mentions of racism, childhood abandonment, medical crisis (allergic reaction).

ARCs

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