Never Have I Ever is World Fantasy Award-winner Isabel Yap’s first collection of short fiction. Yap was born in the Philippines, and many of the stories draw on that country’s folklore, history, and social customs.
Many of Yap’s protagonists are young women, and the relationship between teenaged and college-aged girls is central to these stories. In “A Canticle for Lost Girls,” three friends have to navigate vicious rumors, shifting hierarchies of popularity, and dangers both mundane and supernatural. The classmates in “Have You Heard the One About Anamaria Marquez?” eagerly whisper urban legends to each other, but they may be more than just legends for one girl. “Hurricane Heels (We Go Down Dancing)” reminded me of Puella Magi Madoka Magica in its deconstruction of the Magical Girl genre of anime. Four best friends suddenly find themselves imbued with the power to fight monsters and have to navigate this on top of high school, college, dating, and careers.
Yap’s stories are also deeply informed by Filipino politics and culture. “Asphalt, River, Mother, Child” deals with the brutal fallout of the Filipino government’s war on drugs. The divide between urban or suburban rich and rural poor underlies all the character interactions in “Only Unclench Your Hand.” In Yap’s writing, large-scale conflicts and political movements are always shown through the lens of their effects on individuals’ lives and relationships.
These stories were often poignant, sometimes bittersweet, and always beautiful. I hope to see more short fiction from Yap in the future.
Outside of a Dog 