Ready for the World
Author: Charmeljun Gallardo
Before smartphones and social media, there were mixtapes, mall hangouts, and the heartbreaks that shaped us. Welcome to the Ready for the World book series.
About the series
Step back into the 80’s. Step into Brandon’s World.
Ready for the World is a heartfelt young adult coming-of-age series that blends the joy, heartbreak, and awkward hilarity of high school life with the vibrant energy of the late 1980s — back when “social” meant hanging out at the mall.
This series follows Brandon Delacruz, a Filipino-American teen navigating first love, friendship, and what it means to grow up — especially when you're caught between cultures, expectations, and emotions you can't yet name.
Packed with 80’s nostalgia, authentic cultural storytelling, and relatable teen drama, this series resonates with YA readers and Gen Xers alike. Whether you grew up rewinding cassette tapes or you’re discovering the decade for the first time, Ready for the World invites you to laugh, cry, and remember what it’s like when you were ready to take on the world.
The Gold Standard
Junior year brings more than just academic pressure. As Brandon deals with heartbreak, he must figure out how to stay true to himself when everything around him is changing.
——-
COMING SOON
——-
Be the first to know when the next Ready for the World book or audiobook is released. Sign up now.
——-
Your Voice Matters
If you’ve read a Ready for the World book, your review is one of the most powerful ways to help the series grow. Share your thoughts on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you bought the book—your words help other readers discover Brandon’s story.
From Our Readers
-
“I know I enjoyed it because it brought back my own high school memories. What Brandon and his friends experience are what many teens desire. There is universal truth in the story, so I recommend it for both teens AND adults.”
Amazon Reviewer
-
“The author has a real talent for showing readers who these characters are right from the first page, and that had me invested in the story from the beginning.”
Amazon Reviewer
-
“The book was filled with witty comebacks, romance and heartbreak. The writing was exquisite and descriptive. It really portrayed what it was like for teenagers during their high school years.”
Goodreads Reviewer
-
"As a teenager of the eighties, I absolutely LOVED this story, not just for its perfect balance of references from the time, but also for the strength of these characters developed by Charmeljun Gallardo."
Goodreads Reviewer
-
"This book captures the little nuances of the life of a teenager in general and once in a while, the life of a Filipino family..."
Amazon Reviewer
-
"At moments it seems like it is my story, like someone from different parts of the world, whom I have never met is talking about me. "
Goodreads Reviewer
