Reviews

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

titalindaslibrary's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Ugh, Lila, when did you become so annoying!?!? 

As a FilAm who barely saw herself or her culture represented in books, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen is a delight! I love all the food and creative fusions Lila comes up with. But in book 2, I felt like her character arch massively suffered. 

Perhaps my biggest annoyance with her flared up when her two potential love interests appeared on page. Instead of handling these situations with any sort of maturity, she corners one guy (whom she has repeatedly turned down I may add) when he starts flirting with another woman, and sets her friends loose to interrogate him!? Please. 

Also her cousin Bernadette made some valid critiques of Lila’s behavior and she reacted in the most self righteous way. Instead of conceding any sort of ground she snubbed her and demanded an apology. Girl, take a look in the mirror!!

While I enjoyed everything else about this book, it’s a shame our main character (and therefore narrator) is so insufferable. I’m going to give book 3 a chance and hope Lila’s had some self reflection and growth by then because I can’t keep doing these books if not!

rgralnek's review

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

runbeck's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

theangrylibrarian's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

maddbella's review

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The plot was not entertaining. The character relationships seemed messy and hard to keep track of. Slow moving. The food sounded amazing but I couldn’t tell if I should care about the food or the mystery? Just not for me. 

pineapple919's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

suchii's review

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lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

paullynntrain_'s review

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challenging funny informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

kurzel's review

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

love this series sm

archerb's review

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2.0

I really want to like these more than i do. I loooove all the food talk, I’d kill for a Filipino place in town. But the murders are always so boring? Until the last 40 pages when everything explodes. And every character is so one note, no one inspires much feeling in me at all but the cast has so much *potential*. I wish this was just a cozy small town slice of life drama series focusing on the cafe/restaurant and not murders I don’t care a lick about :/ give me this with a Gilmore girls treatment! Alas think I’m gonna have to stop here and let this series go.