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kiala's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility
agnesjlopez's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Infertility, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship
ios_reads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Infertility, Violence, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Minor: Murder, Mental illness, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
onegalonelife27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely wonderful! This takes the great base from Arsenic and Adobo and creates a fantastic story and mystery. I really like how the previous book does have an impact on the characters, especially the main character and her psyche. It's often easy for cozy mysteries to downplay events of finding a body and confronting a murderer, since those are a part of the mystery genre, but this series takes it seriously. It made me want root for Lila to take care and help herself. The mystery was also great, had me questioning until the very end. The cast continues to be wonderful offering great moments both personal and for the mystery. I'm eager to read the next Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery and see what happens to Lila, her friends, and her family next!
Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming and Infertility
kelly_e's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Series: Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: February 8, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Entertaining • Feisty • Delicious
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent. Or her professional life, since she can't bring herself to open her new café. No, things are heating up quite literally, since summer, her least favorite season, has just started.
To add to her feelings of sticky unease, Lila's little town of Shady Palms has resurrected the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won many years ago--a fact that serves as a wedge between Lila and her cousin slash rival, Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is murdered and Bernadette becomes the main suspect, the two must put aside their differences and solve the case--because it looks like one of them might be next.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Cozy mysteries are not a genre I pick up often, but every once in awhile the mood for one hits. I enjoyed Arsenic and Adobo, the first installment in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series, so continuing the series seemed the most logical thing to do.
Similar to the first book, this one is packed with smart dialogue, delicious food, a meddling family, and a touch of romance. I appreciated getting to know Lila more - including details about her past and her relationship with her mother, which allowed me to understand her insecurities more. There is a pretty strong mental health aspect to this one as well, and that suited me just fine.
The thing that makes this series stand out for me is the depth. There is so much going on here than the typical whodunit plot line. The second installment delves deep into how the past and our relationships shape our lives. While this is definitely a plus, unfortunately, in this one the mystery took a back seat, and honestly didn't really interest me all that much.
Homicide and Halo-Halo was a nice palette cleanser from my recent more emotional reads. Although the mystery didn't piqued my interest this time around, I do look forward to continuing this series, and seeing what happens next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for a cozy with depth
• fans of the Dial A for Aunties series
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I wondered at what age you stopped caring what other people thought about you and just spoke your mind."
"You're more than your work... More than whatever contributions you think you're supposed to be making. More than whoever people think you're supposed to be."
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
PTSD, death of partner, predatory behavioursmagzisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Infertility
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Classism, Death, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Minor: Suicide, Infertility, and Body shaming
uranaishi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical content, Self harm, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Incest, Violence, and Racism
thereaderfriend's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Sexism, Vomit, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Medical content, and Misogyny