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kelly_e's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
Title: Homicide and Halo-Halo
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."
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."
Content Warnings
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
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
ashleycmms's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Death of parent, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Gun violence
Moderate: Infertility and Miscarriage
allisonwonderlandreads's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
3.0
This series is 2/2 for choosing the murder victim I would most like on the chopping block (ok, so I clearly have issues). It's also perfection for introducing a cast of suspects where I genuinely hoped most of them didn't do the crime so we would be graced with their presence again in future books. I was specifically excited because this one adds to the queer ensemble with a woman who I interpret to be aro/ace based on a conversation around her lack of desire to be in a romantic partnership of any kind.
As the author notes at the outset, this book still offers a cozy mystery ambience and a satisfying resolution, but it delves into some difficult themes along the way. After Lila's last round of sleuthing, expect to see her dealing with the fallout to her mental health while resisting the idea of seeking professional help (or any help for that matter). As Lila steps up to judge the town's beauty pageant, an event where she once wore the crown, uncomfortable truths about her relationship with her deceased mother also surface.
I was sympathetic/empathetic towards Lila's mental health struggles, but not so much towards her love triangle, which intersects with another love triangle and is basically a big, complicated, jealous, petty mess. My irritation was swallowed up by a tide of hilarity when a character called it out in front of all three members of the triangle and an avid audience. That ~almost~ made the angst worth it. To be fair, it is resolved by the end of the book, and I'm relieved to know it won't drag out through the series.
This cozy mystery doesn't shrink from complex issues. I would expect nothing less given its predecessor. It has the delicious foods and fun characters that make the genre sparkle while also approaching topics surrounding race, gender, and power with grace and style.
As the author notes at the outset, this book still offers a cozy mystery ambience and a satisfying resolution, but it delves into some difficult themes along the way. After Lila's last round of sleuthing, expect to see her dealing with the fallout to her mental health while resisting the idea of seeking professional help (or any help for that matter). As Lila steps up to judge the town's beauty pageant, an event where she once wore the crown, uncomfortable truths about her relationship with her deceased mother also surface.
I was sympathetic/empathetic towards Lila's mental health struggles, but not so much towards her love triangle, which intersects with another love triangle and is basically a big, complicated, jealous, petty mess. My irritation was swallowed up by a tide of hilarity when a character called it out in front of all three members of the triangle and an avid audience. That ~almost~ made the angst worth it. To be fair, it is resolved by the end of the book, and I'm relieved to know it won't drag out through the series.
This cozy mystery doesn't shrink from complex issues. I would expect nothing less given its predecessor. It has the delicious foods and fun characters that make the genre sparkle while also approaching topics surrounding race, gender, and power with grace and style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Racism, Ableism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
internationalreads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
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