Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

32 reviews

heresyourletter's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I enjoyed the first two thirds of the book as a good light mystery with a fun culinary flavour and relatable dynamics between the main character (a Filipino-American) and her family. However, the last third felt a bit rushed and convoluted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Murder, Classism, Medical content, Infidelity, Death of parent, Racism, and Grief

Minor: Blood and Cursing

Much of the plot revolves around drug trafficking. The main character is incarcerated when drugs are planted in her locker. One character who doesn’t appear in the book is said to have ODed after trying to get clean. There is also lots of discussion of a family member who had drug problems. One character is revealed to have had an affair.

The main character’s parents passed away when she was young. No exact details are given, but she does reflect on her loss a few times throughout the novel. Mentions of segregation in the town between the (mostly white) middle-class and the (mostly POC) working-class neighbourhoods. The murders themselves aren’t super graphic, but do have some details that you wouldn’t find in an Agatha Christie, for example. The main character is given medical details about a murder. There are several scenes at a wake.

redvelveting's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Light, fun little read (especially given that it is a murder mystery) with references to Filipino culture (specifically that of a Filipino American) that I could relate to. I do have to mention, however, that the writing felt juvenile and fanfic-like. It’s a little corny, but overall was entertaining enough that I’d read the next book (not top of the to-read list, but still on there).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Grief, Violence, and Lesbophobia

churrocaitie's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a cozy, wholesome story of the importance of family and community - with a zest of murder mystery! Such a great and fun read, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Most the time I prefer to read books that allow me to enjoy the characters and wonder “what happens next” and this book gave me all that and more. And I absolutely adore how much “love” that Mia Manansala writes into her stories with the use of food. Food is a way of culture and care in many cultures, and Manansala used it beautifully in this story. I loved every second of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Fatphobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Murder, Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, and Gaslighting

Minor: Bullying

ashwaar's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Fatphobia, Addiction, and Body shaming

things100's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A really enjoyed this book and the mystery elements and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Murder, Medical content, and Death

Minor: Addiction, Grief, and Drug use

alyvia_jeane's review

funny mysterious sad 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

I perfect introduction into cozy mysteries. 💕

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse and Blood

Minor: Toxic friendship, Drug use, Lesbophobia, and Grief

meaghanslibrary's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is a low 3.5. I am rounding up because I loved reading about a fellow Filipino family. I haven’t read a book like this before. I found the portrayal of the Titas and cousins very realistic. Also the food descriptions had my mouth watering and I liked the inclusion of recipes at the back of the book.

The reason for the low-ish rating: The book was a bit predictable and I do wish there was more love triangle drama. I hope to read that in future books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Medical trauma, Drug use, and Grief

Minor: Body shaming and Domestic abuse

ethuiliel's review against another edition

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? No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Confinement

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Blood, Cursing, Grief, and Death of parent

blackcatkai's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

CW: fatphobia, food shaming, ableism, alcohol, drug use, addiction, death, racism, domestic violence, police intimidation, evidence planting, infidelity, suicide mentioned

here are my ramblings: the first 25% was awful and packed full of horrid diabetes rep, the MCs talk about said diabetic character with the most fatphobic, body/food shaming words. for people who are supposed to be very positive towards food, especially their own, it's gross how they talk about a dead man who enjoyed the food they made just because he was a diabetic. the ableism is rampant and it did nothing but piss me off.

now, AFTER that nonsense passes, the last 75% is more enjoyable & less irritating. though honestly it feels like nothing really happened overall. just a lot of back and forth conversations of personal issues & dramas that I honestly would've enjoyed more in a different book, personally. I liked the way characters interacted with each other overall and they felt like real friends/family. I liked the hint of potential romance, it was cute. I could read just a slice of life style novella of those two characters getting to know each other and being cute if it were to be written, but I don't think I'll continue the actual series itself.

it just didn't feel much like a cozy mystery to me, but that mightve just been a me thing especially with how much the first quarter of the book grated on my being. I'm too deep into my anti-diet, pro body liberation, era to not notice when things are just really shitty in that way.

nobody owes anyone health of any kind, you don't get to make health assumptions about anyone based on their looks, diets, or disorders of any kind. you are not their doctor. you are not them. I don't care if they wronged you or you had a past or their an asshole jerk. YOU DONT KNOW A THING ABOUT THEIR HEALTH BASED ON LOOKS, DIET, ANYTHING. AGAIN, YOURE NOT THEIR DOCTOR. ITS NOT YOUR BUSINESS. WHETHER YOUR FICTIONAL OR NOT. THANK YOU.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Ableism

Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Homophobia, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

pookiee's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

this is a cozy mystery, but I’d say the real subject of this book is the food and the large, warm family of Filipina women and the nice community of the town who are there for each other.

I am so glad to see representation—it’s a huge part of what I liked about this book—but there was too much focus on ‘explaining’ things such that it ended up feeling unnatural. e.g. there’s a vegetarian character and a couple paragraphs are spent when the MC makes sure her aunt is not using meat, aunt explains how she’s using a substitute, and after the meal someone exclaims, “Wow, that was meatless?” and the moment really did not have to be that long; pointing it out this much feels ‘othering,’ which is opposite the point of normalizing diversity.

the mystery was lacking and dragged on for too long.

anyway the descriptions of food were mouthwatering, I learned of so many new things I wanna try—esp those ube crinkles and ginataang bilo-bilo so good it killed a man—and helpfully there are recipes in the back of the book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Grief, and Infidelity

Minor: Domestic abuse