Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

7 reviews

eliselerario's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

3.5

Whodunnit with food!!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Death

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

lulusreads's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? No

3.5

I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t know much about the Filipino culture so it was fun to see the similarities with my own Brazilian culture but mixed with some Asian influences. The multiple Tias/ God Mother’s, close friends, etc. it brought up all the feelings I feel when I’m around my own family. & I loveddd all the food recipes 😍

however I think the way Derek died was kind of dumb. I liked how fast it happened which got me hooked from the beginning, but all the people involved just made it weird. Like he started messing with drugs but also ppl that don’t like him started poisoning him? So he was diabetic but that wasn’t the issue, he got nicotine poisoning, & was being secretly dosed by arsenic. Mr.Long was clever with framing the MC’s family.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Drug abuse

Minor: Death of parent and Body shaming

ka_ke's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-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

4.0

A new comfort read! For lovers of rom-coms, easy thrillers & mysteries, Arsenic & Adobo is a wonderfully diverse debut to a cleverly developed world! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Classism, Murder, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, Blood, and Death of parent

kbairbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I love how good based this book was, I love the diversity, the friendships, and the culture. But I didn’t like the fat phobia and the aunties …. at all. I didn’t like the romances and she didn’t have chemistry with anybody. Her reactions to everything were so dramatic for a 25 year old. The ice at the end was random and I really didn’t connect with this book at all. Not for me I guess. Probably won’t read book 2.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, Hate crime, and Panic attacks/disorders

msbarnesela's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, and Murder

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Violence, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Addiction, Body shaming, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Racism