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ashleycmms'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
kdailyreads'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Addiction, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Violence and Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide
livelyghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Food, friends, and family are the heart of this mystery as always. With every read I’m introduced to more and more foods that I can’t wait to seek out in real life! Learning about more holiday-specific treats was fun. I also enjoyed the starring role the Ninangs receive; they alway provide excellent comic relief and often feel like the detectives putting in overtime. I never had a big family but I imagine that this cast of characters really encapsulates the joy, frustration, and love that it brings. I enjoyed the fact that nearly everyone in the book is welcoming in everything from dietary restrictions to sexuality to culture. It makes me feel like a better world is possible.
The weakest part of the book unfortunately felt like the pacing. It was hard for me to figure out what to focus on between Lila’s new relationship with Jae, her burgeoning small business, her family drama, and the actual mystery. At times it felt like there was a lot of indecisive filler dialogue and I ended up calling the two big twists about halfway through the book. I would have enjoyed having a little more mystery and thought the first two books were more well-balanced.
The news in the acknowledgements that 3 more books are coming was intriguing, but this felt disjointed enough that I’m not sure if I’ll pick them up immediately when they come out. They’ll certainly be on my list though so I can imagine a more tolerant universe.
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
lindsloveslit's review against another edition
3.25
Blackmail and Babingka is the third book in Tita Rosies six book series. 📚 It was equal parts cozy and messy, and PERFECT for reading in bed, snuggled under big heavy blankets with my fur babies. 🐶🫶🏽🐶 Ebooks through the library are generally my preference, but this was a paperback book; which I regretted because more than ANYTHING, this book made reference to so much delicious Filipino food. 😋👏🏽I just wanted to snack/eat THE ENTIRE TIME. (I ended up getting mandu dipping sauce and tteokbokki on the pages because I couldn't help myself 🙄🫣).
Overall, it was fast paced and predictable, with one specific twist that was unexpected! IMO the food and the main characters were a 10/10 and the highlights of the book. But the new, supporting characters were a 3/10. There were way too many of them, and because there were so many of them we didn't get much character development.
Have y'all read this series? If so, do you plan on reading the next three books, too?!
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Alcoholism, and Murder
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, and Emotional abuse
kirstym25's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
mysterymom40's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Murder
spcandybars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There were a few moments of dialogue that felt cringe because of some really forced slang usage but nothing that should be unexpected after the other books. I do want to hear less rehashing of previous books from Lila so the books feel like they stand on their own a bit more but it’s not too extreme - just a bit distracting within the narrative. The way everyone was brought in this story felt very abrupt (Lila stating “long lost cousin” to begin his background dump was hilarious to me) and forced compared to HAHH but I think that’s probably a genre specifically quality of cozies - characters inserted specific to the episodic plot. You can’t kill everyone in town so you’ve got to start pulling them from other places.
This is my first cozy series and I feel like I’ve finally got the hang of them. This is honestly a series I could see extending forever and that’s pretty fun.
Perfect for reading slumps if you already love this family and the most diverse small town in the Midwest.
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
Cozy mystery, Filipino food, murder mystery, spoopyuranaishi'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
3.75
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Classism, Kidnapping, Medical content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Gun violence, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Stalking