caseythereader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
pinesandpages's review against another edition
3.0
This was perfectly fine which I was quite taken aback by since the second book in this series was one of my top 15 books of 2022. And to have this be just ok was a huge let down.
The writing felt much more “tell” not very “show.” It was a lot of exposition. At one point Lila finds a hidden note and literally thinks to herself: “A hidden note usually means someone has something to hide.” (This is not a direct quote, but a fairly accurate paraphrasing imo.)
Bc everyone involved in the murder plot was new (cousin Ronnie, the winery partners, the investors), I didn’t really care about them. I was not invested in either clearing their names or implicating them bc I simply didn’t know about them - they were introduced so briefly and sparingly.
Also, why would these new people confide so heavily in Lila, a complete (yet friendly) stranger? I was baffled by how much they disclosed to her at almost every turn.
It seems like Lila was fully over her PTSD, as if it had never existed, and had forgotten all of her previous emotional breakthroughs too. This novel felt much more surface level, just a basic mystery without the heart of the previous two.
And what was going on with Jay? The first two were fun in this department bc there was a brief love triangle possibility, there was flirting, there were some emotions. This one has none of that. Jay was just…..there. He was nice, he occasionally helped Lila out but they never flirted nor did their relationship progress in the slightest.
And, my final note: idk how Lila or Tita Rosie are staying in business with the amount of free food/drinks they give away. It was constant and always thoroughly described.
The writing felt much more “tell” not very “show.” It was a lot of exposition. At one point Lila finds a hidden note and literally thinks to herself: “A hidden note usually means someone has something to hide.” (This is not a direct quote, but a fairly accurate paraphrasing imo.)
Bc everyone involved in the murder plot was new (cousin Ronnie, the winery partners, the investors), I didn’t really care about them. I was not invested in either clearing their names or implicating them bc I simply didn’t know about them - they were introduced so briefly and sparingly.
Also, why would these new people confide so heavily in Lila, a complete (yet friendly) stranger? I was baffled by how much they disclosed to her at almost every turn.
It seems like Lila was fully over her PTSD, as if it had never existed, and had forgotten all of her previous emotional breakthroughs too. This novel felt much more surface level, just a basic mystery without the heart of the previous two.
And what was going on with Jay? The first two were fun in this department bc there was a brief love triangle possibility, there was flirting, there were some emotions. This one has none of that. Jay was just…..there. He was nice, he occasionally helped Lila out but they never flirted nor did their relationship progress in the slightest.
And, my final note: idk how Lila or Tita Rosie are staying in business with the amount of free food/drinks they give away. It was constant and always thoroughly described.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Alcohol
juffnstuff's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship
melissalynn117's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Alcohol
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Minor: Suicide and Infidelity
kekepania's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
This is my favorite of the original 3 books in the series. The characters are likable, the mysteries are serious but we don't dwell on anything too scary or gross, and the Filipino cultural references are so interesting! The main character Lila is written as intelligent and friendly, a competent business woman, but not without flaws. Plus there's plenty of mention of the main doggo!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Suicide attempt
ashleycmms's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
kdailyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
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
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
The Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series is my go-to cozy read, and I was excited to get a Christmassy installment in time for the holidays! Especially considering that the often-gossiped about Ronnie is back in town and I was ready for the whole backstory. It always feels nice to slip back into Shady Palms, although if you haven’t read the first two books in this series I think enough background information is presented that you wouldn’t feel lost.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
lindsloveslit's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
3.25
QOTD: What's your favorite way to read a book? Inside or outside? Couch or bed? Morning or night? Paperback, hardcover, of ebook?
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?!
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?!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Alcoholism, and Murder
thereaderfriend'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
I loved the story bc I loved the characters but the mystery wasn't so much a mystery bc the big reveal was what I was expecting from the beginning :/ did really enjoy it tho! Also liked the focus on how greed and jealousy are powerful and dangerous motivators. Gonna buy this series and read the rest of it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, and Emotional abuse