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saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Infertility, and Suicide
halebugs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
caseythereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
- A bunch of new characters were introduced in this installment, broadening our knowledge of the town and its inhabitants. I adore how effortlessly diverse these books are - small towns don't have to be strictly white and straight.
- This book also begins probing Lila's mental health, particularly PTSD she has around the events of ARSENIC AND ADOBO. I'm looking forward to seeing where this plotline goes.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
jennneely82's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
thereaderfriend'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
alexafuson's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
cassielaj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The only thing that tripped me up a bit were the frequent and often niche cultural references. Memes, characters, and phrases were used that made this feel like a very 2022 book, and I worry that it might seem somewhat dated pretty quickly.
Overall, though, it’s a great book.
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Acephobia/Arophobia
a2_rache11's review
- 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
Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
love3v07's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Minor: Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicide, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Injury/Injury detail