Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Homicide and Halo-Halo, by Mia P. Manansala

9 reviews

psnchz's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Adult/minor relationship

thebougiebookworm's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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

I’ll say it — I love cozy mysteries! This series is great for so many reasons; the characters, the dialogue, the pacing, but what I love about this - and what makes it so unique - is all of the vivid descriptions of food. And not just because my inner chubby girl likes to eat! Food is such an important staple in so many cultures and I love getting to see Filipino, Mexican, Korean, and Middle Eastern staples represented in this book! 

The plot drives forward pretty quickly, and in true “whodoneit” fashion, everyone is a suspect at one time or another. I love how Manansala uses misdirection to keep you guessing. I’m usually pretty good at figuring these out early on, but I didn’t get it until the last 50 or so pages!

While this is a fun read for the sleuths out there, this book is a bit darker and explores some potentially triggering content, which I feel the author did a good job calling out in her author’s note. Please check these warnings before diving in!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Stalking, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy

bookhoarderbea's review

funny lighthearted mysterious

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Adult/minor relationship

kimveach's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this even more than the first book, which is often the case with cozy mysteries.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual content, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment

uranaishi's review

emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Injury/injury detail, Cursing, Death, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical content, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Incest, Violence, and Racism

alisonreadsitall'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? Yes

4.5

I absolutely LOVED this cozy mystery. 4.5 stars! One of the best parts is the descriptions of all the amazing Filipino dishes! 🤤😋 (unfortunately, where I live is severely lacking Filipino restaurants so I’m going to attempt some of the recipes in the back. 🙃)

I also appreciate when a book is encouraging towards therapy- there’s no shame in seeing someone!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder

alexafuson's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

After Arsenic and Adobo, the first book of this series, I found this one a bit disappointing. This was a really fun book to read, and the plot was mostly engaging. I find it unrealistic that Lila was involved in this case to the same extent as the previous book, and the dialogue and internal narration are stiff and unrealistic. There are SO many side characters that I can’t keep track up. Even with the big murder reveal, I found it hard to care because I barely remembered who that character was. This book presented great conversations about race, class, gender, and privilege, but I fear the representation of therapy and mental illness in this book could give people the wrong impression. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Injury/injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Mental illness

sallysimply's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

What a romp! And one with such heart and navigating important issues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Mental illness

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Infidelity

allisonwonderlandreads's review

lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-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? Yes

3.0

This series is 2/2 for choosing the murder victim I would most like on the chopping block (ok, so I clearly have issues). It's also perfection for introducing a cast of suspects where I genuinely hoped most of them didn't do the crime so we would be graced with their presence again in future books. I was specifically excited because this one adds to the queer ensemble with a woman who I interpret to be aro/ace based on a conversation around her lack of desire to be in a romantic partnership of any kind.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Sexism

Minor: Suicide, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Racism, Ableism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Injury/injury detail