tiffanykhyla'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
4.5
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racism
apworden'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
3.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
christinesreads'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? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Death
Minor: Death of parent
lindsloveslit's review
3.5
If you read & enjoyed the first book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series (I've got a more personal review of that one up), you'll like this one, too. It had heavier content, but the author included those warnings in the author note at the beginning of the book. 🫶🏽 You can tell through her writing that she has put in work towards her mental health, and I always like seeing that reflected on the pages.
One of my qualms with the first book was the sheer amount of characters. We learn more about the main character in this second book, but it is DEFINITELY story driven, not character driven.
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Fatphobia, and Grief
foldingthepage_kayleigh'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
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Injury/injury detail, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Mental illness
Moderate: Gun violence, Body shaming, and Murder
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: Sexual harassment, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Classism, Death, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Minor: Suicide, Infertility, and Body shaming
thebougiebookworm'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
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!
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
chelseylb1988's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, and Gun violence
kimveach's review against another edition
- 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
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
caseythereader'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Misogyny