emilybolivia's review against another edition
3.0
Very fun light murder mystery with lots of suspects and delicious food.
karenchase's review
4.0
I think I heard about this author's next (or a subsequent) book and I couldn't think about reading that without reading the first in the series first. So, I picked this up. I think I read that it's sort of a rom-com/cozy mystery mash-up, and that pretty much sums it up. Lila (I hate names like this, where the pronunciation is ambiguous, but it is actually explained) returns from Chicago to her home town of Shady Palms (totally weird name for a midwest town -- also explained) to help her aunt and grandmother with the family restaurant. She becomes entangled with an ex-boyfriend, who ends up dead, and Lila becomes the prime suspect, pursued by an annoying but handsome detective. She is also nursing an attraction to her best friend's brother, and becomes enamored of the detective's charming and handsome dentist brother. So there's the romance part. Apparently Lila fancied herself an amateur detective in her younger days, and becomes determined to clear her own name and figure out who killed her ex -- a nasty food critic who had been going around town trashing local restaurants. This story moves at a brisk pace, with lots of Millennial culture, and definitely fills the romance and mystery bill, with a healthy dose of foodie in the mix. Will I pick up more of these? Maybe, but my library pile is pretty huge right now.
ibeforem's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
This is the first book in a new culinary cozy mystery series starring Lila, the somewhat unmoored daughter in a female-heavy Filipino family. She is the prodigal daughter returned home to help save the family restaurant, except she's not sure that Shady Palms is the place for her, long-term. After her ex-boyfriend literally drops dead in their restaurant, not only is the fate of the restaurant in question, but Lila's as well.
I thought this was fun, but could have been stronger. It's really obvious as soon as Lila begins talking to other restaurant owners what her ex-boyfriend has been up to, and yet she has to get told the same thing over and over and over again. It is also maybe a little too food heavy. I enjoy a mouth-watering food description as much as the next person, but sometimes it felt like it was just filling space. With all that said, I did find the ending to be satisfying, and it kept me entertained enough to read another.
I thought this was fun, but could have been stronger. It's really obvious as soon as Lila begins talking to other restaurant owners what her ex-boyfriend has been up to, and yet she has to get told the same thing over and over and over again. It is also maybe a little too food heavy. I enjoy a mouth-watering food description as much as the next person, but sometimes it felt like it was just filling space. With all that said, I did find the ending to be satisfying, and it kept me entertained enough to read another.
katesio's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book will make you hungry and likely go out and try to find Ube Extract from your local Asian grocery store.
The author has a disclaimer at the beginning that sets the tone for light hearted crime novel.
I think the plot is… not great. There are a lot of holes and parts that just don’t make sense for the main character to be doing or the process of a criminal investigation.
In saying all that, the crime part I believe is secondary to the wonderful culture of the main characters family. It brings a warm, wholesome Filipino-American hug with descriptive writings of food, a drizzle of family guilt and a pinch of body shaming.
It’s an easy read, don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the Tita Rosie family.
But I did have flashbacks of family members criticising you.
The author has a disclaimer at the beginning that sets the tone for light hearted crime novel.
I think the plot is… not great. There are a lot of holes and parts that just don’t make sense for the main character to be doing or the process of a criminal investigation.
In saying all that, the crime part I believe is secondary to the wonderful culture of the main characters family. It brings a warm, wholesome Filipino-American hug with descriptive writings of food, a drizzle of family guilt and a pinch of body shaming.
It’s an easy read, don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the Tita Rosie family.
But I did have flashbacks of family members criticising you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Murder
kalcunha's review against another edition
3.0
Leitura leve e gostosinha. Senti falta de mais suspense e reviravoltas e um mistério que prendesse mais ou gerasse mais curiosidade para a sua conclusão.
E me incomodou que todas as comidas citadas no livro são as mais maravilhosas do universo, não tem nem uma comida mais ou menos na cidade inteira.
E me incomodou que todas as comidas citadas no livro são as mais maravilhosas do universo, não tem nem uma comida mais ou menos na cidade inteira.
laurenlinderman's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
ciarrareads's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute, fun, and fast read!
I was really looking forward to this book as a big lover of true crime and Filipino food. I thought Mia Manansala had a great balance of both seriousness and light-heartedness, mystery and romance. I didn't realize this would be setting up a series, and I'm really looking forward to where Lila's story is going to take her. There isn't a big cliffhanger at the end, but there are a few loose strings that I am dying to see tied up (hello, I need more Amir and Jae tension!!! lol).
This would work as a really good beach/summer read. I haven't read many "cozy mysteries" and now I think I'm a fan of the genre!
I was really looking forward to this book as a big lover of true crime and Filipino food. I thought Mia Manansala had a great balance of both seriousness and light-heartedness, mystery and romance. I didn't realize this would be setting up a series, and I'm really looking forward to where Lila's story is going to take her. There isn't a big cliffhanger at the end, but there are a few loose strings that I am dying to see tied up (hello, I need more Amir and Jae tension!!! lol).
This would work as a really good beach/summer read. I haven't read many "cozy mysteries" and now I think I'm a fan of the genre!