bubblegirl858's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.0
This book was an absolute delight to read. It was witty, mysterious, and made me soooo hungry! I just wanted to eat everything they talked about in the book. I really enjoyed how the plot unfolded and I cannot wait to read the next books. I need to know which man (if any) she ends up dating! I really enjoy small town mysteries and this one was comfy and family oriented while still being high stakes and being a murder mystery. It was a joy to read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read. Don’t read while you are hungry though! Unless you want to cook the recipes supplied in the back, which was such a great addition as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Addiction, Drug abuse, Bullying, Drug use, and Death of parent
caramiaculpa's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
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? Yes
3.0
Nice fluffy mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
gem114's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.0
Arsenic and Adobo is definitely a cozy mystery and is bound to make readers super hungry with its many amazing food descriptions.
Lila works in her family's Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie's Kitchen, after returning home from Chicago to recover from a bad breakup. Unfortunately, Tita Rosie's Kitchen is facing its own hard times, and things only get worse when a food critic who has left negative reviews about the restaurant drops dead in his plate while eating lunch there. Lila, who dated the food critic in high school, becomes the prime suspect after it is discovered that there was poison in his food. To clear her and her family's name, Lila does some well-intentioned but ultimately dangerous sleuthing around town.
This was definitely the most lighthearted murder mystery I've ever read, and it took me a bit to adjust to that style! I had to keep reminding myself that there wouldn't be a story if characters responded to the murder and mayhem going on by staying home, grieving, and trying to process everything. 😅
I'm definitely going to continue the series by reading Homicide and Halo-Halo. And I'm also definitely going to seek out a Filipino restaurant to try out some of the dishes mentioned in the book.
Lila works in her family's Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie's Kitchen, after returning home from Chicago to recover from a bad breakup. Unfortunately, Tita Rosie's Kitchen is facing its own hard times, and things only get worse when a food critic who has left negative reviews about the restaurant drops dead in his plate while eating lunch there. Lila, who dated the food critic in high school, becomes the prime suspect after it is discovered that there was poison in his food. To clear her and her family's name, Lila does some well-intentioned but ultimately dangerous sleuthing around town.
This was definitely the most lighthearted murder mystery I've ever read, and it took me a bit to adjust to that style! I had to keep reminding myself that there wouldn't be a story if characters responded to the murder and mayhem going on by staying home, grieving, and trying to process everything. 😅
I'm definitely going to continue the series by reading Homicide and Halo-Halo. And I'm also definitely going to seek out a Filipino restaurant to try out some of the dishes mentioned in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
Minor: Bullying, Addiction, and Infidelity
fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a typical cozy mystery full of fun characters, recipes, murder (off-page), and a main character who gets themselves into ridiculous situations. I think I would have liked this audiobook more with a different narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Bullying, Death, Injury/injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Blood and Confinement
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
Super cute and a nice light mystery. I've always been a fan of cooking mysteries (such a weird and wonderful niche of the mystery genre), and I'll be back for Ms. Manansala's tales and recipes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Murder, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Addiction, and Blood
Minor: Infidelity and Lesbophobia
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed reading Arsenic and Adobo. It was a great series starter, and made me want Filipino food.
Lila has recently moved back to her small hometown, and is working at her Aunt's restaurant, serving traditional Filipino food, and wanting to experiment with fusion and new flavors. Her ex-boyfriend has become a restaurant critic, known for hammering a restaurant for a month or so with bad reviews. If this sounds like a Hallmark movie, it is. Just on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, as he dies after eating at the restaurant. And, of course, her family are the prime suspects in his murder.
Arsenic and Adobo is a pretty standard cozy mystery, but it plays its tropes extremely well.
Lila has recently moved back to her small hometown, and is working at her Aunt's restaurant, serving traditional Filipino food, and wanting to experiment with fusion and new flavors. Her ex-boyfriend has become a restaurant critic, known for hammering a restaurant for a month or so with bad reviews. If this sounds like a Hallmark movie, it is. Just on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, as he dies after eating at the restaurant. And, of course, her family are the prime suspects in his murder.
Arsenic and Adobo is a pretty standard cozy mystery, but it plays its tropes extremely well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Drug use, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Police brutality, Xenophobia, Infidelity, and Bullying
theespressoedition's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Mmmm while I want to eat everything in this book (yay for being married to a Filipino who has his Lolo's recipes) I don't have a desire to read it again - bummer.
Some of this may have a little bit to do with the fact that I had recently read Dial A for Aunties and found it absolutely hilarious and the perfect "murder cover-up" story. This was a murder mystery, but it lacked the humor that I really sought in a more heavy book like this one. Instead, I found it to be a little bit too intense at times and the ending was a bit of a letdown.
There weren't any total shocks, which was a disappointment, considering how much time was spent on backstory and other seemingly unnecessary details (like an entire scene where the main character has to slowly eat cookies and wait for coffee - what??)
Overall, it was a fine book, just not super exhilarating. Oh well!
Some of this may have a little bit to do with the fact that I had recently read Dial A for Aunties and found it absolutely hilarious and the perfect "murder cover-up" story. This was a murder mystery, but it lacked the humor that I really sought in a more heavy book like this one. Instead, I found it to be a little bit too intense at times and the ending was a bit of a letdown.
There weren't any total shocks, which was a disappointment, considering how much time was spent on backstory and other seemingly unnecessary details (like an entire scene where the main character has to slowly eat cookies and wait for coffee - what??)
Overall, it was a fine book, just not super exhilarating. Oh well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.5
I absolutely loved everything about this book.
Lila was a great narrator and main character; despite getting distracted and running late, she was smart, remembered things, and did pay attention. She was very insightful and reasonably emotional without being uncaring or explosive.
I loved the supporting cast, who had enough character to be fun without taking over the narrative or unnecessary time.
While this book could stand on its own, I'm glad that the next story has been announced, and I'm hopeful that this will become a long running series of fun, foody mysteries.
Lila was a great narrator and main character; despite getting distracted and running late, she was smart, remembered things, and did pay attention. She was very insightful and reasonably emotional without being uncaring or explosive.
I loved the supporting cast, who had enough character to be fun without taking over the narrative or unnecessary time.
Spoiler
Her semi-romances with Amir and Jae were fun without turning the story into a rom-com or annoying love triangle. Even her friendship with Adeena was colored by her time away in Chicago, leaving some tension and secrets between the two.Spoiler
As for the twist, Kevin seemed weirdly connected, but when he helped clean the restaurant and spent time with Lila's family, he seemed disconnected from the Longs and what had been going on. Though I correctly guessed that he might be involved with the inspection scheme, I had no idea how much he had actually done -- it made a lot of sense and only added to the rest of the story.While this book could stand on its own, I'm glad that the next story has been announced, and I'm hopeful that this will become a long running series of fun, foody mysteries.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Racism, and Violence
bookishcraftyme's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Overall, it's a fun culinary cozy mystery. I would recommend this to people who want to know more about Filipino culture and to those who are looking for a murder mystery sans the stressful violence and anxiety that accompany this genre.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Police brutality, and Toxic relationship
bookwormie's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I am embarrassed to admit I thought they meant "adobo" as in the seasoning, but it is a Philippine cooking technique! The connection to food in this story made me salivate and I learned a lot about the authors' culture I'd never expereinced myself before! A fun mystery for sure and I look forward to the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Medical content and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit and Bullying