Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

169 reviews

carlyoc's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense 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

4.75

This book was recommended to me as a cozy mystery but while decadent descriptions of food and beverages throughout fit the genre, the stakes are a little too high for me to truly call it cozy. 
Lila is an aspiring pastry chef in her early 20s from a small town. She had moved to Chicago for college and to chase her big city dreams but after catching her fiancé cheating and with her family business struggling, she decides to move back home for a bit. She hasn't been there for long when her high school ex Derek drops dead in her family's restaurant and Lila is the prime suspect. 
With the town detective under pressure to wrap up the case and seemingly determined to pin it on her, Lila must investigate the other local restaurants targeted by Derek's food critic column to see who else might want him dead. As she investigates, more and more people keep getting attacked and Lila always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I listened to the audiobook, which taught me how to pronounce all the delicious Filipino food described (but don't ask me to spell them), but unfortunately this means the recipes at the end of the book were not in the best format to actually follow. I do love that the author provided instructions to make many of the dishes described in the book, including the titular adobo. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Drug abuse and Toxic relationship

heresyourletter's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I enjoyed the first two thirds of the book as a good light mystery with a fun culinary flavour and relatable dynamics between the main character (a Filipino-American) and her family. However, the last third felt a bit rushed and convoluted. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Cursing and Blood

Much of the plot revolves around drug trafficking. The main character is incarcerated when drugs are planted in her locker. One character who doesn’t appear in the book is said to have ODed after trying to get clean. There is also lots of discussion of a family member who had drug problems. One character is revealed to have had an affair.

The main character’s parents passed away when she was young. No exact details are given, but she does reflect on her loss a few times throughout the novel. Mentions of segregation in the town between the (mostly white) middle-class and the (mostly POC) working-class neighbourhoods. The murders themselves aren’t super graphic, but do have some details that you wouldn’t find in an Agatha Christie, for example. The main character is given medical details about a murder. There are several scenes at a wake.

maritay918's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.5

This was pretty good for a cozy mystery. I was dead wrong about the murderer, so that’s always good when I haven’t figured it out by the reveal. 

Lila did get on my nerves a bit but I do understand why she was like she was. Just would have liked a little more character development for her. The Aunties were insufferable but I had to chuckle because I got them too! 

I will say I think some of the humor seemed forced.  But otherwise, solid read. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

beth_s98's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This was a fun, easy mystery with a few super tense moments. I loved the cast of characters!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, and Drug use

rachjy's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Drug abuse

sundayfever's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

I loved the representation but couldn't get into loving the main character. I felt like she was too naive & childish. The plot felt rushed because she just moves through without noticing or observing things. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Murder

Minor: Fatphobia, Blood, and Death of parent

modernhobbitvibes's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

2.75

Low-balled the score because this woman WOULD NOT STOP TALKING TO THE COPS and it drove me up the wall. Know your rights, people!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, and Racism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Deportation

eliselerario's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

3.5

Whodunnit with food!!!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

redvelveting's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Light, fun little read (especially given that it is a murder mystery) with references to Filipino culture (specifically that of a Filipino American) that I could relate to. I do have to mention, however, that the writing felt juvenile and fanfic-like. It’s a little corny, but overall was entertaining enough that I’d read the next book (not top of the to-read list, but still on there).

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

churrocaitie's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a cozy, wholesome story of the importance of family and community - with a zest of murder mystery! Such a great and fun read, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Most the time I prefer to read books that allow me to enjoy the characters and wonder “what happens next” and this book gave me all that and more. And I absolutely adore how much “love” that Mia Manansala writes into her stories with the use of food. Food is a way of culture and care in many cultures, and Manansala used it beautifully in this story. I loved every second of it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Bullying