meagangrace's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
2.5
I feel like I read this at the wrong time for me. I struggled to connect with the main character Lila, and I did not enjoy the vibes as much as I wanted to. The story felt very drowsy in it's structure/pacing. Stuff was happening, but I had trouble connecting to it and caring for the characters. The plot turned out to be actually kinda nonsensical imo. One thing I found interesting is that this is the first time I have read a mystery where the amateur sleuth is actually amateur and doesn't have a special knack for solving crime. Not sure if it was entirely on purpose on the author's part, but as a mystery fan and it was kind of refreshing to see.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Infidelity, Addiction, Death, Alcohol, Grief, and Racism
Minor: Violence, Stalking, and Drug use
puffy_'s review against another edition
3.75
It’s been a while since I was able to read something and this was able to pull me though my reading slump so that was nice. I have an appreciation for books that incorporates description of food and the process of making food. However, Lila’s logic and motives were a little hard to follow which made things confusing. There were also certain conflicts that were not satisfactorily resolved or done in what seemed to be a little haphazard. There was also a “love triangle” (?) of some sort that was introduced that did not go anywhere. I think there is a sequel, so that might be why that is the case but it I wish we either got more out of that or it was not introduced at all.
Spoiler
(particularly about Lila’s fight with Adeena)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Fatphobia and Infidelity
svangleboyer's review
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Arsenic and Adobo is a good own voices cozy mystery that introduces you to Filipino culture, involves a mysterious murder, a fun cast of characters, and a cute little Dachshund thrown in. It all comes together to create a unique and entertaining cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I will definitely be keeping my eye out for Mia P. Manansala because I am a huge fan of her writing style. I felt like I learned a lot about Filipino culture along with trying to determine who the murderer was. I really appreciated the author's introduction at the beginning of the novel to show that Arsenic and Adobo does include similar situations the author has been through and also providing the reader with a list of commonly used Filipino terms for easy reference. It was a life saver. Also, THANK YOU for those mouthwatering recipes because the descriptions in Arsenic and Adobo make you want to try everything right now! I can practically taste all the various desserts.
The pacing was pretty consistent throughout the novel which I enjoyed, and the ending of each chapter hooked me to the point I continued on until next thing I know, I stayed up all night and had finished the book in one go. I really enjoyed the interesting twists along the way.
I really loved that all the characters in Arsenic and Adobo remind of someone I know in my life, so I really connected to each one in their own special ways. I enjoyed that our heroine Lila was flawed, and those flaws were not hidden. I also loved the strong family bond theme because I was raised with similar values that family is everything and always number one. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship between Lila and Adeena because it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows, but they continued to support and love each other even if they didn't always agree.
I highly recommend Arsenic and Adobo to all cozy mystery fans, to anyone interested in learning a bit about Filipino culture and/or any of their delicious recipes, or anyone looking for a quick mystery read.
I will definitely be keeping my eye out for Mia P. Manansala because I am a huge fan of her writing style. I felt like I learned a lot about Filipino culture along with trying to determine who the murderer was. I really appreciated the author's introduction at the beginning of the novel to show that Arsenic and Adobo does include similar situations the author has been through and also providing the reader with a list of commonly used Filipino terms for easy reference. It was a life saver. Also, THANK YOU for those mouthwatering recipes because the descriptions in Arsenic and Adobo make you want to try everything right now! I can practically taste all the various desserts.
The pacing was pretty consistent throughout the novel which I enjoyed, and the ending of each chapter hooked me to the point I continued on until next thing I know, I stayed up all night and had finished the book in one go. I really enjoyed the interesting twists along the way.
I really loved that all the characters in Arsenic and Adobo remind of someone I know in my life, so I really connected to each one in their own special ways. I enjoyed that our heroine Lila was flawed, and those flaws were not hidden. I also loved the strong family bond theme because I was raised with similar values that family is everything and always number one. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship between Lila and Adeena because it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows, but they continued to support and love each other even if they didn't always agree.
I highly recommend Arsenic and Adobo to all cozy mystery fans, to anyone interested in learning a bit about Filipino culture and/or any of their delicious recipes, or anyone looking for a quick mystery read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
ka_ke's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A new comfort read! For lovers of rom-coms, easy thrillers & mysteries, Arsenic & Adobo is a wonderfully diverse debut to a cleverly developed world!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Classism, Murder, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, Blood, and Death of parent
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
karcitis's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Drug use
Moderate: Violence, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Racism, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Confinement, Blood, and Addiction
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
kelly_e's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Title: Arsenic and Adobo
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Series: Tita Rosie's Kitcen Mystery, #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: May 4, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Simple • Amusing • Delightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
With nothing going quite right in her life, and after catching her boyfriend cheating, Lila returns home, to a place she'd always said she wanted to leave behind. Here she is tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant. When the infamous food critic, Derek (who also happens to be her ex), drops dead in the middle of her restaurant, Lila becomes the prime suspect. With the cops focused on her, and knowing she didn't do it Lila decides to conduct her own investigation with the helps of her nosy family, her best friend, and trusted Dachshund.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Being new to the cozy mystery genre, this one came highly recommended by several book friends. This first installment in a new cozy mystery series, was fast-paced and caught my attention from the very first page. It combines delicious food, a likeable cast, the necessary cute pet, and of course a murder with some very questionable suspects - everything I've come to love in a good cozy. The cast of memorable and close-knit characters were so endearing and a whole lot of fun. The small town and restaurant settings were comforting. And I also appreciated the glossary of terms at the beginning, as well as learning more about Filipino culture, and their family dynamics.
It's suffice to say that Arsenic and Adobo has officially hooked me on food centric cozies, especially when the recipes are included! The beginning hints at Lila's love life, and I feel as though the author has done a good job setting up a love-triangle and foreshadowing things to come on that front as the series progresses! Cannot wait for more.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the Hannah Swensen series
• cozy lovers
• readers in search of something light
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Food was how she communicated. Food was how she found her place in the world. When someone rejected her food, they were really rejecting her heart. It crushed her."
"Make sure you fix things when you can. Sometimes you don't get another chance."
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Series: Tita Rosie's Kitcen Mystery, #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: May 4, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Simple • Amusing • Delightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
With nothing going quite right in her life, and after catching her boyfriend cheating, Lila returns home, to a place she'd always said she wanted to leave behind. Here she is tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant. When the infamous food critic, Derek (who also happens to be her ex), drops dead in the middle of her restaurant, Lila becomes the prime suspect. With the cops focused on her, and knowing she didn't do it Lila decides to conduct her own investigation with the helps of her nosy family, her best friend, and trusted Dachshund.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Being new to the cozy mystery genre, this one came highly recommended by several book friends. This first installment in a new cozy mystery series, was fast-paced and caught my attention from the very first page. It combines delicious food, a likeable cast, the necessary cute pet, and of course a murder with some very questionable suspects - everything I've come to love in a good cozy. The cast of memorable and close-knit characters were so endearing and a whole lot of fun. The small town and restaurant settings were comforting. And I also appreciated the glossary of terms at the beginning, as well as learning more about Filipino culture, and their family dynamics.
It's suffice to say that Arsenic and Adobo has officially hooked me on food centric cozies, especially when the recipes are included! The beginning hints at Lila's love life, and I feel as though the author has done a good job setting up a love-triangle and foreshadowing things to come on that front as the series progresses! Cannot wait for more.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the Hannah Swensen series
• cozy lovers
• readers in search of something light
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Food was how she communicated. Food was how she found her place in the world. When someone rejected her food, they were really rejecting her heart. It crushed her."
"Make sure you fix things when you can. Sometimes you don't get another chance."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Blood, Violence, Drug use, Addiction, Fatphobia, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Infidelity
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
anntharai's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Excellent mystery with a phenomenal range of characters who I want to get to know!
I love the depth of each character, the very real way issues aren’t black and white, and the inclusion of so many incredible sounding dishes. I want to eat everything mentioned.
I love the depth of each character, the very real way issues aren’t black and white, and the inclusion of so many incredible sounding dishes. I want to eat everything mentioned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Racism