A review by cassielaj
Homicide and Halo-Halo, by Mia P. Manansala
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
I think I liked this better than the first one!! The mystery was a bit more straightforward, though still without being predictable. I also loved taking a deeper look at some of the characters! And the pageant-related mystery made me think of Miss Congeniality, which I loved.
The only thing that tripped me up a bit were the frequent and often niche cultural references. Memes, characters, and phrases were used that made this feel like a very 2022 book, and I worry that it might seem somewhat dated pretty quickly.
Overall, though, it’s a great book.
The only thing that tripped me up a bit were the frequent and often niche cultural references. Memes, characters, and phrases were used that made this feel like a very 2022 book, and I worry that it might seem somewhat dated pretty quickly.
Overall, though, it’s a great book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Injury/injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Gun violence, and Acephobia/Arophobia