Book Review | Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

★★★☆☆

336 pages

Published: May 4, 2021
by Berkley

Read: December 2022

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Link to Goodreads

Main Characters

• Lila – just moved back from Chicago (following a tough breakup) to help her aunties run their restaurant
• Tita Rosie – owns the restaurant, Lila’s aunt
• Lola Flor – Lila’s paternal grandma
• The ‘Calendar Crew’ – April, Mae, and June – Lila’s aunties
• Adeena – Lila’s best friend, barista at the coffee shop next door
• Amir – Her best friend’s brother, a lawyer in town; Lila has had a crush on him since she was little
• Detective Park – The detective working the case; seems to have something to prove
• Jae – The detectives brother, lawyer; Possible love connection for Lila
• Elena – Works at a restaurant in town, possible love interest for Lila’s best friend
• Mr. Long – Derek’s step dad, owns the restaurant and other properties in town
• Derek – Lila’s ex boyfriend, food critic; the murder victim
• Craig Nelson – health inspector
• Janet – Rival of Lila’s (sort of), works at the hospitbal

My Review

First things first – go here! This is the link for the Penguin Hotline. It is through Penguin Books, you tell them a little about yourself and your reading tastes and they recommend books for you to read! It reccomeded this book to me: Since your reader loves cozy mysteries, they might love Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala. It’s a bit of cozy mystery, a bit of romance, and a whole lot of great humorous culinary-themed writing. 

I will say, I was a little disappointed in this book. The mystery was centered around food and Lila having to get involved in the murder of her ex boyfriend because she has been deemed the likely suspect. She goes around to different restaurants that got bad reviews from her ex to investigate. The food scenes got a little over the top for me (although I wish I had these restaurants close to my house though, they sound awesome!).

Within the first few pages, I knew who was either responsible (or partially responisble) – so that was a little bit of a bummer. The mystery itself left a little to be desired in this book and Lila wasn’t the best investigator. Some of the legal situation seemed a little farfetched. I got a little frustrated with how many times the aunties were okay getting questioned without waiting for their lawyer to get there!

While I didn’t love this book, I’m glad I read it. I think the next book in the series will get interesting with their own cafe and the two love interests! This book a “Dial A for Aunties” feel to it, but not quite as humorous.

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“In typical Filipino fashion, my aunt expressed her love not through words of encouragement or affectionate embraces, but through food. Food was how she communicated. Food was how she found her place in the world.” 

I feel like that quote sums up most of the book – the book centered more around the way people expressed themselves through food.

“Her greatest nightmare was holding a party and not having enough food for everyone.” 

This is me!! I always over make food when people come over

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Likes

• The cover of this book – the art is great!
• The friendship between Lila and Adeena
• The family dynamics in general and how they all are so close

Dislikes

• Within the first few pages – it was pretty obvious who did it or had something to do with it…
• A little too in depth descriptions of the food

Spoilers