I didn’t love this which was a bummer. It wasn’t the book I just couldn’t vibe with the writing style.

This books takes a deeper look at our characters. Lila is dealing with deep issues of PTSD, and still finding her place moving back home and starting a new business. The mystery part and hijinks of solving the case aren’t as relevant in this book. While we have a murder mystery, I don’t feel like Lila does much with it compared to book 1. I do think it shows a strong emphasis on mental health which is so important to normalize. I hope Lila continues to take the time to heal and really gets back to sleuthing like In book 1 in our next installment.

This is a solid followup to Arsenic and Adobo. While I didn't find it to be anything amazing or ground breaking, it was a fun book to pass a few hours reading. Mia Manansala is a talented writer who writes compelling characters, but I get a bit picky with cozy mysteries and it takes a lot to WOW me.

Solid follow up to Arsenic and Adobo with better pacing. Beauty pageants aren't really my thing, but it's a great set up for drama and I'm still enjoying this series. As before, lots of Filipino food and culture and more characters of color in general. Ate Bernie continues to be my favorite character because she's not afraid to call Lila out.

Homicide and Halo-Halo is darker than A&A. Be sure to read the Author's Note and check the content warnings before diving in. Lila's not just investigating a murder this time around, she's got a lot on her plate emotionally/,mental health-wise. And is avoiding dealing with it. Almost everyone's pretty crabby for the first half of the book.

The whodunnit was easier to figure out this time, so if you prefer a lot of twists, turns and red herrings, this one may not be for you.

CW: predatory behavior, suicide, murder, mention of miscarriage, infidelity, avoiding dealing with mental health.

3.5 stars (rounded up)

This mystery series is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Is it bad that I am already for #3. These are the perfect mix of cozy mystery without being too silly. They provide a great sense of suspense without being too over the top and still providing a cozy feel good story to go along with it.

I am in love with this family and everything about this series. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries or suspense reads then you must pick up this series!

I was super excited for Homicide and Halo-Halo, because I really enjoyed the first to the cozy mystery series, Arsenic, and Adobo. The characters and little town are super lovable and have a lot of depth.

However, I really felt like this book was basically the same as the first book with just a slightly different plot. I enjoyed the book, but it felt somewhat repetitive and it needed a little something extra to spice it up.

I know cozy mysteries are usually pretty predictable and don’t have a lot of twists and turns but maybe this one was just a little too similar to the first for me. I am not sure I will be picked up anymore in this series.

I loved the first book in the series. However, this one felt like it was painfully slow and the story didn't progress until the last five chapters of the book. It felt somewhat repetitive with things going on. There was more focus on the lack of progression with her love interests and family/friend drama that felt two dimensional, rather than on the mystery/case. I will say I did like the end with who ended up being the murderer.

Lila and the Aunties of Tita Rosie's kitchen are at it again in this cozy mystery series. Lila has been selected as judge for their town's beauty pageant when one of the other judges winds up dead and Lila's cousin is a major suspect. Can Lila uncover the actual murderer before someone else gets hurt?

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the cozy mystery series Tita Rosie's Kitchen.
Lila Macapagal is keeping her love life non-existent after the stressful events of book one (despite two incredibly eligible bachelors in her life) to focus on finalizing the menu of the cafe she's opening with her BFF and judging the recently updated Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant.
Unfortunately, someone is trying to sabotage the pageant and the head pageant judge is murdered. Lila's cousin/rival Bernadette is the main murder suspect and the two must once again set aside their differences to solve another mystery!
Another fantastic installment full of secrets, food, and flirting.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Homicide and Halo-Halo is scheduled for release on February 8, 2022.

Mia Manansala does it again! Lila Macapagal and her gang are back at the amateur sleuthing game when the head judge of the Miss Teen Shady Palms beauty pageant ends up murdered and Lila's cousin Bernadette is a suspect.

I appreciated the author's note in the beginning that gave trigger warnings and prepared me for the heavier subject matter, particularly around mental health. Her depiction of how complicated family relationships can be is so spot on - I think this is what Manansala really does best. And if you're a foodie you will once again be salivating at the descriptions of food in this book.

I did see the main plot point coming - I guessed the murderer fairly early on - but I didn't mind that much. My enjoyment came from the cast of characters more so than the plot. And in the next book I hope to get more of the romantic plotline.

Homicide and Halo-Halo (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #2) written by Mia P. Manansala
PUB DATE: Feb 8, 2022
Last year I really enjoyed Mia Manansala’s debut cozy mystery, Arsenic and Adobo. So I was pretty excited to be offered to read the 2nd book in her series. In Arsenic and Adobo,amateur sleuths in a small town solving murder mysteries and usually getting into trouble by bending the rules. That book was a bit more light-hearted than this one. This sequel is still very much cozy although deals with tougher topics while
25-yo Filipina Lila Macapagal is still mentally recovering from the last book’s event that happened a few months ago in the best way she knows how…avoidance. The events in this book revolves around the small town’s teen beauty pageant, which she won many years ago, an event that was one of many wedges between her and her cousin, Bernadette. But now these two must patch up their rivalry when Bernadette becomes the main suspect in the murder of the head judge.
This story was really fun and well-paced, and I really appreciated the author pointing out the trigger warnings in the author’s note in the beginning. Mental health, PTSD, familiar expectations, importance of therapy. I really liked the diversity in characters and women empowerment in this story.
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC! I plan to make a recipe from the back of the book!

I think this was even better than Arsenic and Adobo, probably because Lila wasn't the main suspect this time. The love triangle aspects were a bit disappointing -- I didn't love Amir's characterization and sudden write-off -- but overall, I enjoyed the character development (and the recipes). I really want to try that Lila special cold brew.

This was a Fun read. Lots of mystery and tasty food combined with a little romance. I did not figure out who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end of the book. I am so excited that there will be a third book in this series.

This is such a strong follow up to the first book in this series. First I want to say I greatly appreciate the trigger warning the author put in the beginning of the book. Though this series is a "cozy mystery," it still touches on serious and important topics. Overall, I really love the main character, her family members, and all the surrounding cast of characters. The overarching mystery was just as interesting and engaging as the first book, and the reveal definitely caught me by surprise. If you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this on as well. The focus on food is so fun also!! I look forward to continuing with this author and this series!

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the follow-up to Arsenic and Adobo, which introduces us to Lila Macapagal and her fun and quirky family, especially Tita Rosie, her aunt who runs a restaurant serving Filipino food cooked with love. In this sequel, Lila is on the road to opening her own cafe and sorting out her complicated life when she's asked to serve as a judge at the recently revived Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won many years ago. When another judge turns up dead, Lila suddenly finds herself with another case on her hands as she tries to clear her cousin from suspicion.

This is an absolutely fun and delightful book to read. There's plenty of drama, and sometimes it can be a bit too heavy-handed and contrived, but the mystery kept me invested in reading this book. The structure of the plot follows pretty closely to the first book, and I would've liked the characters to be a little more multidimensional, but I had a great time overall.

A cute follow up to Adobe and Arsenic, but doesn't pack quite the punch. Fun, sweet, and richly detailed - worth a read.

As I read Homicide And Halo-Halo I became fascinated with Filipino cuisine. The beauty pagent story line did not appeal to me. Lilas family and friends made reading fun and how they all came together to help solve the mystery. Lila opening the Brew-Ha cafe were some of my favourite parts of the story. The murder of the pagent judge had some interesting twists and turns

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. This was a honest review.

ARC Kindle Copy from Review from Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Lila is back again as she still has not open café after months when unpleasantly event occurred at her aunt Filipino restaurant. Things are heating up in the kitchen as summer approaches and she seems to be attracting two handsome men.

The resurrection of a teen beauty pageant turns deadly for the head judge. Sparks fly once again between Lila and her cousin and rival Bernadette. Bernadette will become the prime suspect as they will have to work together to solve the case.

It is a delicious coy culinary mystery to savour.

Lila is back in this second installment of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery series. After the traumatic events of the first book, Lila finally feels more stable. She is about to open the Brew-ha Cafe with her best friend and is excited yet apprehensive about the venture. Lila's past comes back to haunt her though, as she is asked to be a judge in the annual local Teen Beauty Pageant. Lila won back when she was a teenager, and that scholarship money help her get out of Shady Palms. When the pageant starts to receive threats and one of the other judges turns up dead, Lila is once against thrust into another mystery, this time with her cousin as the main suspect.

I absolutely love all of the characters and community of Shady Palms that this author has created. This community of fun, flawed, diverse characters makes me look forward to reading future installments. Lila remains a complex character, not only tackling the murder, but also dealing with grief, trauma, and insecurities. This was a fun fast paced mystery just like the previous book. I really did like the introduction of the beauty pageant and the teenage contestants. This was another fun and exciting read, and I cannot wait for book 3.

This is the sequel to ARSENIC AND ADOBO. Lila Macapagal and her cast of friends and family are back to solve another mystery. This time is revolves around the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant.

Something about these books is just so comforting to me. I love all of the food descriptions (anyone else get hungry while reading) and the way the author gets so much joy and happiness from eating food and sharing food with others. Her recipes are her way of showing loved ones that she cares and that is so special. Also, HIGHLY appreciated all the Hamilton references.

The author’s note at the beginning mentions that she was struggling with mental health issues, as part of living through a global pandemic, at the time of writing this book. Lila, our MC, was also struggling with anxiety and PTSD after the events from the first book. Mental health definitely plays a strong role in the story line, which I appreciated. I could related to Lila’s desire to push through her anxiety and grief by busying herself with work instead of dealing with the underlying emotions. And I believe many readers will relate.

My review will be posted on my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/prose_beforehoes/) closer to the pub date (2/8/22) and on GoodReads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/123101171-laura-prose-beforehoes). My Instagram page is the main place I post reviews. My account has 3,100 followers and I post 5-6 times a week. In the past 30 days, my account has reached 24.1K accounts and engaged 2,434 unique accounts.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the eARC.