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.

I thought this was a cute follow up to the first book! I loved being back in Shady Palms with some new favorite characters! I didn't love the concept of the beauty pageant, and it felt a little slow in places but all in all I did enjoy this one and will continue on in the series

Homicide and Halo-Halo seems lacking in steam compared to the first book in the series. The mystery felt too simplistic, and the main character felt so lost. The descriptions of food were wonderful though.

Lila, her friends and family are back in the second of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen mysteries. She is still recovering from the events of the first book but still preparing to set up her own cafe. Plus, there are the two eligible bachelors floating in her vicinity. Now, Detective Park is asking her to help with why someone would have sent a note threatening the local beauty pageant.
Lila is reluctant to get back into the beauty pageant world. It brings up some memories of her mother that she's rather not have at that forefront. Pile that on top of the fact that she is still dealing with PTSD from her near murder in the last book and there's a lot going on in her head right now. But she goes and appreciates the updates that Valerie Thompson has made to the program, dragging everyone kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Is it perfect? Maybe not, but at least there's no evening gown section. Lila is also excited to get to know Sana, one of the other judges. Too bad Valerie's brother, Rob, is clearly such a jerk, hitting on every woman there, including the underage ones. Does that mean he should end up dead? Probably not. But he is and Lila is one of the people who find him.
I liked most of the mystery but felt that it didn't really come together well. There were a couple of hints of what was going to happen but it mostly came out of left field. I am mostly enjoying Lila's journey and seeing how supportive her family and friends are. t is also really nice to see an author addressing the fact that an amateur sleuth would be dealing with mental issues if they were almost killed; it makes Lila seem much more real. It makes I also enjoyed the writing style, even snorting a drink through my nose when Lila started talking about love triangles.

Four stars
This book comes out February 9th, 2022
Follows Arsenic and Adobo
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Homicide. A beauty pageant. An array of delicious food. Who could ask for more in a cozy mystery?

Mia P. Manansala's Arsenic and Adobo was one of my favorite books in 2021, so I was *really* looking forward to Homicide and Halo-Halo... and it was everything that I hoped for and more! Amateur sleuth Lila Macapagal is (barely) dealing with the trauma of her last adventure, opening a coffee house with her best friends, and trying to choose between two suitors. To top it all off, she's judging the town beauty pageant - where the emphasis is on community service and entrepreneurial spirit instead of swimsuits. When people connected to the pageant start dying, it’s up to Mia, her aunties, and her friends to find the killer before anyone else gets hurt.

I can’t get enough of this series! The young voice, modern vibe, and diverse cast of characters makes Mia P. Manansala's fresh cozies sparkle. The perfect pacing and intriguing mystery is the ube frosting on the halo-halo inspired cupcakes.

Get your snacks and settle in for an excellently told cozy mystery with Homicide and Halo-Halo. While often cozy mysteries can be read out of order without really losing much, I'd recommend starting with Arsenic and Adobo so that readers understand the trauma that Lila is processing in this book. This is full of the good food and family relationships that made the first one so captivating, and while Lila herself isn't a prime suspect in this one, she still finds herself deeply embroiled in another crime. As a lover of cozy mysteries, I am still comfortable saying that much of the time, the genre can be a bit light on their handling of serious issues, but in addition to the charm that this one holds, it also looks at race, family, the challenges of the beauty pageant industry, mental health, and more. Loved, and continue to hope for more in this series.

Back at it again with another cozy mystery! HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO by Mia P. Manansala was spot on and was just so fun!

Before you even jump into the story, the author does an incredible job of setting the scene with their author’s note. It’s important to realize coming, that this story is not going to be as lighthearted as the first. Our MC, Lila, is still recovering and working through the events that took place in ARSENIC AND ADOBO. So the tone of the story is a bit heavier but still just as enjoyable, with a nice happy ending!

I mean really, this time the mystery surrounds a beauty pageant and we already know how messy those can be! The pageant activities and setting were great and of course, the judge and contestant drama never let up!

We get to learn more about Lila’s history this time around, which just continues to add to how dynamic and incredible she is.

If you loved ARSENIC AND ADOBO, you’re going to fall head over heels for this one!

CW/TW: PTSD, fatphobia, fertility/pregnancy issues, predatory behavior, unresolved grief, parental death (occurred in childhood), and dismissive attitudes toward mental health

Thank you so much to @berkleypub for giving me the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Homicide and Halo-Halo is an unfortunately disappointing second book. Author Mia Manansala acknowledges in a foreword that while writing the book, she struggled with mental health issues as a result of the pandemic, and that her character likewise suffers from poor mental health in this book as a result of the trauma from the events in the first book. The foreword also offers content warnings about things like fatphobia and people who aren’t supportive of mental health care.

The book suffers from two primary weaknesses: first, the character; second, the plot. The protagonist, Lila, is in the process of opening a coffee shop / café with two friends, but she finds herself struggling to come up with recipes for the baked goods that she is supposed to provide. She also has agreed to help with a beauty pageant that, years before, she won. As a protagonist, Lila didn’t do much for me, particularly in this book. She comes across in many parts as whiny, particularly when she dwells on her troubled relationship with her mother. On top of that, Lila also comes across as a Mary Sue: she is relentlessly sensitive to everyone who is slightly different from her, and at times, her interactions read like they’ve been lifted from a handbook to politically correct behavior.

The book might have still worked, but the plot was equally problematic. The first portion of the book consists entirely of Lila talking to her friends, talking to her family, talking to people at the pageant. There is an ominous threat about danger at the pageant, but then…nothing happens. In fact, Lila doesn’t even seem too concerned about finding out what’s going on. Instead of some fun investigation scenes with Lila exploring the quirky personalities of people with motive to cause trouble, we get more scenes of Lila talking to people about…nothing in particular.

This book may appeal to people who like a perfect main character and descriptions of Filipino food, and who are looking for a non-plot driven novel. Readers of the first book in the series may wish to give the author another chance. However, for someone looking for a cozy mystery, this book will most likely fall short. Cozies are typically about a pleasurable escape into a place people like and the company of people they enjoy, with the zest of a murder to keep the plot moving. Unfortunately, this book lacks all of those elements.

This book was just as funny, heartfelt, and twisty as Manansala's first book, "Arsenic and Adobo." The mystery unfolds at a good pace, the characters are likable and believably imperfect, and the abundance of cultural immersion is both entertaining and educational. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because some of the dialogue is too cheesy for me and some of the characters are predictable, but these things can be overlooked to still enjoy the story. A delightful follow up to a winning cozy series.

I have not read the first book which did not hinder me following the storyline. So I guess you could say it could be read as a stand one. The loose ends from book one were evident within this book and somewhat resolved by the end. This cozy mystery involves Lila as she works to solve a couple of murders, open a bakery-cafe with her besties, and resolve a love triangle all while battling panic attacks and PTSD. The solving of the murder really took a backseat to everything else going on in the MC's life.
This is the first book I've read about Filipino culture and its clear to see that family is important. The acknowledgements mentioned well known BIPOC romance writers. I've only had the pleasure of reading one but will definitely look at the works of the other.

Thank you for this advanced e-arc

3.5 stars

Great second book by Manansala! I enjoyed this cozy mystery, and it’s Filipino- American protagonist. The inclusion of food and Filipino recipes is a great touch.

Genre: cozy mystery
Pub date: 2/8/22
In one sentence: Lila is struggling as she works to open the Brew-ha cafe - add in a murder and a teen beauty pageant, and she'll need more than some good halo-halo to get through it.

I enjoyed the first book in the series (Arsenic and Adobo), so I was really excited to read this one! I loved getting a deeper look at Lila's personality and backstory, especially seeing her reflect on her experiences in beauty pageants and her complicated relationship with her mom. Seeing her take control of her life and work to overcome her trauma was inspiring. I also loved seeing her mentor the beauty pageant contestants.

Let's talk about the food - this book focuses more on the cafe than on Tita Rosie's kitchen, so we get lots of sweet treats! The halo-halo and ice candy were mouthwatering, as were the Brew-ha's signature lattes. I'm looking forward to my next trip to Shady Palms! 4+ stars (or pandan leaves!)

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted to Goodreads 12/15/21, to be posted to Instagram on pub date 2/8/22.

After enjoying the first book to this cozy mystery series, I was excited to get started on the sequel. There were some interesting conversations to be had when it comes to women and how sleazy men can be. It also has descriptions of delicious food that made me hungry while reading! Unfortunately, some of the book did lack in areas and because of that it took me longer to finish.

The book is told from the point-of-view of one character and that is Lila Macapagal. She is dealing with the aftermath of what happened in the first book. Lila also finds herself swooped into another mystery when a fellow judge is found dead. She definitely has her hands full as she tries to solve the mystery, deal with her mental health, and make recipes for her new business adventure.

When it came to the plot, there was a lot going on. The first book ended with Lila making plans to go into business with her friend and the friend’s girlfriend. I thought that this would be a big part of the sequel but it was actually very minor. Even her friend wasn’t around as much. This may be due to new characters since the mystery now focuses on a pageant and the judges. The mystery also felt lackluster compared to the first. I just wasn’t as invested sadly.

There is a big focus on family and learning to deal with the past and the emotions that come with it instead of bottling it up. She also tries to understand her cousin more even if it is hard. I did like reading about Lila’s family once again. They are a great group! Plus, they are also always down to meddle with a mystery. Haha.

Overall, it was good but still a mixed bag. I can appreciate a lot of the book and the conversations that were had. It just felt like what should have been more of a priority in the plot was pushed back but this could also just be because my taste and what I wanted to see.

Lila is back and this time she is judging a beauty pageant. But when the head judge is murdered and her cousin/rival, Bernadette is a suspect, Lila has to try to solve the mystery.

Arsenic and Adobo was one of my favorite books of 2021 and got me into cozy mysteries so I was excited for this continuation. So many of the things I loved about the first book continued into the 2nd:
- An author’s note that provides some warnings - in this book that it has a heavier tone as well as specific content warnings for this book
- A stunning cover - I especially love the dog with the tiara
- A glossary with Tagalog words used in the text
- Recipes to food mentioned throughout the story
- And of course the story.

I appreciated that this one was darker and really reflected Lila’s headspace after we left her in arsenic and adobo. It felt real while not taking away from the humor and coziness of the book. I liked getting to know Lila better, and I’m already excited for book 3 thanks to the excerpt in the back of the book.

Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy!

This book really gets the cozy mystery right. Just because a book is meant to be warm-hearted doesn't mean that everything has to go *just right*. Lila is dealing with trauma from A&A (rightfully so), and it influences her actions and behavior in H&H-H. But I feel as though we get to see more of Lila in this book - through her food, her conversations, and of course in a new investigation. I loved the addition of the town's beauty pageant, as it's just the sort of activity that gets the locals riled up. There are still hints of romance throughout, glorious rep across races and sexualities, and aaaaaamazing recipes in the back.

So it's official... I'm moving to Shady Palms. Meet y'all at Tita Rosie's!

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Loved this so much! Book 2 was just as fun as book 1; same zany characters, interesting plot line, and some nice character growth. Can’t wait for book 3!

I want to say that I am having an affinity towards cozy mystery mainly because it feels like I'm reading a contemporary novel with an additional squeeze of mystery element hence I enjoy reading this book in less than 48 hours.

To be fair, I'll admit that Lila Macapagal, the main character, felt like an unreliable narrator in this one but I also acknowledge that the events in this book happened months after the events of Arsenic and Adobo so the trauma of everything Lila encountered is still fresh.

When it comes to the plot, this one is a bit interesting since we get to know more of Lila and her relationship with family and friends without her being tortured as the story progress. I enjoy reading about Miss Teen Shady Palms and how the pageant is a major element of the mystery about Rob Thompson's death.

New characters were also introduced. I particularly like Sana Williams - business coach and one of the pageant judges who quickly becomes one of Lila's closest acquaintance. Valerie Thompson is also a good addition even though her character was a bit underdeveloped but I think it fits the narrative about his jerk of a brother, Rob.

Murder, pageant competion, family issues - these are some of the elements that will make you read more about the second book in Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. But don't forget the nosy Calendar aunties, small town setting, and a lot of Filipino foods.

One thing that I'm kind of lukewarm is how the structure of this book seems to follow the first one - a privileged white male gets killed and then the POCs were the ones who were questioned first + the incompetent sheriff of Shady Palms.

But still, it was an adventure and I won't keep you from reading this one.

What's in this book: Filipino-American rep, Indian-American rep, Lesbian rep (supporting characters), supporting cast of POCs (Black, Latinx)

I highly recommend if you enjoy: Arsenic and Adobo (of course!)

Trigger warnings: PTSD, fatphobia, fertility/ pregnancy issues, predatory behavior, unresolved grief, parental death (occurred in childhood), and dismissive attitudes toward mental health

RATING: 4stars

This book was lame in comparison to the first. The author definitely got trapped in her characters and was never able to move into the story and solving.

When I read the author's note in the beginning of this book, it took me about an hour to decide if I wanted to read it just then. Manansala wrote the book during the first months of COVID and was in a dark place when she did. The book deals with all sorts of issues, including mental health. I decided to plow forward and I'm glad I did.

As a former Miss Teen Shady Palms, Lila is asked to judge the current beuaty pageant at the last minute. Out of the three judges, the head judge is soon murdered and the pageant is being anonymously threatened. Lila does not want to get involved in finding the killer, but when her cousin is named as the prime suspect she cannot just sit on the sidelines and watch. With a soft opening of her new cafe, The Brew-Ha, some romantic entanglements, and conflicting thoughts about her late mother, Lila is overwhelmed.

This was such a solid addition to the first book, Arsenic and Adobo, that I can't wait to see more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.