ARSENIC AND ADOBO

𝗔𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗯𝗼
𝗕𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗮 𝗣. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆
𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: 𝟑𝟑𝟎
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱: 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓








At twenty-five, Lila returns home from Chicago—not just to heal from the sting of a painful breakup, but also with the hope of rescuing Tita Rosie’s struggling restaurant. Her decision follows a particularly bitter betrayal, when she discovers her unfaithful partner, the unscrupulous Sam, in the arms of more than one neighbour. Abandoning her food management studies and her dream of running her own café, she finds herself back in the small town of Shady Palms, Illinois. Life at home comes with its own challenges, starting with her three gossipy, matchmaking godmothers—April, Mae, and June—whom she affectionately calls the “Calendar Crew.” Though not related by blood, these lifelong friends of her late mother dote on Lila with a mixture of love, advice, and good-natured judgment.
Tita Rosie’s Kitchen, once a cosy and comforting haven, now feels outdated. While Tita (Aunt) Rosie and Lola (grandmother) Flor are gifted cooks, their lack of business acumen leaves the restaurant in a precarious position. As if the uphill battle wasn’t enough, Lila must also contend with Derek Winter—her arrogant ex–high school sweetheart turned food critic—who seems determined to sabotage the family business with his scathing reviews.
When Derek visits with his stepfather, Mr. Long, the restaurant’s landlord, who is already trying to close them down, tragedy strikes. In the middle of a sumptuous Filipino meal, Derek collapses and later dies in the hospital. Accusations fly, putting both Lila and the restaurant under suspicion. The story quickly pivots from lighthearted rom-com to small-town murder mystery. As this is a whodunit, I shall refrain from revealing further details to preserve the intrigue.

Now, about my reading experience—Shady Palms and its residents completely charmed me. While I cannot say the same for Lila at every moment (I found her behaviour a touch immature in parts), the book’s vibrant diversity and the way characters bonded over food were truly heartwarming. The mouthwatering descriptions felt so vivid that I could almost smell the dishes, and the humour added a delightful touch. I particularly appreciated the cosy, familial atmosphere woven into the mystery.
For me, the highlight was the cultural representation—the large, close-knit family, the irresistible food, and the sprinkling of Tagalog throughout. Arsenic and Adobo is the first novel I’ve read by a Filipina author starring a Filipina protagonist, and that alone filled me with joy.

The narration is engaging and the pacing brisk, making it a quick and enjoyable read. The side characters are well-crafted and memorable. My only reservation was with Lila herself—at times, her reactions felt a little immature, and the casual attitude of all the characters toward Derek’s death struck me as unrealistic, especially given his past relationship with Lila. I’m still choosing to give it a five-star rating, as I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and, being Indian (Asian), I could deeply relate to all the family drama woven into the story.
A note of clarification: if you’re expecting a dark, gritty crime thriller full of intense action, you’ll find something quite different here. Arsenic and Adobo is a warm, food-filled, culturally rich cosy mystery—fast-paced, engaging, and overflowing with family, traditions, and friendship.

One last warning: don’t read this book on an empty stomach. The recipes at the back may tempt you away from reading altogether—at least until you’ve satisfied your cravings.

My Rating:

5/5

NOTE:   In this blog, the CONTENT and PICTURES are owned by Samayra Singh, and cannot be used or distributed without permission. Strict legal action will be taken against any infringement.