4% in and I usually wouldn’t mark something as DNF but the Gourmet Detective fat-shamed a gourmet chef at least 3 times in the first 4% of the book no thank you

The pacing of this book was not even a kiddie roller coaster, it was inconsistent in so many places that I about gave up. But Joy and Fox are so cute and Summer is out here doing her best and I love the way they reacted truthfully to Malcom, who isn’t like the villain in this because this type of book doesn’t have one, but him and his surprise schedule are the primary source of conflict in what is otherwise four people having a nice weekend together.

I read this book way back in middle school, I got it from the Scholastic Book Fair and still have that same copy all these years later. I was surprised at how well it held up, there were a couple of ways to describe people that were ok in the 70s but not ok today, but none of them were used as insults or anything other than simple description. I know the book says you have all the clues, but I just enjoyed the mystery without trying to solve it.

🔥

This is a middle grade book, it’s not spicy. I did like that the epilogue had all the kids get married, though, I wanted them to get their happily ever after.