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Dial A for Aunties
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A hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture, by debut author Jesse Q. Sutanto.
1 (accidental) murder
2 thousand wedding guests
3 (maybe) cursed generations
4 meddling Asian aunties to the rescue!
When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind ...more
1 (accidental) murder
2 thousand wedding guests
3 (maybe) cursed generations
4 meddling Asian aunties to the rescue!
When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind ...more
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Genuinely funny and completely charming in every way. I loved, loved, loved this one.
2020 Winter Bingo (#SnowInLoveBingo❄️): Messy Characters
So, I really enjoyed this but a major caveat is necessary: this book is not rooted in reality. It's absurd. It's self-aware enough to know it's absurd. If you think the premise is bananas, I promise you that it goes off the rails a dozen more times after the setup. I loved it, but you'll be miserable if you poke holes by asking logical questions like, "Wouldn't the hotel exterior cameras solve [redacted problem]?" Lean into the absurdit ...more
So, I really enjoyed this but a major caveat is necessary: this book is not rooted in reality. It's absurd. It's self-aware enough to know it's absurd. If you think the premise is bananas, I promise you that it goes off the rails a dozen more times after the setup. I loved it, but you'll be miserable if you poke holes by asking logical questions like, "Wouldn't the hotel exterior cameras solve [redacted problem]?" Lean into the absurdit ...more
May 02, 2020
Sana
marked it as to-read-so-bad-it-hurts
'Follows a young wedding photographer who, along with her mother and aunts, tries to hide the body of her blind date while working the wedding day of a wealthy client.'
WELL, DAMN
'K-drama meets telenovela with a side of rom-com'
OKAY, GIMME ...more
WELL, DAMN
'K-drama meets telenovela with a side of rom-com'
OKAY, GIMME ...more
This is possibly the fastest five star rating I've ever given! I just finished DIAL A FOR AUNTIES and am in total awe of how hilarious and expertly plotted it is. I laughed out loud so many times and the aunties, with their humor and warmth, popped off the pages. With sharp, witty banter (and bickering!), family drama for days, and so many clever (and surprising!) reveals, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. So often as I read, I wondered... "HOW will Meddy get out of this one?!" only to have
...more
![Namera [The Literary Invertebrate]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1587154687p2/31792110.jpg)
This one's a bit of a wild ride.
26-year-old Meddelyn Chan works as a photographer for her family's wedding business, run by her mother and three aunts - all of whom have been left by their husbands. Though this has persuaded her that there's a Chan Family Curse and she should never fall in love, her mum thinks it's time for her to get married. To that end, she poses as Meddy on an online dating site and gets her a date with Jake, local hotelier.
Things soon go seriously wrong, though. When J ...more
Dec 18, 2020
Chessa
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
arc,
comedy,
contemporary-fiction,
mystery,
poc-author,
poc-protagonist,
romance,
netgalley
This is a true delight, and I chortled through the whole thing!
Well, I chortled through most of it while also reading from behind my hands over my eyes - because while hilarious, shenanigans comedy-of-errors plots STRESS ME OUT!!! But it’s worth it to get to know Meddy and Big Aunt, Second Aunt, Ma, and Fourth Aunt.
This is a book about accidents, but also about self-confidence, being true to yourself and telling the truth to your loved ones, the tension between what we owe ourselves and those t ...more
Well, I chortled through most of it while also reading from behind my hands over my eyes - because while hilarious, shenanigans comedy-of-errors plots STRESS ME OUT!!! But it’s worth it to get to know Meddy and Big Aunt, Second Aunt, Ma, and Fourth Aunt.
This is a book about accidents, but also about self-confidence, being true to yourself and telling the truth to your loved ones, the tension between what we owe ourselves and those t ...more
❣️Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Sutanto, for release April 27th❣️
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this lovely book from my fellow Berkley author friend Jesse! When I woke up to it in my kindle, I did a happy dance. And let me tell you, it did not let me down! PSA to everyone and their grandma: this book is FABULOUS. You need it in your life!!
It surrounds Meddy, a late twenties wedding photographer and her meddlesome family. When Meddy’s date goes horribly wrong (resulting in the accidental deat ...more
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this lovely book from my fellow Berkley author friend Jesse! When I woke up to it in my kindle, I did a happy dance. And let me tell you, it did not let me down! PSA to everyone and their grandma: this book is FABULOUS. You need it in your life!!
It surrounds Meddy, a late twenties wedding photographer and her meddlesome family. When Meddy’s date goes horribly wrong (resulting in the accidental deat ...more
Crazy Rich Asians meets Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop. Guaranteed to make you LOL! :D
...more
Jesse Q. Sutanto pulls off one madcap romcom caper of a darkly humorous debut with Dial A for Aunties.
Meddy's meddling Indo-Chinese mom reaches new heights when she creates a profile using Meddy's name and photo on a dating site then chats up a guy who seems nice (as Meddy) and agrees to meet him. Meddy is always the dutiful daughter, even when it means giving up her own dreams to do what benefits her family, so she agrees to go on the date. Except it doesn't go quite as planned and Meddy accide ...more
Meddy's meddling Indo-Chinese mom reaches new heights when she creates a profile using Meddy's name and photo on a dating site then chats up a guy who seems nice (as Meddy) and agrees to meet him. Meddy is always the dutiful daughter, even when it means giving up her own dreams to do what benefits her family, so she agrees to go on the date. Except it doesn't go quite as planned and Meddy accide ...more
THIS SOUNDS HILARIOUS AND PERFECT
I NEED
I NEED
Such a funny romp, expertly plotted and so witty. There are so many twists and turns where I went, "WAIT... WHAT!?" Once I started, I just couldn't stop reading about Meddy, her aunties, and the lavish and catastrophic wedding they all attended. Jesse Q. Sutanto has a gift for witty banter and creating a pacy read as well as making you deeply care for all the characters in her story. By the end of the book I was desperate to meet the aunties, left with a deep craving for dim sum and the convicti
...more
When I first heard that a book about Chinese-Indonesian characters written by a Chinese-Indo author is coming to Netflix, I was so nervous. We have next to no representation at all, and so it meant so much to me that the author get it right. I have to admit, I actually messaged her for an eARC and she nicely obliged, along with a reminder that no book can possibly represent the entirety of the Chinese-Indo community.
Well, I am ELATED, JOYFUL, and RELIEVED to say that while there are of course d ...more
Well, I am ELATED, JOYFUL, and RELIEVED to say that while there are of course d ...more
After I finished Sutanto's YA novel, The Obsession, I immediately went and requested Dial A for Aunties, and OMG, I am so glad that I did!
First of all, as an Asian-American, I am always on the lookout for Asian representation, and the rep in here was done SO, so well. I actually cried at some points because I felt so SEEN, even though I'm Taiwanese-American and not Chinese-Indonesian like the characters in the book are. The dim sum scenes? They felt like a snapshot of my own dim sum meals with ...more
First of all, as an Asian-American, I am always on the lookout for Asian representation, and the rep in here was done SO, so well. I actually cried at some points because I felt so SEEN, even though I'm Taiwanese-American and not Chinese-Indonesian like the characters in the book are. The dim sum scenes? They felt like a snapshot of my own dim sum meals with ...more
This book kept me laughing and guessing from the very beginning! I absolutely adore the whole cast of aunties—they all have such unique characters and their own flairs, and they are all downright hysterical in their own ways. Sutanto has crafted a lighthearted, quirky, LOL story that I’m sure everyone will love. I loved seeing Chinese culture reflected in the stories I read, and the author did a splendid job of weaving threads of her cultural background through the story. I’m in love, and I will
...more
I don’t know if it’s the fierce love of the aunties or Meddie’s frustrated attempts to gain back the love of her life while shielding him from finding out her biggest secret, but I fell in love with her from page one. If you want to go to the best worst wedding you’ve ever been to, or see what happens when a bunch of family members try to “help”, buy the book and get reading. You won’t be disappointed.
This is a genuine review. I know the book isn't out yet but I read it in the galley stage. ...more
This is a genuine review. I know the book isn't out yet but I read it in the galley stage. ...more
I haven't laughed this hard at a book in a long time. Jesse Sutanto's adult debut marks an incredible mixing of genres: rom-com, murder heist, and family drama. Her incredibly well-wrought characters are so enjoyable to read that I kept wishing there was more.
When you get to the scene with Ma and the eggplant/catfish explanation, you'll get it. Slapstick moments, mixed with real consideration of filial relationships make this an incredible read. I cannot wait to see what Sutanto puts out next. ...more
When you get to the scene with Ma and the eggplant/catfish explanation, you'll get it. Slapstick moments, mixed with real consideration of filial relationships make this an incredible read. I cannot wait to see what Sutanto puts out next. ...more
This book is A WILD AND ZANY RIDE and I loved every minute. I lost count of the number of times I clapped my hand over my mouth, yelled "Oh my fking God!", or just cackled like a witch on Halloween night. (I definitely scared my husband.)
It starts when wedding photographer Meddelin Chan inadvertently kills her lecherous blind date (with whom her mother, who has no idea what 🍆 means, has been chatting online while posing as Meddy). Things only get worse from there (there's a huge, expensive wedd ...more
It starts when wedding photographer Meddelin Chan inadvertently kills her lecherous blind date (with whom her mother, who has no idea what 🍆 means, has been chatting online while posing as Meddy). Things only get worse from there (there's a huge, expensive wedd ...more
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rep: ownvoices Chinese-Indonesian protagonist, main characters, and side characters; Chinese love interest; wlw Chinese-Indonesian side characters
well this was quite a wild ride
rtc
well this was quite a wild ride
rtc
rtc closer to the release date!
OMG. I haven't laughed this hard at a book in forever. This book, especially the eggplant scene, had my dying of laughter on the floor like Fourth Aunt. I couldn't put it down and read it in two days. Yes, the concept and scenes are over the top, but this is exactly what I needed this year. It is playful and hilarious, and as an Asian-American, the Aunties were spot on. What some may see as a stereotype, is in actual fact pretty accurate, at least in my family and the other Asian-American famili
...more
Who knew accidentally killing a blind date could be hilarious?
I confess. I didn't have a clear idea what this book was about when I started it. Is it a romance? A mystery/suspense? You know what? It doesn't matter because this book is GOOD. And it's FUNNY.
I'm talking laugh out loud, make your partner pause their video game so you can give them a blow-by-blow, startle the dog funny.
The Chinese-Indonesian traditions, mix of language, and family bonds add extra flavor throughout the story, and the ...more
I confess. I didn't have a clear idea what this book was about when I started it. Is it a romance? A mystery/suspense? You know what? It doesn't matter because this book is GOOD. And it's FUNNY.
I'm talking laugh out loud, make your partner pause their video game so you can give them a blow-by-blow, startle the dog funny.
The Chinese-Indonesian traditions, mix of language, and family bonds add extra flavor throughout the story, and the ...more
MUST-READ. This book was a hysterical thrill ride that had me laughing out loud and wishing I could call on these aunties. I felt like I was right there with them, helping move a body... amongst other things.
Absolute non stop fun. This book is pitched as a Crazy Rich Asians meets Weekend at Bernies and that's exactly what it is! Everything that could go wrong, does, and by the 75% mark you are wondering to yourself how the heck is everything going to wrap up? It's got a little heist flavor but also deeply romantic, and also just a wonderful commentary on family. The main character is formidable and decisive and the perfect pacing invites you to a thrilling roller coaster ride of a narrative. Love lo
...more
Meddelin Chan is tired of her Indo-Chinese mother and aunties interfering in her love life, but she didn't expect her latest blind date to end up with her needing to hide a dead body. And once her aunties get involved, things get messier and messier until that dead body threatens to ruin a wedding in front of 2000 guests.
HILARIOUS. This was such a ridiculously fun romp, with laugh-out-loud dialogue and surprising twists from beginning to end. Meddelin and her family are so well crafted, and the ...more
HILARIOUS. This was such a ridiculously fun romp, with laugh-out-loud dialogue and surprising twists from beginning to end. Meddelin and her family are so well crafted, and the ...more
Dec 09, 2020
Sarah
marked it as to-read
This was such an original, fun, and touching read! I laughed aloud multiple times while reading and was so drawn in by Meddy and her family. I loved how over-the-top the book was, but how it never strayed from it's emotional core. Can't wait to read more from Jesse Q. Sutanto! (And watch the Netflix adaptation of Dial A for Aunties!)
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! ...more
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! ...more
Dial A for Aunties is an utter delight from start to finish. It is a mix of Crazy Rich Asians and Weekend at Bernie's, which is exactly the mashup I didn't know I needed. I laughed out loud more times than I can count. The aunties themselves are imperfectly perfect, the heroine excellently flawed in her attempts to bridge the two worlds she lives in, and the hijinks were pitch-perfect.
If this isn't optioned for film already, I will be shocked. ...more
If this isn't optioned for film already, I will be shocked. ...more
Oct 14, 2020
michelle xie ✧
marked it as to-read
As a Chinese-Indonesian, I'm SO excited for this. Can't wait!!
...more
I was so excited to read "Dial A for Aunties." Not only because this author is Indonesian (I'm also Indonesian), but because Netflix adapted this book with Nahnatchka Khan, the creator of "Fresh Off the Boat." The book will be published in April 2021.
First things first, don't take this book too seriously. It's crazy, hilarious, and witty. The story focused on Meddy, who was surrounded by her mom and three aunts almost her entire life. They owned a wedding business, and Meddy was their photograph ...more
First things first, don't take this book too seriously. It's crazy, hilarious, and witty. The story focused on Meddy, who was surrounded by her mom and three aunts almost her entire life. They owned a wedding business, and Meddy was their photograph ...more
Every once in a while, you pick up a book that makes you laugh so hard that people around you wonder whether you’ve finally lost your mind. Well, that's what Dial A for Aunties did for me!
A hilarious story where everything that could go wrong didn’t just go wrong, but crashed and burned and went up in flames! It had all the elements that make a book very enjoyable for me— a good plot, a narrator with a fun, distinct voice, and excellent characters (those aunties were fantastic!).
But expertly wo ...more
A hilarious story where everything that could go wrong didn’t just go wrong, but crashed and burned and went up in flames! It had all the elements that make a book very enjoyable for me— a good plot, a narrator with a fun, distinct voice, and excellent characters (those aunties were fantastic!).
But expertly wo ...more
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Jesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair o
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