Dial A for Aunties by Jessie Q. Sutanto - Restarting February 2nd 2023

[matty]

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 date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it is accidentally shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy, her Ma, and aunties are working, at an island resort on the California coastline. It’s the biggest job yet for their family wedding business—“Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!”—and nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her auntie’s perfect buttercream cake flowers.

But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy’s great college love—and biggest heartbreak—makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding all in one weekend?

[matty]

This looks so hilarious, I bought it as soon as I read the synopsis!

[Akshita]

Yess.
And the cover!!💛💚 it's so lemon-y

[B]

Akshita wrote: "Yess.
And the cover!!💛💚 it's so lemon-y"

Agreed!

[matty]

Hopefully I will start tomorrow!

[Akshita]

Yeah, me too.
I started too many books at once, and now I'm struggling to keep up 😅

[Katie]

I started this one this morning, and I'm already loving the dynamics between the aunts!

[Katie]

Chapter 7- (view spoiler)[ The way Meddelin was set up with the hotel owner was kind of funny. I know I should be more upset, but the mom meant well, and the conversation with the eggplants was hilarious. I already love the mom, and I can tell she wants what's best for her daughter. I'm anxious to find out what happened with Nathan? (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapter 11- (view spoiler)[ Yes!! Bring in Nathan!! I can’t wait for them to reunite. I was a little disappointed with their breakup. I guess I was expecting more since they were together for so long, but I’m excited to see them together during this wedding weekend!! This is hilarious! It reminds me of the movies “The Hangover 2” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapter 21- (view spoiler)[ Oh no! I kind of thought Nathan would think she was with someone else when he showed up to her room...this is just so entertaining! (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Chapter 25- (view spoiler)[ YES! Now I have a "Weekend at Bernie's" vibe going on! And totally not nice, Maureen...dang! How could she??

I honestly don't know how this is going to end...I mean, I bet Meddy is going to want to start her relationship over again with Nathan and without lies, but that means coming clean... (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Finished- (view spoiler)[ Super cute! I think this book got better and better as it went on. And I was glad to hear more about Maureen and why she stole the gifts. (hide spoiler)]

[matty]

Just started!

[Akshita]

I started yesterday, but haven't had much time to read.

Currently on chapter 6, and it's sooo good so far.
(view spoiler)[I love Meddy already. She's so awkward and her POV is hilarious. Nathan is just too...plain for her.

i am not a huge fan of switching between the timelines. i don't really care about what happened 6 yrs ago. The present storyline is much more interesting.

The family dynamic tho 😂 It's the best part. I can relate to so much stuff here that happens in my family often but i never noticed it this way before. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Akshita wrote: "I started yesterday, but haven't had much time to read.

Currently on chapter 6, .."

I agree with the family dynamics....(view spoiler)[ My husband is half Chinese and half Filipino, and the way his cousins bicker is JUST like it's described in this book between the aunts and how everyone is up in everyone's business! HAHAH! (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

So, I actually ended up finishing the book, but was too lazy to post the updates here😅

[Akshita]

Katie wrote: "Chapter 11- [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I wasn't a huge of Nathan in the beginning, but he quickly grew on me. I also liked the way they talked about everything and resolved their relationship like mature adults.

Ooh there are movies with similar concept?? I'll have to check them out! (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Katie wrote: "Chapter 25- YES! Now I have a "Weekend at Bernie's" vibe going on! And totally not nice, Maureen...dang! How could she??

I honestly don't know how this is going to end...I mean, I bet Meddy is g..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah. I had absolutely no idea how this would end. There seemed to be no way out of the whole mess they'd created.

I wasn't expecting the Maureen twist. Her plan to steal didn't seem like a well-thought-one at all. (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Katie wrote: "Finished- [spoilers removed]"


(view spoiler)[I was kinda disappointed with how they got away with the murder so easily. I was expecting a better climax scene. But it all got muddled with the Maureen sub-plot.

There was also a lot of suspension of belief involved, but ig that was expected given the concept.

Also found out there'll be a sequel!!
No one's talking about it, so i didn't know until I saw the excerpt in my ebook.
I'm excited to read more of Meddy and her aunts soon! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting February 2nd 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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[Johanna]

I am trying to join! I had this on my TBR almost the whole last year 😃

[Sibil]

Hi! Can I join you?

[Elena]

Please, join :) The more the merrier!

[Sibil]

That's great, thank you! :) I'll start it soon!!

[Sibil]

chapters 1-6
(view spoiler)[I really appreciated the author's note at the beginning of the book, because it provides a lot of contest. And it was also moving, because it is an experience that is so far away from my own, and from the ones of the people around me, and yet it is also so relatable, in some ways. And sad.
But it helped me keep reading, because I am not a fan of family meddling and in this book we have so much of it!
I am totally with the male cousins that run away as soon as they can, because even if it sounds like a nice family on the whole, the interference is just too much.
On the other hand, it is nice to see how they all live together and help each other out, and complement each other in a wholesome way. It's just that is all a bit too much.
I mean... what her mother did on the dating app is so wrong on so many levels!!!
And the guy she found is a douchebag! Even if this is not her mother's fault! (hide spoiler)]

[Alexandra]

I'll also join, my hold on the library just came for this and I've been wanting to read it for a while!

[Sibil]

7-17
(view spoiler)[I admit that the previous chapters weren't so great for me, and I was thinking about just dropping this book, because even with the context provided by the author's note it was just... a bit too much for me.
But I am glad I kept reading because I devoured these chapters! The part in which she tells the aunties what she has done and their reaction was just amazing. On one hand, it was creepy how well they took it in stride, but heartwarming, and on the other, their continuous bickering about just everything was... something!
I was also quite mad at Meddy for her breaking up with Nathan, because yes, I understand her but... come on! She could have at least tried!
And now Nathan is back on the game! And it was surprising.
I think that in this part my recurrent reaction was "wait! What??" on loop. But I was totally there for it!!

I have to say that now I am a bit scare to go back and read, because things are set in motion like an avalanche and the four aunties together are like a typhoon! (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 1-6"

I totally agree with you on the author's note at the beginning, without that context the whole book might seem a bit odd for people who don't have much knowledge about asian culture.

[Elena]

Around 50%
(view spoiler)[
I am pretty much common with asian culture as I'm partly asian myself, so the whole family thing wasn't a surprise. The beginning was a bit slow and took me some time to get through, but what happened next... was a gorgeous mix of hilarious and prefect!
First of all, I feel the reason why Meddelin sacrificed some parts of her life to stay with family. Indeed it's very painful for parents when children leave, it is unavoidable but never-the-less painful and the main character sees the pain and doesn't want to cause more. Yep, sometimes love is sacrifice.
Oh my! That's so typical, when mom tries to find you a man and even goes through the most funny ways to arrange a date. I've never experienced that, but my friends totally had that experience.
And it's also typical when the guy turns out to be a douchebag, that's why usually people hate all kinds of arrangement and blind dating, I mean set up by parents.
Now to the fun part. Ok, I didn't expect that! But really, 5 asian women trying to get away with murder? So cute and hilarious! Their reactions are literally something! That perfect mixture of freaking out but at the same time asking practical questions while doing some normal things and caring about posture, education, respect. A little bit creepy in the best asian traditions.
(hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Sibil wrote: "7-17"

Oh that part when she came home was the most fun!
(view spoiler)[
At first I also felt the same way as you do about Meddy when she broke up with Nathan, but then I remembered that long time ago I did literally the same thing. When I was a teenager the whole idea of moving somewhere, even if it's just another city was so enormous and felt apocalyptic. Actually many things seemed that time unresolvable or deadly, but when you get older, everything is solved and you travel a lot, have lived in many different places across the world, it's hard to recall the feeling of devastation and despair you had long time ago when your friend told you that he's moving to another city and you can't move because of your parents/school/university/whatever.
I wasn't surprised that Nathan was back, it seemed right from the beginning, when the 4-year-flashback was introduced :)
(hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

71%
(view spoiler)[All their shenanigans with the body and the issues they bumped into while trying to get rid of a body are so much fun! And those remarks about posture, being humble and well educated alongside handling a really hard case with such an ease, that is really addictive and I'm having so much fun reading. (hide spoiler)]

[Alexandra]

Up to Chapter 10

(view spoiler)[Wow, I didn't expect her to actually break up with someone she loves because she feels the need to stay with her family. I feel like she should've at least talked to them about it? I started reading this book because I come from the exact same background, and while some things are true, I feel like it's also stretched to the extreme. Plenty of Asian children go abroad and leave their families; it's actually a point of pride if you can get to prestigious schools abroad and land good jobs over sticking with the family. I can see that the curse definitely plays into it, though. But the impersonating the daughter on the dating site?? That's unheard of, lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

This book and its follow up are great! I am SO hoping we will get a book #3. Also, everything that happens at this wedding are incredible. Our caucasian weddings are so dull.

[Elena]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Oh my god it was hilarious! With a love between the bride and her friend as a cherry on top! That book is absolutely cosy, heartfelt and warm. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Alexandra wrote: "Up to Chapter 10 [spoilers removed]"

Agreed on the extreme comment, and some friends of mine experienced that extreme in their lives, so basically I can relate. I think if you're coming from the same background, you can also at least understand how it can be :) I'm glad that you have never experienced something like that in your life though. (view spoiler)[I mean most parents are usually proud of their children going to a prestigious school abroad, but at the same time other parents don't want their children to leave. Unfortunately, it's a common case when both desires are brought to extreme levels and are actually toxic. And I personally know people who were living that nightmare of unrealistic expectations or not being able to tell really important things to their parents because for different reasons they were afraid. (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 18-25
(view spoiler)[Well, I was right and this was like an avalanche! Especially because I can't believe that things are still adding up to the pile! I mean, they have a murdered body to abscond, a big wedding to work, and Nathan is back in the picture (and he really needs the wedding to go well since this is the job of his dreams and things cannot go awry! Hence the "throw the body in the ocean" thing is a really bad idea! So I am glad that it seems like they won't do it!) so I should say that's enough! But... nope, the douchebag that got murdered was even a worse person than I thought, and he was in cahoots with the bridesmaid of honor to steal the wedding gifts! And they implicated Meddy in there, too.
That was low!
And between all that we have some really cute scene between Nathan and Meddy, they are meant to be and their dialogues are always so funny and cute!
And even the Aunties are amazing!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Elena wrote: "Around 50%
.."

(view spoiler)[the part about the 5 Asian women trying to get away with murder of your comment is so on point! And it was hilarious and creepy, but in the best possible way! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Elena wrote: "Sibil wrote: "7-17"
"

(view spoiler)[You are right, and I can understand it, especially about the fear for the future and the idea to leave behind your life, but since Meddy wasn't a teenager, she was around 18/20 (young, sure, but not too young) she should at least have talked a bit more about her feelings to Nathan. I get that she didn't want him to follow her instead and let go of his dreams, I get all the fears she had and everything. The whole situation is understandable and "normal", so I get it. But I don't get why people do not talk, especially since their relationship was really something precious and functional. That was what bothered me in that part :) (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Elena wrote: "71%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It was the best part, I think!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Alexandra wrote: "Up to Chapter 10

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[To me this book, especially the beginning was a constant "wait! What??" because to me it's strange, but I don't know a thing about Asian's families and society, if not the most mainstream things.
But things are so fun and so heartfelt!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 18-25"

(view spoiler)[Hahah, that's exactly the case, whenever you need something to go perfectly, there will always be that enormous elephant or two! (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Sibil wrote: "Elena wrote: "Sibil wrote: "7-17" [spoilers removed]"

In that case I also agree, there has to be talking first, but it's hard to do the talking part properly and sometimes it makes the situation even worth... But for that we have psychiatrists :D

[Sibil]

Elena wrote: "Sibil wrote: "Elena wrote: "Sibil wrote: "7-17" [spoilers removed]"

In that case I also agree, there has to be talking first, but it's hard to do the talking part properly and sometimes it makes t..."

That's so true!!!! ;)

[Alexandra]

Kirsten wrote: "This book and its follow up are great! I am SO hoping we will get a book #3. Also, everything that happens at this wedding are incredible. Our caucasian weddings are so dull."

I didn't know there are sequels! Also you should watch Crazy Rich Asians, the wedding there is also a really grand production!

[Alexandra]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 18-25
Well, I was right and this was like an avalanche! Especially because I can't believe that things are still adding up to the pile! I mean, they have a murdered body to abscond, a big ..."

Honestly I'm surprised at how many surprise twists there are? (view spoiler)[From "Jake" not being dead, "Jake" actually being someone else, and then there are even more twists. I got genuinely confused at some parts because there were too many twists, lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Alexandra wrote: "Sibil wrote: "chapters 18-25
"

(view spoiler)[And there are more to come!!! But the author is on top of that, I mean, all these twists are stretching plausibility a bit, but not so much and she is quite good at juggling everything! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

chapters 26-end
(view spoiler)[Twists and turns keep happening, and it was a constant "wait, what??" on loop, I lost count of how many times I said that while I was reading, but it was all so funny and so full of heart that I had a blast out of it.
Usually, this is not my kind of book and I would have lost my patience with it pretty soon, but all in all it is so funny and heartfelt as a whole that I enjoyed my time with it immensely.
And sure, it's an avalanche inside a typhoon on crack, because it is wacky as hell and so mad. But the characters are so well portrayed, they all are so good (aside from some chosen ones, like Tom the groom and the Sheriff) and nice people that it was not possible to not care for them. And Meddy and Nathan are so sweet together!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Elena wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes!!! to all you wrote! (hide spoiler)]

[Alexandra]

I was wondering about one thing... (view spoiler)[Wouldn't the hotel have security cameras? They could've just tracked the missing jewelry that way? Which means they would've seen Meddy taking the bag and planting it in Maureen's room. I was so worried that would happen but I guess the author didn't think about it.

Also Meddy said she didn't want to lie to Nathan about the dead body which is why she didn't say it was just one of her aunts that he saw on the bed, but... she did lie to him anyway about the guy being a random one night stand. I didn't really get it, I feel like the aunt lie would've been much better if she's going to lie anyway? (hide spoiler)]

Up to Chapter 28

(view spoiler)[I can't believe the shenanigans that happened at the actual wedding ceremony. The dead body's finally discovered. I really thought they would be able to hide it until the end, and I actually did think throwing it into the ocean is a good idea, but I guess if you're on an island it's kind of hard to get all the way to the middle of the ocean with it. I can't wait to see how this gets resolved. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Sibil wrote: "chapters 26-end"

Yeah, so true! I also think that if it wasn't asian, I would have dropped it. But asian culture part ties everything together.