Unfortunately, I had to mark this book as DNF at the 35% mark. I really wanted to like the story, and appreciated Meddy and her family's dynamic - but the storyline was just too outlandish and didn't keep me wanting to find out what happened. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to Meddy and her ex-bf's relationship. That being said, I am so excited that Netflix picked up the adaptation and am eager to see the story come to life on the small screen.

This is the genre mashup I didn't know I needed! It's like a dark comedy meets a rom-com. There's a murder, but also romance and outrageous fun in the process. My favorite part of the book was the aunties' dialogue, which I felt brought the book to life. They speak a mix of Mandarin, Indonesian, and English which results in a broken language that is reflective of Sutanto's own family. It felt familiar and comforting to me to read. There is a particular thrill of seeing "aiya" on a page that I don't think I'll get tired of! I loved the energy the aunties brought and how they were fierce but loving.

In terms of the murder element, I think the plotting could have been stronger. The excitement didn't totally hold up for me and I was underwhelmed by how things wrapped up. Also, one particular aspect of the ending rubbed me the wrong way.

This was such a fun book for me! It was fast-paced with a little bit of thrill, a little bit of romance and a little bit of comedy making for a highly entertaining read!

When Meddie accidentally murders her blind date, she calls on the help of her aunties to help her cover it up. Unfortunately, with the whole family working the biggest wedding of their careers that weekend, the cover up is bound to go awry, especially once Meddie finds out that her ex-boyfriend is the owner of the hotel where the wedding is happening an will be heavily involved in the big day. Will Meddie and her aunties be able to get away with murder? Or will they get caught in the act?

I really enjoyed Meddie as a main character. I found her to be super relatable. It was fun to know what was going on in her head as she tries to keep the murder a secret, navigate run-ins with her ex, mediate squabbles between her aunts and keep her cool as the wedding photographer. I think she gained a lot of confidence throughout the story and I was happy to see her finally choose what she wanted in life instead of adhering to the family expectations.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. There were so many laugh out loud moments and it was amazing. I also recently heard that there will be a Netflix adaptation and I’m so excited for it. I’m definitely looking forward to reliving the story on the small screen.

Meddelin didn't want to kill her blind date. Some other people might have felt that way on their own blind dates, but Meddelin swears it was an accident. Luckily, her family believes her, and her mother calls in her four aunts to figure out what to do with the body, and keep Meddelin's very much alive body out of prison. One good accident deserves another, and somehow the blind date's troublesome body winds up in a cake cooler that's been shipped off to the Southern Californian coastline where Meddelin and her aunts are working a billionaire's wedding. Living in interesting times, trouble arrives in threes, and Meddelin's college ex appears during the wedding. Will Meddelin melt down, or will she, and her awesomely meddlesome aunts, be able to juggle the ex, toss the body, and send off two lovebirds on their honeymoon unaware that their wedding cake was last seen cuddling up to a corpse?

Are you ready for a dark comedy? Have you ever wished that you had family members who would do literally anything to back you up? Are you ready to die laughing? Have you ever wanted to read a book with Indonesian representation? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, then you'll almost certainly enjoy the story I just read! Meddelin is part of the family business as wedding photographer, and she doesn't have a man to call her own yet. She's setup on a blind date by her well-meaning mother who misses a few obvious signs that the blind date might be a bit too happy about eggplants, and then some aggressiveness, a taser, and an accident later, blind date becomes dead date.

Meddelin's aunties are super great and swoop in to try to help, and things get more hilarious once the body reaches the wedding they're supposed to be organizing, and then Meddelin's old college love is actively involved with the proceedings. Maybe Meddelin was just unlucky, or maybe it's the family curse, but whatever it is, get ready to laugh, because whatever the final outcome, Meddelin and her family will do whatever it takes to protect each other and pull this wedding off without a hitch...mostly. Dial A for Aunties is the gut-busting dramedy I didn't know I needed, but I know now you need it too. Enjoy with a large slice of (hopefully) innocent cake.

4.5 ⭐ rounded to 5 ⭐

This book is amazingly hilarious, heartfelt and absolute read for 2021! Thank you Berkeley and Random House Publishing for picking up this author. I definitely be reading Jesse’s future books. In this novel ‘Dial A for Aunties’ is a true reflection of Chinese generation gaps. The nosy Aunties and younger generation have one thing in common and it’s ‘family is always first’. The main character gave up a lot of her younger self but was able to reclaim her identity at end of the book. The romance is a nice touch in the book but I loved how author main story plot was about main character, her mother and her Aunties.

DIAL A FOR AUNTIES is a hilarious story about a woman who accidentally kills her blind date and her meddlesome mother and aunties who come to her rescue. Sounds farfetched? Just you wait because this dead body proves more problematic than this crazy family initially thought. In between finding time to dispose of a body, the family is also gearing up for a big wedding, set on an island on the California coastline. There is a major miscommunication when the cooler where the body is stored gets transported along with the wedding cake and other important wedding things to the island. Now, they have to deal with a wedding, drunken groomsmen, a demanding bride, a dead body, and Meddelin is confronted with someone from her past who is determined to get her back.

Okay, I know what you might be thinking, this book sounds like a lot. And it is! But in the best way possible. I loved that from the very first page to the last, there wasn’t a dull moment, a lull in the plot, which made for a very quick read. I couldn’t put this story down. It’s hilarious, completely unpredictable and the fact that it is so far fetched makes it even more comical because everything that could go wrong, does.

I also loved the Chinese-Indonesian cultural nods within this close knit family. The dialogue was so familiar to me that it added even more because the dramatics of the aunties was realistic. The dim sum scenes were spot on and made me crave Din Tai Fung.

Meddy Chan has shouldered the family curse and given up everything to stay at home with her Ma and three aunts. Together they run the family wedding business and on the eve on the wedding of the year, Meddy runs into a little situation with her blind date, a taser and a tree. This may or may not have resulted in the death of said blind date. In true farce style instead of handling things in the normal way, Meddy enlists the four sisters to help. Thus ensues a caper of epic proportions, that doesn’t let up for a second, but produces some truly memorable moments. And that’s before Nathan, Meddy’s true love and the ‘one that got away’ enters the fun.

This book was so much fun, it made me smile, laugh, cry and gasp. Yes, I had to suspend reality but who the heck doesn’t want to do that for a little while right? It was a hilarious rollercoaster of bad decisions, big characters and laugh out loud moments. The dim sum meetings and sibling bickering brought the whole family dynamic to life. Meddy and the four sisters were so well written that I feel like we’re life-long friends sharing a meal laughing our way through the whole debacle. In summary this was a razor sharp, quirky, witty romp of a story all wrapped up in a great big family hug….brilliant!

Wedding cakes, dead bodies, and aunties... oh my! This book was laugh out loud hilarious! You definitely need to go into this book with suspended belief. Kind of reminded me of Stephanie Plum or more recently Finlay Donovan. Meddalin accidentally kills her blind date end it is aunties to the rescue! What could possibly go wrong? Well just about everything, that’s what! I am seriously giggling to myself right now thinking about some of the antics these characters got up to in this book. The book reads like a movie and I just heard a rumor that it’s going to be a movie on Netflix! This is a fun feel-good story filled with humor, charm, and Indonesian Chinese culture. Next time you’re in the mood for a good laugh, pick this one up!

This book in emojis ⚰️ 🚤 👰🏻‍♀️ 💎 🍾 📸

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

What genre is this? I have NO idea, but it was smart and highly entertaining so it was a win for me. If pushed to classify, I’d call it a comedic mystery 🤷🏼‍♀️

This book was so fun and hilarious! I didn’t quite know what to expect and I’m glad I didn’t go into the book with any ideas.

Dial A for Aunties starts with Meddy, the only daughter of Ma. She lives at home with her mother for cultural reasons. She is a photographer for their family business - a full service wedding concierge. They provide flowers, photography, hair and makeup and entertainment along with her 3 aunties. When Meddy goes on a blind date at her Ma’s insistence, it doesn’t go quite as planned. Her Ma and Aunties have to help cover everything up! Meddy also runs into her college love during this novel and their reunion was very sweet. I liked that the romance was just a little part of this story.

I loved Meddy’s Ma and her aunties. I love their rivalry with each other, but they are fiercely protective of each other. They had no issues ripping on each other, but they would help with anything someone asked of them. I loved their whole family dynamic.

This is an incredible debut novel by @jesseqsutanto and I’m so happy there’s already a sequel on the way! And I heard a rumor Netflix is picking this up too!

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for my advanced reader copy. Dial A for Aunties is on sale today!

Murder, mystery, romance, and family drama wrapped up into one hilarious and highly entertaining novel!

Meddy Chan is still pining for the one who got away during her college days and isn’t interested in finding love. She’s devoted to her family and now works in the wedding business with her ma and aunties. Meddy’s ma is determined to find someone for her, so she does what any mother would do - she catfishes a guy and sets Meddy up on a blind date with him! Everything goes downhill from there, as you can imagine, but you probably weren’t expecting:

1 (accidental) murder
2 thousand wedding guests
3 (maybe) cursed generations and
4 meddling Asian aunties!

I was literally 🤣 while reading this book and kept thinking it would make a fantastic movie! Apparently it has already been optioned by Netflix, so I cannot wait for that!

I loved Meddy, but the aunties definitely stole the show with their individual quirks, crazy shenanigans, and witty banter spawned by their sibling rivalry. I appreciated the foreword about the author’s family history and heritage, and I enjoyed learning about Chinese-Indonesian culture and family dynamics through the characters in this book. Most of all, I adored the positive relationships and unconditional love between Meddy, her mom, and her aunties.

If you’re looking for a fun, charming, laugh out loud page-turner, then go pick this one up now!

This was such a good time from beginning to end - charming, cute, hilarious, & even suspenseful, this book has it all! "Dial A for Aunties" was one of my most anticipated reads of the year & it didn't disappoint one bit.

The book has many strong suits, but the two strongest, in my opinion, were the characters & its inclusion of Chinese-Indonesian culture throughout. These characters were just fantastic - Meddy, her mom & the aunties were such a joy to follow (Fourth Aunt is my spirit animal, her feathery nails!), I couldn't get enough of them & their shenanigans. Family was such a persistent theme throughout & the issues were very relatable - I think so many of us can relate to feeling the pressures of not meeting familial expectations. I loved learning about Chinese-Indonesian culture & traditions, I had no idea just how much goes into these weddings (& the food - the food! I've never craved dim sum more). There really wasn't a single thing I didn't enjoy about the book, if anything I just wish we would've gotten one more chapter before the epilogue!

I think this is going to be a huge hit & I need a sequel - please don't let this be the end of these characters! Thank you so much to Jesse Q. Sutanto, NetGalley & Berkley for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

This book was amazeeeee! If you enjoy humorous who-dun-it books with an added bonus of meddling aunties, then this is the book for you!

Let me start with the absolute hilarity of this book. It was a true rom-com with a dash of murder. Who doesn't love that? Our main character, Meddy, has 3 quirky aunts who are doing everything they can to help her hide a body (hey, accidental murder! How are you?) while still trying to pull off the wedding of a century. On top of the crazy and ridiculous situation that begins this humorous journey, it is actually the characters that bring the laughter. Each aunt is so different and so funny! Their personalities are great, but I loved seeing the way they handled this absolutely insane situation. They must dispose of a dead body in the middle of a wedding, but most of the time, they're more focused on setting Meddy up with her true love. This book is just so over the top, it's funny.

Also, while this book is a blend of many different genres, the thriller-ness that usually comes with a murder book is still present! There are plenty of plot twists and unexpected occurrences that keep this book surprising and fast-paced. Don't discount this murder book just because it's not a "murder mystery."

If I haven't convinced you to read this book yet then you're missing out. It is a must-read for all genre-lovers and should be enjoyed with many hearty laughs.

Dial A for Aunties left me in awe. This mix of a murder mystery and rom-com was incredible and left me laughing.

This book was hilarious, I couldn't put it down and was laughing throughout most of it. The banter was witty, the family drama was *chef's kiss*, and the reveals kept me coming back for more. I kept wondering how Meddy would come out of this and was rooting for her and Nathan, even though that was a small plot. I loved the aunties and Meddy and the bickering. This was an immersive and wonderful experience.

You need to read this book!

CW: threat of sexual assault, racism, corpse being moved

Really interesting premise and had funny moments. If you know you know aunties are always on stand bye for a crisis. Regardless I really enjoy plots that have a strong female familiar structure, something about it just makes the book more enjoyable. I'm not sure if there was a real mystery since you know what happens (hopefully that's not a spoiler). I think there was a lot going on which was the major drawback.

A word of warning, don’t drink hot tea while you’re reading this book, because it will burn when it comes out your nose as you snort-laugh at something completely unexpected and hilarious…and it may happen more than once.

Ok, now that you’ve been warned I can tell you that you absolutely need this book in your life. It is hilarious, and completely bananas. Take four meddling (but well-meaning) sisters, a daughter who just wants her own life but feels duty-bound to stay with her family, an accidental murder, the season’s biggest wedding, and throw in a pinch of romance—you’ve got a wild ride that you won’t want to put down until you reach the last page.

Think of this as a funnier, modern, Weekend at Bernie's with an Indo-Chinese family who run a wedding business and are trying to pull off the event of the year while hiding the man they’ve accidentally killed. At every turn they make things worse for themselves and you’ll be covering your eyes, laughing hysterically, and yelling at the characters in equal measures.

I can’t stop talking about this book, it is so over-the-top and you definitely have to suspend reality for a while, but it was exactly the hilarious, feel-good romantic suspense / murder mystery I needed in my life.

Meddy Chan is a 26-year-old photographer for her family's wedding business which includes her mother and three aunties. When Meddy accidentally kills her blind date, she of course turns to her family for help.

The first thing you need to know going into this book is to suspend your disbelief. It's meant to be over the top and includes one of the craziest chain of events at a wedding. On top of all the zany antics, this is a story about family, their expectations and their squabbles. But it also shows what it means when your family has your back.

The story has a second chance romance with a fun epilogue too. If you're in the mood for a story with family, humor and a dash of romance be sure to pick this one up. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy of this book.

I'm smiling just thinking about this book! Meddelin, her mother, and her three aunts have a wedding business and they each have a role in it. This wasn't Meddy's dream, but she feels obligated to stay wither mom and extended family (there's apparently a family curse that makes all the males leave, and she can't bear to disappoint her mom).

Meddy's the photographer. And she's single, and that's something her mom wants her to change. So much that her mom sets her up on a blind date that does not go well in a big way. So Meddy, her mom, and her aunts find themselves on an island for a wedding (they're working) with a dead body that they have to get rid of. And Meddy's ex-boyfriend is there too (second chance romance, anyone?).

This book is hilarious. The shenanigans kept me laughing. The aunties were awesome in their interactions. The story is definitely larger than life, and reads kind of like a slapstick comedy, and I was totally here for it. So, don't expect something realistic, but do expect to be entertained! I was definitely rooting for Meddy!

I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I heard about this book on a couple of different podcasts and saw that it was available in NetGalley. I was attracted by the idea of a large and meddling family of women all working to help the youngest of them (and the only girl in her generation) after she accidentally kills a man. Also, a look at the intricacies of a now American family who came from Chinese-Indonesian roots. And those parts I really liked. I also liked the story of Meddy getting to reconnect with her college romance (which we see growing and exploding in flashback chapters; not my favorite plot device). However, my anxiety spiked just a little too high at seeing the body being moved around and the family nearly being discovered.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out April 27th, 2021
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Dial A for Aunties is a ridiculous and over the top black comedy that requires you to suspend disbelief. The story is completely bananas - it is absurd, satirical, and most importantly, it doesn't take itself seriously. You have to let go of reality, kick back, and enjoy the absurdity of it all.

When wedding photographer Meddy accidentally kills her blind date, her mom and aunts help her get rid of the body. But the dead body inadvertently gets shipped off to an island resort where a billionaire wedding is taking place. The same wedding that Meddy and her aunts are working. Now Meddy and her family have to make sure no one at the wedding comes across the body.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn't have to think too hard while reading - I completely let go of reality and just went with the flow. The strength of this book? The ridiculous plot and the dark humour. The weakness of this book? The characterization of Meddy. She seems quite immature for her age; her actions and behaviour do not exactly align with her age. But here's the thing: Meddy may be the de facto heroine of this book, but her mom and aunties steal the spotlight. They are the real heroines of this story.

As for the rest of the supporting characters, they are basically two-dimensional cardboard cut-outs. Like I said, this book is not about characterization. This book is about a comedic storyline that is deeply rooted in the absurd. There is also a romantic subplot, but it's boring next to the murder and mayhem. The story did lose momentum toward the end; I was not a fan of the climax, but everything before the climax was epic. This book would honestly make a great movie.

Tl;dr - Read this book if you're looking for an over the top black comedy with meddling aunties. Sit back and enjoy the story for the sheer ridiculousness and comedy of it all.