Member Reviews
"What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.
After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Chinese New Year, already the biggest celebration of the Lunar calendar, gets even more festive when a former beau of Second Aunt's shows up at the Chan residence bearing extravagant gifts - he's determined to rekindle his romance with Second Aunt and the gifts are his way of announcing his courtship.
His grand gesture goes awry however, when it's discovered that not all the gifts were meant for Second Aunt and the Chans - one particular gift was intended for a business rival to cement their alliance and included by accident. Of course the Aunties agree that it's only right to return the gift - after all, anyone would forgive an honest mistake, right? But what should have been a simple retrieval turns disastrous and suddenly Meddy and the Aunties are helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta's most powerful business factions. The fighting turns personal, however, when Nathan and the Aunties are endangered and it's up to Meddy to come up with a plan to save them all. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission - but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible..."
Nothing more awkward then recovering a "gift." Moreso when things get dangerous.
Fun frivolity. I loved this humorous series with Meddy, Nathan and the Aunties as they stumble through madcap low stake misadventures.
I will miss startling everyone in the room with a sudden burst of giggles or a snort laugh.
There’s nothing really serious going on here, so don’t get hung up on any poor reviews. If you can’t appreciate a loyal family of hilarious characters that get in the most unusual situations, just move along. Let me live to read more of these cozy, warm, and truly funny stories.
I love how the Aunties always have Meddy’s back. I love this family’s fierce love and devotion for one another. I love their misinterpretations, and their collective ability to get into and out of trouble.
I will miss you, dear Aunties. (Meddy & Nathan too 😘).
Start this series if you need fun and light. Say goodbye to the Aunties on March 26th.
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Let me start by saying that as much as I love the Aunties series and think it’s a great series, it is one you have to read in order. If you read these out of order, you’ll be entirely too confused so if you’re not caught up, then get caught up and then come back.
With that out of the way, we’re following Meddy and Nathan who are fresh off their honeymoon and ready to spend the Lunar New Year with Meddy’s family. Of course, as with the previous books, things don’t go to plan and Meddy, Nathan, and her family end up getting twisted into a web of drama.
Things get even deeper when Nathan is taken as “collateral,” making the situation all the more dire for Meddy. While things seem like they’re going to calm down, they quickly ramp up again and this time, the entire family is once again in some danger of epic proportions but in the best way.
As with the other books in the series, Jesse Q. Sutanto puts both the action and the comedy in this story at the forefront. One second, you’ll be worrying for Meddy’s life, and in the next second, you’ll be cracking up at a comment one of her aunties made. To put it simply, Jesse Q. Sutanto has a gift.
Since The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties are the final book in the series, I can’t help but get a little bit sentimental. This has been a series I’ve loved since its release and I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters. Regardless, this book had the perfect ending and in a way, made me wish we were getting more.
I can't believe this is the last Aunties book! I will definitely miss Meddy, Nathan, and the Aunties antics, but look forward to what Jesse Q Sutanto will be writing next!
What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.
Meddy and the Aunties are back this time abroad in Jakarta for the Chinese New Year. But when her aunties get caught up in Jakarta Mob drama Meddy and Nathan have to come up with a plan to get out unharmed. It was classic auntie drama and hilarity. I loved that we got to see Nathan in this book on the side of the drama, he wasn't left in the dark. I especially loved the way he adapted to her family. While I enjoyed the book I was ready to see the series come to an end. The crazy auntie shenanigans were becoming a bit repetitive.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases on 3/26
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE AUNTIES is the third book in the Aunties series by Jesse Q. Sutanto. It’s a lighthearted read with moments of humor, although I didn’t find it nearly as hilarious the first book in the series. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Meddy’s family’s Chinese New Year traditions and the gathering of the huge, extended family. Nate, Meddy’s new husband, is a refreshing character in the story: he’s sweet and is the calming voice of reason in the midst of all the chaos that Meddy and her aunties find themselves in. If you enjoy zany capers, meddling aunts, and want an armchair visit to Jakarta for Chinese New Year festivities, then this is the book for you.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What I initially thought might be a series ended up as a trilogy---and thank goodness for that. This is the last book---unless she feels the compulsion to do a baby and the Aunties book, that IS the natural next step, is it not?
This is a quick read made even quicker since I skimmed a bit of it.
It all boils down to this: newlyweds Meddy and Nathan are visiting her relative for a late Chinese New Year. A mistake with the red envelopes happens, and hilarity does NOT ensue. Everyone (adults especially) acts like spoiled 14-year-olds. But what do I know, maybe it's a cultural thing or a huge amount of money thing!
At any rate, it did have a bit of a twist at the end, so that was worth the second star I gave this.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, Penguin/ Random House. the author, and NetGalley My Thanks.
I loved reading Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties, and was charmed by Four Aunties and a Wedding, and so I was pretty excited for The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties, but it failed to charm me in the same manner. Still hilariously entertaining, but I found myself to be frustrated with the execution of the plot, and found the pacing to be off.
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Harper Berkley Publishing Company.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Fans of the Auntie series will enjoy the final installment. What could possible go wrong at a Lunar New Year party in China, everything you can imagine in this delightful read. It’s a night more than magical as you will be swept into this hilarious read.
Old beau of the second aunt returns as he state his attentions. Soon things go out of hand as wrong gifts are mistakenly given. Things never go simple for the Chan family in this delightful story.
This was a great ending to the Aunties storyline. I did not read this series expecting it to be believable but rather to have a fun time reading a sty that makes me laugh. This concluding book did not fail in that aspect. If you don't love the Aunties and their craziness and their struggle to speak and understand English, then are you okay?
Meddy and the Aunties have my heart! This book is another absolutely hilarious madcap romp, and the only tragedy is that it's the end of the trilogy.
If you loved the first two Aunties books, you're in for an absolute treat with even more of the same antics, comedy, and heart. If you haven't read the first two, you really need to start at the beginning for everything to make the most sense, and to have the best understanding of these characters.
This book feels like a fitting end to the series, and I respect the integrity of a writer who knows when to move on. I'll just have to re-read from time to time to get a dose of this close-knit family who would do anything for one another!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The final book in the "Dial A for Aunties" trilogy follows Meddy, her mother, and her lovable, meddling aunts. Meddy and her new husband visit Jakarta for Chinese New Year during their honeymoon. Nick is eager to integrate into Meddy's big family, but Meddy is terrified her crazy relatives will drive Nick away, especially now that all of them are eager for a pregnancy announcement! Even though Nick assures her everything will be fine, things innocently fall apart for Meddy. A former suitor for Second Aunt arrives back in her life, but he is a "legitimate" member of the triad of leaders. Kidnapping, thievery, and subterfuge quickly ensue as Meddy and Nick try to keep Ma and the aunts from danger.
I love the Aunties series! Funny, full of action, and a delightful look in to Indonesian culture. I'm sad this series is over, per Sutanto, but it appears she is going full steam ahead with a new one! I'll be a reader as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of the first book. This series would be a great readers advisory recommendation for fans of Kevin Kwan and Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series.
Like the previous two books in this series. This was so funny. It was full of family drama, chaos, confusion, and of course, anything that can go wrong does go wrong.
Meddy, Nathan and all of the aunties are getting up to the normal trouble that they always seem to find themselves in.
I absolutely love that this book like the other two had a serious problem that they were dealing with, but at the same time it was handled with such humor. Every time you think something is finally going right for this family inevitably something else is going to happen.
There's not really a lot I can say about this book without spoiling the other two. If you haven't read the other two it's not going to make sense. With that being said, I do recommend you read the other two and then immediately pick this book up because it is 100% worth it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc an exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 - This is the third book in the Aunties series and we follow Meddy, her new husband Nathan, three aunties and mother to Jakarta to visit family for the Lunar New Year. As to be expected with the Aunties, there was a lot of action and antics encountered. This time they are trying to help the former beau of Second Aunt get back a gift he accidentally gave away at the New Year celebration. What should be as simple as finding the receiver of the mistaken gift and returning it to the rightful owner turns into a series of hijinx and hilariousness.
To read any book in the Aunties series requires you to "go with it" and know that though these antics may not be able to happen in real life, they can in this story and enjoy the wild ride you go on. As usual, I love all the Aunties' sass and meddling and liked seeing the relationship between Meddy and Nathan. The book is over the top and laugh-out-loud funny throughout. I found the pacing good, and this was a quick, easy read.
Like the last, the problem with this book is that it was just more of the same. I felt like we already had this story two times before, and while entertaining, it didn't introduce me to anything new. Though I am sad that this series will be over with this book, I am excited to see and read what else Jesse Q. Sutanto writes in the future.
If you like wild antics, funny and meddling aunts and a little bit of mystery, this is the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
I am glad that this is the last title in the “Aunties” series. This third and final book was not necessary and I have trouble seeing how Sutanto could continue with this cast of characters without it getting completely ridiculous. While it may have not been necessary, or as well-written as the other books in the series, The Good, The Bad, and The Aunties was entertaining! I will miss the Aunties and their shenanigans and enjoyed how Sutanto wrapped up the Chan family’s different sagas.
Everyone’s favourite Aunties are back in another hilarious adventure.
It would be impossible for me to describe just how much I love this series. Everything about it is flawless perfection. If I could rewind time to 2021 and reread the first book, Dial A for Aunties again for the first time, I would 100% do it. Jesse has captured something really unique and special in these books and I simply can’t get enough of it.
This is a series you want to read in the right order. You could pick this one up and it would be enjoyable, but you’ll get so much more out of the experience if you read them in order.
For this story, we travel with Meddy, her husband Nathan, and the Aunties to Jakarta for Chinese New Year with their extended family. And of course they find themselves in over their heads in the middle of a conflict between three of the largest “companies” in Jakarta. Hijinks ensue. Once again, there were too many laugh-out-loud moments to count. The Aunties are comic gold but with so much heart, you can’t help but simultaneously groan and cheer for them.
One of my favourite parts of this book is that we get to know more about each of the Aunties and what they were like before they moved to the States. We see Big Aunt with her former kitchen colleagues at the hotel she worked at. Second Aunt rekindling her romance with a former boyfriend. Fourth Aunt perform for her adoring fans. This helps Meddy (and us as readers) see these important people in her life in a new light and appreciate them in new ways. We come to understand that each of them sacrificed a lot to make the move to the States. This really influences some big growth for Meddy in the book. We see her step up in much more of a leadership role within the family in order to rescue them.
Sadly, this is the last book in the Aunties series and I almost cried when I learned that. The only thing preventing me from reaching for the kleenex box is that Jesse’s other adult book Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was equally delightful, so I am confident we will see more great work from Jesse in the future.
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is the perfect finale to the Aunties trilogy.
I was beyond excited to read about Meddy and Nathan again. I genuinely miss them so much. And I am much happier that they are spending more time together than in the previous books.
You already know that Meddy and Nathan are going to be part of another shenanigan from the aunties, even though they are visiting extended families. It’s kind of hilarious, if you think about it. It’s like they are attracted to solving crimes or getting involved with crimes. Thankfully, Meddy is trying her hardest not to get involved as much as she has in the past.
I love that Meddy is trying to grow into her own now, especially since she got married to Nathan recently. She wants to build a safer and calmer life with him. It doesn’t mean changing her completely, just being more cautious and thinking more clearly. She wants to live her fullest life with Nathan. And I love that for her. She is growing up and standing up for what’s most important.
I am a tad annoyed with the aunties. Don’t hate on me; I truly love them. But I wish they could see Meddy's side when she tries multiple times to say that they shouldn’t get involved. She is trying to be more cautious and safe than getting involved in another dangerous situation. And in most of the chapters, they weren’t getting it. It kind of annoyed me at times. They need to stop doing reckless things that make the situation worse or dangerous for everyone.
I love the aunties! I was sad to read at the end that this will be the last book of the series because each book has been fun and ridiculous. I loved how the author made me care about the characters. Maybe one day she will revisit them and their antics.
I absolutely love the Aunties and I was so happy to read another story featuring them. Meddy was super funny as always and I loved the ending.
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the third and final installment of TV e aunties. The family returns to Indonesia for Chinese New Year and as usual, chaos and hilarity ensues.