Scan barcode
hdoomk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Vomit and Car accident
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
ashwaar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Dial A for Aunties is a book with about a family trying to hide a dead body whilst they cater an extravagant wedding on an island in California. It’s an incredibly silly, unrealistic storyline but its also pretty entertaining and funny. You just have to suspend your beliefs about how people realistically act when confronted with a murder and go with it because otherwise you’ll end up questioning everything that happens.
The main character, Meddy, runs a wedding business with her mum and three aunts, and after she accidentally kills her blind date, she enlists her family to help her hide the body. But they’re also busy helping at the biggest wedding of the season, at a luxury hotel that Meddy soon realises is managed by her ex-boyfriend, Nathan, who she hasn’t seen in four years.
Meddy and her family are pretty funny, and the writing is fairly sharp. However, other side characters are literal cartoon people and by this I mean both that they act so goofy they’re unrealistic, but also they’re very undeveloped, making them seem basically 2D. Our romantic lead, Nathan, is somehow the most unrealistic out of all of these because he’s a a fantasy man, has zero flaws and is incredibly understanding that his ex has killed a man.
The story is funny and sweet but also incredibly stressful and chaotic. It gives you whiplash with the juxtaposition of the scenes, with Meddy going from trying to hide the body, to making out with Nathan, to crying over family feuds. It does feel like too much is being crammed in at some points, but I loved the scenes of the family and their dynamic together, especially how keen they are to help Meddy. Overall its a bit silly, but it's easy to read and its a lot of fun. I finished it in about two days and I think its very well suited for a younger audience.
The main character, Meddy, runs a wedding business with her mum and three aunts, and after she accidentally kills her blind date, she enlists her family to help her hide the body. But they’re also busy helping at the biggest wedding of the season, at a luxury hotel that Meddy soon realises is managed by her ex-boyfriend, Nathan, who she hasn’t seen in four years.
Meddy and her family are pretty funny, and the writing is fairly sharp. However, other side characters are literal cartoon people and by this I mean both that they act so goofy they’re unrealistic, but also they’re very undeveloped, making them seem basically 2D. Our romantic lead, Nathan, is somehow the most unrealistic out of all of these because he’s a a fantasy man, has zero flaws and is incredibly understanding that his ex has killed a man.
The story is funny and sweet but also incredibly stressful and chaotic. It gives you whiplash with the juxtaposition of the scenes, with Meddy going from trying to hide the body, to making out with Nathan, to crying over family feuds. It does feel like too much is being crammed in at some points, but I loved the scenes of the family and their dynamic together, especially how keen they are to help Meddy. Overall its a bit silly, but it's easy to read and its a lot of fun. I finished it in about two days and I think its very well suited for a younger audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Murder
stories_by_sharanja's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
To anyone who would like to read "Dial A for Aunties", I say you should be ready to suspend all of your beliefs. That's the only way you'll be able to get through Jesse Q. Sutanto's soap opera esque-story and numerous plot twists, with each one being more far fetched the last.
This is exactly my kind of light read. The readers are quickly drawn into mayhem surrounding the main cast of characters. The plot is also fast paced. I was not bored for one moment.
I also loved reading about the main character's Indo-Chinese family and their traditions. For the main character, family dynamics/relationshis plays a huge role in her life. To the extent that they influence many of her life decisions.
My only critique is that it takes Meddy too long to acknowledge the absurdity of her situation. The plot is pretty unbelievable from the start and it only snowballs from there.
"Dial A for Aunties" is a "light-hearted" dark-comedy. Great for anyone looking for a quick escape into the world of both impossible and implausible.
This is exactly my kind of light read. The readers are quickly drawn into mayhem surrounding the main cast of characters. The plot is also fast paced. I was not bored for one moment.
I also loved reading about the main character's Indo-Chinese family and their traditions. For the main character, family dynamics/relationshis plays a huge role in her life. To the extent that they influence many of her life decisions.
My only critique is that it takes Meddy too long to acknowledge the absurdity of her situation. The plot is pretty unbelievable from the start and it only snowballs from there.
"Dial A for Aunties" is a "light-hearted" dark-comedy. Great for anyone looking for a quick escape into the world of both impossible and implausible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Alcohol
maya_thorburn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Gun violence, and Sexual content
biblioghoul's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
madalynnn___'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
btothebooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fun and easy read. Its a cozy murder and a little lit on the romance for me to fully consider it a romance book but its there. I didn’t see the twist at the end come, so that made me laugh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
relearning2read's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this book was funny, and lighthearted (especially considering it starts off with murder) I had a good time and felt for the characters. often wishing Meddy would get a quiet moment to just hide and cry and process. Everything is just several notches up from reality without veering totally into stereotype and caricature. That being said it got maybe just a bit too over the top for me and I think I wanted to see more of the relational consequences within the family group for everything that happened. still, a fun time overall
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
pinklilypad's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Car accident
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I understand why this book is so popular! It was such a whirlwind of fun, family, and wedding chaos. Obviously the entire premise was ridiculous and it only got more over-the-top as the book went on. You do have to suspend your disbelief at certain points, but it's definitely a fun ride. The central conflict of Meddy embracing her own dreams even when they conflict with her family's was really powerful, and the epilogue put a huge smile on my face. I recommend this one and I'm so excited for the movie!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcohol