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callidoralblack's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
jrae_miller's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I picked this up on a whim and didn't realize it was the last of the series, I think I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd read the middle book as well. I had a really hard time suspending my disbelief at the entire premise, frankly, although it did have a few good lines. The premise: a supposed mafia leader gives out the WRONG envelope for New Year? I cannot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Kidnapping
Minor: Death and Pregnancy
frannook's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Aaaaaand THE AUNTIES ARE BACK!
My goodness, this was so so much fun to listen to.
After the series had taken a bit of a fall with Four aunties and a wedding (a bit too over the top, a bit too unrealistic), this new installment in the series swerved back into its right lane and took off with its humor, action packed twists and the messiest, most hilarious situations you can possibly think of in which only our Chinese Indonesian aunties could find themselves into!
After spending their honeymoon travelling across Europe, Meddy and Nathan are now heading to the last stop of their trip, Jakarta, where the aunties and the rest of their family is waiting for them to celebrate the Chinese New Year together.
That's when Abraham Lincoln, madly in love with Second Aunt since they were teens and rumored to possibly involved with the Chinese mafia, shows up at the family house with gifts and countless red packets to win over Evangeline's heart. Tradition dictates that red packets, red envelopes that contain money, are supposed to be given on big occasions (weddings, births, new years...) by married people to children and elders. And since Meddy and Nathan are the newlyweds, the honor to give out Abraham's red packets is bestowed upon them.
What they didn't know is that one of the red packets contained the deed to a land that Abraham had promised to a business rival, Julia Child, to form an alliance against another business rival. Yes, it was an honest mistake, but Julia Child is not happy and it's up to Meddy and the aunties to find who received that special red packet and get the deed back or... else!
It was so good to be back with the gang, I had missed them more than I can say. Sure, there might be some sequences that are sliightly too much to exist in the realm of plausibility but it is a comedy of errors and it is so much fun and such a comfort read that you can easily get swept into the story, set off for the adventure and forget all about logic and probably!
I love the family dynamics, I love how all the aunties have such strong and distinguishable personalities and contribute to the story and how far they'd go to protect and help each other.
I love how the author shows the contrast between theirs' and Meddy's generation, highlights and shows respect and appreciation for their culture; and I particularly appreciated how, in this book specifically, Jesse Q. Sutanto highlights how the US is just one country (no matter how big and vast) and the rest of the world is different and does things differently and their way of doing things is not better but it surely isn't worse. Instead of "invading" and/or having an attitude of superiority and disposition to impose your ideas and customs, you should have an open mind and embrace the culture and your surroundings when you go visit or find yourself in another country, instead of expecting it to change to suit your own needs.*
Not a stand that I was in any way expecting but was pleasantly surprised to find in such a lighthearted contemporary book - even though that is probably on me and I should have expected it, considering it is written by a bipoc author and that does talk a lot about culture, immigration and adapting to a new language and new customs.
As always, I bow to Risa Mei for such an incredible performance. She gives a unique voice to Meddy and each aunty, gives so much heart and personality, and it was lovely to listen to her speak more Chinese due to the setting of the story. Truly an incredible performance!
I couldn't find anything anew news or rumors online about a potential 4th book, but Jesse Q. Sutanto left an open door right at the end with one of her typical finale revelations.
What can I say is: if there is going to be a 4th book, I'll be there waiting for it!
Yes, it's the same format over and over again, but what about Fast and Furious? James Bond? Bad Boys? Any other franchise that could have stopped at the second movie? And yet, they keep on making sequels because they work, because they're fun, because they offer comfort and action and a good time to their viewers and fans of the series and The Aunties is precisely the same! The author can keep finding new ways to keep it fresh and interesting while giving us something we know, a family that we want to be a part of, unbelievable situations that we can't wait to see how our aunties will get out of! And I'll be there, among the fans, hoping and waiting to see more of our gang.
Until next time!
*A view that I wholeheartedly share and support, as long as human rights are granted, your morals and integrity stay intact and you don't encounter/experience racism, homophobia, discrimination, etc...
My goodness, this was so so much fun to listen to.
After the series had taken a bit of a fall with Four aunties and a wedding (a bit too over the top, a bit too unrealistic), this new installment in the series swerved back into its right lane and took off with its humor, action packed twists and the messiest, most hilarious situations you can possibly think of in which only our Chinese Indonesian aunties could find themselves into!
After spending their honeymoon travelling across Europe, Meddy and Nathan are now heading to the last stop of their trip, Jakarta, where the aunties and the rest of their family is waiting for them to celebrate the Chinese New Year together.
That's when Abraham Lincoln, madly in love with Second Aunt since they were teens and rumored to possibly involved with the Chinese mafia, shows up at the family house with gifts and countless red packets to win over Evangeline's heart. Tradition dictates that red packets, red envelopes that contain money, are supposed to be given on big occasions (weddings, births, new years...) by married people to children and elders. And since Meddy and Nathan are the newlyweds, the honor to give out Abraham's red packets is bestowed upon them.
What they didn't know is that one of the red packets contained the deed to a land that Abraham had promised to a business rival, Julia Child, to form an alliance against another business rival. Yes, it was an honest mistake, but Julia Child is not happy and it's up to Meddy and the aunties to find who received that special red packet and get the deed back or... else!
It was so good to be back with the gang, I had missed them more than I can say. Sure, there might be some sequences that are sliightly too much to exist in the realm of plausibility but it is a comedy of errors and it is so much fun and such a comfort read that you can easily get swept into the story, set off for the adventure and forget all about logic and probably!
I love the family dynamics, I love how all the aunties have such strong and distinguishable personalities and contribute to the story and how far they'd go to protect and help each other.
I love how the author shows the contrast between theirs' and Meddy's generation, highlights and shows respect and appreciation for their culture; and I particularly appreciated how, in this book specifically, Jesse Q. Sutanto highlights how the US is just one country (no matter how big and vast) and the rest of the world is different and does things differently and their way of doing things is not better but it surely isn't worse. Instead of "invading" and/or having an attitude of superiority and disposition to impose your ideas and customs, you should have an open mind and embrace the culture and your surroundings when you go visit or find yourself in another country, instead of expecting it to change to suit your own needs.*
Not a stand that I was in any way expecting but was pleasantly surprised to find in such a lighthearted contemporary book - even though that is probably on me and I should have expected it, considering it is written by a bipoc author and that does talk a lot about culture, immigration and adapting to a new language and new customs.
As always, I bow to Risa Mei for such an incredible performance. She gives a unique voice to Meddy and each aunty, gives so much heart and personality, and it was lovely to listen to her speak more Chinese due to the setting of the story. Truly an incredible performance!
I couldn't find anything anew news or rumors online about a potential 4th book, but Jesse Q. Sutanto left an open door right at the end with one of her typical finale revelations.
What can I say is: if there is going to be a 4th book, I'll be there waiting for it!
Yes, it's the same format over and over again, but what about Fast and Furious? James Bond? Bad Boys? Any other franchise that could have stopped at the second movie? And yet, they keep on making sequels because they work, because they're fun, because they offer comfort and action and a good time to their viewers and fans of the series and The Aunties is precisely the same! The author can keep finding new ways to keep it fresh and interesting while giving us something we know, a family that we want to be a part of, unbelievable situations that we can't wait to see how our aunties will get out of! And I'll be there, among the fans, hoping and waiting to see more of our gang.
Until next time!
*A view that I wholeheartedly share and support, as long as human rights are granted, your morals and integrity stay intact and you don't encounter/experience racism, homophobia, discrimination, etc...
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Iām probably rating this higher than it deserves, but I enjoyed it as much as I have the previous ones in this series. The characters continue to entertain, and I am crossing my fingers for another one to follow šš»
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
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