Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Dial A for Aunties

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Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

11 reviews

tayreads10's review

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funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Oh my gosh I haven't laughed so hard while reading in a long time! I really enjoyed the interactions between Medeline, her mom and 3 aunts. Such a crazy, goofy, over the top story that had me hooked! My mom's best friend since high school immigrated from the Philippines with her family so I grew up with them as my family and felt such a connection to this book in that way. This book lost a star because although she was trying to combat stereotypes and racism, she brought in the stereotype and cruel joke with diabetes and that killed it for me. Not necessary at all. Diabetes is a serious medical condition and is not caused by a can of Coke. Didn't specify type 2 either. Type 1 is autoimmune and has NOTHING to do with consumption of too much sugar. Type 2 is metabolic. UGHHHHH. Not funny.

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gwenswoons's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious sad tense slow-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

2.0

I thought this was mostly pretty terrible despite having plenty of memorable and fun characters. The writing felt so repetitive and the sort of mishmash of genres and plots felt so jumbled and clunky. The second-chance love story itself was less painful to me than the rest of it and I think I could have for sure tolerated a simple Nathan and Meddy rom-com! But the murdery cover-up stuff (despite moments of humor with the aunts) is so muddled — we’re supposed to be ok with the fact that they killed this dude because he was a predator? Like, sure, I’m on board for that, but also how are we laughing about that? It’s just like…not funny?? (This aside from the fact that I don’t actually feel like I would read this as a murder to begin with, tasing someone who’s about to assault you?? So like…the entire premise flopped for me?)

Anyway. I found myself wishing the writing and structure of this were much better so I could actually follow up and read more about the characters (many of whom I actually liked on a basic level). But I couldn’t tolerate it.

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justagir1's review

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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keelirae113's review

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adventurous emotional funny tense 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

3.0

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, and I think I'd read another, even though the writing wasn't my fave. It was very conversational, which is totally accessible and fun and makes for a nice relaxing read. It's just not as much my jam. But I love a good love story, and I really liked the peak into this very female-driven world.

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fromthefoxhole's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Oh my god, I don't even know where to start with this BOOK. I was constantly wiping my eyes, either from laughing so hard or from tearing up from the outpouring of love between the aunties and Meddy.

I love that this book is romantic and swoony as the b plot, that the familial love and hilarity takes center stage. It gives so much more breathing room to the romance, and really highlights how life changing it can be to grow up and realize that yes, your family can drive you mad, but oftentimes it's out of love and hope. If I'm being honest, the aunties stole the show for me, even though they're technically secondary characters.
Something about Sutanto's writing made their personalities so vivid, by the end of the book I feel like I could pop into any of their homes for a quick cup of tea or bite to eat.

This is my favorite book I've read so far this year, and easily leapt to my top ten I've read ever. *insert that lady Gaga gif where she's listing accolades*

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lizsbookreviews21's review

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4.0

To say I loved this book- is an understatement. It was such a comical book, and I loved getting to read about Meddy’s relationship with her aunties and her ma. They’re all so close and love each other so much, in their own way.

Meddy was definitely living a chaotic life. She’s still pining over her college sweetheart, whose heart she broke so she wouldn’t break her Ma’s and aunties (SO SWEET AND CARING OF HER). She’s a wedding photographer who wants to venture out, but again doesn’t want to hurt her aunties and ma, so she stays working for them only. The fact that her dating life was the main topic of the first few chapters, was HILARIOUS. I love what her ma did and it definitely added a TON of comedy for me.

Her date gone wrong- was such an angering moment. I hated how he was being pushy, and being how he was. I think the chapters about the death before they went to the island, was so FUNNY. The aunties response to the whole thing, was so CHAOTIC, but honestly kind of felt so far out there that it made it funnier.

I loved the whole wedding chapters, it was so funny and I love how they were so surprising. The little mystery thrown in there was super surprising. I loved it though.

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ashley_1206's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

3⭐️ all i can say rn is what?

anyways love meddy and nathan fr. nathan a real one.

this book was o fast but hella long chapters but i enjoyed it but at the same time i cant comprehend everything. we were moving so damn fast but i liked it???

also the culture was chefs kiss

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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emotional 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? Yes

4.5

This was hilarious. I never quite knew where the story was going to go next, but I loved Medellin and the Aunties. My one complaint is that Nathan didn't seem that developed as a character. In general, there were a lot of coincidences that seemed to exist just so the story could move forward. But still, I highly recommend, and I look forward to the screen adaptation.

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kylasmv15's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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