Reviews with content warning for Violence - Four Aunties and a Wedding

I am SO SAD that I was so disappointed by this one!! It just completely lacked all the complexity and extravagance of the first book in the series (which was my favourite book of 2021 and one of my favourite books of all time!!). There was no character development or exploration of interrelationships, it had a very linear, simplistic plot direction, and it definitely wasn’t as funny as Dial A for Aunties. The wedding completely faded until it was a simple backdrop for repetitive action. The first third of the book was probably the best and definitely had some laugh-out-loud moments - it really saved this rating. But this book was in my top three most anticipated 2022 releases and it definitely didn’t live up to my expectations.

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vaniavela's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.5

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Drug abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

Mafia, murder and marriage? Meddy Chan is finally getting married. After the events of Dial A for Aunties, Meddy and her family's life can't get any more complicated. Or can it? After realizing that the family they've hired to host her wedding are actually mobsters trying to kill someone inside the event (and after being threatened with revealing the crime Meddy committed long ago) they'll have to take action and once again resolve the chaos they've gotten themselves into. I loved the first book; it became one of my favorites and has a place in my heart. So when I heard about the publication of this sequel, I screamed with excitement. I really did. One of the aspects that continues to fascinate me about this book series, is seeing the family dynamics; how they defend and protect each other to the hilt, no matter how far they go, just to look out for each other. Her aunties may have embarrassed her in extremes, but at the end of the day they were her family and she loved them. This book is so fast-paced, fun and lighthearted. Of course, there is a lot of chaos going on at the same time, so be prepared for crazy interactions and dialogue. One aspect that could have been worked on is Nathan's presence. I would have liked to see him actually involved with the family in the mess; covering up the crimes, acting ridiculous as a distraction, and more. He was portrayed as the perfect man with no flaws, and I would have liked to see more realism. I loved that the Aunties are wearing their famous komodo dragon fascinators on the cover of the book. It was a small detail, but when I noticed it after reading the book, my heart skipped a beat. Throughout the whole book I felt bad for Meddy. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, and she spent it stressing and worrying about the mob, lying, and also away from Nathan. Also, the fact that it was all a sham still makes me feel bad. She won't have good pictures or be able to look back and say "That day was amazing." There were two tiny plot twists but ones I really wasn't expecting. One of them made me laugh too hard, I won't lie. It's something that would happen to me. I laughed at the right times, and I could feel various emotions while reading this book.Honestly, I still prefer the first book, but I really liked this one. If you like chaotic family dynamics, crime, and weddings, I fully recommend both books. You will get a good time out of them.

theoceanrose's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.75

It's so easy to see my family reflected in Meddy and her Aunties, even with a different cultural background

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librariangeorgia's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious 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

I adored the previous book and was super excited to read this one.

A fantastic addition to the series, I hope there’s another book to follow!

I love the Aunties - they are so quirky and unpredictable! Their chaotic energy makes the book so much more entertaining! I love that Meddy always gets roped into their shenanigans though half of the time she does unintentionally initiate it!

It’s so outrageous I love it, and I could see these being made into films - they would be hilarious!

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katiemack's review

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dark 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? Yes

4.0

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I confess that I was skeptical when I started the first book in this series, but by the end of it I had developed affection for Meddy, her mom, and her three aunties. This established relationship actually made me enjoy the second book even more than the first--I sped through it, eager to see what madcap decisions they would make to get through Meddy's wedding without more blood on their hands. While Nathan was less a part of this book than the first, it was still sweet to read about him and Meddy's relationship and the trust they had established.

This sequel to Dial A for Aunties does not disappoint--if you've been waiting to see what the Chans have been up to, grab this when it comes out.

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