After greatly enjoying Dial A for Aunties, I knew I’d have to read the sequel. Sutanto’s second in the series is full of comedic coincidences and mishaps. I couldn’t help laughing, while also being emotionally moved by its core of family. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Meddy Chan has been to countless weddings, but she never imagined how her own would turn out. Now the day has arrived, and she can’t wait to marry her college sweetheart, Nathan. Instead of having Ma and the aunts cater to her wedding, Meddy wants them to enjoy the day as guests. As a compromise, they find the perfect wedding vendors: a Chinese-Indonesian family-run company just like theirs. Meddy is hesitant at first, but she hits it off right away with the wedding photographer, Staphanie, who reminds Meddy of herself, down to the unfortunately misspelled name.
Meddy realizes that is where their similarities end, however, when she overhears Staphanie talking about taking out a target. Horrified, Meddy can’t believe Staphanie and her family aren’t just like her own, they are The Family–actual mafia, and they’re using Meddy’s wedding as a chance to conduct shady business. Her aunties and mother won’t let Meddy’s wedding ceremony become a murder scene–over their dead bodies–and will do whatever it takes to save her special day, even if it means taking on the mafia.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Four Aunties and a Wedding is equal parts touching and hilarious. While the first definitely had a mystery vibe, this one feels like a comedy of errors. Of well meaning mistakes that seem to pile up. It felt incredibly realistic, because if I had to stop what I thought was the mafia, I’d probably make similar mistakes. Because of that, Four Aunties and a Wedding is enjoyable and reads quickly. Not only do we want to see Meddy married, but we want to find out if her aunties and her can succeed.
I finished this one way before schedule because I was having so much fun I didn’t want to stop! Additionally, Four Aunties and a Wedding is rooted in family. In family we love, but also frustrate us to no end. It’s about the family we chose and the ones who show up. Family that only we get to make jokes about. The connection she has with her mother and aunts is touching, especially as Meddy reflects on them in the book. Another element I loved was how Meddy and Nathan navigate their families.
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For Nathan and Meddy the differences in their families and growing up becomes even more pronounced as their families meet. To realize that we are shaped by our families, by our diasporic experiences. Four Aunties and a Wedding is a testament to how things just keep escalating, when we’re backed into a corner and people start magically getting hit with teapots. It’s a fabulous sequel that had a few moments of disjointedness, but would 100% recommend. Find Four Aunties and a Wedding on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
i’m pretty excited to read this book after I finish “dial a for aunties”
yay!! this one is a direct sequel so it’ll be perfect!