Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto on April 27, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Asian American, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
I don’t know if I would classify this as a Rom-Com or a Cozy Mystery, but it was delightful. This is a humorous, laugh out loud story that I really enjoyed. This is a story about family who is always there for you, even when you don’t think you need them.
Maddeline (Meddy) Chan’s mother and 3 Aunties that are quite involved in her life. She goes to college, meets a boy, falls in love, and never tells them. Her boyfriend, Nathan, who is so perfect, has an opportunity to move across the country for a job opportunity. She won’t hold him back and she won’t leave her family.
Years later, she is in the wedding business with her Mom and Aunties. Their company motto is “Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!” The night before they have a big wedding at a fancy Resort, Meddy finds out she is being set up on a blind date. Her meddling mother signed up on a dating site in her name and started chatting with someone. What could go wrong? Well, her mother doesn’t speak English very well, for one thing. Their conversations are hilarious, in the way that Meddy’s mother is excited that this guy can cook because of his “eggplant” references. He also claimed to be the owner of the hotel that was hosting the big wedding. So on their date, Meddy is scared when her date takes her dark turn and she ends up shooting him with a taser dart to the neck. He insisted on driving her home in her car so he’s in the driver’s seat….dead.
My favorite quote (because I drive a Wrangler), “A man. Dead. In the driver’s seat of my Subaru. This is not at all on brand for Subaru. Subaru’s aren’t killers’ cars. Jeep Wranglers are.”
She stuffs the body in the trunk and rushes home. Her Mom & Aunties help her “get rid of” the body the best they can and still make the wedding. Only, when they get to the resort to meet the owner, who is dead and hidden away, they are in for a big surprise.
This one had me laughing so loud that my daughter had to ask me what was so funny. It’s a book about family, love, and destiny. The character development was great. The plot had me turning pages. The premise was clever and witty. I think anyone who likes a rom-com, with a little mystery would like this. This reminded me of a cross between Weekend at Bernie’s and Crazy Rich Asians.