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

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.

Content Warnings

fromthefoxhole's review against another edition

Go to review page

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*

Content Warnings

lizsbookreviews21's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

ashley_1206's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

zombiezami's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

kylasmv15's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

theespressoedition's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Yes, yes, and more YES! This book didn't just live up to my expectations - it majorly exceeded them!

Honestly, I didn't have a whole lot to go on when I picked this up. I had seen blurbs about it only a handful of times and knew very little about the plot. Y'all, if you need a good laugh, you must pick up Dial A for Aunties. I haven't cackled this many times while reading a book in a really, really long time. And I mean cackled.

This book was clever, hilarious, creative, and just what I needed after several disappointing books in a row. The aunties reminded me just the tiniest bit of Crazy Rich Asians with their goofy escapades - but truly, if you look past the hilarity, what you'll find is a really precious family that supports each other no matter what (even if it includes hiding a dead body)! The strong women and their love for one another was the best part.

I kind of like the fact that looking back, it's not the romance that I'm remembering the most (though that part is adorable too), but the women. They're the reason to read this book. And there's a sequel coming out? YES PLEASE. I can't wait.

Content Warnings

More...