While I absolutely loved Dial A for Aunties, I wasn’t as impressed with this one.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s still so many shenanigans that take place between Meddy, her three aunts, and her mother, I just had a much more difficult time with suspending belief at the expense of comedy because all of this takes place on Meddy’s wedding day. All of the events were just so utterly absurd, and poor Nathan was just left to be the schmuck in the dark while his wife and extended families is dealing with the most absurd of situations.

One of the things that the author does really well with this story is contrasting Meddy’s lower socioeconomic Indo-Chinese family and their traditions to Nathan’s wealthy family. Even though both family are of Chinese descent, there’s a stark difference in how each of the families conduct their day to day.

I’m still interested in Sutanto’s future works even though this one was meh for me.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Shenanigans and humor and family, all the best qualities in a book. I have yet to find a book from Jesse that I haven't completely adored.

I was really looking forward to Four Aunties and a Wedding as I absolutely loved the first book Dial A for Aunties.

I'm not sure if it was me or the book, but I didn't love this one as much. I knew from the first book I had to suspend disbelief while reading this series, but something about the antics in this one didn't work for me. I wanted Meddy to be smarter this time around, but she quickly fell right back to her old patterns. I wish she would have leaned on Nathan earlier. I would have loved to see how he would interact with Meddy and her Aunties and all the meddling they do to try to "fix" problems.

I skimmed a good portion of the second half, as I did want to see how it all got sorted out. Just sad it wasn't a home run for me.

In this sequel to Dial A for Aunties, Meddy and Nathan are getting married in England and her aunties have found the perfect wedding planners – some very distant family members of course. But luckily Meddy hits it off with the photographer Staphanie and everything seems to be going to plan.
However, Meddy is nervous about what Nathan’s parents will think of her loud, eccentric Chinese-Indonesian family. Her aunts outdo themselves by being dressed by an avant-garde Indonesian designer, topped off with Komodo dragon fascinators and sprouting British slang.
Then the night before her wedding, Meddy realises Staph and her family are not who they say they are – and mayhem ensues. This will appeal to anyone who loved the first Aunties novel as well as anyone looking for a rollicking good time. It was another crazy ride and I am interested to see if the honeymoon provides the setting for another story.

These aunties make me physically cringe sometimes because I can see some of my family acting like this. But I also love them? Which is basically the definition of family: chaos, cringe, and love all bundled together.

I love the aunties! This series is so much fun. It was a quick, lighthearted, enjoyable read featuring characters that i know so many have come to love.

Posted on Goodreads on 6/6/22.

Chaotic and cartoony. I was hoping it wouldn't, but this sequel fell prey to the "bigger = better!" school of thought and came out the worse for it. For zany comedies, that usually means dialing everything up - the stakes, the antics, the personality quirks - but without a discerning eye, everything becomes a caricature of itself.

I was annoyed with Meddy because it didn't feel like she learned anything after going through the entire first book getting steam-rolled by her aunties and her mom. I could mostly forgive her passiveness before when it seemed like she was learning her "lesson" in standing up for herself when she knew she was right and being respectful without being a door mat. But I can't excuse her behavior when it's her own wedding she's letting be ruined, she's actively lying to her new husband, and her critical thinking skills have apparently gone bye-bye.

The aunties are an acquired taste that went sour this time around. They've gone far beyond the line of pushy but well-meaning with a touch of culture clash like in book one, and are now coming across as selfish and obnoxiously oblivious. Meddy is constantly embarrassed by them, but heaven forbid anyone else point out their absurd behavior (even in the wake of a potential mafia hit going on at a wedding, we're talking bumbling levels of incompetence worthy of a "Who's on first?" kinda comedy routine without the cleverness to make you laugh). Like, sorry, no, Meddy, this is not a case of them being loveable goof-balls; they are truly just displaying embarrassing behavior, full stop.

Nathan wasn't much of a three-dimensional character in DIAL A FOR AUNTIES, which, whatever, it wasn't really a book ABOUT him or romance, but it really shows he's a cardboard cutout when he's put into the role of "saintly husband who knows something's up but just dutifully watches the chaos descending upon his own wedding and then totally forgives his wife for lying about all of it with nary a frown" -- and, like, my husband is an amazing man but even he'd tell me to cut the shit if I treated him like Meddy treats Nathan on their wedding day.

The plot itself isn't strong enough to overcome or make me overlook the other distractions. Constant scenes of popping into the wedding to watch the aunties make fools of themselves and then Meddy excusing herself to run into the dressing room yet again only to find one of the aunties kidnapped someone? Yes, I say CONSTANT because this "hilarious" kidnapping scenario happens THREE TIMES. The same moment where Meddy wrings her hands ineffectually as she watches shit just fall apart around her in no small part thanks to her family "helping" her? Too many to even count.

I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but Meddy's story needed to be one and done. I liked her author's note about portraying different types of Asian diaspora and how there's no monolith of "Asian" experience, but I do hope she finds new characters to write about in the future, because I have no more interest in revisiting the aunties ever again.

**FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from the publisher. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review.**

This was a quick and fun read. It was fun to go back and see the aunties again but this time in a different, more anxiety-inducing situation with a wedding and preparations.

I loved learning more about the Aunties. Their personalities make them the stars of the show. Their coordination despite the bickering makes it easy to imagine they are secretly mafia. (I think Fourth Aunt is my favorite.)
Sutanto shows clear appreciation for her settings, whether San Gabriel Valley or Oxford. Her descriptions stand out, particularly Oxford's architecture. "...I never once thought of how comforting architecture can be but here we are." These places are loved as her homes.
However, while the mafia miscommunication hijinks between Meddy's & Staphanie's families are fun, the scenarios feel too separated from the rest of the wedding. While the romance is not the main focus of the Aunties stories, I felt Meddy and Nathan's relationship took too much of a backseat. Nathan's interactions with the Aunties show him to be embraced in the family, but his personality lacks depth in comparison. These are such wonderfully character-driven stories, but I felt as disconnected to Nathan as he was to his own wedding. I think part of the appeal of their comedy in Dial A was his involvement in the coverup as the straight man. His parents felt more fleshed out in the clash of assimilation and diaspora.
Overall, I still enjoyed the story and look forward to a third. (Their honeymoon or second wedding?) I find Sutanto's writing refreshing and fun, and I reach to it on vacations as a relaxing, feel-good read.

I LOVED Dial A for Aunties and I had high hopes for Four Aunties and a Wedding. I wanted so badly to love this as much as I did the first book but it just felt more forced this time around. The characters are still hilarious and lovable and emotionally compelling, but some of the plot points are over the top.

I think the beginning of this book (up until the night before the wedding) and then the last third are strong both character and plot-wise. The situations they're dealing with (the worry of two very different families coming together into one and dealing with the loss of a family member) are so interesting and emotionally rich and I feel like if the story had stuck with these it would have been stronger overall.

The open nature of the ending makes me think we may see this duology become a trilogy at least, but we'll just have to see. I did enjoy these books and I'll definitely pick up another book by Jesse Q Sutano!

How do you follow up the mirth and mayhem of a book like Dial A for Aunties? Return to the magic elixir that was at the center of it all- four Asian Aunties, of course. Stir in a wedding in England for Meddy and Nathan, and wedding coordinators who may have something to do with the mob to give the aunties a bit of a challenge. I was primed and ready for this one- or so I thought…

Four Aunties and a Wedding is a follow up story, but there was enough background detail in it that a reader could jump in with this second book and get up to speed just fine.

Meddy and Nathan are to be married in Oxford on his family’s home turf and Meddy’s Asian family of mother and three Aunties are determined that everything is to be special for Meddy, right down to their willingness to pick up British slang and accents *snort (yes, it was as hilarious as it sounds). Meddy and Nathan have already chosen their photographer, Stephanie, who happens to come with a family of various wedding vendors who can cover all their wedding needs. Perfect. Wedding sorted, they thought. Then Meddy overhears Stephanie on the phone and it sounds like there is to be hit on a queen. No worries, the Aunties got this (yes, you should be very afraid). And, they do, but will the wedding and guests going to survive their efforts?

Four Aunties and a Wedding is boisterous and over the top. It sparkles and drives forward at a furious pace and holds loosely to the plot. It is laugh until you cry funny and the antics never stop. Meddy spends more time with the Aunties chasing the mafia situation than she does worrying about the wedding or spending time with Nathan. They are once again shuffling a body around under the wedding guests and Nathan’s family noses. Part of me saw that the crazy situation was predominant over other matters like Nathan’s family reaction to Meddy and her background and wanted a bit more balance in this one, but another part of me shrugged and treated it as a full on comedy. I found this went off the map more than the first book (there might have been Komodo Dragon hats for the bridal party) and I think a reader’s enjoyment of this will greatly depend on taste in humor, mood, and expectation of a screwball romantic comedy-style cozy mystery. The grounding element is family. Meddy’s Aunties and mother drive her near insanity, but there is deep love and acceptance there. Nathan is charming and rolls with it. He knows what he’s getting into by now. And, those Aunties are fiercely loyal and loving (they will not only come to help bury the body, but will kidnap and hogtie the guy in the first place- and they do).

So, I was limp from laughter and amusement and satisfied overall with the blend of sweet family fun and madcap comedy. I see a glimmer of future series installments and hope it happens. If readers are looking for a sweet romance, a bit of a cozy mystery, and a whole lot of Asian family-centered comedy, give the Aunties series a go.

When it’s time for Meddy to get married, her family picks out a Chinese-Indonesian family as the vendors, just like her own. While Meddy sees a lot of similarities between this family and her own, and is optimistic they’ll put on a good wedding, her illusion is shattered when she hears Staphanie, the photographer whom Meddy is starting to consider a friend, talking about taking someone out at her wedding. Convinced this family is the mafia, Meddy & her aunties try to save the wedding & whoever the target hit is.

The key is reading this one is definitely expectation setting. I don’t think there’s any significant character development between the first and second book, although meeting Nathan’s family was a new dynamic (and made for some very cringe-worthy comedy…think The Office).

But there is one thing that keeps me returning to this series—the AUNTIES! They are HILARIOUS to the point where I was laughing to myself. I would definitely put this book in the same category as Finlay Donovan because (as you’ll know if you read Dial A for Aunties) the situations get pretty far fetched and unrealistic. However, if you go in knowing that and just enjoy the book I promise you will have an enjoyable reading experience. If you need a lighter book to decompress from a heavier, emotionally draining book (like I was) this is definitely the book for you.

One thing that I’m not the biggest fan of in any type of book is miscommunication (whether it be romcoms, women’s fiction, etc.) and there is certainly a lot of that here. Meddy withholds a lot from Nathan and there were definitely points where I wanted to scream “just tell him everything!” But I understand it’s all part of the story. Nathan has the patience of a saint for being able to get past Meddy’s unwillingness to communicate, but it’s sweet how he steadfastly accepts her and her family.

You don’t have to read the first book really to get the second one, but I would recommended it because the series overall makes for a fun, fast read.

Meddy Chan's wedding day in Cambridge couldn't get more complicated. Wedding vendors distantly related to her family have threatened her and her family if she interferes with their plan to kill someone at the wedding. Armed with the zaniness and the determination of her four aunties, Meddy tries to stop a murder or anything else that could ruin her elaborate and well planned wedding day .

Full of humorous dialogue and situations, the Chinese-Indonesian aunties steal the show with their outrageous wedding outfits, their misuse of British slang trying to impress Meddy's future in laws, and how the aunties thwart any attempt of murder at Meddy's wedding. They involve Meddy herself in their plans which are outrageously funny.

Written with spunk and a clever use of dialogue, character, and setting, Four Aunties and a Wedding is clearly a winner.

The aunties are a gem. The representation in this is incredible!

This is the definition of a cozy mystery - the unpredictable, unrealistic, hilarious, non-gory, bizarre, witty banter, etc.

This genre (like all genres) isn’t for everyone! I think people can unreasonably judge cozies SO much tougher than other genres because it’s outlandish & targets a niche audience. For that reason, I can’t recommend it to everyone - but if you’re OK with it, I think you’ll enjoy it!

Meddy Chan is getting married and she doesn't want her mother and aunties to cater the wedding. She wants them to be guests, to be her family. Her mom finds the perfect family to do the entire wedding, from photographer, to caterer, to wedding cake designer. Only problem? They're mafia and they've got a target that they are taking out at the wedding.
This is the second book in the series, but you don't have to read the first, I didn't have any problems, never got lost. What I did have a problem with was how fantastical the story is. It seemed to me that there was so much craziness, that it went overboard for me. This is an action packed cozy mystery, and I leave it up to you if you decide that you can handle the amount of craziness that's in this story.

**I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

If you loved the delightful and 🍌 ride that was Dial A for Aunties, then you’ll be thrilled with this second book.

Meddy is getting married to her college sweetheart, Nathan. And after going to so many weddings for other people it is finally her turn.

While her family runs a wedding business, she wants them to be able to enjoy the day, not spend the whole time organizing it. So, she hires another family-run business to look after the catering, photography etc. There’s just one problem…they’re not just a family business, they’re THE Family…as in the mafia, and Meddy’s wedding is just a cover for them to take care of some ‘business’.

Will you have to suspend belief when you pick up this book? Absolutely. But will you enjoy the ride? Oh you most definitely will. Watching how they get themselves out of this latest mess was hilarious!

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it didn't disappoint. I loved all the characters (especially the Aunties of course), and it was set in the UK which was an extra layer of fun.

Another great Aunties mystery from Jesse Q. Sutano! This series is so much campy fun - don't miss out!

Thanks to Berkley for the copy to review.

Four Aunties and a Wedding was difficult to get through. The first book had a certain charm to its far-fetched plot, but the second book was lacking in the fun, light moments. The end wrapped up way too quickly.

4.5 Stars

Once again, I devoured the Aunties book in one setting, and once again, I couldn’t help but fall deeper in love with their antics and familial loyalty.

This time its Meddy’s wedding and we are in OXFORD!!!! Except she overhears her wedding photographer talking about taking a hit out on someone at her and Nathan’s wedding the next day. BECAUSE SHE AND THE AUNTIES APPARENTLY HIRED THE INDONESIAN MAFIA TO PLAN HER WEDDING.

Once again, miscommunications happen, ridiculous outfits are worn (honestly I DEMAND ONE OF THESE KOMODO DRAGON FASCINATORS), even more ridiculous plots are hatched to make it through the event and bigger secrets are kept from sweet Nathan.

There wasn’t as much steam or romance in this book (I mean, it is at the wedding, but so much of Maddy’s wedding is spent keeping Nathan in the dark), but we have MAJOR DOSES of the aunties and their hijinx and honestly, that’s truly what we are all here for.

The ending leaves us headed to Indonesia for the New Year AND I WILL BE DEVASTATED IF WE DO NOT GET A THIRD BOOK. DO YOU HEAR ME BERKLEY?! DEVASTATED. I need all the Aunties I can get!

Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a funny rom com with light suspense that definitely had me laughing. I enjoyed all the characters in this second book in the Aunties series. Definitely a funny adventure that still has me smiling!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and author Jesse Q. Sutanto for this digital copy for me to read and laugh my head off with. As always, my reviews are voluntary and my opinions are my own.