The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties
Humorous American Literature
Asian American Literature & Fiction
3rd in Series
Setting – Indonesia
Publisher : Berkley (March 26, 2024)
Hardcover : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593546210
ISBN-13 : 978-0593546215
Kindle ASIN : B0C9GXTY1H
What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.
After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Chinese New Year, already the biggest celebration of the Lunar calendar, gets even more festive when a former beau of Second Aunt’s shows up at the Chan residence bearing extravagant gifts—he’s determined to rekindle his romance with Second Aunt and the gifts are his way of announcing his courtship.
His grand gesture goes awry however, when it’s discovered that not all the gifts were meant for Second Aunt and the Chans—one particular gift was intended for a business rival to cement their alliance and included by accident. Of course, the Aunties agree that it’s only right to return the gift—after all, anyone would forgive an honest mistake, right? But what should have been a simple retrieval turns disastrous and suddenly Meddy and the Aunties are helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions. The fighting turns personal, however, when Nathan and the Aunties are endangered and it’s up to Meddy to come up with a plan to save them all. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission—but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have been enjoying their romantic honeymoon tour across Europe but now it is time to meet her huge extended family in Jakarta to celebrate the Chinese New Year. It is quite a celebration with many traditions.
Second Aunt’s head is turned when a former beau comes to the family home bearing gifts in hopes of winning her back. But there was one special gift that was intended for a business rival and was mistakenly given to a teenager at the celebration. It was an honest mistake but getting the contents of the particular envelope isn’t going to be easy. The recipient was the granddaughter of another rival and retrieving it puts the Aunties, Meddy, and Nathan right in the middle of a “decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions”. The Aunts look to Meddy to come up with a plan to get them out of the mess but that just may be impossible.
This is the third and final installment of this series and the author pulled out all the stops.
Meddy and Nathan are happily married and were able to get away from the Aunties for the start of the honeymoon. Meddy especially enjoyed not being at their beck and call. Now it is time to meet up with her mother, Second Aunt, Fourth Aunt, and Big Aunt for a huge celebration. Chaos ensues the minute they land in Jakarta as does the laughter.
The Aunties are a force and that we get to see them with their extended family is fantastic. It’s a competition, they can’t “lose face”. So everything they bring and everything they do must be the best while adhering to some unwritten rules. Getting caught up in some drama with Indonesia’s Kuo Fa group could make them lose face if not handled delicately and the Aunties do not do delicate at all. The powerful leaders Abi (Abraham Lincoln), Julia (Child), and Kristofer Kolumbes are the top 3 conglomerates in Indonesia and have been feuding for years. Abi’s gift has now brought Meddy, Nathan, and the Aunties into another dangerous situation.
No one needs family reunions like this but it made for a terrific read. All the characters are larger than life and lept off the pages. Meddy tries so hard to do what’s right and keep the Aunties out of trouble but they just pull her into the craziness. Nathan has the patience of a saint when dealing with the Aunties. He tries to keep things fun and light for Meddy but she knows these women and the bedlam they can create. Ms. Sutanto has created memorable characters that will stick with her readers for a long time.
The family home in Jakarta is humungous, with several generations living under one roof, and has plenty of space for visitors. The Aunties believe that when they left for America the rest of the family was very angry or jealous. And say while they love each other but they all have their “arguments”.
Their knowledge of common idioms is great, but getting them correct not so much. “the grass is greener on the other side” comes out “The grass got early worms on the other side”. And words, “Why must you be so mellow dramatic?” Meddy’s mother can dole out the guilt too whenever she deems it neccessary.
Ms. Sutanto sent her characters on a wild adventure almost from the start of this story. Twists upon twists, turns upon turns, drama, chaos, kidnapping, criminal acts, stand-offs, all laced with a wide array of humor. Fourth Aunt is hilarious but the others have their moments. Meddy has grown since the first book, Dial A For Aunties. Nathan is her perfect match. He also knows exactly how to deal with the Aunties. Big Aunt grew a lot in this story too. She was not always the most powerful person in the room and she had an awakening. Meddy’s mother just needs one thing and she may get it soon.
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties – The Good was very Good, The Bad was very bad, and the Aunties were fabulous. I am sorry to see this series end. The characters and their antics are so much fun. All three books have delightfully entertained me. Like Dial A for Aunties and Four Aunties and a Wedding, The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties receives my Paradise Rating. They have all moved to my “Keeper Collection” on my Kindle. They are books I will want to read again, especially when I feel the need to laugh.
Netflix has purchased the right to Dial A for Aunties, so we may see it made into a movie someday.
*Note: The book does include explicit language.
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About the Author
Jesse Q. Sutanto is the author of adult, YA, and children’s middle-grade books. She has a master’s degree in creative writing from Oxford University, though she hasn’t found a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. The film rights to her women’s fiction, Dial A for Aunties
Jesse has forty-two first cousins and thirty aunties and uncles, many of whom live just down the road. When she’s not writing, she’s gaming with her husband (mostly FPS), or making a mess in the kitchen with her two daughters.
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Also written by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
scenario. I did enjoy the author’s descriptions as the characters traveled around the church grounds and back and forth to their hotel. I had no problem at all envisioning every place including the rooms where some really wacky things played out.
crossed with 
And I want more. I hope there is a book three. Like 
, this is a Must Read! You should read both in order for double the fun. I am giving this book my Paradise Rating. It will be on my Best Reads List for 2022. Run don’t walk to your nearest bookstore and get a copy today.
is a fantastic story full of delightfully quirky characters that I wish I could meet in person. Crazy chaos overtakes these pages and will have readers grinning ear to ear. Fun and entertaining. A must-read!