Dial A for Aunties
| Author | Jesse Q. Sutanto |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comedy, Mystery fiction, Thriller, Caper story |
| Publisher | Berkley Books |
Publication date | 27 April 2021 |
| ISBN | 0593333039 |
| OCLC | 1242776219 |
| Followed by | Four Aunties and a Wedding |
Dial A for Aunties is a comedy caper novel written by Chinese-Indonesian author Jesse Q. Sutanto. It is the first book in a trilogy and was followed by Four Aunties and a Wedding (2022) and The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (2024). Sutanto was awarded the Comedy Women in Print Prize for the novel.[1]
Plot
Meddelin Chan, a 26-year-old photographer working for her family's wedding business, accidentally kills her blind date. Her mother calls in her aunts to help dispose of the body, though their plan is compromised when it is stored in a cooler and accidentally shipped to a wedding at an island resort that the family is working at.
Reception
Sarah Weinman of The New York Times Book Review stated: "The glue is Meddelin, endearing, capable and in full thrall to her elders, who are all absolute hoots to keep company with."[2] Maya Gittleman of Bookreporter.com called the novel "brilliantly crafted", "compulsively fun to read" and "gnuinely hilarious, romantic and sweet".[3] Kirkus Reviews stated: "Readers will die for the delightfully absurd hijinks in this dark comedy."[4] Publishers Weekly opined: "There’s plenty of light entertainment here, but don’t expect anything with bite."[5]
Adaptations
In 2020, prior to the novel's publication, the film rights were bought by Netflix in a bidding war. Nahnatchka Khan was set to direct the film.[6]
References
- ^ Flood, Alison (8 November 2021). "'Delicious caper' by Jesse Sutanto wins Comedy women in print award". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
- ^ Weinman, Sarah (25 April 2021). "How to Get Away With Murder". The New York Times Book Review. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
- ^ Gittelman, Maya (8 May 2021). "Dial A for Aunties". Bookreporter.com. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
- ^ "Dial A for Aunties". Kirkus Reviews. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
- ^ "Dial a for Aunties". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
- ^ "How Asian film is making moves to take over from Hollywood". BBC News. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2023.