Four Aunties and a Wedding

I should start this review by confessing that I haven't yet actually read Dial A For Aunties, the prequel to Four Aunties And A Wedding, however I don't think that negatively affected my enjoyment of this second book in the series. Events in the first book are referenced, but also briefly explained so I soon felt as though I was up to speed and had a good grasp of what was going on - well, as good a grasp as any of the characters do anyway! Four Aunties And A Wedding is a classic farce of misunderstandings, miscommunication and glaring social faux pas, given a fabulously Chinese-Indonesian makeover. I loved Jesse Sutanto's larger than life Aunt characters and the intense sibling rivalry between them is brilliantly portrayed. Their behaviours provide much of the humour throughout the novel and I particularly appreciated how Sutanto made them funny, but never figures of fun. It's a fine line of distinction and I was impressed with how deftly she wrote the four roles.

I was a little less enamoured of bride-to-be Meddelin. I understood that she couldn't be as over the top as her aunts, but at times her vacillating and repeated refusals to just talk to Nathan did irritate me. The total implausibility of some of the plot points also detracted from my enjoyment. That said, the initial premise is daft, but fun and the Aunts charge across each page rarely allowing readers the chance to draw breath. Their 'British' accents are an inspired touch and the culture clash between the bride's and groom's families is cringeworthily painful to witness. I could easily feel how cold the atmosphere became. I'm really pleased to have discovered Sutanto's writing now and will certainly pick up the first Aunties book when I see one. Four Aunties And A Wedding is a good escapist read that I think would brighten anyone's day.