The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties

Aunties #3

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Humor, Cozy Mystery

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2024

About the author

Jesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.

Reviews

[Emma Griffioen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties was a completely unnecessary addition to this series, and somehow even more unrealistic than the first two books. This third installment follows Meddy and her husband Nathan, who decide to join the Aunties, and Meddy's extended family in Jarkarta for Chinese New Year, after their European honeymoon. And of course, all hell breaks loose. I was hoping for character development and a plot line that was different from the first 2 books, and I got neither. It really felt like Sutanto was just dragging the story for the sake of making this series a trilogy. And just like in the first 2 books, the entire "problem" is solved within the last 2 chapters, which made it feel really rushed.

I know I said this last time, but I am officially done with Jesse Q. Sutanto's books. I am clearly not the audience they are meant for and I gave her books 4 shots... that is enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-arc of The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties, in exchange for an honest review.

Read my reviews for Jesse Q. Sutanto's books here:
Dial A For Aunties - 2 stars
Four Aunties and a Wedding - 2 stars
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties - 2 stars
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - 2 stars

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meddy Chan and her four aunties are like old friends who never fail to entertain and bring laughter into my life. Every time I dive into another installment of their adventures, it feels like a cozy reunion with cherished characters. This time, the stage is set for an explosive and hilarious Chinese New Year celebration that takes a wild turn.

Meddy and Nathan, fresh from their dreamy European honeymoon, decide to spend Chinese New Year in Jakarta with Meddy's extensive family. Little did they know that they would find themselves in the midst of a gangster showdown involving three formidable crime lords: Kristofer Kolumbes, Julia Child, and Abraham Lincoln. The absurdity of these criminal aliases never fails to tickle my funny bone, and the way they insist on being law-abiding citizens is both comical and perplexing.

Things take a chaotic turn when Abraham Lincoln, of all people, decides to visit the aunties' relatives' house and mix up his gifts with those handed out by Meddy and Nathan to the children. Among these gifts is a special title deed promised to Julia Child, one of the most powerful figures in Indonesia's Ruo Fao Group. The mix-up sends Meddy, the aunties, and their unsuspecting relatives on a wild goose chase to determine which child received the title deed. Failure to find it in time could lead to disastrous consequences, as they risk infuriating one of the most dangerous crime lords around.

As if that weren't enough, the title deed ends up in the possession of someone far from ordinary, leading Meddy and the aunties to confront yet another menacing crime lord. The resulting chaos and confusion have them embroiled in a dangerous war between rival gangsters, leaving Meddy to navigate treacherous waters to keep her loved ones safe.

Meddy's journey through this hilarious and perilous escapade is a rollercoaster ride filled with unexpected twists and turns. Her determination to protect her family and friends, even as she finds herself knee-deep in illegal circumstances, showcases her resilience and resourcefulness.

This series never fails to brighten my day with its witty humor, memorable characters, and exciting mysteries. The ending of this latest adventure is sweet and promising, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Meddy and the aunties' escapades.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy of this delightful book. In exchange, I'm delighted to share my honest thoughts and my genuine enthusiasm for this uproarious series.

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[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is the third, and reportedly final book in the Aunties series by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

This is an Adult Contemporary Fiction series that leans heavily into the humor. I have enjoyed all of the books and actually feel really sad that it's over.



In this third installment, we travel along with Meddy, her husband, Nathan, her Ma and three Aunties, as they travel to Jakarta to visit their extended family for Chinese New Year.

This is the second novel I have read from Sutanto this year that is set in Jakarta, and I love how she brings both the place and culture to the page. You can tell it's a place near and dear to her heart, it feels special.



Meddy was nervous about the trip, as it was Nathan's first time being there and meeting her large, high-energy family. She should've known he would take it like a champ.

I loved meeting Meddy's extended family and learning about the traditions they have surrounding their Chinese New Year celebrations. It's at one of these parties that the big blunder at the heart of this story occurs.

A old beau of Second Aunt arrives, bearing a bevy of gifts. Unfortunately, one of them was actually an important document he was intending to gift to a business rival to cement a new partnership. This packet gets mixed in amongst the other gifts and accidentally gets handed out.



Once the mistake is discovered, it seems simple, just track down the person who received the gift and they'll give it back. But we all know Meddy and the Aunties could never be that lucky, or simple.

It seems the packet didn't go to any one of the Chan family members. There was a teenage girl who stopped by to visit one of Meddy's younger cousins, and she's the one who ended up with it.

The business rival is not happy and serious repercussions are threatened if this document isn't found and given to them. Now it's a race against the clock to clear up this mess before one, or more, of them get hurt.



I thought this was so entertaining. I love the relationships in these books. It's the family vibes. They get me. They drive each other crazy, but they love each other so much and would do anything for each other.

I also have enjoyed watching Meddy and Nathan's relationship blossom. She's truly found her person. He's helped her to relax and feel comfortable being herself. He's so patient with her family as well; huge plus.



Determined to get the document back, Meddy, Nathan and the Aunties end up interacting with some of the most powerful people in Jakarta.

Their scheming, plotting and overall efforts, OMG, they're so funny. Only the Chans. And I actually think it humbled Big Aunt a little bit being around some folks more powerful than herself. It made me so happy.



As I was reading this, I actually didn't know it was slated to be the last one and I was coming up with a bunch of great ideas for the fourth book: Abi and Second Aunt's wedding, Meddy and Nathan starting a family, Big Aunt rekindling her singing career, etc.

Sadly, it seems like this is it. Regardless, whatever projects Sutanto is working on next, you know I will be reading them. She's definitely become one of my go-to authors over the last few years. I love it all!



Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm sorry to be parting with the Chans, but they'll live on in my heart!

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final installment of the series reignited all those familiar feelings. You can never fully rely on these aunties to follow your instructions, but you can always count on them to support you and navigate through tough spots. It's bittersweet bidding farewell, but it feels right for now—time to return to the real world.

[PalmPages · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ✨ 😮‍💨
When I realized I had the opportunity to hang out with my meddlesome aunties again, you best believe I was on it! The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties took me to Jakarta after Meddy's wedding to celebrate Chinese New Year. Second Aunt's past love interest shows up showering gifts to the family to display his affection and win her heart. During the festivities, the gift intended for a business rival to cement a business alliance is accidentally given to the family, causing trouble and putting everyone in danger. Leave it up to Meddy to ensure Nathan and the Aunties' safety!

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the book. By the time I reached 40% of the story, I expected more character development, especially from Meddy, as we'd spent A LOT of time with her. However, the book focused too much on Meddy's inner dialogue centred around her "stomach" and emotions. I felt that she was immature in handling and reacting to situations under pressure, despite her experiences with the Aunties.

In my opinion, the book was unnecessarily long, and it didn't add much to the series. However, the Aunties, especially Fourth Aunt, stole the show with her witty banter and insistence that Meddy should loosen up. I appreciated the overall message of the series, which is doing whatever it takes to protect your loved ones, even if it means going to extreme and unrealistic lengths to achieve it.

_____________________
Some time with my Aunties❣️ Let’s see what mission they’re up to now lol

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was funny and nostalgic, but I feel like it could have been a duology instead of a trilogy. However, I missed my favorite aunties and Meddy's anxiety. The aunties are really funny and clever, I love them sooooooooooo much!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m probably rating this higher than it deserves, but I enjoyed it as much as I have the previous ones in this series. The characters continue to entertain, and I am crossing my fingers for another one to follow 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for book 3 in the Aunties series by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I have read the books in order and you should too, as there are spoilers for books 1 and 2 in this one. This book has Meddy, her husband Nathan, her 3 aunts, and her mother going to back to Jakarta, Indonesia, which was home to them until they immigrated to the US. They are going to celebrate Chinese New Year with their relatives. But then an old flame to one of the Aunties shows up with presents, including the traditional red gift packets for the children. Unfortunately, one packet is mistakenly given out that was meant for an influential possible organized crime leader. This results in a whole series of mishaps, including kidnappings and more. How it get resolved makes for an entertaining story with some laugh out lines.
One quote: "There is a mix of Chinese and Indonesian sweets. Lapis Surabaya, a notoriously rich layered caked that uses no fewer than thirty egg yolks per loaf; nian gao, a caramel-brown sticky rice cake that's been cut into thin slices and deeply fried to crunchy, chewy perfection, fried sesame balls the size of my fist; and about a dozen other sweet dishes, each one more decadent than the last."
I recommend this series to mystery and romantic comedy fans. This was a a library book.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meddy and her husband Nathan have just landed in Jakarta after their honeymoon in Europe to spend an extended Chinese New Year with her extended family. When a gift intended for a business rival is given to the wrong person Meddy and the Aunties set off to set things right, but of course things don’t go as planned. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible missing – but with her Aunties by her side, nothing is impossible.

This was such a fun conclusion to the series! I loved jumping back into the world with Meddy and her Aunties. This entire series has had me rolling in laughter from the start and this conclusion was no exception. The Aunties are just so funny, and it was a lot of fun to see Meddy herself in the role of Aunty. Are these books realistic? Absolutely not in the slightest. But are they a lot of fun? Absolutely yes, so much so. It takes a lot for me to like a cozy mystery, but this is the perfect recipe for me. Every time I read a book like this, I just wish I had a family as supporting and caring as Meddy’s, but also, they are a pain! I love the emotion that the author puts into her writing, it really helps bring all the characters to life.

If you loved the first two books in the series you will love this one, it has all the chaos as the first two. It is everything you would want, and more!

Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the third book in the Aunties series. I have read the first two books in this series before picking up this book. I think that this book would be better if you had read the other two books before reading this book, but you really do not have to. I love the characters in this series, and this series always makes me laugh. This book was no different. I am sad that this is the last book in the Aunties series. This book was a fun and funny read with great character. The mystery was ok, but the characters just shine so much in this series. They get into so much trouble, but it is so much fun seeing how they are going to get out of trouble. Great fun read. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was fun but also super messy

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes even serious readers just have to learn to let go and enjoy the ride. Its kind of like Trash TV. Now and then we need a palate cleanser for our lives. We need to step into the completely ridiculous and just enjoy it. Like when fashion models and templates step into Halloween or Purim. That’s what this series is, and in order to enjoy it, you just need to let go.

Meddy Chen has four Aunts. Or a mother and three Aunts. You know them, if you are connected to any immigrant culture of any kind. Greek, Jewish, Asian, it really doesn’t matter. It’s hilarious and it’s about love. Ultimately, isn’t everything?

In the three book series, there are weddings. There are accidental murders, mafia, cakes and flowers and photography and lavish parties. Think Crazy Rich Asians. And there is mayhem and aunts who have to solve murders and kidnappings, all the while making sarn sure the party comes off, and that all works out in the end. Especially for Meddy. The joke of the series is who is saving who? In Book One, Meddy Falls in Love. Thanks to the Aunts and their interference, and of course that pesky Murder Thing. In Book Two Meddy gets married. What’s a Mafia Problem when its Meddy’s Big Day? In Book Three, its Chinese New Year, and the Aunts have come home to Jakarta, India, and Meddy and Nathan are finishing their honeymoon. So what’s a pesky kidnapping when it comes to Meddy and her family? And what is the only possible way this wonderful series can possibly come to a close? Of course it ends with love. And?

[Bhavya (semi-offline) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Meddy should know better. She seasoned criminal already.”

3 stars 🌟

The Good, The Bad and The Aunties was a disappointment. I loved book 1, but both of the series continuations felt a bit flat and boring. The biggest problem with this book was that there really wasn't a reason for it to exist. Book 1 and 2, while entertaining, didn't really focus on developing the characters and giving them much substance, and relied entirely on suspending the readers disbelief, which I was fine with as that was my expectation based off the story description and reviews.

However, when this same thing becomes a series, there needs to be more than just meddling aunties and ludicrous mysterious. The main reason why book 1 worked was that while having the fun and bizare antics, it also managed to pull in a perfect mix of emotions & romance. Unfortunately, this book didn't. I literally couldn't care for any of the characters, the plot of even Meddy and Nathan's marriatal life, as there wasn't enough build up for me to care about.

The insta-love warning was fine for the first book, but when I'm at the third book in the series, the love interest needs more of a personality than nice, kind, and businessman (because, yes, that is literally written like a personality trait).

Overall, it didn't have the same charm as Dial A For Aunties, and that makes me sad. I still gave it a 3 stars as the writing is decent and I have enough nostalgia for book 1. I will be reading more by this author though as I do like their writing style, but I hope the others are better.

"Literal wars have been fought, countless lives ended over sillier reasons. Love is perhaps the only thing worth fighting over."

READ #3 for May Asian Readathon 2025: Rep- Chinese-Indonesian

Reviewed on 20th May, 2025

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

[Ashley G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so bored. Missed the romance aspect from the first book. Still love these characters and enjoyed seeing how their stories progressed

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this the same day I started it and finally got around to writing a review now. I liked it, the audiobook was great as always, I laughed a lot as expected, but overall it wasn't better than book two, it's about the same. At first it seemed like it would hit book one level awesomeness, but it didn't. That's okay though. I'm a bit sad that this is the last book, but at the same time it's probably better not to drag this out too much.

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Aunties are back, and they don't waste a second causing trouble on their Chinese New Year trip to Jakarta.

Kidnapping, potential mafia, Hong Bao (red envelope) assaults on minors, ex-lovers, shady business deals, and a kitchen of my dreams.

I am beginning to understand Big Aunt more and more. I would rather stay in the kitchen with her.

This is a great addition to the Aunties series. There are only a few plotholes in this one, but it was fun enough to mostly ignore them.

4 Stars

[Mackenzie - PhDiva Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t get enough of Jesse Q. Sutanto! HHer writing is so diverse—she has best selling romance books, young adult books, cozy mysteries, and now psychological thrillers. What can’t she do??

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is the third book featuring these fun and meddlesome aunties solving crimes (and bringing the mayhem) to Meddy Chan’s life. These books can be read in any order, so don’t hesitate to jump in here. In the latest mystery, Meddy is venturing off on her honeymoon with her new husband, Nathan Chan. They have already made their way through Europe and are heading to Jakarta to celebrate the Chinese New Year with Meddy’s extended family.

They should have guessed that something would go awry when it comes to Meddy’s family, but how could they know they’d wind up in the middle of a gangster war? Three crime lords going by the absurd aliases Julia Child, Kristofer Kolumbes, and Abraham Lincoln are constantly tangled up in some scheme or another. It turns out that Abraham Lincoln has been in love with Aunt Enjelin Chan for years, and shows up to the Chan residence with extravagant gifts in an attempt to win her back.

Unfortunately the gifts get a bit mixed up with the ones Meddy and Nathan are handing out to the kids. One of the gifts that got mixed up happened to be the title deed to a piece of property promised to Julia Child, a powerful figure in the Ruo Fao Group. Meddy and the aunties do what they can to clear up the mix up by tracking down which child received the deed, and the pressure is on when Meddy’s husband Nathan is imprisoned. They are up against the clock to locate the deed or they risk incurring the wrath of one of the most dangerous crime lords in Indonesia.

Before long, Meddy and the aunties find themselves way too embedded in the battle between the crime lords. The title deed ends up in the possession of someone who is the friend of another Chan. It turns out she is also the granddaughter of Kristofer Kolumbes, another dangerous crime lord! Meddy and the aunties are deep in the chaos of these three crime lords and doing everything in the power to find the deed, return it, and keep their family safe.

This is the end of the Aunties series, and it’s bittersweet! I have loved getting to read about the mayhem these aunties get up to. Meddy has continued to have a lovely character arc and it felt like each book chronicled the right part of her story. I won’t spoil what happens but I will say that the ending of the series was a perfect note. I will miss Meddy and the aunties, but I also left knowing they are going to have so much joy in their lives after we part ways.

This book continued to bring the laughs! The mystery is good and for how outlandish it was at first, it had a very sweet conclusion that I didn’t expect. The author’s note at the end from Sutanto was heartfelt and perfect. Don’t miss out on this series! It may be at it’s conclusion but these books will live on any time you need a pick-me-up!

Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.

[tia ❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested this book in good faith because I read the first one and wanted to see how the trilogy is going to end and if the writing improved or she took the reviewers’ perspective to heart. Unfortunately, I don’t think that happened - The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties was almost a copy paste of her first book (and I didn’t read the second installment, but I bet it follows very similar patterns as well) in that there was little to no character development, the writing and pacing felt very choppy, and the ending felt so convenient it was frustrating.

I wish her characters were given more depth! Again, each aunt is whittled down to ONE characteristic that they’re known for for the entire book (the entire THREE books, really) and that feels so overdone. Meddy has not changed AT ALL since the first book...? It’s unfortunate how disappointed I am in this trilogy considering how excited I was.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Shelby (allthebooksalltheways) · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW

Thank you #partners @berkleypub & @prhaudio for my #gifted copies 💕 #berkleyig #berkleypartner #penguinrandomhousepartner

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties
Aunties #3
Jesse Q. Sutanto

📖 In the third and final book of the beloved Aunties series, Meddy and Nathan, on their honeymoon, visit Jakarta to celebrate the Chinese New Year with Meddy's family. But in true Sutanto fashion, things go terribly wrong when the Chans find themselves caught up in a feud between two of Jakarta's most notorious business factions.

💭 I read this book at the perfect time, breaking up some heavier reads with the hilarious antics of Meddy and her meddling aunties. It's light, fun, cozy, and wildly entertaining! Though there were parts that seemed a bit OTT, that's par for the course with cozy mysteries! This is the third (and final) book in the series, but it also works as a standalone. Though I would recommend reading in order for the backstories.

🎧 Narrator Risa Mei has performed all three books in the Aunties series, and she's perfect! Her range and ability to portray so many characters, each with unique voices and accents, is so impressive!! Though I read this in print and audio, I found myself gravitating toward the audio, just so I could listen to Mei! She definitely elevated my reading experience. 🥰

📌 Available now!

[Lackof_shelf_control · Rating 5 out of 5]

ɪ’ᴍ sᴏ sᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs sᴇʀɪᴇs ɪs ᴏᴠᴇʀ.😭 ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴍɪʟʟɪᴏɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜɴᴛɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴇᴛ ʙᴏʀᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ɢᴇᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴏɴ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜ ɴᴏᴛᴇ. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ , ʙᴜᴛ ᴠᴇʀᴀ ᴡᴀs ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ, sᴏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴘɪᴠᴏᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴜʀᴛʜ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅᴀᴜɴᴛɪᴇs ᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴀʙʏ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ 😭😭😭 ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏs, ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀs ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴛɪᴄs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙsᴜʀᴅɪᴛɪᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs. ɪ’ᴍ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴀᴜɢʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜɴᴛɪᴇs ᴍɪsᴘʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪɴᴇsᴇ ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴄᴇʟᴇʙʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. ɪ ɢʀᴇᴡ ᴜᴘ ᴄᴇʟᴇʙʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ᴍᴏᴍ’s ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ᴘᴀᴄᴋᴇᴛs! ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ ɴᴏsᴛᴀʟɢɪᴄ ғᴏʀ sᴜʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ ᴀsᴀᴘ ( ᴄᴏᴜɢʜ @netflix ᴄᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ ᴀᴅᴀᴘᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ). ɪ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴠᴇʀ 😢 ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs sᴇʀɪᴇs - ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀʟᴋ - ʀᴜɴ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ!

✨ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴀ @goodreads ᴡɪɴ- sᴏ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ!! @jesseqsutanto @berkleypub ✨


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[SusanTalksBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

****3/26/24**** Finished this ARC - thank you, NetGalley - and happy Pub Day to Jesse Q Sutanto, on this final novel of his Jakarta-themed trilogy. This final book has Meddy Chan and Nathan celebrating their honeymoon, jetting off to Jakarta to join Meddy's family to celebrate Chinese New Year. In Indonesia they quickly run into a mix of romance (Abraham Lincoln Irawan and Auntie #2) and drama between the 3 major business "factions" (aka "mafias") of Jakarta. Quick thinking, humor, and a spirit of adventure follow the crew through a couple of days in Jakarta while they sort out the drama, settle some romantic mysteries and misconceptions, and firm up their familial love and bonds. The book is definitely a lighter fiction celebration of wealthy Indonesian culture, with lots of talk of food and mansions. Definitely what I expected and a nice transition after reading A Little Life (extremely serious and emotional). 4-stars.

****3/24/24**** 25% into this ARC and I think it definitely is fulfilling the promise and reader expectations for this last-in-a-trilogy Jesse Q. Sutanto book. By the way, has anyone noticed that some book's pages and chapters are designed so you flyyyy through them (larger font, empty half-pages at the end of many more short chapters, bigger line spacing), and some books are longggggg, like you can read for an hour and it moves 3% on my kindle. This is a fast book.

****3/8/24****** Just approved by NetGalley to review an ARC of Jesse Sutanto's newest Auntie book., #3 and the final in this series. This will be perfect for my upcoming train trip - light, fluffy, easy. Pub date March 26, 2024.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know that this was the conclusion to a series before requesting it, but this is still a chaos-filled, fun ride. We have Nathan and Meddy, who are just ending their honeymoon and are spending time with Meddy's extended family in Singapore. This leads to them being caught up with criminal families, investigations with meddling aunties, and racing around to stop these criminals. The names of the criminals and the over-the-top interactions were so funny. There was so much chaos and unrealistic things that’s happened especially with the aunties, that made me want to go and read the other books in the series for the interaction. Though this was a cozy mystery, there were still twists and turns, and I liked how the investigations turned out. The romance between Nathan and Meddy was also cute. I recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers who like unrealistic and fun plots. Thank you Berkley and Netgalley, for this arc for an honest review.

[Reading With Ghosty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have stopped with the first two books. This one bored me so much.

Would not recommend.

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so sad that this is the final book in the Aunties series because it has been one of my favorites. These books are funny and always so exciting. Sure, they’re a little silly but that’s the point of them and the main reason the series is so loved. I’ll miss these guys! In this one, the aunties, Meddy, and Nathan find themselves in quite the mess when their Chinese New Year celebration leads to a missing deed, a kidnapping, and the possibility of a war between two mafia families. The antics were hilarious and seeing them come together to fight for one another had me laughing out loud. Honestly, it’s just a feel-good story that doesn’t take anything seriously and I loved it to pieces. I highly recommend it if you love the series and if you haven’t read these books yet then you SHOULD. Just remember to start with Dial A for Aunties where it all starts.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Sherwood Smith]

I grabbed this from NetGalley because I thoroughly enjoyed the first two in the series.

This, the last of this small series, features Meddy again, with her new husband going back to Indonesia for Lunar New Year Festival. When a bigger-than-life "uncle" comes over and all the red envelopes get mixed up, so that a present that ought not to be in the mix goes out to one of the horde of kids, the plot gets launched.

This book is like a comedy played mainly for laughs, and for moments of romance (mostly among the elder generation)--and though Meddy is our first person narrator, the story is really about the aunties. Their dialogue is hilarious, and in this one, we get a sense of their young lives that makes the story work, though it's as light as egg-whites.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ "Everything worth doing is worth doing the Asian way – that is, with high accuracy."

This was super over-the-top and ridiculous and I loved every moment. What shenanigans will Meddy and her family get up to this time after the events Dial A For Aunties and Four Aunties And A Wedding? Spoiler alert: It involves lots of chaos.

Ngl the plot alone isn't fantastic and probably around 3 stars, but it's everything else that makes this such a beloved series for me and why I've always been a Jesse Sutanto stan.

❤️ The characters, their banter and squabbling
❤️ And how they would go to the ends of the earth for one another
❤️ Nathan is too good and precious for this world!
❤️ The family values, culture, pride and how it's all just so Asian #relatable
❤️ Every book of hers feels like a love letter to its setting and I loved the glimpse of Jakarta here

Overall, this was another hilarious and delightful installment. I have to admit I got a bit teary reading the acknowledgements because I'm SO not ready for this series to come to an end!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.

More favorite quotes:

✨ "There's never been any question about it, because of course we would go to the deepest reaches of hell to save one of us."

✨ "I would do absolutely anything to save any one of them."

✨ "You're exactly the kind of family I have always wanted to have. The kind of family that would burn down the world to protect one another. Do you realize what a privilege it is to be included in your family?"

✨ "Literal wars have been fought, countless lives ended, over sillier reasons. Love is perhaps the only thing worth fighting over."

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a few heavy reads I needed something light and funny, Aunties to the rescue.

You know what you are going to get with these books, chaos, hilarity, heart and wild adventures. The third book and final book did not disappoint with any of these. This time we are in Jakarta for Chinese New Year. The whole family is there, including Meddy and Nathan who are on their way home from their honeymoon. There is lots of food, family and laughter. Until it all goes so very wrong, and they set off on another dangerous but hilarious ride.

This book was everything that I needed. I am sad that the adventures with the Aunties is over, but I will never forget these books.

Thanks to HQ for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on March 28th.

[Lisa Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is the 3rd and final book in author Jesse Q. Sutanto’s comedy series about Meddy Chan and the meddling, hilarious Chinese-Indonesian matriarchs of her huge, interfering family.

Book #3 sees Meddy happily enjoying her honeymoon with her beloved husband Nathan, after the disastrous adventures of the previous two books (including corpses, stolen goods, and potential Mafia hitmen). After a few blissful weeks in Europe, Meddy and Nathan head to Indonesia to celebrate Chinese New Year with the family… and of course, this is when it all hits the fan.

There’s a chaotic storyline about a long-lost lover of Second Aunt’s, now a respectable businessman (and definitely not a crime lord… according to him), whose generous red envelopes go astray — ultimately entangling Meddy, Nathan, and the aunties in a convoluted scheme to get back what was inadvertently lost.

Along the way, the Chan family engages in drugging innocent bystanders, invading (possible) cartel leaders’ homes, minor kidnapping, and other nefarious deeds… but always with the best of intentions. And hey, at least this time there are no bodies hidden in coolers!

The Aunties books are silly, entertaining, and not at all to be taken seriously. The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is a satisfying wrap-up. Sure, it’s all entirely ridiculous and improbable, but readers who go along for the ride will have a great time.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this is the third and final installment in the Aunties series and arguably my least favourite. As a fan, I am glad to have received a nice wrap-up to the series as the characters head into their bright futures, but I do question if it was necessary. Like the previous two books, the aunties manage to pull newlyweds Meddy and Nathan into the crazy antics, but it was cool to meet more of the big family that Meddy comes from. At the end, I was sad to say goodbye to all these characters whom I have enjoyed reading about this week.




Goodreads review published 03/05/26







Goodreads review published 03/05/26

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I met them in Dial A for Aunties, I have had a wide-eyed love affair with Jesse Q Sutanto’s Aunties series. This time, they have all returned to Indonesia to celebrate Chinese New Year with the family. Don’t ask ‘what could possibly go wrong rather, when.

The Good, The Bad, and the Aunties is the third and final book in a trilogy. While the series is fabulously entertaining and best read in order, this book could be picked up and read as a standalone, too.

While I don’t generally write a review starting with the recommendation, I’m going to mix things up for this one- must be under the Auntie’s influence. Don’t jump into this series looking for the typical cozy mystery or a serious murder mystery with deep, layered characterizations and police procedures. Come for the comedy and over the top Asian family humor- and the food, gah, I’m starving for Asian food right now- and, appreciate the mystery on the side.

Meddy, the book narrator, and Nathan have come off their honeymoon and I enjoyed seeing him supportive of his wife while totally fitting in with the Chan family crazy just fine. Meddy is the voice of caution when her mom and the other Aunties don’t bat an eye about diving into mafia business when Second Auntie’s teenage crush turned mafia crime lord makes a Chinese New Year gifting boo boo and lands them all in the Laksa soup.

The mystery of where the land title got to that was hidden in the gift packet was interesting, but I confess that the Auntie antics were my favorite part. The runaround was dizzying, but like previous books, Meddy, Nathan, and the Aunties pull through in the end with the answers and their batik dresses intact. Meddy tends to be the cautious fuddy dud, but she’s helpless to curb them in the end.

All must come to an end and I was sad to see this is the last hilarious Auntie family adventure and cozy mystery. Want a mystery you can giggle through, add the Aunties to your stack.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at The Quill Ink 4.11.24.