Jesse Q. Sutanto

This is a contemporary rom-com set in California, written by Indonesian author Jesse Q. Sutanto, with an inadvertent murder thrown in, lots of descriptions of Chinese Indonesian culture, and a heavy-handed dose of farcical humour.

Meddelin Chan reluctantly agrees to a blind date that her mother has arranged by posing as Meddy on a dating website. This ends badly with Meddy accidentally killing her date, then panicking and driving to the family home wondering what to do with the body. Her mother and four aunties instantly rally to her aid and hatch a plan to dispose of the body. Unfortunately wires get crossed and they end up trying to hide a body in the freezer and simultaneously run an expensive wedding on an island resort. Meddy unexpectedly runs into her ex, Nathan, during the wedding, creating dilemma and diversion.

On the positive side I could appreciate the love the family had for each other, but the comedy was far too slapstick and nonsensical for me. I can imagine it might make a funny movie, but despite the author’s forward saying she had attempted to treat the culture authentically rather than purvey stereotypes, she seems to do exactly that with many one-dimensional and superficial characters. I love reading books about other cultures but I really couldn’t face a sequel.… (más)

As part of her honeymoon Meddy has turned up in Jakarta to celebrate Chinese New Year with her extended family. When they arrive Second Aunt is greeted by a long lost former boyfriend, the heavily tattooed 'businessman' Abi who proceeds to show great generosity by handing out lucky envelopes. Unfortunately, one of those envelopes contains a gift meant for a formidable business rival Julia and now it is in the hands of Abi's business enemy Kristofer. Now Meddy, her husband Nathan and the Aunties are at the centre of a business dispute which has absolutely nothing to do with the most powerful gangsters in Indonesia!
This is the final part of a trilogy and I hadn't read the first two, however I read another book by Sustanto so I had a good idea of what to expect. I think a reader coming to this book fresh would really struggle, it's a manically-paced, laugh out loud culture shock. That's not to say the story isn't very clever, well-written and hugely entertaining but it is very full on.… (más)