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Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
Not yet published
Expected 28 Apr 26A nearly divorced housewife enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to start questioning the strange antics of her classmates in this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
Retirement should mean long-awaited trips to the sapphire waters of Santorini or careening down a sand dune in Dubai. For sixty-three-year-old Mebel, retirement means her husband of more than forty years announcing that he's leaving her for their private chef. Mebel isn’t sure who's the bigger loss.
Not to worry, Mebel has the perfect plan: she’s going to win back her husband. No one knows what he needs better than her—after all, she's been anticipating his needs their whole marriage. And if he wants a wife who can cook (why else would he leave her for a chef?), she will simply go to cooking school. Luckily, class at the renowned Saint Honoré School of Culinary Arts in France starts in just four days!
However, Mebel quickly realizes that her culinary school is not in illustrious Paris but rather in England—and some small village outside of Oxford no less. Despite the less-than-warm welcome from her much younger classmates, Mebel manages to befriend Gemma, the breakout star of the program, who offers to help Mebel on their first day. When Gemma stops showing up to class, Mebel knows she must figure out what—or who—caused her friend’s sudden disappearance. After all, Mebel may not know the first thing about how to cut a potato, but she certainly knows how to identify a fraud, and there’s definitely something fishy going on.
Retirement should mean long-awaited trips to the sapphire waters of Santorini or careening down a sand dune in Dubai. For sixty-three-year-old Mebel, retirement means her husband of more than forty years announcing that he's leaving her for their private chef. Mebel isn’t sure who's the bigger loss.
Not to worry, Mebel has the perfect plan: she’s going to win back her husband. No one knows what he needs better than her—after all, she's been anticipating his needs their whole marriage. And if he wants a wife who can cook (why else would he leave her for a chef?), she will simply go to cooking school. Luckily, class at the renowned Saint Honoré School of Culinary Arts in France starts in just four days!
However, Mebel quickly realizes that her culinary school is not in illustrious Paris but rather in England—and some small village outside of Oxford no less. Despite the less-than-warm welcome from her much younger classmates, Mebel manages to befriend Gemma, the breakout star of the program, who offers to help Mebel on their first day. When Gemma stops showing up to class, Mebel knows she must figure out what—or who—caused her friend’s sudden disappearance. After all, Mebel may not know the first thing about how to cut a potato, but she certainly knows how to identify a fraud, and there’s definitely something fishy going on.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 28, 2026
4 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
28 books8,336 followersJesse 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.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 28, 2025
What a fizzy delight. At sixty-three, Mebel—a polished, Chinese-Indonesian “trophy wife” with an immaculate closet and a suddenly vacant marriage—decides the recipe for winning back her husband is…culinary school. A tiny mix-up sends her not to Paris but to a village outside Oxford, where the baguettes are hard, the humor is dry, and her classmates are young enough to be her grandchildren. Watching Mebel crash into this world—heels, handbags, and iron will—was pure entertainment. The voice sparkles, the food descriptions are indecently tempting, and the small-town setting wraps the story in cozy warmth.
What I loved most is Mebel’s arc. She begins the book trying to become “wife 2.0” for a man who traded her in like last season’s accessory; she ends it discovering a self that doesn’t need his gaze to feel valuable. The intergenerational friction is funny and sharp (her banter with rising-star classmate Gemma is a treat), and the school’s Clooney-adjacent celebrity chef adds just the right pinch of romantic tension. There’s a light mystery thread—odd happenings, missing pieces, secrets simmering beneath the syllabus—that keeps the pages turning without ever tipping the tone out of “cozy.”
If I have quibbles, the opening chapter or two run a little long on despair before the comedy lands, and a few fashion/food flourishes are so extra they threaten to steal scenes from the plot. But once Mebel finds her footing (and her knives), the book becomes a buoyant late-in-life coming-of-age with found family vibes, cultural texture, and genuine heart. I grinned, I got hungry, and I rooted hard for this auntie to choose herself.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5). A charming, mouth-watering, feel-good cozy with a heroine you’ll want to adopt—and invite to dinner.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me this very entertaining cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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What I loved most is Mebel’s arc. She begins the book trying to become “wife 2.0” for a man who traded her in like last season’s accessory; she ends it discovering a self that doesn’t need his gaze to feel valuable. The intergenerational friction is funny and sharp (her banter with rising-star classmate Gemma is a treat), and the school’s Clooney-adjacent celebrity chef adds just the right pinch of romantic tension. There’s a light mystery thread—odd happenings, missing pieces, secrets simmering beneath the syllabus—that keeps the pages turning without ever tipping the tone out of “cozy.”
If I have quibbles, the opening chapter or two run a little long on despair before the comedy lands, and a few fashion/food flourishes are so extra they threaten to steal scenes from the plot. But once Mebel finds her footing (and her knives), the book becomes a buoyant late-in-life coming-of-age with found family vibes, cultural texture, and genuine heart. I grinned, I got hungry, and I rooted hard for this auntie to choose herself.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5). A charming, mouth-watering, feel-good cozy with a heroine you’ll want to adopt—and invite to dinner.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me this very entertaining cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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Want to read
September 15, 2025this sounds delightful
September 18, 2025
Mebel (pronounced “Mabel”) is shocked with Henk (pronounced “Hank”) tells her that he is leaving her for their 24 year old chef. Mebel loves being a Chinese-Indonesian “trophy wife,” she plays tennis and shops and has a collection of Manolos and Birkins to die for. She loves being an elder auntie and meddling mom. Mebel wants her life to go back to normal,
And decides she needs to learn to cook at culinary school in order to win Henk back.
Michelle Obama once said that when they go low, we go lower. Or something like that anyway. She’s not one to argue with Michelle Obama.
Hilarity ensues! Mebel is a fish out of water as a first year student surrounded by Gen Z kids who don’t pay her the respect she expects in her culture. And a famous chef, Alain, who looks like George Clooney, is a compelling character who we aren’t sure may become a romantic interest.
I am telling you right now, son, treat your wife better than how your father has treated me.
Jesse Q Sutanto created the extremely endearing and lovable Vera Wong, as well as the cozy mystery Aunties series. Mebel is cut from the same mold, but this story has no murder and little mystery. Although there is a little romance, I would classify this as more of a “coming of age” tale except the main character is 63. Mebel is hilarious and a deep character with amazing growth. This is really the kind of story where a one-dimensional caricature becomes much deeper and eventually grows into a better version of themselves.
“That is nice, but I am Chinese mother, I don’t respect anybody’s privacy. Start the car.”
Mebel would probably hate that I described her that way. But going along for the journey was certainly entertaining. Suntanto has deep respect for her culture while finding the smart woman within.
If you like Vera Wong, you’re going to love Ms Mebel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC. Book to be published 4/28/26.
And decides she needs to learn to cook at culinary school in order to win Henk back.
Michelle Obama once said that when they go low, we go lower. Or something like that anyway. She’s not one to argue with Michelle Obama.
Hilarity ensues! Mebel is a fish out of water as a first year student surrounded by Gen Z kids who don’t pay her the respect she expects in her culture. And a famous chef, Alain, who looks like George Clooney, is a compelling character who we aren’t sure may become a romantic interest.
I am telling you right now, son, treat your wife better than how your father has treated me.
Jesse Q Sutanto created the extremely endearing and lovable Vera Wong, as well as the cozy mystery Aunties series. Mebel is cut from the same mold, but this story has no murder and little mystery. Although there is a little romance, I would classify this as more of a “coming of age” tale except the main character is 63. Mebel is hilarious and a deep character with amazing growth. This is really the kind of story where a one-dimensional caricature becomes much deeper and eventually grows into a better version of themselves.
“That is nice, but I am Chinese mother, I don’t respect anybody’s privacy. Start the car.”
Mebel would probably hate that I described her that way. But going along for the journey was certainly entertaining. Suntanto has deep respect for her culture while finding the smart woman within.
If you like Vera Wong, you’re going to love Ms Mebel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC. Book to be published 4/28/26.
2026
September 30, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
September 25, 2025
Oh my gosh, you have to go put this book on pre-order.
Having said that, I need to tell you why, other than it is another book by the very talented and prolific Jesse Q Sutanto.
The basic premise is that Ms Mebel’s husband of 40 years walks out on her for the new chef that they hired. (They are very wealthy). Mebel decides that if her husband wants a chef, then she will become a chef. So she goes out and signs up for a cooking school in Paris, goes out and buys everything she things she will need (which are designer clothes), and books a flight to Paris.
But the school turns out to be in Cowly, outside Oxford, UK. And Mebel has to adjust to going from a huge city to a small town.
I loved the inner dialogue Mebel is having with herself. Sometimes her brain and thoughts are useful. Other times, not so much. “Long story short, Mebel’s brain is abit of an a**hole.”
Another quote from the books about her thoughts: “All of the thoughts were voicing their opinions at the same time, while one of them is always singing a random song in the background.” I laughed at this one, because that is the way my brain works as well, and I am very near in age to Mebel, so perhaps that is why.
This was a wild ride of a book, and I was never sure where it was going to end up, but what a delightful main character. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope we might see more of Mebel, in the future. I hated to see the end of this book.
This book will be out on the 28th of April 2026. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for supplying this novel for an honest review.
Having said that, I need to tell you why, other than it is another book by the very talented and prolific Jesse Q Sutanto.
The basic premise is that Ms Mebel’s husband of 40 years walks out on her for the new chef that they hired. (They are very wealthy). Mebel decides that if her husband wants a chef, then she will become a chef. So she goes out and signs up for a cooking school in Paris, goes out and buys everything she things she will need (which are designer clothes), and books a flight to Paris.
But the school turns out to be in Cowly, outside Oxford, UK. And Mebel has to adjust to going from a huge city to a small town.
I loved the inner dialogue Mebel is having with herself. Sometimes her brain and thoughts are useful. Other times, not so much. “Long story short, Mebel’s brain is abit of an a**hole.”
Another quote from the books about her thoughts: “All of the thoughts were voicing their opinions at the same time, while one of them is always singing a random song in the background.” I laughed at this one, because that is the way my brain works as well, and I am very near in age to Mebel, so perhaps that is why.
This was a wild ride of a book, and I was never sure where it was going to end up, but what a delightful main character. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope we might see more of Mebel, in the future. I hated to see the end of this book.
This book will be out on the 28th of April 2026. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for supplying this novel for an honest review.
Want to read
September 2, 2025I’m SO excited for this one!
September 29, 2025
MS. MEBEL GOES BACK TO THE CHOPPING BLOCK
RATING: 4
GENRE: Fiction
Jesse Q Sutanto is back again with a new lovable and quirky character of Mebel Tanadi, self-proclaimed CHIP “Chinese-Indonesian Princess”. After receiving the shocking news that her husband of forty years is leaving her for their much younger private chef, Mebel decides to win him back by attending a culinary school. Mebel, pronounced ‘Mabel’, heads off to London in order to learn how to cook for the first time in her life.
As Mebel steps out of her comfort zone of her luxurious life of being a CHIP, she begins to question her and wonder about the life she has been previously living. Who is Mebel and what are her goals and dreams? Much hilarity ensues as Mebel embraces on this new journey in her life and she is surrounded by those who are 1/3 of her age.
Mebel is a breath of fresh air in the age of young and strong female protagonists in their twenties. She is of an older generation and is steadfast in who she is, yet is still learning she does not have the conform to what has always been expected of her. I sped through this book because I loved Mabel’s shenanigans but also her resilience as the oldest person in her cooking classes. She does not allow age to stop her from doing what she intended to do.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group an advanced copy of the book. Sutanto never misses and I recommend if you are looking for a fun, yet uplifting read. I hope we get to see more of Mebel in the future. Also, can we get a Mebel/Vera collab?!
RATING: 4
GENRE: Fiction
Jesse Q Sutanto is back again with a new lovable and quirky character of Mebel Tanadi, self-proclaimed CHIP “Chinese-Indonesian Princess”. After receiving the shocking news that her husband of forty years is leaving her for their much younger private chef, Mebel decides to win him back by attending a culinary school. Mebel, pronounced ‘Mabel’, heads off to London in order to learn how to cook for the first time in her life.
As Mebel steps out of her comfort zone of her luxurious life of being a CHIP, she begins to question her and wonder about the life she has been previously living. Who is Mebel and what are her goals and dreams? Much hilarity ensues as Mebel embraces on this new journey in her life and she is surrounded by those who are 1/3 of her age.
Mebel is a breath of fresh air in the age of young and strong female protagonists in their twenties. She is of an older generation and is steadfast in who she is, yet is still learning she does not have the conform to what has always been expected of her. I sped through this book because I loved Mabel’s shenanigans but also her resilience as the oldest person in her cooking classes. She does not allow age to stop her from doing what she intended to do.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group an advanced copy of the book. Sutanto never misses and I recommend if you are looking for a fun, yet uplifting read. I hope we get to see more of Mebel in the future. Also, can we get a Mebel/Vera collab?!
October 17, 2025
Ahh, another hilarious, witty Jesse Q. Sutanto book! It was a fast read, which isn’t to say that the characters or the story are underdeveloped at all. In fact, the opposite was true. Mebel was a great character- funny, sassy, full of sharp comebacks, and easy to love. Anyone who reads this book will be able to see the fault in Mebel’s plan to win back her husband, but that’s part of why it makes it even better when she learns that she actually can cook, and that she’s actually pretty dang good at it. I loved seeing her relationship with Gemma and the other students grow as she overcame her ingrained “respect your elders” mentality. Mebel grew so much as a person over the course of this book that it was easy to root for her success. I loved watching her change her ways, take back her life, and learn that maybe the “traditional way” isn’t always the best way. The author has such a great way of writing that makes you feel like you’re listening to Mebel’s running stream of consciousness in her head, which only adds to her charm. If you liked Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, make sure you read this one too!
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
September 21, 2025
Anything Jesse Q Sutanto writes -- especially anything featuring women in their 60s or 70s! -- I will read. I certainly enjoyed her newest, Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block, an easy-to-love novel about a wealthy woman in her mid-60s who goes to cooking school to try to win back her philandering husband and finds herself along the way. I have to admit that I didn't find this book as laugh-out-loud funny as the Dial A For Aunties series or as poignant as Vera Wong (not to mention her forthcoming, beautiful, heartbreaking love story Next Time Will Be Our Turn), but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Definitely will be recommending this one to my friends! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2025
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block was so much fun! Mebel is 63, freshly retired, and dealing with the aftermath of her husband dumping her for their private chef. Instead of wallowing, she heads off to culinary school. Things quickly turn mysterious when one of her classmates suddenly vanishes. Mebel is witty, a little stubborn, and hilariously relatable in the way she fumbles through knife skills while still managing to sniff out secrets better than anyone. The mix of humor and whodunit vibes kept me hooked, and I loved the small English village setting. A light mystery, funny, and full of quirky charm!
October 16, 2025
I absolutely loved Ms. Mebel. In the beginning I was seriously thinking about DNFing because her personality was so much but once you figure out why she is the way she is your heart goes out to her. I loved watching the transformation Mebel goes on through out this book. It gives you so much hope and joy. Parts of this book literally had me laughing out loud. Definitely worth a read. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
4/5 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
4/5 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 16, 2025
Well written with great character and location development. I really enjoyed the Mebel, a little clueless sexagenarian who was used to being an innocent "trophy-wife" but throughout the story became feisty. Jesse wrote a well balanced cast of characters in the cooking school, from the head-chef to each individual student who clearly had their own identities and relationships with each other. Overall this was a fun read. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
September 30, 2025
I really, really wanted to love this one more than I did. Mebel’s character has a great arc by the end, but she annoyed me so much I just couldn’t cheer her on. The book has a great message of female empowerment, which I enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews