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Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
A 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.
290 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2026
309 people are currently reading
20469 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
32 books9,630 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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April 17, 2026
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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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I got tricked by a cute cover once more. I'm not sure if I was in this mood to read this book or not, but I found it quite bland. I really wanted to like it, but Mebel's continued child-like behavior really irritated me. I understand it's due to her being a naive trophy-wife but I just don't think any 63 year old woman talks or acts like that. I found the over-the-top moments and it's silliness kind of cringe. I just kept rolling my eyes the entire time. I enjoyed her friendship with her classmates and the character development she went through, but I cannot get over her in the beginning and middle of the book. The sweet moments and ending just don't make up for how lackluster the majority of the book was.
The writing itself was very simple, nothing too outstanding. It's definitely a quick, light, and humorous book, more like a palate cleanser. The way it was written is very young adult, which is a genre that I don't particularly lean towards. Definitely not a memorable book. I think someone else may enjoy it a bit more than me.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The writing itself was very simple, nothing too outstanding. It's definitely a quick, light, and humorous book, more like a palate cleanser. The way it was written is very young adult, which is a genre that I don't particularly lean towards. Definitely not a memorable book. I think someone else may enjoy it a bit more than me.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
4 solid stars for "Ms. Mebel" (NOT Mabel - IYKYK) who is a spurned early-60's self-proclaimed "trophy wife" who goes to Culinary school and finds herself instead. Mebel is much sexier and younger at heart than the author's Vera W. (who always seems at least a decade or two older and more stereotypical to me). I really enjoyed Mebel coming into her own and her character growth arc - loved how she grew a stiff spine by the end. I'd def. read another with these characters!!
April 10, 2026
A must read if you loved Vera Wong!
Want to Read
September 15, 2025this sounds delightful
October 24, 2025
*** 10/24/25 *** Sutanto is a master of writing to her target market: "older" women eager for modern takes on women reclaiming power and adventure absent from their lives, and Ms. Mebel is no different.
Featuring tried and true elements from Sutanto's own background (Oxford & Jakarta), we have a novel centered around a "Chindo" traditional wife, known in Indonesia as a "trophy wife" because their mission is to look good at all times, like a shiny trophy, attesting to their husband's financial strength and societal status.
I loved that the novel didn't dawdle setting up the premise for the plot, in which Mebel leaves Jakarta for a London culinary school. Mebel is a 63-year-old pampered rich woman who is totally out of her depth learning to cook, but we see her slowly build connections with others and develop her confidence in funny, but heartwarming moments.
Sutanto's writing is so successful because of the foundation of honest, relatable personal feelings under the humor and plotlines of a "quirky" and somewhat bumbling Main Character navigating a major life transition.
My only quibble is that Sutanto has a tendency to characterize 60-something year old healthy women as super old when she describes, making the reader think she is writing about 80-something year olds before the character's age is disclosed. I have observed this in several books, and it has been noted by other reviewers (including me, I think). As someone who fits her demographic, it feels a little out of touch and just walking the line of almost off-putting for the reader. 60 is the new 40 lol! With that being said, I loved this book, and recommend it. 4.5-stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free book in exchange for my honest review. Pub date April 28, 2026.
Featuring tried and true elements from Sutanto's own background (Oxford & Jakarta), we have a novel centered around a "Chindo" traditional wife, known in Indonesia as a "trophy wife" because their mission is to look good at all times, like a shiny trophy, attesting to their husband's financial strength and societal status.
I loved that the novel didn't dawdle setting up the premise for the plot, in which Mebel leaves Jakarta for a London culinary school. Mebel is a 63-year-old pampered rich woman who is totally out of her depth learning to cook, but we see her slowly build connections with others and develop her confidence in funny, but heartwarming moments.
Sutanto's writing is so successful because of the foundation of honest, relatable personal feelings under the humor and plotlines of a "quirky" and somewhat bumbling Main Character navigating a major life transition.
My only quibble is that Sutanto has a tendency to characterize 60-something year old healthy women as super old when she describes, making the reader think she is writing about 80-something year olds before the character's age is disclosed. I have observed this in several books, and it has been noted by other reviewers (including me, I think). As someone who fits her demographic, it feels a little out of touch and just walking the line of almost off-putting for the reader. 60 is the new 40 lol! With that being said, I loved this book, and recommend it. 4.5-stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free book in exchange for my honest review. Pub date April 28, 2026.
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.
May 2, 2026
No one can write hilarious older female characters like Sutanto! Ms. Mebel is a spunky, pampered older Indo Chinese 'trophy wife' whose life gets upended when her husband decides to leave her for their much younger private chef. Not willing to lose face by becoming a divorcee, Mebel decides win him back by enrolling at a Parisian cooking school to learn how to make delicious food.
Here she finds herself a fish out of water in the most ridiculous of ways but also makes friends, finds a lover and solves a murder while finding herself all at the same time. Perfect for fans of Vera Wong's guide to snooping or Detective Aunty, this cozy mystery will make you howl in laughter while rooting for Vera to live the life that truly makes her happy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Here she finds herself a fish out of water in the most ridiculous of ways but also makes friends, finds a lover and solves a murder while finding herself all at the same time. Perfect for fans of Vera Wong's guide to snooping or Detective Aunty, this cozy mystery will make you howl in laughter while rooting for Vera to live the life that truly makes her happy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2026
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block🔥 Book Review 📖 thank you @berkleypub for the free book! #berkleypartner #berkley
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
out today!
After 40 years of marriage, Mebel’s husband leaves her…for their private chef.
Determined to win him back, she heads to cooking school in “romantic” Europe, only to end up in a small English village instead of Paris.
Surrounded by younger classmates and unexpected friendships, Mebel starts to realize there might be more to her life than being the perfect wife.
💭 My thoughts:
Sassy, uplifting, and proof that it’s never too late for a comeback! This one caught me off guard in the best way EVER. I’ll be honest, I was a little hesitant at first, but Mebel really grew on me as the story went on. And by the end I was fully rooting for her. Watching her step out of her comfort zone, keep pushing, and slowly come into her own was a satisfying reading experience. She’s determined, a little chaotic at times, and absolutely a girls girl…which I love to see! There’s something so refreshing about a story that reminds you life doesn’t end at a certain age, and that you can still chase something new, even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned. It’s funny, a little messy, and SO full of heart. If you’re looking for a book that’ll leave you with hope and sass you won’t forget, you need to pick this one up!
What to expect 👇🏽
⏰Later in life growth
🐟Fish out of water
🍴Self-discovery
👯♀️Female friendships
Happy reading 📖 🔥🍴
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
out today!
After 40 years of marriage, Mebel’s husband leaves her…for their private chef.
Determined to win him back, she heads to cooking school in “romantic” Europe, only to end up in a small English village instead of Paris.
Surrounded by younger classmates and unexpected friendships, Mebel starts to realize there might be more to her life than being the perfect wife.
💭 My thoughts:
Sassy, uplifting, and proof that it’s never too late for a comeback! This one caught me off guard in the best way EVER. I’ll be honest, I was a little hesitant at first, but Mebel really grew on me as the story went on. And by the end I was fully rooting for her. Watching her step out of her comfort zone, keep pushing, and slowly come into her own was a satisfying reading experience. She’s determined, a little chaotic at times, and absolutely a girls girl…which I love to see! There’s something so refreshing about a story that reminds you life doesn’t end at a certain age, and that you can still chase something new, even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned. It’s funny, a little messy, and SO full of heart. If you’re looking for a book that’ll leave you with hope and sass you won’t forget, you need to pick this one up!
What to expect 👇🏽
⏰Later in life growth
🐟Fish out of water
🍴Self-discovery
👯♀️Female friendships
Happy reading 📖 🔥🍴
April 22, 2026
*Thanks to PRH Audio for my ALC; all opinions are my own.*
The main character of this novel, Mebel, is a 63 year old wealthy Chinese-Indonesian woman. When her husband tells her he’s leaving her for their young personal chef, she decides the only thing to do is sign up for culinary school in Europe to win him back. Adventures and misadventures follow, and she ends up making some new friends and learning about herself too, not just cooking!
This book was just such a delight. If you’ve read Jesse Q Sutanto’s other books, imagine Mebel as a cross between the aunties and Vera, but with A LOT more money. And boy is she funny - literally laughed out loud while listening to this so many times. And loved seeing Mebel find her spunk and her backbone!
I’ve read Sutanto’s other books with my eyes, but now I see why people rave about Eunice Wong’s narration, and now I know why because she was just fabulous!
The main character of this novel, Mebel, is a 63 year old wealthy Chinese-Indonesian woman. When her husband tells her he’s leaving her for their young personal chef, she decides the only thing to do is sign up for culinary school in Europe to win him back. Adventures and misadventures follow, and she ends up making some new friends and learning about herself too, not just cooking!
This book was just such a delight. If you’ve read Jesse Q Sutanto’s other books, imagine Mebel as a cross between the aunties and Vera, but with A LOT more money. And boy is she funny - literally laughed out loud while listening to this so many times. And loved seeing Mebel find her spunk and her backbone!
I’ve read Sutanto’s other books with my eyes, but now I see why people rave about Eunice Wong’s narration, and now I know why because she was just fabulous!
2026
September 30, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
December 3, 2025
I loved this book!!🤩 It has a lot of the same vibes of Sutanto's Vera Wong books. Mebel is a 63 year old trophy wife who decides to go to cooking school to win her husband back.
There is lots of fun dialog between Mebel and her classmates. I enjoyed the relationship between Mebel and Gemma. They both learn so much from each other.
If you like looks with older main characters, I think you will love this one!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
There is lots of fun dialog between Mebel and her classmates. I enjoyed the relationship between Mebel and Gemma. They both learn so much from each other.
If you like looks with older main characters, I think you will love this one!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
April 29, 2026
You will absolutely fall in love with Ms. Mebel, a sixty something woman in the prime of her life, even though she doesn't know it yet in this empowering, imaginative and very funny story.
You see, Ms. Mebel is married but has been sheltered most of her life. Her husband, very rich...not her it seems but him... has pampered her with anything and everything her little heart has desired. Designer clothes, shoes, fancy restaurants and let's not forget the jewelry! But Mebel expects it because that is how it is in their culture which is Chinese Indonesian. The husband takes care of the family. Until...
Said husband decides to fall in love with their very young chef who cooks for them and asks her for a divorce. Excuse me? Mebel is the only trophy wife in this forty-year marriage. But he has made up his mind.
Angry, embarrassed and lost, Mabel against her sons wishes, who feels she should just divorce his father, decides to fix the situation. She will win back Henk, her husband by going to a prominent culinary school in England. So what if she can't cook. She will learn, he will fall madly in love again with her and dump trophy wife number two!
Mabel applies and gets into the school. She along with her beautiful jewelry, clothes and shoes schlep to the school. It's....not what she thought it would be. It's in a small village near Oxford not at Oxford which seems to be the first mistake. But she is determined.
The oldest student in the bunch, Mabel begins her experience by trying to pull her privilege card. Unfortunately, that does not seem to work with the other students, or the teacher.
As Mabel begins to understand how her young classmates seem to be determined to succeed, she herself with their help starts to appreciate them as well as herself. The better she does the more confidence she seems to exude. She becomes the other students' advisor on life and problems, something she was never asked to do her whole life.
Mebel will begin to learn and understand how people can seem one way and be another. She becomes good at cooking and communicating (for the most part) with others. And she begins to grow in so many other ways. For herself, but for others as well. She now is determined to succeed not for anyone else but Mebel. Well, maybe for her family also whom she begins to understand in a way she never had.
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is such a humorous special story, in which there are so many lessons to be learned. You can change not matter what your age. You can absolutely do whatever you set your mind to. And it's never too late to learn about love and humanity. A trophy wife? Well, I don't think so!
Thank you #NetGalley #Berkley #JesseQ.Sutanto #Ms.MebelGoesBacktotheChoppingBlock for the advanced copy.
You see, Ms. Mebel is married but has been sheltered most of her life. Her husband, very rich...not her it seems but him... has pampered her with anything and everything her little heart has desired. Designer clothes, shoes, fancy restaurants and let's not forget the jewelry! But Mebel expects it because that is how it is in their culture which is Chinese Indonesian. The husband takes care of the family. Until...
Said husband decides to fall in love with their very young chef who cooks for them and asks her for a divorce. Excuse me? Mebel is the only trophy wife in this forty-year marriage. But he has made up his mind.
Angry, embarrassed and lost, Mabel against her sons wishes, who feels she should just divorce his father, decides to fix the situation. She will win back Henk, her husband by going to a prominent culinary school in England. So what if she can't cook. She will learn, he will fall madly in love again with her and dump trophy wife number two!
Mabel applies and gets into the school. She along with her beautiful jewelry, clothes and shoes schlep to the school. It's....not what she thought it would be. It's in a small village near Oxford not at Oxford which seems to be the first mistake. But she is determined.
The oldest student in the bunch, Mabel begins her experience by trying to pull her privilege card. Unfortunately, that does not seem to work with the other students, or the teacher.
As Mabel begins to understand how her young classmates seem to be determined to succeed, she herself with their help starts to appreciate them as well as herself. The better she does the more confidence she seems to exude. She becomes the other students' advisor on life and problems, something she was never asked to do her whole life.
Mebel will begin to learn and understand how people can seem one way and be another. She becomes good at cooking and communicating (for the most part) with others. And she begins to grow in so many other ways. For herself, but for others as well. She now is determined to succeed not for anyone else but Mebel. Well, maybe for her family also whom she begins to understand in a way she never had.
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is such a humorous special story, in which there are so many lessons to be learned. You can change not matter what your age. You can absolutely do whatever you set your mind to. And it's never too late to learn about love and humanity. A trophy wife? Well, I don't think so!
Thank you #NetGalley #Berkley #JesseQ.Sutanto #Ms.MebelGoesBacktotheChoppingBlock for the advanced copy.
Read
March 8, 2026This was a really charming and funny cozy with a premise that immediately hooked me. Mabel, a sixty three year old woman whose husband leaves her for their private chef, decides the logical way to win him back is to enroll in culinary school. Instead of Paris she ends up in a small English village outside Oxford, surrounded by classmates young enough to be her grandchildren, and the culture shock alone makes for some very entertaining moments.
What worked best for me was the setting and atmosphere. The culinary school, the food descriptions, and the small town environment all create a very cozy backdrop for the story. The humor also lands well and there were several moments that genuinely made me laugh. Mabel herself is a fun protagonist to follow as she begins questioning the role she has played in her own life and slowly starts discovering her independence and self worth.
The story leans more toward character development and personal reinvention than high stakes mystery, so readers looking for a fast paced plot may find the pacing a bit gentle. For me the strongest elements were the humor, the food, and watching Mabel navigate a completely new chapter of her life.
Overall this was a warm, entertaining cozy with a memorable main character and a setting that made me want to keep reading just to spend more time in that world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What worked best for me was the setting and atmosphere. The culinary school, the food descriptions, and the small town environment all create a very cozy backdrop for the story. The humor also lands well and there were several moments that genuinely made me laugh. Mabel herself is a fun protagonist to follow as she begins questioning the role she has played in her own life and slowly starts discovering her independence and self worth.
The story leans more toward character development and personal reinvention than high stakes mystery, so readers looking for a fast paced plot may find the pacing a bit gentle. For me the strongest elements were the humor, the food, and watching Mabel navigate a completely new chapter of her life.
Overall this was a warm, entertaining cozy with a memorable main character and a setting that made me want to keep reading just to spend more time in that world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2026
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Suranto is a delightful late in life journey of self discovery. The novel features 63-year old Mebel, an affluent trophy wife from Jakarta, whose husband leaves her for their private chef. In an effort to win him back, Mebel impulsively enrolls in an English culinary school. While she’s there she discovers a new passion and gains self-confidence.
It was refreshing to read a story centered on a mature woman finding herself after her marriage fell apart. Mebel had to grow on me because she starts out grossly out of touch. But once she acclimates to the culinary school, gains some independence, and bonds with her fellow classmates, her charm becomes more apparent. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Oxford and the Cotswolds, as well as the many food references. The ending may have come together a bit too quickly and neatly for me, but I’m always satisfied when the bad guy gets what he deserves. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own
It was refreshing to read a story centered on a mature woman finding herself after her marriage fell apart. Mebel had to grow on me because she starts out grossly out of touch. But once she acclimates to the culinary school, gains some independence, and bonds with her fellow classmates, her charm becomes more apparent. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Oxford and the Cotswolds, as well as the many food references. The ending may have come together a bit too quickly and neatly for me, but I’m always satisfied when the bad guy gets what he deserves. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own
April 28, 2026
Jesse Q. Sutanto is one of my favorite authors and her latest is another one you won’t want to miss!
MS. MEBEL GOES BACK TO THE CHOPPING BLOCK is a fun story about a woman who enrolls in culinary school to get back at her husband.
Sutanto writes some of my favorite characters. Mebel was such an easy character to root for. She went from being a “fish out of water” to making genuine connections and learning so much about herself!
I loved this story of women supporting women. The ending was fantastic!
🎧 Eunice Wong is an incredibly talented narrator. She nailed all of the accents and was the perfect voice for Mebel 🧡
MS. MEBEL GOES BACK TO THE CHOPPING BLOCK is a fun story about a woman who enrolls in culinary school to get back at her husband.
Sutanto writes some of my favorite characters. Mebel was such an easy character to root for. She went from being a “fish out of water” to making genuine connections and learning so much about herself!
I loved this story of women supporting women. The ending was fantastic!
🎧 Eunice Wong is an incredibly talented narrator. She nailed all of the accents and was the perfect voice for Mebel 🧡
May 3, 2026
4⭐️ This was the coziest read! An excellent way to celebrate AAPI Month! This story and main character were different from Vera Wong but certainly gave the same energy in a book. Would highly recommend for a feel-good read!
May 5, 2026
I read this via Whispersync and the narration was excellent, I highly recommend the audiobook version.
March 31, 2026
A trophy wife whose hobbies include couture fashion, Korean skincare, and imagining worst case scenarios gets cuckqueaned when her husband leaves her for their 24-year-old chef. Mebel decides to win him back by enrolling in a fancy french cooking school, but ends up in the outskirts of Oxford as opposed to the Parisian luxury she envisioned. Mebel is objectively bad at cooking, which tracks since she’s spent 63 years with a full household staff. As she settles into her new surroundings, befriends some talented gen z classmates, and rediscovers her sexual loins, it becomes clear that divorcing a patriarchal wanker and starting over aren’t the end of the world, and in fact, might be just what the recipe calls for. There’s a mystery element if you’re into that and a lot of cringey pop culture references that manage to be endearing. If you ever thought Vera Wong would look good in Chanel while wielding a boning knife, Mebel might be the gal for you. If you’re not a Vera fan, but enjoy character growth, girls supporting girls, and men being served their just desserts, Mebel is probably still the gal for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh, this story is the best! Mebel hooks you right in, it's so refreshing to read about an older woman finding herself. Even though I'm 20+ years younger than Mebel , I can relate SO MUCH to her. Her growth and character journey , *chefs kiss* (pun intended 😂) The food sounds absolutely divine and I just wanted to dive right into cooking school with these characters. I honestly could not put this book down. Jesse Q Sutanto knows what she is doing folks!
#MsMebelGoesBacktotheChoppingBlock
Thank you #NetGalley and #Berkleypublishing for the ARC.
#MsMebelGoesBacktotheChoppingBlock
Thank you #NetGalley and #Berkleypublishing for the ARC.
November 29, 2025
Sutanto once again delights with her new novel about an aging trophy wife who goes to culinary school to win back her husband! Mebel has been raised to be the best wife possible. And she has been succeeding. But when her husband leaves her for their 20-something private chef, she decides she will win him back by learning how to cook at a culinary school. But things don't go quite how she expected once she arrives.
This was a fun read and Mebel does have a good character arc, but she's fairly insufferable through the first half of the book. I feel like I'm way underestimatibg when I say she called herself a Trophy Wife over a hundred times. Her sole connection to her husband seems to be that he also has a misspelled first name (Henk). And if she's so self conscious about her own misspelled name, can't she just go by Mabel everywhere that's not official? Or, for that matter, can't she have it changed? 🤷♀️
Anyway, this was a cute, quick story that was worth a read, but it's not without its flaws.
This was a fun read and Mebel does have a good character arc, but she's fairly insufferable through the first half of the book. I feel like I'm way underestimatibg when I say she called herself a Trophy Wife over a hundred times. Her sole connection to her husband seems to be that he also has a misspelled first name (Henk). And if she's so self conscious about her own misspelled name, can't she just go by Mabel everywhere that's not official? Or, for that matter, can't she have it changed? 🤷♀️
Anyway, this was a cute, quick story that was worth a read, but it's not without its flaws.
Read
April 23, 2026This was such a fun read—full of humor, charm, and unexpected turns—but it also carries a thoughtful message about self-discovery at any stage of life. Mebel starts off as a self-proclaimed trophy wife whose world unravels when her husband of over forty years leaves her for their private chef. Her response? Enroll in a culinary school to win him back. It’s a premise that feels light and almost absurd at first, but it quickly deepens into something more meaningful.
Set in a small village outside Oxford, the story really shines through its cast of characters. Mebel, surrounded by much younger classmates, begins to evolve in ways that feel both believable and satisfying. The found-family dynamic is especially strong here—there’s warmth, humor, and genuine connection that builds naturally over time. I also loved the subtle mystery woven into the story, particularly the disappearance of one of the students, which adds tension and keeps things moving.
What stood out most to me was Mebel’s growth, especially in how she begins to see herself and others differently. Her evolving relationship with her daughter-in-law was a highlight—layered, honest, and quietly touching.
Overall, this is an entertaining and heartfelt story that balances humor with introspection. It may start as a quest to win someone else back, but it becomes something much more rewarding: a journey toward reclaiming yourself.
Set in a small village outside Oxford, the story really shines through its cast of characters. Mebel, surrounded by much younger classmates, begins to evolve in ways that feel both believable and satisfying. The found-family dynamic is especially strong here—there’s warmth, humor, and genuine connection that builds naturally over time. I also loved the subtle mystery woven into the story, particularly the disappearance of one of the students, which adds tension and keeps things moving.
What stood out most to me was Mebel’s growth, especially in how she begins to see herself and others differently. Her evolving relationship with her daughter-in-law was a highlight—layered, honest, and quietly touching.
Overall, this is an entertaining and heartfelt story that balances humor with introspection. It may start as a quest to win someone else back, but it becomes something much more rewarding: a journey toward reclaiming yourself.
April 21, 2026
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is quirky, chaotic, and undeniably charming in that signature Jesse Q. Sutanto way. What starts as a slightly ridiculous premise—a nearly divorced, privileged housewife enrolling in culinary school to win back her husband—quickly unfolds into something far more engaging and unexpectedly endearing. Mebel herself doesn’t exactly win you over at first; she’s self absorbed, a little out of touch, and honestly kind of annoying. But that’s part of the journey. Watching her slowly gain self awareness, form genuine connections, and step outside of her comfort zone is where the story really shines.
The setting adds such a fun layer, trading dreamy Paris expectations for a quaint English village, which only amplifies the fish out of water energy. The culinary school backdrop, paired with a cast of younger, often suspicious classmates, creates the perfect mix of light mystery and offbeat humor. There’s a slightly absurd, almost silly tone woven throughout, but it works somehow. It leans into its quirks rather than trying to smooth them out, and that’s what makes it so entertaining.
At its core, this is a story about reinvention, independence, and realizing you might want more for yourself than what you originally thought. It’s light, easy, and genuinely funny, with moments that will catch you off guard in the best way. If you’re in the mood for something breezy, a little ridiculous, and completely delightful, this one absolutely delivers.
April 30, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars
This story follows 63-year-old Mebel (pronounced Mabel) who enrolls in culinary school to try and win her philandering husband back after he leaves her for their 24-year-old private chef.
While it took me a little while to warm up to Mebel and get into the book, I was soon invested. I loved getting to witness Mebel step beyond her comfort zone time and time again, and especially see how she proved it's never too late to reclaim your identity as a woman. The plot was quite predictable, but I didn't mind, because the women and their friendships in this are what shone for me.
I really appreciate how Sutanto writes her older characters, who are all charming, funny, and a bit ridiculous (as grannies are sometimes wont to do) while still being complex and real. The line between comedy and charicature is walked really well in this story.
While this didn't hit the mark for *quite* as much as the author's two Vera Wong's novels, I still really enjoyed this. It's definitely a lighter read overall but has enough heart to have a lasting impact.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the eARC.
This story follows 63-year-old Mebel (pronounced Mabel) who enrolls in culinary school to try and win her philandering husband back after he leaves her for their 24-year-old private chef.
While it took me a little while to warm up to Mebel and get into the book, I was soon invested. I loved getting to witness Mebel step beyond her comfort zone time and time again, and especially see how she proved it's never too late to reclaim your identity as a woman. The plot was quite predictable, but I didn't mind, because the women and their friendships in this are what shone for me.
I really appreciate how Sutanto writes her older characters, who are all charming, funny, and a bit ridiculous (as grannies are sometimes wont to do) while still being complex and real. The line between comedy and charicature is walked really well in this story.
While this didn't hit the mark for *quite* as much as the author's two Vera Wong's novels, I still really enjoyed this. It's definitely a lighter read overall but has enough heart to have a lasting impact.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the eARC.
April 29, 2026
If you have enjoyed Vera Wang, I am sure you will enjoy Ms. Mebel. She is a trophy wife that is trying to win her husband back by learning to cook.
Mebel is in the early 60s and have been pretty sheltered all her life. This was her awakening journey and it was filled with so much humor. There is a lot of Asian aunt / mom energy and she reminded me so much of my aunties.
I had the opportunity to see Sutanto recently and she shared some insights and inspiration to the story and that made the story so much better. She talked about wanting to do a crossover with Vera and Mebel which would be a book I am ready for.
Eunice Wong narrated this story and I was so immersed in the story that I finished the audiobook in a day.
Mebel is in the early 60s and have been pretty sheltered all her life. This was her awakening journey and it was filled with so much humor. There is a lot of Asian aunt / mom energy and she reminded me so much of my aunties.
I had the opportunity to see Sutanto recently and she shared some insights and inspiration to the story and that made the story so much better. She talked about wanting to do a crossover with Vera and Mebel which would be a book I am ready for.
Eunice Wong narrated this story and I was so immersed in the story that I finished the audiobook in a day.
May 1, 2026
Oops! A new Jesse Q. Sutanto book came out and I read it in literally two days! I am so sad that it's over but I just couldn't put it down. It has everything that I love about her writing: an older woman accidentally on a journey to find herself, absolutely hilarious quotes, heartwarming intergenerational friendships, man-bashing, and mouthwatering food descriptions. Mebel's growth over the story is so incredibly satisfying you'll be leaping out of your chair to cheer for her by the end. I just loved this so much. Give me a million of these and I will ask for a million more.
(Also I went to an author event on release day and Jesse said she reads all her reviews so hi thank you you're amazing!)
(Also I went to an author event on release day and Jesse said she reads all her reviews so hi thank you you're amazing!)
May 1, 2026
Another winner by Sutanto! Whether you’re supposed to love the characters or not, Sutanto creates characters that stay with me; this time, it’s naïve trophy wife Mebel, whose marriage has just broken up and who has devised a way to get her cheating husband back. Her plan, to learn to cook at a prestigious cooking school ushers in many hilarious scenes and even more touching moments where Mebel learns and grows. I loved getting to know her and her fellow students, following along as she found her footing and her way in her new world. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the review copy.
March 16, 2026
I’m a huge fan of Sutanto’s cozy mystery/mayhem books. Aunties and Vera and now Mebel! The way Sutanto handles and creates the humor and exasperation of cross cultural, age and class, differences is just superb. It only works because of the heart and understanding she layers and grows with the characters. I can’t get enough of it.
Now, this one is less mystery and mostly mayhem and I’m not mad at it. It’s a comedy of errors and hubris watching a very traditional Chinese-Indo trophy wife attend culinary school. Her motivation is a bit misguided BUT watching Mebel analyze and apply her own experience into this vastly different endeavor was so much fun. She’s not lazy, she just has to redirect her efforts.
Of course the secondary characters make all the difference. The conversations and connections are absolutely delightful. Funny but also wonderfully touching. And being inside Mebel’s quirky head as she examines these new people and situations, makes friends and makes food, is entertaining beyond belief.
There’s a couple minor stumbles, Sutanto also tends to write all these “older” women in such a way that over-ages them at times. Mebel is 63 but can sometimes seem 83. BUT she also struts around in Louboutins like it’s no big deal so it evens out. Overall, though, it’s a fantastic story with brilliantly satisfying confrontations. I’d read it all over again to get to that ending.
* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher
Now, this one is less mystery and mostly mayhem and I’m not mad at it. It’s a comedy of errors and hubris watching a very traditional Chinese-Indo trophy wife attend culinary school. Her motivation is a bit misguided BUT watching Mebel analyze and apply her own experience into this vastly different endeavor was so much fun. She’s not lazy, she just has to redirect her efforts.
Of course the secondary characters make all the difference. The conversations and connections are absolutely delightful. Funny but also wonderfully touching. And being inside Mebel’s quirky head as she examines these new people and situations, makes friends and makes food, is entertaining beyond belief.
There’s a couple minor stumbles, Sutanto also tends to write all these “older” women in such a way that over-ages them at times. Mebel is 63 but can sometimes seem 83. BUT she also struts around in Louboutins like it’s no big deal so it evens out. Overall, though, it’s a fantastic story with brilliantly satisfying confrontations. I’d read it all over again to get to that ending.
* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher
April 27, 2026
3.5 stars - I am a Sutanto fan girl, and while this is not my favorite of her books, it’s still a good time. It lacks a bit of the finesse that I love Vera Wong for, or the humor I love the aunties for, but it’s still a great beach read. Fast, like, likeable characters. I did feel that them ending hit a bit fast, even for the genre, but still appreciated its tidiness. While I’ve never been rich, I am a divorcee, and found the journey to trying to find yourself again utterly relatable.
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook through Libro.FM and Pop Fiction Bookstore, an independent and woman-owned bookstore in Omaha. Order books (e/audio/print) online from Pop Fiction or your local bookstore at Libro.Fm and Bookshop.org
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook through Libro.FM and Pop Fiction Bookstore, an independent and woman-owned bookstore in Omaha. Order books (e/audio/print) online from Pop Fiction or your local bookstore at Libro.Fm and Bookshop.org
April 30, 2026
This book felt empowering!
A trophy wife in her 60s goes to cooking school in England to try to win back her cheating husband
It’s a coming of age but make it an older main character
It’s got fun dialogue, descriptions of designer clothes, and at times feels like I was watching a Food Network show.
Mebel (notice the spelling) absolutely shines in this book. She is a hero for all -both young and not as young as her wit shines on the pages. She is wise and yet vulnerable which adds to her depth and growth. She learns to champion not only others but also herself!
A trophy wife in her 60s goes to cooking school in England to try to win back her cheating husband
It’s a coming of age but make it an older main character
It’s got fun dialogue, descriptions of designer clothes, and at times feels like I was watching a Food Network show.
Mebel (notice the spelling) absolutely shines in this book. She is a hero for all -both young and not as young as her wit shines on the pages. She is wise and yet vulnerable which adds to her depth and growth. She learns to champion not only others but also herself!
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