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Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
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17 days and 23:15:09
10 copies available
U.S. only
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.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 28, 2026
5 people are currently reading
3807 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
26 books8,545 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 - 22 of 22 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
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.
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.
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.
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 25, 2025
**ARC Review**
This was really enjoyable! While I didn’t find this as humorous as the Vera Wong books, I didn’t find myself disappointed by it. I thought that the story was really thought out and well paced.
It was really interesting hearing more of Mebel’s story! I think she is an inspiration that you are never too old to “start over” whether it’s a career change or relationship status.
I hope there will be a second book that continues her story because I feel there is so much I would still love to learn.
Note: While Mebel is a character in the Vera Wong series, I don’t think it’s necessary to read the books in any particular order.
Thank you Jesse Q. Sutanto and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Quotes:
“Long story short, Mebel’s brain is a bit of an asshole.”
“All things worth having are things worth waiting for.”
“And this time, her life path isn’t one that has been prescribed to her by others. It is going to be one that she paves one step at a time, all on her own.”
“She allows herself to feel sorry for herself for a few more minutes, then she sniffs and wipes her tears away. It is important, she thinks, to let one mourn, even for a bit.”
This was really enjoyable! While I didn’t find this as humorous as the Vera Wong books, I didn’t find myself disappointed by it. I thought that the story was really thought out and well paced.
It was really interesting hearing more of Mebel’s story! I think she is an inspiration that you are never too old to “start over” whether it’s a career change or relationship status.
I hope there will be a second book that continues her story because I feel there is so much I would still love to learn.
Note: While Mebel is a character in the Vera Wong series, I don’t think it’s necessary to read the books in any particular order.
Thank you Jesse Q. Sutanto and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Quotes:
“Long story short, Mebel’s brain is a bit of an asshole.”
“All things worth having are things worth waiting for.”
“And this time, her life path isn’t one that has been prescribed to her by others. It is going to be one that she paves one step at a time, all on her own.”
“She allows herself to feel sorry for herself for a few more minutes, then she sniffs and wipes her tears away. It is important, she thinks, to let one mourn, even for a bit.”
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!
October 29, 2025
Ms. Mebel (pronounced "mabel" but spelled incorrectly) is a Chinese-Indonesian Trophy Wife, who at the age of 63, finds herself dumped when her husband leaves her for their 20-something year old personal chef, Wendy. Determined to win him back & maintain her luxe lifestyle and way of life, she makes a spur of the moment decision to enroll in culinary school in Paris. Once she arrives, things do NOT go as expected, but along the way, she learns valuable lessons & a lot about herself as well.
I loved this fun culinary cozy adventure that I got to take with Ms. Mebel. She is a fun, feisty character. This is a great book about self discovery in the 'golden years' but could apply to all ages. Mebel really has to come to terms with her life now versus the life she was living and the expectations that went along with it. She shows a lot of character growth as well as new compassion and empathy for the "Gen Z" friends she makes at Culinary school.
I wanted to read this book because I am a big fan of this author's Vera Wong books, and I was not disappointed!!
This is also a fun book if you enjoy cooking, and cooking competition reality TV.
I loved this fun culinary cozy adventure that I got to take with Ms. Mebel. She is a fun, feisty character. This is a great book about self discovery in the 'golden years' but could apply to all ages. Mebel really has to come to terms with her life now versus the life she was living and the expectations that went along with it. She shows a lot of character growth as well as new compassion and empathy for the "Gen Z" friends she makes at Culinary school.
I wanted to read this book because I am a big fan of this author's Vera Wong books, and I was not disappointed!!
This is also a fun book if you enjoy cooking, and cooking competition reality TV.
October 31, 2025
Jesse Q Sutanto is a joy to read. After loving Dial A for Aunties, I couldn’t wait to dive into Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block — and it did not disappoint. It’s every bit as funny and chaotic as her earlier work, but with an added emotional depth that makes it feel both heartfelt and mature.
When Mebel’s husband of forty years leaves her for their twenty-year-old chef, her carefully built life falls apart. Determined to win him back, she enrolls in a cooking school — but what follows is nothing like she imagined. Between kitchen disasters, eccentric gen z classmates, and unexpected friendships, Mebel begins to rediscover her own strength, autonomy, and joy.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I devoured this novel faster than a chef can dice an onion. From laugh-out-loud mishaps to mouthwatering food and fashion descriptions, this story is as entertaining as it is uplifting. Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is a delightful, feel-good tale about reinvention, resilience, and saying yes to life — even when it doesn’t go according to plan.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.
When Mebel’s husband of forty years leaves her for their twenty-year-old chef, her carefully built life falls apart. Determined to win him back, she enrolls in a cooking school — but what follows is nothing like she imagined. Between kitchen disasters, eccentric gen z classmates, and unexpected friendships, Mebel begins to rediscover her own strength, autonomy, and joy.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I devoured this novel faster than a chef can dice an onion. From laugh-out-loud mishaps to mouthwatering food and fashion descriptions, this story is as entertaining as it is uplifting. Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is a delightful, feel-good tale about reinvention, resilience, and saying yes to life — even when it doesn’t go according to plan.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.
October 30, 2025
I received this book free of charge from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
At first, I was kinda hating Mebel. Mebel is an Indo-Chinese self proclaimed Trophy Wife. She is 63 and her husband decided he was leaving her for their 24 year old chef. Mebel decides to win him back and enrolls in cooking school. She thought it was in Paris but turns out it is in a small village in England.
Mebel, was so self absorbed in the beginning and I was like I hope the whole book isn't like this. Thankfully, it wasn't. While in cooking school she befriends a group of younger students. She learns to cook and starts to realize that she actually likes it and is good at it. Her partner, Gemma, one day decides to leave school and Mebel must know why.
The writing was good and gave Mebel some depth. I liked how she stood up for herself
4/5 stars.
At first, I was kinda hating Mebel. Mebel is an Indo-Chinese self proclaimed Trophy Wife. She is 63 and her husband decided he was leaving her for their 24 year old chef. Mebel decides to win him back and enrolls in cooking school. She thought it was in Paris but turns out it is in a small village in England.
Mebel, was so self absorbed in the beginning and I was like I hope the whole book isn't like this. Thankfully, it wasn't. While in cooking school she befriends a group of younger students. She learns to cook and starts to realize that she actually likes it and is good at it. Her partner, Gemma, one day decides to leave school and Mebel must know why.
The writing was good and gave Mebel some depth. I liked how she stood up for herself
4/5 stars.
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.
November 10, 2025
This is my second Jesse Q. Sutanto book, and it did not disappoint! I absolutely adored Mebel- she was hilarious and so full of personality. I loved watching her journey from a wealthy trophy wife to someone who finds genuine passion and purpose in cooking. It was also so fun to see her perspective evolve, especially as she navigated going back to school at 63 alongside a younger generation. Such a heartwarming and funny read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2025
I love me some Mebs!
This was a fun and light hearted read about an affluent granny trying to kick it with genZer’s and I enjoyed watching Mebel learn to unlearn her societies strict manners and elder presumed respect. Did I know exactly what was coming? Yes. And did I enjoy it as it approached and as we digested it? Also yes. I loved the details on the culinary experiences she was having and was craving all sorts of delicious things while reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc
This was a fun and light hearted read about an affluent granny trying to kick it with genZer’s and I enjoyed watching Mebel learn to unlearn her societies strict manners and elder presumed respect. Did I know exactly what was coming? Yes. And did I enjoy it as it approached and as we digested it? Also yes. I loved the details on the culinary experiences she was having and was craving all sorts of delicious things while reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc
October 30, 2025
Ms Mebel is so out of her league, and then she is not. I fell in love with Mebs. Discovering that maybe you don't have to be what society has told you to be, at an older age, cab be freeing and terrifying all at the same time. This had laughter, heart and a bit of evil too. Just because we are older doesn't mean we don't feel hurt, pain, lonely or left out.
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.
October 21, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block in exchange for an honest review!
This was my first Jesse Q. Sutanto novel, and I can see why readers love her work.
It’s a cozy, fast-paced story featuring a charming lead, Mebel, who grows from a “trophy wife” into a confident, self-assured woman. She’s funny and flawed, and I enjoyed her inner monologue (as someone whose brain also never shuts off).
The story is uplifting, with a great found-family dynamic, and the premise feels fresh and original.
Some of the fashion and food details felt a little repetitive, and a few of the younger classmates’ dialogue fell flat for me. The supporting cast was a bit one-note at times, though they’re not the focus here.
Overall, it’s a heartwarming, easy read with emotional depth and excellent character growth. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good story with a lot of heart.
This was my first Jesse Q. Sutanto novel, and I can see why readers love her work.
It’s a cozy, fast-paced story featuring a charming lead, Mebel, who grows from a “trophy wife” into a confident, self-assured woman. She’s funny and flawed, and I enjoyed her inner monologue (as someone whose brain also never shuts off).
The story is uplifting, with a great found-family dynamic, and the premise feels fresh and original.
Some of the fashion and food details felt a little repetitive, and a few of the younger classmates’ dialogue fell flat for me. The supporting cast was a bit one-note at times, though they’re not the focus here.
Overall, it’s a heartwarming, easy read with emotional depth and excellent character growth. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good story with a lot of heart.
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