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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.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2026
About the author
Jesse Q. Sutanto
32 books9,785 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 - 30 of 616 reviews
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:
medium blog
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.
May 15, 2026
*Mebel is my hero*
Mebel Tanadi, a 63-year-old Chinese Indonesian woman, was raised to be just enough and excel only in one role: the perfect trophy wife. She was accustomed to all the trappings of wealth and married a wealthy man. Her name, a misspelling of Mabel, meant she had to explain it constantly, and here her husband should be Hank but was spelled Henk. This became a shared joke between them.
Forty years later, with a son, her husband decided he wanted to divorce her, leaving her for their 24-year-old personal chef. Devastated, Mebel resolved to win him back by learning to cook. Culinary school seemed like the answer, though she didn’t intend to complete it. She simply wanted to master a few dishes. Determined, she decides to Paris , believing it was the ideal place to learn. However, things didn’t go as planned.
Unbeknownst to Mebel, this decision would transform her life. I admired her perseverance and how she began to realise she was more than just a trophy wife. Laughter filled the air as she bonded with her fellow students and beyond. But, she her relationship with Gemma was very touching.
I enjoyed that this experience allowed Mebel to occupy roles unthinkable in her culture. It also reveals a striking resemblance between her husband and her son Sammy, in their behaviour. He was very spoiled.
Mebel Tanadi, a 63-year-old Chinese Indonesian woman, was raised to be just enough and excel only in one role: the perfect trophy wife. She was accustomed to all the trappings of wealth and married a wealthy man. Her name, a misspelling of Mabel, meant she had to explain it constantly, and here her husband should be Hank but was spelled Henk. This became a shared joke between them.
Forty years later, with a son, her husband decided he wanted to divorce her, leaving her for their 24-year-old personal chef. Devastated, Mebel resolved to win him back by learning to cook. Culinary school seemed like the answer, though she didn’t intend to complete it. She simply wanted to master a few dishes. Determined, she decides to Paris , believing it was the ideal place to learn. However, things didn’t go as planned.
Unbeknownst to Mebel, this decision would transform her life. I admired her perseverance and how she began to realise she was more than just a trophy wife. Laughter filled the air as she bonded with her fellow students and beyond. But, she her relationship with Gemma was very touching.
I enjoyed that this experience allowed Mebel to occupy roles unthinkable in her culture. It also reveals a striking resemblance between her husband and her son Sammy, in their behaviour. He was very spoiled.
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 14, 2026
I went into this with high expectations after loving the author’s previous books—especially the characters (Vera Wong is still hard to beat for me). And while this didn’t quite deliver that same immediate, standout character attachment, it ended up winning me over in a different way.
The story moves through a few distinct phases—it starts off light and funny, then shifts into a more chaotic, madcap adventure before settling into the mystery. What really surprised me, though, is what happens after that. Once the mystery resolves, the book leans fully into its characters and becomes something much more warm, feel-good, and genuinely beautiful. That final stretch gives the story a lot of heart and leaves it on a very satisfying note.
Overall, this is a fun, well-paced read that evolves into something unexpectedly heartfelt. It may not have the same standout character magic as the author’s earlier books, but it delivers a warm, engaging, and ultimately very satisfying story.
The story moves through a few distinct phases—it starts off light and funny, then shifts into a more chaotic, madcap adventure before settling into the mystery. What really surprised me, though, is what happens after that. Once the mystery resolves, the book leans fully into its characters and becomes something much more warm, feel-good, and genuinely beautiful. That final stretch gives the story a lot of heart and leaves it on a very satisfying note.
Overall, this is a fun, well-paced read that evolves into something unexpectedly heartfelt. It may not have the same standout character magic as the author’s earlier books, but it delivers a warm, engaging, and ultimately very satisfying story.
May 9, 2026
I loved the Vera Wong books by this author and have been wanting to read more from her backlist as we wait for more books in the Vera Wong cozy mystery series, so when I saw this new contemporary standalone release I dove in! This book is definitely just contemporary fiction as we follow an almost-divorced woman in her 60s try and start over. I really had a fun time and while it isn’t cozy mystery at all, Mebel is a character that I think people would enjoy if they’re also a fan of the Vera Wong series.
Mebel is 63 and shocked when she finds out her husband wants to leave her for a much younger woman. She has always been a “trophy wife” and feels like she needs to get him back. So she applies to culinary school, leaves Indonesia, and shows up in England to learn to be a cook and win him back. Along the way Mebel learns a lot about life, a lot about herself, her worth, her interests, her wants, she meets new friends, and after a rougher start, actually learns to cook and is delightfully good at it! I loved Mebel, she isn’t a perfect character but you can’t help but root for her as she learns and grows. The audiobook was fantastic and I really just love this author’s writing overall!
Mebel is 63 and shocked when she finds out her husband wants to leave her for a much younger woman. She has always been a “trophy wife” and feels like she needs to get him back. So she applies to culinary school, leaves Indonesia, and shows up in England to learn to be a cook and win him back. Along the way Mebel learns a lot about life, a lot about herself, her worth, her interests, her wants, she meets new friends, and after a rougher start, actually learns to cook and is delightfully good at it! I loved Mebel, she isn’t a perfect character but you can’t help but root for her as she learns and grows. The audiobook was fantastic and I really just love this author’s writing overall!
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.
May 13, 2026
I read this in a day, because it was too much fun to put down. It has the same sense of humour I loved in the Vera Wong books, which genuinely made me laugh out loud a couple times. I was a little afraid Mebel would be too similar to Vera, but they're both very distinct characters, so I needn't have worried. Where Mebel's story started off funny, it ended in a super heartfelt way. I loved seeing her grow as a character and realize she was allowed to make her own choices in life.
Want to Read
May 18, 2026i was enjoying this one but unfortunately it needs to go back to the library now boo
May 14, 2026
4.5 rounded up !!! i love old people !!! i love asian aunties !!! i wish i could cook !!!
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 📖 🔥🍴
May 28, 2026
The story is amusing and annoying at the same time. The premise sounded fun and interesting. A woman’s marriage falls apart after 40yrs as the husband leaves her for a younger woman, their personal chef. She thinks that if she learns to cook she’ll win her husband back. She is a rich housewife from Indonesia that has never held a job in her life and sole purpose is to please her husband and bear him children.
Mebel Tenadi is the protagonist. At some point she would be considered a TROPHY WIFE if her looks justify it but at 63 years old and married 40yrs I believe that moniker ceases to apply. However, the narrative reminds the reader of it throughout the book and it’s the core of the story. Therefore quite annoying. However, the journey of self discovery and changing to have her own identity is what saves the story. She also helps Gemma stand up for herself.
There are other side characters that keep the story barely floating. Gemma, Mebel’s classmate at the culinary school. Sammy, Mebel’s son and his family. Mebel’s estranged husband. Alain Moreau, a renowned chef and director at the school. Mebel’s young classmates with their witty banter. Topics on French cooking.
Mebel Tenadi is the protagonist. At some point she would be considered a TROPHY WIFE if her looks justify it but at 63 years old and married 40yrs I believe that moniker ceases to apply. However, the narrative reminds the reader of it throughout the book and it’s the core of the story. Therefore quite annoying. However, the journey of self discovery and changing to have her own identity is what saves the story. She also helps Gemma stand up for herself.
There are other side characters that keep the story barely floating. Gemma, Mebel’s classmate at the culinary school. Sammy, Mebel’s son and his family. Mebel’s estranged husband. Alain Moreau, a renowned chef and director at the school. Mebel’s young classmates with their witty banter. Topics on French cooking.
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!
May 16, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mebel was raised to be one thing: a trophy wife to a wealthy man. She marries Henk, a real estate tycoon, and they have one son, Sammy. Now, as retirement nears, she is ready to travel the world with her husband to see all it has to offer. Mebel gets a rude awakening when her husband, Henk, informs her that their marriage of over 40 years is over. He is leaving her for their private chef. The self-proclaimed CHIP – a Chinese-Indonesian Princess has always strived to keep her husband happy and anticipate all his needs. Her son tells her she needs a plan to get her husband back. He never imagined she would want to level the playing field by going to cooking school. If Henk wanted a chef, she would learn to cook. The best cooking schools are in France, the most romantic place in the world. She quickly enrolls and sets off on a grand adventure to win Henk back.
She arrives to learn she is not enrolled in the school in France but their sister school in a small village outside Oxford, England. After an interesting journey, she arrives, checks into her tiny room, and learns all the other students are much younger than her 63 years. An unlikely friendship grounds her in ways that may turn her life in a new direction.
Mebel fell in love with Henk when she found out his name was spelled Henk, not Hank, like she was Mebel, not Mabel. She had a good life as a trophy wife: social events, shopping with friends, running her household in ways to please her husband. She has a high opinion of herself until the bottom fell out of her life. While she took some time to crumble, she got up, dusted herself off, and came up with a plan. A plan that was much harder to fulfill than she had imagined. A plan with no promise that it would work to get her husband back.
Mebel’s life at the school was a real test, but as she settled in, it became an intergenerational story filled with humor and heartwarming moments. When her friend disappeared from the school, we entered into a mystery phase to find them and find out why they left. This led to some surprising twists and turns.
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is a later-in-life coming-of-age story. I really enjoyed Mebel’s awakening and her journey. As a 60+ woman who could never be a trophy wife, I was so happy that Mebel 2.0 was not what she expected, but she was thrilled by who she became. She has so much more of life to live; she deserves to put herself first. Overall, this is a lighthearted, entertaining read and a wonderfully enjoyable escape.
*Some explicit language
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Mebel was raised to be one thing: a trophy wife to a wealthy man. She marries Henk, a real estate tycoon, and they have one son, Sammy. Now, as retirement nears, she is ready to travel the world with her husband to see all it has to offer. Mebel gets a rude awakening when her husband, Henk, informs her that their marriage of over 40 years is over. He is leaving her for their private chef. The self-proclaimed CHIP – a Chinese-Indonesian Princess has always strived to keep her husband happy and anticipate all his needs. Her son tells her she needs a plan to get her husband back. He never imagined she would want to level the playing field by going to cooking school. If Henk wanted a chef, she would learn to cook. The best cooking schools are in France, the most romantic place in the world. She quickly enrolls and sets off on a grand adventure to win Henk back.
She arrives to learn she is not enrolled in the school in France but their sister school in a small village outside Oxford, England. After an interesting journey, she arrives, checks into her tiny room, and learns all the other students are much younger than her 63 years. An unlikely friendship grounds her in ways that may turn her life in a new direction.
Mebel fell in love with Henk when she found out his name was spelled Henk, not Hank, like she was Mebel, not Mabel. She had a good life as a trophy wife: social events, shopping with friends, running her household in ways to please her husband. She has a high opinion of herself until the bottom fell out of her life. While she took some time to crumble, she got up, dusted herself off, and came up with a plan. A plan that was much harder to fulfill than she had imagined. A plan with no promise that it would work to get her husband back.
Mebel’s life at the school was a real test, but as she settled in, it became an intergenerational story filled with humor and heartwarming moments. When her friend disappeared from the school, we entered into a mystery phase to find them and find out why they left. This led to some surprising twists and turns.
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is a later-in-life coming-of-age story. I really enjoyed Mebel’s awakening and her journey. As a 60+ woman who could never be a trophy wife, I was so happy that Mebel 2.0 was not what she expected, but she was thrilled by who she became. She has so much more of life to live; she deserves to put herself first. Overall, this is a lighthearted, entertaining read and a wonderfully enjoyable escape.
*Some explicit language
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an 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.
May 6, 2026
Jesse Q. Sutanto is one of my favorite authors. She has an incredible gift in creating amazing characters and fully immerses the reader in the story.
In short, Mebel, at age 63, finally experiences her coming of age. It's an empowering story about a woman finally guiding her own ship, no more conforming to familial and societal expectations. And it is laugh out loud funny!
I seriously looked like a literal lunatic listening to this book in the car, I was laughing out loud hysterically, it is that funny
Eunice Wong narrated this one and she is such a great narrator and was perfect for the voice of Mebel, but her range is incredible. She provided a unique, and fitting, voice for all of the characters.
In short, Mebel, at age 63, finally experiences her coming of age. It's an empowering story about a woman finally guiding her own ship, no more conforming to familial and societal expectations. And it is laugh out loud funny!
I seriously looked like a literal lunatic listening to this book in the car, I was laughing out loud hysterically, it is that funny
Eunice Wong narrated this one and she is such a great narrator and was perfect for the voice of Mebel, but her range is incredible. She provided a unique, and fitting, voice for all of the characters.
May 23, 2026
Thank you ms mebel for teaching me it’s never too late to start
May 5, 2026
I was so excited when I saw that the narrator for this book was Eunice Wong. She was fantastic with the Vera Wong series and she was yet again fantastic with this one! As a narrator, she brings so much life, charisma, and emotion to her characters. She provides an enjoyable listen because her cadence is on point, she isn't too breathy, and at a higher speed I can still understand everything clearly. I can honestly say, I think I enjoyed this book more due to the audiobook so I highly recommend listening to it.
I liked Mabel's character and the growth she showed throughout the story. I like that her mindset shifted when she learned more about the world that was outside of her own. I do wish this book had a little more to it because I feel like we barely scratched the surface with some relationships and themes. However, on the other hand the book also had a lot going for it and almost tried to do too many storylines which is why a lot of them lacked depth. But I know I'm just being picky. Overall, I enjoyed this one and thought it was a fun listen.
Thank you so much @prhaudio for my gifted #audiobook copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I liked Mabel's character and the growth she showed throughout the story. I like that her mindset shifted when she learned more about the world that was outside of her own. I do wish this book had a little more to it because I feel like we barely scratched the surface with some relationships and themes. However, on the other hand the book also had a lot going for it and almost tried to do too many storylines which is why a lot of them lacked depth. But I know I'm just being picky. Overall, I enjoyed this one and thought it was a fun listen.
Thank you so much @prhaudio for my gifted #audiobook copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 7, 2026
Jesse Q Sutanto is the queen of writing books about endearingly problematic moms of color!! Such a sweet book and a good reminder you can always change your life, no matter your age or how impossible it seems!
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.
April 28, 2026
this is tagged as a mystery, it’s not, it’s a lighthearted story about an aging trophy wife finding her independence taking a cooking course, cute but not interesting
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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
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