Name: Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
Rating: 4 (3 reviews)
ISBN: 9781420533415

Jesse Q. Sutanto

A Novel

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block

Jesse Q Sutanto

A nearly divorced trophy wife enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to find a fresh start in the unlikeliest of places 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. And where better to learn to cook for your husband than France, the most romantic country in the world? However, Mebel quickly learns that she has mistakenly enrolled in a culinary school not in glamorous Paris but rather in England—and in 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. And this unlikely friendship starts to show Mebel that maybe there’s more to her than being the perfect trophy wife…

Ms Mebel is a force to be reckoned with.  After her husband dropped the bombshell of his affair and subsequent request for divorce, Mebel decides the best way to get her husband back is through his stomach!  And of course the best way to get him back would be to attend a swanky cooking school!

I have zero things in common with Mebel (except being older than the average FMC!). She's from a wealthy background, married wealthier, is a label junkie and a bit of a snob in all things.  She is also caring, funny and quite ruthless when she needs to be! A miscommunication lands her in leafy England not fashionista France. Her fellow students are young enough to be her grandchildren but they become an unlikely friend group. 

A wonderful tale of self discovery, intergenerational friendships, dealing with misogynistic males and discovering the healing power of food. The bond with Gemma was really lovely to watch grow. There was enough mystery to keep you entertained and I loved that little soupcon of justice! 

I'd happily read more of Ms Mebel's adventures, she fast became my favourite adopted auntie!

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Ms Mebel is a force to be reckoned with.  After her husband dropped the bombshell of his affair and subsequent request for divorce, Mebel decides the best way to get her husband back is through his stomach!  And of course the best way to get him back would be to attend a swanky cooking school!

I have zero things in common with Mebel (except being older than the average FMC!). She's from a wealthy background, married wealthier, is a label junkie and a bit of a snob in all things.  She is also caring, funny and quite ruthless when she needs to be! A miscommunication lands her in leafy England not fashionista France. Her fellow students are young enough to be her grandchildren but they become an unlikely friend group. 

A wonderful tale of self discovery, intergenerational friendships, dealing with misogynistic males and discovering the healing power of food. The bond with Gemma was really lovely to watch grow. There was enough mystery to keep you entertained and I loved that little soupcon of justice! 

I'd happily read more of Ms Mebel's adventures, she fast became my favourite adopted auntie!

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block A Novel

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