ARC Review: Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jessie Q. Sutanto

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
Author: Jessie Q. Sutanto
Publication: Berkley (April 28, 2026)

Description: 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…

My Thoughts: Mebel Tenadi is the perfect Chinese Indonesian trophy wife. She has spent forty years dealing with her husband's needs and propping him up. She lives a life filled with shopping, dinners, shopping, and interfering into the life of her son and his family. 

When her husband Henk comes to her and demands a divorce so that he can be with the family's much younger personal chef, Mebel is gobsmacked. This isn't the future that she had envisioned. After some flailing around and some retail therapy, she decides that if her husband wants a chef, she will become the best one. 

Mebel finds a school in Paris that has the advantage of being near the Hermes store and applies. However, when she arrives, she finds that she hasn't been accepted to that school but rather a satellite school in England near Oxford. She arrives in Cowley and suffers all sorts of culture shock from the rural setting to the single-bedded dormitory room. Then there is even more culture shock when the young students don't automatically defer to her. 

Gemma is befriended by some of her young classmates who quickly bring her into the modern age of women's rights and assertiveness. And she begins an affair of her own with one of the directors of the school who is a famous French chef. 

As she learns each new culinary skill, she develops more pride in herself and her accomplishments and she begins to wonder if winning back her straying husband is really what she wants to do with her life. And when she learns something about her new lover, she is determined to find justice for her young friend and his other victims. 

This was an entertaining story. I didn't care much for the hedonistic Mebel at the beginning of the books but came to really enjoy her as the story progresses and she grows into herself.  

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

The Lost Story
Author: Meg Shaffer
Publication: Ballantine Books (July 16, 2024)

Description: Inspired by C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, this wild and wondrous novel is a fairy tale for grown-ups who still knock on the back of wardrobes—just in case—from the author of The Wishing Game.

As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.

Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.

Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.

Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.

My Thoughts: THE LOST STORY was a magical experience. It is the story of two boys lost in a forest in West Virginia on an end-of-the-year field trip who come walking out six months after they disappeared. Rafe becomes an artist who doesn't remember what happened while he was lost in the woods. Jeremy becomes a man filled with secrets who has a talent for finding girls who are lost in the woods. 

Fifteen years after their reappearance, Emilie Wendell comes to find Jeremy to ask him to look for the sister she didn't know she had until after her mother's death and who disappeared in the same forest where Rafe and Jeremy disappeared. Jeremy hasn't seen Rafe since they walked out of the forest, but now he needs him if the search for Emilie's sister is to be successful. 

This story tells what happened when they all return to the Red Crow forest. It is filled with magic and romance and all the elements of a good fairy tale: heroes and villains, a lost princess, a magician and a storyteller to provide insights. 

I thought this story was amazing. It will certainly go on my keeper shelf when it was released. The characters were well-drawn and interesting people. The language was both down to earth and lyrical.

Favorite Quote:

They were gone long enough that people had stopped referring to the as "missing," which implied a temporary state of being, and now simply called them "lost." You looked for missing children. You mourned lost ones. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell
Author: Abbi Waxman
Publication: Berkley (April 16, 2024)

Description: Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . . a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.

My Thoughts: This story was a wonderful combination of humorous and heart-warming. Christa Liddle has hidden herself away on an island in the Indian Ocean studying ocean snails. She grew up in the spotlight as the daughter of a TV presenter/naturalist who disappeared in Alaska when Christa was a toddler. 

Christa's mother kept the legend alive and furthered her husband's work by setting up a foundation to support conservation efforts which is what led to Christa's fame since she was brought along to publicity events and TV shows mainly to be cute and hold cute animals. In her teens she went a little wild drinking and using drugs until a traumatic event at one of her mother's benefits. Sent off to boarding school. Christa feel in love with zoology. 

But now her life in isolation comes to an abrupt end. The father who disappeared twenty-five years earlier has reappeared from the depths of Alaska. Christa, her two older sisters, and her mother have to deal with all the changes this makes in her life. For Christa, it brings out her fears that her youthful excesses will be brought up again. 

It also means a reunion with Nate who was a childhood friend of her older sisters and the object of Christa's crush. He was the one who saved her from more harm at the benefit. She doesn't know quite what to make of him now that she is seeing him through adult eyes. But they seem to be falling in love.

This was an excellent story. I laughed out loud more than one time as I was reading and I felt deeply for the confusion Christa feels about the reappearance of her missing father. 

Favorite Quote:

"I have no idea who you are, but thank you very much for the small pizzas." I looked at my mom and raided by eyebrows. "We haven't been introduced."

The man was tall, wearing a T-shirt, jeans and no shoes. He had one of those muscular bodies that look super casual yet probably take years of effort, and a face like a model for an outdoor-clothing company. He turned and looked at my mom too. Apparently, we were both raised in Regency England and needed a formal introduction.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Love in the Time of Serial Killers
Author: Alicia Thompson
Publication: Berkley (August 16, 2022)

Description: Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn't exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she's used to suspecting the worst.

PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She's even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It's hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn't had a relationship with for years

It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). It's not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart.

My Thoughts: Grad student Phoebe Walsh is in Florida helping to clean out her deceased father's house after his sudden death. Her parents had an acrimonious divorce, and she left with her mother. She has very mixed feelings about her relationship, or lack of a relationship, with her father. But she is helping her younger brother Conner.

Phoebe is also writing her dissertation which focuses on how serial killers are written about. She has something of an obsession with the topic of serial killers. Every new acquaintance is a potential serial killer in her mind. 

When she meets her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, her first thought is to rate him on her serial killer scale. He also seems to be behaving mysteriously in her glimpses of him going about his daily life. He acts like a genuinely nice guy, helping her when she's unloading a large desk, mowing her lawn, helping her when her car battery dies. But can she trust him?

Between cleaning out her father the borderline hoarder's house, helping her brother come up with a creative way to propose to his long-term girlfriend, working on her dissertation and preparing her resume, Phoebe doesn't know if she has the time or the courage to begin a relationship.

This was an entertaining romance with a unique main character. While I had to look up some of the acronyms used in this first-person narrative, I enjoyed getting to know this serial killer obsessed young woman.

Favorite Quote:

It always blew my mind, when people on social media posted things like "I'm having a bad day, please send compliments!" I loved that for them, being so open, but I'd rather saw off my own foot.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey

Just Another Love Song
Author: Kerry Winfrey
Publication: Berkley (August 2, 2022)

Description: Two high school sweethearts get a second chance at their perfect ending in this charming new romance by Kerry Winfrey, author of Very Sincerely Yours.

Once upon a time, Sandy Macintosh thought she would have her happily ever after with her high school sweetheart, Hank Tillman. Sandy wanted to be an artist, Hank was the only boy in town who seemed destined for bigger things, and they both had dreams to escape town together. But when Sandy’s plans fell through, she stayed in their small town

Fifteen years later, Sandy runs a successful greenhouse while helping her parents with their bed and breakfast. Everything is perfect…until Hank rolls back into town, now a famous alt-country singer with a son in tow. She’s happy with the life she’s built by herself, but seeing Hank makes her think about what might have been. There aren’t enough cliché love songs in the world to convince Sandy to give Hank another chance, but when the two of them get thrown together to help organize the town’s annual street fair, she wonders if there could be a new beginning for them or if what they had is just a tired old song of the past.

My Thoughts: JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG was an engaging contemporary romance with moments of laugh-out-loud humor. 

Sandy Macintosh and Hank Tillman had a sweet high school romance. They both had plans to leave Baileyville and make their marks on the larger world. Sandy had her art and Hank had his music. But when finances kept Sandy at home, she broke up with Hank so that she wouldn't hold him back. Her break-up broke both their hearts and threw Sandy into depression.

Encouraged by her friends, she came out of it determined to make a happy life for herself in Baileyville. She owns a successful greenhouse, helps her parents with their B&B, and volunteers for just about everything in town. She tries to convince herself that she's happy, but still loves Hank.

Hank, who went off to build his music career, has married, divorced and has a young son. He is also a successful musician. Now, he's come back home, ostensibly so that his son can spend time with his parents, but he also wants to see if he can rebuild his relationship with Sandy.

The story was filled with Sandy's reticence to risk her heart and Hank's persistence. There were lots of funny moments and some that were quite emotional and touching. 

Fans of contemporary romance with enjoy this wonderful story. 

Favorite Quote:

What I do know is that I spent way too long picking out my outfit tonight before going with a red gingham dress that I was hoping would say, "vintage Americana," but might be saying, "repurposed tablecloth from an abandoned picnic."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman

Adult Assembly Required
Author: Abbi Waxman
Publication: Berkley (May 17, 2022)

Description: A young woman arrives in Los Angeles determined to start over and discovers she doesn’t need to leave everything behind after all, from Abbi Waxman, USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

When Laura Costello moves to Los Angeles, trying to escape an overprotective family and the haunting memories of a terrible accident, she doesn’t expect to be homeless after a week. (She’s pretty sure she didn’t start that fire — right?) She also doesn't expect to find herself adopted by a rogue bookseller, installed in a lovely but completely illegal boardinghouse, or challenged to save a losing trivia team from ignominy…but that’s what happens. Add a regretful landlady, a gorgeous housemate and an ex-boyfriend determined to put himself back in the running and you’ll see why Laura isn’t really sure she’s cut out for this adulting thing. Luckily for her, her new friends Nina, Polly and Impossibly Handsome Bob aren't sure either, but maybe if they put their heads (and hearts) together they’ll be able to make it work.

My Thoughts: This is a story about a young woman who runs away from home and family expectations to find herself and finds friends and a life she loves.

Laura Costello has come from New York City to Los Angeles to attend graduate school. She's only there a day or two when her apartment house catches fire, and she loses everything but the clothes she's wearing. She also gets caught in the rain and finds shelter in a local bookstore. There she meets the quirky staff and is taken to the boarding house where one of them lives.

The house is filled with interesting people including her new friend Polly and Maggie who is their landlord. Laura finds herself living next to Impossibly Handsome Bob who is a quiet gardener. The two fall in love which is apparent to everyone except them.

Laura was a great character who is dealing with PTSD after a car accident. She is terrified of driving or even riding in a car. She is also dealing with her family of academics who don't understand her need for sports and physical activity or her desire to become a physical therapist. She also has an ex-fiancé who is more than a bit of an ass. 

I enjoyed the quirky characters, heart and humor in this story. The characters were engaging and very real. Some were introduced in The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and it is nice to see where they are in their lives in this story. 

The book was an engaging story of real people with real problems.

Favorite Quote:

"I thought being a grown-up meant not needing help with anything."

"No," said Nina, "being a grown-up is accepting help when you need it."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.