Jesse Q Sutanto is the author of Dial A for Aunties, The Obsession, and Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit. She has a master's degree in creative writing from Oxford University, though she hasn't found a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. The film rights to her women's fiction, Dial A for Aunties, was bought by Netflix in a competitive bidding war. The novel will be out in April 2021. Jesse lives in Indonesia with her husband, her two daughters, and her ridiculously large extended family, many of whom live just down the road.
Sylvia's Second Act (2024) Hillary Yablon "This is the book that every woman deserves! A fun, fierce mature woman and her equally awesome best friend taking on the big city and pulling off glamorous weddings? Yes please. I am going to need an entire series about the adventures of Sylvia and Evie!"
Pride and Joy (2024) Louisa Onomé "Onome has created a family so rich in heritage and complexity that I can't believe these characters do not really exist. The love for Nigerian culture clearly shines through the page and I did not want this beautiful book to end."
The Best Way to Bury Your Husband (2024) Alexia Casale "A darkly comedic story with hijinks that will leave you torn between shock and horrified laughter. Casale has tackled a heartbreaking topic with the dexterity and nuance it deserves. I don't condone of murder, but I would like to join the Lockdown Ladies' Burial Club now, please!"
The Murder After the Night Before (2024) Katy Brent "What a ride! Unflinchingly realistic and raw but somehow also brilliantly funny at times, Brent's novel is a must-read."
Ill-Fated Fortune (2024) (Magical Fortune Cookie, book 1) Jennifer J Chow "Nobody writes cozy mysteries quite like Jennifer J. Chow. No matter what is going wrong in my life, I know that all I need to do for some comfort is turn to one of Chow's books. Chow has done it again with Ill-Fated Fortune. I did not want to leave Felicity's side even for a moment, and you won't want to either."
The September House (2023) Carissa Orlando "A genre-blending masterpiece that is part horror, part complex psychological suspense, and part dark humor, all of it tied together with beautiful prose. It creeped me out in the best possible way."
Mother-Daughter Murder Night (2023) Nina Simon "As a reader, I inhaled this book hungrily, captivated by the truly delightful characters that Simon has created. The relationship between Lana and Beth is perfectly complex - both hilarious, heartwarming, and frustrating because of how real it was. As an author, the writing made me clench my fist and go, 'How dare a debut be THIS GOOD?'"
The Blonde Identity (2023) Ally Carter "I am a Gallagher Girls fan, and The Blonde Identity satisfied ALL of my GG cravings! Carter has that magic formula of the perfect amount of brilliance, fun, and sizzling banter down pat!"
A Likeable Woman (2023) May Cobb "Beneath the suspenseful page-turner is a sharp and unflinching dissection of what it means to be a likeable woman."
Ride or Die (2023) Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu "A breath of fresh air, quite unlike anything I have read before. Musikavanhu has carved out a space of her very own with this wild ride."
The Infinite Miles (2023) Hannah Fergesen "Fergesen is the master of atmospheric storytelling. This book will wrap tightly around your soul and haunt you with its beauty. And if you are a fellow author, you will grit your teeth with jealousy because no one weaves atmosphere quite like Fergesen does. I savored this dark beauty slowly and am in need of another Fergesen book soon!"
Not Here to Stay Friends (2023) Kaitlyn Hill "Swoon-worthy... Not Here to Stay Friends reminds me of the breathless excitement that comes with being a teenager in love."
How I'll Kill You (2023) Ren DeStefano "A smart, sharp thriller that is both suspenseful and also surprisingly heartbreaking. The relationship between the three sisters is riveting. Once you're done, you'll be begging for more."
Mindwalker (2022) Kate Dylan "Mindwalker is pure adrenaline shot straight into your veins. The story grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go, and by the end, you'll be begging for another book from Dylan! On a deeper level, it's also a wildly important read that takes an incisive look at issues of consent. A must-read for both fans of sci-fi and those who think they don't like sci-fi!"
The Make-Up Test (2022) Jenny L Howe "The Make-Up Test has all of the emotions of the roller coaster that's university life woven into its pages. The second-chance romance is a soothing balm to my heart, and the fat representation is exactly what I have longed to see in books. We need more stories like The Make-Up Test!"
The Depths (2022) Nicole Lesperance "It's hard to think of another book as gorgeously written as The Depths. I was completely mesmerized by the beautifully haunting island and its eerie inhabitants. Utterly enthralling!"
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow (2022) Zoulfa Katouh "We don't deserve Katouh's gorgeous words and heartbreaking story, but she has blessed us with it anyway. AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW is not only stunningly written, it's also an incredibly important work of our time, a book that will no doubt touch millions and leave us all broken and aching for more of Katouh's writing."
Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic (2022) Lauren Ho "After Last Tang Standing, my expectations were unreasonably high, but Lauren Ho somehow managed to exceed them with Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic. Prepare yourselves for a heroine who is laugh-out-loud funny and incredibly savvy. Lauren Ho is an auto-buy author for me!"
City of Likes (2022) Jenny Mollen "Loved this fun ride of a book, with sharp humor and a surprising depth of emotions. Filled with delightful takes on how social media affects all of us, City of Likes is a must-read."
Set on You (2022) (Influencer, book 1) Amy Lea "Set on You is energetic, steamy, bubbly, and so, so fun. But more than that, it's also a hugely important book that celebrates body positivity in the most joyous way possible."
Portrait of a Thief (2022) Grace D Li "This is the heist novel we deserve. Brilliantly twisty and yet so contemplative [...] this book will continue to haunt you long after you've reached the end."
Nobody But Us (2022) Laure Van Rensburg "A propulsive thriller that is atmospheric and haunting, with so many twists that it left me breathless. At the core of the story is a rage-fuelled message, a cry of fury that demands to be heard. A triumph of a novel."
My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding (2022) Sajni Patel "A vibrant and luscious celebration of the Indian culture. I couldn't have enough of everything--the extravagant wedding, the gorgeous outfits, the food, and of course, Patel's trademark strong female mains!"
Mr. Wrong Number (2022) (Mr. Wrong Number, book 1) Lynn Painter "Smart, sexy, and downright hilarious. Mr. Wrong Number is an absolutely pitch-perfect romantic comedy.--Christina Lauren, international bestselling author of The UnhoneymoonersThis book made me burst out laughing while on the treadmill and I almost lost my balance and fell to my demise. So. Don't read it while running on the treadmill, because you WILL explode with laughter at Olivia's terrible luck, and you will absolutely swoon over Colin, and you will definitely fall in love with the two of them and root for them with all of your heart. One of my favorite romcoms, heavy on the 'com' and steamy on the 'rom'."
Red Thread of Fate (2022) Lyn Liao Butler "Lyn Liao Butler does it again! I was anticipating Butler's second book after devouring The Tiger Mom's Tale, and Red Thread of Fate did not disappoint! With a poignant tale and beautiful prose, Butler once again whisks us onto a powerful journey of loss, sorrow, but ultimately a journey of quiet strength."
Must Love Books (2022) Shauna Robinson "A book for book lovers that takes a hard look at the predatory approach of the corporate world with a heroine who's easy to love and root for. I enjoyed all of the inside look at the publishing industry from the perspective of a young woman scraping together all of her wits just to get by. It's impossible not to root for Nora!"
The Donut Trap (2021) Julie Tieu "The Donut Trap is a fun romance as delicious as a perfectly glazed donut, but beneath the sweet romance, it's also a richly developed story about the diaspora experience and the overwhelming sense of aimlessness that so often comes after graduating college. It's an important coming-of-age story about walking the fine line between forging your own path and not disappointing the parents who have given up everything for you. Expect to cry and laugh, all while craving donuts!"
Dragonfly Girl (2021) Marti Leimbach "Dragonfly Girl is unlike any other book I have read. The plot is taut and devilishly cunning, the science behind the story is brilliantly researched, and the writing pulls you in and doesn't let go until the very last page. You'll find yourself aching for the heroine's hardships at first, before suddenly being whisked off into a heart-thumping adventure that will leave you breathless. THIS BOOK SLAPS."
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Awards
2024 Edgar Award for Best Paperback original : Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Award nominations
2024 CrimeFest: Last Laugh Award (nominee) : Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
2024 CWA Gold Dagger (shortlist) : Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
2024 Barry Award for Best Paperback original (nominee) : Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
2023 Anthony Award for Best Children/Young Adult Fiction (nominee) : The New Girl
