Jesse Q. Sutanto Books in Order: Vera Wong, Aunties, Theo Tan, and Every Novel
Jesse Q. Sutanto has a knack for turning an unusual premise into a story that is difficult to put down. In Dial A for Aunties, a disastrous blind date leads to a family emergency involving an inconvenient dead body. In the Vera Wong mysteries, an elderly tea-shop owner decides that the police could use a little help solving murders. Elsewhere, Sutanto explores social media obsession, family secrets, teenage romance, and magical adventures.
Her bibliography spans adult fiction, young adult novels, and middle-grade books. That makes a Jesse Q. Sutanto reading list a little more complicated than a simple list of titles. Some books belong to connected series, while others are completely independent. This guide puts her published books into their correct reading groups, explains which titles can be read on their own, and separates upcoming releases from books already available.
1. The Aunties Books in Order
The Aunties series is a great starting point for readers who enjoy crime fiction with a generous dose of family comedy. It follows Meddelin Chan and her large, meddlesome Chinese Indonesian family, whose attempts to help often make an already difficult situation much worse.
Read the books in publication order because the characters’ relationships and family circumstances develop across the series.
1. Dial A for Aunties (2021)
Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date and turns to her mother for help. Soon, her mother and aunties are involved in an increasingly ridiculous effort to conceal the body, which becomes especially complicated when the family is working a wedding at a luxury resort.
As the situation spirals out of control, Meddy must also confront unresolved feelings about her college sweetheart. The novel mixes romantic comedy, family chaos, and murder-mystery suspense.
2. Four Aunties and a Wedding (2022)
Meddy is getting married, and her aunties are determined to make the occasion perfect. Unfortunately, a wedding filled with family expectations, suspicious guests, and unexpected danger is hardly a recipe for a peaceful celebration.
The sequel brings back the chaotic family dynamics of the first book while putting Meddy’s wedding plans at the center of another comic crime adventure.
3. The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (2024)
Meddy and her aunties return for another adventure in which family loyalty and a criminal predicament become tangled together. The familiar combination of meddling relatives, questionable plans, and escalating complications gives the series another lively installment.
Recommended reading order: Dial A for Aunties → Four Aunties and a Wedding → The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties.
2. Vera Wong Books in Order
The Vera Wong series is a cozy mystery collection featuring an elderly Chinese tea-shop owner in San Francisco who becomes an amateur detective. Vera is observant, opinionated, and convinced that people around her need her advice, whether they ask for it or not.
Her investigations are only part of the appeal. The books also explore friendship, loneliness, family, and the unexpected connections that form when people become involved in a mystery together.
1. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023)
Vera Wong discovers a dead man in her tea shop and immediately decides that she is better suited to investigate the murder than the police. As she begins questioning the people connected to the victim, she finds herself developing relationships with several suspects.
Her determination to solve the case is matched by her desire to improve everyone’s lives. The result is a mystery that balances crime-solving with warmth, humor, and an unconventional found family.
2. Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) (2025)
Vera returns with another mystery and her own approach to investigating suspicious behavior. Her curiosity leads her into a new case involving a death, while her habit of interfering in other people’s affairs continues to create both complications and unexpected connections.
The sequel builds on Vera’s personality and the relationships introduced in the first novel, making it best enjoyed after Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
3. Vera Wong’s Vacation Hacks for Catching a Killer (2027, forthcoming)
The third Vera Wong novel is scheduled for publication in April 2027. This time, Vera finds that a vacation is no obstacle to her sleuthing instincts: when a murder occurs, she cannot resist getting involved.
Because this is a forthcoming title as of October 2026, readers should check the publisher’s current release information before looking for a finished copy.
Recommended reading order: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers → Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) → Vera Wong’s Vacation Hacks for Catching a Killer.
3. Theo Tan Books in Order
Theo Tan is the hero of Sutanto’s middle-grade fantasy series. These books are aimed at younger readers and combine supernatural adventure, family history, Chinese mythology, and a boy discovering that the world is more magical than he realized.
1. Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit (2022)
Theo Tan has grown up feeling disconnected from parts of his Chinese heritage. After a family loss, he discovers a supernatural secret that changes his understanding of the world around him. His encounter with a fox spirit leads him into an adventure involving magic, family history, and the mysteries of Chinese folklore.
2. Theo Tan and the Iron Fan (2023)
Theo returns for another magical adventure, drawing on Chinese mythology and legendary objects. The sequel continues the series’ focus on friendship, identity, and the challenges of growing into one’s place in a world full of supernatural surprises.
Recommended reading order: Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit → Theo Tan and the Iron Fan.
4. Well, That Was Unexpected Books in Order
This young adult contemporary romance series explores unexpected connections, family complications, and the unpredictability of teenage relationships. The books are best read in publication order, although each has its own central story.
1. Well, That Was Unexpected (2022)
An Indonesian teenager and an American teenager find their lives unexpectedly intertwined through family circumstances and a developing romance. The story explores cultural differences, parental expectations, and what happens when real life refuses to follow the script someone has planned.
2. Didn’t See That Coming (2023)
The companion novel returns to the world of teenage relationships and unexpected romantic complications. It follows a new central story while exploring the pressures young people face as they figure out who they are and what they want from relationships.
Recommended reading order: Well, That Was Unexpected → Didn’t See That Coming.
5. The Obsession and The New Girl in Order
These young adult psychological thrillers explore dangerous secrets, manipulation, and the darker side of relationships. They are quite different from Sutanto’s cozy mysteries and comedic family stories.
1. The Obsession (2021)
Logan believes he is meant to be with Delilah, a girl who does not know that he is watching her. His fixation grows into an unsettling pattern of surveillance and control. But Delilah has secrets of her own, and Logan’s assumptions about her prove dangerously incomplete.
The novel explores stalking, obsession, and the gap between the story someone tells themselves and the reality they refuse to see.
2. The New Girl (2022)
At an elite school, a new student’s arrival disrupts the social order and brings secrets, suspicion, and shifting alliances to the surface. The story examines the pressures of popularity and the ways appearances can hide troubling truths.
Reading note: Bibliographies commonly group these two young adult thrillers together. Check the publisher’s series designation if you need to distinguish a formal sequel from a related companion title.
6. Tchu-Morrokhai: An Edge Sharp Enough
An Edge Sharp Enough (2026, release status to verify)
This fantasy novel introduces the Tchu-Morrokhai setting and a different side of Sutanto’s writing. It draws on fantasy adventure rather than the contemporary crime and family comedy that readers may know from her better-known books.
Catalogs differ on the timing of its 2026 publication. Check the current publisher listing before treating it as already available; the title has also appeared with a later 2026 publication date.
7. Jesse Q. Sutanto Standalone Novels in Order
Sutanto’s standalone novels cover psychological suspense, domestic thrillers, and contemporary fiction. You do not need to read them in publication order, and there is no shared storyline connecting this group of books.
1. I’m Not Done with You Yet (2023)
Jane is a novelist whose success and personal life are shaped by her complicated relationship with her former best friend, who has become a successful author. When the past resurfaces, old rivalries and unresolved feelings take a darker turn.
This psychological thriller explores envy, ambition, friendship, and the lengths people may go to when they feel that someone else has taken the life they wanted.
2. You Will Never Be Me (2024)
Two women become connected through the world of online influence, where popularity, money, and personal identity can become dangerously intertwined. As their relationship deteriorates, the line between public image and private reality begins to collapse.
The novel offers a sharp look at social media culture, online fame, jealousy, and the consequences of turning one’s life into a performance.
3. Next Time Will Be Our Turn (2025)
This standalone novel explores family relationships and the ways the past shapes the present. It offers a different reading experience from Sutanto’s murder comedies and psychological thrillers, focusing instead on personal history, identity, and the choices that influence the direction of a life.
4. Read Between the Lies (2026)
This 2026 thriller adds another story of secrets, suspicion, and the difficulty of knowing whom to trust. It is a standalone read, so you do not need to finish another Sutanto series before beginning it.
5. Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block (2026)
At sixty-three, Mebel expects retirement to bring a comfortable new chapter. Instead, her husband announces that he is leaving her for their private chef. Determined to win him back, Mebel enrolls in culinary school, expecting to learn how to cook the perfect meal.
There is just one problem: she accidentally enrolls in a school in England rather than France. As she befriends a younger classmate and discovers a life beyond being the perfect wife, Mebel begins to reconsider what she really wants.
This warm, funny novel explores reinvention, friendship, independence, and the possibility of starting over later in life.
8. Jesse Q. Sutanto Books in Publication Order
If you want to follow Sutanto’s career chronologically, the list below puts her principal novels in publication order. Series entries are identified so you can see where the connected stories fit.
| Publication year | Book | Series or category |
| 2021 | The Obsession | Young adult thriller |
| 2021 | Dial A for Aunties | The Aunties #1 |
| 2022 | The New Girl | Young adult thriller |
| 2022 | Four Aunties and a Wedding | The Aunties #2 |
| 2022 | Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit | Theo Tan #1 |
| 2022 | Well, That Was Unexpected | YA contemporary |
| 2023 | Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers | Vera Wong #1 |
| 2023 | Theo Tan and the Iron Fan | Theo Tan #2 |
| 2023 | I’m Not Done with You Yet | Standalone thriller |
| 2023 | Didn’t See That Coming | YA contemporary |
| 2024 | The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties | The Aunties #3 |
| 2024 | You Will Never Be Me | Standalone thriller |
| 2025 | Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) | Vera Wong #2 |
| 2025 | Worth Fighting For | Disney’s Meant to Be collection |
| 2025 | Next Time Will Be Our Turn | Standalone |
| 2026 | Read Between the Lies | Standalone thriller |
| 2026 | Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block | Standalone women’s fiction |
| 2026 | An Edge Sharp Enough | Tchu-Morrokhai fantasy; release status to verify |
This list focuses on her principal novels. Anthology contributions, short fiction, and future titles are discussed separately so readers do not mistake a collaborative collection for a full-length solo novel.
9. Other Jesse Q. Sutanto Books and Anthology Contributions
Sutanto has also contributed to collaborative projects and multi-author collections. These titles can be interesting extras, but they should be kept separate from her solo series.
Worth Fighting For (2025)
This contemporary romance is part of Disney’s Meant to Be collection, in which different authors create modern stories inspired by classic Disney films. It is not a sequel to one of Sutanto’s solo series.
13 Little Love Stories (2026)
This multi-author anthology brings together short love stories inspired by Taylor Swift songs. Sutanto is one of the contributing authors, so it belongs in a complete bibliography of her work but is not a solo novel.
Snow This Is Love: A Meant to Be Holiday Anthology (2026)
This holiday anthology is another collaborative project connected to Disney’s Meant to Be line. Because it includes multiple authors, it should not be counted as a Jesse Q. Sutanto novel.
The Reunion Dinner (2024)
This short story appears in the multi-author Busybodies collection. It is a useful addition for readers who want to explore Sutanto’s shorter mystery fiction, but the other stories in the collection are by different writers.
10. Where Should You Start with Jesse Q. Sutanto?
The best starting point depends on the reading experience you want.
- For funny family chaos and a murder mystery: Start with Dial A for Aunties.
- For cozy crime and an unforgettable amateur detective: Read Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
- For a darker psychological thriller: Try The Obsession.
- For social media suspense: Choose You Will Never Be Me.
- For younger fantasy readers: Begin with Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit.
- For young adult contemporary romance: Start with Well, That Was Unexpected.
- For a feel-good story about reinvention: Read Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block.
- For a standalone psychological thriller: Try I’m Not Done with You Yet.
If you are new to Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers are especially useful introductions to her comic mystery style. If you prefer darker stories, begin with The Obsession or You Will Never Be Me instead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jesse Q. Sutanto Books
What is Jesse Q. Sutanto’s first book?
The Obsession and Dial A for Aunties were both published in 2021. The former is a young adult psychological thriller, while the latter is the first Aunties novel and helped introduce many readers to Sutanto’s comic crime fiction.
Do Jesse Q. Sutanto books need to be read in order?
Only the connected series really need a reading order. Read The Aunties, Vera Wong, Theo Tan, and Well, That Was Unexpected in sequence. Her standalone novels can generally be read independently.
What is the correct order for the Aunties books?
Read Dial A for Aunties, then Four Aunties and a Wedding, and finish with The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties.
What is the correct order for the Vera Wong books?
The published order is Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, followed by Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man). The third novel, Vera Wong’s Vacation Hacks for Catching a Killer, is scheduled for April 2027.
Are The Aunties and Vera Wong books connected?
They are both written by Jesse Q. Sutanto, but they are separate series with different central characters. You can read one series without completing the other first.
Are Theo Tan books suitable for children?
The Theo Tan books are published for middle-grade readers, generally around ages eight to twelve. They combine fantasy adventure, Chinese mythology, family relationships, and themes of identity and belonging.
Which Jesse Q. Sutanto books are thrillers?
The Obsession, I’m Not Done with You Yet, You Will Never Be Me, and Read Between the Lies are among her darker suspense titles. The Vera Wong and Aunties books also involve murder investigations, but their tone is more comic and lighthearted.
What is Jesse Q. Sutanto’s latest book?
As of October 2026, Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is a confirmed 2026 release. Read Between the Lies is also listed as a 2026 release. An Edge Sharp Enough has conflicting catalog dates, so check its publisher listing for current availability. Vera Wong’s Vacation Hacks for Catching a Killer is scheduled for April 2027.
How many books has Jesse Q. Sutanto written?
The number depends on whether you count solo novels, children’s books, short stories, anthology contributions, and forthcoming titles. Her bibliography includes several series and a growing collection of standalone novels, so a fixed total can quickly become outdated.
About Jesse Q. Sutanto
Jesse Q. Sutanto is an Indonesian author who writes for adult, young adult, and middle-grade readers. She grew up moving between Indonesia, Singapore, and Oxford, and her multicultural background informs many of her stories about family, identity, and belonging.
She is best known for the comic mystery Dial A for Aunties and the Vera Wong cozy mystery series. Her other work ranges from psychological thrillers and contemporary young adult fiction to children’s fantasy, demonstrating a willingness to move between very different genres and audiences.
Final Note
For readers who want the easiest route into Jesse Q. Sutanto’s books, start with Dial A for Aunties if you enjoy funny, chaotic mysteries, or Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers if you prefer cozy crime with a memorable amateur detective. Read each connected series in order, then choose the standalone books according to whether you want suspense, romance, or fantasy.
Her bibliography is varied enough that you do not have to stick to one genre. You can move from a murder mystery involving meddlesome aunties to a psychological thriller about online fame, then switch to a middle-grade fantasy adventure without needing to follow a single overarching storyline.
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