Jesse Q. Sutanto

Jesse Q. Sutanto
Education
OccupationAuthor
Notable work
  • Dial A for Aunties (2021)
  • Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023)
Awards

Jesse Q. Sutanto is a Chinese-Indonesian author. As of 2023, she has published nine novels for adults, young adults, and middle-grade readers. She is most famous for her novels Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. Dial A for Aunties won the 2021 Comedy Women in Print Prize and has been optioned for a film by Netflix.

Personal life

Sutanto grew up in a Chinese-Indonesian family, living in Singapore, Indonesia, California, and Oxford.[1] She speaks Mandarin, Indonesian, and English with her family.[1] She currently lives in Jakarta with her husband, who is English, and their two daughters.[1][2][3]

Writing career

Sutanto received her MFA in creative writing from Oxford University in 2009 and has been writing ever since.[4][5] She published her first book in 2021 and as of 2023, has published nine books for readers of all ages.

Dial A for Aunties

In 2021, Sutanto published her hit novel, Dial A for Aunties. For this book, Sutanto became the first writer of colour to win the United Kingdom's Comedy Women in Print Prize.[1] The novel, which is a blend of romantic comedy and murder mystery, features Chinese-Indonesian culture through the lens of a girl, her mother and four aunts.[6]

In 2020, before Dial A for Aunties was even published, the film rights were bought by Netflix as a result of a bidding war.[7][5] Nahnatchka Khan and Chloe Yellin will adapt the novel into a film.[8] Khan was set to direct the project.[7][5] Sutanto will executive produce the film.[7]

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

In 2023, the rights for Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers were acquired by Warner Bros. TV for the production of a series adaptation.[8] Mindy Kaling‘s Kaling International and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films are set to produce the project.[9]

Published works

  • The Obsession. Sourcebooks, Inc. 2 February 2021. ISBN 978-1-7282-1517-4.
  • The New Girl. Sourcebooks, Inc. 1 February 2022. ISBN 978-1-7282-1520-4.
  • Well, That Was Unexpected. New York: Delacorte Press. 27 September 2022. ISBN 978-0-593-43399-7.
  • I'm Not Done with You Yet. Penguin Group. 16 July 2024. ISBN 978-0-593-54693-2.
  • Didn't See That Coming. New York: Delacorte Press. 28 November 2023. ISBN 978-0-593-43403-1.
  • Worth Fighting For. Disney Electronic Content. 3 June 2025. ISBN 978-1-368-11481-3.
  • You Will Never Be Me. Penguin Group. 7 October 2025. ISBN 978-0-593-54696-3.

Aunties series

  • Dial A for Aunties. New York: Penguin. 27 April 2021. ISBN 978-0-593-33304-4.
  • Four Aunties and a Wedding. New York, NY: Penguin. 29 March 2022. ISBN 978-0-593-33306-8.
  • The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties. New York: Penguin. 26 March 2024. ISBN 978-0-593-54623-9.

Vera Wong series

  • Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. New York: Penguin. 14 March 2023. ISBN 978-0-593-54618-5.[10][11]
  • Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man). New York: Penguin Group. 1 April 2025. ISBN 978-0-593-54625-3.

Theo Tan series

  • Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit. Feiwel & Friends. 31 May 2022. ISBN 978-1-250-79430-7.
  • Theo Tan and the Iron Fan. Feiwel & Friends. 27 June 2023. ISBN 978-1-250-79437-6.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Watkins, Emily (9 November 2021). "Jesse Sutanto: 'I'm grateful to women of colour who paved the way'". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ^ Flood, Alison (8 November 2021). "'Delicious caper' by Jesse Sutanto wins Comedy women in print award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. ^ "On murderous blind dates and aiming low as a writer: Jesse Q. Sutanto's literary voice". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  4. ^ Shoenberger, Elisa (15 November 2022). "Where To Get Started Reading Jesse Q. Sutanto's Books". BOOK RIOT. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Kit, Borys (18 June 2020). "Nahnatchka Khan, Netflix Team for Romantic Comedy 'Dial A for Aunties' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  6. ^ "'Well, That Was Unexpected': A novel filled with charm, wit and growing pains". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "How Asian film is making moves to take over from Hollywood". BBC News. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b Campione, Katie (10 April 2023). "Mindy Kaling & Oprah Winfrey's Harpo To Develop Series Adaptation Of 'Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice For Murderers' With Warner Bros TV". Deadline. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. ^ Bell, BreAnna (10 April 2023). "Warner Bros. TV Acquires Jesse Q. Sutanto's 'Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,' Harpo Films and Kaling International to Produce". Variety. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  10. ^ Maxi Duncan. "'Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers' Review: A Refreshing Take on the Female Sleuth". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  11. ^ Sutanto, Jesse Q., Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders Narrated by Eunice Wong. Books on Tape.(2024). 2024 RUSA Listen List Revealed. American Library Association, January 20, 2024.
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