Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

Read this if you… love a chef memoir or have ever made a decision with no real guarantee it would work out

Why does this beguile? Now, I do love a chef memoir and this one holds up. I've always been aware of Ina Garten, used a couple of her recipes, but now, I adore her. Like truly adore her. I've never related so much to someone I've never met. Her whole approach to life (and the book) is 'go with your gut and see what opportunities present themselves.' She doesn't shy away from her mistakes, but she doesn't dwell on them either: a choice was made, lessons were learned, it either worked out or it didn't. No need to spin oneself up about it. You can only go forward. I absolutely loved this. I got it from the library and will definitely be buying a copy to keep (plus she added a few recipes), and I'll go buy a cookbook (or seven) of hers soon.

What it's about: Be Ready When the Luck Happens traces Ina Garten's life from a difficult childhood through an impulsive career pivot into specialty food she had absolutely no business making, to becoming one of the most beloved cookbook authors and food personalities in the country. A handful of recipes appear throughout, because it wouldn't be Ina without them. The real subject is what it looks like to build a life on instinct, refuse to catastrophize your mistakes, and keep moving until something extraordinary happens.

A library borrow that becomes a keeper is a rare thing. This is one of them.