I really enjoyed this book and am so glad I finally got to it. My library got the audiobook for it, which made for a really good experience because the narrator, Malik Rashad, seemed like a great fit.

I liked how the story started out towards the end of where it would eventually be headed. It made for a really good contrast between the author’s beginnings into his culinary adventures and what he would eventually go on to accomplish later on. He said “rags to riches” was too extreme of a description for his life, but the ups and downs were still very distinct from each other and it was interesting to hear about his rise to the top.

Despite getting a glimpse of the ending at the beginning of the book, the actual ending took me really off guard. I didn’t know much about the author at all aside from having seen him on Top Chef so I had no idea what was coming. I don’t want to spoil things for readers that also don’t know so I’ll just say I wish the author good luck in all his future endeavors!

I don’t remember why I decided to request the YA adaptation of the original memoir but I thought it was really well done. I don’t know the differences between this one and the original but found this one very fitting for a YA audience.