Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B?

Fame, food, addiction, skills, redemption, aspirations, mentoring, and starting over are many of the themes in Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B?. Plus, this book will have you drooling over the mentioned food, kitchen scenes, and talk of food preparation. I enjoyed the writing, the characters, the relationships, and the focus on starting over.

Queenie B used to have it all. She was a top celebrity chef with best-selling cookbooks. She was the it girl in the culinary world with great food, good looks, and confidence. But she had a HUGE fall from grace and disappeared….

Gale Carmichael is newly sober and a local line cook with dreams of having culinary success. When he finds himself at a local soup kitchen; with food being made that was is out of this world, he is shocked and intrigued. He then finds himself being mentored by a woman named Regina. Regina recognizes something in Gale and takes him under her wing. When Gale is chosen to compete in a Chopped type show titled “Cut!” it’s a chance at redemption for them both!

This book. deals with some difficult subjects such as addiction and sobriety, to name a few, with grace. I enjoyed how both characters were in need of redemption. Both Queenie B/Regina and Gale have their insecurities, vulnerabilities, and imperfections which makes them feel more real and relatable. They were also determined, willing to work hard, dedicated, and striving for a second chance. Both characters are likeable and had me cheering for them. Plus, each chapter describes a way of cooking and cooking/kitchen terms that will have readers mouths watering.

I found this book to be well written, well thought out, with great pacing and wonderful descriptions. This book also gave me a new appreciation for chefs and kitchen staff. I also enjoyed the author’s note as well at the end of the book.

This was a great second chance redemption story that had me craving yummy food and wanting to read more books written by Terri-Lynne DeFino.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.