As a reader, I found this book to be about changing one's being as to who they are perceived to be and who they actually are. A book about forgiveness as the characters continue to evolve such ad Gale and Sean. Yes, Regina was a star as she singlehandedly changed television shows featuring food. However, it was both an emotional and physical sacrifice. She lost love and family. She is the epitome that even as a designated queen with a captive audience that it was exactly that. Simply an audience who were not her friends. She evolved as Regina and in serving others in her soup kitchen, it showed that she was a loving and caring person. In her sobriety, she truly changed. That is how she was able to support Gale and recognize his true talents as a chef. Like his participation in Cut, he could imagine dishes that most could not. In this book, despite his relationship with Jenara that did not work out, he truly evolved into a person that liked himself. I would love to have a sequel when they go to Bova. In my book, they are both stars. A great read.

A great story that made me think about my past career and my future. I think the writing is easy to follow and DeFino knows how to create interesting dialogue and characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Didn't You Used to Be Queenie B? was a good book, which I saw after I'd seen the latest season of The Bear. While fiction, you feel like you are taking a peek into the back of the house of a celebrity chef. Told in alternating timelines, the author does a good job of this method (which happens to be one I enjoy.)
Queenie B has substance abuse issues, and we are taken through her path back "then," and "now." We are able to see the way her substance abuse affected her son, Julian.
It's witty, interesting, and a unique plot.
Kudos to the author. I recommend this book.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this book, with my honest review below.

For anyone who is interested in the culture of celebrity chefs, cooking competitions, and food in general, but also so much more, meet your new favorite book, Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B?

The story alternates between present day (2015 - 2016) following young line cook Gabe as he tries to prove himself and move away from the shadow of his past, and 1999 until the book’s present day, following female celebrity chef and train wreck, Queenie B. Queenie is everything celebrity chefs can be known for, amazing food, a culinary kingdom, and a drug and alcohol problem. While Queenie’s perspective was the most fascinating part of this story, it’s also painful as her son Julian is impacted by her substance abuse both during her pregnancy and throughout his childhood, which continues to haunt Queenie.

Eventually we see Gabe meet Regina (a down to earth Queenie) and as the two find support in one another they learn some hard won lessons. The emotional component of this book is high but it also has a ton of humor and is more honest than I would expected. I was drawn in due to the cooking and chefs and this book taught me a lot in the chef speak lessons that start chapters, but this book delivered so much more. I highly recommend you pick this up and read it during a time when you can reflect on some pretty real life issues that are beautifully explored. Queenie/Regina, Gale, and all the colorful supporting characters in this story do some heavy lifting and it makes for a really great story.