Be Ready When the Luck Happens

A Memoir

By: Ina Garten

Narrated by: Ina Garten

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten—aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon—shares her personal story with those hungry for a seat at her table.

Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.

From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of recipes and images from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Ina Garten (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Be Ready When the Luck Happens is a wildly entertaining and compulsively readable story about curiosity and courage, challenges and coconut cupcakes. It’s also a love story for the ages. Smart and funny, warm and engaging, Ina Garten proves just how lucky a person can be if she’s willing to work hard, get over her past, and be fully and fearlessly engaged with life.”—Ann Patchett, author of Tom Lake

Life Happens, Roll With It

A self made woman who breaks molds because she listens to her inner knowing. Growing up watching Ina and Jeffrey this gem takes you down memory lane with all its twists and turns. The art of living through cooking in Ina’s kitchen leaves you full of experiences that enrich your mind, body and soul. Pure love.

She’s just like her TV shows!

Loved every moment. Ina is as warm and transparent in her memoir as she is on her TV shows. I am so glad she narrated her own book. It would not have been the same with someone else.

Great book!

She reveals her father was abusive and she and her husband almost divorced.. And much more. You can listen to the entire book in one day.

Inside Ina’s mind

Fell in love with Ina (& Jeffrey) all over again. Was disappointed to hear it end.

So much more impressed!

I’ve always loved Ina Garten and knew she was a bad ass, but until I listened to this book, I had no idea about much of a bad ass she is! I appreciate her candor with this book and her praise of others in her life who got her to where she is today. I love her even more now! So grateful she wrote this for her fans.

Surprising life!

There's more to Ina than just cooking up a storm. First, she's got a terrific voice. Second, her life hasn't been a bed of roses. Third, she appreciates the life and love she has made.

The privileged life she lives.

Ina is a wonderful writer and personality. I'm a home cook and I feel her recipes are the most authentic, accessible and not just printrest petty. I read her memior and what defined Ina Garten life was not the " luck" she decribes but her " luck" to be born into a life of privilege. She wasn't a born a child of South Boston, Ethiopia or Mexico. She didn't dream of attending a Ivy League school, she spent weekends at Darthmoth with the love of her life. She was able to make the the sardine sandwichs of her childhood a distant memory when she learned how to make a apple tartain or the perfect roast chicken. She lives a life of privilege because she just happens to be surrounded by friends and acquaintances who put in a word at the bank so she can get that first mortgage and loan. Friends who tell her about a job opening at the White House. Classmates who later become Pulizer prize writers and directors.Marriage to a amazing loving man who just happens to become a Dean at Yale. Life in the Hamptons with a wildly successful store branded with a name that becomes a financially successful platform for the Iliving the Ina Garten life of Paris apartments, good coffee, good bread and good conversations. How easy is tthat!

Ina’s story makes me feel like a friend who is very lucky

Ina’s story is so real. I’ve been a fan for 20+ years. This memoir has solidified in my soul the beautiful, intelligent , courageous and vulnerable woman with more talents than cooking. Her story is inspiring and enriching. I have all of her cookbooks and use them every day. After reading this memoir I feel like a friend. Thank you Ina.

Absolute Must Read!

Ina has been my inspiration since I was a child; racing home from school to catch her afternoon run of Barefoot Contessa. Some of the first meals I cooked my family were from her books. I am so happy to have been able to listen to Ina tell her story. After almost 20 years she is still one of my biggest inspirations in this life. Ina, thank you for being you 🥰❤️

Her narrating

I loved the whole book!I loved hearing about her camping through Europe and her recipesj