Be Ready When the Luck Happens Audiobook By Ina Garten cover art

Be Ready When the Luck Happens

A Memoir

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Be Ready When the Luck Happens

By: Ina Garten
Narrated by: Ina Garten
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About this listen

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
Best of 2024 Celebrity Chefs & Restaurants Culinary Editors Select Food & Wine Heartfelt Inspiring

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

Editorial Review

From nuclear policies to pastries
Ina Garten's memoir is a treat for fans and foodies alike. Narrated by Garten herself, the audiobook brings an intimate charm to her life story. As she recounts her unlikely journey from nuclear policy writer to culinary icon, listeners are treated to personal revelations with her signature warmth and wit. From her early struggles in the food world to an enduring love story with her husband, Jeffrey, Ina doesn’t hold back. Garten's narration adds an extra layer of authenticity, making it feel as if you're having a chat with her. Whether you're swooning over Jeffrey and Ina’s romance or savoring her career milestones, this audiobook is a delightful and inspiring listen that includes a PDF of Ina's cherished photographs and recipes. — Patty R., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Be Ready When the Luck Happens

Highly rated for:

Captivating Life Journey Heartwarming Love Story Soothing Voice Inspiring Perseverance Engaging Storytelling
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Overcoming

I loved the honesty and awakenings that Ina Garten shared in this book. It enabled me to recast some of my life.

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Refreshingly vulnerable

We all tend to think of Ina Garten as doing everything perfectly but in this book she really opens up as to all the challenges and pitfalls that each of us run into. She's SO relatable, inspiring and warm while sharing some very painful life experiences that drovecher to the hard work that garnered her such success. There are certainly applicable life and business lessons to be learned within this book. Such an enjoyable read and left me wanting to hear more!

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Better than I expected

I finished this in 2 days. Super interesting, intimate and inspiring! I highly recommend it to those who love Ina and younger women who want to fine inspiration on their lives!

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Ina, I hardly knew ye!

I’ve been an Ina Garten fan for years. She taught me how to cook! I had no idea of the life behind the recipes. This is a straight forward, insightful autobiography and so entertaining. I am sorry to now be at the end of the book - and our time together!

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How Easy is That!

Ina’s book was warm and delightful. I had pre-ordered the book and eagerly awaited for it to download. As I started to listen I was immediately drawn in by Ina’s charming voice and her engaging storytelling. Ina has way of making you feel right at home as if you were sitting right next to her. I loved her life lessons that she shared, and I found her story to be inspiring.

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What a thoughtful, candid & inspiring memoir!

I loved hearing the ups and downs of Ina's remarkable story. Her honest, grounded telling of her story was inspiring.

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A wonderful story

A very wonderful story with many ups and downs. Ina is person of character and her truly amazing accomplishments have blazed new territories for all of us.

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Loved it!!

I was so said when it was finished. I really want to know more about this woman. We share many similar situations. I don't even cook & absolutely loved it.

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Real (and) lucky, Ina!

Hard work and luck lead to magic when you’re doing things you love and you leave the door open. Ina inspires me because she is real.

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Beautifully told

Ina told her story beautifully and I was engaged the entire time. Each time I had to press pause I looked forward to the next time I would get to listen again. The stories are rich, full and and informative.

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