Your Time Starts Now: Food and fame, failure and freedom: the life story of Australia’s first MasterChef

by Julie Goodwin

Julie Goodwin was catapulted into our hearts as the first-ever winner of MasterChef Australia. In many ways her win was unlikely. As a child Julie adored music and art, but her career began in youth work, including in a juvenile detention centre housing troubled boys and a toxic all-male staff. After her three sons were born, she and her husband started an IT business.

Then came MasterChef – a record-breaking juggernaut of a show. The attention and opportunities that flowed from Julie’s win were thrilling and overwhelming. She became a columnist for Australian Women’s Weekly, a presenter on Today, published numerous cookbooks and made appearances on many shows including facing off with snakes and alligators on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! For years she co-hosted an award-winning breakfast radio show, and she opened a thriving cooking school.

It was by all appearances, a successful, rewarding life. But under the surface relentless pressure from Julie’s outer and inner worlds was taking its toll. Struggling with depression, anxiety and addiction, with bushfires blazing and lockdowns looming, Julie found herself hospitalised in a mental health unit.

Her recovery, bumpy and circuitous, is an ongoing process that Julie tackles with tenacity. In this gloriously candid, deeply moving memoir, filled with beautiful food, astonishing people, humour and heart, Julie writes with brutal honesty about her struggles. We are brought into her story, into her unravelling and quest for healing as she seeks to resume a richly lived life.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2024

Reviews

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an honest no holds barred memoir from this amazing woman. I loved Julie on both seasons of Masterchef that she was on, but it was the story behind the woman that was fascinating to read about. She doesn’t hold back on the highs and lows in her life to date, and I don’t know how she managed with so much going on in her life. I loved the recipes that were scattered through the book as well. 5 stars 🌟

[Seana Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Goodwin is known and loved as a wonderful cook and radio host, winner of the first Masterchef. Before I read this book I had no idea that she had experienced serious mental health episodes and breakdowns, with psychiatric hospital stays and a stint in rehab. Now a non-drinker, regular ocean swimmer and devotee of self-care, Julie has written a very different kind of book. This is both memoir and autobiography really as Julie starts at the very beginning and takes us all through her many ups and downs until we get to the devoted suburban mum and business owner she was when she competed in Masterchef.

This is a plainly written book, with her truths told brutally and in detail, public falls from grace, massive overwork and perfectionism laid bare. I am sure that many women will relate to Julie’s story, and hopefully will learn from her too. The stays in hospital and rehab really hit me hard, the struggles with alcohol I could very much relate to. This is a book which will reach a wide audience and will help many women understand themselves and hopefully get their self care in place earlier. It will also help explain mental health and addiction to those fortunate enough not to experience them personally.

Audiobook

[eighteenohfive · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautifully articulated story about one amazing woman’s journey. As a MasterChef fan I’ve followed Julie’s story on and off over the years; she’s always struck me as a warmhearted, down-to-earth, humorous individual, but after reading this book she’s firmly cemented her place as someone I deeply admire and would love to get to know. Her writing is witty, sharp, compulsively readable, laugh-out-loud funny, insightful, and sob-inducing. I laughed, I cried, I longed to be a fly on the wall during her family dinners; my heart broke and then rejoiced through all the ups and downs. Thank you for your raw honesty, Julie. This book will undoubtedly be transformative for others struggling with the shame and guilt of mental illness; it certainly has been for me. This book will certainly stay with me for a long, long time.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am probably the only person in Australia who hasn’t watched Masterchef, or read one of Julie’s cookbooks or articles, so you might ask why I bothered to read her autobiography.
Mainly because my colleagues who were fortunate to meet Julie at the author talk that Connected Libraries held recently were so impressed by her candour and friendliness.
Julie pulls no punches, and she bears her heart and soul in this book. It was written so openly that I felt I was listening to a friend talk.
Julie has been through so much and I genuinely have a great admiration for this amazing lady.
I loved this autobiography, and I highly recommend it.

[Sarah Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this memoir - listened on audiobook. The narration from Julie herself, her story and all the raw honesty and emotion she poured into it. I felt so many things throughout this story - happiness, sadness, inspiration, enlightened. At times she made me laugh while at other times breaking my heart.

I only know Julie from Masterchef and the things she's done that came of that, but to hear about her life before her catapult to fame and even some behind the scenes descriptions of Masterchef was fascinating. Lastly, her recount of recovery from her mental health struggles was so inspiring, considering how much she's done in life and kept going.

I thank her for sharing her story. It was a privilege to read it ❤️

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Julie.
We fellow suburban battlers & then prime time watchers feel like know you. And of course we don’t- that’s just excellent TV editing. But I think they got it right. You’re a delightful, caring, beautifully flawed human.

You were so honest during your Masterchef experience. And watching season “Fan vs Favs” I had such empathy with all your footage. You’re a complex person & not a 2 dimensional TV personality. I had no idea what you were going through until I listened to you narrating your memoir.

You continue to be the flawed, honest, self-deprecating, beautiful human I watched on a heart-warming new TV show, Masterchef. Listening to your fuller life was wonderful & at times emotional for me when so much was relatable.

Thank you so much for being so brutally raw. It hit me in the guts. More of us need to talk about our mental health journeys. And I’m left in awe & inspiration.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very honest and real look at this Australian icon. What a brave women baring her flaws so bravely, putting a voice to things we all feel. Her story was inspiring and ultimately uplifting.

[Sharyn Hopgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. Julie, you are an amazing woman

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chefs kiss.

Beautiful, raw, honest and made me cry a lot.

[Lauren Taylor]

Another Dymocks 101 bites the dust.

[Chloe Ŀicious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost never read non fiction, but it’s Julie Goodwin! This was such a quick read for me. Julie is refreshingly honest about all aspects of her life. It was especially cool to read for me because so much of it is based here on the coast - she lived two suburbs from me! She hosted the radio station I listen to! Her cooking studio was in Gosford! Wow. So cool. Loved it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never watched a single episode of MasterChef, or I’m a Celebrity, but I heard Julie interviewed on a podcast recently and thought her story sounded interesting. It was. I really enjoyed reading about someone who grew up in Sydney at the same time as me who has had such a very different life to mine.

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh.my.god.

What a book, what a story, what a rollercoaster.
I watched the first season of Masterchef and LOVED Julie Goodwin. In later years I wondered if the competition would ever get back to 'basics' and be home cooks like Julie.

Her story had me smiling, laughing, crying, empathising.
I was annoyed at the meanness of people, I was frustrated with the mental health system.

I loved Julie before I read this and I love her more now.
Her honesty with her struggles and her feelings with those struggles touched my heart.

I see you, I hear you, I feel you.
I too struggle with mental health issues and I am looking to implement some of Julie's ways of healing into my own life.

[Annie Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, funny, empathetic and interesting - all the the things Julie is you find in her wonderful book. Just when you're feeling sad she comes up with an hysterical line to describe what's happening to her and you can't help but laugh. A definite great read.

[Keli Calder · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was time for another memoir and I am happy to have picked up this one. I remember watching Julie in the first season of MasterChef and loving her from the very beginning. She was real and funny and made food I would actually enjoy, a home cook and nothing pretentious. I own three of her cookbooks and love how easy they are to follow and with the usual ingredients I already have in my pantry. Julie’s life story is very relatable, many of her childhood/teen stories I could 100% imagine and very similar to moments in mine. I am impressed by all the different jobs and activities Julie had before having her boys, and then MasterChef unveiled many more opportunities that she never turned down. Reading about Julie’s mental health is refreshing.. it almost starts out as a taboo subject with her but then as life goes on she is unable to avoid it any longer. I am thankful to read about her experiences, more people need to know about mental health struggles, if not for themselves, for their family and friends. One particular line hit me hard ‘The idea that depression and anxiety are simply an inability to lift yourself up; an unwillingness to just try’. And also when Julie mentions the help of two strangers who sat with her, talked with her and cried with her because they knew that something was just not right. Reading that helps me believe there is still goodness out there, and if you notice someone struggling, help them, even if you don’t know them, help them.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Came to read about the behind the scenes of masterchef, came away with a more complex picture of Julie!

One of the things I really enjoyed reading was about Goodwin's growing up in suburbia Australia. It felt like a slice of history, when times were simpler. I also enjoyed reading about Goodwin's love of her children and watching them grow up. Perhaps it's having children of my own, but there was something wonderfully relatable in those sections.

The behind the scenes of masterchef were illuminating, especially how hard it was for contestants in the first season and the restrictions they faced. I expected more, but compared to the rest of the book it was only a few chapters.

Goodwin also shares quite honestly about her battles with mental health. I was quite surprised by both the extent and the recency of the events she shares about.

Overall, an interesting read about about what life is like for an everyday Australian who suddenly becomes one of the nation's biggest celebreties.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can never truly learn or understand someone until they share their life and that exactly what Julie shares in this no holds barred memoir.

Most of us know her from Masterchef and she shares her honest experience with this, but she also shares her life with her husbands and 3 sons, the many jobs she has held throughout her life, her battle with alcoholism and depression, her time on celebrity get me out of her, her journey to radio, her travels and passion for different cultures and the constant support that she provides throughout her community.

She shares the good times, the heartbreaking times and everything in between and I appreciated the detail she went to, to share her truths, it made it relatable in many ways and I just felt like I was listening to a friend, my mum or a family member.

Life truly can change overnight and that sure has happened multiple times across her life, but she was always up for the challenge, never gave up, but is honest of her struggle when things became too much to handle.

Thank-you Julie for sharing not only your story, but your recipes too!

[Rosemary O'donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, brave, heartwarming, genuine. That describes the book and Julie herself. I loved hearing Julie’s story on Audible: the almost cruel behind-the-scenes emotional deprivations of the original Master Chef, the roller-coaster ride of failure and success, the waves of frantic activity and waiting around, the vacillations between following a dream and being a good wife, mother and friend, the pull of responsibility towards her fans, her listeners, her cooking school until she finally reached breaking point. Then the slow, shaky recovery, the realisation of her own fragility, reaffirming her core values. And being brave enough to share her journey. A tale of caution, but excitement, of living life to the full.
And all through the story, she is the genuine Julie: down to earth, funny, straight-talking. I know it’s the real Julie, because I knew her before the opportunity that turned her into a celebrity. That beautiful man she is married to is my nephew.

[Shereen Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Goodwin is known and loved as a wonderful cook and radio host, winner of the first MasterChef. Before I read this book, I had no idea that she had experienced serious mental health episodes and breakdowns, with psychiatric hospital stays and a stint in rehab. Now a non-drinker, regular ocean swimmer and devotee of self-care, Julie has written a very different kind of book. Julie story is raw, brutal and confronting but told with dignity, love and respect.
This is an eye opener to all that are massive overwork and want perfection in everything we do, it laid bare to me that’s me too.
It will also help explain mental health and the system of recovery and addiction to those fortunate enough not to experience them personally.
Thank you, Julie.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t watch the first season of MasterChef, but in the years that followed I came to know Julie through her television appearances where she showcased her recipes. There is a simple family recipe contained in each chapter, but the rest of the book is her biography. She’s a nice lady, down to earth, with a moral compass (that many reality tv contestants don’t always seem to have) and an internal strength, all of which shine through in her story. She is very much the lady next door, but by no means has she led a boring life, the book is honest, funny, and interesting. this is An enjoyable read that gives us more insight into our favourite MasterChef home cook who became a cooking megastar. I listened on audio.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't watched complete seasons of Masterchef - instead have dipped in and out. But Julie Goodwin and Poh stand out from the first season as amazing women and amazing cooks that can be trusted when it comes to their recipes and suggestions. Both have gone on to fame for exactly that, sharing their love of good food with the world. This will probably sound like a broken record along with other readers, but I had no idea about Julie's struggle with mental health, and how deep her issues were as 'the cracks widened'. How strong she must be, then, to come out the other end with better health, and a better balance in life. Thankyou for sharing all the good bits, Julie, but particularly for sharing all the difficult bits. Your story is inspirational.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome! Such a raw, open and honest encounter of her life. She doesn't hold back and tells you everything! I got those book for Christmas 🎄 and have been hanging out to read it ever since I knew l was getting it and it doesn't disappoint. Her battle with mental health and recovery is inspiring and the fact that she puts it all out there for people to read let's you know that you're not alone. She is an inspiration and this book is definitely one that i could not put down! Good on Julie for battling the hard fight and never giving up. You are inspiration and continue to be for many. Thank you so much!!!❤️❤️❤️

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew of Julie Goodwin, in fact, I have used some of her recipes. I have never watched MasterChef and this memoir would not have been a chosen read but it was a recommended book club read so I read it. I am so glad I did. What I liked about this memoir:
- her engaging style in sharing her journey and struggles with mental health issues
- her passion
- her joy
- her celebration of family and friends
- her love for her family and the love and support her husband gave
- her willingness to share the highs and lows of her journey
- her ability to engage the reader to reflect, empathise and be grateful
- her end of chapter recipes which I most definitely will try.

[Sarah Tummey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad to have read this. I looked for it when it first came out, but Australian literature seems so difficult to get on Amazon UK, even Kindle books you expect to be available worldwide. Anyway, it's finally here.

I enjoyed watching Julie on Season 1 of MasterChef. She was lovely (like everybody's mum), and hearing about her life before the show was fascinating. I also appreciated her honesty about mental health struggles. The recipes at the end of the chapters are great too; maybe a bit beyond me, but I'd love to be able to cook dishes like that.

[Sharyn Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

l have been a fan of Julie Goodwin from the first season of MasterChef, Australia. This book was beautifully written and in true form, Julie doesn't shy away from the confronting episodes of her life. The book captures the good, the confronting and everything in between. It was inspirational and moving, with Julie's trademark humour evident throughout. The inclusion of author recipes at the end of each chapter was very cleverly done and fitted the theme of the chapter.

[Smitha Parameswaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Julie's cooking in season 1 of Masterchef and the book just reinforced my impression of her. A very normal mother of 2 with a passion for cooking and the heights that you reached, you showed us that determination and hardwork will definitely bring success.

A big fan just became a bigger one!

Nice touch with adding the recipes every now and then and I must say that they were easy to follow.

Great job Julie!

[Brooke Congdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie writes with such honesty about her mental health struggles, making her story feel raw and real. I wasn’t aware of these challenges before reading, and I truly believe her words will help many people feel less alone. The book is beautifully balanced… her humour shines through in the funny stories, while her deep love for her family makes it heartfelt and full of warmth. I really enjoyed this book

[Kim Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Goodwin's story really resonated (I've read it in one sitting). It might be being the same age, having had people ask me how I do 'everything' at different times in my life, or going through my own mental wellbeing challenges, but I found this story of a life compelling and I was cheering her on at every step.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've not been a Julie Goodwin follower and didn't know anything about her - besides that she won master chef when I was a kid.
On a whim I started listening to her reading of this, and couldn't stop.
Julie is so lovely, so relatable, so good at telling her story.
I really enjoyed learning about Julie and I extend my love to her for sharing her story.

[Hannah Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a raw insight to Julie’s mental health struggles, inner dialogue and the beautiful relationship she has with her husband and children. A beautiful memoir. Particularly liked the sections where she questioned and grappled with her faith and reflected on the concept of who she is in relation to the ever changing events and circumstances in her life.