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Didn't You Use to Be Queenie B?
For everyone who loved The Bear! An utterly winning, crowd-pleaser of a novel about a disgraced celebrity chef, her striving protégé, and their path through the kitchen to redemption.
Regina Benuzzi is Queenie B—a culinary goddess with Michelin Star restaurants, a bestselling cookbook empire, and multimillion-dollar TV deals. It doesn’t hurt that she’s gorgeous and curvaceous, with cascading black hair and signature red lips.
She had it all. Until she didn’t.
After an epic fall from grace, Queenie B vanishes from the public eye, giving up her husband, her son, and the fame that she’d fought to achieve. Her shows are in rerun, her restaurants still popular, but her disappearance remains a mystery to her legions of fans.
Local line cook Gale Carmichael also knows a thing or two about disaster. Newly sober and struggling, Gale’s future dreams don’t hold space for culinary stardom; only earning enough to get by. Broke at the end of the week, he finds himself at a local soup kitchen in one of the roughest parts of New Haven, Connecticut. But Gale quickly realizes that the food coming out of the kitchen is not your standard free meal—it is delicious and prepared with gourmet flair.
Gale doesn’t recognize Regina, the soup kitchen’s cranky proprietor, whose famous black mane is now streaked with gray. It’s been more than ten years since Queenie B vanished into her careful new existence. But she sees Gale’s talent and recognizes a brokenness in him that she knows all too well. The culinary genius in hiding takes him under her wing.
Teaching Gale, Regina’s passion to create is reignited, and they both glimpse a shot at the redemption that had always seemed out of reach. When Gale is chosen to compete on the hit cooking show, Cut!, it’s a turning point for them both.
It’s Gale’s time to shine. And that means Queenie B might just have to come out of hiding…
Regina Benuzzi is Queenie B—a culinary goddess with Michelin Star restaurants, a bestselling cookbook empire, and multimillion-dollar TV deals. It doesn’t hurt that she’s gorgeous and curvaceous, with cascading black hair and signature red lips.
She had it all. Until she didn’t.
After an epic fall from grace, Queenie B vanishes from the public eye, giving up her husband, her son, and the fame that she’d fought to achieve. Her shows are in rerun, her restaurants still popular, but her disappearance remains a mystery to her legions of fans.
Local line cook Gale Carmichael also knows a thing or two about disaster. Newly sober and struggling, Gale’s future dreams don’t hold space for culinary stardom; only earning enough to get by. Broke at the end of the week, he finds himself at a local soup kitchen in one of the roughest parts of New Haven, Connecticut. But Gale quickly realizes that the food coming out of the kitchen is not your standard free meal—it is delicious and prepared with gourmet flair.
Gale doesn’t recognize Regina, the soup kitchen’s cranky proprietor, whose famous black mane is now streaked with gray. It’s been more than ten years since Queenie B vanished into her careful new existence. But she sees Gale’s talent and recognizes a brokenness in him that she knows all too well. The culinary genius in hiding takes him under her wing.
Teaching Gale, Regina’s passion to create is reignited, and they both glimpse a shot at the redemption that had always seemed out of reach. When Gale is chosen to compete on the hit cooking show, Cut!, it’s a turning point for them both.
It’s Gale’s time to shine. And that means Queenie B might just have to come out of hiding…
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2025
34 people are currently reading
2537 people want to read
About the author
Terri-Lynne DeFino
12 books314 followersTerri-Lynne DeFino was born and raised in New Jersey but escaped to the wilds of Connecticut back in the nineties when her kids were babies and everyone wore flannel. She is the second of four children born to a homemaker and a then-fledgling attorney, in a Paterson, NJ household that included two grandparents and the occasional uncle, where Sunday dinner was a given and the noise level often required earplugs. According to her mother, she started writing stories at the age of seven, and learned to cook at any elbow she could wedge herself under. These days, her famiglia is larger, and louder, which might explain why she's still in Connecticut, but if you knock on her door, she'll invite you in and feed you, because you can take the Italian girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey Italian out of the girl.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
March 19, 2025
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.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
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.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
December 9, 2024
What an exquisite (and compulsively readable) book from Terri-Lynne DeFino. I stayed up way too late reading this last night and woke up extra early to finish it before work.
DeFino poignantly tackles the difficulties of addiction, fame, and second chances, while also illustrating a rich understanding food, restaurant life, and cooking shows. (As a serious home cook and foodie, I loved those sections as much as I adored the overarching story!)
Taking a chance on an ARC is always an exhilarating — and risky — experience, so it's a joy to discover a great book — and an author with a backlist.
Content warning: Alcoholism, drug addiction, mentions of infidelity, death, and abuse (prior to the book's events)
DeFino poignantly tackles the difficulties of addiction, fame, and second chances, while also illustrating a rich understanding food, restaurant life, and cooking shows. (As a serious home cook and foodie, I loved those sections as much as I adored the overarching story!)
Taking a chance on an ARC is always an exhilarating — and risky — experience, so it's a joy to discover a great book — and an author with a backlist.
Content warning: Alcoholism, drug addiction, mentions of infidelity, death, and abuse (prior to the book's events)
February 6, 2025
This was a miss for me. The book is about Regina, who serves soup at a local soup kitchen, and she used to be a celebrity chef. Queenie B lost everything, went into rehab, apparently got sober, fell off the face of the earth. Gale is a newly sober chef in a reality show competition, Regina helps him and he doesn't understand that she used to be a celebrity chef.
I thought this seemed like a really fun premise, but it lost something in execution. I did like how each chapter gives you a food term like "al dente" or "flambe" or "blanche" and then describes what it means. I didn't connect to any character in the book, I found myself drifting off, I had a hard time getting through the narrative. As intriguing as the blurb was, it is almost like the book had no plot at all. Maybe it was the disjointed narrative.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. I was given an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published April 15, 2025.
I thought this seemed like a really fun premise, but it lost something in execution. I did like how each chapter gives you a food term like "al dente" or "flambe" or "blanche" and then describes what it means. I didn't connect to any character in the book, I found myself drifting off, I had a hard time getting through the narrative. As intriguing as the blurb was, it is almost like the book had no plot at all. Maybe it was the disjointed narrative.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. I was given an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published April 15, 2025.
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May 7, 2025At some point between requesting the ARC and reading the book I completely forgot the synopsis so when I did eventually dive in all I really had retained was that it featured a chef protagonist. After Colton Gentry's Third Act that was enough for me
Here we follow Regina and Gale as their lives connect in a New Haven soup kitchen. Gale is a couple years sober and still poorly dealing with some serious survivor's guilt. Regina is a former culinary icon with some substance issues of her own she's keeping under control as she focuses on her life running a soup kitchen. Over the course of the novel we see Gale become something of Regina's protege and Regina dealing with the distinct possibility that this life quiet life she's built for herself could come crashing down at any minute.
I had a good time with this. I liked the occasional looks back at Regina's life as this culinary icon and how that juxtaposed to her current existence. Gale's narrative was more linear, and you really lived with him trying to stay on the straight and narrow as he worked himself up. By far though my favorite moment with him was one he and Kyle have in the third act of the book. It was such a vulnerable moment that it really moved me.
Gale and Regina each have a romantic interest, but that's so clearly not the focus of either of their journey. Which to be fair, I hadn't expected. The book I did get though was very good and while it is certainly heavy at times there are still many moments of levity.
Here we follow Regina and Gale as their lives connect in a New Haven soup kitchen. Gale is a couple years sober and still poorly dealing with some serious survivor's guilt. Regina is a former culinary icon with some substance issues of her own she's keeping under control as she focuses on her life running a soup kitchen. Over the course of the novel we see Gale become something of Regina's protege and Regina dealing with the distinct possibility that this life quiet life she's built for herself could come crashing down at any minute.
I had a good time with this. I liked the occasional looks back at Regina's life as this culinary icon and how that juxtaposed to her current existence. Gale's narrative was more linear, and you really lived with him trying to stay on the straight and narrow as he worked himself up. By far though my favorite moment with him was one he and Kyle have in the third act of the book. It was such a vulnerable moment that it really moved me.
Gale and Regina each have a romantic interest, but that's so clearly not the focus of either of their journey. Which to be fair, I hadn't expected. The book I did get though was very good and while it is certainly heavy at times there are still many moments of levity.
March 18, 2025
Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B by Terri-Lynne DeFino. Thanks to @williammorrow for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Queenie B was a celebrity chef who vanished from the publicity eye. Older and her famous black hair now streaked with grey, she works as Regina at a New Haven soup kitchen, where she meets Gale, an aspiring chef struggling with his new sobriety.
This one was way more than a book about cooking and a lot deeping than I was expecting. It has addition recovery storylines and a lot of past history that plays into it. Predictably the food descriptions were rich and made me hungry. I enjoyed the reality show aspect and wished there were even more of those scenes.
“Every personal disaster caused an uptick in her finances, even as it hammers another nail in her personal coffin. Because people love a bad girl, especially a bad girl who hurts no one as much as she hurts herself.”
Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B comes out 4/15.
Queenie B was a celebrity chef who vanished from the publicity eye. Older and her famous black hair now streaked with grey, she works as Regina at a New Haven soup kitchen, where she meets Gale, an aspiring chef struggling with his new sobriety.
This one was way more than a book about cooking and a lot deeping than I was expecting. It has addition recovery storylines and a lot of past history that plays into it. Predictably the food descriptions were rich and made me hungry. I enjoyed the reality show aspect and wished there were even more of those scenes.
“Every personal disaster caused an uptick in her finances, even as it hammers another nail in her personal coffin. Because people love a bad girl, especially a bad girl who hurts no one as much as she hurts herself.”
Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B comes out 4/15.
February 24, 2025
Food gets our attention as we can all relate especially when we’re hungry. If you enjoy the TV show: “Chopped,” then you’ll be inspired by this book with a back-door view of what it takes to become a top chef infused with compassion and love.
For me, it instantly created a ravenous appetite thinking about all the ways to make delicious food. I was reading late in the evening and it made me hungry for a couple of high-priced eggs.
Every chapter started with all sorts of phrases and commands used in restaurant kitchens with short definitions. Some words were familiar: grind, aerate, whisk and a la carte. But most were new to me such as “dying on the pass” and “getting a push.”
This book hit a lot of the marks with an emotional and compelling story. The TV shows I have watched have polished chefs at their best. Of course, we know there’s more to it and this story revealed Gale Carmichael’s deep motivation to succeed with challenging obstacles. His encouragement came from a star once known as Queenie B. To Gale, she was Regina -- his friend and mentor.
With short chapters, it moved quickly and made me want to reach for my dusty recipe books. It was sad and happy almost simultanously. I enjoyed reading about Gale’s mother and wish there was a little more about his father and brother. It’s well written and will appeal to those looking for complex dramas in life.
My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this advanced book with an expected release date of April 15, 2025.
For me, it instantly created a ravenous appetite thinking about all the ways to make delicious food. I was reading late in the evening and it made me hungry for a couple of high-priced eggs.
Every chapter started with all sorts of phrases and commands used in restaurant kitchens with short definitions. Some words were familiar: grind, aerate, whisk and a la carte. But most were new to me such as “dying on the pass” and “getting a push.”
This book hit a lot of the marks with an emotional and compelling story. The TV shows I have watched have polished chefs at their best. Of course, we know there’s more to it and this story revealed Gale Carmichael’s deep motivation to succeed with challenging obstacles. His encouragement came from a star once known as Queenie B. To Gale, she was Regina -- his friend and mentor.
With short chapters, it moved quickly and made me want to reach for my dusty recipe books. It was sad and happy almost simultanously. I enjoyed reading about Gale’s mother and wish there was a little more about his father and brother. It’s well written and will appeal to those looking for complex dramas in life.
My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this advanced book with an expected release date of April 15, 2025.
April 20, 2025
This book consumed my thoughts, my heart AND my appetite!
Set in dual timelines, we have two stars here.
Gale, a recovering addict with demons haunting his sleep- and waking moments. His family has all but given up on him, and he's practically giving up on himself.
Regina, former (infamous) celebrity chef, currently hiding (and assumed dead) while running a local soup kitchen for addicts, low income and the elderly. No one knows who she is, and she plans to keep it that way.
The two converge when Gale, a broke line cook, needs to eat and lost his last 3 bucks in a mugging.
Lose, recovery, regrets and FOOD all are the themes of this story, and I will say it was one of the best books of the year for me. Great for fans of:
Found family
Top Chef
Second chances
Forgiveness
Even if this isn't your normal read, I encourage you give it a go, it is excuted with the perfection of a 3 star Michelin meal.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for a chance to read this, it was release on April 15th!
Set in dual timelines, we have two stars here.
Gale, a recovering addict with demons haunting his sleep- and waking moments. His family has all but given up on him, and he's practically giving up on himself.
Regina, former (infamous) celebrity chef, currently hiding (and assumed dead) while running a local soup kitchen for addicts, low income and the elderly. No one knows who she is, and she plans to keep it that way.
The two converge when Gale, a broke line cook, needs to eat and lost his last 3 bucks in a mugging.
Lose, recovery, regrets and FOOD all are the themes of this story, and I will say it was one of the best books of the year for me. Great for fans of:
Found family
Top Chef
Second chances
Forgiveness
Even if this isn't your normal read, I encourage you give it a go, it is excuted with the perfection of a 3 star Michelin meal.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for a chance to read this, it was release on April 15th!
May 6, 2025
4.5 stars
June 14, 2025
Don’t be fooled by the hot pink cover. This is a heavy book at times. I really enjoyed it. I wish I had had longer chunks of reading time because I think I would have been even more connected to the characters. I love a found family story. I love characters overcoming their pasts. I LOVED the cooking/cooking show pieces. Glad I picked this up.
March 28, 2025
Wow! I don't know if this is the best book I will read this year, but it is sure the best book I've read so far...at least in this genre! Women's Fiction.
This book had me salivating, learning, thinking about going to downtown New Haven, which I haven't been to in years (I'm from CT!), and really getting into the characters.
As you can see from the excerpt, this book is about Queenie B and her notorious downfall from the top of the Chef's heap. But although Queenie B is supposed to be the main character, this book adds another main character named Gale. He, too, has had a magnificent fall from grace; he's just not famous...yet!
A poignant, sometimes heartbreaking story with a happy ending in more ways than one. This book teaches us that all of us can overcome nearly anything with determination, will, and the love of cooking and eating a great Italian meal.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, William Morrow, and the author, as well as NetGalley and ATTL/Edelweiss.
This book had me salivating, learning, thinking about going to downtown New Haven, which I haven't been to in years (I'm from CT!), and really getting into the characters.
As you can see from the excerpt, this book is about Queenie B and her notorious downfall from the top of the Chef's heap. But although Queenie B is supposed to be the main character, this book adds another main character named Gale. He, too, has had a magnificent fall from grace; he's just not famous...yet!
A poignant, sometimes heartbreaking story with a happy ending in more ways than one. This book teaches us that all of us can overcome nearly anything with determination, will, and the love of cooking and eating a great Italian meal.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, William Morrow, and the author, as well as NetGalley and ATTL/Edelweiss.
November 3, 2024
Every fan of the Food Network or The Bear needs to read this book now! It's so charming with wonderfully written characters and a few surprises along the way. It delves into complicated relationships and serious situations. Many of the characters are very flawed, but also likable. I couldn't put it down. Would also make a great book group read. There's plenty to discuss.
June 8, 2025
DIDN'T YOU USE TO BE QUEENIE B? is an underrated feel-great read about the power of healing through cooking, and the luck of a second chance.
There have been several cooking stories that have turned into cultural phenomena: Kitchen Confidential and The Bear both come to mind. But it's about time that we get a second-chance comeback kitchen story from a woman's perspective, and there's no one better to step into that role than Queenie B. Once a mash-up of Gordon Ramsay and Martha Stewart, Queenie B had it all... until her party behavior and drinking problem stole her husband, son, and cooking empire out from under her. The public thinks that Queenie is gone forever, until a young chef named Gale, in recovery himself, finds himself crossing paths with a New Haven soup kitchen... one that seems to have food of immeasurable quality. As Gale gets to know its owner, Regina, he sees her as a beacon to model his own wrong-doings and demons against, and, with her mentorship, ends up with the chance to compete on a Chopped-style cooking competition. But as Gale's career begins to rise, more and more people get the chance to meet his mentor, who just isn't sure she's ready for the spotlight again...
I fell in love with author Terri-Lynne DeFino through her previous novel, the heartwarming family dramedy VARINA PALLADINO'S JERSEY-ITALIAN LOVE STORY. The author, who sure loves a mouthful of a title, knows how to express the importance of food as a breeding ground for community and company, and by setting her novel in the world of competitive cooking, she brings that thesis even closer to the center of her work. This is a story that feels ripe for cinematic adaptation: It's got a pair of anti-heroes with nothing to love, mouthwatering moments, a second chance love story... this plate's got all the major food groups on it. It explores the incredibly resonant arc of what it means to be in recovery, from whatever your vice of choice is, and does not shy away from revealing the difficulties of staying clean, even if it means compromising the characters in this novel. DIDN'T YOU USE TO BE QUEENIE B? is a beach read with major oomph, a story that will leave you full and satisfied and grateful you had a chance to taste it.
The book is out now! Thanks to William Morrow for my gifted copy!
There have been several cooking stories that have turned into cultural phenomena: Kitchen Confidential and The Bear both come to mind. But it's about time that we get a second-chance comeback kitchen story from a woman's perspective, and there's no one better to step into that role than Queenie B. Once a mash-up of Gordon Ramsay and Martha Stewart, Queenie B had it all... until her party behavior and drinking problem stole her husband, son, and cooking empire out from under her. The public thinks that Queenie is gone forever, until a young chef named Gale, in recovery himself, finds himself crossing paths with a New Haven soup kitchen... one that seems to have food of immeasurable quality. As Gale gets to know its owner, Regina, he sees her as a beacon to model his own wrong-doings and demons against, and, with her mentorship, ends up with the chance to compete on a Chopped-style cooking competition. But as Gale's career begins to rise, more and more people get the chance to meet his mentor, who just isn't sure she's ready for the spotlight again...
I fell in love with author Terri-Lynne DeFino through her previous novel, the heartwarming family dramedy VARINA PALLADINO'S JERSEY-ITALIAN LOVE STORY. The author, who sure loves a mouthful of a title, knows how to express the importance of food as a breeding ground for community and company, and by setting her novel in the world of competitive cooking, she brings that thesis even closer to the center of her work. This is a story that feels ripe for cinematic adaptation: It's got a pair of anti-heroes with nothing to love, mouthwatering moments, a second chance love story... this plate's got all the major food groups on it. It explores the incredibly resonant arc of what it means to be in recovery, from whatever your vice of choice is, and does not shy away from revealing the difficulties of staying clean, even if it means compromising the characters in this novel. DIDN'T YOU USE TO BE QUEENIE B? is a beach read with major oomph, a story that will leave you full and satisfied and grateful you had a chance to taste it.
The book is out now! Thanks to William Morrow for my gifted copy!
April 19, 2025
*4.5
if you’re a foodie, watched The Bear, have watched 20 chopped episodes at a minimum and/or love a redemption story, you will enjoy this.
Queenie B is a hot mess celebrity chef who gives up fame to run a soup kitchen in New Haven where she meets Gale, a newly sober and aspiring chef, coping with the loss of his best friend.
I loved how food was centered in the story to show it can be a source of healing and recovery for people impacted by alcoholism and drug addiction.
Regina (Queenie B) reminded me so much of Alex Guarnaschelli!
Thanks to William Marrow for the ARC!
if you’re a foodie, watched The Bear, have watched 20 chopped episodes at a minimum and/or love a redemption story, you will enjoy this.
Queenie B is a hot mess celebrity chef who gives up fame to run a soup kitchen in New Haven where she meets Gale, a newly sober and aspiring chef, coping with the loss of his best friend.
I loved how food was centered in the story to show it can be a source of healing and recovery for people impacted by alcoholism and drug addiction.
Regina (Queenie B) reminded me so much of Alex Guarnaschelli!
Thanks to William Marrow for the ARC!
April 2, 2025
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Queenie B, beloved celebrity chef for her exacting skills in the kitchen and the uncontrolled mess in her personal life, disappeared from the public after a bender that cost her her marriage, her child, and her dignity. While Queenie still lives in infamy through her syndicated tv shows and her fleet of Michelin Star restaurants, Regina Benuzzi (the person behind Queenie B) prefers her day-to-day anonymity and running the day to day operations of her soup kitchen.
When line-cook Gale Carmichael enters her life, first as a patron, then as her assistant at the soup kitchen, Regina sees herself in the young man and his internal battles. She sees his talent and his struggle with addiction, the constant push and pull of fear and hope, which mirrors her own story so closely. When Gale has the opportunity of a lifetime to compete on the cooking show Cut!, one Queenie B ironically laid the groundwork to create during her time on the network, Regina shocks herself by deciding to help-- despite the risk of losing her quiet existence.
Gale doesn't recognize Regina for who she was, but who she is now-- an amazing, spirited, hard working, and slightly cranky chef; and he jumps at the chance to become her unofficial protege. Haunted by the loss of his best friend to an overdose, and the role he played, and fighting to hold onto his sobriety; Gale needs the opportunity Cut!> can provide: notoriety, money, and the chance that doors will open if he wins. But he also needs to prove to himself, and those he loves, that he won't waste this second chance at life.
DIDN'T YOU USED TO BE QUEENIE B? was a tender, thoughtful, and surprisingly real story about addiction, heartbreak, forgiveness, fame, and love. DeFino handled sensitive topics of this book with care and sensitivity, and she really amazed me with the characters of Gale and Regina and their intertwining stories. This is my second of DeFino's books, and I have a feeling it won't be my last.
Queenie B, beloved celebrity chef for her exacting skills in the kitchen and the uncontrolled mess in her personal life, disappeared from the public after a bender that cost her her marriage, her child, and her dignity. While Queenie still lives in infamy through her syndicated tv shows and her fleet of Michelin Star restaurants, Regina Benuzzi (the person behind Queenie B) prefers her day-to-day anonymity and running the day to day operations of her soup kitchen.
When line-cook Gale Carmichael enters her life, first as a patron, then as her assistant at the soup kitchen, Regina sees herself in the young man and his internal battles. She sees his talent and his struggle with addiction, the constant push and pull of fear and hope, which mirrors her own story so closely. When Gale has the opportunity of a lifetime to compete on the cooking show Cut!, one Queenie B ironically laid the groundwork to create during her time on the network, Regina shocks herself by deciding to help-- despite the risk of losing her quiet existence.
Gale doesn't recognize Regina for who she was, but who she is now-- an amazing, spirited, hard working, and slightly cranky chef; and he jumps at the chance to become her unofficial protege. Haunted by the loss of his best friend to an overdose, and the role he played, and fighting to hold onto his sobriety; Gale needs the opportunity Cut!> can provide: notoriety, money, and the chance that doors will open if he wins. But he also needs to prove to himself, and those he loves, that he won't waste this second chance at life.
DIDN'T YOU USED TO BE QUEENIE B? was a tender, thoughtful, and surprisingly real story about addiction, heartbreak, forgiveness, fame, and love. DeFino handled sensitive topics of this book with care and sensitivity, and she really amazed me with the characters of Gale and Regina and their intertwining stories. This is my second of DeFino's books, and I have a feeling it won't be my last.
April 28, 2025
Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B? By Terri-Lynne DeFino is a beautiful story of a famous chef Regina B who vanishes from the public eye, giving up everything to go into hiding and prioritize her sobriety. She takes a local chef, Gale, under her wing and soon realizes that his success in the culinary world will pull her back into the spotlight. She is forced to decide whether or not she wants to run and leave everything behind, again, to stay in hiding.
I loved the array of characters, in this story, and their ability to come together under unusual circumstances. Everyone has their baggage and they all choose to see beyond one-another’s mistakes, and support each other, even through their own battles with alcoholism. This book was humorous, and heartfelt. A beautiful story about the love of food and not being defined by our past mistakes. A story of unlikely friendships and loving yourself again, even after the mistakes you've made.
The narration by Eva Kaminsky is very well-done, and only added to the story! Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced copy of this audiobook!
I loved the array of characters, in this story, and their ability to come together under unusual circumstances. Everyone has their baggage and they all choose to see beyond one-another’s mistakes, and support each other, even through their own battles with alcoholism. This book was humorous, and heartfelt. A beautiful story about the love of food and not being defined by our past mistakes. A story of unlikely friendships and loving yourself again, even after the mistakes you've made.
The narration by Eva Kaminsky is very well-done, and only added to the story! Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced copy of this audiobook!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
William Morrow provided an early galley for review.
A couple years back I read my first of DeFino's novels and enjoyed it greatly. So, seeing her name pop up on a new title was enough for me to jump back in.
Once again, the author's love of food and cooking plays a part in the story. From the profession of the protagonists to the terminology at the start of each chapter, DeFino is sharing her knowledge with the reader. Educate while entertaining - a welcome combination.
Also present are her solid characters, created with many layers and complexities. From their backgrounds to their dialogue, they come across as real and relatable. That is a key in contemporary, realistic fiction.
One element that did not work for me was "Sean". I get what the author was going for with the mechanic used for "his voice", but I found it to be a tad bit clunky. I also found that the middle section of the book (what is often referred to in writing circles as "the middle 50%" dragged in some parts. I found myself drifting as I was reading. It might have benefitted from some tighter pacing.
Still, a good, entertaining novel with some relatable themes.
A couple years back I read my first of DeFino's novels and enjoyed it greatly. So, seeing her name pop up on a new title was enough for me to jump back in.
Once again, the author's love of food and cooking plays a part in the story. From the profession of the protagonists to the terminology at the start of each chapter, DeFino is sharing her knowledge with the reader. Educate while entertaining - a welcome combination.
Also present are her solid characters, created with many layers and complexities. From their backgrounds to their dialogue, they come across as real and relatable. That is a key in contemporary, realistic fiction.
One element that did not work for me was "Sean". I get what the author was going for with the mechanic used for "his voice", but I found it to be a tad bit clunky. I also found that the middle section of the book (what is often referred to in writing circles as "the middle 50%" dragged in some parts. I found myself drifting as I was reading. It might have benefitted from some tighter pacing.
Still, a good, entertaining novel with some relatable themes.
April 15, 2025
This is an ARC review thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow, and Avon Books.
When they say don’t judge a book by its cover, this was THE book meant for that. When I first received this arc, I was not excited because based on the cover, I thought it was about some lame pop star. But hey, a free book is a free book. Boy was I WRONG! And I am glad I read this book blind! It is so AMAZING! It took such a hard topic and made it relatable. You can’t help but fall in love with the main characters. This is by far one of my FAVORITE reads in 2025! OMG! I am definitely buying a physical copy of this. The twists, plot, character development…everything is just CHEF’S KISS! Thank you for this opportunity. I HIGHLY recommend this read
When they say don’t judge a book by its cover, this was THE book meant for that. When I first received this arc, I was not excited because based on the cover, I thought it was about some lame pop star. But hey, a free book is a free book. Boy was I WRONG! And I am glad I read this book blind! It is so AMAZING! It took such a hard topic and made it relatable. You can’t help but fall in love with the main characters. This is by far one of my FAVORITE reads in 2025! OMG! I am definitely buying a physical copy of this. The twists, plot, character development…everything is just CHEF’S KISS! Thank you for this opportunity. I HIGHLY recommend this read
August 18, 2025
#NETGALLEYARC
I thought this was a little bit of Aftertaste meets Chopped, the cooking show. I watched so many seasons! I just kept waiting for something really depressing to happen and I'm glad it didn't. Was that a spoiler alert!?! I really enjoyed the comeback story. The ending- it was just enough to satisfy my desire to know what happened to her family. I also really enjoyed the friendship and mad love/respect between Gale and his living and nonliving buds. This is where I thought the story would take us down a depressing route but it didnt. They were all such great group of friends from beginning to the end.
👨🍳👨🍳🍲📦
-Libby 🎧/📖
I thought this was a little bit of Aftertaste meets Chopped, the cooking show. I watched so many seasons! I just kept waiting for something really depressing to happen and I'm glad it didn't. Was that a spoiler alert!?! I really enjoyed the comeback story. The ending- it was just enough to satisfy my desire to know what happened to her family. I also really enjoyed the friendship and mad love/respect between Gale and his living and nonliving buds. This is where I thought the story would take us down a depressing route but it didnt. They were all such great group of friends from beginning to the end.
👨🍳👨🍳🍲📦
-Libby 🎧/📖
February 5, 2025
As someone that grew up watching the food network, this book really did it for me. I loved the multiple POV writing and the flashbacks - the way the story truly unfolds as you learn about each characters background. Queenie was such a fun character - layered in so many ways with a sordid history and a flashy lifestyle. Gale….sweet Gale. We all know a Gale.
This book was so well done in so many ways, and the writing was so good. It felt long, at times. The first third trickled by but after about 40% I couldn’t put it down. Well done, DeFino!
This book was so well done in so many ways, and the writing was so good. It felt long, at times. The first third trickled by but after about 40% I couldn’t put it down. Well done, DeFino!
June 30, 2025
This is most definitely a new storyline for me. It was a good deep dive into addiction and fame in the restaurant industry. The characters are well defined and relatable. And the plot really has you invested until the last page. You just really want them all to succeed and make it out the other side. It doesn't hurt that his book will have you drooling over all the food.
Overall, this is a story of redemption and starting over. It was both heart breaking and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio, for the audio ARC!
Overall, this is a story of redemption and starting over. It was both heart breaking and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio, for the audio ARC!
April 26, 2025
What I liked: A celebrity chef, who has fallen from grace, secretly operates a community soup kitchen and mentors an aspiring chef while battling inner demons.
What I disliked: Alternating chapters between past and present reveals some details too soon. It would have been more exciting if the author hadn’t been so quick to connect Queenie to Regina.
What I disliked: Alternating chapters between past and present reveals some details too soon. It would have been more exciting if the author hadn’t been so quick to connect Queenie to Regina.
May 7, 2025
In this book about a disgraced celebrity chef who has been in incognito for years, and a rising star chef who becomes her protege, I had to get used to the sometimes short, incomplete sentences, though they are effective as the characters' trains of thought. I also had to suspend disbelief a bit (even if Regina aka Queenie B. looks different now and is somewhere no one would think to find her, she makes outstanding food at her soup kitchen named....Regina's).
TW: addiction
TW: addiction
April 26, 2025
This choked me up. I think it hits extra if you know addiction.
November 22, 2025
I enjoyed the book, although the addiction stories were sometimes difficult to read. I liked the characters and especially the blurbs of cooking and restaurant terms at the beginning of each chapter. A fun read!
September 14, 2025
Loved - loved - loved this book!
From the peek into the restaurant world through the compassion of the main characters, DeFino takes readers on a ride through fear, ego, and addiction ending in triumph.
This is a wonderful read.
From the peek into the restaurant world through the compassion of the main characters, DeFino takes readers on a ride through fear, ego, and addiction ending in triumph.
This is a wonderful read.
April 19, 2025
Didn’t You Use To be Queenie B? By Terri-Lynne DeFino is a totally enthralling story of chefs, famous and otherwise, and how difficult the career may be. The only thing I didn’t like about the novel is the lack of a “d” in the word “Use” in the title. Oh, well! Queenie had been a star, until she disappeared. The life of drugs and drink and sex had cost her her marriage and her son and though she had tried to give them up, she had failed. So she left. She turned up back at home in New Haven and told no one. She opened a soup kitchen with in a neighborhood that needed feeding. It wasn’t typical soup kitchen fair. Regina’s Kitchen served excellent and varied food. All free. All Regina. Gale was a struggling young chef. He had been clean for two years and was working hard in Marco’s kitchen. The, he got mugged. For $3. And hurt his wrist. And couldn’t work the busy shifts. A chef without a working wrist. Two weeks, they said. He was out of money. His roommate, Kyle, took him to a soup kitchen. His mother would be mortified, but he was hungry. What he found there was amazing. He and Regina became friends and he became a volunteer and a student.
Never had Gale been happier. He was cooking. He was learning. He was busy. His friend, Sean, who had died of an overdose the night he didn’t, was constantly with him: sometimes taunting, sometimes helping, in his head always. He filled out the application to appear on a television cooking contest and left it on the computer. Kyle, being helpful sent it off. He was selected. He lost. But, he learned a lot. Regina helped him prepare for the next one. He didn’t know who she was. They were both fabulous characters. Regina saw in him what she had been: the opportunities, the talent. Gabe just loved the kitchen. Life went on and of course, things changed. They had to. This is a story of redemption; of love; and of guilt. An a wonderful story it is. Care about cooking or not, this is a multi-generational story with people finding their spot it life and going with it.
I was invited to read Didn’t You Use To Be Queenie B? by William Morrow. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #TerriLynneDeFino #DidntYouUseToBeQueenieB
Never had Gale been happier. He was cooking. He was learning. He was busy. His friend, Sean, who had died of an overdose the night he didn’t, was constantly with him: sometimes taunting, sometimes helping, in his head always. He filled out the application to appear on a television cooking contest and left it on the computer. Kyle, being helpful sent it off. He was selected. He lost. But, he learned a lot. Regina helped him prepare for the next one. He didn’t know who she was. They were both fabulous characters. Regina saw in him what she had been: the opportunities, the talent. Gabe just loved the kitchen. Life went on and of course, things changed. They had to. This is a story of redemption; of love; and of guilt. An a wonderful story it is. Care about cooking or not, this is a multi-generational story with people finding their spot it life and going with it.
I was invited to read Didn’t You Use To Be Queenie B? by William Morrow. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #TerriLynneDeFino #DidntYouUseToBeQueenieB
March 25, 2025
Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers for Didn’t You Used to Be Queen B? by Terri-Lynne Defino. Proceed with caution!
Thank you, NetGalley & William Morrow, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I absolutely LOVED Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B? by Terri-Lynne Defino! This book is an emotional, deeply layered story that weaves together the past and present in a breathtaking, compelling way. Gale's journey of self-discovery and healing unfolds alongside Queenie's rise, fall, and transformation, creating a masterfully intertwined narrative.
The nuanced portrayal of recovery stood out the most—how it’s not just a single choice but a series of choices made day after day. Regina and Gale’s struggles, relationships, and personal growth are written with such honesty and heart. It’s about overcoming addiction, embracing life, and believing in love.
The relationships in this book absolutely gutted me in the best way. Gale and Kyle’s friendship was one of the most touching male relationships I’ve read in a long time. Their raw, emotional conversations—like when Gale asks Kyle why he’s stuck around when nobody else has—broke my heart. We need more of this kind of unconditional, platonic love in books!
And the writing? Stunning. So many lines stuck with me, but this one hit hard: “Everyone has issues. Everyone is entitled to love, to people who believe in them even if they don’t.” That sentiment is at the heart of this novel—how love, in all its messy, complicated forms, is something we all deserve.
By the time Gale and Queenie’s stories fully intertwined, I was in awe. The way their trajectories come together is beautiful—each revelation leading to an ending that felt both deeply satisfying and left me desperate for more. And that ending... I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN ITALY! Terri-Lynne Defino, please, I am begging—give us a sequel!
Five glowing, heart-wrenching, soul-fulfilling stars. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you, NetGalley & William Morrow, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I absolutely LOVED Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B? by Terri-Lynne Defino! This book is an emotional, deeply layered story that weaves together the past and present in a breathtaking, compelling way. Gale's journey of self-discovery and healing unfolds alongside Queenie's rise, fall, and transformation, creating a masterfully intertwined narrative.
The nuanced portrayal of recovery stood out the most—how it’s not just a single choice but a series of choices made day after day. Regina and Gale’s struggles, relationships, and personal growth are written with such honesty and heart. It’s about overcoming addiction, embracing life, and believing in love.
The relationships in this book absolutely gutted me in the best way. Gale and Kyle’s friendship was one of the most touching male relationships I’ve read in a long time. Their raw, emotional conversations—like when Gale asks Kyle why he’s stuck around when nobody else has—broke my heart. We need more of this kind of unconditional, platonic love in books!
And the writing? Stunning. So many lines stuck with me, but this one hit hard: “Everyone has issues. Everyone is entitled to love, to people who believe in them even if they don’t.” That sentiment is at the heart of this novel—how love, in all its messy, complicated forms, is something we all deserve.
By the time Gale and Queenie’s stories fully intertwined, I was in awe. The way their trajectories come together is beautiful—each revelation leading to an ending that felt both deeply satisfying and left me desperate for more. And that ending... I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN ITALY! Terri-Lynne Defino, please, I am begging—give us a sequel!
Five glowing, heart-wrenching, soul-fulfilling stars. This book will stay with me for a long time.
May 20, 2025
This was an emotional, food-filled story about reinvention, mentorship, and second chances, but it didn’t fully click for me.
Regina used to be Queenie B—celebrity chef, Food Network star, and culinary powerhouse. But a combination of ego, addiction, and burnout sent her life crashing down. Ten years later, she's living in quiet anonymity, running a soup kitchen in New Haven and doing everything she can to stay off the radar. That peace is disrupted when Gale, a talented but volatile young chef, enters her life. Regina sees flashes of her former self in him, and their evolving mentorship becomes the heart of the story.
The food writing here is a real strength—so vivid you can practically smell what’s cooking. I especially loved the clever chapter intros that define culinary terms like “braise” or “86”—a fun way to blend story and kitchen culture. Gale’s rise through a cooking competition show (The Cut, clearly inspired by Chopped) adds momentum and a bit of excitement.
What didn’t work as well for me was the structure and pacing. The story shifts between timelines, and while that adds depth, it occasionally felt disjointed. The beginning is especially slow, and it took a while to feel emotionally invested. The book also leans heavily into Regina’s past struggles with substance abuse, which are treated seriously and respectfully—but it can be heavy, and it dominates the emotional arc.
That said, I appreciated how DeFino portrays redemption—not as a dramatic turnaround, but as a long, often painful process. Regina’s quiet care for the soup kitchen’s patrons, and her bond with Gale, brought warmth and heart to the narrative.
Overall, Didn’t You Used to Be Queenie B? didn’t completely win me over, but there’s a lot here for readers who enjoy food-focused fiction, flawed characters, and stories about picking up the pieces.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
Regina used to be Queenie B—celebrity chef, Food Network star, and culinary powerhouse. But a combination of ego, addiction, and burnout sent her life crashing down. Ten years later, she's living in quiet anonymity, running a soup kitchen in New Haven and doing everything she can to stay off the radar. That peace is disrupted when Gale, a talented but volatile young chef, enters her life. Regina sees flashes of her former self in him, and their evolving mentorship becomes the heart of the story.
The food writing here is a real strength—so vivid you can practically smell what’s cooking. I especially loved the clever chapter intros that define culinary terms like “braise” or “86”—a fun way to blend story and kitchen culture. Gale’s rise through a cooking competition show (The Cut, clearly inspired by Chopped) adds momentum and a bit of excitement.
What didn’t work as well for me was the structure and pacing. The story shifts between timelines, and while that adds depth, it occasionally felt disjointed. The beginning is especially slow, and it took a while to feel emotionally invested. The book also leans heavily into Regina’s past struggles with substance abuse, which are treated seriously and respectfully—but it can be heavy, and it dominates the emotional arc.
That said, I appreciated how DeFino portrays redemption—not as a dramatic turnaround, but as a long, often painful process. Regina’s quiet care for the soup kitchen’s patrons, and her bond with Gale, brought warmth and heart to the narrative.
Overall, Didn’t You Used to Be Queenie B? didn’t completely win me over, but there’s a lot here for readers who enjoy food-focused fiction, flawed characters, and stories about picking up the pieces.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
March 17, 2025
This book hooked me from the start and pulled me right into the delicious foodie world of Queenie B. Told in different timelines, this book tells the story of a young chef and her incandescent rise and devastating crash… And the aftermath. When Regina meets a young chef.-Gale- in her upscale soup kitchen, where she’s been living in hiding since her world exploded, neither of them knows how important they will become to each other. Gale is sober but fighting the demons of his drug days- one of them being the voice in his head of his best friend who died while doing heroin with Gale. Gale carries guilt and fractured memories of their life together. Cooking is the only thing that stills the ghosts in Gales head, so he cooks… a lot- for Regina and for his boss Marcus at the Italian restaurant Gale works for. As he spends more time with Regina, he settles into a friendship with her, never realizing how well she really understands him.. Queenie B lived a fast and furious, drug fueled life and so can understand Gale’s pain and his struggle for sobriety. When Regina mentors Gale and helps him try to win a cooking show, the stakes get harder. How can Regina stay hidden from the world she left years ago, or does she want to let Queenie back into her life ? Gale has the best support system - Kyle his roommate and aspiring chef, his mom and dad, and his girlfriend . All the characters in this book were amazing. They were so well developed and felt like real people… And as the relationships between them all develop, this book takes off…It became so much more than what I thought it was going to be. I loved it! I loved all the cooking tidbits, the recipes, thesettings, the old friends and found family. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and I look forward to reading more by this author.. this was a NetGalley digital copy. All opinions are my own.
April 21, 2025
Wow, this book started with a bang. The first chapter was so intense, and the main character seemed very unlikeable, I didn't know whether I wanted to proceed. I'm glad I did.
This book is being touted for anyone who loves The Bear. And I can see that. But really, it is a brutal look at addiction and ego told through two chefs. Gale was so easy to care for. He was torchered by his past, wanting to be redeemed, but doubting whether he was worth it. His mom, Lucy, and best friend, Kyle, were such great characters as well. It was easy to picture his overcrowded, peeling paint apartment. Even through his stumbles, I wanted Gale to thrive.
Queenie B/Regina was a way tougher character to get behind. A true anti-hero, Regina takes such a slow journey of healing and self-acceptance. It takes most of the story to feel affection for Regina, as it takes Regina that long to esteem herself.
This book really highlights the double gender standard. Regina was so much more despicable because she was a woman and mother whose actions irreparabley damaged her family. She is afforded less grace than Gale; by the reader and by society. When I think about Anthony Bourdain, who starts his memoir with a similar questionable sex anecdote to Queenie's, he suffered no derision and was seen as cool. Goodness knows he was plagued his whole life, like Regina, but always embraced by the public. Regina had so many scars.
I liked this book a lot. I don't know if I always enjoyed it, but it was well written, made me think, and felt very true to the characters. As a therapist, I believe addiction, grief, and survivor's guilt were handled honestly and with care. Commentary on the foster system, trauma, and how we treat the elderly were similarly handled. This book was so much more than the bright pink cover belied. 4.25 stars - great specific characters, pacing a bit tough. Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is being touted for anyone who loves The Bear. And I can see that. But really, it is a brutal look at addiction and ego told through two chefs. Gale was so easy to care for. He was torchered by his past, wanting to be redeemed, but doubting whether he was worth it. His mom, Lucy, and best friend, Kyle, were such great characters as well. It was easy to picture his overcrowded, peeling paint apartment. Even through his stumbles, I wanted Gale to thrive.
Queenie B/Regina was a way tougher character to get behind. A true anti-hero, Regina takes such a slow journey of healing and self-acceptance. It takes most of the story to feel affection for Regina, as it takes Regina that long to esteem herself.
This book really highlights the double gender standard. Regina was so much more despicable because she was a woman and mother whose actions irreparabley damaged her family. She is afforded less grace than Gale; by the reader and by society. When I think about Anthony Bourdain, who starts his memoir with a similar questionable sex anecdote to Queenie's, he suffered no derision and was seen as cool. Goodness knows he was plagued his whole life, like Regina, but always embraced by the public. Regina had so many scars.
I liked this book a lot. I don't know if I always enjoyed it, but it was well written, made me think, and felt very true to the characters. As a therapist, I believe addiction, grief, and survivor's guilt were handled honestly and with care. Commentary on the foster system, trauma, and how we treat the elderly were similarly handled. This book was so much more than the bright pink cover belied. 4.25 stars - great specific characters, pacing a bit tough. Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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