Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 readers 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.

Review

“[Ina Garten] has created an inviting and relaxing world that’s the equivalent of one of her cocktail recipes. To use a Barefoot Contessa catchphrase, How great is that?”—The New York Times

“Simplicity is at the core of [Ina Garten’s] appeal . . . her approachability, charisma and close connection to the sensibilities of the home cook have given her a devoted following.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Though a good deal of luck often came through for her along the way, Garten’s lively memoir emphasizes how hard work and unrelenting tenacity were what made the magic happen. An entertaining foray into this well-loved cooking host’s illustrious life.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Garten emphasizes the importance of doing what you love. Her story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and the impact of hard work and dedication. . . . Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Barefoot Contessa or new to Garten’s work, this memoir is sure to leave you feeling inspired and ready to tackle your own dreams.”—Medium

“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

About the Author

Ina Garten is a New York Times bestselling author, the host of Be My Guest and Barefoot Contessa on Food Network and Max, for which she has won five Emmy Awards and a James Beard Award. She lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Jeffrey.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Over the Wall

“There has to be something more fun than this,” I said to myself, probably for the millionth time, as I sat at my desk drafting nuclear energy policy at the White House. I should have been thinking about enriched uranium, but more often than not, I was looking for distractions. I was most likely planning a weekend dinner party and wondering which ingredient would make the flavor of my chocolate cake POP (it’s coffee, by the way).

My ongoing frustration was that nothing ever happened in government, and even if it did, it took a really long time. Working in the Office of Management and Budget was exciting in the beginning because the issue papers I worked on went directly to the president—first Ford, then Carter. But after four years of shuffling what seemed like very important papers and pulling numerous all-nighters, I realized that despite my working on multibillion-dollar federal budgets, nothing ever seemed to get done. And when it did get done, somehow the next year, it got undone.

The only good thing about having a low threshold for boredom is that I’ve always been willing to take crazy risks just to get out of that miserable state. In my bureaucratic job, I was just part of a larger process, but I wanted to be the process—to do my own thing, either in real estate or in the food business, and, for better or for worse, to make my own decisions and mistakes, risking my own money. I also need immediate feedback, and there was nothing immediate about government work. The issues I was working on involved $50 billion budgets and $25 billion construction projects; I knew I’d be so much happier if they involved only $25, but my $25. I distinctly remember thinking, If I were asked to be the head of OMB, would I want it? And if not, what was I even working toward? I also knew that my success there would depend on a man choosing me to be the head of the organization, and in 1978, that would never happen. I needed to find an alternate track where my success would be measured by my own business skill and nobody could stand in my way.

I didn’t whine—no one wants to hear someone complain about working in the White House!—but I was withering a little more each day. Jeffrey, who knew all too well how unhappy I was, encouraged me to find a passion and follow it. “Pick something you love to do,” he urged. “If you love it, you’ll be really good at it. And don’t worry about whether you make money. Just do it!”

I was sitting in my office, exhausted, and it was only ten a.m. I had the whole day in front of me, so I decided to catch up on The New York Times instead of working. There it was—in the Sunday, April 2, 1978, Business Opportunities section, where they advertised everything from dry cleaners in the Bronx to a coffee shop with an apartment upstairs, or the hottest new food fad in the seventies: a frozen yogurt store (though it was hard to predict if frozen yogurt had a future).

I had never even seen that section of the paper before. As I studied the tiny print, I spotted an ad for a specialty food store called Barefoot Contessa, for sale in a place I’d never been: Westhampton Beach, New York—all the way at the end of Long Island. The ads were written in a shorthand that was difficult to decipher, and the word opportunity seemed like quite an overstatement. To this day, it’s hard for me to imagine why this ad spoke to me, but I’m so glad it did, because it changed the entire trajectory of my life. This was the ad:

Honestly, it sounded like a prediction you might find in a fortune cookie, especially the “gross over six figures” part. And cheese shoppe? Who would answer that ad?

That night, I went home and told Jeffrey that I really needed a new profession, and that’s when he reminded me that I should think about doing what I love. “Funny you should mention it! I just saw an ad for a specialty food store for sale in The New York Times.”

“Let’s go see it!” Jeffrey said cheerfully. Looking back, I imagine that he was probably just humoring me. We lived in Washington, DC, and Jeffrey had an important job writing issue papers and speeches for the secretary of state. How in the world could I work in Westhampton Beach? But Jeffrey always had the most positive attitude—If this is what you want to do, we’ll work it out. We got in the car the very next weekend and drove to Westhampton to see the store and meet the owner, Diana Stratta.

On the way, I reminded myself that there was no reason on earth why this was a good idea. Yes, I had taught myself how to cook and I loved being in the kitchen, but I’d never worked a day in the food business. In fact, I’d never hired an employee, I’d never even set foot in the Hamptons, and this certainly wasn’t its most welcoming time of year. Signs of spring were everywhere in Washington, where the air was warm and the cherry blossoms were a week away from their stunning peak moment. But Westhampton in early April was cold and cloudy, a sleepy summer resort town reluctantly waking up from its long winter nap. By the time we parked in front of Barefoot Contessa, the place we’d traveled more than five hours to see, I’d decided that it was a crazy impulse and predicted we’d take a fast look, then turn around and drive home.

The shop, a white clapboard building on a corner in the center of the village’s Main Street, was small—only four hundred square feet. It was so small that the stove didn’t fit in the tiny kitchen in the back and was instead right there in the store. There was one employee who was taking care of absolutely no customers (in fact, there seemed to be no one in the whole village), but she was baking big chocolate chip cookies. Instantly, the scent triggered a rush of good feelings, like endorphins on steroids, and my first thought was, I need to be here! I didn’t want to write papers about enriched uranium; I wanted to bake cookies, not just because I liked them (and I do!), but because I saw a completely different life from the one I was living. The food business, this food business, would give me the freedom and creative outlet I craved. You bake cookies, you sell cookies, and if the cookie doesn’t sell, you make something else that customers will love and that WILL sell. It’s a business problem to solve, and it involved chocolate chip cookies! How great is that?

Standing in this adorable little place named after an Ava Gardner movie (it’s about being elegant and earthy), surrounded by beautiful baked goods, gorgeous prepared salads, and ripe exotic cheeses, I experienced a true “ruby slippers” moment. I felt as if I had clicked my heels and finally come home. I enjoyed everything about cooking, from planning menus to shopping for ingredients, from following a recipe in the most scientific way to making something up just for fun. Most of all, I loved serving the delicious results to Jeffrey and my appreciative friends. It was my favorite escape from my intellectual but totally uncreative job. What if the thing I love to do for fun could actually be my work? I thought. I kept hearing Jeffrey say, “If you love it, you’ll be really good at it.”

We spent the night at a local hotel that had the ambiance of an insane asylum. The room was white, the bed was white, there was not a single glint of metal or sharp object in sight—the perfect setting for two lunatics who were discussing a move that was certifiably crazy.

I’d like to say that I bought Barefoot Contessa on the spot and boldly stepped into a brand-new life, but it didn’t happen quite that way. Remember, I was only thirty and still a little nervous about committing to a life-changing decision as important as this one. Diana was asking $25,000 for the business, and Jeffrey and I discussed offering her $20,000, figuring it would give me time to think about it while we negotiated the price.

But the universe had other plans for me, and they were big. On Monday morning, back from Westhampton Beach, I was sitting at my desk, working on some nuclear energy budget and sinking into my daily stupor, when the phone rang. It was Diana, who said simply, “Thank you very much. I accept your offer.”

I remember sitting there stunned, thinking, Oh shit! I just bought a specialty food store!

Review:

4.9 out of 5

98.46% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Ina...A National Treasure!

L.M. · October 3, 2024

Ina is a natural...I love how she relates to everyone, not just thise who cook. Her life story is inspirational..and so genuinely written. This book is a must read, because it is Real...never blah. We women who grew up in the fifties with standoffish parents, and low expectations for our abilities as females, can certainly relate. Those of us in longtime, happy relationships with our soulmate, understand her. She deserves the Medal of Freedom.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration and Encouragement, thy name is Ina!

L.W. · October 4, 2024

Ina Garten’s new memoir, BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS, could be subtitled “Trust in Your Own Judgment”. It is easily the best I have read. She writes a timeline of experience, but with questions asked and lessons learned. Her voice is intelligent, eloquent, humorous, and a dream to read. Her writing is part travelogue, part business advice, but most of all a love story…with food, Paris, opportunities, recipes (!), and most of all— Jeffrey.Thank you, Ina Garten, for a beautiful, honest story, and for continuing to share all that you are with us.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Ina

N. · October 3, 2024

I preordered and started reading the moment it arrived, the on the plane and final 3:00 am in my hotel room. The first part of the book, maybe 90 pages or so covers Ina’s early life. This part of the book felt a little like the editors made her tell this part of her story. While it certainly provided some context for her life, it didn’t feel like it was Ina’s typical warm, engaging style. That all changed when we entered the “Barefoot” years. From here the book revealed her passion, tenacity, style and was easily relatable. Ina writes with warmth and humor; she makes you feel what she feels. The book draws you in and somehow makes you reflect on your own “luck” and readiness. This is a wonderful book on so many levels and I can see myself going back and rereading portions whenever I need a reminder to live my life with a little more grace, style and humor.

4.0 out of 5 stars Ina knows a thing or two

T.b.C. · October 17, 2024

I love to read autobiographies. Ina not only tells a great story, but has truly led a fascinating life despite a difficult and heart wrenching childhood of emotional neglect. I was 100% on board for the ride until the last 10% of the book when there was much celebrity name dropping. So many of us are tired of the celebrity culture. I love Ina’s cookbooks. I haven’t watched her show, but I might try the original series. Not interested in watching fake cooking with superstar celebrities. Excellent personal stories about Ina and her husband. She shares many joyful and insightful life nuggets, that if you can stop around 90% you’ll have a very enjoyable read. Thank you, Ina!

5.0 out of 5 stars An Honest, Hilarious Glimpse into Ina’s World

P.D. · October 14, 2024

I’ve been watching Ina on the Food Network since the very beginning, and her charm and enthusiasm never fail to draw me in. She strikes the perfect balance of being a perfectionist without the neurosis that often accompanies it—how rare is that?!While she’s always shared glimpses of her life over the years, this well-written and often hilarious memoir offers a deeper, more personal look into her world. Her storytelling had me laughing out loud, which is something I rarely do while reading.Ina’s memoir is a true testament to overcoming a challenging upbringing with grace, and it reminds us that tenacity pays off. If you’re an Ina fan, this book is a must-read!

5.0 out of 5 stars Yay, Ina!

A. · October 18, 2024

I’ll confess, I am an Ina Garten fan. Meaning, I own and USE all 12 of her cookbooks, all the time! So it was natural for me to want to read about this amazing woman’s life. Which I have found fascinating and her style is fun and easy to read. A role model for persevering, being willing and able to change courses, keeping love alive with Jeffry through out the changing times in life, pursuing your dream, being willing to take chances. Just a fabulous book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!!!

A.L.S. · October 17, 2024

I have loved Ina’s cookbooks and shows for so long. I’ve read her cookbooks to pass the time when in the hospital and dream of delicious food while I’m eating nothing but broth and jello. She is why I have Discovery+ so I can watch Food Network shows.This book is funny, sweet, honest, and heartfelt. I can’t recommend it enough to my friends and family. I’m already implementing some of the cooking tips from the book and will be buying any of Ina’s cookbooks I don’t already have.Ina, don’t listen to voice in your head, you are loved ❤️

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!

K.C. · October 5, 2024

I have all of Ina’s cookbooks and I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book. Once it arrived I devoured it (pun intended) in two days. It is wonderful-just as warm and relatable as Ina is on her shows. If you are an Ina fan you will definitely want to read this! There are even a few recipes included. There are plenty of celebrity chefs these days but I find that Ina is one of the few whose recipes I can actually use as written because they are healthy, made with simple and easy to find ingredients and with foolproof, easy to follow directions. This book is another triumph for Ina and delight for her fans!

Excellent

H.L. · October 20, 2024

It was a true discovery of one’s self. She was given freedom and Ina had fun discovering her career and the love of choices that shaped her life. Extra special Jeffrey got it.watched her for years. Thank you for your story

Loved This Book!

T. · October 20, 2024

I wanted to read this book when I saw an interview with Ina about it. How little did I realize how much I’d love this book! It a terrific read.

You have to be an Ina fan

D.d. · October 19, 2024

If your into Ina it’s a fun read

A very enjoyable read - a fascinating memoir from a talented lady.

O.R. · October 15, 2024

I really enjoyed this memoir and am glad I bought the book.

An interesting memoir of an interesting, accomplished woman

J.E. · October 13, 2024

An interesting memoir of an interesting, accomplished woman

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Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir

Name: Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir
Brand: Crown
SKU: U0593799895
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Rating: 4.7 (13 reviews)

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