Two chefs, one an icon in seclusion and the other just beginning his career, form an unlikely friendship when their paths cross due to happenstance. Gale is young and newly sober, still reeling from his friend’s overdose. Regina was once a celebrity chef but has been hiding in the soup kitchen she created since she hit rock bottom. As Regina begins to mentor Gale, her passion for cooking is reignited while his skills expand exponentially. However, with the pressure of succeeding comes the risk of relapse, and the personal growth of this story drives the plot. Author Terri-Lynne Defino created wonderfully complex characters, which is far more realistic than having the whole book be on an upward trajectory. Both Regina and Gale are a mix of frustrating and lovable, and they play off each other well. Including cooking and restaurant explanations at the beginning of each chapter is a nice touch, and this will be a good book for fans of food with an understanding of addiction that often coincides in the hospitality industry.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. I enjoyed this book a lot. The cover is beautiful and the plot had me hooked. The FMC was excellent as well. I would rate this book a 4.5 stars and I would recommend reading this book when it releases next month.

This was a such a great story and it would be a nice and inspiring read for any foodies.

The food takes second stage to the Queenie B herself, but ahhh, I can picture the kitchen smells and sounds, including the soup kitchen.

I was more interested in Regina's story than Gale's. Both were hard to get through at times, yet interesting.

Alternating timelines helped in the buildup to the final chapters and had me wanting to find out how their stories end.

I will say the story was a bit longer than necessary, but otherwise, I give it my chef's kiss.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an e-copy of DIDN'T YOU USE TO BE QUEENIE B? to review.

I rate DIDN'T YOU USE TO BE QUEENIE B? four out of five stars.

I DNF this book, I just couldn’t get into the story. Too slow moving for me. I have tried to read it two different times. Therefore, I will let other reviewers who enjoy this book promote it, so I will not be posting on social media or reviews on retail sites. That way, this book gets much deserved attention from those reviewers who loved it!

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.

A mildly entertaining novel, not nearly as good as her other work but good enough to pass a rainy afternoon.

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.. thank you NetGalley for this wonderful digital copy! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the advance reader copy.

In this book, a former culinary reality tv star and talented young line cook who are struggling with similar demons meet by chance and go on to unexpectedly impact one another’s lives.

I really enjoyed the characters, their development and wished the best for each of them. The alternating perspectives within the chapters and periodic flashbacks were an engaging ways to keep the reader hooked and foreshadow potential future storylines.

I’d recommend this book for anyone that enjoys cooking shows or appreciates a story with good character development and story depth.

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.

Queenie B was a famous television chef, cookbook author and wunderkind before her life fell apart and she disappeared. Across town, Gale Carmichael is a line cook living paycheck to paycheck and hoping to advance his career while struggling to stay sober. To make ends meet he goes to a local soup kitchen run much more like a restaurant run by Regina Benuzzi, who once was known to millions as Queenie B. Slowly but surely Regina becomes a mentor to Gale, helping him reach his own culinary dreams.

Told in dual perspectives between Regina and Gale, Whatever Happened to Queenie B is the story of success, what it costs, addiction, recovery and redemption. The character or Regina/Queenie popped off of the page with all of her gruffness and talent--she is the picture of a once bombastic TV personality. Gale is similarly believable as a newly sober addict struggling to cope in the high pressure environment of the kitchen and in his home life as well. I found the story to be interesting and quite poignant. Four stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

I absolutely loved every bit of this book. The line “for fans of The Bear” got me interested and it entirely delivered. I loved learning about the characters in their interactions and storylines, and felt like they were all consistent to who they were described as from the start. It also touched on real, hard subjects like grief, substance use/abuse, and mental health. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Entirely recommend, even if it wasn’t gifted to me.

Okay, listen up, foodies and fiction lovers—this book serves (yes, pun intended) drama, redemption, and second chances on a silver platter. Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B? is about Regina Benuzzi, aka Queenie B, who was once the queen of the culinary world—think Michelin stars, bestselling cookbooks, and a TV empire. But then, boom—something goes down, and she vanishes from the spotlight. Fast-forward, and now she’s working at a soup kitchen, trying to stay low-key.

Enter Gale Carmichael, a super-talented but struggling chef with his own baggage. Sparks fly—not the romantic kind, but the we-are-too-messed-up-for-this kind—and soon they find themselves on a journey of rediscovering their love for food and themselves.

This book is full of heart, delicious descriptions (seriously, don’t read this while hungry), and characters that feel so real you’ll want to sit down and have a meal with them. It’s got all the juicy elements—fall from grace, a fight for redemption, and that one question we all dread: Can you ever truly get back what you lost?

If you love food, found family, and comeback stories, this one’s a must-read. Just be warned: you will crave pasta, and you will root for Queenie like she’s your long-lost bestie.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (because you don’t mess with a comeback queen!)

I really enjoyed this book, my first 5 star read of 2025. The characters were real & vulnerable with some chutzpah and the culinary aspect of it added depth. A redemption story in the end with a little romance thrown in, all written in the vein Liane Moriarty & Elin Hilderbrand (without the beach). No sex but drug use, alcoholism & swearing in case that is or isn't your thing. Thank you NetGalley for the early read!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Didn't You Use to Be Queenie B is an emotional and gripping story that’s hard to put down. Told through alternating timelines, we follow Regina, once known as Queenie B, a former star who’s fallen from the spotlight and is trying to start fresh. Now running a local soup kitchen, Regina meets Gale, a young cook with a vibe that feels strangely familiar. Despite his eccentricities, she’s drawn to him, and before long, she’s taking him under her wing.

When Gale gets a spot on the cooking competition *Cut*, Regina is thrown into a tough spot—trying to help him succeed while keeping her past hidden. The tension around keeping her identity secret adds a lot of suspense, and you’re left wondering if she can pull it off.

This book does a great job of blending the past and present, with Regina and Gale’s stories flowing smoothly, even with the alternating timelines. Both characters are well-developed and layered, with fascinating backstories, and even the supporting characters leave a lasting impression. If you’re after a book full of emotion, twists, and heart, this one’s definitely worth reading!
4.25 Stars!
#NetGalley, #WilliamMorrow, #Terri-LynneDeFino, #DidntYouUsetoBeQueenieB?

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

Wow, definitely a 4-star read for me!

The author's story telling was absolutely chefs kiss (pun intended). I was so wrapped up in this book I could not put it down! I had to find out what was happening with Regina and Gale and was so stressed, in the best way possible.

The dual storyline and POV made this fast paced and intriguing and when the story lines intertwined and everything was revealed to us it was a storytelling masterpiece.

This was a book about redemption, overcoming your past, friendship, and self-acceptance. The story had me in my feels and I couldn't help but root for Regina and Gale.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a heartfelt story about people getting their second chance in life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #DidntYouUsetoBeQueenieB #NetGalley

Queenie B/Regina was a character that I was rooting for. I enjoyed the alternating timelines and getting to know her. I also liked Gale`s character too. The plot of the book was something different to read and all the food talk made me hungry!

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.

loved this story that takes place in the past and 2015. It deals with addicts and their issues and slowly coming back . loved queenie b or regina and gale. loved their friendship and marco and all of her friends.

Queenie B is a redemptive story that is compelling. Regina Benruzzi left the culinary scene at the apex of her talents. She was exalted, toasted and in her own opinion set on fire only to flame out. A decade later she has found contentment and purpose in the city’s soup kitchen. A have of second chances . Enter Gale Carmichael, newly sober and trying to remain sober. Gale samples the food in Queenies soup kitchen and quickly realizes this is food with flavor and depth and surprising elements not normal in most kitchens for the homeless. Gale applies to work in the prep kitchen and Queenies sees the past skill that was so prized at one time, but she also sees the trap that real genius can hold. It’s a great look at two people compelled to give the best they can without compromise. Happy reading

Thanks NetGalley for an arc. At times the book seemed as it was dragging. Queenie B led a life as a culinary star but her fall from the top is one that seems to be common. She flies under the radar for years. Her protege Gale is a rising star who makes a name for himself. Overall a good story.