Be Ready When the Luck Happens
Ina Garten
4.5 stars
Format: Audiobook
One might think of Ina Garten as the Queen of the Hamptons, complete with a successful business, famous friends, an adoring husband, and oodles of money. What could she write a memoir about if not her never-ending success? But after listening to the captivating chapters of Ina’s life, read by the icon herself, from her abusive childhood to her passion for real estate, I know her fame and popularity isn’t by accident. She is bold, intelligent, and radiates a warmth that simply cannot be faked.
Ina weaves her story with one constant thread – Jeffrey. His presence in her life is unmistakable and his impact on her happiness is undeniable. But BRWTLH is as much a love letter to herself as it is to her husband. Ina boldly makes decisions to secure her passions. She and Jeffrey carved out a life together that took hard work and open communication. She’s candid about their relationship and is honest about their struggles.
When I read memoirs I often wonder how I can be inspired by the author and their story. What can I learn? Did Ina just wake up one day knowing how to bake the perfect baguette? No, she practiced by making thousands. Did Ina always have a knack for throwing dinner parties? We learn quickly that she did not! She made mistakes, learned from them, and then did it one hundred times over to make sure it was perfect. She says to be ready when the luck happens and in a way that’s true. Sometimes you have to acknowledge an opportunity (or a failure) as luck. But Ina nudges luck her way when she provides an exceptional service or product that has been refined carefully. Ina stresses throughout the book that she is motivated by others’ disbelief in her abilities. She reiterates that when someone doesn’t believe in her, or believes she can’t do something, she takes that as a challenge and is even more motivated to succeed. We could all use a little bit of that mindset to see a roadblock as an opportunity.
BWRTLH feels like an intimate conversation with a friend. And Ina Garten is a mood. A vibe. She is a cool breeze coming off the sea and a warm hug of cinnamon spice. If you want to learn about the life of a national treasure, Be Ready When the Luck Happens is for you. You’ll be booking your flight to Paris and roasting a chicken before you even close the book.
