OVERVIEW
I used to watch Top Chef and was rooting for Kristen when she won season 10! She was my favorite from the season opener, but most especially when she won Last Chance Kitchen five times in a row! She was talented, gutsy, and amazing!
While browsing the Libby application on my cell phone, I stumbled upon her memoir! I immediately knew that I would want to listen to this as an audiobook. It did not disappoint!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing is strong, emotional, raw, and real. Kristen writes from the heart, and it shows!
It appears that she wrote this on her own without a ghost writer, BRAVA, Kristen!
Narration: 5.0 stars
Kristen narrated this book, even though she is not a professional narrator; she did a fantastic job. On a few occasions, she became emotional, but it added to the power of this memoir.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main character is, of course, Kristen. She details her life from her first picture in the United States (as she is an adoptee from South Korea) to her recent hosting job on Top Chef. It is told chronologically, which is the format that I prefer.
Kristen shares her life journey as an adoptee, an Asian-American, and part of the LGBT+ community, and a chef. She takes great pride in all of the groups that she represents and understands the power of representation.
She shares how she was raised in Michigan with an older non-biological brother. Kristen has incredibly loving parents who supported her choices to leave college and pursue a culinary degree. She shares her confusion about being LGBT+ and her coming out. Add that she is a female, Asian American chef when there were not many women or Asian-American chefs when she was starting out, period. She shares working in restaurants, opening her first restaurant, being on food/travel television shows, and finally becoming the host of Top Chef. Finally, she shares meeting the love of her life, Bianca, and getting married.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
For me, one of the biggest takeaways was finding joy. We cannot qualify or quantify it, but we know it when we see it. Kristen focuses on finding joy in her life both individually and as part of a married couple.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
As a mom of a hapa (Asian-American/Northern European) daughter, Kristen is a strong role model. But, I also found her endearing, real, and so accessible that the mom in me adored her and her memoir.
I would so love to cook or dine with Kristen! I know that she would make it a fun time!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Great photograph.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Very appropriate.
HIGHLY recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish
10 hours, 28 minutes
Little, Brown & Company
Release date: 4/22/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Cursing, drug use, alcohol use, racism, sexism, pandemic
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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