The Girl Who Became King
A Memoir
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The Girl Who Became King
Narrated by:
Melissa King
Pre-order Now for £14.05
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Narrated by:
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Melissa King
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By:
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Melissa King
Embracing my love of food has empowered me to embrace every layer of who I am: my Chinese heritage, my American upbringing, and all the parts of me that felt too much and not enough. When I chose myself, I set her free. Just me. The girl who became king.
As a kid, Melissa King lived for the moment she would come from elementary school, grab her prized Chinese meat cleaver, and prepare dinner for her family. She already knew cooking was her future, but she didn’t know how hard she’d have to fight to make that dream a reality.
Growing up, King felt like she was stuck in a box that was only getting smaller. Her Shanghainese and Cantonese immigrant parents had certain expectations—none of which included going to culinary school or falling in love with women. American culture also dictated that kitchens were a man’s world. But trying to live by these rules felt like no life at all.
Determined to forge her own path, she fought her way into the demanding world of Michelin-starred kitchens, while discovering a home in the queer community. When she entered Top Chef as a reluctant contestant, inspired by her grandmother’s advice to follow her heart, she began embracing the flavors, culture, and parts of herself she had once forgotten. This journey of self-discovery through food leads her back to her parents, where love creates room for their strengths and imperfections.
In this heartfelt memoir, Melissa King shows that empowerment comes from embracing all the different ingredients that make up who you are, and models the hard-won courage it takes to believe in yourself against the odds.
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Critic reviews
“This book is not only a chronicle of humble beginnings and big dreams. It’s an immigrant story, a story of finding your particular identity as a queer woman and insisting on who you are while still holding grace for the imperfect people who love you. One can’t help but root and cheer for our Chef King.”—Padma Lakshmi, New York Times bestselling author of Love, Loss, and What We Ate
“We have known and loved Melissa King, the chef, for years, but in this no-holds-barred memoir, we finally meet Melissa King, the person, with layers of heartbreak, fears, joys and triumphs that make her the singular force of nature that she is today. Essential reading for any modern-day foodie.”—Edward Lee, chef, finalist on Culinary Class Wars, and author of Bourbon Land
“Melissa King had the courage to ignore just about everyone’s expectations for her—and thank goodness she did. This memoir is funny, honest, and full of heart, reminding us that belonging isn’t something you wait to be given.”—Atsuko Okatsuka
“Melissa’s story is a powerful reminder that success comes not from fitting into someone else’s expectations, but from embracing your whole self.”—Chef Kwame Onwuachi
“Melissa King may not be the tallest chef in the kitchen but her ambition, talents, and drive make her tower over her contemporaries.”—Chef Martin Yan, host of Yan Can Cook, bestselling author, and restaurateur
“Melissa King’s memoir made me laugh with its familiarity. What impressed me most was how brave and not very Chinese she was in sharing her story with such truth and transparency. Her honesty and struggles touched my heart, as she will touch yours. I see you, Melissa.”—Ming-Na Wen, actress and author of Have You Eaten Yet?
“As the daughter of immigrants, I recognized so much in her journey—the sacrifices of family, the ties that bind generations, the pull of two cultures, the pressure to succeed, and the challenge of finding your own voice. . . . Full of honesty, humor, and heart.”—Michelle Kwan
“Written with the same confidence and precision that made Melissa King such a force in the kitchen . . . sharp, satisfying, and impossible to put down.”—Tegan Quin
“What stayed with me is how honestly King traces her journey: the pressure, the contradictions, the quiet negotiations between who you’re expected to be and who you know you are. She’s telling the story of becoming. This book is a reminder that there’s no single way to do that.”—Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and author of Viewfinder
“We have known and loved Melissa King, the chef, for years, but in this no-holds-barred memoir, we finally meet Melissa King, the person, with layers of heartbreak, fears, joys and triumphs that make her the singular force of nature that she is today. Essential reading for any modern-day foodie.”—Edward Lee, chef, finalist on Culinary Class Wars, and author of Bourbon Land
“Melissa King had the courage to ignore just about everyone’s expectations for her—and thank goodness she did. This memoir is funny, honest, and full of heart, reminding us that belonging isn’t something you wait to be given.”—Atsuko Okatsuka
“Melissa’s story is a powerful reminder that success comes not from fitting into someone else’s expectations, but from embracing your whole self.”—Chef Kwame Onwuachi
“Melissa King may not be the tallest chef in the kitchen but her ambition, talents, and drive make her tower over her contemporaries.”—Chef Martin Yan, host of Yan Can Cook, bestselling author, and restaurateur
“Melissa King’s memoir made me laugh with its familiarity. What impressed me most was how brave and not very Chinese she was in sharing her story with such truth and transparency. Her honesty and struggles touched my heart, as she will touch yours. I see you, Melissa.”—Ming-Na Wen, actress and author of Have You Eaten Yet?
“As the daughter of immigrants, I recognized so much in her journey—the sacrifices of family, the ties that bind generations, the pull of two cultures, the pressure to succeed, and the challenge of finding your own voice. . . . Full of honesty, humor, and heart.”—Michelle Kwan
“Written with the same confidence and precision that made Melissa King such a force in the kitchen . . . sharp, satisfying, and impossible to put down.”—Tegan Quin
“What stayed with me is how honestly King traces her journey: the pressure, the contradictions, the quiet negotiations between who you’re expected to be and who you know you are. She’s telling the story of becoming. This book is a reminder that there’s no single way to do that.”—Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and author of Viewfinder
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