I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been putting this one off because I knew it would make me cry. And cry I did.

I expected this to be a poignant, moving memoir about Fatima Ali's upbringing in Pakistan and the US, her journey as a chef and connoisseur of food, and her time on Chopped and Top Chef. But I didn't anticipate how moving her mother's chapters would be; her additional perspective adds depth to the reader's perception of Fatima, of her strength, conviction, and zeal for life. I also didn't expect to become angrier than I already am at our healthcare system and the joke that is private insurance; the US and Pakistan both fail Fatima in myriad ways during her life, but I am far more incensed at her experience in what are supposed to be some of the best hospitals and medical centers in our country.

If you don't mind crying rivulets of tears (which will manifest the most during the last quarter of this book), pick this one up.