Reviews - Care and Feeding: A Memoir

Care and Feeding: A Memoir by Laurie Woolever

519 reviews for:

It took me a minute to get into the book— written in a quick, direct style that reminds me of other authors who are also cooks and chefs. I suppose it matches the fast-paced kitchens they work in. Or an impulse to propel the reader forward to the next course lest we spend too much time on the drugs and alcohol and other unsavory bits.

(March 2025)

ashcatchem150's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

lmm0's review against another edition

4.5

FORMAT: Combo physical & audio, narrated by the author

RECAP: Laurie Woolever’s witty memoir follows her journey from small-town roots to working with culinary icons, navigating wild adventures, industry turmoil and the search for what truly matters: care and feeding.

REVIEW: I’d comp this to Ina Garten’s memoir, but this one just came off as more raw & real. Maybe that’s recency bias, but the truths that Woolever shares about herself… I don’t know if I’d ever put it in writing for a public audience. To that end, I respect her so completely for presenting her whole story with all the flaws and blemishes. It makes her so relatable and human. Such a fascinating memoir - however, please check trigger warnings. The biggest ones are for alcoholism, addiction & drug abuse, but there is definitely some other heavy content throughout the book.

Content Warnings

sarahrose119's review

5.0

✨ I don’t leave reviews for memoirs✨
To answer the question in the epilogue, no restaurants have not changed.

fayebeeee's review against another edition

2.75

dark emotional sad medium-paced

whit_knee's review

4.75

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

This memoir is about Woolever's experiences in the culinary world and her struggle with alcohol. I went in with no assumptions, and I know little about the cooking world. I loved this book. She was honest about her addiction and the bad decisions she made. She didn't shy away from the embarrassing parts. This is a memoir, not fiction; she's a person, and people make bad decisions. It is a very long read, and I think some parts could have been left out. Besides that, I loved her honesty. I couldn't put it down.