“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
“Reading Melissa King’s story felt deeply personal. 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. With honesty, humor, and heart, King shares a powerful story of resilience, identity, and perseverance.”—Michelle Kwan
“The Girl Who Became King is a must-read for anyone pursuing their dreams. What stayed with me is how honestly Melissa King traces her journey: the pressure, the contradictions, the quiet negotiations between who you’re expected to be and who you know you are. Through her food, King expresses the courage it takes to choose yourself, but she’s really doing something larger: She’s telling the story of becoming.”—Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and author of Viewfinder
“The Girl Who Became King 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, insisting on who you are while still holding grace for the imperfect people who love you. A joy to read. 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
“With the same confidence and precision that make Melissa King such a force in the kitchen, she folds together her upbringing, coming out, rise in restaurants, and experiences on Top Chef with the care of a perfectly crafted recipe. Sharp, satisfying, and impossible to put down—it’s incredible to think someone so young could already have such a comprehensive story to tell, but she does. Pull up a chair and dig in.”—Tegan Quin
“When Yan Can Cook made its debut on public television, critics were skeptical: Chinese cooking in American kitchens? Half a century later, they call it groundbreaking. Melissa King may not be the tallest chef in the kitchen but her ambition, talent, and drive make her tower over her contemporaries. She represents the best of the up-and-coming generation of chefs who are adaptive and creative. Thanks to Melissa, we can all eat like Kings.”—Chef Martin Yan, host of Yan Can Cook, bestselling author, and restaurateur
“When I first met Melissa King, I immediately felt a kinship with her. Reading about her Chinese American childhood, so similar to mine, I understand why she and I clicked. Her memoir, The Girl Who Became King, made me laugh with its familiarity: the family dynamics, the dysfunctions, the cultural clashes, having to stand up for yourself, and of course the food! What impressed me most was how brave and not very Chinese she was in sharing her family’s private lives with such truth and transparency. Her honesty and her struggles touched my heart, as she will touch yours. To quote a line from Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, ‘I see you.’ I see you, Melissa.”—Ming-Na Wen, actress and author of Have You Eaten Yet?
