Cake Eater

by Carl Radke

For fans of raw celebrity memoirs, Bravo Summer House star Carl Radke gives readers a look into his unfiltered journey of recovery, resilience and transformation.

Sober Carl Isn’t Fun—Or Is He?

Carl Radke’s path from reality TV’s party-loving star to a life centered around recovery has been anything but straightforward. Famous for his role on Summer House, Carl’s journey in the spotlight has forced him to confront personal battles under public scrutiny. Beyond the cameras, he’s faced struggles with addiction, the weight of toxic masculinity, the heartbreaking loss of his brother, and a quest to find real joy in a world that equates fun with alcohol.

In this candid memoir, Carl opens up about a side of his life few have seen. With unfiltered honesty, he takes readers through the highs and lows, from career shifts and family dynamics to finding peace in his recovery. Each chapter dives into the hard-earned lessons he’s gathered, proving that life can be fulfilling—even without a drink. His story shows that fun and authenticity aren’t only compatible with sobriety; they can thrive because of it.

Whether processing grief, navigating sober relationships, or confronting the public’s perceptions, Carl’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and self-discovery. Through vulnerability and humor, Carl redefines “fun,” reminding readers that the most meaningful transformations come from within. This memoir is a must-read for anyone seeking the courage to redefine their own path.

“In Cake Eater, Carl Radke invites us into a deeply personal journey through loss, growth, and finding hope again. It’s an honest, heartfelt reminder that healing takes time and self-compassion, but it’s within reach.”
-Lori Gottlieb, Bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone and New York Times "Ask The Therapist" columnist

Genres: Memoir, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Biography

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

Reviews

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

the only thing that comes close to rivaling my love of reading is, unfortunately, my love of bravo's summer house.

https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...

i read an e-arc, so it's possible a lot of this has changed — but this was both over- and under-written. there are many, many redundancies, entire paragraphs that serve the same purpose as the prior sentences (in spite of the fact that this is a very short book), but there are also plenty of inconsistencies. on one page, radke references missed classes piling up, and a few later says he's never missed any. the book opens with his description of his parents starting their new life with him coming shortly after, and a bit onward the name "curtis" is mentioned...revealed at another point to be his brother, five years older.

i do really admire carl's honesty here, and it's clear he cares about advocacy and representation for sobriety, but this was a really tough read. in spite of being 160 pages, often 3-4 paragraphs are spent describing what could have been conveyed in a couple of sentences. not everyone can write, and i'm sorry to say this story would likely have been better served with a ghostwriter. 

it's hard to write a memoir, and i'd imagine it's even harder when several months of each of the past 10 years of your life is recorded and televised. not a lot of reckoning with the alternate perspectives we can access in the bravo archives — just carl's sweet renditions of his brotherly friendship with kyle, his full-circle hero's journey at loverboy, his thoughtful relationship with lindsay, etc etc.

at least it inspired yet another rewatch.

bottom line: i want the best for carl! this memoir just does not qualify as the best.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[amanda eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

First thing: I fully appreciate how difficult it is to write a memoir, especially a memoir about addiction and eventual sobriety. Props to Radke for even attempting this type of feat.
He really does lay himself bare, so to speak, communicating frankly about his mental health struggles and his family trauma, and how that all led to the bad decisions he made whilst in the throes of addiction. He takes accountability and shows introspection and growth.

Unfortunately, he's just not a good storyteller. And that's fine! He has an interesting enough story to tell, but he doesn't have the skill to deliver it in a way that isn't mind-numbingly repetitive and inarticulate. There's enough material for a full-length memoir, but Radke's inability to wordsmith means that he will often begin a new chapter by rehashing the previous one. If I had a dime for every time the word "stuff" appeared, I'd be able to buy enough LoverBoy to supply a summer of parties.

I don't know if this is entirely true or intentional, but the way it's written, it sounds like Radke's big, rock-bottom, turning-point moment occurred while watching the January 6th insurrection. Which is weird, and kind of funny.

As for the Bravo of it all, I've watched Summer House enough to know what liberties he's taken with the reality we're shown on the show (where we get multiple perspectives, not just his own), so hearing his take on his separation from not just LoverBoy but Lindsay was an interesting spin, to say the least. His hard sell of Soft Bar in the final chapters was just as sweaty as it was on TV.

[Harleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Summer House fan, I was excited to read this one! Carl has always been open about his addiction, and Cake Eater gives an intimate look into his sobriety journey. The writing is pretty simple, and it feels more like he’s telling his story than trying to make it an immersive read.

Overall, it's a quick and heartfelt read for fans who've followed his journey on the show.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the arc! All opinions are my own.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Big fan of Carl and am proud of his recovery. He is not a writer.

[Emily Cummings · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is the editor in the room with us

[Colleen Nowlan]

As a lover of celebrity memories, I will say this is one of the best I’ve read

[Makenzie Arvidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart belongs to Carl ❤️ (Arvidson, my spouse, but I also love Radke) I am giving this book 5 stars bc it takes courage to share your story and bc I just love him. So proud of him!!! And also Carl and I FaceTimed once so we’re very good friends and I don’t think he would want me to give less than five stars

[szreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ready for this book🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

[Jennifer Tyndall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating a memoir feels dumb because it’s someone’s actual story and life but I’m giving it 4 stars because I desperately wanted more about Summer House and his relationship ship with Lindsay because both of those things were a HUGE part of his life and recovery. Also SOMEONE needs to really start calling out Lindsay Hubbard for the gross narcissist she is and stick to it. Stop enabling people like her. I understand he wants to take the high road and I’m sure he’s done his fair share of roasting in real life, but still.

[Maggie Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m rooting for you, Carl!!!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this!! Shows a completely different side of Carl and what goes on behind the scenes of someone’s life in reality TV!

[Shannon Bromberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really impressed by Carl! I loved hearing his stories about his young 20s, summer house, and sobriety. It was a really enjoyable read!

[Maggie Pickard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for you Carl

[Kelly Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised! Carl made no excuses for behavior as some memoirs like this do, he was raw and honest. Also this is a great book to start the new year with especially me trying to do dry (or at least damp!) January!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is kind of one long college application essay and that makes sense because he got a full ride scholarship based on an essay. he also never even explains the title, which i know from mighty ducks / edina, MN. i wish he dramatized a few more scenes instead of just broad statements like “there were hard days” etc. but i am happy for carl’s journey and he does spill some good tea.

[Maitland Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody will ever make me hate Carl

[Alicia Hai · Rating 2 out of 5]

How authentic is a memoir when the word authentic is used 38 times in the span of 178 pages? I really appreciated Carl’s journey to sobriety in my 10-season binge watch of Summer House last year, so I was particularly inclined to read this. I understand how much self reflection it takes to write something like this but this was a case of really writing that felt split between an extension of a 5-paragraph hamburger essay and personal reflections that read more like unedited journal entries than a fully-developed narrative.

It was at times repetitive (why did I read about the same pot roast thanksgiving story twice?) and ocasionally nonsensical (why did I need to know you’ve had hypothyroidism for 15 years?). That being said, Carl really did lay himself bare here and I valued the walls he was willing to let down about his deeply personal struggles and in giving more context to his time on Summer House.

The last 20 pages were self-indulgent promo for Soft Bar and the “Soft” launch of his podcast - because what we really need is more podcasts alongside Bravolebrity memoirs.

[Megan Hayes]

utmost respect for anyone—especially someone in the public eye—who is willing to share their journey with addiction, sobriety, and mental health. Carl speaks about how deeply our society revolves around drinking and how challenging it has been for him to navigate that reality while staying sober. He also opens up about the negativity and criticism he’s faced regarding his personality, all while trying to figure out who he is without alcohol. Between public scrutiny , his journey with addiction, and the heartbreaking loss of his brother, I truly commend Carl for his openness and vulnerability throughout this book!! No Carl hate will be tolerated here!!!

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to the book signing and got to hear Carl talk about witting this book in person. This was my first sober memoir, and I enjoyed myself. Although I’m not a reality star from a show in the Hamptons, the parallels of sobriety were relatable and insightful for me. Don’t read this expecting to get Summer House dirt and gossip. It pretty much sticks strictly to sobriety and finding yourself outside of substance addiction. However, there are a few stories I didn’t know about him. It’s not written in an artsy or poetic way, but you can hear Carls voice in the writing if you’re familiar with him. I have a lot of respect for him after reading this.

[Ange G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

With memoirs, I normally don’t rate them lower than a 5 because who am I to rate someone’s life, but this one I had to rate a 3.75 because I feel like Carl held back a bit. This to me was more of a self-help book, which I love, but I didn’t go into this read thinking it was self-help so it took me by surprise. Don’t get me wrong, he did share a lot about himself and his struggles with substance abuse along with his family dynamics related to substance abuse, but I was also hoping for his point of view on different relationships he’s had throughout his career in the spotlight (Kyle, Lindsay, etc.) as well as his experiences being a person in the limelight.
Nonetheless, this was a great book and I’m really glad Carl has found himself, sobriety, and peace. Love me some Carl Radke. 🥰

[Lindsey Smay · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Bravo fan, I had to read this book. Although it feels unfair to be able to rate someone personal experiences, I am giving this a 3 on the strict basis of the actual writing. He was very open and vulnerable about his experiences and struggles, but it felt repetitive at times. Not only with the content, but the actual lines of the book itself.

[Erica Lisitsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Sue me!!!

[Lauryn Smith]

finished this all in one sitting this morning!

just to be clear…this is NOT going to be full of summer house tea, it’s focus is on how carl hit rock bottom in addiction and his sobriety journey.

carl has been through a lot and he’s one of the few boys on bravo that i see a lot of growth and authenticity in. while at times one-dimensional, this was a very vulnerable memoir and it’s easy to see how much work he’s put on himself.

this will not change your life by any means but i would definitely recommend if you’re a SH fan!

[Ella Morris]

The writing was somewhat hard to follow and a bit redundant, but it was authentically Carl which was refreshing. He has gone through so much and has really put the work into becoming a better person.

Would recommend to any SH fan!

[Lexi Garvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a Summer House person, or someone who is struggling with/has been around addiction, this is such a great read. Carl has some a long way and since I’m obsessed with the show it was so cool to learn mire about him and his journey!

[Jessica Mall · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Bravo and memoirs, 5 stars! Honest & vulnerable. I’ve loved watching Carl’s personal growth journey on the screen and hearing his story on the pages brought even more vulnerability.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

feels wrong to rate this and i love u carl but u are not a writer

[Emma Squier · Rating 2 out of 5]

1 star for reading the same thing over and over again. 1 more star because I do like Carl.

[Kayla Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s very obvious Carl has done a lot of therapy and self reflection. This book is very honest and open and I appreciate that. From a literary standpoint, I found a lot of it repetitive he would bring up a topic like the Stephen debacle, and then say “more about that later” instead of just bringing it up later. It also felt like he tried adding a lot of foreshadowing saying how his partying was obviously a sign of something coming etc instead of unfolding the story and later talking about how his past gave all of the indications of addiction. There were also a few too many “you know?”s thrown in.

Overall it was an easy read and very informative. Well done for getting sober.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Happy for Carl! This definitely was therapeutic for him and an outlet but…..it wasn’t it.