• A Piece of Cake

  • A Memoir
  • By: Cupcake Brown
  • Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
  • Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,621 ratings)

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A Piece of Cake  By  cover art

A Piece of Cake

By: Cupcake Brown
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

The heart-wrenching, uplifting tale about a woman named Cupcake

“[Cupcake] Brown’s confessional...memoir is one you can’t easily put down. Her life is nothing short of a miracle.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

There are shelves of memoirs about overcoming the death of a parent, childhood abuse, rape, drug addiction, miscarriage, alcoholism, hustling, gangbanging, near-death injuries, drug dealing, prostitution, and homelessness.

Cupcake Brown survived all these things before she’d even turned 20. And that’s when things got interesting....Orphaned by the death of her mother and left in the hands of a sadistic foster parent, young Cupcake Brown learned to survive by turning tricks, downing hard liquor, and ingesting every drug she could find while hitchhiking up and down the California coast. She stumbled into gangbanging, drug dealing, hustling, prostitution, theft, and, eventually, the best scam of all: a series of 9-to-5 jobs.

A Piece of Cake is unlike any memoir you’ll ever read. Moving in its frankness, this is the most satisfying, startlingly funny, and genuinely affecting tour through hell you’ll ever take.

Praise for A Piece of Cake

“[Brown] reflects now with insight and honesty on her experiences....An engaging account...of a remarkable life filled with pain and wisdom, hope and redemption.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Dazzles you with the amazing change that is possible in one lifetime.” (Washington Post)

©2006 Cupcake Brown (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Cupcake's gonna sell like hotcakes." (Publishers Weekly)

"Her story of survival and triumph is incredible and often rough." (Booklist)

Featured Article: The top 100 memoirs of all time


All genres considered, the memoir is among the most difficult and complex for a writer to pull off. After all, giving voice to your own lived experience and recounting deeply painful or uncomfortable memories in a way that still engages and entertains is a remarkable feat. These autobiographies, often narrated by the authors themselves, shine with raw, unfiltered emotion sure to resonate with any listener. But don't just take our word for it—queue up any one of these listens, and you'll hear exactly what we mean.

What listeners say about A Piece of Cake

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Still Listening !!!!!!!!

I am an audio book addict. And I often, even after using my four credits a month because I have two accounts, run out of books. A Piece of Cake is my tried and true fill-in. I have listened to this book 4 times, and I still find myself laughing and crying just like I have never heard the book in the past. This book is a wonderful listen and a true classic. I have even purchased the book for several friends as gifts (only two other audio books have moved me to do this - The Teahouse Fire and Somebody Knows My Name). For me, this book feels like a good movie, and the time goes by so fast that you still want more. Not that it's unfulfilling; you will just want the sequel! Bahni Turpin is my absolute favorite narrator. The main character comes to life in your heart in the first 5 minutes of the book, and you feel the connection long after the book ends. You will not be disappointed with this audio; it is well worth the credit.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

engaging, amazing, turn your life around inspiring

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely would recommend this book to anyone. It speaks to the real human side of life. It gives you a peek into another's life that might be completely different than yours - BUT Cupcake is just like you. Everyone wants to be loved, supported & feel good about themselves.

What did you like best about this story?

The honesty.

Have you listened to any of Bahni Turpin???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes - I try to find anything she has narrated & listen to it. I love her voice!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"Sometimes you CAN have your cake & eat it too"

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Life Changing Story!!

Most amazingly well written story taking you from childhood through the full journey of an amazingly difficult life, very moving!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

raw, real & fasciating

Her honesty and sincerity is unbelievable. I couldn't stop listening. Suh an amazing story I highly recommend it to anyone.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Heartbreaker shocking yet also Good!

A most read for troubled youths and anyone else who enjoys a good autobiography one of the best

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story of resilience!

I wish I could sit down and get to know this amazing woman one on one. She's an example of how resilient we can be.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Raw and Worth the read

I was so emotionally drained. Tge sustems that are in place need constant checks. 2ould love more on how Cupcake is doing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a story!!!!!

I love this book. This is my 2nd time reading it. It’s a very detailed book which makes it longer but worth reading. Cupcake Brown is a definition of a strong woman.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!!!!

Didn’t see the ending coming it was amazing and inspiring!!! Just in shock and complete amazement

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Great Great Story!

Second time reading this. I own the hard copy but listening to the narrative was AWESOME!

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