Carl Radke is opening up about his personal life in a new memoir set to hit shelves on December 30, 2025. The Summer House star has had a rough couple of years, from losing his brother to addiction to his breakup with Lindsay Hubbard. Now, he’s ready to tell his story in his new book, Cake Eater.
Here’s everything we know about Carl’s upcoming memoir.
Carl Radke announces new book
Carl announced his book deal with Rising Action and Simon & Schuster in a March 13 Instagram post. He thanked family, friends, and fans for their continued support during his sobriety journey. Cake Eater will dive into Carl’s personal life, covering everything from his childhood to his sobriety journey.
The Simon & Schuster website describes the memoir as “candid,” promising readers they will get to know a new side of Carl that only a few have seen.
“With unfiltered honesty, [Carl] takes readers through the highs and lows, from career shifts and family dynamics to finding peace in his recovery,” the book’s About section reads.
In his Instagram post, Carl describes his writing journey as “scary” due to the personal nature of the chapters.
“Releasing a book this raw and unfiltered is, at times, incredibly scary, but the stories in this book were vital lessons, incredible memories and oftentimes, dark moments that I haven’t been vulnerable about before,” he wrote in the post’s caption.
Carl Radke’s memoir will dive into his childhood
Carl’s upcoming memoir will dive into his childhood growing up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In his March 13 Instagram post, Carl says he heard the term “Cake Eater” a lot growing up.
He wrote, “You may be asking – Why Cake Eater? Being from the South Hills of Pittsburgh in Upper St. Clair and other locals will know that Cake Eater is a privileged upper-middle-class person who is handed everything. While I was called this many times, that wasn’t my reality.”
Carl’s been open about his family struggles on Summer House, discussing how his parents’ divorce and his brother’s struggles with addiction impacted his family life. People Magazine obtained an excerpt of the memoir in which Carl discusses his painful falling out with his brother, Curtis.
“My friends and I gathered around to celebrate my mom’s wedding through the screen. It was bittersweet knowing that Curtis and his family never went to her wedding because of that argument about the house. Our family was fractured at what should have been a moment of joy,” he wrote. “I remember feeling torn that day — happy for my mom finding love again, but heartbroken that our family couldn’t all share in it together. As I watched her say her vows through a laptop screen, surrounded by cast members instead of family, the reality of how disconnected we’d all become hit me hard.“
Carl Radke’s memoir will discuss the loss of his brother
Carl’s brother Curtis passed away in the summer of 2020 from a heroin overdose. Producers captured his sudden loss on Season 5 of Summer House. One scene showed him receiving a phone call from his mom, breaking the news to him. In a book excerpt obtained by People, Carl walks fans through the morning he found out his brother died, detailing the emotions he felt on the day.
“Aug. 11 was the day my world stopped spinning. The phone rang at 7 a.m., and seeing my mom’s name on the screen, I immediately knew something was wrong. A voice inside me whispered, “It’s about Curtis,” before I even answered,” he wrote. “When I picked up, my mom’s voice was shattered. The kind of pain only a parent losing a child could have. The weight of her words knocked the wind out of me — Curtis was gone.”
He goes on to describe the emotions he experienced after that phone call, saying he felt an “overwhelming emptiness.”
Carl Radke’s memoir will cover his struggles with addiction and his sobriety journey
A major focus of Carl’s memoir appears to be his sobriety journey. The 40-year-old has been sober since January 2021 and is now hoping to inspire others with his story. He opened up about his addiction issues on a February 2025 episode of the podcast The Viall Files. He told host Nick Viall, “I would drink all day by myself, and do cocaine all day by myself.”
The Cake Eater synopsis on the Simon & Schuster website says that the memoir will cover Carl’s issues with addiction and detail how he got sober.
“Each chapter dives into the hard-earned lessons he’s gathered, proving that life can be fulfilling—even without a drink,” the synopsis reads. “His story shows that fun and authenticity aren’t only compatible with sobriety; they can thrive because of it.”
Summer House is available to stream on Peacock.
