Cousins Maine Lobster: How One Food Truck Became a Multi-Million-Dollar Business

Tselikis and Lomac come across as thoroughly likable storytellers in this account of how they transformed from business neophytes, with a half-baked idea to relive their Maine childhoods, into the founders of a recognizable food-truck brand. The cousins, who pitched their food-truck business on Shark Tank, provide entertaining, hard-earned lessons for would-be entrepreneurs and fans of their lobster rolls alike. They write with zeal about their brand and their devotion to Barbara Corcoran, the “shark” who became their mentor. But the book successfully avoids being an extended commercial for their company or a retelling of their appearance on the popular TV show. Though they continually remind readers of their naïveté when they started and strong work ethic, the lessons that flow from their experience—how to decide when to franchise, the dos and don’ts of adding a bricks-and-mortar presence—are valuable. Their passion for the “Maine way” permeates the book, revealing the deep connection they have with their beloved state, as well as insight into the insular culture of its lobster industry. The authors’ story is more personal and idiosyncratic than those related in many other traditional CEO bios and titles about start-ups. Kirsten Neuhaus, Foundry Literary + Media. (Apr.)