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morganth's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I flew through this one. It's a breezy read, despite feeling like a horror in moments. It was not what I expected, and I don't totally know how I feel about it, but I think I enjoyed how different it was?
It's a little annoying in its unnarration, a little on-the-nose with the food stuff, and a little frustrating in the moments of class tension.
I think there was more to explore with her Piglet's binging and her sister's starving -- with another 75 pages, it may have felt more flushed out, or rounded out at least. There were so many issues at play here, and none got the full treatment.
It's a little annoying in its unnarration, a little on-the-nose with the food stuff, and a little frustrating in the moments of class tension.
I think there was more to explore with her Piglet's binging and her sister's starving -- with another 75 pages, it may have felt more flushed out, or rounded out at least. There were so many issues at play here, and none got the full treatment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Minor: Vomit
whatisnotyours's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not usually drawn to domestic dramas, but I was pulled into this book. It's very cleverly constructed and paced, and anyone who wants a story about a woman struggling to take up the space she needs will love it.
Some if the points re: food, desire, and wanting too much as a woman felt very on the nose at times, but the author isn't "preachy" in getting these points across.
Amazing food writing throughout, though some of the eating scenes later on in the book were a tough read.
Some if the points re: food, desire, and wanting too much as a woman felt very on the nose at times, but the author isn't "preachy" in getting these points across.
Amazing food writing throughout, though some of the eating scenes later on in the book were a tough read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Classism
carojust's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A great debut from Lottie Hazell. I love how this book plays with the reader, keeping us in the dark, but expecting us to see through it.
Piglet is preparing for her wedding, and her perfect life is broken by her fiancée's admission of something horrible he's done. She's disoriented, forcing herself through the motions up until her wedding day, binging on food to quell the horror.
The author also accompanies Piglet with other characters -- her pregnant best friend, her co-workers, her sister, her mother and future mother-in-law -- who all show the different choices we make as women, and the cards we're dealt. Hazell seems to focus on motherhood and marriage, and how they're presented as the only paths forward.
The most obvious and devastating metaphor is how Piglet is the roast on the dinner table, eaten alive, while sold the dream of settling for an unbearable married life and identity ahead.
I love that we never know what Kit did. We fill in the blank ourselves with our own trauma, disappointments, worst fears. The assumption is that he cheated, and it's so banal and understood, that it's not worth mentioning, and I'm obsessed with this.
You'll like this book if you want a sinister take on domestic bliss, class disparity, societal pressures on women, and some delicious food writing.
Piglet is preparing for her wedding, and her perfect life is broken by her fiancée's admission of something horrible he's done. She's disoriented, forcing herself through the motions up until her wedding day, binging on food to quell the horror.
The author also accompanies Piglet with other characters -- her pregnant best friend, her co-workers, her sister, her mother and future mother-in-law -- who all show the different choices we make as women, and the cards we're dealt. Hazell seems to focus on motherhood and marriage, and how they're presented as the only paths forward.
The most obvious and devastating metaphor is how Piglet is the roast on the dinner table, eaten alive, while sold the dream of settling for an unbearable married life and identity ahead.
You'll like this book if you want a sinister take on domestic bliss, class disparity, societal pressures on women, and some delicious food writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Pregnancy
sandysmith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In spite of the name of the book, a childhood nickname for the main female chracter, which isnt really necesary, her real name is only being revealed at the end of the book and shes refered to as Piglet or pig throughout. I really enjoyed the descriptions of food. It's well written but doesn't really go anywhere. Piglet got her name through the protection of her sisters eating disorder, as she couldn't face a situation concerning a birthday cake, so Piglet took the blame for the cakes disappearance. The whole family needed therapy and Piglet is no exception with her relationship with food. I didn't like Piglet's husband Kit's mistake prior to their wedding was never fully divulged to the reader, although certain assumptions are made. Piglet copes with this via finding comfort in food and eating/ordering far more than she is able to eat. All of the characters are not very likeable, classism is explored with the different families coming from very different backgrounds with her family being working class, her embarrassment of her background and Kits' family being very wealthy from the upper classes.. It's hard to describe without giving spoilers. It was likeable enough, but I was left disappointed and felt there were opportunities missed to make the story better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
ashlikes's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror, Fatphobia, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
fennyisreding's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I friggin hate the fact that this book reflected my life too much, and that’s a good thing.
I just wish there’s a trigger warning mentioned beforehand. I cried for a total of 8 times because of how much the eldest daughter, overcoming her body image issues, trope reminded me of my childhood trauma of my relatives calling me a hippo.
I just wish there’s a trigger warning mentioned beforehand. I cried for a total of 8 times because of how much the eldest daughter, overcoming her body image issues, trope reminded me of my childhood trauma of my relatives calling me a hippo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Vomit
lexcellent's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Classism
withlivjones's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked the gorgeous, almost sickly descriptions of food and the show-don’t-tell way the author depicted the both the differences between Piglet’s and Kit’s backgrounds and the discomfort Piglet feels within her own body. This book was a challenge to read, mostly because I saw a little too much of myself in Piglet. I think it’s a novel a lot of people will be able to connect to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Eating disorder
Moderate: Vomit, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Classism
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you are a person who struggles with disordered eating habits- especially ones that lean towards binge eating- those habits will be triggered.
The entire book is a woman who is just agreeing to decisions other people have made for her and then binge eating away the icky feelings while also self-sabotaging her own career.
At no point does she express an opinion over her 'childhood nickname' even though she got that nickname becauseshe was helping her sister hide an eating disorder- seemingly anorexia. 'If you eat a quarter, I'll take care of the rest' I was prepared for the presence of the 'nickname' but it was upsetting for me. The blurb says she can't shake the nickname but she is never shown making an effort. Around the 60% mark one could argue that she starts making decisions but given the surrounding events I will argue it was a stress breakdown calling the shots. She has two friends who want the best for her but other than that her support circle is non-existent. The family is shown to be well-meaning but very toxic and not focused on either daughter- as one's disordered eating goes unnoticed and the other's disordered eating becomes a 'family joke' shared with glee. The dad is implied to have committed infidelity in the past and still our leading lady chooses to go to him for some extremely unhelpful 'advice.'
The classist tones primarily come from Kit's family who are shown trying to make this wedding a huge deal while calling the main character 'Pig' or 'Piglet' with a specific tone. Kit's mother is particularly repugnant and Kit's father is an implied drunk just going along with whatever the mother wants.
The food depictions are well done- you can tell the author has a history with creative food writing. The easy slide into disordered eating, and that is what the character is doing, is very realistically written. The snippet of anorexia that is shown on page is also very similar to struggles friends of mine have shared with me.
The entire book is a woman who is just agreeing to decisions other people have made for her and then binge eating away the icky feelings while also self-sabotaging her own career.
At no point does she express an opinion over her 'childhood nickname' even though she got that nickname because
The classist tones primarily come from Kit's family who are shown trying to make this wedding a huge deal while calling the main character 'Pig' or 'Piglet' with a specific tone. Kit's mother is particularly repugnant and Kit's father is an implied drunk just going along with whatever the mother wants.
The food depictions are well done- you can tell the author has a history with creative food writing. The easy slide into disordered eating, and that is what the character is doing, is very realistically written. The snippet of anorexia that is shown on page is also very similar to struggles friends of mine have shared with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity, Vomit, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
literarydumpling's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Life is messy. But hey, at least there's always food.
Without getting too into the meat of the story and any spoilers, this isn't a cut and dry story about a woman who has premarital problems with her soon-to-be husband. The book goes into many layers and complexities of life and relationships and it's messy, as life always is.
The writing was very easy to read, and I quite liked the pacing. The way the chapters were structured were logical and did add some more context to the overall story.
The chapter itself was structured in a way I wasn't used to; where there was a part at the end of each chapter in italics giving almost a reader's bird's eye view of the entire situation (like if you see yourself out of your body reacting to you doing something) and again, gives another bit of added context to the story and plot.
As a book, it does make you feel quite conflicted as you read, and it's definitely a character study of Piglet and who she is.
Without getting too into the meat of the story and any spoilers, this isn't a cut and dry story about a woman who has premarital problems with her soon-to-be husband. The book goes into many layers and complexities of life and relationships and it's messy, as life always is.
The writing was very easy to read, and I quite liked the pacing. The way the chapters were structured were logical and did add some more context to the overall story.
The chapter itself was structured in a way I wasn't used to; where there was a part at the end of each chapter in italics giving almost a reader's bird's eye view of the entire situation (like if you see yourself out of your body reacting to you doing something) and again, gives another bit of added context to the story and plot.
As a book, it does make you feel quite conflicted as you read, and it's definitely a character study of Piglet and who she is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Vomit