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lattemommyreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was not for me. I should have DNF’d at 30% when I first considered doing so, but I pushed on. The book is well written, and I think it was an interesting examination of personal motivation and the idea of living for yourself vs. living for others. But, I just couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters, and for me that is a death knell for a book. I think I need at least one likeable character that I can rally behind in order to really enjoy a book. While I felt badly for Piglet, I ultimately didn’t care enough about her to feel invested in what was happening in this novel.
mcearl12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
farrahwho's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
Minor: Pregnancy and Infidelity
neilazaara's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
This book is not for everyone. It’s character driven and has little plot. It’s also trigger heavy so please do read the trigger warnings as it deals with body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
The novel relates the 2 weeks before Piglet’s wedding where her fiancé reveals that he has betrayed her and she has to process this information while working and carrying on with the wedding preparations and other daily life commitments. Piglet is a cook book assistant editor and her whole life has been dictated by her relationship with food but also the relationship with food of women around her. What really got me in this book was the writing. It is mainly told through food metaphors, food recipes, cooking and dialogues. We’re stuck in Piglet’s head and we only get her very subjective POV with all her intrusive thoughts. It made it quite realistic as most of the day we’re not thinking thoughts connected to a whole story but instead have chunks coming at random without always bringing in the whole context like it is so often done in novels. This books manages to give to impression of literally being stuck in someone’s head with all the good and the bad.
The relationship with body image and food is at the centre of the novel. We can see the description of food becoming more erotic, delicious and indulgent as the character’s mental state spirals out of control. The only thing that Piglet can control is food and even then she ends up binging and overindulging to feel satisfied, fulfilled and happy whenever she has to deal with emotional situations. She keeps obsessing over something to which she has tied her self worth to which is being an amazing cook and therefore has to make this tower of Choux aka a croquembouche. This centrepiece of her wedding is a representation of her, her feelings and her emotional state. The crème pâtissière lacking, the towers crumbling, the sugar turning into teeth breaking shards. Everything is crumbling down, her reputation, her self worth and her life along with her wedding and relationship.
Women’s cravings and relationship with food has always been linked to body image, mental state and self worth throughout the centuries. Hormonal and emotional changes have a big impact on how we view food and this book depicts womanhood in a very raw and realistic manner through how the food we consume and the way we choose to do so really showcases who we are and how we feel. You are what you eat.
I really loved Piglet’s relationship with her sister, which really was the saving grace in all those relationships. Everyone was quite opinionated (Piglet included) and very much flawed. Some were flawed beyond repair in my opinion and I really disliked them. However, although sometimes a bit irritating and entitled, Piglet’s sister really looked out for her and they have both always had each others backs. Piglet’s relationship with her family is very similar to her views on the food they eat. It’s strained, bland and slightly unhealthy but not enough to be an openly public issue. Her friendship with Margot is interesting and probably quite realistic as no friendship is perfect but they both said, thought and done questionable things so I would say that they were well suited as best friends. I was quite engrossed by their interactions. I’ve
I think that this book has resonated with me so well because instead of eating to live, I live to eat. I like food and I show my own love through cooking for others and feeding them, so I could totally relate to the way Piglet felt and the way she coped through cooking and eating. I don’t think I can recommend this book widely as it is heavy with triggers and it is relying heavily on the writing (which is wonderful just not for everyone).
The novel relates the 2 weeks before Piglet’s wedding where her fiancé reveals that he has betrayed her and she has to process this information while working and carrying on with the wedding preparations and other daily life commitments. Piglet is a cook book assistant editor and her whole life has been dictated by her relationship with food but also the relationship with food of women around her. What really got me in this book was the writing. It is mainly told through food metaphors, food recipes, cooking and dialogues. We’re stuck in Piglet’s head and we only get her very subjective POV with all her intrusive thoughts. It made it quite realistic as most of the day we’re not thinking thoughts connected to a whole story but instead have chunks coming at random without always bringing in the whole context like it is so often done in novels. This books manages to give to impression of literally being stuck in someone’s head with all the good and the bad.
The relationship with body image and food is at the centre of the novel. We can see the description of food becoming more erotic, delicious and indulgent as the character’s mental state spirals out of control. The only thing that Piglet can control is food and even then she ends up binging and overindulging to feel satisfied, fulfilled and happy whenever she has to deal with emotional situations. She keeps obsessing over something to which she has tied her self worth to which is being an amazing cook and therefore has to make this tower of Choux aka a croquembouche. This centrepiece of her wedding is a representation of her, her feelings and her emotional state. The crème pâtissière lacking, the towers crumbling, the sugar turning into teeth breaking shards. Everything is crumbling down, her reputation, her self worth and her life along with her wedding and relationship.
Women’s cravings and relationship with food has always been linked to body image, mental state and self worth throughout the centuries. Hormonal and emotional changes have a big impact on how we view food and this book depicts womanhood in a very raw and realistic manner through how the food we consume and the way we choose to do so really showcases who we are and how we feel. You are what you eat.
I really loved Piglet’s relationship with her sister, which really was the saving grace in all those relationships. Everyone was quite opinionated (Piglet included) and very much flawed. Some were flawed beyond repair in my opinion and I really disliked them. However, although sometimes a bit irritating and entitled, Piglet’s sister really looked out for her and they have both always had each others backs. Piglet’s relationship with her family is very similar to her views on the food they eat. It’s strained, bland and slightly unhealthy but not enough to be an openly public issue. Her friendship with Margot is interesting and probably quite realistic as no friendship is perfect but they both said, thought and done questionable things so I would say that they were well suited as best friends. I was quite engrossed by their interactions. I’ve
I think that this book has resonated with me so well because instead of eating to live, I live to eat. I like food and I show my own love through cooking for others and feeding them, so I could totally relate to the way Piglet felt and the way she coped through cooking and eating. I don’t think I can recommend this book widely as it is heavy with triggers and it is relying heavily on the writing (which is wonderful just not for everyone).
ikoperiko's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
professorpi's review against another edition
2.5
Nice ideas. Poor execution. Author can write about food really well, but not much else.
kjoyb93's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
rose0fbooks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
chanelchapters's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Pretty much food porn with a side of relationship issues.
I can’t get over a grown woman calling herself Piglet, like seriously?
Also we are not told what the husband has done and I just found that irritating.
Pretty much food porn with a side of relationship issues.
I can’t get over a grown woman calling herself Piglet, like seriously?
Also we are not told what the husband has done and I just found that irritating.