A review by gemloukay
Piglet: A Novel by Lottie Hazell

challenging emotional funny informative reflective fast-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

Piglet works as a successful cookbook editor, she has a gorgeous, posh fiancé and a huge new house in Oxford. On the face of it, everything is perfect. But in the countdown to their wedding, Kit reveals a secret and from there on, everything starts to fall apart. Her maid of honour goes into labour, her family are embarrassing but then her future in-laws are snobby and controlling, and to top it all off, she’s decided to make a croquembouche as a wedding cake for her own big day, which may have been more than a little foolish. 

Lottie Hazell writes fantastic descriptions of the food Piglet is making or savouring, but the rest of the plot is fairly predictable and straightforward. I was really hoping for a big showdown where someone gets the croquembouche (which is mentioned so often that it almost becomes a character for a few chapters) thrown at their heads or shoved down their throats. But what we get is parents who don’t get their daughter at all, don’t really know how to support her aspirations, and stick to judging her right back. We get body shaming. We get binge eating to feel whole again. And we get upper class tosspots who think they’re better than working class ones, but actually have all the same problems really. 

It had a good premise, some great food descriptions and a whole heap of the exploration of wanting to be better than your upbringings but just finding yourself with new problems. And lot of trips to Waitrose. 
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