this book bit off more than it could chew. (pun not intended.) there were things about it i found very promising — the first couple of chapters were well-written and interesting, with vibrant characters — but as the story picked up it felt confused and overwhelming, with too many things attempted, and ultimately i don't think it brought anything new to the table of the very crowded eating disorder subgenre.

i also think its point was clouded by the big secret at the core being revealed to everyone except us. it keeps us at a distance, and reinforces some of the otherwise dispelled points about reputation across gender and class.

When an Insta-worthy life is rocked by a major secret from her fiancé, Piglet (a nickname that has followed her from childhood) decides to stay quiet and move forward with her wedding plans. She’s achieved the life she’s wanted to live and now wishes to see it through. But this decision comes at a cost and she processes the magnitude of the secret…

This story is very food-forward. Between Piglet’s editing, binging, planning, entertaining, food is at the center of her life. At times, I was overwhelmed with Piglet’s judgmental attitude. But I think this is a very real take on women charting the course of their own life…on their terms.

All in all, I found this to be an engaging and unexpected read.

Special thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.

Piglet is a cookbook editor who enjoys her job, lives in a nice house with her fiancé, Kit, and has carefully crafted the life she now has. Two weeks before their wedding, Kit confesses to betraying Piglet.

As their wedding date looms, approaching quickly, Piglet must decide how she wants to move forward, with or without Kit. As she contemplates this, she finds herself ravenous, acting out of character, and at odds with her best friend, Margot, who is entering motherhood. What will Piglet do?

I was a little torn about Piglet — Though I felt for the big decisions she faced, I never felt attached to Piglet or liked most of the other characters. Hazell nails the food descriptions. I went from thinking “ooh” to “ughh” (having secondary stomach aches) multiple times while reading this. The tension building throughout this story was so well-done and I appreciate a book that keeps me thinking until or after the last page.

This book was so interesting and so real that I felt like I was friends with Piglet, while also being in her head. The food descriptions were incredible and made me hungry and slightly sick all at the same time. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone.

I loved this so much! Ultimately it's about the hunger of the main character for a life she deserves. The story was woven together with food throughout the book, whether it was a freezer meal she puts together for her pregnant best friend, the cake she's making for her own wedding, or any number of other meals and treats that slot into our lives as we go. The way this was written scratched an itch I didn't know I had. I was glued to it in the last half, too, needing to find out what happened. A favorite of the year so far.

Thank you Henry Holt & Company and Netgalley for the eARC!

I am absolutely shocked that this is a debut novel. Hazell writes in such a developed and unique style that it feels as though she's been published for decades. I know for a fact her next book will blow me away, as well.

One of my favorite parts of the novel is the writing style. It';s quick paced and reels you in. There are paragraphs grouped together only detailing Piglet's steps while cooking but it adds into the commentary of women's desires and the gender roles in the household. Beautifully written.

The characters themselves are so well written. They leap off the page with their backgrounds and relationships. The way Kit's secret was handled really impressed me. I've read over books with a similar premise but none have executed it in this manner or as well as Hazell.

This book is definitely a top contender for my favorite book of 2024. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy. I'm dying to read her next work already.

I really enjoyed Piglet. The food descriptions were unbelievable, and the usage pulled the story along in a delicious way (pun intended). It felt well paced, with steady growth and unveiling of Piglet’s past. The characterization was also spot on. We all know a girl like Piglet, or know of her. As much as you may want to hate her, you can’t help but root for her. You feel so connected to her. What a wonderful debut.

Lottie Hazell writes a fascinating debut novel that gnaws at women trying to maintain control of their lives and hoping not to lose their power. From the time she is a young girl she has been called Piglet and her attraction to working in the publishing field with cookbook editors seems a likely fit. Her detailed cooking creations left me wanting some scrumptious fancy creations but her skills at making these was her way to maintain her true self as she feels it slipping away into a marriage that was no longer the dream wedding. This was a clever tasty read! I gobbled this book up in hopes of getting to the dessert which does not happen and left me with mixed feelings. Thank you #NetGalley and #henryholtandcompany for this advanced digital read.

I am someone who looks up spoilers for shows and movies because I just need to know what happens. I don’t like the suspense or waiting that comes with getting answers. If I’m told that something happens, but then I’m not told what that something is, it bugs me. Because of this, I was vaguely annoyed that Lottie Hazell does not tell you everything.

Piglet is the perfect embodiment of a girl spinning out of control. She tells us what we need to know and it carries the story well. I thought that the writing was excellent and the characters were well executed. I appreciated the snippets of backstory that we received throughout the book which gave you a deeper understanding of the Piglet that we were following throughout the story.

The vivid descriptions of food made me hungry the entire time. While I did enjoy the story, I think not finding everything out and Piglet not getting a grip sooner contributed to the lower rating.

I will say, however, that should Lottie Hazell write another novel, I will be reading it.

A thing I’ve never seen written about before - probably because people are scared - is the most shameful thing about your childhood and the fear that you’ll never outgrow it, or if you do, that you’ll never live it down. This is not a fun book to read at all because it captures that headspace perfectly. To be honest the only thing that kept me sane while and after reading this is that I love my parents sooooooo much and they would never hurt me in this way But the idea of working so hard to rid yourself of something only to have it define you is terrifying. It was also incredibly clear to me how Piglet’s relationship with food affected every aspect of her life - which is not always the case in fiction about mentally ill people and I think it’s very cool to see behavior that has a very clear connection to the issue it stems from (in this case a need for control of her own life and other people’s perceptions) as opposed to behavior that obviously stems from some event or neuroses but the relationship is not always clear (which is also often done super well). This also revolves around an unspeakable act committed by Piglet’s fiancé and I spent the whole book wondering when I would find out and also whether leaving it up to the imagination would enhance the book. The author chose the latter which I think was the right decision but also personally frustrates me. The last thing I want to mention is there’s a specific line where while prepping for Piglet’s wedding, the hairstylist refers to Piglet’s sister as “Sister” instead of her name. Last Saturday was my sister’s bat mitzvah and the photographer did the same thing to me and my other sister the entire time and I just want to give points for 100% spot on dialogue in an aspect of life that is incredibly rare.

Anyway this was very very very good and incredible writing from both a descriptive angle and a character development point. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and Netgalley for the ARC. Also everyone go read this it’s out now unless you had issues with food or eating either when you were younger or now in which case this is probably gonna be relatable or feel awful. A lot of people are saying this made them hungry but there is a literal pit in my stomach. Art!

The descriptions of food and cooking in this novel are next level. Piglet is a childhood nickname bestowed upon the main character, a woman living a shiny, happy life on the outside, while starving herself for substance and actual happiness on the inside. I didn’t love Piglet, which is my loss, because she stepped up for those who truly loved her.
[Thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

Some people eat to live and others live to eat. Unfortunately I am one of those that live to eat. With that being said, it was easy for me to relate to this book.

"Piglet" (a nickname given by her family) feels like her life is spinning out of control when she is divulged some upsetting information. This knowledge generates the understanding that the life she has been living has been a farce. Because she does not know what to do with the information, she turns to food. The food not only gives her a sense of comfort, it also gives her a sense of control.

There were times I felt like I was reading a cook book as there are many pages dedicated to specifically detailing her making recipes. I found this to be a little tedious and monotonous. However, if you are someone that has a love for cooking and new recipes, you would probably love this part of the book.

This book is humorous and affable as it probes into the topic of women and food. It shines a spotlight on expectations of weight for a woman, social class and food, using food as a coping mechanism and how women who eat abundantly are viewed. "Piglet" is definitely worth reading.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Lottie Hazell and Henry Holt & Company for the advanced reader's copy.

This…was a rollercoaster ride. Piglet had me captivated from the moment I picked this book up. I love how there is barely any dialogue, but you still see the full picture through her cooking, her interactions, and even the things she surrounds herself by. Her coworkers, her friends, her parents, and even her husband all seem to have something against her or have hurt her in someway. I personally could feel Piglets emotions through the page and just wanted to talk for her, to scream for her. It has some suspense aspects and the author (Lottie Hazell) made the most unreliable narrator I have ever read. I truly enjoyed this story and honestly fell in love with this book.

I really enjoyed this debut novel, about a woman whose carefully curated world turns out to something other than what she thought it was, and how she uses food to numb herself into believing it will all be fine, all the while increasingly falling apart on the inside. If you like reading about women on the verge, I highly recommend this book.

In Lottie Hazell's Piglet, readers are treated to a delectable journey through the life of the titular character, whose seemingly perfect existence is shattered by a shocking revelation. Hazell masterfully weaves a tale of betrayal, self-discovery, and the pursuit of happiness amidst life's unexpected twists and turns.

Piglet's relatable struggles, coupled with her culinary prowess, make her a protagonist worth rooting for. As she navigates the complexities of love, family, and career, readers are drawn into a world filled with delectable dishes and emotional turmoil.

Piglet is a delightful blend of romance, drama, and self-reflection—making it a must-read.

i definitely judged a book by its cover with this one and was not disappointed. when the author kept putting in food metaphors within the writing, it was a good touch.

Honestly, my only critique of this amazing debut novel is the choice of cover (which is actually irrelevant when reading the ebook anyways). A more appropriate choice in my opinion, would have been a croquembouche. That very minor criticism aside, I relished the skilled language and character development in this compelling and insightful novel. The descriptions of cooking and eating are superbly rendered. While this novel focuses on Piglet’s dilemmas leading up to her marriage, it is also a sharply drawn look at female roles and relationships in the modern world. I devoured this book in 2 days and look forward to more from this author.

I have a lot of thoughts on Piglet. One, I loved the descriptions of food and friendship. The heart of this book was a story of a woman and her relationship with food. Piglet however, is not a likeable character and she doesn't know what she really wants. When her fiance (who up until the point of betrayal, seems like a wonderful guy) cheats on her (my guess) she freezes in time and realizes what she wants out of life may not be it.

Overall, 3.4. I enjoyed it.

A fresh take on a woman’s desires and what constitutes a true relationship. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened. At times cringe-worthy and also heartbreaking.

I gorged on this book!

This book centres around Piglet, our main character, who's on a countdown to her wedding to her fiancé, Kit. They have just moved to a new apartment in Oxford and their life seems idyllic, but is it really?

Piglet is all about food and its descriptions are incredibly delicious to read. She has a very complex relationship with food, that is unravelled throughout the narrative, and the story behind her nickname is a big part of that. Food is her life in many ways - it's her work, source of pleasure and coping mechanism, all in one. I loved that much is left for the reader to infer in this book and I also thought that the author's style of storytelling was quite clever and interesting.

Thank you so much to Henry Holt and Company for my e-ARC!