Female Rage and Cannibalism

Why is the a genre now, and why do I keep reading it? haha.

This story is character driven, stream of conciousness-y, dark, but with creativity. Unfortunately the detail in some of the body horror was too much for me.

Also count me out for animal cruelty.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Catherine Dang’s new coming of age novel What Hunger. I was initially attracted to the cover of the novel, featuring a close-up of a bleeding raspberry being squeezed by fingers. While there isn’t much fruit in the book, the image does reflect Ronny Nguyen’s (the protagonists) sudden craving for meat after experiencing an assault and other trauma. I was also interested in the description of the book that deals with an adolescent girl’s challenges navigating her identity as a first-generation Vietnamese high school student. What Hunger is both shocking and entertaining, showing how Ronny tries to overcome not only her own personal trauma and the racism she experiences, but also the generational trauma and distrust that her immigrant parents have in midwestern America after they fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon. Ronny’s observations and interactions with her parents demonstrate that while they are protective and considerate of their children, they also may be somewhat distrustful and sheltered, limiting Ronny and her brother Tommy from finding their own identities and assimilating into American culture.
Dang’s novel reminded me of some other novels about first-generation adolescents battling against racism and parental expectations as they struggle to develop their own unique identities in America. It’s interesting, too, that many of these novels, like Monika Kim’s The Eyes are the Best Part, Suzy Yang’s White Ivy, and Kylie Lee Baker’s Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng present racism as horror, yet also allow their protagonists to become empowered and reclaim their identities with force in standing up to racism and cultural stereotypes. Dang’s novel follows these themes as Ronny’s summer takes a sudden, traumatic turn before it ends and she begins her first year of high school. I won’t reveal the exact details, but this event coupled with her parents’ laconic responses put her in an uncertain position of how to navigate the grief while also beginning a new chapter in her life, education, and search for an identity in high school. Ronny’s aunt, her father’s sister, comes to visit the family from California, and enables Ronny to not only learn more about both her mother and father and what their lives were like in Vietnam before they immigrated, but also to provide Ronny with advice and life lessons that her parents never seem to impart to Ronny. In fact, Cô Mỹ, Ronny’s aunt, is an interesting counterpoint to her parents, who seem to have been beaten down both by their experiences as Vietnamese refugees and by the racism in America. Having limited visits with Cô Mỹ, Ronny’s not sure exactly how to take her aunt, but as Cô Mỹ eventually brings out a different personality from her father, Ronny begins to realize how multifaceted and dynamic her parents actually are. It’s something that all readers can relate to, especially those in adolescence who begin to notice and understand the kinds of sacrifices and changes that their parents experience. However, with Ronny Nguyen, her parents’ experiences as immigrants and refugees heighten the kinds of sacrifices and changes they’ve experienced as they attempt to assimilate into American society.
In addition to tackling themes of identity development and racism, the book also draws heavily on Vietnamese culture, especially food. I loved that Dang incorporates Vietnamese language in the book, and how the characters bond over traditional Vietnamese dishes. In particular, it was interesting to see how Ronny doesn’t really like many of the dishes that other relatives and friends share. It isn’t until Ronny experiences a traumatic assault that her tastes begin to change. I found this to be an interesting aspect of the book. Although the assault is horrible, and I want to warn readers about it, Ronny is able to fight back and develop her identity as a result of this event. Furthermore, her tastes for meat develop and readers can see how food and culture can have healing, nourishing, and restorative properties. Although Ronny seeks out meat to satiate her lust for blood and vengeance, it also speaks to her Americanization and her initial distaste for some Vietnamese dishes.
After her assault in the first few days of school, Ronny tries to assimilate into the cliques and groups of 9th grade. I found these sections describing her attempts to join in and make friends to be the most relatable in the book. Ronny not only wants to belong, but also has to deal with rumors and gossip, and in some ways, she leans into the rumors being spread about her, which I found to be empowering for a character like Ronny. Although the 1st person narrative allows us to hear some of Ronny’s conflicted emotions and thoughts, readers can also see a determined character who is not going to be bullied or allow others to define her. This was really interesting to see how her identity was shaped by these experiences. In addition to the high school scenes, Ronny also has strange neighbors who keep to themselves but also set squirrel traps on their property. Ronny and Tommy stumble across a trapped squirrel that has bloodied its mouth attempting to bite through the trap’s wires. As Tommy explains, these animals don’t want to be trapped and will become aggressive after they are trapped, doing almost anything to break free. Although it’s a little strange, the squirrels provide a clear symbol about attempts to trap perceptions of others and how fighting back against those with power can come with a cost. While Gigi, Ronny and Tommy’s neighbor, seems indifferent to the squirrels’ suffering and pain for being themselves, Ronny and Tommy both recognize how unfair and unnecessary it is to trap these animals.
What Hunger has some plot twists and turns, and although some parts may seem a little unbelievable, the message and themes of identity and navigating grief and trauma are important for readers to read and understand. Although the novel is challenging and upsetting at times, readers do experience a resilient main character who overcomes obstacles while also coming to understand both of her parents and their experiences as immigrants and refugees who remain guarded and reserved about their pasts and protective of their children’s futures. I recommend this book, although be warned about the incidents of loss, grief, and assaults.

I love a good, completely wacky book, and this is definitely that! It’s a quick read at sub-200 pages, but A LOT happens. It tackles some hefty topics, such as loss, generational trauma, and coming of age. And it goes completely off the rails. The writing is visceral and poignant, and I was completely captivated by the story. If you want something unique and can handle some gore, check this out!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for this ARC. What Hunger is out now!

While I don’t necessarily agree with the classification of this book as a thriller, I did find myself engaged in the story. I actually think I probably appreciated it more for what it was than what it would have been if the thriller genre had stronger roots. After finding herself entrenched in unexpected grief, our main character Ronny experiences something at a party that causes a shift in how she interprets and interacts with the world around her. She doesn’t find much solace with her family and her friends seem to be teetering between embarrassment to be seen with her and guilt for feeling embarrassed. Feeling unpredictable and left to her own devices, Ronny begins to experiment with eating raw meat. If you like books that explore feminine rage, complex grief, complicated family dynamics, and a young woman coming of age, this may be the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC.

4.5 stars!

What Hunger follows Ronny Nguyen, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants and little sister to a too-cool college-aged brother. With two generations under one roof, the family often clashes over values but food remains their shared language through meals, memories, peace offerings, and proof of love. When back-to-back tragedies strike, a new and unsettling hunger awakens in Ronny just as she is starting her freshman year.

At first, the book feels like a familiar coming of age story with family tension, first crushes, and a desire to push against parental expectations. Catherine Dang quickly shatters those expectations and turns the narrative into something unpredictable and intense.

Through Ronny’s voice, the story explores cannibalism, sexual assault, generational trauma, identity, and survival. The writing captures the messy, angry, and vulnerable headspace of a teenage girl who has been “othered” her whole life. Ronny is complicated, often making questionable choices, yet still someone you want to root for.

Not as much horror thriller as it is a dark coming-of-age novel with some deliciously creepy weird fiction elements.

Our main character's descent into becoming a monster has so much metaphorical depth. On the surface, it's a hilariously accurate satirical depiction of girlhood: emotions out of control, confusion, alienation and struggling to fit in. Dang also adds layers of trauma that make the metaphor hit harder and transform the book from a cheeky commentary on teenagerdom, to an exploration of coping with trauma at both the personal and generational level.

Veronica's cannibalistic rage is a result of not only her own emotional struggle, but of existing in a family whose default coping strategy involves sweeping things under the rug and letting things bottle up until they explode. Her vengeance comes out in snarls and snaps as her emotions compound onto one another and she struggles to cope under the weight of loss, pain, fear, and isolation.

Even though this is comped to Jennifer's Body, I couldn't stop comparing this to Hereditary as I read. It explored similar themes of trauma becoming a sort of haunting, a generational curse that festers and explodes if it isn't brought out into the open to work through collectively. In both Hereditary and What Hunger, the dinner table becomes almost part of the story as it shows the family dynamic intimately and how the different characters' mental states change throughout the book. There's also a heavy sense of "before" and "after" showcased both through these settings and Veronica's transformation.

While on its surface it's a "Vietnamese Jennifer's Body", it's so much more than a standard "cannibalistic female rage" story. It's grief as a corrosive inheritance, silence as a form of violence, family meals as arenas of both love and harm, and the idea that what isn’t spoken still gets passed down whether you address it or not.

While I enjoyed the complex themes Dang explored through Veronica, the book was just genuinely fun and weird in the best way. I got a slightly sick glee out of seeing the moments where Veronica flips the power imbalance into her hands, acting out her revenge against the people that hurt her. There's just a strange, cathartic feeling in seeing a fourteen-year-old girl being the one in control. My inner teenager needed that release.

What Hunger is quick, creepy, and full of bite; literal and metaphorical.

The synopsis hints at the anguish and trauma that Ronny will experience, but Catherine Dang literally sets you up to be torn apart.

Somehow balances discussing the intricate layers of the immigrant family experience with the demand for control in a world that seems to be slipping out of your grasp. An amazingly vivid and grotesque look at Ronny’s growing isolation that accompanies her own desperation to understand who she is becoming. Ronny’s relatable character and the dark atmosphere locks you into Dang’s exploration of food and family secrets.

Wrapping up with an unexpectedly tender conclusion that left me asking for more, “What Hunger” delivers a macabre story of pain and desire for control.

I did not know what to fully expect when I started this book but I did not disappoint. Hello ?!! This book was so good and addictive. This was a 5 star read. My strongest advice? Go in completely blind. Don’t skim the synopsis, don’t scroll spoilers just dive in headfirst and let this story take you for the wildest ride of your reading life. Trust me, the less you know, the harder it’s going to hit!

Thank you NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review. 💕

I received this ARC by some lucky chance & kept pushing it off... A lot of my 2025 hyped released books have not hit the mark, and I was terrified this book was going to continue that pattern but THANK GOD IT DID NOT.

"What Hunger," is getting a (4.5) from me, and honestly when I ask myself why not a 5, I'm mad it was not a bit longer...and that is a great problem/complaint to have in my book. This book just solidified my love for "crazy toxic" woman and is yet again another reason we support woman's rights, and especially woman's wrongs!

It was honestly insane to me that Catherine Dang fit so much in such a short novel. Cannibalism, family/childhood trauma, family miscommunication, history, more horror, etc. And I ATE it all up, pun intended. Will be getting a physical copy for my shelf as this book is stunning cover, and every page in between!

I thought a novel about cannibalism, cultural identity, and righteous female fury would have me hooked from the first page. Instead, I wondered how something so unhinged on paper could feel so… tame.

There are moments worth praising. The way it weaves Vietnamese traditions and food into the story is rich and sensory—you can almost smell the dishes. The central descent into flesh-eating isn’t rushed, and the logic behind the main character’s choices tracks well enough to keep the plot from feeling absurd.

But the writing never fully woke up for me. Characters floated on the surface with barely any depth, and even the so-called emotional high points were delivered like they were read off a script. The finale went for a clever twist, but it came across as a cheap trick rather than a sharp commentary.

I’m sure this will click with some readers who are more forgiving of flat execution if the concept is strong enough. However, the short page count still felt like a slog, and I put it down more relieved than satisfied.

Something I will always appreciate in books is when authors include foreign languages so naturally in the story without further explanation, leaving the reader responsible to research the meanings. Particularly in this current political climate.

While I was a little apprehensive at the idea of a coming-of-age novel, the synopsis piqued my interest and I've been making an effort to reach for more diverse voices. As the child of Asian immigrants, a lot Ronny's experience spoke to me: the hyper sexualization of that age, sneaking out, the desperation to fit in. I luckily grew up in a community with more Asian communities so I can't imagine what Ronny and Tommy's experience was like.

The one thing I wish had more prominence was the mom's storyline: it felt like it was a bit rushed to get to the end, which I get as a nice little "bow" at the end, I found myself craving (lol) some more of her backstory.

Be warned, there's a bit of gore. I'm not super squeamish but some parts did make me feel a little 😵‍💫 And totally flip side warning, you'll absolutely crave some Vietnamese food throughout.

Part heart-wrenching coming of age story, part immigrant story, part "awakening the beast within" story. I found all aspects of this trifecta handled expertly; the teen angst and frustration is angsty and overbearing, the immigrant story will ring true to many first generation Americans, and Ronny's brooding and growing fascination with what's happening to her desires slowly takes over her entire life as she changes, perhaps forever.
My only misgiving, and the reason it is 4 stars instead of 5, is I kind of wish she went on more of a bloody murderous rampage than she did. But what we get is satisfying enough, especially with the surprise reveal at the end.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review!

this was not the book i expected, and i'm still trying to decide whether that's a good thing.

let's start here: there is cannibalism and the cannibalism is graphic. it's written in a way that's so detailed and nauseating that it almost loops back into something beautiful. in that sense, it's doing exactly what horror should do. but it's also a lot. some of the scenes are hard to shake. if you're squeamish about gore or body horror, proceed with caution.

the female rage element is clearly what anchors this story, but i didn't realize it would include such a graphic rape scene. it's not that it shouldn't be in the book because it fits thematically, but the level of detail was jarring. it's one of those scenes i had to sit with for a while before deciding how i felt about it. i'm not rating the book down for it, but i do think readers deserve a heads-up.

i'll also say that horror authors need to stop killing animals. i get that it's meant to be shocking, but i'm begging for more creativity. at this point, it just feels lazy and needlessly upsetting.

where this book really shines is in its exploration of intergenerational trauma and cultural inheritance. ronny's family is portrayed with both specificity and care, especially in how food functions as memory, grief, and survival. the way the story roots horror in the aftermath of war and displacement felt much more powerful than the literal horror of the gore. i would have happily read an entire novel just about the family without the cannibalism.

there's a lot of racism here, especially around asian identity and food, but it's done intentionally as part of the narrative. it's tough to read but important to how ronny understands her body and her place in the world. the cultural context is thoughtfully written, and i really appreciated how much the book critiques and terrifies.

all of that said, this still wasn't really for me. i think the issue is less the book itself and more about what i personally respond to. i loved the concept. i liked the exploration of grief and rage and hunger as a metaphor for girlhood. but the horror elements, while well executed, overshadowed what i found most compelling. i just wanted something quieter, something more focused on ronny's relationship with her mother and with the legacy of survival and how trauma gets passed down through generations.

so no, i didn't love this. but i do think it’s doing something bold and different. it's a visceral, gutsy debut that isn't afraid to get messy. and while it didn't quite land for me, i think a lot of readers will find something meaningful in its rawness. just maybe don't read it before dinner.

This was a really excellent book about grief, trauma, the Asian American experience, and cannibalism. There are some really heartbreaking moments here, interspersed with gory, justified anger. I really loved this - I am not Vietnamese, but I am half Filipino and I found many of the scenes with random uncles/aunties very relatable (in an unfortunate way lol); and I really appreciated the way the specific trauma of the Viet history provided an undercurrent of tension throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Although the cannibalism era of horror is everywhere these days, this one stood out as it wasn't just a horror novel, but a coming of age one as well. I really fell in love with Ronny and her family and their enjoyment of food. This was such a quick read and though graphic, still cozy somehow?

This is a wonderful. A horror book this sentimental while also just straight up gross? So up my alley. Thank you so much to the publisher for the early copy!

Recommend if you love a coming-of-age centered story with some horror elements. Reminds me of The Eyes Are the Best Part or Bat Eater. It was well-written and impactful. Didn't quite fully land for me personally, but I think it's going to be a very popular and well-loved release for literary horror readers.

Hunger is a strange thing, an invisible driving force that motivates much of the human experience across every identifier: race, gender, age. To hunger is to crave, to yearn for something outside oneself, a possession that drives us all toward a certain eventuality. For the female-identifying experience, hunger can take numerous shapes and forms, reflecting not only a desire for satiation, but a desire for equality, for equilibrium. Catherine Dang’s What Hunger is a tour de force of this very idea, holding no punches in examining grief, hurt, and longing through the lens of a young woman who hungers of the things she cannot find.
The summer before high school, Ronny Nguyen feels as though she’s a bit in limbo. Her older brother Tommy is off to college soon and the little peace within her household seems to be shifting. With so much change abound, emotions are sure to run high between Ronny, Tommy, and their Vietnamese immigrant parents. However, the unexpected occurs completely faltering any sure ground Ronny was once standing on. Trying to navigate the tumultuous waters of grief, teenage misunderstanding, and violence, Ronny finds herself hungry, not for the food her family provides. No, she hungers for something else, something with a metallic taste, something bright in color. Ronny wants blood.
Brutality is a main character in What Hunger, never once reflected in a gratuitous manner, rather an unfortunately realistic feeling of frustration. Ronny’s teenage angst of course feels relatable before tragedy befalls the Nguyen family, but in the wake of so much grief, such anger, such rage fueled misunderstanding feels wholly realized and perfectly apt. Dang’s ability to craft such a sharp knife of sadness feels immaculate, especially in a sea of so much turmoil for Ronny. To see her hurt evokes the deepest of emotions as we venture into territory that would sound absurd in another other context but feels right at home here.
Cannibalism and horror have long worked hand in hand, and the recent surge of symbiosis between female rage and bloodlust feels rather poetic if executed correctly. Without a doubt, What Hunger is a story that falls into this category as ideas of justice, retribution, and consequence are presented center-stage. When the normal course of action, society’s normal means of “handling” inequalities, go unanswered or ineffective, a more intense alternative is sought. Dang reflects on this escalation through Ronny’s hunger, her desire for more than what the world is offering as justice. And while Ronny’s predilections may feel taboo in a vacuum, every part of this change within her makes perfect sense and dare I say, relatable.
Catherine Dang’s poignant prose, her seamless comparison of hunger and desire for justice, and her complex, textured characters intermingle to form one hell of a novel with What Hunger, a story of carnal desire to be treated humanely in a world of seeming indifference. Dang implements remarkable emotional intelligence behind Ronny’s story, her relationship with consumption and craving within the context of her own heritage and place in the American world feeling loaded with nuance. Make no mistake, What Hunger is an angry novel for all the right reasons, giving a voice to the often ignored rage the female-identifying experience harbors. Such anger feels razor-sharp in the world of horror fiction, a knife I will reach for time and time again.

I enjoyed this book very much!! Immediately when I saw the cover and read the description I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. This book follows Ronny and her relationships with her family, friends her new addiction and her Vietnamese heritage. As she goes through a tough time in her life the addiction and infatuation begins. In my opinion she feels misunderstood by everyone except her brother Tommy. Their relationship seemed so pure and I really enjoyed their dialogue together. This book really captures true elements of family trauma and what it feels like to be the youngest in a family of secrets and experience 1st hand negative past & present experiences because of your race and heritage. The horror elements went perfectly with the storyline and did not disappoint if you’re a horror fan! I really loved the ending and how it connected Ronny and her family more than ever. If you like horror mixed with chaotic family and messy girl vibes then this is your book!

What a bloody yet amazing book! You will want to binge What Hunger!

"I was a creature of instinct, starved and savage and desperate."

When I first started reading, I was getting "Everything I Never Told You" vibes. This book is full of emotions, showing how much a teenager goes through in their daily life, on top of the hard things that life can throw at you. You are trying to fit in, have many firsts, feel distant from your parents, and the list goes on.

I LOVED the cultural representation. There are so many relatable things that you will feel if you are a first generation in America.

I have to admit, Ronny shocked me with her hunger. The bloodier parts could be a bit to handle, but I believe that's what made this book exceptional.

If you are an annotator like me, I highly recommend getting the physical book. There were so many parts that I wanted to underline, highlight, and not forget.

Go in blind! I had only read a blurb, and I enjoyed the book so much this way!