*Piglet* by Lottie Hazell is a poignant and beautifully crafted tale that explores themes of identity, friendship, and the complexities of growing up. The story centers around a young protagonist who navigates the challenges of adolescence while grappling with their sense of self.

Hazell's writing is both lyrical and relatable, capturing the nuances of teenage emotions and the struggles of fitting in. The character development is impressive; the protagonist is vividly drawn, making their journey feel authentic and engaging. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, adding depth and richness to the narrative.

One of the standout elements of the book is its exploration of friendship—how it can uplift, challenge, and sometimes complicate our lives. Hazell delves into the intricacies of relationships, showcasing the highs and lows that come with growing up.

The pacing is steady, with moments of introspection beautifully balanced by scenes of action and dialogue. The imagery is vivid, immersing readers in the protagonist's world and evoking a strong sense of place.

Overall, *Piglet* is a touching and insightful read that resonates with anyone who has ever felt out of place or struggled with their identity. Lottie Hazel has crafted a heartfelt story that will linger in your mind long after the last page. Highly recommended for readers seeking a thoughtful exploration of youth and self-discovery.

This was an interesting novel, but definitely not for those who have an aversion to food. I don't, even dreamed at one point of my life of becoming a food critic, and found the descriptions nauseating--which probably helps considering our protagonist's mental state sometimes. Not sure if I loved this novel in the end, but I did enjoy the process of reading it.

This book was Uncut Gems levels of stress. Just when you think things can’t get worse, they absolutely do. Piglet actively makes her life worse. It’s hard to sympathize with Piglet when she actively does the exact opposite of what might actually help her. Want to take control of your life? Maybe start by learning to communicate your needs and feelings.

The book skirts around eating disorders without actually naming them (anorexia, binge eating, etc.), and honestly, I wasn’t here for that. It felt like it was trying to justify disordered eating to tell the story of a young woman “finding her voice.” But this book wasn’t about finding her voice. It was about a woman making one bad decision after another, eventually arriving at the same outcome she would have gotten if she communicated her feelings, but with way more bridges burned along the way.

That said, credit where it’s due: the author’s writing is beautiful. If you’re into books that wax poetic about food, you’ll probably enjoy this. Personally, I skimmed through most of the overly detailed cooking scenes.

a heartwarming and delightful read that charmingly captures the innocence and wonder of its young protagonist. Hazell’s writing is both whimsical and heartfelt, drawing readers into a world where every page feels like a cozy embrace. It’s a delightful story that will leave you smiling and reflecting on its gentle, yet profound, messages.

I read 1/3 of this book then put it down for six months. A slow burn but really enjoyed it. Absolutely not for everyone and CW re: weight and food.

I absolutely devoured Piglet. The writing was vivid and visceral, from the descriptions of food to the intensity of emotions.

This novel was not for me. I found the characters exhausting and while I recognize the importance of a novel about women's desire, I had a hard time connecting the lead's self-destruction with desire.

Piglet by Lottie Hazell is an interesting novel with some feminist undertones. The main character, named Piglet since childhood is a book editor in London who is engaged to a well to fiancee Kit. All of the characters in this book are unlikable. Piglet's finance "betrays" her 13 days before her wedding and she begins to spiral. We never find out what the actual betrayal is. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters. There is definitely a trigger warning for eating disorders here. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Lottie Hazell's debut novel, Piglet, is a sharp and engaging story. It follows a London cookbook editor whose life unravels weeks before her wedding due to a shocking betrayal. Hazell's witty prose and keen observations on ambition, identity, and societal expectations make this a compelling and thought-provoking read."

This book touches on eating disorders, familial abuse, and mental health. It was 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. Anyway this was very good and incredible writing from both a descriptive angle and a character development point.

thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

Piglet follows a woman of the same name who, after finding out about her fiance's transgressions, gets a hunger she can't control. I loved the writing in this book! I found the descriptions for the different dishes in this book to be beautiful and so perfect. It was almost as if they were right in front of me. I wish I could try shepard's pie that Margot makes for Piglet. I gave this book 4.5 stars there were just a few things in it that didn't work for me. The fat shaming of Piglet made me fell a little bit uncomfortable while reading. The tension in this book is crazy and feels almost like a thriller. I found myself frustrated with some of the choices that Piglet made, but I don't know if I could have done anything different. Overall, this is a beautiful book with an amazing story and writing. I would absolutely check trigger warnings before reading, because there may be some parts in this book that may be difficult for some readers. Thank you to Netgalley for an Arc in exchange for an Honest review.

I am a huge fan of Piglet. This story was so deeply different than anything I’ve read before. The cutting clarity of Piglet’s experiences and emotions in this book were painfully relatable. I was gripped by the building tension from the very first page. I have recommended this book to countless people. This is a book I can easily see myself rereading. The authors approach to disordered eating and family dynamics was perfectly realistic. I will continue to rave about this book. And that cover!!

I gave "Piglet" by Lottie Hazell 2 out of 5 stars. Overall, I found the book quite boring with a lack of engagement. The theme of food relationships, which the novel revolves around, felt underdeveloped and lacked depth. One of the main issues I had with the book was the characters. None of them were particularly likable or memorable, which made it hard for me to care about their stories. As a result, I found myself indifferent to their struggles and outcomes. The plot also failed to capture my interest. It moved slowly and lacked significant moments that would have made me more invested in the story. I was expecting more complexity and depth, especially given the promising premise, but unfortunately, the book fell short. Despite its interesting premise about relationships to food, the book failed to deliver a compelling narrative or engaging characters. If you're looking for a novel with strong character development and a well-executed theme, I would not recommend "Piglet" based on my experience.

For a book told mostly through scenes of cooking, man was I anxious while reading it. Reading this book was like watching a car crash in slow motion. The main protagonist is trying so hard to keep it together, to maintain a facade of perfection, but the pressure just continues to build and build and you just know the explosion is going to be catastrophic. It was great.

Piglet captured me from the beginning. In Piglet we watch our main character find herself through her relationship with food. The descriptions were so well written. I loved all the scenes of her cooking. Like other literary fiction I thought the ending would leave me unsatisfied but I loved everything coming to a head.

I don’t think this is a weird book as other readers have mentioned, as I have found myself being Piglet with my relationship to good and having a similar relationship to my family.

This was an entertaining unique style of story telling. I think it will appeal to many folks. I really enjoyed the escape it provided. A lot of food lyrics that definitely left me munchy and craving. I enjoyed the visuals.

Thank You NETGALLEY and Random House for the ARC.
Four stars.

This book is about a woman nicknamed “Piglet” since childhood. Piglet is to marry Kit in 98 days. On the outside her life looks perfect; she has a great job and is up for promotion; she is about to marry Kit, a man of higher social standing. Piglet loves to cook elegant food. She strives to fit in with the higher class and does well in her job as an editor; she has a dream-come-true life, or so it seems. Then Kit betrays her, and we never really know how, but it seems to have gone on for a while. Sadly, we watch Piglet shut down and eat her feelings..

Piglet is a true to life character. We see the ravages of a father and lesser extent a mother who bestow a nickname on her based on a misunderstanding of what was going on with her sister. Piglet shuts down for a significant time, until her one true friend, Margot, needs a distraction and she tells her what Kit has done. Said friend, who happens to be the maid of honor refuses to be part of the wedding and it seems this is the catalyst that sends the stifle-my-feelings Piglet off the rails. Everything falls apart.

Now the partriarchal oppression comes head on and I don’t know how the reader could miss it. Piglet tells her father about this horrible betrayal and he dismisses it as “these things happen.” He does not listen or encourage expression of her feelings, or even get angry. He tells her it s a little late now. Nevermind that Kit is emotionally unavailable and superficial, and is only interested in what Piglet is going to cook for him. This reader found Kit both insipid and vapid. The men in Piglet’s life do not encourage her to be the best she can be, but rather to serve their needs. Then we get to Classism. Kit is extremely privileged and it is difficult to tell whether he is entitled because he is the male or because he is upper class., probably both. PIglet tried so hard to fit in with this upper class to “make her father proud.”

Piglet is a woman who has lost herself in her attempt to submit to societal norms set by patriarchy. This is less about eating disorders and more about what happens when the human spirit is squelched and conformed. Piglet eats the feelings she feels it is not okay to verbally express. She strives for agency and finally goes for it. To his credit, Kit finally calls her by her name when she ends it with him.

The writing is excellent. Lush descriptions of food and its preparation abound. It is sad that women still feel so silenced, that their feelings are not okay and there is no place for them to go with them that this book needs to be written and understood as a great work of literary fiction with a place in the annals of feminism as well.

The only caveat for this reader is the lengthy descriptions of food and number of times they occur was a bit much for this reader.. I think less would be more.

I do highly recommend this book, particularly for women. It is best understood as literary fiction, or a deep dive.

I really enjoyed this book! Thank you for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I don't want to give too much away but Piglett was a great read for me and kept me really engaged!

This was a little too slow for my liking. I'm not huge on contemporary fiction, so that may just be a me problem.

I did find this very readable, and I thought the food writing aspect was great. Interesting, simmering character dynamics. But I thought that never finding out the nature of the indiscretion was a mistake, and I also wonder if this could have just been a short story instead of a full novel. But I had a good time while reading?