Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I think there's more good than bad here, so I'm going to try to focus on that. This book will not appeal to everyone. It's a slow sort of crawl towards the actual point. But once it gets there - if you've chosen to work through the haziness - there is a bit of payoff.

The protagonist, Piglet, has been assigned this somewhat unflattering nickname since childhood and, between friends and family, hasn't managed to shake it. This is very much an indication of who she has been conditioned to be: a pleaser. Even at her own expense.

When her fiance, Kit, confesses to a betrayal of sorts (infidelity makes the most sense, but it's left a little ambiguous) just two weeks before their wedding, she has a decision to make: call it off and disrupt the plans they've made. Or, unhappily see it through. The latter is obviously the more convenient of the options. And yet, at what cost?

I enjoyed the frequent descriptions of food layered throughout the story. Just as poignant was this image of a woman trapped by the wedding industrial complex. There's so much external pressure involved in planning a wedding, most of which involves the exorbitant cost. I sympathized with Piglet's plight. To walk away from this relationship she's invested so much time and energy into would be a huge risk. And yet, to stay would be an even deeper betrayal to herself.

While I can't say I enjoyed every minute of reading this, it did have its moments.

A strange, feminist book that made me extremely hungry. The food writing in this book is exquisite. Everything about this novel has shock value, including the striking cover. I really enjoyed it and it made me think.

I loved Piglet! I appreciated the food writing and even the hiding of what type of betrayal occurred. I loved the main character and thought it was a really insightful novel.

As a plus size woman , this was such a fun and whimsical exploration .
I loved it ! Thank you for the Arc .

Piglet by Laura Hazell is an emotional rollercoaster. The story follows a 30-something protagonist, known only by her childhood nickname "Piglet," which was originally meant to be derogatory. This nickname paints her as a certain type of individual, based on actions she protectively made for her younger sister. Piglet seems to be living a perfect life and is preparing for her wedding when, two weeks before the big day, her fiancé delivers devastating news.

As Piglet's carefully constructed façade unravels, the book takes the reader on a journey through a whirlwind of emotions: anger, embarrassment, apprehension, tension, shock, and even amusement. Piglet is a mostly unlikeable character, but I found myself questioning whether this was due to her true nature or the expectations and pressures imposed on her by others.

The novel is powerful in its exploration of how our protagonist is forced into boxes she didn’t choose and the negative reactions from those who placed her there when she tries to break free. Many readers will relate to Piglet's feelings of shame, anger, and resentment as she struggles to defy the expectations placed upon her and to carve out her own path.

One of Hazell’s genius moves is never revealing the exact news Piglet’s fiancé shares with her. Readers are left to interpret the news based on the reactions of the other characters, adding layers of speculation and insight into their value systems. The ambiguity forces readers to consider their own fears and values, making the reading experience deeply personal and thought-provoking.

Additionally, the food writing in this book is exceptional. Hazell’s research into food writing in 21st-century fiction shines through, adding a rich, sensory layer to the narrative. The vivid descriptions of food not only enhance the story but also reflect the protagonist's emotional state and journey.

Piglet is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Its complex character study, the genius narrative techniques, and the immersive food writing make it a compelling read. This novel is perfect for book clubs and discussions, as the conversation about its themes and characters could go on indefinitely.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This story made me want to cook first of all. I looked up and saved a few of the recipes mentioned. I loved the writing as it successfully made me uncomfortable and at turns anxious.
The cover is gorgeous. My main complaint is I wish that Piglet would have went more off the rails and that this story would have been more unhinged. This isn't a feminine rage story.

I had such an easy time reading this book. Not only was the length appealing upon request, the writing style was accessible and drew me in. I enjoyed being in Piglet’s head, even if it was a dark and strange place. The feeling of compulsion, of being stuck in the wrong timeline in the wrong dress at the wrong wedding, is palpable and unerving. I’ll never forget the croque embouche, that scene is forever burned into my brain.

This debut was on many most anticipated books of the year lists, and I’m so glad I picked it up. The story follows Piglet (so nicknamed in childhood for her love of food) in the lead up to her wedding. Piglet has left the working class background of her childhood, finding an idyllic relationship with handsome and successful Kit and a job she enjoys as an assistant editor at a cookbook publisher. But when Kit confesses to a betrayal two weeks before their wedding, Piglet becomes absorbed with her deepest desires and true wants, and she must decide if the life she’s been making for herself is the right one for her. This is a beautiful and moving book about hunger and desire, and the way women are taught—implicitly and explicitly—what we do and don’t deserve. One thing to note here is that Hazell leaves a lot off the page and I know some of these lingering questions will bother a lot of readers. I found it to be a useful technique for keeping the focus on Piglet—what she wants and needs and is not getting, rather than the specific failings of her partner. I found much of the book to be spectacularly sad, but there was also a note of redemption and hope for Piglet. Finally, as much of this story revolves around food and characters’ relationships to food, I would be cautious around this if you have sensitivities to reading about disordered eating, but also know that the food writing here is spectacular. Hazell’s PhD in literature focused on food writing in fiction and she certainly excels at capturing the visceral experience of eating on the page.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book particularly the scenes and prose used to describe food. I think it perfectly captured the feeling of having a complicated relationship to food. The author did a great job of showing the inner workings of someone who utilizes food as a reward/outlet/ destructive choice all in one. What I wanted to from this book was more. A book that is supposed to be the embodiment of gluttony I think could have pushed the limits further. This book was very tame. The cover is beautiful and it did make me want to cook.

If books were fine dining, this would be at least five course meal (I had to do it, I hate myself. Forgive me.) This was such an interesting reading experience, equal parts pleasure and misery. Pleasure in the way Lottie Hazell described food in Piglet's voice. Piglet's obsession with food told us so much about her: she used it to care, to comfort, to distract, to entertain, to impress. Piglet's obsession with making a croquembouche (publishers: why wasn't this the book cover????I do love the cheeseburger though) for her wedding became the only thread holding her together as the plot progressed and she eventually unraveled. Some readers may be upset that we never find out exactly what her fiancé did to betray her before the wedding but I didn't find that information necessary when I felt so engrossed in her story and the suspense of whether she would finish the croquembouche on time! For such a short book, it packs a lot about class into the story in a way that I found very effective. This book made me sad and hungry. A feat! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the audio arc.

Absolutely do not read this book when you are hungry! I don't even like much of the food described by Ms. Hazell, but she makes it all sound so good, I wanted to run out and find a five star restaurant and order everything--kind of like Piglet. I think I got the idea of this book, but I think that I didn't need to be reminded of it every page of the book. I think every reader got the disrespect that was given to the main character as the name Piglet was written over and over again instead of using she/her her nickname was used. It was interesting how right after the wedding her married name was used (Mrs.) but after she left the wedding she went back to Piglet. I don't believe the author ever told the reader her real name. This was a kind of a sad read--especially when she was trying to fit into her wedding dress, but in the end, I truly think that there was hope for the character to have a better life.

a book told almost entirely through descriptions of food or about characters’ relationships with food, this book did a fantastic job of taking a relatively overdone plot—a destructive secret revealed right before a wedding—but GOD, the way food was described in this book was stellar. the eponymous main character is doing whatever she can to fulfill the void with food and if you have had any sort of disordered eating or binge issues in the past, it may be a rough read but so filling.

I found this book disturbing and demeaning. The main character is always referred to as Piglet or even Pig, by her boar of a father. I didn’t even find out her real name until the very end.
I didn’t find her nickname endearing or even charming. What’s more, she didn’t even stand up for herself. She goes along with the wedding plans even though her fiancé betrayed her.
She immersed herself in food and suffers humiliation at the wedding where the dress is concerned,
I found nothing redeeming about this book except to poke and prod at the main character who even without the repulsive nickname has no character whatsoever.

Piglet's life is just as messy as the burger on the cover of the novel; it's an eat with your hands, sauces running down the side of your palms type of life she is leading. A primary frustration is we as the reader never uncover exactly what betrayal Piglet is reeling from. Despite that, I devoured this book in one sitting (pun intended).

~ARC provided by NetGalley~

"Piglet" by Lottie Hazell is an intoxicating first novel. It follows the days leading up to a wedding that probably shouldn't happen through the point of view of an unwell woman, named Piglet. There were so many things I loved about this character, not because she is a truly great person, but because she was just deliciously flawed and gross while keeping up appearances as the perfect bride. There is an interesting chapter structure where at the end of each chapter there are 2-3 sentences that capture the hidden or unsaid internal motivator of the main character. However, a major piece of information is withheld from the reader from the get-go, which makes this impossible to put down. I was completely hooked and read this book in just a couple days, and I have not been able to stop thinking about it. If you like unwell female protagonists and decorative food writing, this is going to be the book for you.

It was the title/cover combo that drew me to this book on sight, knowing it would be about a truth rarely discussed: overeating. This is viewed as so shameful in our world that the reality of it is rarely discussed so candidly as it is here.

Every word is so evidently intentional; it’s delicious. We easily get to know Piglet and her world. The story is odd, devastating, beautiful. This is a hard read, because it is such a well-written piece about the personal tragedies that burden people. And like reality, I never knew what was going to happen next. From start to finish it was unexpected, and so satisfying.

“Piglet” is delicious. It's a foodie's paradise, where the artistry of cuisine intersects with the complexities of human emotions and relationships.

This novel is almost exclusively told using food as symbolism, and it’s worthy of a Michelin Star. I loved Hazel's use of descriptive overeating as a metaphor for Piglet's attempt to fit into the mold of societal expectations.

Piglet is a feast that speaks to the universal longing for authenticity and fulfillment.

Also, there is a section in here about the making of a croquembouche, and the precision in which it’s done was literal poetry. I am still thinking about it.

“Piglet” by Lottie Hazel hit exactly how I was hoping based on the synopsis … 👀🍔🧁

🔮 Mood reader index: this is a character driven book that slowly builds to a climax — we know going in that Piglet’s fiancé reveals a devastating betrayal two weeks before their wedding

“An elegant, razor-sharp debut about women's ambitions and appetites—and the truth about having it all.” Let me tell you, Henry Holt hooked me with just that one sentence. 🎣

Our titular main character is engaged to a wealthy man and working as a cookbook editor at a London publishing house. Her approaching wedding brings so many issues to the surface — her working class family vs her affluent fiancé’s upbringing, for one, and her binge eating disorder, for another. I was equally hooked on the gorgeous writing and Piglet’s journey as well as the luscious descriptions of food. This was one of those books that had me constantly picking up my Kindle, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

I was much more intrigued by the premise of this book than I was the actual book itself. I love food and that this was love letter to food, but I struggled to connect to the main characters and didn’t really care for the plot. This one is a DNF for now but maybe I’ll give it a try at a later date.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Eating Disorder

Piglet is quite pleased with her life so far as an up-and-coming editor for a London publishing house with good friends and a handsome fiancé. But she finds her life threatening to fall apart when her fiancé admits something only two weeks before their wedding date. It throws her off balance and causes her to return to old habits as she finds herself forced with a choice with no good options. Will Piglet be able to determine what she truly wants from what she believes she wants, and will she be able to decide in time?

This character-driven work of literary fiction was a solid read. I think what I enjoyed most were the relationships between the characters and how realistic/relatable they felt. This was especially true with Piglet and her family. The author did an excellent job painting those relationships in a way that were so stained with the past that it tainted the present, no matter what the characters said or did. I also loved the portrayal of her friendship with Margot and how it evolved during the book – her inner thoughts relating to that aspect were well depicted.

Despite these wonderful relationships, I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Piglet as a character. It was difficult to empathize with many of her decisions, though I believe that was likely since she was hyper-focused on “bettering” herself. I think part of my difficulty in making a connection is that the story is largely presented through dialogue and food descriptions. Do be warned, don’t read this book while you’re hungry. The author goes in depth for so many recipes and treats that sound delicious that I had a difficult time reading this if it’d been too long since I’d eaten last.

If you’re interested in a character study with themes of redefining yourself and discovering what you truly want, then this is worth checking out. My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.