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.

hmmm I expected to love this more than I did, but I think my initial thoughts of the book were skewed. the title/cover/description made it seem like something moshfegh adjacent - quirky, weird, almost surreal with maybe a twist or two; but this was really more of a straightforward ‘self discovery’ type of story, and a lot of the focus is on her relationships with her family and fiancée in the weeks leading up to their wedding. there were some really interesting scenes here (especially the restaurant gorge) but ultimately i wanted MORE of them.

Piglet

This book was published within the last two weeks and has been on my list since I read buzz about it at the end of 2023! I really enjoyed it even though the protagonist’s relationship with food can be triggering for some with a history of eating disorders. The author does a great job slowly building suspense from start to finish.

Piglet, our protagonist, hates her nickname that has stuck with her since she was a child. She’s also about to get married. Less than two weeks before the event, her fiancé reveals a shocking betrayal that makes Piglet question everything. Will she go through with the wedding or will she do something that truly satisfies her?

The format of this book is good. The chapters are organized at certain days leading up to the wedding, and separated into parts before, during, and after the wedding date. This book is 75% food descriptions, but oddly enough it works. Through the process of cooking and baking, we are able to get a good idea of the headspace of our characters. Piglet doesn’t make the best decisions, but she makes the decisions that best suit her given her circumstances. The story is a tale about women being made small by culture, diets, and conventional norms, and the power it requires to take back control.

Kit was a true trope of your mindless rich white boy, and I’m glad the author spent as little time as possible giving him a personality. The clash between class throughout the book added another interesting point of contention. The descriptions of the food and overall setting were lush and colorful. I finished this book in a day because I just had to see how it would turn out. I recommend if you’re interested in unique, modern “thriller.”

Loved this book. Loved the descriptions of delicious sounding food combined with such rich and complex characters. A great achievement in how this author pulled this off. Will definitely recommend this one highly to friends, and patrons

“Outside of a childhood nickname she can’t shake, Piglet’s rather pleased with how her life’s turned out. An up-and-coming cookbook editor at a London publishing house, she’s got lovely, loyal friends and a handsome fiancé, Kit, whose rarefied family she actually, most of the time, likes, despite their upper-class eccentricities. One of the many, many things Kit loves about Piglet is the delicious, unfathomably elaborate meals she’s always cooking.

But when Kit confesses a horrible betrayal two weeks before they’re set to be married, Piglet finds herself suddenly…hungry. The couple decides to move forward with the wedding as planned, but as it nears and Piglet balances family expectations, pressure at work, and her quest to make the perfect cake, she finds herself increasingly unsettled, behaving in ways even she can’t explain. Torn between a life she’s always wanted and the ravenousness that comes with not getting what she knows she deserves, Piglet is, by the day of her wedding, undone, but also ready to look beyond the lies we sometimes tell ourselves to get by.”

When I came across the Title and Cover of Piglet, in all its glistening burger glory, I was immediately intrigued. After reading the above synopsis, even more so! At the start of the novel I couldn’t get enough of the delicious food descriptions. My mouth literally watered with each page I read. Then came the confession of Kits betrayal and my interest became a combination of curiousity of said betrayal, wondering what Piglet would make or eat next, and waiting to see if this wedding was actually going to happen.

I have very mixed feelings on Piglet. It’s easily one of the most unique novels I’ve ever read. And Lottie Hazell is quite a gifted Author. But the story between Piglet and Kit was just too subtle. Maybe it was meant to be that way? I also kept waiting to find out what the big betrayal was, and it’s never actually divulged, which was a bit disappointing. Obviously, it was meant to be that way, and maybe to be left up to the readers interpretation. But in any case, it still annoyed me a little.

But even though I felt slightly cheated at the end of Piglet, I absolutely enjoyed the rest of the story. If you’re a foodie, you’ll revel in this culinary delight. And I promise you, Piglet will be one of the most weird but good novels you’ll read this year. This was a fantastic debut by Lottie Hazell. Well done!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Piglet by Lottie Hazell – 4 Stars (Kindle, NetGalley)

My final NetGalley of the month – I requested this book solely based on the cover, as well! This is the story of Piglet (no, really, that’s the name she’s gone by most of her life) as she is finally settling into the life she’s always dreamt of. She and her fiance move into their dream home, her friendships are thriving, her career as an up-and-coming cookbook editor is going well, and she’s two weeks out from her dream wedding. And then her fiance, Kit, confesses a deep betrayal to Piglet, and she is faced with making decisions that might cause the life she’s always worked towards to crumble. No spoilies, but I was really intrigued with this one.

This was a difficult book for me. I loved the idea of Piglet as a cookbook food editor. As a professional chef, I really related to her passion for food and cooking. I think Hazell did a fantastic job at making the reader really empathize with Piglet too. That said, some of the content really hurt to read. I suppose that indicates that Hazell was successful, but it felt almost a bit overwhelming. Watching Piglet be bullied, fat shamed, and just generally be treated badly is painful and it was unrelenting. I wish that there had been a point in the story that allowed for a bit of an emotional reprieve as I started to numb out towards the end. All in all, I think this is a well-written book, although I think it could be triggering for a lot of people.