3.5 stars

There are some really, strong, visceral moments in this novel. Some paragraphs were written with a real sense of strength and grit, while more fell flat for me. I think the pacing was a bit awkward and rushed, and the supporting characters underdeveloped to where they felt unnecessary. Ronny herself feels a bit underdeveloped until her entire self switches over night. More time could have been dedicated to the family members (especially her mother, who is largely deemed uninteresting), where detail and identity were stronger, than empty high school characters and aspects. I could see this really working for some audiences, but in a way it leaned more into the Y/A or coming of age aspect than I expected. There's a lot of great emotion here. It certainly captures the feeling of experiencing trauma at fourteen. For me personally other elements detracted from the effectiveness of that.
Also, the copy reveals more than it should. The very final moments of the novel have a surprise twist, which is given away by reading the description... an exciting, heavy read, with strong prose. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, but I do think I set my expectations a little too high for this one, and I did find that it fell short in that regard. The book is exactly what it pitches itself as. It is a coming of age novel about a girl who becomes unhinged after an incident with a boy at her school. It follows her descent into cannibalism as her hunger grows. It does feel a little over the top at times (hence the Jennifer’s Body comparison) but I do think part of that is the teen protagonist. My favorite part of the novel was the ending and the generational commentary, and I wish that aspect was further developed.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: It sells itself as Jennifer’s Body meets Little Fires Everywhere, and that feels right - I also think it is quite similar to The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim.

Warning: There is obviously cannibalism.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced reader copy!

This is one of those crazy books that you really aren't sure what you are getting into until a little bit in! Veronica (Ronny) is going into 9th grade afer her brother, Tommy was the valedictorian. But when he is tragically killed, Ronny is devastated and vows vengeance. But her brand of revenge is like nothing you can imagine so go in blind and be prepared for anything!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Cannibalism steeped in female rage and generational trauma? I’m eating it up. Forget the silverware, I’m already elbow-deep.

This book confirms what every woman already knows: Being a teenage girl is to live with violence. It’s inherent to the experience, the hyperawareness of your own fragility. Socially, physically, sexually, it’s like you’ve never been so vulnerable and yet so capable of savagery.

In a world that prefers their women seen and not heard, Veronica Nguyen is angry. She’s unashamedly furious - at death, at injustice, at creepy men in red cars and the voices whispering behind her back at school. There is a purifying quality to her ire, an underlying hope that if she can just destroy everything that hurt her, she can find happiness.

Vivid, powerful, and provocative, I’m proud this was my first 5-star read of 2025.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC.

4 stars

Being a teen can eat a person alive. Being a teenage girl? Well, that can force one to want to eat others alive.

Veronica, or Ronny, is the riveting protagonist of this latest effort from Catherine Dang, and it's impossible - as well as inadvisable - to take eyes off this character. Ronny and her older brother, Tommy, spend a good deal of their time navigating their Americanness, which their extended family and parents call out frequently, and their Vietnamese roots. The combination of these identities, infused with powerful intergenerational trauma, make for some challenging and surprisingly rewarding outcomes and circumstances. Unfortunately, the trauma is not relegated to the historical. The entire family experiences a major loss, and then almost immediately following this, Ronny has a personal experience that activates something unexpected within her in the moment. Once that switch is flipped, Ronny seems permanently changed, and rather than this seeming like a bad thing, it somehow becomes necessary and warranted. Readers are left with the idea that folks can only be pushed so far and that whatever outcomes may occur may also challenge incoming understandings of right and wrong.

I found this incredibly readable and loved the insight into Ronny's mind as well as her interactions with various family members. Also, the flow of information - especially previously hidden details - is spot on. I'd have liked a bit more development of some of the through lines and additional relationships/connections, but these areas for growth are minor. This is a memorable (in a good way) read with powerful messaging and consistent action.

Readers sensitive to trauma inducing circumstances, particularly deaths of young people and rape, need to be mindful of the content here.

I really enjoyed this read and look forward to recommending it to students as well as those interested in fem-centric and culturally based horror. And that cover? Well, it's the cherry on top of a delectable experience.

This was a beautifully done coming-of-age story and worked with what was promised in this description. I was engaged with what was going on and thought the generational trauma element worked well overall. Catherine Dang has a strong writing style and was able to create realistic and interesting characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

All in all a good story, the writing fell a little flat for me, I think it could have used some more descriptive language, more set dressing, but the scenes where food was described and history really shone.

What Hunger by Catherine Dang is a haunting coming-of-age tale set to be released on August 12, 2025. The story follows Ronny Nguyen, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, as she navigates the challenges of teenage girlhood and grapples with generational trauma. Ronny finds herself caught between her brother Tommy, the pride of their immigrant parents, and her own struggles with identity and independence. The family's meals, rich with cultural memories, play a significant role in the story, symbolizing survival and the weight of the past. When tragedy strikes, Ronny's world is turned upside down, and she discovers a newfound, insatiable hunger for raw meat that both empowers and threatens her. It's a visceral, emotional journey through the complexities of female rage and the bonds of family.

Who knew that grief and generational trauma could be so… tasty? What Hunger was sick and twisted but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I devoured (pun intended) this book in two sittings, and it was everything I wanted to end my year on. Full of female rage and grief, Cat’s sophomore novel was an incredible feat. I’m a Cat Dang fan forever!

Oooh…another gorgeous cover! This one is visceral!

The book itself is equally as gorgeous. You’ve got female rage, unbelievable grief, a bit of coming of age…and meat. Much, much meat. It’s not for the delicate.

Expect to get angry – all while being lost in some truly lush storytelling.

This was an excellent read and I’d love to read more from the author!

• ARC via Publisher

This book was awesome. I rarely describe books as "awesome," but this one was. It was definitely a second-half-pitcher type of book--I really wasn't enjoying it or understanding what the point was until the surprising development about halfway through. The first half had a very meandering, shallow feel to it in my opinion--it seemed like I was just witnessing horrible things happen to a 14-year-old girl and really didn't understand where it all was leading. And then! What a turn it took, and I eagerly devoured (haha) the second half of the book. I loved the very final twist when we learned so much about Ronny's mom, and the concept of epigenetics and generational trauma really came through in a powerful way.

I would give the first half 2 stars and the second half 4 stars, so I'm just calling it a 4 star read.

I don't know if I'll recommend this book to my friend because I've already spoiled the interesting parts for them, which has to count for something!

3.5 stars.

What Hunger is a coming of age book following Ronny, our young lead as she navigates loss and trauma. It is billed as for fans of Jennifer's Body (of which I am a mega fan) and that instantly made me want to read the book. I do see some parallels between the two, namely puberty, loss of girlhood innocence, the sexualization of young women, predatory men, absent (relatively) parents. The author uses some body horror and cannibalism to tie in intergenerational trauma.

The most striking discovery, in my opinion, that Ronny makes during the book is her understanding that those around her, such as her brother, parents, friends, all have a life and feelings and experiences beyond which she will never know. This is a maturity level not often reached by someone as young as her. The trauma she endures throughout the book molds her journey.

Thank you to the publisher for the early copy.

What Hunger by Catherine Dang is a raw, unforgettable coming-of-age story that perfectly captures the messy intensity of teenage girlhood and the weight of generational trauma. Ronny Nguyen’s journey is haunting yet beautifully told, weaving together themes of family, identity, and an unsettling hunger that feels both metaphorical and terrifyingly real.

It’s a powerful, unsettling read that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommend for fans of dark, introspective storytelling!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What Hunger by Catherine Dang is billed as Jennifer’s Body meets Little Fires Everywhere, and I can confidently say this is an apt comparison. As someone who often picks books based on their covers (with surprisingly good results), I was immediately drawn to the striking cover art and intrigued by the premise. I expected a Vietnamese version of Nightbitch, where the protagonist, Ronny, might literally transform into a monster or some other creature. What I didn’t anticipate was being immersed in a deeply compelling story about the intersection of generational trauma and modern horrors, and how they shape a teenage girl’s identity and rage.

Ronny’s journey is gripping, and I felt every ounce of her fury as she navigates a world that has wronged her. Like the character of Jennifer in Jennifer’s Body, Ronny doesn’t become a “man-eating demon” out of choice; she’s pushed to that point by the world around her. As I followed her story, I found myself rooting for her, even in her darker moments. The novel expertly blends psychological complexity with a raw examination of family and societal trauma, making Ronny’s transformation both chilling and understandable.

While I was left wanting a bit more from one of the character's final arcs, the plot twist at the end completely captivated me, and I loved how it tied everything together in a satisfying way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced copy of What Hunger. It’s a bold, haunting exploration of pain, power, and the complexities of identity, and I can’t wait to see how others respond to it.

Ronny Nguyen’s days are spent lounging in her small backyard with magazines and a creeping sense of aimlessness— while her college-bound brother Tommy is the golden child of their immigrant parents. Ronny’s deep attachment to Tommy, mixed with the dread of his leaving for college, beautifully captures the ache of growing up and the quiet fracture points within a family trying to balance expectations, love, and unspoken pain.

The novel’s exploration of food as a cultural memory is particularly striking. Meals are more than sustenance for Ronny’s family; they are vessels of history, survival, and identity. Food becomes a bridge to the family’s past in Vietnam, a way for Ronny’s parents—Me and Ba—to speak of a history they otherwise keep buried.

When tragedy strikes, the narrative shifts, plunging Ronny into emotional upheaval and physical transformation. The introduction of her “hunger” for raw meat is a shocking yet deeply symbolic turn. It reflects not only her fractured sense of self and her family’s grief but also a darker, more primal force awakening within her—a force tied to survival, power, and the body’s raw instincts. The supernatural element is handled with subtlety and nuance, adding a layer of unease while remaining firmly rooted in Ronny’s emotional reality.

The novel is grounded in cultural specificity while exploring universal themes of adolescence, grief, and identity. It offers a story that is at once deeply personal and eerily transcendent.

It’s a novel about the invisible forces that shape us—family, history, trauma—and how we can reclaim ourselves in the face of loss. It's intimate, unsettling, and unforgettable.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.