ŷ������

Much like ‘Piglet’s�� approach (or hopes) for life, this book was sadly “all show, no tell��.

Deliciously descriptive food writing (mainly when detailing the; preparation, ingredients and actual cooking process I should add, and NOT the bingeing sessions poor Piglet gorged herself on) aside, the actual content was wholly unsatisfying.

Not only is there no resolution to the main crux (or crux’s, but I’ll get on to that later) of the narrative -which yes you could argue “is it really necessary to know what he did?��, which I would then counter argue with “well, if you’re going to write in a specific way, that continually builds tension (see those italicised omniscient pre chapter paragraphs for ref), as well as constantly have Piglet’s interior narrative reference this clearly “life altering�� event, then yes, I think we should be given an answer��, the characters were also utterly detestable to read -even Piglet herself, who felt so far removed from not only her life, but her friends and family too, that I really couldn’t care less what happened to her.


OOOOPH

Personally, I found out main protagonist judgmental, whinny and dare I say it, the cause of many of her own downfalls (not including whatever happened with/to Kit ofc, mainly as we don’t know, and I don’t want to speculate or blame HER for something HE clearly ((although never disclosed)) did).

The idea of describing Piglet as being “ravenous for more�� -aside from her physical actions (bingeing -which I didn’t feel were handled, or at least well enough explained), left very little to the imagination. To me, piglet should no inclination of “wanting�� -or even “going�� for more. Especially not career wise. Her life seemed utterly consumed with how she/her life looked, rather than how she felt, or actually wanted.

Which again, I know is more of a wider societal issue when it comes to the pressure placed on women (particularly straight cis women -think “happy ever after�� etc), but even when her supportive female friends and work colleagues were reaching out, and—quite literally in the case of her FEMALE boss offering her a “leg up�� the otherwise patriarchal ladder, she was too obsessed with her bloody croconbouches (which, again side note ((sorry I just have so many thoughts whirring away)) why wasn’t this the main cover illustration???) and being judgmental of her working/middle class family/upbringing.

Which nicely (or not) brings me on to the other “elephant (pardon the phrase) in the room��, her name -or nickname. Which again, was never really fully explained. Though at least we could piece together some idea of it’s origins, due to her apparent “ravenous appetite�� of gorging on food. Though other than that -which again, I didn’t feel was particularly handled well, or at least explored the implications of her illness (which it clearly was) on her mental health and well being, as well as her ongoing relationship towards food and her family, enough to warrant its inclusion.

Overall a sadly disappointing debut novel, about yet another disillusioned young women who’s fallen prey to the patriarchal strings above, but lacks any willpower or gumption to “take back control�� or ownership, of her life.

1.5 stars

PS -thanks to Doubleday for the proof copy! Regardless of my opinions, hopefully Hazell goes on to do well :)