Piglet

[A]

Goodreads Blurb
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 you know you deserve, Piglet is, by the day of her wedding, undone, but also ready to look beyond the lies we sometimes tell ourselves to get by.

Start Date
5 April 2024

[Trisha]

How do you feel about starting Friday, 4/5?

[A]

Trisha wrote: "How do you feel about starting Friday, 4/5?"

Perfect! The book isn't divided into useable parts, but it looks like it's about 200 pages long. Do we want to read roughly 50 pages a day? That would be stopping at Part 1 "12 Days," Part 1 "4 Days," Part Two, then through the end.

[Trisha]

Yes, That sounds perfect!
thanks for checking out the stopping points!

[Trisha]

Okay, I'm ready to start today, just need to get through my morning stuff!

[A]

Trisha wrote: "Okay, I'm ready to start today, just need to get through my morning stuff!"

Yay! Just finished the first section -

(view spoiler)[The italicized paragraphs at the end of the chapters is an interesting addition, I don't tend to like foreshadowing or asides, but I feel like it's working well here. I'm also really liking the portrayal of the characters and the family dynamic so far, it feels quite realistic. Also, what did Kit do?? And I wonder if we'll ever get to hear her real name. (hide spoiler)]

[A]

Second Section -

(view spoiler)[I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever know her real name or find out what Kit did. I'm guessing it was an affair, but that also feels like too simplistic of an answer. What do you think, Trisha? I'm also wondering if she's really going to go through with her wedding, or if she'll call it off at the last moment. Her nickname has also taken on some new meaning now, too, and I wonder if it keeps her in constant pain and reminds her constantly of her eating disorder and how uncomfortable she feels in her own body. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Through Part 1

I agree! (view spoiler)[ the italic parts are really filling in some of the details for us.

that dinner with her family - how painful. And that it was her sister that she covered for! Ugh. The parents, I can't believe they find humor or like calling their daughter by that name. It feels so hurtful - and like she's crammed down all the hurt to keep going. It's breaking my heart, her silent pain

and Kit. I am so mad. I wonder who it was with and when. Just awful. and right after her horrible dinner with her parent and how she said that HE was her family now. Just for him to hurt her like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Through Part 2

(view spoiler)[I'm wondering about her real name too. I think we will because I think she's close to coming clean and reclaiming her own name and her own identity. She's wrapped who she is by defining by those around her.

it was interesting to see her mom in a different light. When they were fighting over the dress and after the dinner, I was really not liking them. But then the mom really coming through for Margot, I wonder if they can have a different relationship if she just voiced to her mom how hurtful things are

YES! I agree, I think it was an affair. But didn't one point make it sound like it had been going on FOR YEARS?! I don't remember how long they've been together but I would be FURIOUS.

Was it this book or another? I remember a line I read recently that said, if your partner has an affair - if you think you might be able to forgive and reconcile, never tell your family or closest friends. Because even though you may forgive them, THEY never will. I think that is so so true and so insightful.

But I don't think she's forgiven him, she is just backed into a corner - put all her hopes and dreams into him, all her "family" into their life - that she doesn't know how to walk away from it. The house, the idea of family - but I think we're starting to see the cracks. How awful, that he sat across from her with him mom. And the way his mom treats her!!! And the dad. Ugh, the whole family.

I really hope these next 2 sections, we see her rise up and reclaim herself. From the image her parents have of her, from the imagine Franny has of her - and most of all, showing her fiancé that she doesn't need him.

but I wonder about this job - I'm hoping the boss is really a good person and isn't going to also do something awful (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

this one is so so good, I hate that I had to stop reading!

[A]

I know, I accidentally blew through Parts 3 and 4 in one sitting today, so here's final thoughts! But also, your comments are super insightful, and I really like your thoughts from Part 2.

The End
(view spoiler)[I wasn't quite expecting it to go the way it did, with her actually going through with the wedding then letting everything loose at the reception! You were so right about that being backed into a corner, but boy did she explode out of it. I liked your quote about not telling people outside the marriage about an affair if you think you can forgive - but I'm also glad that she told everyone and let Kit have that shame.

I've always hated when mothers think their children can do no wrong, even when they do something heartbreaking or selfish, so it seems to me like Kit's family wasn't all that worth being a part of.

But I'm glad that she chose her friendship over her marriage, and I think this was quite a satisfying read! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Through our third "part" / Through actual Part 1

(view spoiler)[ wow, she's really coming unglued and I'm here for it.
I really need her to explode and kind of let it all out.

She's bursting at the seams with her secrets and I'm so ready for her to get real with everyone

I think, most of all, Margot breaks my heart
she should support her friend, no matter what she's going through. Because to abandon her is to leave her without any options - or anyone to help her

the fact her dad listened and then said relationships were hard. Just so gross (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ Wow, yeah, the twists and turns at the end! I wasn't always 100% sure what was going on because we had Pippa's POV, and she was a bit all over the place.

I'm still so mad at her dad! that out-burst in the morning! That was awful too. and the his hand on Kit's arm. So maddening. I agree, maybe pieces of her family were really not worth keeping as a family for.

I do love that we got to learn her name - Pippa.
I'm glad Kit left so easily, gave her what she wanted instead of arguing or blaming more. I did like that it made the point that their life was one that should have been great, was maybe great on paper, but just did not actually work.

I'm so glad she was going to push out and find her happy. I was glad we got that glimpse with Margot, in the end, with the baby (hide spoiler)]

[A]

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the families in this one weren't great but for different reasons, but I liked how there was good and bad (it felt quite realistic!). You're so right about her dad and that outburst. This was a good book about found family but also I feel like it was about how childhood colors your interactions with family as an adult and can warp true intentions at times. (hide spoiler)]