What Hunger by Catherine Dang -> Starting October 10th, 2025

[Jamie]

A haunting coming-of-age tale following the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Ronny Nyugen, as she grapples with the weight of generational trauma while navigating the violent power of teenage girlhood, for fans of Jennifer’s Body and Little Fires Everywhere.

It's the summer before high school, and Ronny Nguyen finds herself too young for work, too old for cartoons. Her days are spent in a small backyard, dozing off to trashy magazines on a plastic lawn chair. In stark contrast stands her brother Tommy, the pride and joy of their immigrant parents: a popular honor student destined to be the first in the family to attend college. The thought of Tommy leaving for college fills Ronny with dread, as she contemplates the quiet house she will be left alone in with her parents, Me and Ba.

Their parents rarely speak of their past in Vietnam, except through the lens of food. The family's meals are a tapestry of cultural memory: thick spring rolls with slim and salty nem chua, and steaming bowls of pho tái with thin, delicate slices of blood-red beef. In the aftermath of the war, Me and Ba taught Ronny and Tommy that meat was a dangerous luxury, a symbol of survival that should never be taken for granted.

But when tragedy strikes, Ronny's world is upended. Her sense of self and her understanding of her family are shattered. A few nights later, at her first high school party, a boy crosses the line, and Ronny is overtaken by a force larger than herself. This newfound power comes with an insatiable hunger for raw meat, a craving that is both a saving grace and a potential destroyer.

What Hunger is a visceral, emotional journey through the bursts and pitfalls of female rage. Ronny’s Vietnamese lineage and her mother’s emotional memory play a crucial role in this tender ode to generational trauma and mother-daughter bonding.

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

I'm planning to start this one tonight! I've been so pumped to get to this one. I'm hearing it's like The Eyes are the Best Part and I loved that one, so hoping for a similar experience!

[Trisha]

yay!! okay, I'll start tonight too!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "yay!! okay, I'll start tonight too!"

I did read a little bit of it on Friday after work. I didn't get far, but was really enjoying the writing style. Hoping to get back to it tonight!

[Trisha]

4 chapters

Wow (view spoiler)[ to lose her brother like that was heartbreaking.
especially for the parents, the dad, in the middle of a fight

but, um, what was up with the squirrel!? and OMG why did they LET IT GO?!?! ACK!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

9 chapters

(view spoiler)[
ugh, that party was awful because the girls weren't friends - they weren't looking out for each other at all

and wow! that boy. no way Monday is going to go well. will she have charges? I mean, she bit him really bad!!

and wow, now the neighbor. I think she might actually get to him

so are the squirrels not sick? I thought it was rabies or something. . .but they do seem to be dying from being locked in the cage

oh and I love what she said to the guy in the car. "what if I hurt you?" he wasn't expecting that. but it's horrible what she went through to have to get here (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

15 chapters

(view spoiler)[
wow, what is she planning to do to Michael? she can't eat him - right? just kill him maybe?

I love how she's taking her control back but I'm so sad for how much sadness and lack of comfort she has in her life. no one is taking care of her or checking in on her. no one knows what is going on in her life and she's just spiraling.

I wonder what she will do now. . . (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and done!

OMG what a conclusion! SO good
(view spoiler)[ WOW! the story! it slid right by me!! why didn't I realize it was her mom!? I love that she finally protected her, finally noticed something was off with her daughter. The ultimate saving her and then helping her feel normal in her rage and her anger (and her want to eat them!)

OMG when she ate that guy in the van 🫣🫣

and I did start to wonder if Tommy and Will had been together. so tough to realize her brother had secrets he couldn't share. he had so much more life to live.

I love that Ronny was going to slide back into life again and start living. and so was her mother.

and OMG the soup in the end. 😶😶 that had the neighbor in it, right?! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "and done!

OMG what a conclusion! SO good..."

So glad to see you enjoyed! I need to dedicate some time to this one. I have a feeling I can get through it pretty quickly once I get going in it.

[Trisha]

YES! it was a super fast read and so good! I think you'll love it!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Ch 5: Wow, even though I expected (view spoiler)[Tommy's death was coming, that was so powerful and awful. The part about there being an Almond Joy in the car, and that Ba being the only one who liked that. That got me. The two peace offerings they never got to share. I like how frank the narrative style is for Ronny too. She's going to have a tough road ahead after this. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "4 chapters

Wow to lose..."

Yeah, I can't even imagine the (view spoiler)[guilt and regret. I just love how it was written too, so raw and real. I feel like the squirrel reslly was just panicking, right? I would have let it out too 🤣🤣 (hide spoiler)] poor thing

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Ch 9: Wow, the (view spoiler)[party. I was really hoping it wouldn't be Michael to do that to her. And biting off the earlobe, firstly, good for her, but also that definitely opened the floodgate. I love the examination to of like the subtle battles/tension between 1st generation and 2nd generation peoples within the same family. Like Ronny talking about her and Tommy's tastes in food and the way that made her feel bad. I think this author is so talented, how she's woven all of that stuff into this story. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Trisha wrote: "9 chapters


ugh, that party was ..."

Yeah, agree, certainly not the (view spoiler)[types of frirnds I would want. I know that part where dhe said that to the guy offering her help from his car, I was like, oh yeahhhh, she's felt her power now. That feminine rage bubbling up. And yesh those poor squirrels, the neighbor is just a dick. I hope she does him... (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

I made it to pg 134 last night and am loving this. I agree with everyone's assessment that is has a similar vibe to The Eyes are the Best Part, and I LOVED that book, but I actually think this is better written. It's not quite as punchy yet, but I've loved the exploration of the various themes/topics and love Ronny, I find her such an empathetic character.