She’s Always hungry is quite an eccentric and varied collection of short stories. The stories are all very distinct, spanning across different genres and styles, yet still retaining Eliza Clark’s unique voice, and still maintaining a discernible overarching theme which explores insatiable hunger and desire, as well as power dynamics.

The first story I read was The Shadow Over Chitaly and when I read it I thought “Eliza Clark does it again!” I absolutely loved this short story. There is a lot to unpack here. It's very creative and manages to be both funny/silly and eerily peppered (pun intended) with an underlying sense of dread. An excellent portrayal of the absurdity of our society and the world we live in - both the physical world and the virtual world. (Bonus points for the fact that the Instagram account mentioned in the story actually exists!). I then read Build a Body Like Mine and was similarly awed. Both these stories are weird, absurd, but meaningful: everything I want in a book. A masterclass in dark humour.

This feeling of unease, dread and disgust, interwoven with the absurd, silly and funny permeates the whole collection. It was an enjoyable read, but maybe suffered from the fact that the first two stories I read were my two standouts. This set the tone for what I was expecting: to love all stories equally. However, as with every short story collection I’ve read to date - and especially those with such distinct stories as this one - the odds of loving every single story are extremely low. I did not love them all. Yet, there was also not really any story in it that I hated and needed to plough through to finish. This is more than I can say for most short story collections I’ve read. Even the stories I didn’t love left me thinking “I need to find someone who has read it so I can discuss this with them.” This is one of my favourite things when reading a book: the feeling of being either disgusted, confused, or amazed enough to want to share it with someone.

I’d recommend it, but maybe don’t read it when you’re hungry (or when you’re eating). The body horror is strong with some of these, it will put you right off your food!

Short story collections can be hit or miss for me - there's always some stories that leave you wanting more and others that don’t quite resonate. However, She's Always Hungry stands out as one of the most enjoyable collections I’ve read so far.

Eliza Clark's distinctive style shines throughout, blending dark humour, body horror, the raw and the messy.
Her writing weaves elements of folklore, sci-fi, dystopia, and the grotesque, with stories that span across different time periods and settings, from the sad to the bizarre.

Would definitely recommend checking the triggers page at the back first for anyone just in case.

My favourites were:
* She’s Always Hungry
* The Shadow Over Little Chitaly
* Extinction Event
* The King

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
4/5 ⭐

I absolutely love Eliza Clark so I was thrilled to receive this ARC! As is always the case with a collection of short stories, I enjoyed some stories far better than others. However, I have to say there was only really one story I wasn’t a fan of (Hollow Bones).

One thing I really enjoyed about She’s Always Hungry was seeing Eliza Clark write in different styles. Some stories were more literary, where others had a more informal tone. All the stories were so unique and I can’t wait to keep reading everything Eliza writes!

I like weird and I like body horror and I generally like Eliza Clark’s work but I found the space stuff just incredibly boring. A mixed bag for me.

Eliza Clark’s short-story collection roams across genre boundaries, ruthlessly mining aspects of popular culture from Alien to Charles Manson, Shirley Jackson, and H. P. Lovecraft. Clark’s pieces are laced with the kind of “femgore” scenes she’s known for. But these aren’t solely intended to provoke a visceral response but to raise deeper concerns. Clark’s heavily invested in interrogating perspectives on gender, the body and the embodied as in “Shake Well” an inventive, gloriously-oozy take on the popularity of extreme skincare regimes promoting impossible beauty standards – inspired by Clark’s experience of living with acne. Stand-out sf narrative “Extinction Event” is a harrowing, carefully-crafted exploration of climate change, speciesism and exploitation, its themes overlapping and interacting with the unsettling “Hollow Bones.” “The King” narrated by a lonely, kink-obsessed cannibal goddess is a fascinating variation on classic horror which pairs well with twisted, feminist folk horror/fairy tale “She’s Always Hungry.”

Desire, isolation, and perversity, are central preoccupations, as is Clark’s sense of the body as both a cage and a space ripe for invasion, pulsating and horribly vulnerable. Clark’s brand of transgressive fiction can be deliberately confrontational and macabre but it can also be incredibly funny, tender and insightful – “The Problem Solver” forms a searing critique of the appropriation of female trauma depicted through a man’s attempts to dictate how his woman friend should feel about having been raped. Like most collections this isn’t without flaws but, even when she doesn’t quite pull things off, it’s impossible not to admire Clark’s daring, her willingness to experiment. Clark’s inserted an annotated list of trigger warnings at the end of this but, I imagine, readers who need them aren’t that likely to be drawn to her work in the first place.

Having read Penance last year I was keen to read Eliza Clark's new collection of short stories. I wasn't disappointed: the short stories were enjoyable, weird, funny, creepy and sometimes scary.

I particularly enjoyed The Shadow Over Little Chitaly. The format of the story was unusual, being told entirely through the medium of food delivery app reviews, but a strange and amusing picture gradually emerged.

A recommended read.

Super cool concepts for these stories across a lot of genres. Some of them are knockouts but sci fi other planet type stories are just not for me although all of them were well written. Really intriguing stuff.

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for my ARC!

If Eliza Clark writes it, you bet I will read it. This short story collection is banger after banger after banger. There is something for everyone, with a wide range of genres explored, and showcases Eliza’s incredible and creative storytelling. I absolutely devoured this book, exactly as it was meant to be, and loved every last word. Eliza Clark is one of the best and most exciting writers out there.

WOW. this selection of short stories by Eliza Clark was incredible. i completely devoured the collection and found it difficult to put down!

the stories span across genres, and some have you questioning what you just read…these stories aren’t for the feint of heart, and some are disturbing and deeply unnerving but Clark’s writing has a way to keep you coming back and wanting more, even when you want to look away.

Clark’s signature dark humour shines through, and is definitely a must read for lovers of penance and boy parts. however, in this collection more genres are explored and although im not usually a sci-fi or horror fan i found myself absorbed in every single story.

i would definitely check content warnings before digging in - but there’s a very helpful and detailed content warning list included! will definitely be recommending (and picking myself up the gorgeous hardback edition!)

I will start this off by saying I normally avoid short stories as I typically prefer novels instead. However, Eliza Clark has made me change my mind as I absolutely loved ‘she’s always hungry’ and I am definitely hungry for another short story collection from her!

Expect messy female characters intertwined with some heavy material (there is a page with warnings of potential triggers). Clark manages to perfectly mix horror with reality in a believable manner, I found myself laughing at one page and then completely disgusted at the next (in a good way, don’t worry!).

One story was a bit confusing, I struggled to understand what was going on (I think that was the point but it took me a while to get used to the writing style for that particular story). Nevertheless, I fought through that confusion and found that the writing style for that story is what made it even better (you’ll know when you read it, there will be no spoilers here!)

She’s always hungry will be released on 7th November, Faber have a gorgeous special edition available on their website and independent bookstores which I am planning on buying!

Thanks to NetGalley, Faber and Faber, Eliza Clark for the opportunity to read this book early. It’s well and truly worth it so if you loved Boy Parts and Penance then you should definitely pick it up!

Having read Boy Parts and Penance, I was super excited to read this next book from Eliza Clark. A varied mix of short stories that showcase the style and voice we've come to expect, as well as some welcome narrative surprises. These stories are moving, uncomfortable, grotesque and hilarious, The King in particular was so funny. Enjoyed every single story and am so excited for whatever Clark has planned next!

If someone gave me this with no cover, I'd probably still be able to tell it was Eliza Clark's work. The dark humour shines through in every story, and even the stories that weren't for me were brilliantly written and fit the theme of the book perfectly.

From Eliza Clark, the acclaimed author of Boy Parts and Penance, comes a collection that’s dark, daring, and utterly unforgettable. She’s Always Hungry serves up stories that are equal parts bizarre and thought-provoking: a woman invites a parasite into her body, a teenager craves flawless skin, and a scientist nurtures alien flora. Each story plumbs the depths of that all-too-human feeling of hunger, whether for beauty, control, connection, or something altogether unnameable. This collection is as unsettling, disturbing and definitely not to be missed.

As someone who’s not drawn to short stories, as they’re usually hit or miss, I’ll admit I was semi skeptical but as it was Eliza Clark, I had a good feeling. As expected, She’s Always Hungry changed my perspective for the better. Every story in this collection captured my interest; they’re absurd, grotesque, and occasionally made my skin crawl, yet that’s exactly what made them so compelling and addictive.

The stories each bring something unique while working cohesively as a collection. My favourites were: “Build a Body Like Mine,” “The Problem Solver,” “The Shadow Over Chitaly,” and “Shake Well”.

Eliza Clark has crafted a collection that’s more than just a series of stories; it’s an experience.

Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was beside myself when I got the email to read this! I love Eliza Clark’s writing and was so excited to have a whole bunch of weird little stories to dig into.

I read one of the stories before the full book was available so here’s a review of that:

The Shadow Over Little Chitaly is basically a bunch of reviews of a takeaway place that, beyond being a Chinese and Italian food hybrid, just appears to be unusual. This is truly so funny! It has something very weird lurking under the surface but for the most part I was giggling. Out loud! Eliza Clark is so good at capturing what people are like on the internet. The tone, the typos... it could not be more spot on.

As for the rest of the collection I had a great time. One thing I did not expect was sci-fi?? There were two (I think two) sci-fi stories in here and wow I hope it is a genre that Clark writes a full novel in one day!

My favourite story aside from Little Chitaly was The King, where an Apex Predator disguised as a human woman is just waiting for the world to end so she can rebuild it for herself.

I found this so funny & smart & as always after I finish an Eliza Clark book, I am absolutely gasping for the next one.

I loved the sample story and I was eagerly awaiting the full release to see what else was in this book. What I received was even better than expected! Loved almost every story. Super visceral and gross, which I love, and even the sci fi (which I wouldn't normally gravitate towards at all) worked really well for me.

Thanks to the publisher for the full ARC!

PSA - do not attempt to read when eating

An absolutely scrumptious short story collection from Eliza Clark. Penance and Boy Parts are so different (everyone has a favourite and mine is the second child) and that’s what makes this collection so great - there’s range!

Centred around hunger, if you like dark humour and female rage, there will be something in here for you. Body horror, folklore, satire, speculative fic, romance(?), eco-thriller - is there a genre she cannot write?? It’s great to see Clark trying something new with dystopian/sci-fi stories - these ended up being some of my faves!

Clark writes in such a way that images wiggle into your brain and linger there for days. A couple of these stories were gross (shake well of all the stories made me feel physically sick) but they’re digestible in small chunks (if you’ll pardon the pun).

My favourites were The King and The Shadow Over Little Chitaly.

I didn’t want to rate the stories individually and if you haven’t read them yet it doesn’t mean much - so here are some thoughts in the form of emojis:

build a body like mine - 🪱😊
the problem solver - 😒
she’s always hungry - 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️🎣
the shadow over little chitaly - 🍕⭐️🥡 (more pls)
hollow bones - 👽🍖🦑
goth gf - 🙇‍♂️🥺👉👈
extinction event -🌵🌍☄️ ???
nightstalker - 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️ also ???
shake well - 🤮🤢
the king - 👑🧛🎢 this !!!!
company man - 🎪🔒

thank you netgalley / faber & faber for providing me an e-arc

I LOVE Eliza Clark and as much as these stories carried her usual uniqueness mixed with grotesqueness and often times dark humour, I don't think this entirely worked for me.

Hunger as a focus point in any work of fiction or non fiction is one of my favourite things and I adored the way this collection explored and experimented with different scenarios. Unfortunately though, despite its short length I frequently found myself simultaneously wanting more and waiting for the stories to wrap up.

(also ~ don't read this whilst eating...)

Eliza Clark’s writing is phenomenal, and this collection was no different. I love how she writes and how she’s able to spin a story, and I loved how this collection came together, with just the right level of unsettling. I cannot recommend this enough and can’t wait to get a physical copy when it’s out

Review: She’s Always Hungry by Eliza Clark

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was gruesomely brilliant.

She’s Always Hungry is a horror/dystopian short story collection centered around the theme of violence against the inner body.

I’m new to horror, but the combination of short stories and the genre is perfect for me. If you liked Bunny, Cursed Bunny, Natural Beauty or Your Utopia pick this up!! Note: this book has very heavy trigger warnings, the book does list them inside but please research before reading.

The descriptions of body horror in in this book are hauntingly vivid and will make your skin crawl. Clark has mastered contemporary writing and I will buy anything she writes!

My favourite stories:
🔸 She’s Always Hungry
Takes part in a matriarchal coastal village where men are subject to gendered repression and systemic violence. A call from the sea taunts them - and she is always hungry.
🔸 Extinction Event
A new plantlike species which may help humanity survive a climate apocalypse is discovered. The scientists want to observe and preserve it, but the government want to breed and overconsume it. Strong themes around governance and climate change which i enjoyed.
🔸 Shake Well
A teenager gets her abusive older boyfriend to purchase a mysterious cure for acne on the dark web - lots of facial body horror in this one
🔸The King
A superior species exists in isolation of one another, going through extinction events and helping humanity rebuild with them at the top but when two rivals fight for the same throne, chaos follows

GO READ THIS

Clark’s first short story collection didn’t disappoint; I absolutely devoured this collection (lol) over the course of a weekend – I normally read short stories over a few weeks, one or two stories a day, but I could not put this down. It is a really inventive and genre-bending collection of stories, filled with Clark’s signature black humour and razor-sharp, satirical observations on the world from the get-go. Clark helpfully provides a list of content warnings with this one, which is a great shout – she doesn’t shy away from a lot of tough stuff here.
As I mentioned, She’s Always Hungry doesn’t fit neatly into any genre category: the stories range from 1970s sun-soaked slice-of-life to sci-fi flavoured horror. There’s a lot of absurdism, and a lot of cultural critique, filtered through Clark’s delightfully internet-poisoned lens. So much of what makes this collection work is how singular a writer Clark is; she effortlessly blends hilarity and devastation, terror and joy, so the experience of reading it is as fulfilling as is it disquieting.
Though genre is gleefully thrown off the table here, the stories do have a through-line; they all contend with hunger of some sort; from a hunger for bodily perfection, to a hunger to save the world. The collection isn’t massively about food, funnily enough, with the exception of a couple of stories, but the different facets of hunger that Clark explores are fascinating anyway.
Highlights include The Shadow Over Little Chitaly, written entirely through Google reviews of a very strange takeaway; Hollow Bones, a deeply unsettling sci-fi horror story, and Extinction Event, a speculative fiction story that made me cry about plants. I was always going to love this collection as I think Clark is one of the best writers of our time; however, She’s Always Hungry still managed to surpass my very high expectations for it. Fantastic stuff!