- REVIEW TIME!!!! -

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the e-ARC!!!!

4 stars!!!! it was a 4.5 changed it to a 4 for now because thinking of that ending and yeah after the emotions and anxiety that plagued me reading this I deserve a better pay off lol

I cant even fathom how to express how much I ate this book up. I devoured this like a pig to be quite honest. It got me by the neck and went, "Alex, you ain't resting, calming down, nor sleeping til you know what tf is gonna happen."

Will admit that part 2, to me, didn't feel really necessary and sort of dragged on longer than needed if we did need some backstory, but to me knowing how Vale and Clara met didn't really cross my mind at all while reading this.

First off, Clara....
I don't even know what to say about her. I was like this the whole time while reading this


This book hit me in ways I didn't realise. I was filled with rage and anxiety the whole time but damn IT WAS GOOD. I cried towards the end because I found that I relate to Vale sooo much with how she feels she needs to be a certain way and be overly supportive or just bend to the whim of Clara because she feels like she isn't good enough for her or is a burden to her. ooooooooof, SAME VALE! SAME!!!!!

HITTING TOO CLOSE TO HOME!

The ending is quite abrupt for my liking, given how suffocating and just how of edge and angry I got. I was hoping for just something like a bit POW! but that's all.

Stunning and just wow. This really hit and shown how toxic someone can be despite you thinking they're doing stuff for your own benefit because you are so desperate for that person to be in your life and have some sort of love from them that you begin to force yourself to believe it's all good. It's because they care and it's what you deserve.

We all deserve better than what we believe we should get.

Did you know mother pigs sing to their piglets? By extending an oink into a comforting and communicative note, even their little ones find peace in a lullaby. Isn’t that something?

Pig follows Valentina, a sweet, thoughtful and timid woman who finds comfort in listing pig breeds when overwhelmed, and relies on strict routines to maintain control in her life. She lives with her manipulative flatmate, Clara, who keeps her isolated and dependent, even discouraging her from socializing with others. Valentina works at a bookshop in London, where an unexpected encounter with Marcus, an editor, leads to an opportunity to share her extensive knowledge of pigs. However, as Valentina begins to step into a broader world feeling seen and accepted by coworkers-turned-friends, Clara’s possessive grip on her tightens, revealing the toxic, controlling nature of their friendship. The novel explores themes of manipulation, dependency, and the unsettling dynamics of a toxic female friendship.

The story is obviously heavy at times. This childhood friendship, once and again overwhelmingly toxic, is hard to stomach and escalates so quickly, but it is an honest portrayal. There are moments further into the book that got a little verbose, a little repetitive, but still felt true to what the inside of Vale’s mind would genuinely read like. There are moments of deep, agonizing frustration, where you want to grab either of the two main characters and shake them by the shoulders, but with that also comes glimpses of heartwarming relief in moments of clarity. The supporting cast of characters, mainly Vale’s bookshop coworkers, are a breath of fresh air. Vale’s passion for and peace found in nature is contagious.

Now, dear reader, I’m going to hold your hand when I tell you this, in case it isn’t clear when you’re in it: Vale is neurodivergent. It all makes a bit more sense, right? What I appreciate so much, as a fellow woman on the spectrum, about the characterization of Vale is that she’s not oblivious. She’s high functioning, intelligent, socially adept, and is aware of what she considers her own shortcomings, how to make space for and navigate around them. It is just that she’s put her trust in the wrong hands. And herein lies the thing that makes all the difference-- a particular point this book is really driving home: that to be seen and accepted for exactly who you are can make the world of a difference. I’m not just talking about only the neurodivergent, now.

All of this to say, I walked away from this book at the very end with a glimmer of hope in my chest, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth, and an entirely new appreciation for pigs— absolutely worth it to me.

Pig is the very definition of toxic female friendships. You know, the ones where certain women use others to make themselves feel better, or purposefully keep their 'friends' down so they look good? That's this. Add in the claustrophobic nature of the plot line, with Vale living and breathing the same space as Clara and the inability to escape her abusive behaviour and I felt myself on edge throughout the whole story.

Vale is an incredibly vulnerable character. She's easily overwhelmed, full of social anxiety and Clara preys on this by using her insecurities against her. I liked the development of both these characters, as Vale learns to see what Clara is doing and trying to claw her way out of the situations she's placed in. Clara is an ou and out villain, and could have felt like one big trope however she was more nuanced than this. We all know a Clara and I felt so frustrated at Vale for not seeing what the reader could so clearly see regarding Clara's manipulation, yet felt absolute joy when she managed to break free.

Really interesting, intense read that really captures toxic friendships and the codependancy it can create.

Vale is living in London, working in a bookshop and is obsessed with pigs. There is only one problem, and that's her old friend and flatmate, Clara. They've known each other since they were at school together in Rome. Clara has an overwhelming effect on Vale, who can't see (although the reader can) that she's a victim of coercive control. Clearly on the autistic spectrum, Vale is always made to feel useless by Clara and believes she deserves it.
This is a strange novel, which I enjoyed reading, but it took me a while to understand Vale's character or empathise. Once I did that, however, the book improved for me, to the point where I was urging Vale to see Clara for what her friend really was and for change to happen.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this novel.

Dysfunctional characters, an extremely toxic friendship and the beauty of pigs.
Addictive and uncomfortable novel that made me lose a lot of sleep!

An intense and deeply uncomfortable read that I could not stop thinking about.

Pig centres on two characters in an abusive friendship, Vale and Clara, and chronicles Vale's awakening to this fact. I found Vale'a decisions throught the book frustrating and sad, willing her to see Clara clearly and help herself.

I found this novel claustrophobic until the very end, it completely left me wanting more.

This was in parts both a frustrating, emotional and beautiful read. I felt so deeply for Valentina, connecting with her character so quickly at the begining of the book. Clara is a difficult one; she represents so much of the controlling, manipulation and toxicity of relationships, both romantic and platonic. She was written in feverish detail that felt entirely genuine. The book tackles toxic relationships, subservience and manipulation in a frank and honest way. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fantastic and untraditional. I loved this.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my early review copy.

I was drawn to this book by the synopsis. Valentina loves pigs! She finds comfort in naming the breeds until her mind quiets again. She needs order and routine in her life..
Valentina lives with her ‘best friend Clara! Who leaves her a note everyday telling her what to wear and what she will eat that day.
This book centres around the toxic friendship Valentina has with Clara, who controls and manipulates Valentina who can’t see what Clara is doing.
I really enjoyed Valentina’s character and the relationships/friendships she builds in the story as a clearly neurodivergent character.
I look forward to more from this author!

i loved this- if you've ever had a highly toxic female friendship this book is about (and maybe for) you. it does an amazing job of illustrating the thought patterns of someone who is in so deep into a toxic relationship. good writing, interesting and also sad at times. i'd reccommend this one.

Touching and beautifully written, Pig tells the story of Valentina's hunt for acceptance and happiness.
Pigs are her passion, although she knows she shouldn't talk about them too much with her bookshop colleagues and flatmate Clara.
Vale is under coercive control, although she doesn't recognise it as such. If she sees the truth, will she have the courage and support network to break free?
I rooted for Vale throughout the book. A memorable heroine for our times, in the spirit of Strange Sally Diamond.

Pig by Matilde Pratesi wasn't quite what I was expecting, but to explain why I'd probably have to get into spoiler territory.
I'll just say that I loved our main character Valentina. She was fully realised, with tangible desires and fears and dreams. I desperately wanted the best for her and that is what kept me reading. The ending felt abrupt and I wanted more, but that is always a sign of a great read! I think I'll be mulling this one over for days to come.
Perfect for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh or Jen Beagin.

This was a recommendation from someone who knew my taste really well and they were spot on with the recommendation.
This is exactly my kind of dark, twisted story with a dash of toxic female friendship.
I found Valentina so frustrating which perfectly depicted her entrapment with her friendship with Clara.
I really loved this, my only complaint being it was a tad too long and I was less interested in the past-narrative, but I bet a lot of people would want that context.
4 stars.

Valentina is a young Italian woman living in London with her best friend, works in a bookshop, and is obsessed with pigs. Vale, through her struggles socialising with others, understanding social cues, her anxiety surrounding ‘simple’ things that she may be autistic which lends her vulnerability to her awful ‘best friend’ Clara. Clara, who is unemployed and separated from her husband, leaves post it notes for Vale to discover in the morning - what to wear and what to eat. During her shifts at the bookshop she leans into the routine and calmness of thinking about pigs, and sharing facts with her coworker and friend, Ollie. Afterwards, she runs home to appease Clara, bathe her, and cook for her, all whilst hoping to please her.

Throughout, the tensions of their unconventional friendship are explored in brutal detail, showing their initial connection as children, their reconnection, to current day. This storyline devlops alongside her sharing her facts about pigs with a customer which opens up new avenues for Vale’s future based on the very things she holds dearest, pigs. Vale is shown as a vulnerable young woman, and this book shows the turmoil, stress, and inability to see abuse from an objective standpoint, and how complex this becomes when your view of the world is already different to other people. Reading this book felt like a thriller at points due to the way that tension is built, and we really do root for Vale’s success. My only complaint would be that events in the end of the book felt as though it was dragging on the turmoil and perhaps could have been handled differently, and did not necessarily have anything poignant to add to the themes and messages of the book. Still a fantastic read.

Original, unnerving, upsetting and wildly uncomfortable, with little glimmers of hope and happiness sprinkled throughout. Really, really enjoyed this.

What a great literary debut!

I could write this review from the perspective of enjoyment, and if I tried, I wouldn't be able to say that "Pig" is an enjoyable read, considering the subjects of abuse, coercive control and codependency are the main motives here.

I could write this review from the perspective of representation, which is definitely present and done so well that it doesn't feel forced.

Still, what I mostly appreciated about Matilde Pratesi's novel, was a skilful portrayal of codependency between Vale and Clara. Even though it's not mentioned per se, it's quite clear that Valentina was written as a character on the Autism Spectrum, and Clara as someone with psychopathic traits, which makes their relationship and interactions very believable. However, someone unfamiliar with autistic or psychopathic traits might not be able to understand the dynamic or characters' motivations and behaviours.

I'm quite surprised with the interpretations of this novel as a portrait of "toxic female friendship", as in my opinion they're missing the point (and the term itself is rooted in sexism, but that's another story). We wouldn't call abusive behaviour in an intimate relationship "love", so why calling this "friendship"? Hint: just because the protagonist calls it that, it doesn't mean it's true.

I predict that "Pig" will create a lot of buzz in the near future.

Really phenomenal work here - I couldn’t put this book down. I feel that there was a lot of tenderness here, and so much pain. I do feel the pacing was thrown off by a lengthy flashback section and the ending felt abrupt but overall this is a fantastic novel and one that I believe many readers will find compelling

I don’t think I’ve read many books about toxic female friendships before so I’m not sure what to compare Pig to, but it was a very intense and uncomfortable read at times that had me berating both the protagonist and her ‘best friend’ alternately.

From the get go it’s immediately clear how toxic this friendship is. Vale’s life is dictated by Clara, who chooses her outfits and what she eats each day. Vale is terrified of being even one minute late home from work, in case she earns Clara’s wrath. This control combined with the fact that Vale seemingly had little time for herself made the book feel super claustrophobic at times. The absolute strangest part of this friendship was that Vale bathed Clara most nights. These are women in their mid 20s.

Vale as a main character was interesting. She was both very intelligent, and absolutely lacked social skills. The pig facts were fun, and she used recital of facts to calm herself down. Vale has never had a relationship and does not seem to understand a lot of social cues, and Clara absolutely abuses this vulnerability. Vale welcomes Clara’s control over her clothes and meals, stating that it means she doesn’t need to stress over it herself. She is clearly terrified of Clara, but somewhat unaware of it, and her approval means everything.

The flashback chapters, despite building up the history between the two characters, were probably my least favourite. I felt they dragged a little, and wanted to get back to the present day. They did show, however, that Vale started out being the controlling and obsessive one (although not quite to the extent of Clara), which was interesting.

Ultimately Pig was a very intense and almost claustrophobic feeling book at times, where I both wanted to shout at the main character and help her out. The ending felt a little abrupt and I would’ve liked to have seen more, but I really did enjoy this read.

I loved this book. It was claustrophobic, uncomfortable and frustrating, and right up my street. The toxic relationship between Vale and Clara made me feel like I was in a sinking ship, and I was so desperate for Vale to break free. I liked the section where it looked back on the beginning of their friendship and how the power dynamic was there from the start. It was a great read.

Toxic relationships, abusive behaviour with some OCD make this a disturbing but brilliant read.

Valentina lists pig breeds to calm herself down. Vale keeps her life orderly and Clara tells Vale what to do by way of notes left for her..

While working at the bookstore Vale is giving an exciting oppertunity but is unsure of what to do.. What will Clara think??

This is superb debut and one that I will be forever talking about for many different reasons.

Ir was difficult at first to stay with the story but I was glad I stuck with it... It's brilliant...