Valentina is a sweet and lovely character. Her brain is a busy place, she gets confused easily and choices, decisions and change distress her.

Step up superhero Clara, a childhood friend from Italy who's happy to take control, leaving little notes telling her what to wear, what to eat and organising her spare time for her. Poor Clara also has terrible ailments that means she can't work and Valentina rushes home every evening to care for her poor friend.

But Valentina has a safe space...pigs. Since childhood she's had an undeniable love and appreciation of them and whenever she's feeling stressed she calms herself by reciting the breeds to herself. She also has friends and family who are looking out for her and willing to support her if only she'll let them.

This book really got under my skin, it angered, infuriated but ultimately was an uplifting and inspirational read. I loved it.

I requested this book because pigs are my favourite animal and I instantly knew I’d relate to the main character Valentine-which I did. I enjoyed when she chatted about pigs and named the pigs. This book was well thought out and the small amount of characters had a lot of detail to them and actually had me caring about them. I enjoyed the writing style of this book and think the author has a talent and the book flowed very nicely. I enjoyed the side characters and the bookshop scenes. Although there was lots about this book I loved some things that happened in this book frustrated me. I wanted better for the main character and it had me sad every time Clara would say something bad to her and it just kept happening constantly with no traits I could sympathise with. This lead me to just being slightly frustrated with the plot more so than anything else but the end did redeem itself. Overall, I would read more by this author, adored the cover and liked that it was a bit different with pig content in there!

Okay, so I loved this! It was one of my first books of this year and I could immediately tell it would be on my 2025 favourites list.

Vale is obsessed with pigs, lives with a controlling and abusive friend, and works in a bookshop. She has an abundance of weird pig facts that she brings into conversation, which some people find off-putting or strange, something which her friend Clara regularly mocks her for, using this to exert more control on Vale’s life. However, this knowledge results in her being approached by a publisher to write her very own book about pigs, finally getting the chance to share her interest widely.

Everything about this was so brilliant, from the pig facts strewn throughout the novel, to the cosy bookshop setting, to the way it tackled an abusive friendship and isolation. I loved how it showed Vale taking solace in her interests, even when people told her these were strange or obsessive, and enjoyed finding out more about where her love of pigs stemmed from. It made me think a lot about what interests are acceptable/unacceptable in society, and how people only value interests which can be of use or monetised in some way. It also had fantastic commentary around feeling like an outsider and struggling to fit in, with Vale’s isolation putting her in a situation which severely affected her wellbeing.

I’ve never seen toxic friendship explored so closely, with one friend exerting so much control on the other. It was incredibly heartbreaking to read, especially when Vale defended Clara despite everything that was happening. Vale’s supportive and positive workplace provided a stark contrast to the intense and claustrophobic atmosphere of her home life, making this feel all the more horrifying. However, there was lots of lightness throughout, with Vale’s bookshop found-family, positive friendships and vibrant pig facts creating a prevailing feeling of hopefulness.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, struggled to connect with others, or just love a heartwarming story about relationships and belonging, then I’d highly recommend picking this up.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Pig focuses on the toxic dynamic between two friends, Vale and Clara, and follows Vale’s painful realization that their friendship is abusive. Throughout the book, I found myself frustrated and saddened by Vale’s choices, constantly hoping she would finally see Clara for who she really is and start helping herself.

I loved this book and look forward to reading more from the author!

This book is the definition of a toxic female relationship; a brutally disturbing dynamic.

Vale has a fondness for pigs, an aspect of what we assume is her neurodivergent aura. She has learned to read social situations and act based on how the world presents itself to her, and the people in it. Vale meets Clara at school where initially we see her defending Vale, fast forward a few years and we see how this dynamic has progressed as they are now sharing a house in London.

Clara is in the process of divorcing her husband living as a hermit holed up in the house, while Vale is working at a bookshop to support both of them. Clara gives Vale directions daily on what she is to wear to work, what she must eat for lunch and keeps tabs on what she is doing and who she is with.

I promise this book will have you hooked just to see what happens, while you fume at Clara. We have some redeeming characters in Ollie and Kai at the bookshop who both appreciate Vale for who she is.

There was quite a long flashback that I didn't particularly enjoy, I feel the delivery could have been better. However, I think the ending was really good despite what other readers have said

Themes: toxic female friendships, queerness, identity, social expectations, bullying, neurodivergence

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this title.

- 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.