The Joy of Snacking: A Graphic Memoir about Food, Love & Family

by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

New Yorker cartoonist and author of Murder Book Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell returns with a riotous and radically candid comic memoir about snacks, connection, and developing a taste for freedom.

From standup comedian, New Yorker cartoonist, and the author of Murder Book comes this fresh comics memoir about being a snacker in a world of foodies.  With equal parts humor and unflinching honesty, Hilary traces her life story through from her childhood as the ultimate picky eater, her teenage and young adult years of disordered eating, and finally learning to love herself again. Punctuated throughout with ridiculous (but very real! and important!) snack recipes like "a baggie of goldfish" and "burnt toast," Campbell captures the reality of growing up in a woman's body in the '90s and '00s in how it shaped her life in work, friendship, and dating. Especially dating.

Aren't we all seeking love, self-acceptance, and a good snack to get you through it? These hilarious stories of family, romance, and belonging prove that if food can isolate us, it also has the power to connect us to what matters most.
 

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Graphic Novels Comics, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Please note trigger warnings for eating disorders in this book.
The Joy of Snacking was a book that personally didn't connect with me unfortunately. I thought the book was a celebration of food and a love of it and eating it but it was more about the struggles the author has had with food, eating, weight, etc.
The illustrations are fun at times, but I found it hard to read as some of the text in my earc was illegible/too small to read.
The ending seemed to end very abruptly, which I found confusing too.

[Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC.

TW: There are depictions of disordered eating throughout and a complicated relationship with food and body image.

I was really looking forward to this graphic novel because I do find so much joy in snacking. Sharing snacks with peers has led to my deepest friendships, making snacks for others is one of my love languages, and don't get me started on how food makes me feel incredibly connected to my loved ones.

While there are definitely some funny and relatable moments as a fellow "picky" eater, I found that the Joy of Snacking was not quite what I expected. I was expecting a love letter to food - how important it can be within your community, as cooking for or being cooked for by your loved ones can be such an intimate, kind, lovely experience. Instead, it is more about family and relationship dynamics, and how these conflicts have often arisen from the author's relationship with food. I think that there are definitely readers out there who will enjoy the memoir and connect with pieces of it, as everyone has a unique and often complex relationship with food, but it wasn't quite to my taste.

I did find myself laughing along at some parts and I think that if graphic memoirs are your thing, then this may be well worth the read. The illustrations were also well done, though I wish there were more colour throughout to bring the pages to life. 3.25/5 stars.

[Beth Gerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Between the cover and the title, this felt like a bait-and-switch for which I was not prepared and did not enjoy. While I love food memoirs and was very interested in a graphic novel version, this was less about food and more about a woman's lifelong struggle with eating and how it affected her relationships for her entire life. It wasn't great when I got to the end of the book and realized that I had more empathy and understanding for "E" than I did the author. The jump from where she started to the dancing at the end was SO abrupt and unexplained and unexplored that it felt like an entirely different person.

On the plus side, it was a quick read, the art was lovely and I would absolutely explore other books in this genre - I really hope there are others that follow in this lane - but this particular book was not for me.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

You had me at the title, and the intrigue of the graphic storytelling. Sadly, it wasn’t quite as much about the food that was eaten, but more about the food that wasn’t. (And maybe, this is my fault for not fully understanding the description of the book!)

I don’t know Hilary’s prior work so this was my first foray into her world and I enjoyed her illustration style, it just wasn’t quite what I was expecting. There was a lot of joy in elements of the book, but I appreciate the heaviness of her personal story that makes the book what it is.

The common thread is food, a lot of it is based on the struggles she faced in her relationships (with others and herself) because of food. The title is somewhat misleading, but I appreciated her honesty in sharing her personal story and history with food and how she found herself again.

The story was hard to follow at times, with chapters feeling like they abruptly ended, and some of the red fonts were tricky to read. Overall an easy and informative read about the impact of eating disorders and the knock on effect this can have in every area of life.

[An eARC from NetGalley & Andrew McMeel Publishing - Thank you!]

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advance copy of this graphic novel that is a biography, a cultural study, a look at the modern world and a love song to foods that shouldn't taste great but do, and the importance food has in people lives.

Despite more portly physique, one that I have gained a lost a lot over the years, I have never been that fascinated by food. I have bee gluten free for almost ten years, and recently gave up dairy as I find it adds to my depressive moods that I I have had all my life. Cheese is my big heartache I miss it so. However my mood seems a better, my brain isn't as foggy, go bye bye dairy. That's a big thing to a lot of my co-workers, something I had never noticed. Not eating cake, drinking coffee black, giving up my yogurt lunches. This seems like a point of numerous conversations, of which I don't understand. Food is important to many people. They can't stop talking about it, planning it, wanting it, standing in line for it. And I must admit it is a little tiring. Which is why this graphic novel spoke to me, though the authors food battles are far different than mine. The author likes what the author likes, and so many people seem to have a problem with it. So I feel her pain. The Joy of Snacking: A Graphic Memoir about Food, Love & Family by cartoonist, The New Yorker contributor, and burlesque star Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell is a look back her life in food, the snacks that filled her, the awkward conversations about food, and how food showed her the important things and people in her life.

Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell has food issues. Literally and figuratively. Campbell has taste issue and texture issues, limiting her food as a child to mostly snacks of familiar foods. Something that her parents accepted, but always loved the idea of her eating more. This made life with and being Campbell difficult. Going to a friend's house meant new foods, and new occasions to embarrass herself with being sick, or throwing fits over what was being served for dinner. Campbell's father was a guy who ate everything, and Campbell's mother had her own issues with food. A limited diet would follow Campbell through school, though she made friends that lasted because of it, into college and the real world. Campbell suffered with body image problems, especially in college. Once out, Campbell eventually found love with a foodie, who constantly kept getting Campbell to try new foods, and didn't like the fact that Campbell had no interest in what he ate, nor his opinions. As the book goes on we learn about fun recipes, like salami with cream cheese, and the joys of 7-11 and the treasures it hides. And the importance of accepting one's self, no matter what one eats, or looks like.

A really interesting graphic novel, dealing with food issues I had not though of, but similar enough in many ways to things I have experienced in life. Campbell is a very good writer, able to capture moments that are pretty universal. Campbell also says things I have only thought, shut up about the food stuff. The art is really good, capturing the feeling, the labels, the emotions and the feelings of the characters. There is a little bit of jumping around, but the narrative never gets lost, and one never goes, hey wait a minute. Plus there is a moment when Campbell discovers the wonders of tomatoes on toast, that is a real rah rah kind of event. I really felt quite glad for Campbell to discover something new.

A mix of biography, psychology, family history, food studies, and even cultural studies. Where did all this interest in food come from, and why do they have to talk about it when I am there. A realy good graphic novel, one with a lot of emotional moments that surprised me. And reminded me why I loved graphic novels.

[⋆｡˚꒰ঌ lexi ໒꒱˚｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity of reading this ARC. This review includes only my personal opinion about this work, so what works for me might not work for you and viceversa :)

I started The Joy of Snacking not really knowing what to expect from it. I am not a memoirs reader at all, but the idea of mixing memoir and graphic novel and linking it to food, sounded too good to miss. Little did I know this was going to be so much more than just about food, it’s a reminder about how much our life, mental and physical health, social interactions etc. are dependant on our relationship with food. The author starts the memoir in a more innocent tone, even if the reader could guess where this seemingly “picky” relationship with food and lack of food education from the adults might lead our main character.

There’s a pattern where demonising food leads to different types of eating disorders or just a very toxic relationship with food. Good nutritious meals and learning how to make them take time, money, means and intention; and not everyone has the privilege of ticking all of these boxes. Having a strange relationship with food can be generational, and the author deals with this issue when reflecting about the stories different members of her family tell her all the time. I think talking about how generational trauma with food can be passed down from parents to their children and how toxic beliefs about food are carried on by society should be a bigger topic in literature; and this author opening herself completely in this memoir and showing the readers her struggles with food and how much it has affected her life is surely going to start a conversation about the topic.

Although the author writes about her personal life, many happenings from this memoir are deeply relatable and could even be considered universal experience for many people. To be judged by how much you weight, how you look, how skinny you are, how much guys like you; so much so that you start thinking that it is true. It causes an intense self-hating experience, you start envying others and wanting to be them… this all affects a person’s mental health so much, but also your physical one; it affects your social interaction, your lifestyle choices: everything. It feels inevitable even try to avoid it as it can be found everywhere: tv, movies, music, advertisements, magazines, conversations with friends etc. I believe this work, even from a personal point of view, tackles so many general social issues which affect people of all ages nowadays, and so it makes the story that much more insightful.

The memoir ends up in a more positive note, and the message we can extract from the author’s story is surely one of personal development, understanding and resilience. The work includes funny, enlightening and heartbreaking moments, but mostly you can sense they are real. It’s inevitable reading this without thinking how the author has written this from the bottom of her heart and soul, and I always appreciate these very real and genuine works.

Please be aware of the trigger warnings before reading this memoir as it directly discusses some serious topics which could affect some of the readers. However, if you think it won’t affect you, I highly recommend this interesting take on a memoir as it is not only a very interesting new reading experience but also a permeating story.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishing date: 07.10.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

TLDR: A highly emotional read about snacking, picky eaters, and family. Trigger warning for insecurities around weight and eating. 4 stars

Graphic novel biographies are creeping into my heart this year, and we have another winner for the genre. I heavily relate to most parts of this book (except a very big point of it) and I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Starting off with the most important: the artstyle. I enjoyed it. It felt personal and down to earth in a very comforting way. Characters were fluid, the food looked yummy. It did everything it needed to.

Second: the story made me feel things. In my family we have a history of food issues (weight, eating, you name it) and this hit close to home for me. It came a little suddenly, and I got a little spooked, but it was dealt with in a sensible way. The more I read about it, the better I process it. So another book on my healing journey. Otherwise the story deals with relationship issues, picky eating, and family/friends dynamics. Lots of stuff to love. The only thing I couldn't relate to here was the picky eating as I am a "eat whatever is on the plate" type of person.

My only peeve with the book was the sudden ending. It is hinted at earlier, but it felt a little sudden, a little under explained and explored maybe ... But if this is a recent shift in the author's life then I understand not adding more.

Overall, this is a very sweet book that will make you feel a certain way. I found it to be helpful for my healing journey, but it might be triggering for others. Just be aware of the triggers before reading.

Giving this a good 'ole 4 stars.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Joy of Snacking is a fascinating take on memoirs. I really liked the way the author portrayed the relationship between food and memories, how so much of eating and different meals is tied to our family, friends, emotions, history, etc.
The author does a good job at mixing funny scenes with existential questions or thoughts. There are many moments I highlighted specially those about fear and "adulting" The second half of this book definitely gets more serious and a bit sadder. I sensed where the story was going, yet it didn't make it any easy. I related a lot with the character as a young woman, and I would go as far as to say that many other women will as well. Likewise, I feel like looking back at the first half of the story, you start seeing things differently.
I do have one problem about this comic, mostly the layout of the speech bubbles. There's A LOT of talking, so occasionally I would find myself lost or confused as to where the response was to certain dialogues. Maybe in physical form it's easier to follow the conversations, but in digital having to zoom in to be able to read, I did find myself missing a bubble or reading out of order accidentally. I would say, if you have already tried many memoirs, and you are looking for something different, or you are trying to get into them and the conventional novel format is not for you, I would pick this one up. Please do check TW before reading, especially if you struggle with eating and/or anxiety.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who love reading Hilary Campbell’s cartoons and comics, be prepared to go through all the pain that is around in modern society, for those who don’t eat the way everyone else does. In this graphic memoir about food, and love, and family, Hilary goes through how she was a picky eater as a child, and continues to be so as an adult.


The problem is, the man she is seeing is a foodie. He just doesn’t get that she has issues around food, and just seems to think if she would just try the food, she would like it. Why won’t you try it?


Meanwhile she goes through all the comfort food she loves to eat, and that while the two of them share many loves, liking the same food is not one of them. She keeps saying that part isn’t important, but as she goes through telling all the food that she learned to love, and things she refused to eat, you see that it is a big deal.


The story goes back into her childhood, and early adulthood, and then back to the present. She compares and contrasts how she felt then with how she feels now.


Some bits are hard to read, such as when she goes into having such anxiety around food, that she starts to be bulimic. But then she will mix all this with the humor of recipes, such as how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, or how to make fruit snacks. (You buy them.)
If you can make it through the sad bits, you will enjoy the funny bits. A little give and take.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 7th of October 2025.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC; these opinions are my own and freely given.

I love graphic novel memoirs, but this one doesn't quite hit the top tier of the genre. I think the title this book is a little misleading; it talks about snacking, but so much of the story is about the hatred of types of food and the inability of the author to enjoy eating. Overall it was good, but it's hard to say if I would recommend it.

Things I liked:
- The general arc and final conclusion
- As a former (and somewhat still) picky eater, I connected with a lot the author's problems. Not to her level, but certainly could empathize
- It was written pretty well, and the inclusion of the foods that mattered to the author was a unique touch

Things I didn't like:
- I don't know if it was the quality of the e-ARC I received, but there was a lot of text that was just illegible. This would probably be better in print.
- The art style wasn't the most attractive (personal taste)
- The final conclusion was so rushed. When the author finally has her epiphany, it felt like the book was over in 5 pages where I wanted more details about the change in her mindset.

Neutral things:
- Should definitely be warning-labelled for eating disorders/bulimia

[vampolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Joy of Eating is a non-fiction graphic novel that explores the author’s complicated relationship with food, womanhood, and both friends and lovers. I was granted the ARC by NetGalley and read it before its release.

It takes us through Hilary’s childhood, exploring the pressures of beauty & societal standards and the struggles of growing up. The book is filled with quirky art, and there are even cute recipes! I loved the artwork of food and the colourful spreads; they were my favourites! I am a huge fan of art, I saw some reviews protesting about the art style, but personally, I thought it was endearing and unique. I loved the drawings and doodles, the hand-written text, dialogue and Hilary's journey to self-acceptance.

A lot of it was reminiscent of girlhood to me: the complex views surrounding food, losing and gaining friends, getting into relationships, and learning and growing with and without your family.

The title might be a little misleading, although the protagonist finds joy in snacking, the story is more so about trauma surrounding food (although the author admits this later on in the book). I still found it enjoyable; it was both light and heavy at times, funny and upsetting. It had the best of both worlds.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own.

[(Mellifluous Grant) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Campbell.... I would enjoy reading your shopping list, or just pit stopping at a bodega with you.

This graphic memoir caught me off guard in the best—and most gut-punching—way. It starts as a sweet, quirky look at a woman’s relationship with snacks and quickly becomes something deeper, more raw, and intensely personal. Through her story, we watch her joy dim into social anxiety, self-loathing, disordered eating, and body hatred—all wrapped in layers of vulnerability and sharp self-awareness.

What moved me most was how honestly she lays out how food can become not just comfort but identity, and how that identity gets distorted by societal shame and internal struggle. The way her relationship with her body affected her romantic life and sense of self was heartbreaking and deeply, deeply relatable.

By the end, I felt emotionally wrung out, but also grateful—because there is hope in this story. There's peace in self-acceptance, even if it's messy and imperfect. If you’ve ever battled with body image or emotional eating, this memoir might feel like looking into a mirror you didn’t know you needed.

[danes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Title and description felt somewhat misleading--yes, it was about snacking, but it did not feel as light a book as it seemed in its description. Yes, the description mentioned the eating disordered, but it called the book a "fresh comic memoir" when it was anything but funny--instead, it was sad and serious, which is not wrong on its own, just confusing given what we were led to believe about the overall tone of the memoir. (I don't know, maybe it's just also my personal humor level perhaps?...as the blurbs all mention how funny it is. Meanwhile I'm just feeling bad for the author as I go through each page.)

As other reviewers have also mentioned, the ending felt oddly rushed, too, which made finishing the book a bit flat as an experience for me.

The book was overall an interesting read, especially since I'm a picky eater myself (because autistic). I could relate to some of the parts, so maybe that's also why I just felt too sad for the author overall, instead of finding any of it funny.

[River riveeden Styx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I’ve intentionally consumed Campbell’s work. I’m sure I’ve read some of her New Yorker comics in the past at this point.

In all honesty, I didn’t read the description very well so I got a little caught off guard by the severity of her issues around food. Though I wasn’t prepared for it, I am glad that it was there. My issues with food are mostly quite different but in the places they overlapped, it was good to know I hadn’t been alone.

Despite not being prepared for the intensity of the food issues, I enjoyed reading this graphic novel. Humor was blended well with trauma and delightful and often silly snack recipes.

The ending was surprisingly sudden though. I’m not surprised at what the big thing at the end is but I thought there would be a wrap up of sorts after but we didn’t get it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Booksopi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of The Joy of Snacking.

Graphic novel about food?? Sign me up!

I really enjoyed reading about the author’s relationship with food through the years and also her memories with her family, it was so nice. I could relate to so many moments (I also hate bananas).

It was also nice to have recipe style moments filed with funny remarks!

It was so much more than a graphic novel about food, it was about the different relationships we have in life, the obstacles we face and what we feel whilst facing them.

I found it a bit long, but still really good!

[Ingrid Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A graphic novel about the love of snacks and finding your true self through them.
It's hilariously funny and so realistic.  Though I will argue you can be a snacker and a foodie, I can relate to her feelings on so many foods and how that alone can make you feel like a freak.
I loved this graphic novel and think every woman should read it. I'll be having cheese curls. You can have the hummus

Recommended.  Expected publishing date 10/07/2025

Thanks to @netgalley and Andrew McNeel Publishing  for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion

[Adri Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trials and tribulations of a picky eater and their life. It was very relatable content.

I am thankful my husband made me try a lot of new foods when we got together, but there are still some things that I outright refuse to eat.

I don’t know what it is about millennials and all having issues with food, but for now I’m going to blame our parents…because who else?

Overall, a fun read, interspersed with little snacky recommendations, jokes, and the author’s struggles with food.

#ThxNetGalley #HilaryFitzgeraldCampbell #TheJoyofSnacking

[Haruka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read the advanced copy. Here are my honest review.
.
.
I love this story so much. At first i just thought it was story about food but turns out it was about relationship with family and people. It was so wholesome. It was an amazing and interesting read.
I really love that the author even put some recipes of snacks in it XD
The story is so fun but at same time very very touching.
Im in love with this book. Really recommend people to read this!!
Amazing read~

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an advance e-galley for honest review.

I really like the author's style, and this is an interesting look at the author's personal (and complicated) history with food and eating, and with relationships. I really appreciate the way she conveys her relationship with her family and friends. While her journey with food and body is uniquely her own, I think a lot of people will find the topic of having strong, personal issues around these topics relatable.

[BreAnna (Bre'sBooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

The Joy of Snacking: A Graphic Memoir about Food, Love & Family by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell was...a mixed bag for me. While I could absolutely relate to a shy girl who preferred snacks over any other type of food, her life struggles with food and relationships were a whole lot more serious and sad than expected. The art was also not much to my taste. The "recipes" included at the end of every chapter were entertaining though. I guess I'm just not much of a memoir fan.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved Campell's Murder Book so I was excited to see she had a new book available on NetGalley. While this graphic novel is very different than the first one it was still amazing and I may have liked it even more.

I wasn't expecting the introspective quality of this one but it really worked. I highly recommend this one and cannot wait to read more from her.

[Hetty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
“I fear change in every shape and form”
“I am lucky to be alive, lucky to have survived”
Recieved an ARC! Really enjoyed it. It covered deep topics such as eating disorders, relationships and our relationship with our bodies but done in a way with heart and laughter. I really liked the illustrations and really liked how she used colour on some pages.
Would definitely recommend to litterally anyone!

[Shana · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***

The title of this graphic memoir was a bit misleading in that there was a lot of pain and struggle around snacking/food rather than joy. The art wasn't my jam, and the legibility was questionable in parts. I appreciated the exploration of the author's relationship with food alongside her relationships with people, but overall this wasn't my favorite.

[Riane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5.

A sometimes cringe-inducing (in a good way) look into the author's relationship with food and how that can affect so many other relationships. The art style isn't quite my favourite but to each their own and I did enjoy the book overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC.

[Ganna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the premise, and I especially enjoyed the snack recipes — those were absolute gold. However, the art style didn’t work for me personally. I found the text difficult to read, and the bright red lettering was visually overwhelming at times, which made it hard to stay engaged with the story. That said, I appreciate the opportunity to read this and hope it finds its audience.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the premise of a graphic novel about snacks, but this didn't end up being very interesting to me. I could relate to being a picky eating as a kid and being self-conscious of my body growing up, but a lot of this memoir ended up being about the author's food anxiety, relationships, and dating. I did like the bits about her favorite snacks.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Sophy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this book was not what I expected. I thought it would focus more on food and snacking for picky eaters, but instead, it centered more on the characters’ eating habits and their struggles with food. While it does explore why the main character dislikes certain foods and the challenges that come with that, I felt it didn’t quite capture the joy of snacking the way I was hoping it would.

[Diana Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

A graphic novel memoir told through the author's relationship with food- snacks, particularly.

Advanced reading copy provided by Edelweiss+ and the publisher. Publication date: October 7, 2025.

[Louie]

Review to come in September.

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes funny. Sometimes harrowing. Makes me want to give her a hug.