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Appetite: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26A propulsive and utterly original debut about a young chef’s ambitions—and the pro wrestler she idolizes who derails everything
Zarina, a prep cook at a fancy New Haven restaurant, is underpaid, overworked, and might as well be invisible. The only they get to take home leftover ingredients. Every night, Zarina whips up modern spins on the Bangladeshi dishes she grew up eating, all while enjoying her second greatest professional wrestling. Namely, Zarina’s hero Sierra Myst—the massively successful, high-flying heel who’s built like a superhero and is every bit as confident and daring as one.
One night, Zarina posts online about one of Sierra Myst’s wins, and the most improbable thing Sierra reaches out to Zarina. She's elated at the chance to become closer with her idol, and at first, their friendship is everything Zarina’s ever dreamed of. Zarina’s confidence grows, their world gets bigger, and opening their own restaurant doesn’t feel quite so impossible. But as the weeks fly by, Zarina starts to feel more like Sierra’s unpaid personal assistant and relationship counselor—and her desire to make Sierra happy eclipses their own goals and threatens everything they’ve worked for.
Deliciously propulsive and ultimately uplifting, Appetite is about the unique torture of being a twenty-something who’s torn between the person someone else wants you to be and the person you really are.
Zarina, a prep cook at a fancy New Haven restaurant, is underpaid, overworked, and might as well be invisible. The only they get to take home leftover ingredients. Every night, Zarina whips up modern spins on the Bangladeshi dishes she grew up eating, all while enjoying her second greatest professional wrestling. Namely, Zarina’s hero Sierra Myst—the massively successful, high-flying heel who’s built like a superhero and is every bit as confident and daring as one.
One night, Zarina posts online about one of Sierra Myst’s wins, and the most improbable thing Sierra reaches out to Zarina. She's elated at the chance to become closer with her idol, and at first, their friendship is everything Zarina’s ever dreamed of. Zarina’s confidence grows, their world gets bigger, and opening their own restaurant doesn’t feel quite so impossible. But as the weeks fly by, Zarina starts to feel more like Sierra’s unpaid personal assistant and relationship counselor—and her desire to make Sierra happy eclipses their own goals and threatens everything they’ve worked for.
Deliciously propulsive and ultimately uplifting, Appetite is about the unique torture of being a twenty-something who’s torn between the person someone else wants you to be and the person you really are.
- GenresFiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a good book. It was entertaining and flowed well. It wasn’t what I would call an outstanding novel, but if you are interested in any of the subject matter then I think it would be a very enjoyable read.
Highlights:
-The author did a great job of handling two separate but interconnected plotlines; the cooking and the wrestling fan. The way the story waxed and waned back and forth between the two was well done.
-Great depiction of a parasocial relationship and the corresponding behavior of obsession. This novel showcased the downsides to this sort of dynamic without being overly heavy handed or dramatic; it was very realistic.
-Fandom! Both the wonderful fun parts and the horrible toxic parts. This novel takes you on a tour and it felt very genuine.
-LOTS of food talk. If you love food and cooking then your appreciation of this novel will be higher, that is for sure.
-Despite being full of conflict, this novel wasn’t stressful and the conflicts were relatively mild. This was good in an easy-reading sort of way (though it also made some parts a little underwhelming).
My only real criticism is that it was somewhat underwhelming in parts, including some of the conclusions, but on balance that’s not a terrible thing. I enjoyed this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Highlights:
-The author did a great job of handling two separate but interconnected plotlines; the cooking and the wrestling fan. The way the story waxed and waned back and forth between the two was well done.
-Great depiction of a parasocial relationship and the corresponding behavior of obsession. This novel showcased the downsides to this sort of dynamic without being overly heavy handed or dramatic; it was very realistic.
-Fandom! Both the wonderful fun parts and the horrible toxic parts. This novel takes you on a tour and it felt very genuine.
-LOTS of food talk. If you love food and cooking then your appreciation of this novel will be higher, that is for sure.
-Despite being full of conflict, this novel wasn’t stressful and the conflicts were relatively mild. This was good in an easy-reading sort of way (though it also made some parts a little underwhelming).
My only real criticism is that it was somewhat underwhelming in parts, including some of the conclusions, but on balance that’s not a terrible thing. I enjoyed this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
April 16, 2026
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Appetite takes Bangladeshi food, professional wrestling, and parasocial fascination and somehow makes them feel like the most natural trio since The Fabulous Freebirds. If you came for the wrestling… you get that reference, right? 😅
Zarina’s need to be seen by her mother, her community, and especially her idol, Sierra Myst, gives the whole story a very relatable vibe as admiration gets… complicated. The food writing will have you salivating, the wrestling is compelling and fun for fans and nonfans alike, and the main event (eh? eh?) is a look at identity and belonging through an immigrant lens.
Anyway… maybe don’t meet your heroes.
Appetite takes Bangladeshi food, professional wrestling, and parasocial fascination and somehow makes them feel like the most natural trio since The Fabulous Freebirds. If you came for the wrestling… you get that reference, right? 😅
Zarina’s need to be seen by her mother, her community, and especially her idol, Sierra Myst, gives the whole story a very relatable vibe as admiration gets… complicated. The food writing will have you salivating, the wrestling is compelling and fun for fans and nonfans alike, and the main event (eh? eh?) is a look at identity and belonging through an immigrant lens.
Anyway… maybe don’t meet your heroes.
April 2, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I’ve been anticipating this book for quite a while and I’m delighted to say that it surpassed my high expectations. I devoured Appetite in one sitting. This book offers a nuanced and compassionate examination of fandom, power dynamics, and the intoxicating allure of obsession. The food writing is delicious and Paramita’s strong narrative voice imbues Zarina, their relationships, and their journey with life. This debut is incredibly compelling and I’m excited to see what Paramita writes next!
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026This leaned way too YA for my taste. Also, I was hoping for more cooking and less wrestling. I picked it up multiple times to try and finish it. I ultimately determined that I actually just don't care to see it through. There are too many other books I rather be reading.
April 24, 2026
The character development really shined in this book. I loved how the main character Zarina figured out who she was and was able to figure out how to make her dream a reality. The anxiety rep throughout this book was written so well! I’m also glad Zarina was able to set boundaries and stick to them along the way.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Zarina
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🍳🤼♀️🍽️
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Zarina
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🍳🤼♀️🍽️
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Appetite is a contemporary novel that tells the story of 24 year Zarina, a Bangladeshi aspiring chef who finds herself becoming closer to her ultimate idol. This book takes you in the mind of Zarina to show that the people you admire aren't who they think they are. Through Zarina, we're taking through a coming of age story where a young POC queer person finds their voice.
I have to admit that I am very conflicted about this book. The reason is because although I did not enjoy it, I know some people that would, and it's because I could see a lot of people relating to Zarina and Zarina's situation with being a POC Queer people in America. Through the entirety of this book, we're in the head of Zarina, and it is so exhausting. She is constantly talking AT the reader. There should always be a balance between when a story is telling vs when it is showing, and most of the time in this book, it's just tells. It quickly becomes overwhelming being in Zarina's mind because she is a very anxious and insecure person who overthinks entirely too much. As a person who is also anxious also thinks too much, I can 100% understand Zarina and what she goes through, but it just gets to a point where every interaction she has, it is just the same thing over and over again until she like miraculously stops being anxious and overthinking by the end of the book (even though it's only been like a year?). It also becomes just unrealistic the character development that happens because the Zarina at the beginning of the book needed THERAPY.
What I will say is that I think the book is a great conversation for parasocial relationships and the overall toxic behaviors in fandoms. We have to understand that behind the screen, there are people with real feelings and lives and the internet is not always what you think of it. Zarina is a prime example that sometimes people are in these fandoms because it allows them to escape the life that they're living. At the same time, Zarina realizes that this isn't helping her and that what does help her is gaining confidence in herself and in her community to change her life.
I personally had my gripes with this book, but I can see a lot of people liking it. If you like queer contemporary fiction, I say give this a try.
Appetite is a contemporary novel that tells the story of 24 year Zarina, a Bangladeshi aspiring chef who finds herself becoming closer to her ultimate idol. This book takes you in the mind of Zarina to show that the people you admire aren't who they think they are. Through Zarina, we're taking through a coming of age story where a young POC queer person finds their voice.
I have to admit that I am very conflicted about this book. The reason is because although I did not enjoy it, I know some people that would, and it's because I could see a lot of people relating to Zarina and Zarina's situation with being a POC Queer people in America. Through the entirety of this book, we're in the head of Zarina, and it is so exhausting. She is constantly talking AT the reader. There should always be a balance between when a story is telling vs when it is showing, and most of the time in this book, it's just tells. It quickly becomes overwhelming being in Zarina's mind because she is a very anxious and insecure person who overthinks entirely too much. As a person who is also anxious also thinks too much, I can 100% understand Zarina and what she goes through, but it just gets to a point where every interaction she has, it is just the same thing over and over again until she like miraculously stops being anxious and overthinking by the end of the book (even though it's only been like a year?). It also becomes just unrealistic the character development that happens because the Zarina at the beginning of the book needed THERAPY.
What I will say is that I think the book is a great conversation for parasocial relationships and the overall toxic behaviors in fandoms. We have to understand that behind the screen, there are people with real feelings and lives and the internet is not always what you think of it. Zarina is a prime example that sometimes people are in these fandoms because it allows them to escape the life that they're living. At the same time, Zarina realizes that this isn't helping her and that what does help her is gaining confidence in herself and in her community to change her life.
I personally had my gripes with this book, but I can see a lot of people liking it. If you like queer contemporary fiction, I say give this a try.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5☆
Big thanks to Netgalley, P. Paramita, Random House, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was such a mixed bag for me!! I was initially attracted by the premise, as I'm a big fan of both wrestling and cooking, so it seemed tailor made for me. Unfortunately, I just didn't click with it the way I wanted to.
The food descriptions in this book are gorgeous. I'd love to try all of Zarina's different dishes. You can tell the author is also passionate about Bangladeshi cuisine. There's so much care put into all the different dishes, so much so you can almost taste them yourself.
I thought that this book was an interesting exploration of the way that parasociality can go both ways. Sometimes, your idols can become dependent on your attention as much as you are on theirs. I just wish there'd been more time and care put into Sierra and Zarina's friendship when it actually starts, when Zarina starts giving Sierra relationship advice, but it feels like from there the novel is rushing to the conclusion with no real time to let the conflict marinate. The ending also felt like it all fell into place way too easily, with everyone rushing to help Zarina complete her dreams. It felt more like wish fulfillment than a satisfying ending, but it was nice to see her restaurant opened.
Zarina, however, was also a really bad friend for 90% of this book. She's young, yes, and I was happy to see her reflect about it a little at the end, but she was so judgmental to everyone she met, and was unkind to most of the people she's supposed to want to be friends with. Their friendship with Aubrey felt like it came out of nowhere. A lot of Zarina's personality and the ways she's developing feel like they'd be better suited to YA than a contemporary adult novel. The writing is very quick to read, but also feels a little young for the target demographic. It's very tell-don't-show, which can get grating in an adult-centered novel.
I feel that this novel might be better for people who aren't familiar with wrestling, or at least are very casual viewers. The explanations in the start of the novel about wrestling were heavy-handed in a way that felt like being taken out of the story to read a wikipedia article. I feel that in the future, a glossary of terms might be a better option so everyone can read the story without feeling taken out of it!
Overall, this is a fun, quick read, but I found it rather frustrating especially after the 50% mark. I'll keep an eye out for this author's future works! And I'll definitely be trying Bangladeshi cuisine as soon as I have the chance.
Big thanks to Netgalley, P. Paramita, Random House, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was such a mixed bag for me!! I was initially attracted by the premise, as I'm a big fan of both wrestling and cooking, so it seemed tailor made for me. Unfortunately, I just didn't click with it the way I wanted to.
The food descriptions in this book are gorgeous. I'd love to try all of Zarina's different dishes. You can tell the author is also passionate about Bangladeshi cuisine. There's so much care put into all the different dishes, so much so you can almost taste them yourself.
I thought that this book was an interesting exploration of the way that parasociality can go both ways. Sometimes, your idols can become dependent on your attention as much as you are on theirs. I just wish there'd been more time and care put into Sierra and Zarina's friendship when it actually starts, when Zarina starts giving Sierra relationship advice, but it feels like from there the novel is rushing to the conclusion with no real time to let the conflict marinate. The ending also felt like it all fell into place way too easily, with everyone rushing to help Zarina complete her dreams. It felt more like wish fulfillment than a satisfying ending, but it was nice to see her restaurant opened.
Zarina, however, was also a really bad friend for 90% of this book. She's young, yes, and I was happy to see her reflect about it a little at the end, but she was so judgmental to everyone she met, and was unkind to most of the people she's supposed to want to be friends with. Their friendship with Aubrey felt like it came out of nowhere. A lot of Zarina's personality and the ways she's developing feel like they'd be better suited to YA than a contemporary adult novel. The writing is very quick to read, but also feels a little young for the target demographic. It's very tell-don't-show, which can get grating in an adult-centered novel.
I feel that this novel might be better for people who aren't familiar with wrestling, or at least are very casual viewers. The explanations in the start of the novel about wrestling were heavy-handed in a way that felt like being taken out of the story to read a wikipedia article. I feel that in the future, a glossary of terms might be a better option so everyone can read the story without feeling taken out of it!
Overall, this is a fun, quick read, but I found it rather frustrating especially after the 50% mark. I'll keep an eye out for this author's future works! And I'll definitely be trying Bangladeshi cuisine as soon as I have the chance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Appetite by P. Paramita is a delicious fusion of a Bengali Immigrant story, the spectacle of WWE’s Wrestlemania, and the underdog nature of FX’s restaurant TV show The Bear. Writing this all out on paper sounds like a too many cooks in the kitchen situation but Paramita deftly melds and combines the different flavors of her story into the perfect debut novel dish.
The highlight of the novel for me is the way that Paramita describes the Bengali fusion dishes that her wrestling enthusiast aspiring chef Zarina creates. From the crispy and bite sized Fuchka, the comforting and savory potato based aloo bhorta pancakes, mouthwatering beef kebabs with naan and jhura mangsho and the sweet dessert shahi tukra. The way that food is describes is done in a loving way and is a love letter to Bengali cuisine and Zarina and Paramita’s homeland. These descriptions were so good during reading they made me hungry while reading which is a testament to Paramita’s ability to translate food into written prose.
Keeping with the fusion theme of east and west, a seemingly anachronistic choice in the narrative is to meld Zarina’s enthusiasm for pro wrestling into the story, which was done expertly. Through Zarina eventual friendship with her favorite wrestler Sierra Myst, we explore Zarina’s identity and growth as a POC character and her response to the white-washed and minority underrepresented industry of pro wrestling. In these interactions we see the positives and negatives of the online idol space and the best and worst of Twitter and online communities. Through this relationship Zarina is able to discern authentic friendships that genuinely build up others and recognize minority and LGBTQ+ allies. Paramita makes clear that and loud statements of the importance of providing voices and spaces for underrepresented minorities and to hold people accountable for their own views on race and understanding of their own privilege.
This book is a fast paced and propulsive read and the resolution of it all seemed a bit too tidy for my taste, but overall this was an excellent debut novel that will have me excited for the next 5 seasons of Paramita’s future novels.
Thank you Random House and Dial Press Trade Paperback for this advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The highlight of the novel for me is the way that Paramita describes the Bengali fusion dishes that her wrestling enthusiast aspiring chef Zarina creates. From the crispy and bite sized Fuchka, the comforting and savory potato based aloo bhorta pancakes, mouthwatering beef kebabs with naan and jhura mangsho and the sweet dessert shahi tukra. The way that food is describes is done in a loving way and is a love letter to Bengali cuisine and Zarina and Paramita’s homeland. These descriptions were so good during reading they made me hungry while reading which is a testament to Paramita’s ability to translate food into written prose.
Keeping with the fusion theme of east and west, a seemingly anachronistic choice in the narrative is to meld Zarina’s enthusiasm for pro wrestling into the story, which was done expertly. Through Zarina eventual friendship with her favorite wrestler Sierra Myst, we explore Zarina’s identity and growth as a POC character and her response to the white-washed and minority underrepresented industry of pro wrestling. In these interactions we see the positives and negatives of the online idol space and the best and worst of Twitter and online communities. Through this relationship Zarina is able to discern authentic friendships that genuinely build up others and recognize minority and LGBTQ+ allies. Paramita makes clear that and loud statements of the importance of providing voices and spaces for underrepresented minorities and to hold people accountable for their own views on race and understanding of their own privilege.
This book is a fast paced and propulsive read and the resolution of it all seemed a bit too tidy for my taste, but overall this was an excellent debut novel that will have me excited for the next 5 seasons of Paramita’s future novels.
Thank you Random House and Dial Press Trade Paperback for this advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Uncorrected eBook File
Zarina Iqbal, a prep cook at Zero’s, gets to bring home leftover ingredients from the restaurant kitchen. Tonight she has potatoes and is preparing to make aloo bhorta, a Bangladeshi dish she’s eaten throughout her childhood. While she prepares the meal, she’s keeping an eye on the professional wrestling show. Sierra Myst, her hero, may be a heel in the ring, but Zarina enjoys her bold confidence. Out of the ring, Sierra Myst is Jennifer Kaplan; Zarina is overwhelmed by her perfection.
One night, Zarina posts on Twitter about the wrestling match and, to her astonishment, Sierra Myst not only likes the post but replies to it . . . and begins following her on the social media site. Suddenly, Zarina has a slew of followers, all fans of Sierra Myst.
What will come of this?
=========
One of the strengths of this book is its focus on friendship and culture; the various dishes described are mouth-watering and likely to leave readers wishing for a sample. However, the thought-provoking picture of fandom and power depicted here should give every reader pause.
But just how much can you trust people you know only through the internet?
In this unfolding tale, there is often a bit too much “tell” and readers are likely to feel disillusioned by the lack of consequences for many of the characters in the story.
Readers who enjoy books about relationships and culture [and yummy-sounding foods!] may enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House / Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Appetite #NetGalley
Zarina Iqbal, a prep cook at Zero’s, gets to bring home leftover ingredients from the restaurant kitchen. Tonight she has potatoes and is preparing to make aloo bhorta, a Bangladeshi dish she’s eaten throughout her childhood. While she prepares the meal, she’s keeping an eye on the professional wrestling show. Sierra Myst, her hero, may be a heel in the ring, but Zarina enjoys her bold confidence. Out of the ring, Sierra Myst is Jennifer Kaplan; Zarina is overwhelmed by her perfection.
One night, Zarina posts on Twitter about the wrestling match and, to her astonishment, Sierra Myst not only likes the post but replies to it . . . and begins following her on the social media site. Suddenly, Zarina has a slew of followers, all fans of Sierra Myst.
What will come of this?
=========
One of the strengths of this book is its focus on friendship and culture; the various dishes described are mouth-watering and likely to leave readers wishing for a sample. However, the thought-provoking picture of fandom and power depicted here should give every reader pause.
But just how much can you trust people you know only through the internet?
In this unfolding tale, there is often a bit too much “tell” and readers are likely to feel disillusioned by the lack of consequences for many of the characters in the story.
Readers who enjoy books about relationships and culture [and yummy-sounding foods!] may enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House / Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Appetite #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When I first started reading the book I wasn't sure where it was headed and how the entire wrestling scenario played into the storyline., and honestly not sure that the book was for me. It was kind of odd, at first, but soon became obvious and, in fact, key in the characters growth, emotionally as well as professionally. Finding your self-confidence and power can be challenging at any age, but especially in your mid-twenties, when you've not had a lot of support and your trajectory has been fueled solely by your own drive. The story centers around a young woman who comes to the US for college from Bangladesh and, despite her mom's support of her education, her mom wants her to come home and marry and not be a chef, which is all that the MC wants to be. Zarina is a strong woman but torn between her mom's obvious dislike of her chosen profession, as well as the jabs her mom makes every time they talk on the phone, and her boss, who is rude and dismissive of her talents and skills. She suffers from so many microaggressions that they almost become acceptable...no matter how many times she corrects people, they continue to try to tell her who she is, instead of listening...
Oh, you cook Indian food...You must be from India..," Zarina finds her strength and, despite some missteps in choosing her friends and idols, she ends up connecting with people whoo finally see her for her and support that amazing side of her. This is a good book. It would be a great book for so many girls to ready who get caught up with believing their social media idols are truly who they think they are...I was lucky to have been given an ARC for this book from the author.
Oh, you cook Indian food...You must be from India..," Zarina finds her strength and, despite some missteps in choosing her friends and idols, she ends up connecting with people whoo finally see her for her and support that amazing side of her. This is a good book. It would be a great book for so many girls to ready who get caught up with believing their social media idols are truly who they think they are...I was lucky to have been given an ARC for this book from the author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story follows Zarina, a struggling prep cook in New York. She is overworked, underpaid, and just barely getting by. She is unappreciated and often overlooked at work. The small bit of joy she gets is taking leftovers home and working on recipes.
Her goal is to make dishes that fuse Bangladeshi meals from her youth with other popular dishes around her. She spends some free time posting on wrestling Twitter and catches the eye of super famous wrestler, Sierra Myst.
The peacock body suit wearing star is a fan of Zarina's gifs and reaches out. Seeming like an invitation to friendship and getting better access to the star, has Zarina over the moon.
Weeks of obsession, being strung along, barely responded to messages, and sudden popularity make for a dangerous cocktail.
Desperate for her relationship with Sierra to progress and Zarina's noticeable slacking at work put tensions at an all time high.
This story was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I think the author does a great job at portraying the good, the bad, and the ugly of your early twenties. We can all look back and cringe at some of the things we did or said.
This story was a pretty quick read and I think is definitely doable in a single sitting. This story will deal with some potentially triggering things so heed the warnings ⚠️:
Racism, online bullying, manipulation, obsession, stalking if you squint, etc
This book is set to release on August 4th, 2026. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, then check it out!
This story follows Zarina, a struggling prep cook in New York. She is overworked, underpaid, and just barely getting by. She is unappreciated and often overlooked at work. The small bit of joy she gets is taking leftovers home and working on recipes.
Her goal is to make dishes that fuse Bangladeshi meals from her youth with other popular dishes around her. She spends some free time posting on wrestling Twitter and catches the eye of super famous wrestler, Sierra Myst.
The peacock body suit wearing star is a fan of Zarina's gifs and reaches out. Seeming like an invitation to friendship and getting better access to the star, has Zarina over the moon.
Weeks of obsession, being strung along, barely responded to messages, and sudden popularity make for a dangerous cocktail.
Desperate for her relationship with Sierra to progress and Zarina's noticeable slacking at work put tensions at an all time high.
This story was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I think the author does a great job at portraying the good, the bad, and the ugly of your early twenties. We can all look back and cringe at some of the things we did or said.
This story was a pretty quick read and I think is definitely doable in a single sitting. This story will deal with some potentially triggering things so heed the warnings ⚠️:
Racism, online bullying, manipulation, obsession, stalking if you squint, etc
This book is set to release on August 4th, 2026. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, then check it out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Random House | Hogarth | The Dial Press for my ARC of this incredible debut. It is a visceral read from mouth-watering descriptions of foods and recipe creations to the cold sweat of online anxiety. The author brilliantly portrayed that online addiction and fandom takeover - it's so true how easy it is to let these tiny screens held in our palms take over our worlds. While there is nothing specific in the book description or ARC overview, I also feel that this book had excellent neuro-diversity representation, and the MC's struggle to understand social dynamics extended past cultural/immigration and I felt very seen in a different way as a reader.
Zarina's interactions and movements also highlighted my own ignorance within this diverse community of women of colour. The author spoke to family expectations, pressure, escape versus alignment, and I COULD NOT PUT DOWN.
"It almost feels as though something inside me is being stitched together, these parts of myself meeting, with such delightful results far beyond what I could have ever allowed myself to hope."
I didn't realize how badly I needed a happily ever after with a woman in her power focusing on her career !!!! This is inspiring and uplifting in the best way - especially when you focus and align with your passions and community.
Zarina's interactions and movements also highlighted my own ignorance within this diverse community of women of colour. The author spoke to family expectations, pressure, escape versus alignment, and I COULD NOT PUT DOWN.
"It almost feels as though something inside me is being stitched together, these parts of myself meeting, with such delightful results far beyond what I could have ever allowed myself to hope."
I didn't realize how badly I needed a happily ever after with a woman in her power focusing on her career !!!! This is inspiring and uplifting in the best way - especially when you focus and align with your passions and community.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a good book ! I was rooting so hard for Zarina to succeed. Throughout all the story, she stays so lucid and self aware of everything. She doesn’t try to delude herself, which I found refreshing.
Zarina’s life changes when Sienna Myst, her favourite wrestler retweets and follows her. They then start a « friendship ». Zarina is also confronted to stan twitter and other Sienna fans who also have their opinion on their friendship. In her real life, Zarina is feeling stuck at her prep cook job. She knows she wants to do more, but don’t know where to start.
I loved how this book showed how we are always looking for a community and what lengths we would to be part of one. The descriptions of Zarina’s Bangladeshi dishes were so vivid. Zarina, as a first generation immigrant, has dreams but also struggles that I’m sure a lot of people will find relatable. Throughout all 3 parts, Zarina’s growth is immense and that’s what I loved to see the most! She holds herself accountable, but also others. I loved the ending!
This was a very well written book! It’s a must read especially for readers who enjoy coming of age stories with a lot of growth !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
Zarina’s life changes when Sienna Myst, her favourite wrestler retweets and follows her. They then start a « friendship ». Zarina is also confronted to stan twitter and other Sienna fans who also have their opinion on their friendship. In her real life, Zarina is feeling stuck at her prep cook job. She knows she wants to do more, but don’t know where to start.
I loved how this book showed how we are always looking for a community and what lengths we would to be part of one. The descriptions of Zarina’s Bangladeshi dishes were so vivid. Zarina, as a first generation immigrant, has dreams but also struggles that I’m sure a lot of people will find relatable. Throughout all 3 parts, Zarina’s growth is immense and that’s what I loved to see the most! She holds herself accountable, but also others. I loved the ending!
This was a very well written book! It’s a must read especially for readers who enjoy coming of age stories with a lot of growth !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 ⭐️!!!!!
Maybe it’s because this book blends two things I enjoy (food and wrestling), with other things most people experience in their twenties (obsession, isolation, fear…directly alongside passion, courage and optimism), with the dark elements that many people of color or marginalized folks experience on a daily basis (racism, micro-aggressions, complex family dynamics, the immigrant experience in america).
Maybe it’s because P. Paramita’s prose is so gut-wrenchingly and beautifully real, with characters that live and breathe the words on the page into effortless reality.
Or maybe, it’s all of the above, and so much more. Appetite exceeded all expectations and packed so much into this story, I truly cannot recommend it enough. This book was not just SO GOOD, it was also fun and dark and cautionary and inspiring.
For fans of:
- Bangladeshi representation!!
- the evil side of fandom culture
- the epic highs and lows of figuring out yourself + your future
- restauranteurs and foodie dreamers!
* thank you to penguin random house and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for honest thoughts *
Maybe it’s because this book blends two things I enjoy (food and wrestling), with other things most people experience in their twenties (obsession, isolation, fear…directly alongside passion, courage and optimism), with the dark elements that many people of color or marginalized folks experience on a daily basis (racism, micro-aggressions, complex family dynamics, the immigrant experience in america).
Maybe it’s because P. Paramita’s prose is so gut-wrenchingly and beautifully real, with characters that live and breathe the words on the page into effortless reality.
Or maybe, it’s all of the above, and so much more. Appetite exceeded all expectations and packed so much into this story, I truly cannot recommend it enough. This book was not just SO GOOD, it was also fun and dark and cautionary and inspiring.
For fans of:
- Bangladeshi representation!!
- the evil side of fandom culture
- the epic highs and lows of figuring out yourself + your future
- restauranteurs and foodie dreamers!
* thank you to penguin random house and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for honest thoughts *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
& that's why you never meet your heroes!!!
Zarina is a 24 year old aspiring chef working in a restaurant that doesn't really suit her, and she has bigger dreams of bringing Bangladeshi fusion food to the scene. when she isn't in the kitchen she's watching her favorite wrestler, Sierra Myst, put on a show as everyone's favorite heel to hate in wrestling. Through a random tweet interaction, Zarina gets closer to her idol than she ever thought she would.
omg what a debut! i loved seeing Zarina really come into her own throughout this book. i loveee reading about parasocial fandoms and just online fandom behavior in general like yall we do not know these people!!! lmaooo anyway! and that the people we are fans of are also parasocial in their own ways! The depictions of food in the book are mouth watering good, and the community that Zarina finds and helps build was truly heartwarming. my chief complaint is i felt that i was told a lot of things instead of being shown. there is a lot of heart and also things to think over packed into these 272 pages.
thank you to netgalley and the dial press for an opportunity to read and review this eARC early!
Zarina is a 24 year old aspiring chef working in a restaurant that doesn't really suit her, and she has bigger dreams of bringing Bangladeshi fusion food to the scene. when she isn't in the kitchen she's watching her favorite wrestler, Sierra Myst, put on a show as everyone's favorite heel to hate in wrestling. Through a random tweet interaction, Zarina gets closer to her idol than she ever thought she would.
omg what a debut! i loved seeing Zarina really come into her own throughout this book. i loveee reading about parasocial fandoms and just online fandom behavior in general like yall we do not know these people!!! lmaooo anyway! and that the people we are fans of are also parasocial in their own ways! The depictions of food in the book are mouth watering good, and the community that Zarina finds and helps build was truly heartwarming. my chief complaint is i felt that i was told a lot of things instead of being shown. there is a lot of heart and also things to think over packed into these 272 pages.
thank you to netgalley and the dial press for an opportunity to read and review this eARC early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a unique read! I could never have imagined myself enjoying reading so much about wrestling, but I feel like I learned a lot about wrestling and the wrestling fandom from this novel. I’m also not too much of a foodie, so I’ll admit that I ended up skimming a lot of the long passages about cooking, although everything Zarina made did sound amazing, and I find myself wishing I lived somewhere I could try Bangladeshi cuisine for myself. This novel will definitely delight anyone who loves to experiment in the kitchen, as well as anyone who feels like they haven’t found their footing in their adopted home or in their chosen career, especially younger folks. Some of the toxic fandom stuff stressed me out, but in some ways it reminded me of the bookish community online, for better or worse. Anyone who has been part of a fandom online will likely be able to relate. Overall, a wonderful story about finding identity and finding community!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Dial for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest feedback!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Dial for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest feedback!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley, The Dial Press Paperback, Random House, and author P. Paramita for the Advanced Copy of “Appetite”
Appetite is a book that I never thought could happen: putting cooking and toxic internet culture into one short story. This book made me nostalgic of high school tumblr and being overly invested in someone’s life who was way too famous to know me. Although the book had strong themes of culture, friendship, and not trusting people on the internet, I think the lack of consequences for many of the characters made me not as invested in the story as I was in the beginning. I enjoyed the authors deep descriptions of food and cooking, and the main characters love and passion for cooking really seeped through the pages.
⭐️⭐️.5 stars!
Catch “Appetite” everywhere on August 4th!!
Appetite is a book that I never thought could happen: putting cooking and toxic internet culture into one short story. This book made me nostalgic of high school tumblr and being overly invested in someone’s life who was way too famous to know me. Although the book had strong themes of culture, friendship, and not trusting people on the internet, I think the lack of consequences for many of the characters made me not as invested in the story as I was in the beginning. I enjoyed the authors deep descriptions of food and cooking, and the main characters love and passion for cooking really seeped through the pages.
⭐️⭐️.5 stars!
Catch “Appetite” everywhere on August 4th!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Appetite is about a young adult, Zarina who longs to be a chef but lacks confidence in herself, wants approval from others especially her mother and who needs to just belief in herself and her cooking. Zarina is from Bangladeshi and dreams of opening her own restaurant mixing favorite childhood dishes fused with modern twists. Zarina however, gets easily distracted and uses the distractions as a way to allow herself not to achieve her dreams.
Definitely, a coming of age read, most readers can identify with trying to figure out young adulthood. Torn between having adult responsibilities and still being young enough to barely be an adult. The main character Zarina, is likeable although a bit flaky. The author provided some good mentors for Zarina which helped develop the story. The food sounds delicious and overall, the read was good.
Definitely, a coming of age read, most readers can identify with trying to figure out young adulthood. Torn between having adult responsibilities and still being young enough to barely be an adult. The main character Zarina, is likeable although a bit flaky. The author provided some good mentors for Zarina which helped develop the story. The food sounds delicious and overall, the read was good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received as a NetGalley arc in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
I expected a darker turn and heavier consequences for many of the characters given the bigotry the MC and many other characters face. Some of this is due to the writing style, which can be script-like and often reports' on characters' feelings but doesn't always demonstrate the impact of events and interactions through subsequent arcs. However, themes such as the flattening of cultural identities by outsiders and casual racism are shown to be heartbreakingly common, just as they are outside these pages.
The MC and most of her friends are charming and this is an endearing coming of age story. Zarina's passion for Bangladeshi food and culture is beautiful and watching her begin to see past the distractions of parasocial relationships is satisfying.
3.5 stars
I expected a darker turn and heavier consequences for many of the characters given the bigotry the MC and many other characters face. Some of this is due to the writing style, which can be script-like and often reports' on characters' feelings but doesn't always demonstrate the impact of events and interactions through subsequent arcs. However, themes such as the flattening of cultural identities by outsiders and casual racism are shown to be heartbreakingly common, just as they are outside these pages.
The MC and most of her friends are charming and this is an endearing coming of age story. Zarina's passion for Bangladeshi food and culture is beautiful and watching her begin to see past the distractions of parasocial relationships is satisfying.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"I just want someone who's in my corner no matter what, but being seen by anyone still feels like a faraway dream." This quote destroyed me with how deeply accurate it feels. I loved this book so much.
This book is a great reminder of what it feels like to be excited about new foods and cultures and how cooking and sharing meals can truly bring people to together. It's also a great representation of that early 20's learning curve where you're struggling to find yourself and your identity and the people you want around you.
I thought this book was very well and very thoughtfully written and I could not put it down. I will definitely be adding this author to my watch list right after I find some Bangladeshi food!
Thank you Net Galley and Random House for the advanced reader's copy
This book is a great reminder of what it feels like to be excited about new foods and cultures and how cooking and sharing meals can truly bring people to together. It's also a great representation of that early 20's learning curve where you're struggling to find yourself and your identity and the people you want around you.
I thought this book was very well and very thoughtfully written and I could not put it down. I will definitely be adding this author to my watch list right after I find some Bangladeshi food!
Thank you Net Galley and Random House for the advanced reader's copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Zarina is a prep cook who loves to create modern fusion spins from classic Bengali dishes, despite her mother's disapproval. She also loves women's professional wrestling. One night she creates a gif of her favorite wrestler, Sierra Myst, and the internet goes crazy. The icing on the cake is Sierra Myst likes her post and asks if Zarina can create more gifs. As Zarina's wrestling posts gain popularity, she joins an online fan group, and starts to be more social. Soon Zarina starts to feel that she's getting too wrapped up in Sierra Myst's life and letting her dreams of owning her own restaurant go. With the support of her friends as work and some of her wrestling friends, Zarina finally takes a chance on her own talent and opens her restaurant. An truly enjoyable debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The summary of this book really pulled me in, the combination of wrestling fandom and the restaurant world seemed interesting. The description of fandom and how social media can get toxic quickly felt very accurate. You could see how this would be harmful to Zarina's ability to commit herself to the future she wants, and confuse her in how she is supposed to be doing things. Zarina's complicated relationship with Sierra Myst was interesting to read. I felt like some parts/relationships felt a little superficial or came out of nowhere. Specifically, I think Aubrey's could have been explored more or sometimes Zarina felt so selfish it seemed like she would have no friends at the end of this. I did really enjoy all of the descriptions of Bangali food, it definitely made me hungry at times.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a good read. I don't miss being in that age of uncertainty. Here, Zarina, is a Bangladeshi American aspiring Chef who also loves women's pro wrestling. She gets inspiration from both her background and how the women, wrestlers, especially Sierra Myst have inspired and motivated her. What happens is she falls into the social media fandom where it takes over her life, causing her to neglect real life. And the hard lessons that Zarina learns and resets from, just ring so true. What was also refreshing is that Zarina is queer, but the story isn't about her suffering, it's just who she is. The food descriptions are just scrumptious and I would eat her food any day.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Appetite was such a fun, quick, and touching read. Obsessions can be all consuming and life altering, and this was a unique and nuanced take on parasocial relationships. I loved following Zarina as she juggled her relationship with fandom, friendships, idols, and ambition. As someone unfamiliar with wrestling, her passion for the sport was palpable and brought to life by her internet escapades. The food descriptions were so vivid, and the pacing and coming of age themes were perfect. There were ups and downs, but I ultimately finished the story feeling inspired. I think many people will relate and there was queer and immigrant rep. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a one day read. It grabs you from page one and you just don't want to put it down. The prose was beautifully done and I understood and connected to Zarina on a very real level. I wish there was more done with Zarina's relationship with Sierra Myst, but the parasociality was done very well, and all of the Bengali food dishes had my mouth watering as I read. The entire first part was emotionally hard to get through because of how well it was all written. I can't recommend this enough.
This was a one day read. It grabs you from page one and you just don't want to put it down. The prose was beautifully done and I understood and connected to Zarina on a very real level. I wish there was more done with Zarina's relationship with Sierra Myst, but the parasociality was done very well, and all of the Bengali food dishes had my mouth watering as I read. The entire first part was emotionally hard to get through because of how well it was all written. I can't recommend this enough.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is a gem! Read it in two days and sacrificed some sleep over it! Every character feels so real, the pace is perfect, Zarina's personal growth is amazing to read. Learning about Bangladeshi dishes was interesting, and I'm currently looking to see if I can try some around me. It all sounded so delicious. As a wrestling fan, the descriptions were so clear that I could picture the matches in my head. This book is cozy and comforting. I feel like I have new friends!
Thank you, Netgalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you, Netgalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wish I'd loved this, but sadly, I did not :( It just felt so heavy-handed. We were constantly told what our main character was feeling and what was bothering them. We were told what their relationships looked like and why. I also found the societal discussions of parasocial relationships to be incredibly on-the-nose. I wasn't expecting this to change my life, but I was hoping it would be a fun romp. Sadly, neither was true.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maybe a very niche audience will like this. I did not.
Pros: Food descriptions were lush, and the thorough introduction to the food of Bangladesh was intriguing.
Cons: Couldn't get into the wrestling thing, the obsessive fandom thing, or the lack of real consequences for actions for the book's characters. The general writing style wasn't for me either. Maybe for teens it will work better, but I like a YA that works for adults too.
Pros: Food descriptions were lush, and the thorough introduction to the food of Bangladesh was intriguing.
Cons: Couldn't get into the wrestling thing, the obsessive fandom thing, or the lack of real consequences for actions for the book's characters. The general writing style wasn't for me either. Maybe for teens it will work better, but I like a YA that works for adults too.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lots of Bengali fusion food and fandom culture. It’s very obvious just how much the author adores Bengali food, the descriptions are delicious and made me hunger for it. The fandom culture displayed was unfortunately super accurate, along with how being parasocial can affect someone.
It also touched on topics of racism, both outright and casual, how common it can be and the lack of actual consequences or growth that come from those encounters.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
It also touched on topics of racism, both outright and casual, how common it can be and the lack of actual consequences or growth that come from those encounters.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
this was a delicious read (no pun intended), maybe even a little too saccharine, but ultimately i was pulled into the story from the jump. i really enjoyed spending time with this cast of characters and seeing how Zarina’s friendship dynamics played out, especially the dichotomy between the “heel” (Sierra) and the “face” (Anna). thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
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