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Hungry Eyes
Not yet published
Expected 18 Jun 26What happens at your kitchen table can become the blueprint for everything you are. Did you sit alone or with people you loved? Was it fun or tense? Was someone working hard to stop you noticing someone else's mood? Did you take it for granted, or know someone had busted their balls to make it happen?
Was the food thoughtful and delicious, or bland and functional? Was the plate laid down with love or anger?
It all matters. It all stays with us.
I think about this every single day.
For years, Dawn O’Porter believed that fulfilment lived somewhere glamorous – in success, recognition, and a life lived loudly.
Somewhere between grieving loss, learning to cook something vaguely nutritious, Hollywood dreams, raising children, writing bestselling fiction and eating wotsits for dinner, Dawn discovered that the real spotlight wasn’t out there. It was here, at the kitchen table. In the messy moments, and in the meals burned, devoured, avoided and adored. Food became her stage, her comfort and her love language.
Hungry Eyes is a memoir about identity and appetite. The moments and the meals that quietly shape who we become and the ingredients we use to gradually build a life. She explores the lifelong pressure to ‘bring something to the table’, and the hunger that can create inside us as a result.
Warm, sharp and wise, this is Nigella meets Nora Ephron with a side of therapy and served with a little bit of bite; this will definitely make you want to cook for the ones you love.
What if the thing you’ve been chasing your whole life was already sitting at your kitchen table?
Was the food thoughtful and delicious, or bland and functional? Was the plate laid down with love or anger?
It all matters. It all stays with us.
I think about this every single day.
For years, Dawn O’Porter believed that fulfilment lived somewhere glamorous – in success, recognition, and a life lived loudly.
Somewhere between grieving loss, learning to cook something vaguely nutritious, Hollywood dreams, raising children, writing bestselling fiction and eating wotsits for dinner, Dawn discovered that the real spotlight wasn’t out there. It was here, at the kitchen table. In the messy moments, and in the meals burned, devoured, avoided and adored. Food became her stage, her comfort and her love language.
Hungry Eyes is a memoir about identity and appetite. The moments and the meals that quietly shape who we become and the ingredients we use to gradually build a life. She explores the lifelong pressure to ‘bring something to the table’, and the hunger that can create inside us as a result.
Warm, sharp and wise, this is Nigella meets Nora Ephron with a side of therapy and served with a little bit of bite; this will definitely make you want to cook for the ones you love.
What if the thing you’ve been chasing your whole life was already sitting at your kitchen table?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 31, 2026
I was aware of Dawn but didn’t actually watch her tv programs until she was on Masterchef. I loved her cooking and her style so was interested in this book. It is obvious, I think, from the title that this book is about food and her relationship to food. I think this would be a triggering book for anyone with a history of an eating disorder, including bulimia or binge eating. A bit of a ⭐️ was removed in my head when she said she would not be bulimic due to fear of teeth damage, I mean that is true but there is also significant risk of death. I think having a helpline or some information added to the end of the book for anyone experiencing an eating disorder would be really helpful and if they add that this would be a 5 ⭐️ book for me. Dawn describes urges for many eating disorder behaviour, including restricting with details of this including calories. There is also discussion about cancer and death of loved ones.
I enjoyed the majority of this book, Dawn uses food to explore her experiences in life and has details of some of her favourite recipes. I’m definitely going for the Mac and cheese which looks good. I think at times I felt envious of her ability to host and her generosity. At the end though I have taken her advice to take care of myself first and have definitely been making my meals with more love. I have started adding a salad to my evening meals using her salad dressing which is very easy and very delicious. I am thinking that I can start small before I start to be more hospitable, maybe.
I think if Dawn had a conversation with me covering this book there would be no issue, I do think some nuances are probably lost in the print. The book feels totally unfiltered, I do have issues with pregnant women and babies and my 1⭐️ dropped towards the end of the book. Dawn describes eating blue cheese just before giving birth, listeria even at the end if the pregnancy is dangerous. Maybe it was cooked but she doesn’t say that. Also she describes drinking alcohol during the pregnancy, not just before knowing she is pregnant. My understanding is that no amount is safe and I wish she would mention that here, not just when she dramatically reduces alcohol later on in the story. I think if she would be talking to me I would be rolling my eyes and she would tell me off and we would laugh, but I’d still ask if they can amend this bit before publishing. The part of the book when she had her babies was not my favourite, but the rest of the book, going from when she was a child to her return to the UK was so good. I loved her descriptions of tactile experiences and her joy of food and people is radiant. I absolutely binge read this book, basically in a day, I think this is testament to how good the book is. It’s definitely a book that will make you appreciate your food more!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
I enjoyed the majority of this book, Dawn uses food to explore her experiences in life and has details of some of her favourite recipes. I’m definitely going for the Mac and cheese which looks good. I think at times I felt envious of her ability to host and her generosity. At the end though I have taken her advice to take care of myself first and have definitely been making my meals with more love. I have started adding a salad to my evening meals using her salad dressing which is very easy and very delicious. I am thinking that I can start small before I start to be more hospitable, maybe.
I think if Dawn had a conversation with me covering this book there would be no issue, I do think some nuances are probably lost in the print. The book feels totally unfiltered, I do have issues with pregnant women and babies and my 1⭐️ dropped towards the end of the book. Dawn describes eating blue cheese just before giving birth, listeria even at the end if the pregnancy is dangerous. Maybe it was cooked but she doesn’t say that. Also she describes drinking alcohol during the pregnancy, not just before knowing she is pregnant. My understanding is that no amount is safe and I wish she would mention that here, not just when she dramatically reduces alcohol later on in the story. I think if she would be talking to me I would be rolling my eyes and she would tell me off and we would laugh, but I’d still ask if they can amend this bit before publishing. The part of the book when she had her babies was not my favourite, but the rest of the book, going from when she was a child to her return to the UK was so good. I loved her descriptions of tactile experiences and her joy of food and people is radiant. I absolutely binge read this book, basically in a day, I think this is testament to how good the book is. It’s definitely a book that will make you appreciate your food more!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this expecting a boring life story with too many details. I came out wondering why I had never read a memoir before.
I almost gave up in the first twenty pages, not because it was bad, but because I had never read a memoir and kept waiting for a plot that was never coming. Then I looked up Dawn O'Porter and fell completely in love with her. After that, the book sailed.
The structure is clever without announcing itself. Each section is anchored by food, not as a gimmick but as the genuine through-line of a life. The meals are not decoration. They are the architecture. What Dawn ate, with whom, and under what circumstances becomes the map of who she was becoming at each stage. The device holds consistently across the full book without ever feeling forced, which is harder to pull off than it looks.
The pacing is one of the book's quiet achievements. Nothing drags. Nothing feels like filler. For a memoir told through a series of distinct moments rather than a continuous narrative, that consistency of momentum is real craft. Every section earns its place.
The writing is raw in the way that means she is not performing rawness. There is a line: "my need to be impressive never taking a day off." I felt that sentence in a way that had nothing to do with Dawn O'Porter and everything to do with myself, which is what good memoir writing does. It uses a specific life to hand you back something about your own.
O'Porter goes deep where it counts. Her childhood grief, her relationship with appetite and ambition, her marriage, her public persona: none of it feels skirted. She faced what she needed to face and trusted the reader to sit with her in it.
Aunty Jane is in a category of her own. The way Dawn writes about her is so pure it makes you want to call your own person, whoever that is for you.
There are recipes. I made the Ultimate Mac N Cheese and the Panettone Bread Pudding in the same week. I am working out extra hard as a direct consequence and I have no one to blame but Dawn O'Porter and myself.
The one thing that would have pushed this to five stars: dialogue. There are moments where scenes are recounted and you feel the people in them without quite hearing them, and a sharper exchange here and there would have made those scenes land harder. That is probably a bias from reading mostly fiction, and I will admit it freely. But it is the one place the book left me wanting a different texture.
A lived life is as interesting as fiction. I did not know that before this book. I do now.
I almost gave up in the first twenty pages, not because it was bad, but because I had never read a memoir and kept waiting for a plot that was never coming. Then I looked up Dawn O'Porter and fell completely in love with her. After that, the book sailed.
The structure is clever without announcing itself. Each section is anchored by food, not as a gimmick but as the genuine through-line of a life. The meals are not decoration. They are the architecture. What Dawn ate, with whom, and under what circumstances becomes the map of who she was becoming at each stage. The device holds consistently across the full book without ever feeling forced, which is harder to pull off than it looks.
The pacing is one of the book's quiet achievements. Nothing drags. Nothing feels like filler. For a memoir told through a series of distinct moments rather than a continuous narrative, that consistency of momentum is real craft. Every section earns its place.
The writing is raw in the way that means she is not performing rawness. There is a line: "my need to be impressive never taking a day off." I felt that sentence in a way that had nothing to do with Dawn O'Porter and everything to do with myself, which is what good memoir writing does. It uses a specific life to hand you back something about your own.
O'Porter goes deep where it counts. Her childhood grief, her relationship with appetite and ambition, her marriage, her public persona: none of it feels skirted. She faced what she needed to face and trusted the reader to sit with her in it.
Aunty Jane is in a category of her own. The way Dawn writes about her is so pure it makes you want to call your own person, whoever that is for you.
There are recipes. I made the Ultimate Mac N Cheese and the Panettone Bread Pudding in the same week. I am working out extra hard as a direct consequence and I have no one to blame but Dawn O'Porter and myself.
The one thing that would have pushed this to five stars: dialogue. There are moments where scenes are recounted and you feel the people in them without quite hearing them, and a sharper exchange here and there would have made those scenes land harder. That is probably a bias from reading mostly fiction, and I will admit it freely. But it is the one place the book left me wanting a different texture.
A lived life is as interesting as fiction. I did not know that before this book. I do now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having so enjoyed Grace Dent's food themed biography Hungry, I eagerly looked forward to a similar style book. I know neither woman as I don't watch the TV shows they are on but as long as there is an interesting story this doesn't matter much to me.
I did enjoy Hungry Eyes but wasn't quite as gripped by her writing or story as much as I hoped. The food and drink referenced often seemed over dramatised and not always believable. Dawn would be enormous if she truly ate what she claims too. I was also a little put off by her love of swearing and how seems to assess the sign of a good friend by how much he or she swears or sends "an email absolutely loaded with filth". Also description of friends (maybe they feel otherwise) as having 'massive tits' or in other unflattering terms. I found that side of her quite unlikeable.
There are some bits I take exception to such as her claims of eating good salt as opposed to bad salt. All salt is sodium chloride and is good or bad depending on if you eat too little or too much. I am also astonished by how badly her health suffered by eating gluten for years even though she knew it was making her ill. Then, as a reader, we feel expected to admire her when she finally goes cold-turkey on giving up gluten and raves about the difference in her health. She eats a lot of supplements which I expect will be revealed in years to come as food fads and of no real nutritional use.
She's lived in Los Angeles for many years so there was a fair bit of Americanisms I had to look up such as 'wife-beaters' and Daisy Dukes - both items of clothing. Most of the recipes look appealing and I will try some.
With thanks to NetGalley and on HarperNonFiction for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy Hungry Eyes but wasn't quite as gripped by her writing or story as much as I hoped. The food and drink referenced often seemed over dramatised and not always believable. Dawn would be enormous if she truly ate what she claims too. I was also a little put off by her love of swearing and how seems to assess the sign of a good friend by how much he or she swears or sends "an email absolutely loaded with filth". Also description of friends (maybe they feel otherwise) as having 'massive tits' or in other unflattering terms. I found that side of her quite unlikeable.
There are some bits I take exception to such as her claims of eating good salt as opposed to bad salt. All salt is sodium chloride and is good or bad depending on if you eat too little or too much. I am also astonished by how badly her health suffered by eating gluten for years even though she knew it was making her ill. Then, as a reader, we feel expected to admire her when she finally goes cold-turkey on giving up gluten and raves about the difference in her health. She eats a lot of supplements which I expect will be revealed in years to come as food fads and of no real nutritional use.
She's lived in Los Angeles for many years so there was a fair bit of Americanisms I had to look up such as 'wife-beaters' and Daisy Dukes - both items of clothing. Most of the recipes look appealing and I will try some.
With thanks to NetGalley and on HarperNonFiction for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Dawn, have done since the early 00s when she did the Dirty Dancing documentary on channel 5*. She kept me sane through lockdown, although I do blame her for my "cocktails and crisps every day after work" habit that took hold that first summer. :D
Life in Pieces is a compilation of writings from her Patreon account written during lockdown in Los Angeles, and it is lots of fun. I read this when it first came out but still dip into it today.
I've just finished Hungry Eyes (yes, Dawn is a huge Dirty Dancing fan!) her new memoir, full of stories about her life and the food memories they envoke. The whole book is delicious and I gobbled it up!
Puns aside, it's a frank and honest account of her life so far - Dawn has experienced such great loss, some of it at a very early age, and she speaks so openly about it. Be prepared for some emotional writing. A few tears were shed.
Of course, with Dawn, there is also a lot of laughter. I loved the stories about Dawn and her sister, Jane, visiting their Dad at Loch Lomond during the summer holidays. Plus some of her university menus were relatable. Who hasn't eaten a crisp sandwich for tea? Nutrition be damned.
The food descriptions are heavenly, but please do not make the mistake of reading it when hungry, you will torture yourself. Each chapter concludes with a recipe, many of which I want to try out.
I'll be getting a physical copy of this when it is published next month, my only quandary trying to decide if it goes on my shelves or on my trolley of cookery books.
Thank you so much to the publishers for my copy in exchange for a review.
Life in Pieces is a compilation of writings from her Patreon account written during lockdown in Los Angeles, and it is lots of fun. I read this when it first came out but still dip into it today.
I've just finished Hungry Eyes (yes, Dawn is a huge Dirty Dancing fan!) her new memoir, full of stories about her life and the food memories they envoke. The whole book is delicious and I gobbled it up!
Puns aside, it's a frank and honest account of her life so far - Dawn has experienced such great loss, some of it at a very early age, and she speaks so openly about it. Be prepared for some emotional writing. A few tears were shed.
Of course, with Dawn, there is also a lot of laughter. I loved the stories about Dawn and her sister, Jane, visiting their Dad at Loch Lomond during the summer holidays. Plus some of her university menus were relatable. Who hasn't eaten a crisp sandwich for tea? Nutrition be damned.
The food descriptions are heavenly, but please do not make the mistake of reading it when hungry, you will torture yourself. Each chapter concludes with a recipe, many of which I want to try out.
I'll be getting a physical copy of this when it is published next month, my only quandary trying to decide if it goes on my shelves or on my trolley of cookery books.
Thank you so much to the publishers for my copy in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
5 frigging stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh Dawn… I absolutely adore you, and I’m convinced we would have been friends if we’d met. From the way you ate your Cadbury’s Boost bars to your love (and slight obsession!) with Dirty Dancing, I related to so much of this book.
As someone who smoked in the 90s too — starting on Lambert & Butler Silver (“sculler silver” 😂) before graduating to Marlboro Lights — this felt so nostalgic and familiar. Dawn writes in such a way that you feel like you’re sat chatting with an old friend.
What really struck me was how much she visualised and manifested the life she wanted. Proper law of attraction vibes, but backed up with years of hard graft and determination.
The heartbreak of losing her mum runs throughout the book, but so does the incredible love she received from her Auntie and Uncle. It was emotional, funny, raw and incredibly honest and her close special Sister Planty Jane ..
I also loved getting more insight into the life I’ve watched through Instagram stories over the years — and finally understanding where the love of cats comes from!
“Has Dawn done a shit yet?” honestly had me crying laughing 🤣🤣🤣
I’m a huge Dawn O’Porter fan already, and this book has made me want to go back and reread Paper Aeroplanes all over again.
This is an absolute must-read, and I’ll be telling — and willing — all my fellow 48-year-old gals to buy it immediately.
5 frigging stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh Dawn… I absolutely adore you, and I’m convinced we would have been friends if we’d met. From the way you ate your Cadbury’s Boost bars to your love (and slight obsession!) with Dirty Dancing, I related to so much of this book.
As someone who smoked in the 90s too — starting on Lambert & Butler Silver (“sculler silver” 😂) before graduating to Marlboro Lights — this felt so nostalgic and familiar. Dawn writes in such a way that you feel like you’re sat chatting with an old friend.
What really struck me was how much she visualised and manifested the life she wanted. Proper law of attraction vibes, but backed up with years of hard graft and determination.
The heartbreak of losing her mum runs throughout the book, but so does the incredible love she received from her Auntie and Uncle. It was emotional, funny, raw and incredibly honest and her close special Sister Planty Jane ..
I also loved getting more insight into the life I’ve watched through Instagram stories over the years — and finally understanding where the love of cats comes from!
“Has Dawn done a shit yet?” honestly had me crying laughing 🤣🤣🤣
I’m a huge Dawn O’Porter fan already, and this book has made me want to go back and reread Paper Aeroplanes all over again.
This is an absolute must-read, and I’ll be telling — and willing — all my fellow 48-year-old gals to buy it immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is a fascinating insight into Dawn O’Porters life. Told with honestly and self reflection she shares how the tragic loss of her mother at a young age affected her. And although her grandparents and uncle and aunt stepped in to bring her a happy childhood, her feeling of missing something still prevailed. Her fathers attempts to stay in contact with her and her sister were well meaning but still lacking.
I connected with this book personally as my cousins grew up with my grandmother and my parents after losing both their parents. Things were brushed under the carpet in those days and the repercussions were felt for a long time. As Dawn found comfort in food, sadly my cousin went the opposite way and struggled with anorexia for many years.
The love of cooking and food shines through the pages of this book. Cooking a meal and sharing with others is undoubtedly a special act of love. The recipes in the book were an added bonus, I am in awe of anyone who can just throw a meal together and this is what Dawn seems to do effortlessly.
A really good read , I even made mackerel pate from Dawns recipe . I love reading about other people’s lives and this along with the foodie content was the perfect mix.
I connected with this book personally as my cousins grew up with my grandmother and my parents after losing both their parents. Things were brushed under the carpet in those days and the repercussions were felt for a long time. As Dawn found comfort in food, sadly my cousin went the opposite way and struggled with anorexia for many years.
The love of cooking and food shines through the pages of this book. Cooking a meal and sharing with others is undoubtedly a special act of love. The recipes in the book were an added bonus, I am in awe of anyone who can just throw a meal together and this is what Dawn seems to do effortlessly.
A really good read , I even made mackerel pate from Dawns recipe . I love reading about other people’s lives and this along with the foodie content was the perfect mix.
May 31, 2026
This book is packed with food and Dawn's love for it shines through on every page. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she comes across as relatable, down to earth, very funny and someone you’d want to be friends with.
As someone of a similar age, I found myself connecting with many of the stories she shares from her younger years. So many of her memories made me reflect on my own life which added an extra layer of enjoyment to the book.
I've previously read some of Dawn's novels but I loved getting this more personal insight into her life. Food plays such a huge role in shaping her memories, from time spent with her friends and family to celebrations and just everyday moments. It's a reminder of how closely food and memory are intertwined.
I thought the pacing was excellent and I enjoyed the recipes scattered throughout the book. The chicken parm and the love kebab are definitely on my list to try!
As a huge foodie myself, I found this such a joyful and uplifting read. Seeing someone embrace food with so much pleasure and without any apology whatsoever while sharing her memories and experiences attached to it was an absolute delight
As someone of a similar age, I found myself connecting with many of the stories she shares from her younger years. So many of her memories made me reflect on my own life which added an extra layer of enjoyment to the book.
I've previously read some of Dawn's novels but I loved getting this more personal insight into her life. Food plays such a huge role in shaping her memories, from time spent with her friends and family to celebrations and just everyday moments. It's a reminder of how closely food and memory are intertwined.
I thought the pacing was excellent and I enjoyed the recipes scattered throughout the book. The chicken parm and the love kebab are definitely on my list to try!
As a huge foodie myself, I found this such a joyful and uplifting read. Seeing someone embrace food with so much pleasure and without any apology whatsoever while sharing her memories and experiences attached to it was an absolute delight
June 5, 2026
Foodoirs (food memoirs) is such an underrated genre and Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter is an excellent example of why more foodoirs should be published!
The book follows Dawn from her early childhood memories, teenage struggles, uni days up to her making it on the silver screen, becoming a mom and founding Choose Love. I felt like tasted every dish that was connected to the memories. I loved how every milestone of Dawn’s life was connected to a dish and a recipe was provided for the reader to make. (I cannot wait to try some!) All the love was translated into the dishes and the writing felt very original. It was raw, funny and emotional at the same time
Food is such an underrated memory enhancer. It made me reflect back to my memories that involved the dining table with my grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins and friends.
Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter would make a wonderful gift for anyone whose love language is cooking and I’m sure it’ll fit either kitchen bookshelf or a main bookshelf.
Thank you HarperCollins Nonfiction & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter will be out on June 18, 2026
The book follows Dawn from her early childhood memories, teenage struggles, uni days up to her making it on the silver screen, becoming a mom and founding Choose Love. I felt like tasted every dish that was connected to the memories. I loved how every milestone of Dawn’s life was connected to a dish and a recipe was provided for the reader to make. (I cannot wait to try some!) All the love was translated into the dishes and the writing felt very original. It was raw, funny and emotional at the same time
Food is such an underrated memory enhancer. It made me reflect back to my memories that involved the dining table with my grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins and friends.
Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter would make a wonderful gift for anyone whose love language is cooking and I’m sure it’ll fit either kitchen bookshelf or a main bookshelf.
Thank you HarperCollins Nonfiction & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter will be out on June 18, 2026
May 10, 2026
I read Hungry Eyes by Dawn O'Porter as an ARC (thanks Netgalley) and I already know I’ll be buying a finished copy when it comes out.
This is a memoir wrapped up in food — the meals Dawn ate, the memories attached to them, the recipes she makes and loves — and honestly, I swear we’d be friends if we ever met. We seem to love all the same things: food, books, our kids, friends, Dirty Dancing… and we’re both a bit sweary.
The whole book feels like sitting down with a friend while they chat away over coffee (and probably snacks). It’s very stream of consciousness, which occasionally made me feel a little untethered in the timeline, but weirdly, I didn’t mind. That conversational style is exactly what made it feel so warm and personal.
And the FOOD. Oh my god. I loved the recipes and already can’t wait to try the LOVE kebabs and the panettone bread pudding. Also, Christmas needs to hurry up because now all I want is mince pies and blue cheese.
One warning: do not read this book when hungry. I was perpetually starving while reading it. Absolute torture in the best possible way.
This is a memoir wrapped up in food — the meals Dawn ate, the memories attached to them, the recipes she makes and loves — and honestly, I swear we’d be friends if we ever met. We seem to love all the same things: food, books, our kids, friends, Dirty Dancing… and we’re both a bit sweary.
The whole book feels like sitting down with a friend while they chat away over coffee (and probably snacks). It’s very stream of consciousness, which occasionally made me feel a little untethered in the timeline, but weirdly, I didn’t mind. That conversational style is exactly what made it feel so warm and personal.
And the FOOD. Oh my god. I loved the recipes and already can’t wait to try the LOVE kebabs and the panettone bread pudding. Also, Christmas needs to hurry up because now all I want is mince pies and blue cheese.
One warning: do not read this book when hungry. I was perpetually starving while reading it. Absolute torture in the best possible way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★★★★★
Wow… where do I even start with this one? 📚✨
First of all, this is officially my first five star read of the month and honestly it deserves every single star.
Secondly… that title 😂 You genuinely need to read the book to fully appreciate it and once you do, it makes perfect sense.
When I first started reading, I actually had no idea who Dawn O’Porter was, but by the end I completely fell in love with both her and her story. Her writing feels so honest, funny and incredibly real.
From her love of Dirty Dancing, food, wine, Marlboro Lights, The Stinking Rose in LA and even being gluten free… I found myself connecting with so many little parts of her life and personality along the way.
This memoir is warm, witty, emotional and wonderfully addictive. It felt like sitting down with someone and hearing their whole story over a bottle of wine and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Such a brilliant read and I’ll absolutely be picking up more of her books and catching up on her TV work too 🩷📖
Wow… where do I even start with this one? 📚✨
First of all, this is officially my first five star read of the month and honestly it deserves every single star.
Secondly… that title 😂 You genuinely need to read the book to fully appreciate it and once you do, it makes perfect sense.
When I first started reading, I actually had no idea who Dawn O’Porter was, but by the end I completely fell in love with both her and her story. Her writing feels so honest, funny and incredibly real.
From her love of Dirty Dancing, food, wine, Marlboro Lights, The Stinking Rose in LA and even being gluten free… I found myself connecting with so many little parts of her life and personality along the way.
This memoir is warm, witty, emotional and wonderfully addictive. It felt like sitting down with someone and hearing their whole story over a bottle of wine and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Such a brilliant read and I’ll absolutely be picking up more of her books and catching up on her TV work too 🩷📖
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who doesn't usually read memoirs, there was something about this one that just spoke to me, and I am so happy I went with my gut. I had no clue what I was getting into, because other than having had my eye on a few Dawn O'Porter books for a while (which I still have to get to, but definitely will soon now), I had no clue who she was. From the very first few lines, this one hooked me in and kept me entertained the entire time. I love the way it is structured, and the writing is so sharp and to-the-point but so light and fun at the same time, it doesn't shy away from the ugly bits of life, but it knows how to counter it; it truly felt like sitting down with a friend for a chat, and I loved that. The pacing is also so great, nothing ever feels flat, nothing feels out of place, everything just clicks. There is so much heart in this one, I truly loved everything about it.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An absolute feast of a book, devoured this in day, reading it every spare moment I had, I love the way Dawn writes with such honesty but what I particularly enjoy is that the way Dawn writes means I can actually hear her reading the words in my head. It’s clear the passion she has for food and how much it means to her and the recipes interspersed were a lovely addition and I will certainly be making some of those recipes.
This book is an autobiography through food and shares the hard times, grief and the fun and laughter of her life.
An absolute gem of a book that I would highly recommend. thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book however opinions are all my own.
This book is an autobiography through food and shares the hard times, grief and the fun and laughter of her life.
An absolute gem of a book that I would highly recommend. thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book however opinions are all my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoy reading Dawn O'Porter's books and so I requested this via NetGalley as soon as I saw it.
I loved how Dawn linked her love of cooking with events throughout her life so it was like an autobiographical cookbook! Every chapter Dawn talks about events in her life and relates food to them and adds in a recipe - its a really interesting premise but I did wonder could everything be linked to food, is there a food related story for every life event? Well it turns out that in Dawns case at least there is, and I think as the book went on I really enjoyed it more and more - some could say I devoured it! I think this book would be one that I would buy a physical copy of as I think it would be fantastic to use the recipes. 4 Stars
I loved how Dawn linked her love of cooking with events throughout her life so it was like an autobiographical cookbook! Every chapter Dawn talks about events in her life and relates food to them and adds in a recipe - its a really interesting premise but I did wonder could everything be linked to food, is there a food related story for every life event? Well it turns out that in Dawns case at least there is, and I think as the book went on I really enjoyed it more and more - some could say I devoured it! I think this book would be one that I would buy a physical copy of as I think it would be fantastic to use the recipes. 4 Stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been known to say I'd quite like to be friends with Dawn, I think even more so now, because all this talk of food ... I'm definitely one who likes a new recipe.
This feels like being chatted to, easy and free flowing, but hits quite a few serious subjects, especially in the earlier parts.
The addition of recipes is great, I'd like to say I'll give them a go, but my Instagram saved collection would show me for a liar.
Interesting to hear how Dawn got her start in her career, as she's one of those people I just know, without knowing how.
Warm, funny and friendly, I enjoyed this one.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
This feels like being chatted to, easy and free flowing, but hits quite a few serious subjects, especially in the earlier parts.
The addition of recipes is great, I'd like to say I'll give them a go, but my Instagram saved collection would show me for a liar.
Interesting to hear how Dawn got her start in her career, as she's one of those people I just know, without knowing how.
Warm, funny and friendly, I enjoyed this one.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From dreams of glamour and fame, to the realisation of what makes up who we are and what we really love, Dawn O'Porter takes us on an absorbing journey of self discovery that includes the tragic loss of her mother at an early age; the role played by her grandparents, uncle and aunt in attempting to fill that vacuum; her scattershot relationship with her charming father; and her growing understanding of the extent to which food makes up her identity.
Intriguing and honest, her story holds the reader's attention well and earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Intriguing and honest, her story holds the reader's attention well and earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 25, 2026
3.5*
This was a lovely book, but by no means my favourite thing that Dawn has written.
As a huge fan of her fiction, I was delighted to be approved for this arc, but I didn’t look too closely at the premise before I started… I’m not a huge foodie, so wasn’t grabbed by her journey through food. In fact, I can find conversations around diet and weight quite stressful.
Regardless of these things, it’s still Dawn. I laughed and enjoyed the tone, and a lot of the food did sound delicious.
Would recommend to Dawn lovers and food lovers!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishing team, and Dawn for this ARC.
This was a lovely book, but by no means my favourite thing that Dawn has written.
As a huge fan of her fiction, I was delighted to be approved for this arc, but I didn’t look too closely at the premise before I started… I’m not a huge foodie, so wasn’t grabbed by her journey through food. In fact, I can find conversations around diet and weight quite stressful.
Regardless of these things, it’s still Dawn. I laughed and enjoyed the tone, and a lot of the food did sound delicious.
Would recommend to Dawn lovers and food lovers!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishing team, and Dawn for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think a lot of us have an unconscious relationship with food. Some are minor. You eat to live. Sustenance, that is it.
Some of us have memories embedded deep within, relating to food, meals, and certain dishes. Memories that mould our relationship with grub.
Dawn O'Porter explores her own seesaw relationship with food, and how it affected her health, physically and mentally, and how it shaped so much of her life, even now, as she feels the most stable she has ever felt.
This was a raw memoir, peppered with some real emotion and seasoned with the best recipes, nostalgic, with modern twists, that I am sure most people would relate to.
Some of us have memories embedded deep within, relating to food, meals, and certain dishes. Memories that mould our relationship with grub.
Dawn O'Porter explores her own seesaw relationship with food, and how it affected her health, physically and mentally, and how it shaped so much of her life, even now, as she feels the most stable she has ever felt.
This was a raw memoir, peppered with some real emotion and seasoned with the best recipes, nostalgic, with modern twists, that I am sure most people would relate to.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Hungry Eyes" is romp through the life of Dawn O'Porter, cataloguing all her favourite people and food. She writes tenderly, especially about her early years, the loss of her mother and the tricky, but loving family dynamics left behind. She is a brilliant writer, capturing attention in a seemingly effortless fashion and with so much honesty and flair. It's a pleasure to spend time in her company.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A delicious read from Dawn O'Porter!
Written exactly in her voice (Which I know sounds obvious, but it's not a given!) this easy to read memoir is structured through food. Through Dawn's relationship with food, through the delicious and not delicious things she's eaten and how that has shaped her life - through opportunities, relationships and more.
It's an easy read, entertaining and yet also emotional at times. Peppered with recipes throughout, the book is one that I greatly enjoyed. I think if you're a fan of O'Porter's fiction, you'll enjoy this too!
Written exactly in her voice (Which I know sounds obvious, but it's not a given!) this easy to read memoir is structured through food. Through Dawn's relationship with food, through the delicious and not delicious things she's eaten and how that has shaped her life - through opportunities, relationships and more.
It's an easy read, entertaining and yet also emotional at times. Peppered with recipes throughout, the book is one that I greatly enjoyed. I think if you're a fan of O'Porter's fiction, you'll enjoy this too!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I first encountered Dawn's work through the documentaries she made. I loved her fresh, all in approach to the subjects she tackled and I am glad to see that her willingness to be vulnerable and to express herself comes through on the page in this food infused memoir. I think there's a great balance here between the memoir sections and the recipes, which leaves you feeling satisfied with both aspects of the writing. Funny, touching and frank, this was an engrossing read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m sat in my Cotswolds garden on a May bank holiday Monday in 32degree heat with tears streaming down my face. Not because it’s a sad book but purely because it’s a book of great love. It’s touched my soul beyond words, such a glorious biography and one I know I’ll re read over the years.
I’ve long been a fan of Dawn’s novels and her style of writing but this one is a triumph, even if you’re not a foodie (I am!) you’re going to love every word and try out some of the delicious recipes.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock all your life you’ll relate to many of the different emotions and experiences Dawn has been through, the funny and the sad. Can I just add that I’m really not a lover of celebrity biographies and my heart sank a little bit when I realised that that’s what this was. I’m so, so glad I got over myself and read this one. It’s different, it’s joyous, it’s also sad in places but above all it’s honest and very real.
I’ve long been a fan of Dawn’s novels and her style of writing but this one is a triumph, even if you’re not a foodie (I am!) you’re going to love every word and try out some of the delicious recipes.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock all your life you’ll relate to many of the different emotions and experiences Dawn has been through, the funny and the sad. Can I just add that I’m really not a lover of celebrity biographies and my heart sank a little bit when I realised that that’s what this was. I’m so, so glad I got over myself and read this one. It’s different, it’s joyous, it’s also sad in places but above all it’s honest and very real.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read many books of dawn's and this one doesn't disappoint.
Her personal story of different food dishes and where her love of cooking comes from.
Childhood memories, teenage fads.
It explains the background of the dishes she made on MasterChef. Such a genuine voice on the page and in person.
Sit down, grab a brew and feel as if you are having a good catch up with a friend..
Enjoy I did
Her personal story of different food dishes and where her love of cooking comes from.
Childhood memories, teenage fads.
It explains the background of the dishes she made on MasterChef. Such a genuine voice on the page and in person.
Sit down, grab a brew and feel as if you are having a good catch up with a friend..
Enjoy I did
June 1, 2026
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for honest review.
I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw it was by Dawn O’Porter I love her fiction books and her memoir was just as good. I enjoyed hearing about her life and her love of food. The recipes in the book are a great add and I look forward to trying some. Really enjoyable read highly recommend.
I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw it was by Dawn O’Porter I love her fiction books and her memoir was just as good. I enjoyed hearing about her life and her love of food. The recipes in the book are a great add and I look forward to trying some. Really enjoyable read highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always love Dawn O’Porter’s writing and this idea of a memoir via food is something I haven’t read before. I enjoyed the descriptions of events, memories and the food that made them, with the recipes adding a way for the reader to experience what is being described. A really enjoyable read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm a big fan of Dawn O'Porter but found this a bit disappointing. Books about food need to have very luscious and inspiring descriptions - think Nigel Slater, Nigella Lawson, Diana Henry. Dawn's prose is quite flat and doesn't have me salivating over her childhood food memories. She weaves her own recipes among the reminiscences. I imagine meals at her home must be filled with laughter as she uses food to create magic. A lovely book for her admirers. I wanted something more.
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