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A Healthy Appetite
A delightfully dark and ravenous tale of morality vs mortality, that asks what you’d sacrifice for your survival. Perfect for fans of Monika Kim and Sayaka Murata.
Hannah is dying for a cure.
After a decade subsumed by a cancer diagnosis, Hannah is now thirty, existing in a hinterland between life and death. Her boyfriend Scott has become more of a carer than a lover, and - with no job, no plans, and no more options - she has resigned herself to no future.
But then she's given the opportunity to join phase one of a clinical trial that might just save her. Almost immediately, she feels different; that evening, her appetite returns. And it keeps growing...
Now Hannah is hungry for life.
A committed vegetarian, Hannah suddenly finds herself craving meat ― but her new hunger isn't limited to food. Now she wants everything. As new and suppressed desires surface she becomes reckless, destructive, and deceitful. It's the miracle drug she's been waiting for, but at what cost?
This unique addition to the Weird Girl Lit tradition brings readers face to face with the visceral terror of being trapped in a body that has turned against itself. In a world where women are rewarded for their restraint, A Healthy Appetite introduces us to a character whose insatiable hunger is as vital for survival as the blood that runs through her veins.
Hannah is dying for a cure.
After a decade subsumed by a cancer diagnosis, Hannah is now thirty, existing in a hinterland between life and death. Her boyfriend Scott has become more of a carer than a lover, and - with no job, no plans, and no more options - she has resigned herself to no future.
But then she's given the opportunity to join phase one of a clinical trial that might just save her. Almost immediately, she feels different; that evening, her appetite returns. And it keeps growing...
Now Hannah is hungry for life.
A committed vegetarian, Hannah suddenly finds herself craving meat ― but her new hunger isn't limited to food. Now she wants everything. As new and suppressed desires surface she becomes reckless, destructive, and deceitful. It's the miracle drug she's been waiting for, but at what cost?
This unique addition to the Weird Girl Lit tradition brings readers face to face with the visceral terror of being trapped in a body that has turned against itself. In a world where women are rewarded for their restraint, A Healthy Appetite introduces us to a character whose insatiable hunger is as vital for survival as the blood that runs through her veins.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
FAV READ OF 2026 ALERT 🚨
A Healthy Appetite follows Hannah, a 30 year old who has been subsumed by a cancer diagnosis for a decade. She is given the opportunity to join a clinical trial that might save her life. But then, she starts to feel different...
She's a committed vegetarian, and has been for a very long time, but she now finds herself craving meat, but her hunger is definitely not limited to just food.
For a debut novel, l am in absolute awe. I devoured (no pun intended x) this book, and it left me craving so much more.
Hannah is a fucking maverick. She is layered, flawed, and everything in between and I LOVE HER. I would die for her. She has been through so, so, so much and as she starts to change during the first phase of the medical trial, I was celebrating all her rights... and wrongs.
I don't think I have ever loved a character as much as I love Hannah, and I was rooting for her throughout the whole book.
The easiest 5 star rating ever ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!
A massive thank you to Dead Ink for sending me an early copy to review. And a thank you to Katie, for being an absolute superstar and being so lovely and just a wonderful writer 🥹🫶 I cannot wait to read more from you!
A Healthy Appetite follows Hannah, a 30 year old who has been subsumed by a cancer diagnosis for a decade. She is given the opportunity to join a clinical trial that might save her life. But then, she starts to feel different...
She's a committed vegetarian, and has been for a very long time, but she now finds herself craving meat, but her hunger is definitely not limited to just food.
For a debut novel, l am in absolute awe. I devoured (no pun intended x) this book, and it left me craving so much more.
Hannah is a fucking maverick. She is layered, flawed, and everything in between and I LOVE HER. I would die for her. She has been through so, so, so much and as she starts to change during the first phase of the medical trial, I was celebrating all her rights... and wrongs.
I don't think I have ever loved a character as much as I love Hannah, and I was rooting for her throughout the whole book.
The easiest 5 star rating ever ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!
A massive thank you to Dead Ink for sending me an early copy to review. And a thank you to Katie, for being an absolute superstar and being so lovely and just a wonderful writer 🥹🫶 I cannot wait to read more from you!
August 14, 2026
Thank you to Dead Ink Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars.
In this dark, weird (in the best way) book, Hannah, a woman who has been battling cancer for a long time, is offered a place in a clinical trial for a new, experimental drug. As she begins the treatment she finds herself with a new hunger that is difficult to sate.
What follows is a descent into recklessness and self-destruction as Hannah struggles to resist the fresh desires her body craves. I felt the book did a great job of balancing the emotions of someone battling a dire prognosis - the hopes of recovery while not quite believing - with the increasingly unhinged plot and behaviour of our main character.
This was a deep dive into our character's psyche, and even when she is making terrible decisions, you can't help but feel for her.
A worthy addition into my favourite weird girl horror books.
4.5 stars.
In this dark, weird (in the best way) book, Hannah, a woman who has been battling cancer for a long time, is offered a place in a clinical trial for a new, experimental drug. As she begins the treatment she finds herself with a new hunger that is difficult to sate.
What follows is a descent into recklessness and self-destruction as Hannah struggles to resist the fresh desires her body craves. I felt the book did a great job of balancing the emotions of someone battling a dire prognosis - the hopes of recovery while not quite believing - with the increasingly unhinged plot and behaviour of our main character.
This was a deep dive into our character's psyche, and even when she is making terrible decisions, you can't help but feel for her.
A worthy addition into my favourite weird girl horror books.
August 12, 2026
original, tense, fast-paced and super engaging!
September 5, 2026
I found the subject matter and discussions of serious illness really interesting.
I did find the vegetarian characters very sanctimonious, considering they're still consuming animal products?That felt very 90s to me.Maybe that's just my ardent veganism showing!
I did find the vegetarian characters very sanctimonious, considering they're still consuming animal products?That felt very 90s to me.Maybe that's just my ardent veganism showing!
August 28, 2026
"The end of a cycle. Change can no be avoided."
Katie Huttlestone's novel is about Hannah, after her cancer diagnosis she finds herself eligible to join the first phase of a clinical trial that might save her. After the first treatment she already begins to feel changes, her appetite has not only returned but its growing. Hannah was a vegetarian but she now craves meat, her hunger is for more than just food. She wants more in life, this leads her on a path of greed and deceit. Is it worth it to finally have the life she's always wanted?
This book was difficult to put down. It gives a deep portrayal of a person coping with a cancer diagnosis and navigating life with their morality in constant question. Once Hannah is given this chance, her new prospects cause cracks in her personal life because she wasn't prepared for this trial to work offering her a second chance at life.
I found myself conflicted with some of the characters, the circumstance of this trial not only affect Hannah but also those in her life, her new behaviours causing this dark ripple affect. There is a lot of weird things going on, at times it felt uneasy when things would click and you could see what was coming but that was what made this book that much more entertaining and addictive.
I can see why this would appeal to readers of weird fiction like Sayaka Murata and Monika Kim.
Katie Huttlestone's novel is about Hannah, after her cancer diagnosis she finds herself eligible to join the first phase of a clinical trial that might save her. After the first treatment she already begins to feel changes, her appetite has not only returned but its growing. Hannah was a vegetarian but she now craves meat, her hunger is for more than just food. She wants more in life, this leads her on a path of greed and deceit. Is it worth it to finally have the life she's always wanted?
This book was difficult to put down. It gives a deep portrayal of a person coping with a cancer diagnosis and navigating life with their morality in constant question. Once Hannah is given this chance, her new prospects cause cracks in her personal life because she wasn't prepared for this trial to work offering her a second chance at life.
I found myself conflicted with some of the characters, the circumstance of this trial not only affect Hannah but also those in her life, her new behaviours causing this dark ripple affect. There is a lot of weird things going on, at times it felt uneasy when things would click and you could see what was coming but that was what made this book that much more entertaining and addictive.
I can see why this would appeal to readers of weird fiction like Sayaka Murata and Monika Kim.
August 26, 2026
It was tamer than I was expecting, but still an enjoyable read. Protagonist was incredibly well written and compelling enough that you want to follow her journey, no matter how dark you suspect it will get.
August 23, 2026
✨Chefs kiss✨
August 18, 2026
3 stars ⭐
ugh I really struggled with this. I took an unintentional break of almost a week around the 80% mark; I think I sensed the narrative starting to go a bit off the rails.
I wanted to figure out what The Hunger was a metaphor for, the mechanism that changes Hannah’s entire personality and awakens her desire to be filled up. Is it a commentary on terminal illness and medical trauma? On women’s hunger/desire/self-actualisation? I am still wondering after finishing the book. I would have liked the final act to help answer these questions, but it’s left infuriatingly open-ended. The increasingly jumbled and erratic flow of the narrative reflects Hannah’s mental state but it made the last few chapters very hard to engage with.
That said, I often really enjoyed the excellently written prose and would definitely consider picking up another book by Katie Huttlestone in future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Ink Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
ugh I really struggled with this. I took an unintentional break of almost a week around the 80% mark; I think I sensed the narrative starting to go a bit off the rails.
I wanted to figure out what The Hunger was a metaphor for, the mechanism that changes Hannah’s entire personality and awakens her desire to be filled up. Is it a commentary on terminal illness and medical trauma? On women’s hunger/desire/self-actualisation? I am still wondering after finishing the book. I would have liked the final act to help answer these questions, but it’s left infuriatingly open-ended. The increasingly jumbled and erratic flow of the narrative reflects Hannah’s mental state but it made the last few chapters very hard to engage with.
That said, I often really enjoyed the excellently written prose and would definitely consider picking up another book by Katie Huttlestone in future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Ink Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2026
4.5⭐️ Slightly unhinged & random but I could not put it down & now I can’t stop thinking about it 😵💫 v v addictive & a sometimes squeamish read !
September 6, 2026
2.5 - 3-ish ⭐
I don't know what to think. It's fast paced and I did finish it in almost one sitting because I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I was a little disappointed with *what* was happening?
A woman battling cancer tries an experimental new drug and turns from a vegetarian into a meat eater because of it, and also becomes ... Manic? Evil? I felt like she just became a sex obsessed meat foodie and to make this a 'horror' book, the writer sprinkled in some bad choices and more animal murder. Let's fuck my brother-in-law and drown the cat, I guess.
It also seemed like mentioning 'gross' things was an attempt at making this book 'cool' or 'niche'. So much vomit. Such a focus on how red wine turns lips and teeth purple. And now wine-vomit. I don't mind graphic writing - I normally like it - but it just didn't feel natural here.
So I really don't know how to feel. I wanted to love it. I didn't hate it and could barely put it down, but it wasn't good either.
Scott was very annoying though. Good riddance.
I don't know what to think. It's fast paced and I did finish it in almost one sitting because I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I was a little disappointed with *what* was happening?
A woman battling cancer tries an experimental new drug and turns from a vegetarian into a meat eater because of it, and also becomes ... Manic? Evil? I felt like she just became a sex obsessed meat foodie and to make this a 'horror' book, the writer sprinkled in some bad choices and more animal murder. Let's fuck my brother-in-law and drown the cat, I guess.
It also seemed like mentioning 'gross' things was an attempt at making this book 'cool' or 'niche'. So much vomit. Such a focus on how red wine turns lips and teeth purple. And now wine-vomit. I don't mind graphic writing - I normally like it - but it just didn't feel natural here.
So I really don't know how to feel. I wanted to love it. I didn't hate it and could barely put it down, but it wasn't good either.
Scott was very annoying though. Good riddance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2026
it’s terrible to write a review that says i’m disappointed because it didn’t have cannibalism in it, but it was good!
August 12, 2026
I was not supposed to read anything other than my already requested ARCs, but when I saw this on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist. I have been waiting for months to read A Healthy Appetite by Katie Huttlestone, and Dead Ink Books is one of my favorite publishers.
And I was right, I read this in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down. Let’s be clear already: this is a 5⭐️
Hannah has tried everything to beat cancer. When she is offered a chance to be part of a clinical trial, she takes it without much hope. But this is going to change her… make her hungry for life…
Despite the situation, the writing makes everything feel very real and relatable. It’s beautiful, it flows, and once you start reading, you can’t stop. I was completely swept away by every word.
It touches on many themes: the dehumanisation of patients, the expectations weighing on women no matter their situation, and not being able to change while still being accepted by your loved ones.
A new voice to count on in the literary field, with just a dash of horror.
And I was right, I read this in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down. Let’s be clear already: this is a 5⭐️
Hannah has tried everything to beat cancer. When she is offered a chance to be part of a clinical trial, she takes it without much hope. But this is going to change her… make her hungry for life…
Despite the situation, the writing makes everything feel very real and relatable. It’s beautiful, it flows, and once you start reading, you can’t stop. I was completely swept away by every word.
It touches on many themes: the dehumanisation of patients, the expectations weighing on women no matter their situation, and not being able to change while still being accepted by your loved ones.
A new voice to count on in the literary field, with just a dash of horror.
September 15, 2026
Could be a book of the year for me, an incredible read and all the more pleasurable (and impressive) to be from a debut author and a small publishing house with an ethos. I must say while the blurb did its job and enticed me, it downplays the gravity the book approaches its subject with - and in fact the Goodreads blurb describing this even further as 'Weird Girl Lit' actually makes my eye twitch. This is a gorgeous, intentional and rich book and so much more than any trope could box it into. In the acknowledgements at the end, the author thanks the people in her life who rejected the idea the darkness in this book should be toned down to appeal to a mass consumer palate and I think that really encapsulated how I felt after finishing A Healthy Appetite. It is a very dark novel, however not inauthentically so or for the sake of shock. The subject matter is naturally dark and Huttlestone doesn't hold back any punches in how the protagonist approaches it. That said the tone was never gratuitous, and I think most people could enjoy what this book has to say.
The central protagonist, Hannah, is so immediately real in the way she talks and how her background is built up and explored with us, it was great to learn more about her. Though the changes she undergoes obviously makes LIKING her as a person a different matter. I enjoy a novel where the author doesn't require you to share their beliefs on the morality of the characters or even try and make you think there is a right or wrong answer to that question. I also really appreciated her boyfriend Scott's characterisation, likewise his morality is not black and white. Little spoiler but was just one of many relatively understated moments that asks a question you can only really reflect on after finishing the final page.
There are a lot of thoughts I was left with during/after reading this, I suppose centrally what the hunger metaphor represents and, what was the right thing for Hannah to do? Different readers will inevitably draw different conclusions. This would be a great book club read.
Some other small things I like, as touched on before some details can be really subtle but I also was never confused what the author's intent was or what I was supposed to be paying attention to. I liked the way time moves in the novel, quite a lot of developments happen 'off page' during the time progression between chapters but this is embedded in really well and I like when a book can convincingly suggest that character's lives are moving on even when we, the reader, aren't there to witness it. I don't know if I would go as far as to say the novel is comedic but there are comedic moments and a tongue-in-cheekness to Hannah's narration sometimes that adds realism and also adds some light to a book that could otherwise be too dark. Finally it would be remiss not to mention the prose itself which is an absolute pleasure (to have in class). I really like this style where it is not too flowery but will throw the occasional simple yet beautiful sentences at you.
I will say as well, despite the subject matter, this is not a SAD, tear-jerking story. I suppose you know where the story's going from the blurb, so there is some comfort at the start despite the obviously difficult fact of following a young woman with a terminal illness. Were it not for this knowledge it would be much more harrowing as the scenes themselves of hospital life and how sickness is described are really impactful. It is the realism and respect here which changes this from being a bawdy hack n slash horror novel (which is what sort of rankled me about the blurb as you could almost believe it is - enticing still as the concept is) and instead the allegorical tale on health that it is, beautifully told but entertaining throughout.
I'm very glad to have picked this up, I hope it gets the appreciation it deserves. Tis one of those reads that made me wish I knew anyone else at all who reads this sort of fiction, so I could recommend it :')
The central protagonist, Hannah, is so immediately real in the way she talks and how her background is built up and explored with us, it was great to learn more about her. Though the changes she undergoes obviously makes LIKING her as a person a different matter. I enjoy a novel where the author doesn't require you to share their beliefs on the morality of the characters or even try and make you think there is a right or wrong answer to that question. I also really appreciated her boyfriend Scott's characterisation, likewise his morality is not black and white. Little spoiler but was just one of many relatively understated moments that asks a question you can only really reflect on after finishing the final page.
There are a lot of thoughts I was left with during/after reading this, I suppose centrally what the hunger metaphor represents and, what was the right thing for Hannah to do? Different readers will inevitably draw different conclusions. This would be a great book club read.
Some other small things I like, as touched on before some details can be really subtle but I also was never confused what the author's intent was or what I was supposed to be paying attention to. I liked the way time moves in the novel, quite a lot of developments happen 'off page' during the time progression between chapters but this is embedded in really well and I like when a book can convincingly suggest that character's lives are moving on even when we, the reader, aren't there to witness it. I don't know if I would go as far as to say the novel is comedic but there are comedic moments and a tongue-in-cheekness to Hannah's narration sometimes that adds realism and also adds some light to a book that could otherwise be too dark. Finally it would be remiss not to mention the prose itself which is an absolute pleasure (to have in class). I really like this style where it is not too flowery but will throw the occasional simple yet beautiful sentences at you.
I will say as well, despite the subject matter, this is not a SAD, tear-jerking story. I suppose you know where the story's going from the blurb, so there is some comfort at the start despite the obviously difficult fact of following a young woman with a terminal illness. Were it not for this knowledge it would be much more harrowing as the scenes themselves of hospital life and how sickness is described are really impactful. It is the realism and respect here which changes this from being a bawdy hack n slash horror novel (which is what sort of rankled me about the blurb as you could almost believe it is - enticing still as the concept is) and instead the allegorical tale on health that it is, beautifully told but entertaining throughout.
I'm very glad to have picked this up, I hope it gets the appreciation it deserves. Tis one of those reads that made me wish I knew anyone else at all who reads this sort of fiction, so I could recommend it :')
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What would you be willing to do to stay alive?
I watched a Hank Green video recently where he talks about how his definition of life is something that WANTS. Not just something that has needs and responds to stimuli, but something that WANTS things.
You could say, life always has a hunger for more, and this is exactly what the novel illustrates so well.
The writing flowed so naturally and Hannah's character felt incredibly human. There are some beautiful metaphors in here, Katie's writing is so masterful that they blend effortlessly into the narrative and add a poetic element to an otherwise increasingly feral story.
The book had the perfect balance of rising tension and the realistic mundanity of life and survival. This isn't just a basic "good for her" type of story. Although there are definitely many weird, feral, and at times brutal, elements to this story... It is so much more than just shock factor.
Huttlestone shares something deeply personal with us by writing the story of someone living with cancer, and in doing so she has written something so deeply human and messy. The longer the story goes on, the more complex Hannah's survival and her WANTS (or The Hunger) become. Which I think is a beautiful metaphor for the complexity of living, especially living longer than you ever expected.
"Where was I meant to go now? Presented with not too few, but too many options, might I give up rather than choose?"
What is scarier? A future you have accepted for yourself which is doomed but knowable, or an unknown and uncertain future?
To be human, to keep on living, to fight the odds and go through the struggles of life is exhausting. But most of us have a driving force that keeps us going, the need for survival and the things that we continue to WANT.
A Healthy Appetite questions what happens when those WANTS erase who we are, who we would like to be, and what we believe in? Is survival worth losing your identity for? Are we animals fighting for survival at our core, or is there more to being human than that?
A darkly funny, daring, and tenacious novel. I adored every second!
AD:PR -Thank you to Dead Ink Books for the ARC! 🩷
I watched a Hank Green video recently where he talks about how his definition of life is something that WANTS. Not just something that has needs and responds to stimuli, but something that WANTS things.
You could say, life always has a hunger for more, and this is exactly what the novel illustrates so well.
The writing flowed so naturally and Hannah's character felt incredibly human. There are some beautiful metaphors in here, Katie's writing is so masterful that they blend effortlessly into the narrative and add a poetic element to an otherwise increasingly feral story.
The book had the perfect balance of rising tension and the realistic mundanity of life and survival. This isn't just a basic "good for her" type of story. Although there are definitely many weird, feral, and at times brutal, elements to this story... It is so much more than just shock factor.
Huttlestone shares something deeply personal with us by writing the story of someone living with cancer, and in doing so she has written something so deeply human and messy. The longer the story goes on, the more complex Hannah's survival and her WANTS (or The Hunger) become. Which I think is a beautiful metaphor for the complexity of living, especially living longer than you ever expected.
"Where was I meant to go now? Presented with not too few, but too many options, might I give up rather than choose?"
What is scarier? A future you have accepted for yourself which is doomed but knowable, or an unknown and uncertain future?
To be human, to keep on living, to fight the odds and go through the struggles of life is exhausting. But most of us have a driving force that keeps us going, the need for survival and the things that we continue to WANT.
A Healthy Appetite questions what happens when those WANTS erase who we are, who we would like to be, and what we believe in? Is survival worth losing your identity for? Are we animals fighting for survival at our core, or is there more to being human than that?
A darkly funny, daring, and tenacious novel. I adored every second!
AD:PR -Thank you to Dead Ink Books for the ARC! 🩷
August 9, 2026
This was a fantastic, tight story that I absolutely flew through. I loved how the dread and looming threat grew and grew, before an unhinged and staggering climax that really worked well.
Not gonna lie, based on the cover I was worried that this story was going to involve either cruelty to guinea pigs or feature murderous cavvies. Thankfully, it didn’t - although the latter would be cool.
Instead, we get a terrific story full of existential dread and body horror that is so powerful to read, especially when you take into account that the author is someone living with terminal illness. The accounts of being on a clinical trial, and how that affects you, feel so real.
The central idea here is fun: that this life-saving trial unlocks a desire for Hannah to eat meat, slapping years of vegetarianism in the face. Not only does it lead to some gross moments, it’s a powerful metaphor for choice and control in a situation where you would otherwise feel like those things are not available.
I also enjoyed following Hannah and Scott’s relationship over the course of the book. Early on, you see how Scott is portrayed as a kind care-giver, yet when you really examine his actions you see he’s actually a prick. Again, that sort of character feels like they were drawn from real life.
The horror here is not a genre gore fest, but instead rooted in having to face your own mortality. It’s so real, so haunting, and drives this breezy, speedy read.
This debut is a powerful statement of intent from a skilled writer. Clearly, this one is tapping into deep personal experience and it’s all the better for it. It is dark, bleak, funny at times, and just full of messy life and its complications…but with healthy servings of bloody meat for every meal. Lots of fun, and definitely worth checking out.
Huge thanks to Dead Ink for the review copy.
Not gonna lie, based on the cover I was worried that this story was going to involve either cruelty to guinea pigs or feature murderous cavvies. Thankfully, it didn’t - although the latter would be cool.
Instead, we get a terrific story full of existential dread and body horror that is so powerful to read, especially when you take into account that the author is someone living with terminal illness. The accounts of being on a clinical trial, and how that affects you, feel so real.
The central idea here is fun: that this life-saving trial unlocks a desire for Hannah to eat meat, slapping years of vegetarianism in the face. Not only does it lead to some gross moments, it’s a powerful metaphor for choice and control in a situation where you would otherwise feel like those things are not available.
I also enjoyed following Hannah and Scott’s relationship over the course of the book. Early on, you see how Scott is portrayed as a kind care-giver, yet when you really examine his actions you see he’s actually a prick. Again, that sort of character feels like they were drawn from real life.
The horror here is not a genre gore fest, but instead rooted in having to face your own mortality. It’s so real, so haunting, and drives this breezy, speedy read.
This debut is a powerful statement of intent from a skilled writer. Clearly, this one is tapping into deep personal experience and it’s all the better for it. It is dark, bleak, funny at times, and just full of messy life and its complications…but with healthy servings of bloody meat for every meal. Lots of fun, and definitely worth checking out.
Huge thanks to Dead Ink for the review copy.
September 25, 2026
I read this debut literary horror as an ARC from Netgalley, and what a ride it has been! The basic premise is that we follow Hannah who is participating in a drug trial for her metastatic breast cancer. The drug not only returns her to health but also changes her personality, awakening in her what she call the Hunger, an appetite for not only food (meat as Hannah) but also other impulses that can be at time rather dark.
Although it features some triggering material and I’d advise people to check that before embarking on it (things like sickness/cancer/hospitals which can be difficult for some people, but also violence to animals and threat/mild violence to babies), it was a very addictive read and I even found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions. This author shines at absurd situations that still seem true to life and will make you smile in recognition (anyone who's worked in school will recognise that she wrote those bits from experience).
Hannah is a really interesting protagonist and I enjoyed her journey, at times rooting for her, and other times banging my head in frustration – in a sort of fun way? Although this is an easy and fun read, it does tackle deeper themes regarding how our society treats women, and sick women in particular. It will definitely make you think.
The prose itself is very clear, smooth and accessible, and it really shines in all the sensory descriptions. Hannah’s trip to Spain was a highlight in this regard. I will definitely look forward to reading more from Katie, and I’m curious to see where she goes next. It really is quite a feat that I found this enjoying considering I’d rather not read anything to do with cancer after watching my mum die from a really aggressive one in the space of a few weeks a couple years ago. But despite the dark subject, this book did leave me with a weird sense of hope.
Although it features some triggering material and I’d advise people to check that before embarking on it (things like sickness/cancer/hospitals which can be difficult for some people, but also violence to animals and threat/mild violence to babies), it was a very addictive read and I even found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions. This author shines at absurd situations that still seem true to life and will make you smile in recognition (anyone who's worked in school will recognise that she wrote those bits from experience).
Hannah is a really interesting protagonist and I enjoyed her journey, at times rooting for her, and other times banging my head in frustration – in a sort of fun way? Although this is an easy and fun read, it does tackle deeper themes regarding how our society treats women, and sick women in particular. It will definitely make you think.
The prose itself is very clear, smooth and accessible, and it really shines in all the sensory descriptions. Hannah’s trip to Spain was a highlight in this regard. I will definitely look forward to reading more from Katie, and I’m curious to see where she goes next. It really is quite a feat that I found this enjoying considering I’d rather not read anything to do with cancer after watching my mum die from a really aggressive one in the space of a few weeks a couple years ago. But despite the dark subject, this book did leave me with a weird sense of hope.
September 9, 2026
“I am dizzy with belief. Know that this is the thing that my body wants — a religion of its own. What I feel surpasses that which people dedicate their lives to. Ascension into a world I had decided I could never belong to seems the only thing now.”
The cover was what caught my eyes at first, but the blurb was what made me request the book at first.
“A Healthy Appetite” follows Hannah, a woman who has been battling cancer for most of her life. When her longtime nurse let her know that a new treatment is under trial, Hannah doesn’t think twice about it. It might be her last chance at getting better. And surprisingly, the results are showing great improvement. But something else has been awoken: a repressive desire for raw and bloody meat despite the fact Hannah has been vegetarian for years. If The Hunger starts to unveil her deepest desires, what else might happened?
“The Hunger is a trespasser, venturing into territory it has no right occupying.”
This is exactly the type of book that I’ve been craving for. Weird, horrific, unhinged and unapologetic.
And despite everything, readers cannot stop empathizing with Hannah. Because yes, how are you supposed to react when all of your life plans have been destroyed? What are you supposed to do when your life doesn’t have an expiration date anymore?
I really enjoyed the novel, but my experience would have been better if I didn’t read the novel on my phone. Obviously, this has nothing to do with the author, but I am pretty confident in the fact that I would have been more into the story if I had a print copy!
To all my weird girl literature lovers, “A Healthy Appetite” should be your next read!
thank you net galley and dead ink for the arc xx
The cover was what caught my eyes at first, but the blurb was what made me request the book at first.
“A Healthy Appetite” follows Hannah, a woman who has been battling cancer for most of her life. When her longtime nurse let her know that a new treatment is under trial, Hannah doesn’t think twice about it. It might be her last chance at getting better. And surprisingly, the results are showing great improvement. But something else has been awoken: a repressive desire for raw and bloody meat despite the fact Hannah has been vegetarian for years. If The Hunger starts to unveil her deepest desires, what else might happened?
“The Hunger is a trespasser, venturing into territory it has no right occupying.”
This is exactly the type of book that I’ve been craving for. Weird, horrific, unhinged and unapologetic.
And despite everything, readers cannot stop empathizing with Hannah. Because yes, how are you supposed to react when all of your life plans have been destroyed? What are you supposed to do when your life doesn’t have an expiration date anymore?
I really enjoyed the novel, but my experience would have been better if I didn’t read the novel on my phone. Obviously, this has nothing to do with the author, but I am pretty confident in the fact that I would have been more into the story if I had a print copy!
To all my weird girl literature lovers, “A Healthy Appetite” should be your next read!
thank you net galley and dead ink for the arc xx
August 28, 2026
'Hannah is dying for a cure.' 'Now Hannah is hungry for life'.
'A Healthy Appetite' is a literary, feminist novel that blends horror/ speculative fiction/ philosophy.
What is it to be a woman?
How does life as a woman with chronic illness compare?
What does it mean to be a partner, daughter, friend, sibling in the world.
Should we live or survive, which do we value more?
Told via Hannah's first person narrative and treatment diary entries, readers follow Hannah, her family, friends and health care professionals through heartbreak, risk, jubilation and impossible decisions.
On the surface, Hannah doesn't flinch as she moves through appointments, family gatherings and the day to day job of life. Only we, the readers, see the extent of the trauma, desire and moral quandary that Hannah faces.
Katie Huttlestone writes in such a visceral, instinctive way that we're taken to the most intimate of places without a screen or boundary to protect us. There is nowhere to hide and this novel is not for the faint hearted.
Read this if you care about the way woman are viewed and treated. Actually read it if you don't, because you should!
Read this if you like to be pushed, shocked and forced to consider your own morality. Read this if you're single, married, a mum, a man, an adult! Read this if you have ever wondered about how much we trust our beloved NHS to do the right thing, to keep us well, to give us a pill, after a pill after a pill...
No spoilers, of course, just read it.
August 8, 2026
Thank you Dead Ink Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hannah was diagnosed with breast cancer at 20. Ten years on, she is still receiving treatment for it, so when she is offered the chance to take part in a revolutionary clinical trial she takes it.
She lives with her boyfriend Scott, who has become more of a carer than a partner, and she is dying for a cure.
When she starts this trial, she experiences some almost immediate unusual side effects. Hannah has been a vegetarian for years, but now, she is craving meat, and it may or may not be limited to conventional meat sources.
This book was fantastic. I was in a huge reading slump before reading this (and I’m talking, the pits of a reading slump) and this book got me out of it. I sped through this within two days. It deals with subject matter which can often be hard to authentically capture in such an original, fresh way. As a chronically ill person and a cancer survivor, this book manages to capture the nuanced emotions associated with the experience of spending years in and out of hospital, and it is clear how much thought went into it. The characters are not perfect, and they are flawed, but that’s what makes them feel so human.
I’d have loved to have spent a bit more time with Isla before her death and the ending surrounding Felicity and Hannah could have been fleshed out a little more. But having said this, it was brilliant and I would highly recommend.
Hannah was diagnosed with breast cancer at 20. Ten years on, she is still receiving treatment for it, so when she is offered the chance to take part in a revolutionary clinical trial she takes it.
She lives with her boyfriend Scott, who has become more of a carer than a partner, and she is dying for a cure.
When she starts this trial, she experiences some almost immediate unusual side effects. Hannah has been a vegetarian for years, but now, she is craving meat, and it may or may not be limited to conventional meat sources.
This book was fantastic. I was in a huge reading slump before reading this (and I’m talking, the pits of a reading slump) and this book got me out of it. I sped through this within two days. It deals with subject matter which can often be hard to authentically capture in such an original, fresh way. As a chronically ill person and a cancer survivor, this book manages to capture the nuanced emotions associated with the experience of spending years in and out of hospital, and it is clear how much thought went into it. The characters are not perfect, and they are flawed, but that’s what makes them feel so human.
I’d have loved to have spent a bit more time with Isla before her death and the ending surrounding Felicity and Hannah could have been fleshed out a little more. But having said this, it was brilliant and I would highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2026
“A pill after a pill after a pill is wellness.”
A beautifully written story of sickness, transformation and losing control to regain your life...
Thirtysomething Hannah is facing a terminal cancer diagnosis until she’s offered a trial drug. She hardly dares hope but as the weeks pass, it seems that the medicine is working, the disease is receding. But with this miracle cure come strange urges. A hunger for meat. An appetite for more. And slowly the changes that are coming upon her are threatening her relationship with the steady, repressed Scott, with her wider family, and with who - and what - she believed herself to be.
It’s a slow and steady turn of the screw here, where at any moment you feel Hannah might turn back from the edge, before her appetite finally takes her over…
Darkly astute, beautifully written and utterly compelling, A Healthy Appetite is a difficult read at times, but that’s the point. The author invites you into a world that no-one, least of all the protagonist, wants to inhabit. And then, asks, when facing an unthinkable fate, what might you do to survive and thrive? What sort of side effects would a person accept, to finally feel well again? When you’ve come this close to the brink, who are you then?
For fans of Lucy Rose and Eliza Clarke.
A beautifully written story of sickness, transformation and losing control to regain your life...
Thirtysomething Hannah is facing a terminal cancer diagnosis until she’s offered a trial drug. She hardly dares hope but as the weeks pass, it seems that the medicine is working, the disease is receding. But with this miracle cure come strange urges. A hunger for meat. An appetite for more. And slowly the changes that are coming upon her are threatening her relationship with the steady, repressed Scott, with her wider family, and with who - and what - she believed herself to be.
It’s a slow and steady turn of the screw here, where at any moment you feel Hannah might turn back from the edge, before her appetite finally takes her over…
Darkly astute, beautifully written and utterly compelling, A Healthy Appetite is a difficult read at times, but that’s the point. The author invites you into a world that no-one, least of all the protagonist, wants to inhabit. And then, asks, when facing an unthinkable fate, what might you do to survive and thrive? What sort of side effects would a person accept, to finally feel well again? When you’ve come this close to the brink, who are you then?
For fans of Lucy Rose and Eliza Clarke.
August 16, 2026
This was a fabulous story with an even better message, and I was locked in the whole time rooting for Hannah and so proud of the person she became, and the confidence she regained in herself.
Hannah is coming in to her own, and I admire her so much for this. Her backstory paints her as someone who was weak and in a loving relationship with her boyfriend who stuck by her side when she was diagnosed with cancer and all the treatments. But when she signs up for a trial for a new drug (apprehensively) and she begins to improve, things start to change for her.
I looked at the cancer that Hannah had more as a symbolic disease – when we’re younger we may not have the confidence to know what we want vs what we need and try so hard to be someone who’s easy to love, who doesn’t rock the boat, to fit the mold we THINK everyone wants us to be. When Hannah journeys through her drug trial, the “hunger” I view more as an appetite for life, for coming into her own and embracing her own wants, needs, and desires rather than conforming to what’s expected of her.
Bravo to Katie on her debut novel, I’m a fan and can’t wait to see what comes next! Thank you to NetGalley & Dead Ink Books for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and my review is left voluntarily.
Hannah is coming in to her own, and I admire her so much for this. Her backstory paints her as someone who was weak and in a loving relationship with her boyfriend who stuck by her side when she was diagnosed with cancer and all the treatments. But when she signs up for a trial for a new drug (apprehensively) and she begins to improve, things start to change for her.
I looked at the cancer that Hannah had more as a symbolic disease – when we’re younger we may not have the confidence to know what we want vs what we need and try so hard to be someone who’s easy to love, who doesn’t rock the boat, to fit the mold we THINK everyone wants us to be. When Hannah journeys through her drug trial, the “hunger” I view more as an appetite for life, for coming into her own and embracing her own wants, needs, and desires rather than conforming to what’s expected of her.
Bravo to Katie on her debut novel, I’m a fan and can’t wait to see what comes next! Thank you to NetGalley & Dead Ink Books for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and my review is left voluntarily.
August 19, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up
This is such a fantastic and raw exploration of chronic illness and how it impacts on every aspect of a person’s life. It’s fast paced, with very short chapters which makes it very easy to tear through in a short space of time and which also mirrors the story itself. In the same way that the trial drug gets its claws into Hannah’s life and immediately begins to transform it, this book will do the same to you.
I found Hannah to be an incredibly relatable and grounded character, which makes the breakdown of her resolve as she begins to give in to her new urges all the more intense and disturbing, but also exhilarating. She represents the desire of so many people with chronic illness to finally stand up and take what they want without apology, and it was so incredibly satisfying to read about. Yes, it’s a horror book, and the things Hannah is doing are deplorable, but it also feels like a fantasy come to life. Don’t we all crave a little destruction from time to time?
“You want to make what I’ve written scientific, but it’s impossible to know where the side effects end and I begin.”
This is such a fantastic and raw exploration of chronic illness and how it impacts on every aspect of a person’s life. It’s fast paced, with very short chapters which makes it very easy to tear through in a short space of time and which also mirrors the story itself. In the same way that the trial drug gets its claws into Hannah’s life and immediately begins to transform it, this book will do the same to you.
I found Hannah to be an incredibly relatable and grounded character, which makes the breakdown of her resolve as she begins to give in to her new urges all the more intense and disturbing, but also exhilarating. She represents the desire of so many people with chronic illness to finally stand up and take what they want without apology, and it was so incredibly satisfying to read about. Yes, it’s a horror book, and the things Hannah is doing are deplorable, but it also feels like a fantasy come to life. Don’t we all crave a little destruction from time to time?
August 21, 2026
maybe i’m desensitised but i don’t think she did anything that.. depraved? obviously up until the baby. but there’s nothing wrong with changing your diet after years. some things aren’t meant to be forever! scott was really annoying how he just gave up and left her after finding out that she ate a steak. grow up! he knew that she was sick and vulnerable and still left her? over something so small?
it felt slow to begin with, but picked it up around page 100. or maybe that was just when i boarded my flight and had much less distractions than i did in the waiting hall (?)
i think i feel the worst for isla. she “gave in”, as hannah said. to my knowledge, her ending isn’t confirmed. realistically, she was probably sectioned. she was just so lovely and hopeful, the opposite of hannah, who begrudged anything to do with hope or a future. but i do think hannah was the right narrator for this. isla’s downward spiral seemed to happen way too quickly, and wouldn’t be as satisfying as whatever happened with hannah. but killing the cat? really? just why
it felt slow to begin with, but picked it up around page 100. or maybe that was just when i boarded my flight and had much less distractions than i did in the waiting hall (?)
i think i feel the worst for isla. she “gave in”, as hannah said. to my knowledge, her ending isn’t confirmed. realistically, she was probably sectioned. she was just so lovely and hopeful, the opposite of hannah, who begrudged anything to do with hope or a future. but i do think hannah was the right narrator for this. isla’s downward spiral seemed to happen way too quickly, and wouldn’t be as satisfying as whatever happened with hannah. but killing the cat? really? just why
August 11, 2026
A Healthy Appetite is an incredibly gripping story that places an untamable, visceral hunger right at its centre. What made this book stand out for me was its magnificent, complex main character and its powerful exploration of mortality, showing the absolute toll of survival and the extreme lengths we will go to just to stay alive. The book functions as a brilliant, claustrophobic descent into madness and the identity crises that humans frequently face when confronted with immense adversity. I felt that the depiction of terminal illness was presented so exceptionally well, perfectly capturing the heavy, crushing feelings of absolute isolation and the total lack of control over one's own body. It is a fantastic, unforgettable entry into the "weird girl lit" space that kept me entirely hooked. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
September 26, 2026
Review of ARC from NetGalley
4/5 ⭐
I really enjoyed this novel, mostly because I found the prose poetic and engaging. I expected this to be another cannibalism book; it was anything but! I empathised with Hannah, although I couldn’t relate to her, and hope that I never can (I mean that in the nicest way possible).
Katie Huttlestone - think Lucy Rose mixed with Julia Armfield, perhaps. I’d definitely put this in the “weird girl fiction” category. I had a fun, bizarre time.
This book was an interesting delve into the psyche of someone who will go to any lengths to fix themselves, even if it means losing parts of their soul along the way.
And that ending? So wildly far from what I predicted. Damn. Was I disappointed by this? Absolutely not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, would definitely recommend to anyone who wants a depressing yet fun time, and can confirm that a physical copy of this book now sits proudly on my shelf.
4/5 ⭐
I really enjoyed this novel, mostly because I found the prose poetic and engaging. I expected this to be another cannibalism book; it was anything but! I empathised with Hannah, although I couldn’t relate to her, and hope that I never can (I mean that in the nicest way possible).
Katie Huttlestone - think Lucy Rose mixed with Julia Armfield, perhaps. I’d definitely put this in the “weird girl fiction” category. I had a fun, bizarre time.
This book was an interesting delve into the psyche of someone who will go to any lengths to fix themselves, even if it means losing parts of their soul along the way.
And that ending? So wildly far from what I predicted. Damn. Was I disappointed by this? Absolutely not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, would definitely recommend to anyone who wants a depressing yet fun time, and can confirm that a physical copy of this book now sits proudly on my shelf.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much toDeadinkbooks for the ever so lovely proof🖤
4.75 - rounded up to a 5 because that near enough is a 5 loool⭐
THIS WAS A RIDE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GET OFF👏
I just gotta put out there the way sometimes I'd snort laughing to some of the things here 🤣 one that got me on a packed but was just the image of poor Charlie and the over the fucking hill line.
This also hit me in ways that hurt and hit personally. Fuck cancer! Sending so much love to everyone affected by it ❤️
This was fantastic and the amount of words I type won't be able to convey properly.
The way the hunger can be taken both literally or as a metaphor. The embracing a darker sider can be taken, again, literally, or just saying fuck it. I MEAN?!!?
The tuna bit was in my head the entire day at work for some reason LOOOL. 🤣
Absolutely a powerhouse of a book to hit you in feels, reality of dealing with a chronic illness, cancer, the treatment, the aftermath, the way it can affect everyone, the way it can dampen your thrust for life, and then what happens when something may work?
4.75 - rounded up to a 5 because that near enough is a 5 loool⭐
THIS WAS A RIDE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GET OFF👏
I just gotta put out there the way sometimes I'd snort laughing to some of the things here 🤣 one that got me on a packed but was just the image of poor Charlie and the over the fucking hill line.
This also hit me in ways that hurt and hit personally. Fuck cancer! Sending so much love to everyone affected by it ❤️
This was fantastic and the amount of words I type won't be able to convey properly.
The way the hunger can be taken both literally or as a metaphor. The embracing a darker sider can be taken, again, literally, or just saying fuck it. I MEAN?!!?
The tuna bit was in my head the entire day at work for some reason LOOOL. 🤣
Absolutely a powerhouse of a book to hit you in feels, reality of dealing with a chronic illness, cancer, the treatment, the aftermath, the way it can affect everyone, the way it can dampen your thrust for life, and then what happens when something may work?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed the premise and the food guilt is very well written - as a woman whose been on every diet for the last 15+ years this made made me feel weird (in a good way - compliments to the author for capturing this so well)
A lot of this story is left open to interpretation like the differing side affects with Isla - it seemed like her body fighting The Hunger killed her whereas Hannah accepted it
I feel like the plot jumped around a bit and felt disjointed, although this could be intentional as Hannah's mental state deteriorates
I fear this lost me in the last 10% - wanting babies is not for me so I unintentionally didn't retain much from the ending. Also, I thought it was going in a different direction, hannah fully losing the plot and eating the baby
Overall a good read, though I wish I went in completely blind as to not sway any expectations
A lot of this story is left open to interpretation like the differing side affects with Isla - it seemed like her body fighting The Hunger killed her whereas Hannah accepted it
I feel like the plot jumped around a bit and felt disjointed, although this could be intentional as Hannah's mental state deteriorates
I fear this lost me in the last 10% - wanting babies is not for me so I unintentionally didn't retain much from the ending. Also, I thought it was going in a different direction, hannah fully losing the plot and eating the baby
Overall a good read, though I wish I went in completely blind as to not sway any expectations
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2026
'A Healthy Appetite' is a stunning debut from Katie Huttlestone - lusciously written, sinister and riveting. Hannah's plight - caught between a fight for survival, and a struggle to control the baser instincts triggered by a potential cancer cure - is beautifully observed and often achingly moving. The precarious balance between the mind, body and identity is explored from seemingly contradictory brushes with both death and birth, but highlights how these profound life events leave us someone, or something, other than we were before - with all the life-changing implications that has. But it also feels like a love letter to female desire and how its expression has always been framed as transgressive and something to suppress, which is ultimately what the character Isla does. All I can say is, I'm in Hannah's corner! A superb novel that I can't recommend more highly.
August 30, 2026
eARC via NetGalley.
A fun book that takes the female hunger trope and applies it to terminal illness/disability but overall I found underwhelming. Interesting themes of guilt around diet, caretaking, motherhood, desire but I just didn’t really think this book did much more than what other books have covered on the subject and I don’t think it was a particularly developed interrogation of those themes. I thought the pacing was good though the changing of the hunger from being all about eating meat to desire to having a baby felt quite abrupt. Would have liked more of an in depth exploration around Hannah and Scott’s relationship. The underlying premise - how far someone would go to change themselves to cure themselves of a terminal disease - is a very interesting one and very thought provoking.
A fun book that takes the female hunger trope and applies it to terminal illness/disability but overall I found underwhelming. Interesting themes of guilt around diet, caretaking, motherhood, desire but I just didn’t really think this book did much more than what other books have covered on the subject and I don’t think it was a particularly developed interrogation of those themes. I thought the pacing was good though the changing of the hunger from being all about eating meat to desire to having a baby felt quite abrupt. Would have liked more of an in depth exploration around Hannah and Scott’s relationship. The underlying premise - how far someone would go to change themselves to cure themselves of a terminal disease - is a very interesting one and very thought provoking.
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