Hooked

Beskrivelse

A gripping tale of friendship and obsession set in modern Japan, Hooked follows Eriko, a successful woman whose life begins to unravel after she becomes fixated on a housewife blogger named Shoko.

An intense exploration of the fine line between friendship and dangerous fixation, wrapped in themes of loneliness, food, and womanhood.

From Asako Yuzuki, the acclaimed author behind the global bestseller Butter, comes this highly anticipated novel of 2026 praised by major outlets including The Guardian, Vogue, and The New York Times. Eriko seems to have it all, a loving family, a spotless home, and a prestigious role in Japan’s seafood industry. Her latest venture, introducing the controversial Nile perch to the Japanese market, showcases her ambition. Yet beneath this polished exterior lies a deep loneliness.

Eriko’s curiosity is piqued by a popular blog penned by Shoko, a housewife whose candid posts about convenience store meals and a messy home sharply contrast with Japan’s typical image of domestic perfection. When Eriko tracks down Shoko at her favorite restaurant and they strike up a friendship, Shoko is initially charmed. But as Eriko’s obsession grows, it threatens to unravel both their lives.

Beautifully translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a chilling story about how far one will go to cling to the best friend they’ve ever had. It offers a vivid look at food, loneliness, and the complexities of womanhood in contemporary Japan.

Critics have hailed Yuzuki as a leading voice in Japanese fiction, with The Times calling her the “poster girl” of a new literary wave and ELLE praising this novel as “tender and thrilling.” Alice Slater, author of Let the Bad Times Roll, notes Yuzuki’s unique talent for exposing the hidden depths and dark sides of womanhood. Oprah Daily sums it up as “[a] razor-edged story about women, appetite and what we’ll do to feel chosen … Safe to say, we’re already hooked.”

Yderligere information