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‘I completely pigged out on Matilde Pratesi’s compelling debut… utterly addictive’ Alice Slater, author of Death of a Bookseller

‘Aksai Black Pied, American Yorkshire, Angeln Saddleback…’

Pigs are Valentina’s safe place. When she’s feeling overwhelmed, she lists the breeds until her mind becomes quiet again.

Vale struggles to live life without order. Every morning, she reads the note that her flatmate Clara has pinned on the fridge telling her what to wear and what to eat, before leaving for her job at a bookshop.

Sometimes Vale’s colleagues invite her to drinks, but she never goes. She knows that Clara wouldn’t be happy if Vale socialised with others. As Clara’s told her plenty of times – who else would put up with her weird pig facts?

But a chance encounter at the bookshop leads to an exciting opportunity. As Vale steps into the world of other people, Clara tightens her grip: she isn’t yet ready to let go of her favourite prey.

Shortlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award, Pig is a razor-sharp, disturbing novel about toxic female friendship unlike any other.

Publisher Review

I completely pigged out on Matilde Pratesi’s compelling debut. Exploring obsession, toxicity, and abuse in a bookshop setting, I’m all over Pig like a feral hog, and my heart hurts for Vale and her piggies. Written with wit, heart and warmth, Pratesi’s approach is fresh, full of character and utterly addictive * Alice Slater, author of Death of a Bookseller * Heartwrenching and uplifting. In Valentina, Matilde Pratesi has created a character you will never forget – a shining innocent in the sty of the world * Neil DA Stewart, author of Test Kitchen * Love is a mystery, but friendship could be ever more obscure. In her subtle novel, Pratesi enlightens the dark side of sisterhood. * Veronica Raimo, author of Lost on Me * Toxic female friendships, obsessive compulsive disorders and the many, many varieties of pig, form the surprising central tenet of Pratesi’s assured debut, which ultimately proclaims a timely message of the importance of being yourself. * Harper’s Bazaar, the best novels to read this year *