Synopses & Reviews
For the audience that made Commencement a New York Times bestseller comes a novel about women making their way in the world. Four young women are thrown together as roommates freshman year in college: Ruth, Francesca, Opal, and Setsu. Each is striving to overcome struggles from childhood and find her true self.
Tormented by self-doubt, Ruth is coddled by her immigrant mother, who uses food to soothe and control her. Defiant Francesca believes her heavy frame shames her Park Avenue family; to provoke them, and to protect herself, she consumes everything in sight. Opal longs to be included in her glamorous, adventure-seeking motherand#8217;s dinner datesand#151;until a disturbing encounter forever changes her desires. Finally, Setsu, a promising violinist, staves off conflict with her jealous older brother by allowing him to take away the choicest morsels from her plateand#151;and from her future.
As their stories and appetites collide, these women make a pact to maintain their friendships into adulthoodand#151;but each must first find strength and her way in the world.
READERS GUIDE INSIDE
Review
"Perfect beach book ... worth your vacation time... This gorgeously written story maps the links between love and food as it follows four college roommates who grow into womanhood together." —
Redbook
"Four college suitemates, each with her own frustrated desires, reunite at a baby shower. After 11 years, will any of them have found real happiness? Moses' debut novel thoughtfully evokes the interior lives of these women, distinguishing each with her unique heartbreaks. . . . A beautifully written . . . tale of women finding courage." —Kirkus Reviews
“The Appetite of Girls is smart and tender and true. The characters have stayed with me ever since I turned the final page. Ruth, Francesca, Opal, and Setsu: I know these women because Im one of them. We all are. Were brave. Were afraid. Were loving. Were destructive. Were finding our way in a difficult world.” —Rebecca Rasmussen, author of The Bird Sisters “I think this is such an important novel for women to read. It is a vivid, multilayered portrayal of friendship and the earnest, often heartbreaking search for a true sense of self. I enjoyed it immensely.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times-bestselling author of The Weight of Silence “The Appetites of Girls is a terrific novel. On one level, its a good read about four very human young female friends. On another level, it exposes and illuminates the ways in which women use food as a proxy weapon in battles with others and themselves. And, most hauntingly, it shows us how even young women with clear advantages (these girls are Ivy-Leaguers!) must struggle to recognize and accept their own intrinsic powers.” —Martha Moody, bestselling author of Best Friends “I so enjoyed this intelligent novel. At times it seemed to double as a riveting sociological study as it delved into the complex relationship between women and food. An important book for our times—and for our friends, daughters, and ourselves.” —Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Best of us “The Appetites of Girls is comfort food in the form of a novel that weaves four womens stories into a delicious and uplifting casserole of female friendship and the complicated relationships we all have with eating, life and each other.” —Danielle Ganek, author of The Summer We Read Gatsby
Review
and#8220;This gorgeously written story maps the links between love and food.and#8221; and#8212;
Redbook and#8220;A beautifully written...tale of women finding courage.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;Emotionally chargedand#8230;clear-eyed prose.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weeklyand#160;
and#8220;A vivid, multilayered portrayal of friendship.and#8221; and#8212;Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence
"Smart and tender and true."and#8212;Rebecca Rasmussen, author ofand#160;The Bird Sistersand#160;
and#8220;An important book for our timesand#8212;and for our friends, daughters, and ourselves.and#8221; and#8212;Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Best of Us
and#8220;A terrific novel.and#8221; and#8212;Martha Moody, bestselling author of Best Friends
About the Author
Pamela Moses received a B.A. in comparative literature from Brown and an M.A. in English from Georgetown. She lives outside New York City with her husband and their two children. The Appetites of Girls is her first novel.