Disclaimer: I included links to the Amazon listing in this Milk Fed book review in case you’d like to purchase. I’m an Amazon Affiliate and earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases. As with all books on my blog, please check parental guidelines and trigger warnings before reading. This book especially features a lot of explicit scenes.
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
Released: 2021
Setting: LA, California
Genre: Literary fiction
Book # for author: 8th
Milk Fed book synopsis
Rachel is in her 20s, works at a PR agency and uses her eating habits to feel in control. One day she meets Miriam, a happily overweight Orthodox woman around her age who works at her favorite fro yo spot. An attraction builds. Being around Miriam eases Rachel’s tight grip on food but leaves other things up in the air…like their relationship and Rachel’s life in general.
Milk Fed review
Milk Fed was such a great book! Sure, there were parts I didn’t love (too much sex) and didn’t agree with politically (some of the “facts” about Israel and Gaza were wrong) but this was still such a flowing, enjoyable read.
Structure
There are some books that I recognize as well done and even enjoy but I’m still not motivated to finish, many times because they have too many unnecessary characters and pointless elements to the story. This was not the case with Milk Fed. The novel featured a straight storyline with natural references to the past, which is the best structure for a book in my opinion.
Character focus
Milk Fed dove into who Rachel was, which I really appreciated. It addressed Rachel’s disordered eating and food obsession, longing for a mother figure, work environment, past, therapy, relationship to God and religion, plus her views on Israel. That’s what I like in a book: when it goes into the main character’s life, family relationships and past comprehensively, rather than spreading the focus between many characters.
Observations
Milk Fed was a book that allowed us to empathize with Rachel, while at the same time disagree with her behavior and opinions. This is such an important aspect for me when reading. I don’t want to read about perfect people! However, there were times I wondered if Rachel and her life were too normal for my preference 😆. But at the end of the day, I appreciated the mix of normal and weird and I think you will too.
Takeaways *with slight spoilers*
This was a book that didn’t have many clear takeaways but I was totally fine with it. Milk Fed was one snapshot of Rachel’s life and wasn’t trying to make too grand a statement. I saw it as one of the stepping stones in Rachel’s journey of life. She gained a ton and then moved on.
Overall
Milk Fed was an easy, enjoyable read. It grabs you emotionally and doesn’t bog you down with clear cut answers. I found it similar to Ripe and Pizza Girl, if you’re looking for what to read after Milk Fed.
My rating: 8.5/10
Read more…
Should Nightbitch Have Been Made Into a Movie? | My Nightbitch Movie Review
Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
