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Hooked
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50 copies available
U.S. only
From the author of the international bestseller Butter comes a chilling and perceptive novel about obsession, female friendship, and the slow unraveling of two lives.
Eriko’s life looks perfect—from her prestigious job at a Japanese trading firm to her spotless apartment and devoted parents. Her newest project, to reintroduce the controversial Nile Perch into the Japanese market, is as ambitious as she is. But beneath her flawless surface lies a consuming loneliness. Eriko has never been able to hold on to a real friend.
Enter a popular lifestyle blogger whose work Eriko follows obsessively. Shoko lives a life of controlled chaos—messy apartment, take-out dinners, a kind, easy-going husband. She writes about daily contentment, though her fractured relationship with her father gnaws at the edges of her happiness.
When Eriko orchestrates a “chance” meeting with Shoko, the two women strike up an unlikely connection. For a fleeting moment, Eriko believes she’s finally found what she’s always longed for. But as her fascination turns to fixation and Shoko’s carefully balanced life begins to dissolve, both women are pushed to breaking points neither of them saw coming.
Deftly translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a taut, provocative novel about modern womanhood, the hunger for connection, and the quiet, ordinary ways our lives can spiral out of control. With razor-sharp insight and disarming empathy, Asako Yuzuki explores how far we’ll go to be seen and what happens when the ones who see us don’t like what they find.
Eriko’s life looks perfect—from her prestigious job at a Japanese trading firm to her spotless apartment and devoted parents. Her newest project, to reintroduce the controversial Nile Perch into the Japanese market, is as ambitious as she is. But beneath her flawless surface lies a consuming loneliness. Eriko has never been able to hold on to a real friend.
Enter a popular lifestyle blogger whose work Eriko follows obsessively. Shoko lives a life of controlled chaos—messy apartment, take-out dinners, a kind, easy-going husband. She writes about daily contentment, though her fractured relationship with her father gnaws at the edges of her happiness.
When Eriko orchestrates a “chance” meeting with Shoko, the two women strike up an unlikely connection. For a fleeting moment, Eriko believes she’s finally found what she’s always longed for. But as her fascination turns to fixation and Shoko’s carefully balanced life begins to dissolve, both women are pushed to breaking points neither of them saw coming.
Deftly translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a taut, provocative novel about modern womanhood, the hunger for connection, and the quiet, ordinary ways our lives can spiral out of control. With razor-sharp insight and disarming empathy, Asako Yuzuki explores how far we’ll go to be seen and what happens when the ones who see us don’t like what they find.
400 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2015
329 people are currently reading
24310 people want to read
About the author
Asako Yuzuki
39 books732 followersAsako Yuzuki (柚木 麻子, Yuzuki Asako) is a Japanese writer. She won the All Yomimono Prize for New Writers and the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize. Asako has been nominated multiple times for the Naoki Prize, and her novels have been adapted for television, radio, and film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
January 23, 2026
less of a thriller and more of a character study of two lonely women living in tokyo.
the novel’s primary theme is female friendships and how hard these can be to form and cultivate, especially in adulthood. it touches on a lot of the themes we’ve come to expect from japanese fiction through its exploration of women in contemporary japan: rigid gender roles, marriage, parental expectations, loneliness, the struggle of human connection, work etc.
the characterisation was done well, eriko was truly an abhorrent character that i wanted to slap, and shoko was grating too. but by the end you do start to feel sorry for both women, which i think is testament to yuzuki’s ability to craft unlikeable but undeniably human and complex characters.
i wish the obsession theme had been expanded a little more, there is definitely an element of foreboding running throughout, but i was expecting it to lead up to something more explosive and unhinged. a few subplots and characters felt a bit random and didn’t add much to the overall storyline, and i think the book could’ve been trimmed down as it did become repetitive at certain points. i haven’t read butter by this author which i know is very popular, but maybe i’ll give it a try.
the novel’s primary theme is female friendships and how hard these can be to form and cultivate, especially in adulthood. it touches on a lot of the themes we’ve come to expect from japanese fiction through its exploration of women in contemporary japan: rigid gender roles, marriage, parental expectations, loneliness, the struggle of human connection, work etc.
the characterisation was done well, eriko was truly an abhorrent character that i wanted to slap, and shoko was grating too. but by the end you do start to feel sorry for both women, which i think is testament to yuzuki’s ability to craft unlikeable but undeniably human and complex characters.
i wish the obsession theme had been expanded a little more, there is definitely an element of foreboding running throughout, but i was expecting it to lead up to something more explosive and unhinged. a few subplots and characters felt a bit random and didn’t add much to the overall storyline, and i think the book could’ve been trimmed down as it did become repetitive at certain points. i haven’t read butter by this author which i know is very popular, but maybe i’ll give it a try.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shoko and Eriko could not be more different. Shoko is a stay at home housewife who loathes cooking, cleaning and, well, anything that requires effort. Eriko is a career woman with a responsible job but still living at home with her parents.
However Eriko is a big fan of Shoko's World's Worst Wife Blog, so much so that she begins haunting the places Shoko goes. Her hunch pays off one night and the two women meet - and get along. Eriko is delighted for here is the answer to all her prayers.
But Shoko is unaware that Eriko has a history of obsessive behaviour and the friendship may not be all she had hoped for. in fact Eriko may be the fan she has always feared.
The story of these two women begins innocuously enough but the tension begins to build quite early on as Eriko's obsession becomes all too obvious. The story isn't quite as cut and dried as all that though and Asako Yuzuki explores the relationships between friends, relatives and spouses in much more detail.
Although I didn't enjoy Hooked quite as much as Butter it is still a great story with a surprising end that I definitely recommend. I look forward to wherever Yuzuki goes next on her literary career.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the advance digital review copy.
However Eriko is a big fan of Shoko's World's Worst Wife Blog, so much so that she begins haunting the places Shoko goes. Her hunch pays off one night and the two women meet - and get along. Eriko is delighted for here is the answer to all her prayers.
But Shoko is unaware that Eriko has a history of obsessive behaviour and the friendship may not be all she had hoped for. in fact Eriko may be the fan she has always feared.
The story of these two women begins innocuously enough but the tension begins to build quite early on as Eriko's obsession becomes all too obvious. The story isn't quite as cut and dried as all that though and Asako Yuzuki explores the relationships between friends, relatives and spouses in much more detail.
Although I didn't enjoy Hooked quite as much as Butter it is still a great story with a surprising end that I definitely recommend. I look forward to wherever Yuzuki goes next on her literary career.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the advance digital review copy.
January 9, 2026
2 stars feels a bit harsh for this since I really enjoyed Butter, but I think the whole concept of this fell a bit flat. The whole jist of the story is that all of the women in it are unlikable and terrible at maintaining female friendships and even their own relationships, because women are inherently catty and gossipy therefore how could they ever form meaningful relationships? In every single conversation between two women in this book, they CONSTANTLY bring up how they don’t have female friends and how women are difficult to get along with. I just found the whole concept so boring and repetitive by the end of the book.
Now, the stalking and blackmail aspect to this book really sped up the plot which was very much needed. The only thing is I don’t think it was used to its full potential, it wasn’t developed on enough as it could have been. I would have loved to see at least one of the women in this story going full on unhinged instead of teetering on the edge for chapters on end.
I honestly felt quite sorry for Eriko by the end of the book. She doesn’t know why she can’t form relationships with anyone, she is just a very intense person and unfortunately people are easily put off by her. No, she doesn’t help herself by literally blackmailing someone she considers her ‘best friend’ who she barely knows to go on a spa break with her for a few days. But I find it so mean that her boss, her coworkers, even her PARENTS find her insufferable to be around and tell her this TO HER FACE! No wonder she was going crazy, wouldn’t you?!
I can appreciate what Yuzuki was trying to do with this book, and I love that it was once again female centred just like Butter; you could even argue that there are even less key male characters in this book and they are mostly plot devices. I just think that I wanted more from such an intense idea, and I am left frustrated at this.
Now, the stalking and blackmail aspect to this book really sped up the plot which was very much needed. The only thing is I don’t think it was used to its full potential, it wasn’t developed on enough as it could have been. I would have loved to see at least one of the women in this story going full on unhinged instead of teetering on the edge for chapters on end.
I honestly felt quite sorry for Eriko by the end of the book. She doesn’t know why she can’t form relationships with anyone, she is just a very intense person and unfortunately people are easily put off by her. No, she doesn’t help herself by literally blackmailing someone she considers her ‘best friend’ who she barely knows to go on a spa break with her for a few days. But I find it so mean that her boss, her coworkers, even her PARENTS find her insufferable to be around and tell her this TO HER FACE! No wonder she was going crazy, wouldn’t you?!
I can appreciate what Yuzuki was trying to do with this book, and I love that it was once again female centred just like Butter; you could even argue that there are even less key male characters in this book and they are mostly plot devices. I just think that I wanted more from such an intense idea, and I am left frustrated at this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I think from the summary, telling us that the book is about Eriko's obsession with Shoko, a blogger, and that she is determined to become her best friend, and from having read and enjoyed Butter last year, I expected the book to read very much like a thriller, and I found it was maybe more of a psychological study. Which maybe Butter was as well in a way.
With Hooked, the intrigue starts at a very good pace... what we knew would happen (Eriko going to extremes and being all stalkerish to keep her new friend) happens within the first 10-20% of the book. After that, things escalate a bit but then they kind of stall. There's a lot of chapters where not much happens and we just follow the characters thoughts. There are a few themes going on, friendship, success, parental attention... But the message didn't feel super clear to me, and I didn't feel as invested as when I started reading. It's a shame because the translation is great - Polly Barton... as always, never disappoints and bonus points for the fish puns and references, I have no idea what they could have been in Japanese but they were very smooth in the English text!
So a bit of a mixed bag but with great moments.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
With Hooked, the intrigue starts at a very good pace... what we knew would happen (Eriko going to extremes and being all stalkerish to keep her new friend) happens within the first 10-20% of the book. After that, things escalate a bit but then they kind of stall. There's a lot of chapters where not much happens and we just follow the characters thoughts. There are a few themes going on, friendship, success, parental attention... But the message didn't feel super clear to me, and I didn't feel as invested as when I started reading. It's a shame because the translation is great - Polly Barton... as always, never disappoints and bonus points for the fish puns and references, I have no idea what they could have been in Japanese but they were very smooth in the English text!
So a bit of a mixed bag but with great moments.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
February 26, 2026
darkly funny, strange and relatable.
HOOKED follows two women in their 30s struggling with friendship, loneliness and social expectations in japan.
i was expecting more unhinged behaviour, but the tension was actually very satisfying.
love a fascinating character study.
The writing was so rich and delish
HOOKED follows two women in their 30s struggling with friendship, loneliness and social expectations in japan.
i was expecting more unhinged behaviour, but the tension was actually very satisfying.
love a fascinating character study.
The writing was so rich and delish
Read
January 22, 2026DNFd at 50%
This was a let down since Butter is one of my favourite books, but this was aimless and heavy handed with the exposition dumping, it spent too much time explaining itself.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
This was a let down since Butter is one of my favourite books, but this was aimless and heavy handed with the exposition dumping, it spent too much time explaining itself.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
February 5, 2026
I have to be honest. I am a little disappointed. It’s a thought-provoking novel that explores challenges in female friendships and human connections, and how societal expectations placed on women affect those relationships. But it didn’t grip me the way Butter did.
Just like Butter, the synopsis of Hooked might give the impression that it’s a thriller or mystery, but it really isn’t. Things get a little creepy very early in the book, and after that not much actually happens. Instead, the story focuses on exploring the central themes mentioned above through the two women’s POVs.
Since this book was published in Japan a few years before Butter, it’s not a case of the author trying to repeat the same idea and failing. Rather, it feels like the publisher looked for a book from the author’s catalogue that was similar to Butter. What made Butter more compelling, in my opinion, was the mysterious female criminal and the dynamic between her and the journalist protagonist. Hooked, unfortunately, lacks similarly intriguing or enigmatic characters. The dynamic between the two FMCs just wasn’t engaging or relatable to me. So I feel like the book was a bit disappointing in that sense.
That said, my disappointment comes mostly from comparing it to Butter. This is by no means a bad book. It’s actually a thoughtful and profound novel. If you’re interested in stories about female friendships or feminist themes, I would still recommend it.
3.5-4 🌟
Just like Butter, the synopsis of Hooked might give the impression that it’s a thriller or mystery, but it really isn’t. Things get a little creepy very early in the book, and after that not much actually happens. Instead, the story focuses on exploring the central themes mentioned above through the two women’s POVs.
Since this book was published in Japan a few years before Butter, it’s not a case of the author trying to repeat the same idea and failing. Rather, it feels like the publisher looked for a book from the author’s catalogue that was similar to Butter. What made Butter more compelling, in my opinion, was the mysterious female criminal and the dynamic between her and the journalist protagonist. Hooked, unfortunately, lacks similarly intriguing or enigmatic characters. The dynamic between the two FMCs just wasn’t engaging or relatable to me. So I feel like the book was a bit disappointing in that sense.
That said, my disappointment comes mostly from comparing it to Butter. This is by no means a bad book. It’s actually a thoughtful and profound novel. If you’re interested in stories about female friendships or feminist themes, I would still recommend it.
3.5-4 🌟
Read
February 19, 2026I really enjoyed it. The style is like Butter, and it goes into the unlikely friendship b/w a blogger and an ardent fan. I liked how the book explores women friendships, loneliness, isolation of the house wife, the boundary that an audience of an online personality might cross.
Online life vs audience : I really enjoyed the parts that talk about how the audience feel like they 'know' the online personality and are friends with them, but for the blogger/influencer, the most dedicated fan is also a stranger. Also, the book made me very nervous of how much we share online that anybody with a stalking gene can track us down. Scary! Another thing I loved was how the audience puts the blogger in a certain mould—brand in more relevant terms—and they expect them to stay within that brand.
Food : The food is great. During the beginning chapters i loved the food descriptions more than Butter but i think the soy sauce and butter rice of Butter stay more in my mind. Writing and translation is great.
What I didn't enjoy : The constant repetition of the fact that the characters do not have women friends. I don't think the repetition added anything and felt tiresome.
Pacing dips from 60% to 80% and picks up.
Overall a good read.
FAQ: If you are new to the author, pick up Butter first and read this later.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own
Blog | Instagram | Threads | X (Twitter) | Newsletter
Online life vs audience : I really enjoyed the parts that talk about how the audience feel like they 'know' the online personality and are friends with them, but for the blogger/influencer, the most dedicated fan is also a stranger. Also, the book made me very nervous of how much we share online that anybody with a stalking gene can track us down. Scary! Another thing I loved was how the audience puts the blogger in a certain mould—brand in more relevant terms—and they expect them to stay within that brand.
Food : The food is great. During the beginning chapters i loved the food descriptions more than Butter but i think the soy sauce and butter rice of Butter stay more in my mind. Writing and translation is great.
What I didn't enjoy : The constant repetition of the fact that the characters do not have women friends. I don't think the repetition added anything and felt tiresome.
Pacing dips from 60% to 80% and picks up.
Overall a good read.
FAQ: If you are new to the author, pick up Butter first and read this later.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own
Blog | Instagram | Threads | X (Twitter) | Newsletter
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you liked BUTTER, you'll eat this up! Yuzuki writes obsession and female loneliness *so* well!
Premise - Eriko is leading a seemingly perfect life. Her new task, to introduce the controversial Nile Perch into the Japanese market, seems like it’ll be just another feather in her cap. But despite all her success, she’s desperately lonely.
So that’s why she talks Shoko, a popular lifestyle blogger whose messy girl aesthetic is everything Eriko isn’t. When Eriko takes her stalking offline, orchestrating a friendship meet-cute, it sets off an unraveling of epic proportions for both women…
Yuzuki's voice is undeniable and it makes HOOKED, like BUTTER, a delectable reading/listening experience. I loved how she built out all the different characters.
There was one minor bullying storyline at Eriko's work that I didn't buy at all. It went in the same direction as Lucy's self-destructive video storyline the last season of Tell Me Lies, and even there I was struggling to believe any character could be so stupid. I only bought it in the case of TML because (a) she was doing it for an existing friendship and, more importantly, (b), she was 20 and dumb. It felt like high school behavior and was a stretch already for college, so it felt like a HUGE stretch for a 30-something adult.
Then again, the character is severely lonely and very mentally ill. So, you know, I guess that means you can justify any sort of wild decision making.😅
Anyway, that minor quibble aside, the book really worked for me and I loved losing myself in Yuzuki's expert storytelling! I also thought the theme of loneliness as a problem stemming from self-absorption and vanity/pride would make for really interesting book club discussion.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ami Okumura Jones. She did a truly beautiful job with the read, highly recommend!
Thanks, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - Eriko is leading a seemingly perfect life. Her new task, to introduce the controversial Nile Perch into the Japanese market, seems like it’ll be just another feather in her cap. But despite all her success, she’s desperately lonely.
So that’s why she talks Shoko, a popular lifestyle blogger whose messy girl aesthetic is everything Eriko isn’t. When Eriko takes her stalking offline, orchestrating a friendship meet-cute, it sets off an unraveling of epic proportions for both women…
Yuzuki's voice is undeniable and it makes HOOKED, like BUTTER, a delectable reading/listening experience. I loved how she built out all the different characters.
There was one minor bullying storyline at Eriko's work that I didn't buy at all. It went in the same direction as Lucy's self-destructive video storyline the last season of Tell Me Lies, and even there I was struggling to believe any character could be so stupid. I only bought it in the case of TML because (a) she was doing it for an existing friendship and, more importantly, (b), she was 20 and dumb. It felt like high school behavior and was a stretch already for college, so it felt like a HUGE stretch for a 30-something adult.
Then again, the character is severely lonely and very mentally ill. So, you know, I guess that means you can justify any sort of wild decision making.😅
Anyway, that minor quibble aside, the book really worked for me and I loved losing myself in Yuzuki's expert storytelling! I also thought the theme of loneliness as a problem stemming from self-absorption and vanity/pride would make for really interesting book club discussion.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ami Okumura Jones. She did a truly beautiful job with the read, highly recommend!
Thanks, NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2026
"Please, I'm begging you all, will someone just remember me? Why are you all so cold, when I'm this lonely?"
Throughout this book, you will find that many characters think female friendship is too complicated; that a woman's greatest enemy is another woman. You can especially see this opinion thrown away here and there by Sugishita, a male co-worker of Eriko.
Eriko herself agrees that it is very difficult to build a friendship with another female. And in her loneliness, she is desperate to seek for one. Then she meets Shōko, a stay-at-home wife who runs a blog unlike any other, she does not seem to be arrogant, nor showing off the luxury of marriage, instead she seems to live a carefree life.
Slowly, Eriko's obsession with Shōko grows. Feeling instantly connected upon their first meet, Eriko keeps advancing herself onto Shōko, causing the latter to pull away in terror.
I think this was such a fascinating read. It teaches us to truly think the meaning of a friendship and what it takes to have a pure human connection. Can we call ourselves a friend of someone when they don't consider us as one? Have we tried to understand our friend as a person or all we did was screaming, begging to be heard and seen?
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Throughout this book, you will find that many characters think female friendship is too complicated; that a woman's greatest enemy is another woman. You can especially see this opinion thrown away here and there by Sugishita, a male co-worker of Eriko.
Eriko herself agrees that it is very difficult to build a friendship with another female. And in her loneliness, she is desperate to seek for one. Then she meets Shōko, a stay-at-home wife who runs a blog unlike any other, she does not seem to be arrogant, nor showing off the luxury of marriage, instead she seems to live a carefree life.
Slowly, Eriko's obsession with Shōko grows. Feeling instantly connected upon their first meet, Eriko keeps advancing herself onto Shōko, causing the latter to pull away in terror.
I think this was such a fascinating read. It teaches us to truly think the meaning of a friendship and what it takes to have a pure human connection. Can we call ourselves a friend of someone when they don't consider us as one? Have we tried to understand our friend as a person or all we did was screaming, begging to be heard and seen?
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
February 18, 2026
Un altro libro centrato sulle relazioni tra le donne, anzi, volendo anche piú profondo di Butter. Le relazioni tra Eriko e le donne che la circondano (volenti o nolenti) sono agghiaccianti ma a volte talmente realistiche da mettere ancora piú paura, una specie di banalità del male in salsa di soia. Mi é piaciuto molto, ma non credo che lo consiglierei.
2026
February 9, 2026Japanuary TBR
Women in Translation TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco
Women in Translation TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco
March 17, 2026
Yuzuki uses two complex, deeply human, and unlikeable in their own right characters to explore themes of female friendship (especially as an adult), rigid gender roles, society pitting women against each other, familial expectations, and obsession.
Shōko has a blog as a stay at home wife where she is known for her lackadaisical attitude and aversion to most “homemaking” tasks (it’s titled the world’s worst wife lmaoo.) Eriko is a corporate office worker for an importer working on a file with a fish- the Nile perch who is a vicious invasive species and makes life for other species around it and ultimately itself uninhabitable. Eriko loves Shōko’s blog (read, obsessively reads it), and uses it and the places she writes about frequenting to bump into her in public in an attempt to strike up a friendship.
I enjoyed watching the mess of this plot unfold. These characters do things that they themselves don’t even understand why they’re doing it. Acting impulsively due to either not being able to understand themselves or the people around them.. it’s just real. Describing a character that you couldn’t relate to…who is a mirror image of that person saying they can’t relate! Girl because you can’t self reflect honestly! Anywayyyy my only real critique is i think that the book tries to accomplish a lot and doesn’t really nail down any one topic.. but I guess that’s real too!! At the end of it all, these are just two women who want to be seen and known and understood! despite seeing and knowing the flaws! there is also a plot point that literally made my jaw drop- i really didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Thank you to Ecco Books & Netgalley for an opportunity to read this eARC early.
Shōko has a blog as a stay at home wife where she is known for her lackadaisical attitude and aversion to most “homemaking” tasks (it’s titled the world’s worst wife lmaoo.) Eriko is a corporate office worker for an importer working on a file with a fish- the Nile perch who is a vicious invasive species and makes life for other species around it and ultimately itself uninhabitable. Eriko loves Shōko’s blog (read, obsessively reads it), and uses it and the places she writes about frequenting to bump into her in public in an attempt to strike up a friendship.
I enjoyed watching the mess of this plot unfold. These characters do things that they themselves don’t even understand why they’re doing it. Acting impulsively due to either not being able to understand themselves or the people around them.. it’s just real. Describing a character that you couldn’t relate to…who is a mirror image of that person saying they can’t relate! Girl because you can’t self reflect honestly! Anywayyyy my only real critique is i think that the book tries to accomplish a lot and doesn’t really nail down any one topic.. but I guess that’s real too!! At the end of it all, these are just two women who want to be seen and known and understood! despite seeing and knowing the flaws! there is also a plot point that literally made my jaw drop- i really didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Thank you to Ecco Books & Netgalley for an opportunity to read this eARC early.
February 8, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was a very introspective read, with a lot of time spent inside each of the main characters’ heads as they process events and emotions.
Having read Butter, I expected this wouldn’t be a traditional thriller despite how it was advertised, and I was right. There was plenty of tension created by unhinged and uncomfortable behaviour, but nothing I found massively suspenseful.
Around the halfway mark my interest did waver, and I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable. It did pick up towards the end, reaching a conclusion that felt natural and believable.
I would recommend this to fans of translated literature, as the translation was fantastic, but I wouldn’t go in expecting a thriller.
Thank you to 4th Estate William Collins, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very introspective read, with a lot of time spent inside each of the main characters’ heads as they process events and emotions.
Having read Butter, I expected this wouldn’t be a traditional thriller despite how it was advertised, and I was right. There was plenty of tension created by unhinged and uncomfortable behaviour, but nothing I found massively suspenseful.
Around the halfway mark my interest did waver, and I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable. It did pick up towards the end, reaching a conclusion that felt natural and believable.
I would recommend this to fans of translated literature, as the translation was fantastic, but I wouldn’t go in expecting a thriller.
Thank you to 4th Estate William Collins, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2026
2.5 - This is fine. Enjoyable in parts but so slow in others. Really well written and translated and yet lacks that hook (pun intended) that makes you want to keep reading. I'm glad I have read it, with Butter being such a huge hit (one I found similarly fine, sorry Butter fans) I wanted to see what else Yuzuki could do, however this tread very familiar paths as before. I'm not a fan of the whole "women can't make friends" narrative and I was hoping for something a little more profound at the end that challenged the ideal that our two main protagonist face throughout and I never got it. Maybe if this had a little more of a thriller edge to their relationship I'd enjoy it more, maybe if Eriko was even more unhinged it would've been more compelling. But it didn't, and so to me, it wasn't.
It was just fine.
It was just fine.
March 12, 2026
Hooked is such an unsettling read. What begins as an awkward friendship slowly twists into something obsessive and deeply uncomfortable.
Eriko becomes fascinated with Shoko through her blog and convinces herself they're destined to be best friends. Watching that fixation spiral into manipulation and control was tense, strange, and honestly a bit painful at times.
Not always an easy read, but definitely a compelling one.
Thank you to 4th Estate for providing me with an early copy!
Eriko becomes fascinated with Shoko through her blog and convinces herself they're destined to be best friends. Watching that fixation spiral into manipulation and control was tense, strange, and honestly a bit painful at times.
Not always an easy read, but definitely a compelling one.
Thank you to 4th Estate for providing me with an early copy!
March 12, 2026
I had an advanced reader copy of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
Compared to Yuziki’s premiere book “Butter,” I found Hooked a step forward in every single way.
The plot was captivating and I felt both Shoko and Eriko were more nuanced as characters. I appreciated the book’s ending and themes of how deep down we all crave friendship and belonging.
Great read that I would highly recommend!
Compared to Yuziki’s premiere book “Butter,” I found Hooked a step forward in every single way.
The plot was captivating and I felt both Shoko and Eriko were more nuanced as characters. I appreciated the book’s ending and themes of how deep down we all crave friendship and belonging.
Great read that I would highly recommend!
February 8, 2026
An excellent book. Didn’t quite impact me the same way as Butter but it’s a fantastic character study of two isolated and lonely women in Japan.
Will do a more detailed review closer to release date.
Will do a more detailed review closer to release date.
March 11, 2026
I’ve read many stories of obsession, and this is one of the best! It will take a while to get there, but if you are patient, the story will surprise you in so many ways.
I loved how the author gave us in-depth looks at both of the women’s lives and their inner dialogue, which sometimes doesn’t really work when telling a story, but in this case works beautifully.
And the ending was perfect.
Read this!
Thank you to Ecco and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
I loved how the author gave us in-depth looks at both of the women’s lives and their inner dialogue, which sometimes doesn’t really work when telling a story, but in this case works beautifully.
And the ending was perfect.
Read this!
Thank you to Ecco and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
February 12, 2026
Interesting and insightful novel about obsession, friendship, relationships and the hardships of being a woman in your thirties in Japan. Eriko, a flawless woman working a high paying job, becomes obsessed with lifestyle blogger Shoko, aka “Hallie B”, aka the World’s Worst Wife. After an encounter where they hit it off, Eriko becomes completely fixated on Shoko’s movements and activities to the point where she mass messages her only days after they’ve met and treats her as if they’ve been best friends forever.
As someone with BPD, I can understand some aspects of Eriko’s behaviour, especially in regard to her anxiety when people don’t reply back to her, her constant apologising and approval seeking. However, her stalker behaviour and thinking that everyone else is at fault for her actions is NOT it 😭 Yuzuki did such an excellent job at making Eriko’s character insufferable.
I was waiting for a climactic event where Eriko would go completely off the rails but it never really did reach that point. I loved when characters called her out on her behaviour. I liked the contrast between Eriko and Shoko’s life - we got some drama and stress-inducing chapters with Eriko and more laidback chapters with Shoko.
Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins Publishing Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
As someone with BPD, I can understand some aspects of Eriko’s behaviour, especially in regard to her anxiety when people don’t reply back to her, her constant apologising and approval seeking. However, her stalker behaviour and thinking that everyone else is at fault for her actions is NOT it 😭 Yuzuki did such an excellent job at making Eriko’s character insufferable.
I was waiting for a climactic event where Eriko would go completely off the rails but it never really did reach that point. I loved when characters called her out on her behaviour. I liked the contrast between Eriko and Shoko’s life - we got some drama and stress-inducing chapters with Eriko and more laidback chapters with Shoko.
Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins Publishing Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
February 10, 2026
This story follows two FMCs, Eriko and Shoko in what is essentially a tale of a one-sided friendship turned obsession.
Firstly, I should mention that this was my first translated (Japanese) fiction and so maybe this is entirely a “me” problem. I was initially drawn in by the premise which I thought was so promising and could have gone in so many different directions but ultimately, in my view, went nowhere at all. Marketed as a thriller, I kept waiting for SOMETHING of significance to happen, I then waited for a twist or a big reveal and again, nothing. For that reason, I would warn prospective readers that if you’re going into this book expecting a thriller you will be disappointed. However, if you enjoy heavily character-driven contemporary fiction, maybe, you will enjoy this.
That said, I REALLY enjoyed the writing which I found so full of wisdom, that I kept highlighting quotes in the first few chapters alone (this coming from someone who doesn’t usually highlight!)
Many thanks to 4th Estate and William Collins for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
Firstly, I should mention that this was my first translated (Japanese) fiction and so maybe this is entirely a “me” problem. I was initially drawn in by the premise which I thought was so promising and could have gone in so many different directions but ultimately, in my view, went nowhere at all. Marketed as a thriller, I kept waiting for SOMETHING of significance to happen, I then waited for a twist or a big reveal and again, nothing. For that reason, I would warn prospective readers that if you’re going into this book expecting a thriller you will be disappointed. However, if you enjoy heavily character-driven contemporary fiction, maybe, you will enjoy this.
That said, I REALLY enjoyed the writing which I found so full of wisdom, that I kept highlighting quotes in the first few chapters alone (this coming from someone who doesn’t usually highlight!)
Many thanks to 4th Estate and William Collins for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
February 28, 2026
Hooked is a character driven story that explores friendship and societal expectations for women from the author of Butter. The story of two very different women. Eriko is a woman who seems to have it all with a successful career and Shoko, a childless homemaker who runs a blog World’s Worse Wife. Eriko becomes fascinated with Shoko’s blog and orchestrates a ‘chance’ meeting with Shoko. Eriko becomes obsessive as she tries to forge a friendship with Shoko. Both characters were complex, well developed and fleshed out. Whilst Eriko was hard to like at times the more you learn about her, the more you begin to feel for her. Shoko was a lot more likable but also has her own heartbreak. The author explores themes such as parental expectations, success, loneliness friendship and gender roles through these two women and their different lives. Again, like there were many rich descriptions of food and the side plot of importing fish from Tanzania was interesting. It did feel a little repetitive at times but overall it was another thought provoking story from Asako.
February 27, 2026
ARC REVIEW - NetGalley
This novel unfolds in emotional waves—quiet stretches of loneliness punctuated by moments of intensity that crash and reshape the characters. Through Eriko and Shoko, two women from vastly different social worlds, it offers a sharp and unsettling examination of female friendship, insecurity, and the deep need to be seen and understood.
Both women are profoundly isolated, and their instant connection becomes intoxicating—especially for Eriko, whose desperation gradually turns destructive. What emerges is a story about the fragility and performative nature of female relationships, and how competition, alienation, and social expectation shape women’s sense of self.
The Nile perch metaphor is especially effective, highlighting how survival within a hostile environment can force women into quiet, mutual destruction. Dark, psychologically incisive, and deeply compelling, this novel feels both empathetic toward women and unafraid to interrogate them.
All in all, this is another wonderful novel from Asako Yuzuki!
I will film a longer review and share to my socials if anyone is interested. My username is Shayleemischele across all platforms.
This novel unfolds in emotional waves—quiet stretches of loneliness punctuated by moments of intensity that crash and reshape the characters. Through Eriko and Shoko, two women from vastly different social worlds, it offers a sharp and unsettling examination of female friendship, insecurity, and the deep need to be seen and understood.
Both women are profoundly isolated, and their instant connection becomes intoxicating—especially for Eriko, whose desperation gradually turns destructive. What emerges is a story about the fragility and performative nature of female relationships, and how competition, alienation, and social expectation shape women’s sense of self.
The Nile perch metaphor is especially effective, highlighting how survival within a hostile environment can force women into quiet, mutual destruction. Dark, psychologically incisive, and deeply compelling, this novel feels both empathetic toward women and unafraid to interrogate them.
All in all, this is another wonderful novel from Asako Yuzuki!
I will film a longer review and share to my socials if anyone is interested. My username is Shayleemischele across all platforms.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2026
Asako Yuzuki has done it again! What exactly has she done again? Written a book marketed as a thriller that is really more of a character study than anything. And that is far from a bad thing!
One of the things I love about Yuzuki's work is her ability to really inform the audience on topics you really wouldn't think about (butter in the titular "Butter" and the Nile Perch and its unfortunate existence as an invasive species AND the documentary that covers their devastation of Lake Victoria in "Hooked," "Darwin's Nightmare" (2004) for those that are curious) on the daily.
While the dialogue among the main characters comes off a little stilted at times, it feels intentional but can come off a tad weird. Some of that I will blame on translations not being fully equipped for conversational nuance. Shout out to Polly Barton for handling both of Yuzuki's English translations!
I won't spoil too much as this is a title to experience with your own eyes, but I love love love the use of unreliable narration. There were a few moments where I had to reread the page just to make sure I read what I read right.
And the character work! Yuzuki really makes you understand why her characters do what they do, even if you can't fully sympathize with them.
If you, like me, prefer Japanese mystery/thrillers (even though this is really neither) over the cozier fiction that has taken the West by storm, I definitely suggest giving Yuzuki's work a try! She is definitely a voice in the Japanese literary canon to keep an eye on!
Many thanks to Ecco Press and HarperCollins for the arc!
One of the things I love about Yuzuki's work is her ability to really inform the audience on topics you really wouldn't think about (butter in the titular "Butter" and the Nile Perch and its unfortunate existence as an invasive species AND the documentary that covers their devastation of Lake Victoria in "Hooked," "Darwin's Nightmare" (2004) for those that are curious) on the daily.
While the dialogue among the main characters comes off a little stilted at times, it feels intentional but can come off a tad weird. Some of that I will blame on translations not being fully equipped for conversational nuance. Shout out to Polly Barton for handling both of Yuzuki's English translations!
I won't spoil too much as this is a title to experience with your own eyes, but I love love love the use of unreliable narration. There were a few moments where I had to reread the page just to make sure I read what I read right.
And the character work! Yuzuki really makes you understand why her characters do what they do, even if you can't fully sympathize with them.
If you, like me, prefer Japanese mystery/thrillers (even though this is really neither) over the cozier fiction that has taken the West by storm, I definitely suggest giving Yuzuki's work a try! She is definitely a voice in the Japanese literary canon to keep an eye on!
Many thanks to Ecco Press and HarperCollins for the arc!
March 12, 2026
An excellent, super introspective read that’s a bit different from my usual preferences, but I find this somewhat therapeutic because I know someone who is exactly like Eriko. I still have to deal with her regularly too, so it felt refreshing to view the whole situation as a third party.
In all honesty, I feel like the book lost the plot once the friendship between Eriko and Shoko crashed and burned. I was curious to see where the story would go past that point, but it just dragged itself out and eventually halted in the middle of nowhere. Due to the plot summary, as well as the way it was marketed, I had the impression that the book would focus on female friendships. It did, in a way. But it also tried to cover a lot more than that, resulting in it barely scratching the surface of a wider range of topics.
That being said, I did like how flawed the characters are. Most of them are unlikeable, with Eriko being downright detestable. They are so petty and messy, and that’s exactly why I enjoyed this book. It feels more like a character study than the thrilling story it’s being marketed as.
In all honesty, I feel like the book lost the plot once the friendship between Eriko and Shoko crashed and burned. I was curious to see where the story would go past that point, but it just dragged itself out and eventually halted in the middle of nowhere. Due to the plot summary, as well as the way it was marketed, I had the impression that the book would focus on female friendships. It did, in a way. But it also tried to cover a lot more than that, resulting in it barely scratching the surface of a wider range of topics.
That being said, I did like how flawed the characters are. Most of them are unlikeable, with Eriko being downright detestable. They are so petty and messy, and that’s exactly why I enjoyed this book. It feels more like a character study than the thrilling story it’s being marketed as.
February 14, 2026
I enjoyed this ARC. The story was psychological, uncomfortable, and a lot of fun to read! These two main characters are lonely and have trouble maintaining close friendships. Obsession ensues. A great dive into loneliness at its extremes.
My only real issue was that I think it could have been 100 pages shorter and still have gotten the main message across if it wanted to I think. Heavy on the whole “this could have been an email” phrase in the latter portion. BUT overall I still recommend if you’re into translated fiction, psychological and uneasy reads, and social commentary.
3.5/5
My only real issue was that I think it could have been 100 pages shorter and still have gotten the main message across if it wanted to I think. Heavy on the whole “this could have been an email” phrase in the latter portion. BUT overall I still recommend if you’re into translated fiction, psychological and uneasy reads, and social commentary.
3.5/5
January 21, 2026
Di questo libro ho apprezzato soprattutto l’ampio spazio riservato all’introspezione dei personaggi. Nel complesso, ritengo che valga la pena leggerlo per il modo acuto in cui l'autrice esplora il desiderio di connessione, che poi finisce per diventare un tentativo di possesso, tra donne profondamente sole e isolate.
Peccato per gli innumerevoli errori di battitura presenti nell'edizione italiana.
Peccato per gli innumerevoli errori di battitura presenti nell'edizione italiana.
February 6, 2026
review to come
March 16, 2026
I had such high expectations of this book after reading Butter, and this exceeded them. I loved everything about it
Read
March 3, 2026DNF :/
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