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Hooked

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Hooked

By: Asako Yuzuki, Polly Barton - translator
Narrated by: Ami Okumura Jones
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Buy Now for £16.36

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About this listen

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Tender and thrilling it’s Yuzuki at her best’ ELLE

‘Deliciously satisfying’ iPAPER

‘Enjoyable and addictive’ INDEPENDENT

‘Fantastically dark’ ERIN KELLY

The thrilling new novel of friendship and dangerous obsession from Asako Yuzuki, the award-winning author of the global sensation Butter.

Eriko really wouldn't mind being savaged, if it was her best friend doing the savaging …

Eriko's life appears perfect – devoted parents, pristine apartment and a high-flying job in the seafood division of one of Japan's largest trading companies. Her latest project, to reintroduce the controversial Nile perch fish into the Japanese market, is characteristically ambitious. But beneath her flawless surface she is wracked by loneliness.

Eriko becomes fascinated with a popular blog written by a housewife, Shōko. Shōko’s posts about convenience-store food and her messy home are the opposite of the typical manicured housewife. When Eriko tracks Shōko down at her favourite restaurant, Shōko is at first charmed by her new companion. But soon Eriko's obsession with Shōko begins to spiral out of control. How far will she go to hold on to the best friend she’s ever had?

Beautifully translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a delicious exploration of food, loneliness and womanhood in contemporary Japan.

A most anticipated book in Vogue, Guardian, New York Times, The Times, Sunday Times Style, Elle, Stylist, Grazia and more.

‘Expect to see this distinctive pink cover everywhere’ GRAZIA

‘A psychological thriller with a social commentary bite’ INDEPENDENT

‘Unsettling, compelling, richly written’ JODIE HARSH, author of You Had to Be There

‘Translated with crackling verve’ GUARDIAN

‘I couldn't stop reading’ COSTANZA CASATI, author of Babylonia

‘Stayed with me for weeks’ IRISH TIMES

‘Tremendous – an elegantly written … dissection of female friendship’ THE GLOSS

‘You can’t fail to be reeled in’ SERVICE95

‘Will leave you gasping’ TOBI COVENTRY, author of He’s the Devil

‘No one writes about the lurking monstrosities of womanhood quite like Asako Yuzuki’ ALICE SLATER, author of Death of a Bookseller

©2026 Polly Barton (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers
City Life Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Urban Women's Fiction World Literature
All stars
Most relevant
I didn’t love her first translated book, Butter. It was good but for me not as good as they hype. I feel this one really builds on her skills, with more depth to the characters and story - although apparently it was written before Butter, just only released in translation now.

I hope more translations of her work are on the way soon. There’s much to explore in her work

Well written - better than Butter

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Such a great book exploring female relationships in Japanese culture and beyond.Great depth to all the characters who are very relatable.Brilliant dialogues.Beautifully written prose,very atmospheric as the author is so descriptive in their language.Great translation and narration.Highly recommend,can’t fault it!Listened in one day… 🥹🤓

Wonderful book!

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Read the reviews and thought this might be a pleasant read. I managed to listen over half way and that was more than enough. If you are immature and like fish and complete farce, this is for you.

Not for the Mature

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