The thrilling new novel of friendship and dangerous obsession from Asako Yuzuki, award-winning author of the global sensation Butter. Eriko's life appears flawless—devoted parents, pristine apartment, high-flying job in Japan's seafood industry managing a controversial project to reintroduce the Nile perch to the Japanese market. Yet beneath her polished exterior lies profound loneliness. Everything changes when Eriko discovers a popular blog by housewife Shoko. Unlike the typical manicured online personas, Shoko's candid posts about convenience-store food and her messy home feel refreshingly authentic. Captivated, Eriko tracks Shoko down and initiates a friendship that begins with genuine charm—but soon spirals into something darker and far more dangerous. As Eriko's obsession deepens, the question becomes unavoidable: how far will she go to hold onto the best friend she's ever had? What starts as connection transforms into a psychological thriller that explores the intoxicating pull of intimacy, the masks we wear, and the monstrous potential lurking beneath even the most carefully constructed lives. Beautifully translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a richly layered exploration of food, loneliness and womanhood in contemporary Japan—a novel that lingers long after the final page.