

I don’t typically read “smut,” but Milk Fed tackled far more than just explicit sex scenes. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and read it in just a few days.

However, I believe the story can even be educational for those who don’t quite understand the complexity of an eating disorder. Melissa Broder’s writing style is emblematic of someone familiar with the insidious nature of eating disorders and how mind consuming they can be. Conversely, Rachel holds on to the traditions of judaism, but by no means considers herself to be religious. Later in the novel, this poses a glaringly obvious problem for the two when their worlds collide, and Miriam is forced to make a decision between Rachel and her family.Īs a reader, you might be a bit confused by the obsessive and repetitive language surrounding food. Having been raised orthodox, Miriam still lives with her family and meticulously follows the rules of her mother and father. Rachel is culturally jewish and her new friend Miriam is orthodox, and although they do share the same religion, they practice it very differently. Not only that, Rachel also realizes she doesn’t want to be “just friends” with Miriam, who soon becomes her new fixation over food. The problem? Rachel will be forced to break her ritual around food if she decides to eat out with her new friend. After a few awkward interactions, Miriam invites Rachel out. Rachel meets a girl named Miriam at the local frozen yogurt joint, an establishment she visits almost daily. While struggling with an eating disorder, Rachel also works on the toxic relationship she has with her mother, who never gave her the love she sought after. As someone who claims she has always struggled with her weight, she has adopted a strict eating schedule that involves ritualistic practices to ensure she remains thin. Rachel is an LA transplant who works in entertainment advertising, spends her evenings doing stand-up comedy, and spends an immeasurable amount of time thinking about food. The novel features a female narrator and protagonist who struggles with mental illness, mommy issues, an eating disorder, and identity.

If you were a fan of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, you may also be intrigued by Milk Fed by Melissa Broder.
