Review: Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pizza Girl is a sharp, introspective novel that explores themes of aimlessness, grief, and self-destruction through the lens of its deeply flawed yet compelling protagonist. The unnamed narrator, a pregnant 18-year-old struggling with the weight of her uncertain future, finds herself drawn to Jenny, a lonely, middle-aged woman who becomes fixated on ordering pickle-covered pizzas. What begins as an odd yet intriguing connection quickly spirals into an obsessive infatuation.

Frazier’s writing is raw and emotionally charged, capturing the narrator’s self-loathing, longing, and quiet unraveling with dark humor and gut-punch honesty. The protagonist sees Jenny as an escape from her stagnant life, but as her fixation intensifies, the relationship takes on an unsettling, one-sided nature. When she ultimately realizes that Jenny cannot reciprocate her feelings—or even truly see her—the illusion crumbles, leaving her more lost than before.

This novel is less about romance and more about loneliness, self-destruction, and the desperate search for meaning in places that cannot provide it. The ending is haunting yet fitting, cementing Pizza Girl as a compelling, if at times uncomfortable, exploration of identity and longing. While not a feel-good read, it’s an evocative and memorable one, driven by Frazier’s sharp prose and unflinching honesty.