Reviews

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett

haileyprevett's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kribby's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

There are parts, characters, and moments of this book I loved. The cemetery chorus of ghost narrators and their observations, Clive and his moments of lucidity amongst his moments of confusion, and August with his frankness and vulnerability with his sister, were all favorites of mine. But the “we’re so whacky and zany and look how anything-goes we are!” in the last 25% of the book got tiresome for me. And though the author made a point of saying in her author’s note that she doesn’t worry herself too much about realism, we readers were asked too many times to not think too hard when she dropped stuff on us (like,

how would it be possible that August could have attempted suicide and her parents not to have told Emma?

), and there were just too many traumatic things happening in that story to have been treated with such glibness (

your parents just kidnapped and imprisoned a woman in your cabin and faked your death, but no worries! You get to live with your best friend now!

). 

tine200's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pjewel's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mjcallahan94's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.0

cammyvee's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Feels like Don Quixote. Delightful in a weird way. Loved it. 

readsbyrach's review

emotional slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

julelea's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

mamatoca's review against another edition

Not for book club. Swearing. Odd pov. Weird spirituality.

lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition

5.0

What a delightful novel! I will add this to my favorites for 2022. It has a feel good vibe like Ted Lasso, with the quirky addition of chapters narrated by ghosts of the town’s cemetery. Yes, you read that right. They play an omniscient Greek-chorus-like role in helping the reader understand what’s really going on. On top of that, you have pet foxes, interesting characters that develop nicely in the course of the story, and love. Despite being what I’d characterize as an easy read, this novel isn’t fluff: it also deals thoughtfully with a heavier topics of opioid addiction and mental illness. I highly recommend this quirky, well written, and lovable read.