A review by laedyred
Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

This is a book I feel positively toward even though I did not necessarily enjoy the story itself. Awad's writing is uniquely descriptive and she certainly knows how to write unlikeable characters. I was disappointed in the switch to pick-me behavior in part three. Some interpretations of the ending are I unfulfilling, they feel cheap. How much of the plot actually occurs is up for debate; it is a perfect English class example of an unreliable narrator. My criticism comes from what I feel is a weak message. There are the usual dark academia themes of classissm (financial and social), narcissism, and academic superiority joined with codependence and obsession. 

But I don't feel like Bunny says anything particularly new; I saw it taking heavy inspiration from The Secret History. The absolute absurdity is what carries the novel, lending itself well to a book club discussion. The book is trying to be cerebral but comes off as pretentious, confusing just to be confusing. I'd be interested to know what value other readers gathered.