Cover Image: Unlikely Animals

Unlikely Animals

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Member Reviews

I am on the fence about this novel. It is quirky (not a bad thing). And because it's magical realism, I realize that it's not going to be very realistic. I didn't care for any of the characters and I usually develop a connection to the people in the story, but it just didn't happen here. But while the story eventually came together, it was hard to get there. I lost interest often which made it hard to pick up again later. The author describes afterwards how she chose this subject matter in the first place which is actually very interesting. But the overall story fell flat for me. Other readers will surely feel differently.

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This is a one of a kind book and I learned a lot about life and death, Thanks for the review copy. I liked the imperfect friendships.

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I really enjoyed this book! There were tough themes in the book as Emma has come back home. Her father is ill. Her friend is missing. There’s family dynamics as they all try to keep their relationships together. But there was something comfortable about the characters journeys, especially Emma’s. And there was humor in the story as well, adding a little lightness to it all.

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This was such a cute whimsical story about #smalltownlife and the drama it can cause. Author Annie Hartnett expertly weaves this tale from the perspective of a variety of characters and you can’t wait to see how they all intertwine. I must come confess I looked up if having a fox as a pet is possible! Pick up this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book to read a heartwarming tale about a girl finding her #waybackhome. 📚📚📚 #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #unlikelyanimals #netgalleyarc #netgalley #netgalleyreads #vacationreads #my2023readingchallenge

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Hartnett is a master at combining the heavy and the light. This tragicomedy deals in the heaviest subjects while handling all with a light touch. Insightful and delightful.

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A solid 3.5 quirky read! Intriguing perspective throughout. A mystery, family drama, romance all wrapped up nicely.

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This book was utterly delightful! Unlikely Animals is a wild ride in so many ways, a ghost story, a death tale, a where is she mystery, a warning of the opioid crisis, a romantic comedy and the heartwarming story of a family. I tried explaining this book to a friend a few days ago and she said “I’m sold. This sounds amazing.” I was attached to all of the characters, the only think I would have changed was adding a list of ghosts or having more steady ghosts who were narrating like only 3-4.

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This was a light hearted read that I demolished at a beach weekend. It was nice for what it was but I do not think I would recommend it.

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This is an enjoyable if slight novel. I read it quickly and found it a pleasant enough reading expereience.

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Very cool and quirky concept of a choir of ghosts narrating, and I love the exploration of the messiness and uncertainty of being in your early 20s (or 20s in general). I did prefer RABBIT CAKE to this novel simple because even though the craft of UNLIKELY ANIMALS is a tour de force, it didn't make me feel like her previous novel did.

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This book was so refreshing. The characters - both living and dead, animal and human - are whimsical and downright funny even when they're not trying to be. At times, the story bordered close to the unbelievable but was able to remain just grounded enough to make it relatable. This heartwarming novel was truly one-of-a-kind. Highly recommend!

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This was a very interesting, quirky novel. It was a little slow at the beginning, but I grew to love all the characters, especially the gallery of dead citizens who still very much have a strong opinion of what the living people are up too. And while some parts were very emotional for me, I really enjoyed reading this story.

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I did not get to this book and as a result am removing from my list. I ended up selecting other books to read instead. This review is not a reflection of the story, but rather shows that this was not high on my TBR list, which is a factor in itself.

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This was a very quirky, unusual and emotional novel which turned out to be just okay for me. There’s a lot going on in this story! Thank you for a complimentary copy of this book.

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I loved this book, it was quirky, funny, and so emotional I found myself in tears at times. A beautiful story of family and love!

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Unlikely Animals was a quirky little novel that surprised me. I read it while dealing with grief over losing a grandparent to Alzheimer's so the novel was a bit of a struggle personally and emotionally. But that made me like it even more. It was the novel I needed at the time, this weird little story of foxes and ghosts and loss and drama.

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I received the ARC for this book a long time ago, thank you netgalley, and I also got the hardcover when it was released so I have no excuse for waiting so long to read this amazing book that made me want to hug it when I was done.
The story is set in a small town in New Hampshire where the resident ghosts in the town cemetery keep tabs on its residents. Beside the town are thousands of acres of private land stocked and used by wealthy hunters. A lot of the town background is based on a factual New Hampshire town and its history. The main characters are Clive, a charming character who looks like an aging hippie and listens to Black Sabbath. Clive is suffering from a degenerative brain disease that affects his memory, causes hallucinations, and is terminal. Clive is also obsessed with the disappearance of a local girl and spends the majority of his time putting up flyers and hiring PIs. The story begins with Emma, Clive's daughter, returns from California to help care for her father. Emma soon finds herself as an emergency substitute teacher to a bunch of quirky 5th graders who only add to the delight of the book. Along with mom Ingrid, brother Auggie, recently out rehab, about a dozen other town residents help to bring this quaint New England town to life. It is a sweet story, with both tender moments and laugh out loud moments that I'm sure not to forget any time soon.

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Emma is called home to Everton, New Hampshire because her dad is dying. She has to tell her parents that she has dropped out of med school and has no idea what to do next. Her dad is seeing animals that aren't there and searching for Emma's best friend who has been missing for a year and her brother, Auggie, is trying to stay sober having become a victim of the opiate crisis. Into this cast of characters throw in the ghost of a naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes. Parts of the story are narrated by the ghosts in the graveyard with a gossipy tone as they spy upon the living. I loved this quirky and delightful book. The characters were great. I also liked the mystery behind the disappearance of Crystal and Sid Wish and the drug bust.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me a digital copy.

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What a fantastic premise for a novel and expertly executed, Heart warming tale and likeable characters that made me want to devour this in one sitting.

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3.5⭐️

This book is so unique for the dead peanut gallery we have guiding us through the story! I loved that aspect so much.

On the other hand, whether it was the dead voices, journal entries, or the way the main characters were written, I felt distance between me the reader and their story. I was not emotionally attached to anyone.

5⭐️ for creativity, 4 ⭐️ for humor, 3⭐️ for characters.

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