The Skunks was an easy flowing read. Well written and not very long. Great narration. I had to be in the mood for a casual read on this one, when my normal go to is suspense. This was different for me, not bad, just not my normal jam. I think many readers will like this. Thanks NetGalley.

Fiona Warnick's delightful and idiosyncratic debut novel resonates with the common experience of many Gen Z’ers who, upon completing college, find themselves adrift, seeking to navigate the uncertainties of what lies ahead. In this narrative, Isabel, the protagonist, returns to her hometown where she has taken on a summer house-sitting, working at a yoga studio and babysitting. The house she watches over happens to belong to a couple whose son, Eli, was Isabel's high school crush. This summer marks the end of Isabel's youth, and Warnick uses the season to delve into themes of young love, friendship, and the complexities of human relationships, all portrayed through Isabel's often awkward interactions with those around her. Warnick also introduces a whimsical element by incorporating Isabel's imaginative ponderings about a family of juvenile skunks living beneath her summer abode. These musings add depth to Isabel's journey into adulthood, infusing the narrative with gentle humor and charm. Overall, Warnick's novel is a character-driven, heartwarming tale that will leave readers feeling uplifted and joyful.
Mara Wilson's narration was spot on!
Thank you NetGalley and Norton Publishing for ARC and ALC's of The Skunks.

Isabel has just finished college, and following her graduation, has moved back home for the summer. While she is keeping busy with the odd jobs of summer, housesitting, babysitting, and being a receptionist at a local yoga studio, she feels like she has "failed" by coming back to her hometown. So when Isabel discovers three baby skunks in the yard of the house she is watching for the summer, she uses them as a kind of signal that she should find out as much as she can about the skunks.

The book is well-written, and goes through two points of view, one of Isabel and her summer activities, and two a parallel of the lives of the adolescent skunks, as they leave the comfort of the known and into the unknown. Although I found the book to be well-written, and relatable, I found that there was something missing in the story. The audio quality was good, and easy to listen to, with good narration. I would say that reader that enjoyed coming of age novels like "Catcher in the Rye" and the like, could find some enjoyment in this novel, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The Skunks by Fiona Warnick

A soft quirk of a novel that explores that in between period from college to the world of adulthood.

Isabell is graduated, back home and doing anything and everything, house sitting, baby sitting, working part time, when an encounter with three skunks sparks a deep rumination on her life, past crushes, friendships, family and the what’s next.

Warnick charms us with nostalgia, Isabel is observing the world privately but letting us in on the secret, adding the skunks and a point of view from their perspective was odd but I also kind of loved it and how it tied into the story.

This is a book that doesn’t command attention but instead is a beautiful walk through a transitional period in life that I think any adult has experienced. I loved Isabel’s observations of the world, I could feel her changing with each page, rediscovering through her new lens as she looks towards her future. The ending didn’t come full circle but left us with a crescent ready to be made full.

Overall, I didn't connect with this book very much. The story didn't really grab my attention, and it felt disjointed at times. I did enjoy the narration by Mara Wilson.

I have really been enjoying books with little to no plot lately and The Skunks was perfect. I listened to the audio, narrated by Mara Wilson, and I couldn't stop listening; I finished in less than 2 days. The Skunks follows Isabel's life as she is house-sitting after college graduation and we also get a story about a skunk, how could you not love this?! Even though there isn't a lot going on in the book, it's very reflective and meandering and lovely. Highly recommend and I will be looking out for more by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of The Skunks.

The Skunks by Fiona Warnick and narrated by Mara Wilson is a whimsical exploration of coming of age in the purgatory between college and adult life. Isabels observations of the skunks, naming them, and applying their behaviour to daily life as she housesits is very sweet, although I have to admit, the shoebox in a freezer almost threw me right off!

The narration is mellow and meditative an it was a pretty quick listen that is good for a quiet afternoon adn just what I needed today so props to this one for that

There was a lot to explore in this book and it was almst as if it was being written as it was experienced and I really enjoyed that authenticity

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Fiona Warnick and narrator Mara Wilson for this whimsical ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I'm a huge fan of analogies, personification & anthropomorphism, anything that makes you stop and go "how in the hell was this in front of me the whole time, yet my brain never connected the two". Fiona knocks this out of the park for me.

Feeling connected and similar to skunks wasn't on my bingo card for this year, yet here we are. From the teen drinking to the "first times" of growing up, more than once I was worried these skunks may have gotten ahold of my teenaged inner monologue somehow - the accuracy and nostalgia is uncanny.

It isn't often a book can make me simultaneously question modern ideals and laugh out loud. I'd highly recommend Skunks to anyone who enjoyed No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood or The Nursery by Szilvia Molnar.


(Thank you bunches to NetGalley & publisher Dreamscape Media for the ARC Audiobook!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the Audiobook ARC!

The Skunks feels like a more realistic coming-of-age story. The protagonist is house-sitting for the summer, trying to figure out what to do with the 'rest of her life' and has some interesting experiences with interesting people. And uses a trio of skunks living nearby to help her process everything. I'm making it sound much more dull than it actually is though; there are some pretty funny moments in this book, and some very relatable situations. Definitely worth the read!

Mara Wilson's nearly lethargic narration matches the MC's own lethargy exactly. Overall, there seemed to be a bigger metaphor happening with the POVs from the skunks interspersed throughout the story but it was lost on me. I emphasized with Isabel as a newly graduated college student and not knowing what the next step will be but I also couldn't be bothered to care what her next step would take her. It's a quick listen clocking in under 5 hours and Wilson is always enjoyable but I don't expect this one to linger.

Skunks left me feeling a bit lost. It seemed like a mishmash of ideas put together, missing the mark it aimed for. I think it wanted to be a unique coming of age, but it got too caught up in being quirky, especially with the strange focus on skunks, that it missed the mark for me.

There were parts I connected with, like the feelings of first crushes and the awkwardness that goes along with that. And there were lines that genuinely made me laugh out loud - I wish there would have been more cleverness and charm throughout. But the skunks felt out of place and confusing. I'm sure there's a deeper meaning, but I definitely didn't get it.

Still, there were moments of beauty in the character development and the writing itself. Listening to Mara Wilson's narration added a touch of magic to the story.

Overall, Skunks is a mix of coming-of-age and magical realism. It might not hit the mark perfectly, but there are glimmers of charm for those willing to explore its quirks. If you enjoy weird girl lit fic, you might give it a try.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tin House Books and Dreamscape Media for access to the arc.

After graduating from college, Isabel returns to her hometown to house-sit for the summer. As she contemplates her future, she finds herself frequently observing three skunks in the yard, using them as a metaphor to reflect on her own life and relationships. This quirky new-adult novel is both delightful and thoughtful, skillfully addressing significant questions about life and identity.

The Skunks explores a meandering journey through the complexities of post-college uncertainty, skillfully capturing Isabel's internal struggles and existential thoughts. While the narrative deviates from traditional plotlines in favor of a more literary approach, Warnick's talent is clear in her ability to craft poignant storytelling that highlights the depths of human experience. Readers looking for a more traditionally structured and directed plot may struggle to keep up with this story. But the beauty of Warnick's prose is undeniable, making this novel a testament to her storytelling expertise.

This book felt like a warm hug. The narrator did a great job at keeping that same vibe. The tone and pacing perfectly encapsulated the feeling of the story.

There were so many little moments in this book that made me want to be more aware of the present and appreciate the tiny things in life more. It felt like walking through the woods chit chatting about life with a friend. Stream of consciousness with more substance and structure.

The skunk chapters were just a fun little addition. Not super important, but kept with the story.

I feel like it’s impossible to explain WHY I love this book so much, but I kind of want to snuggle it and love it forever.

What a lovely audiobook listen this one is. It’s part coming of age with some magical realism that reads like poetry. It’s a sweet story that is beautifully narrated by Mara Wilson. Mara has a great voice and she gives just the right inflection to the character’s voices without distracting the listener from the fairytale-like atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the perspective from the skunk’s POV. At approximately four hours, The Skunks is a perfectly enjoyable short car trip listen.

3 stars

I am new to Warnick's work, but I absolutely love the way Mara Wilson narrates, so I jumped at the chance to listen to this audiobook. While the narration was an expected win, I wanted more depth in the content.

Isabel is at one of those pivotal (and often later cringey) moments in life where she's crushing, working in a yoga studio, housesitting, and generally trying to make meaning of herself and in general. It's interesting to follow her journey, but the business with the skunks - which is what I thought I'd enjoy the most! - really didn't work for me.

I'm interested in reading more from this author because this is an undeniably fascinating idea, but I hope to get more out of subsequent reads/listens.

This book is more of a meditation than a story, which feels entirely right for Warnick’s style of writing and, I think, what she’s attempting to say with it.

In some respects this has the bones of a typical “young adult adrift after college” novel, but it’s more than that, albeit with less plot. Warnick is at her best when her protagonist is simply musing, be it about her own life or something broader, and the prose feels both relatable and aspirational.

It’s not uncommon to feel lost at this stage of life (indeed, I expect most of us felt that way), but the thoughtfulness put into this particular portrayal of it is both comforting and thought provoking.

Be prepared for an unnecessary animal death toward the end of the novel. It’s predictable but not pleasant if, like me, this kind of thing bothers you. Fortunately it doesn’t detract from the quality of the book, or from the lovely relationship the protagonist imagines between herself and the titular skunks.