logo

57 pages 1 hour read

Unlikely Animals

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Annie Hartnett

Unlikely Animals

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022
Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Hampshire • Contemporary

Topic
Publication Year

2022

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett is a tragi-comic novel set in the fictional town of Everton, New Hampshire, during the opioid epidemic, where Emma Starling returns home to her eccentric family and a community grappling with issues, including her father Clive's hallucinations, her brother Auggie's recovery, and the disappearance of her best friend, Crystal, all narrated by the deceased residents of a local cemetery. The book references substance use disorder, mental illness, and suicide.

Humorous

Mysterious

Emotional

Heartwarming

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

22,993 ratings

79%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett blends magical realism and heartfelt family dynamics. Critics praise its quirky characters, emotional depth, and humor, while some feel the narrative can be meandering and overly whimsical. Overall, the novel is celebrated for its originality and warmth, despite minor structural weaknesses.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Unlikely Animals?

Readers who enjoy quirky, poignant narratives with a blend of magical realism and humor will find Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett captivating. Fans of novels like A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple will appreciate the unique characters and touching storytelling.

4.2

22,993 ratings

79%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Hampshire • Contemporary

Topic
Publication Year

2022

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.