Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett is a tender, darkly humorous novel that blends literary fiction with a touch of the uncanny, exploring themes of grief, redemption, family, and the unbreakable bonds of community. Set in the small, struggling town of Everton, New Hampshire, the story weaves together the perspectives of the living and the dead, infusing a narrative of loss and healing with both wit and heart. Hartnett’s novel is at once deeply human and playfully inventive, showing how even in the face of tragedy, life’s absurdities can spark connection and hope.
The novel centers on Emma Starling, a former medical prodigy who returns to her hometown after dropping out of medical school. Emma’s return is prompted by her father, Clive, a once-brilliant, now terminally ill man whose eccentricity and visions blur the line between reality and imagination. Clive’s obsession with the work of real-life naturalist Ernest Harold Baynes and his belief in the healing power of nature provide a guiding, if sometimes chaotic, force in Emma’s journey. At the same time, the disappearance of Emma’s former classmate, Crystal Nash, haunts the town, drawing Emma into the mystery and compelling her to reckon with her past and the lives left behind.
A central theme of the novel is healing—physical, emotional, and communal. Emma’s struggle to reconcile her failure to fulfill her early promise as a doctor mirrors her efforts to mend fractured relationships with her family and herself. Clive’s own decline and unorthodox beliefs in nature’s restorative powers highlight the tension between science and wonder, suggesting that healing often requires more than medicine can offer. The town of Everton, with its opioid crisis and lingering economic decline, serves as a larger metaphor for wounds that demand collective care and understanding.
The novel also explores grief and the persistence of memory. The narration frequently shifts to the voices of the dead who reside in the local cemetery, a chorus that comments on the living and reflects on their own unfinished stories. This device imbues the narrative with a sense of continuity between past and present, emphasizing how the dead remain a part of the fabric of the town and the lives of its inhabitants. Through these spectral narrators, Hartnett underscores the idea that grief is not only personal but also communal, shaping the identity of a place and its people.
Another key theme is forgiveness and acceptance—of others and oneself. Emma’s return home forces her to confront her perceived failures and the weight of expectations, while Clive seeks reconciliation with the daughter he has at times alienated. The novel’s characters, flawed and often fumbling, reveal the messy, non-linear nature of forgiveness, portraying it as a process rather than a single act. This exploration lends emotional depth to the story’s humor, showing how laughter and love often arise alongside pain.
Hartnett’s prose is notable for its warmth, wit, and subtle lyricism. Her writing captures the idiosyncrasies of small-town life and the quirks of her characters with both affection and sharp insight. The inclusion of the dead as narrators gives the novel a gently magical quality without undermining its emotional realism. This tonal balance—between comedy and tragedy, the ordinary and the extraordinary—keeps the novel grounded even as it ventures into the surreal.
The world-building of Everton is rich and textured. The town’s cemetery, forests, hospital, and fading infrastructure feel tangible and lived-in, providing a backdrop that reflects the struggles and resilience of its inhabitants. Hartnett’s attention to setting helps situate the characters’ personal dramas within a broader social and environmental context, making their stories resonate as part of a larger tapestry.
In conclusion, Unlikely Animals is a heartfelt and imaginative exploration of what it means to care for one another—in families, communities, and even across the divide between the living and the dead. Annie Hartnett’s skillful blending of humor, pathos, and a touch of the supernatural creates a narrative that is both entertaining and deeply moving. By examining grief, forgiveness, and the possibility of healing in unexpected places, the novel affirms the enduring strength of connection in the face of loss and change.
