Bunny

Samantha Mackey, a scholarship student at Warren University's MFA program, feels like an outsider among her wealthy classmates. She befriends Ava, a rebellious student who shares her disdain for the institution, while avoiding a clique of four privileged female students who call each other "Bunny." The insular group of women writers catches Samantha's attention with their strange behavior and saccharine interactions. When they unexpectedly invite her to join their exclusive workshop sessions, Samantha finds herself drawn into their world despite her initial resistance and Ava's warnings. The novel follows Samantha's descent into the Bunnies' mysterious circle, where reality and fantasy begin to blur. Set against the backdrop of a prestigious creative writing program, the story explores the dark undercurrents beneath the polished veneer of academic life. The book combines elements of horror, satire, and magical realism to examine themes of belonging, creative expression, and the sometimes toxic nature of female friendships in academic spaces.

Readers describe Bunny as a surreal, bizarre horror-comedy that either captivates or alienates. Many compare it to "The Secret History" meets "Mean Girls" with elements of "The Craft." Readers praised: - Sharp, poetic writing style - Dark humor and satire of MFA programs - Unique take on female friendship dynamics - Effective blend of horror and absurdist elements Common criticisms: - Confusing plot progression - Difficult to follow reality vs. fantasy - Too experimental/abstract for some - Repetitive language and imagery Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (52,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (1,800+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (800+ ratings) "It's like a fever dream you can't wake up from," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another Amazon reader states: "Either you'll love the weirdness or you'll hate it - there's no middle ground." Multiple reviews mention putting the book down several times before finishing or abandoning it completely.

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas A gothic tale set in an elite college where students engage in mysterious experimental education while isolated from the outside world, exploring the dark side of academic pursuit.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt Students at an exclusive New England college form a closed circle around their classics professor and descend into ritualistic behavior with fatal consequences.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth Two parallel narratives connect a cursed boarding school's past to its present through interconnected stories of female relationships and horror.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Students at a boarding school discover the truth about their special purpose while navigating complex friendships and institutional control.

Vita Nostra by Marina, Sergey Dyachenko A student enters a mysterious institute where reality bends and education takes forms beyond conventional understanding.

🎭 The book's unique blend of horror and satire was partly inspired by Awad's own experiences in an MFA program at Brown University, where she felt like an outsider among her peers. 🐰 The recurring bunny motif draws from Alice in Wonderland and connects to the historical symbolism of rabbits in folklore, where they often represent both innocence and trickery. 📚 Bunny won the 2020 Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction and has been optioned for a television adaptation by AMC Studios. 🎨 The novel's surreal elements pay homage to various artistic movements, including Gothic literature and body horror, while incorporating elements of academic satire. 🏛️ Warren University, the setting of Bunny, is a fictionalized version of Providence, Rhode Island, where the contrast between academic wealth and urban poverty mirrors real-world institutional dynamics.