Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC!

First of all, the cover for this novel is gorgeous. Ultimately, it is definitely what first drew me to the book, and I will definitely be considering getting a physical copy for my bookshelf, having also now read and enjoyed the same.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into this, but what I found was a beautifully moving account of grief. So many quotes stood out to me during the main character (Amelia's) journey of processing these feelings after suddenly and awfully losing her mother. Working as a mortuary beautician in the family funeral parlor means she is constantly around grief, but the impact is profoundly different when it is her own mother.

Amelia is someone who uses casual sex as an outlet anyway, and this aspect of her life ramps up in the days following her mother's death. She finds herself quite accidentally encountering her first experience as a sub, before joining a Kink Club and having a few different experiences.

Admittedly I do not know a lot about the BDSM and kink scene, so I can't comment so much on this aspect; there were some red flags that were clearly intended to be red flags (from Leo, the man she initially subs for), but there were also some afterwards that weren't treated as intentional - for example, an 'experienced' dom in the club mentions not using safe words and instead using 'intuition'. Even as a reader inexperienced with this area of life, it felt a little dangerous to me that the author would include some parts without accurately reflecting them to be an inherently bad example of the BDSM world.

Some parts were explicit and gross and made me cringe, but I personally don't DISLIKE that. It shows good writing, when I physically have to set a book aside and take a moment before continuing, and was, I believe, the intended effect at times.

Ultimately, the book is at its best when focusing solely on the grief and the feelings and processes Amelia goes through, and the multitude of characters and people she has around her who feel just as vibrant and three dimensional. The sexual aspect almost feels like an aside; sure, some parts counter one another well and seem to make sense, but a lot of it also feels somewhat abrupt, and unnecessary.

I thoroughly enjoyed the last chapter, though some loose ends were not tied up as satisfactorily as I might have liked. But perhaps that is a true example of life; with people and things coming and going all the time.

This is unexpectedly very funny and poignant, in amongst all the filth and BDSM! A unique look at grief and the bodily effects, especially on the millennial generation.

New Animal follows Amelia, a make-up artist at her family mortuary, who decides to leave town after the death of her mother. It's a absorbing look at self-destruction, the desire to hurt and be hurt, and the awkward elements of grief that are often left out of the narrative.

It's a really compelling book, and an incredibly human one too. Amelia's desire to be wild, angry and hurt herself and others is handled with a real sense of compassion. If you liked the emotional nuance of books like "Supper Club" or Cheryl Strayed's "Wild", I think you will like this one too.

With thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC.

Sooo chaotic but I loved it.I enjoyed the use of dark humour,it worked really well because there was a nice contrast between it and Amelias grief.Vaguely reminiscent of a couple of books trending on booktok right now that focus on feminine rage such as bunny by mona awad.

New Animal was quite an interesting, unexpected read. I really liked the narration of it and the voice of Lia. Her humor was just the type that I enjoyed. The synopsis drew me in but I didn't expect it to be as complex as it was. There were some scenes that were a little intense for me — like that scene with poor Carl, but I suppose that it's just a matter of preference. I really enjoyed the way the author explored grief and its complexities, and the ways that Lia tried to cope (or not to cope) with hers. There was also an exploration of the role of mothers, and that part really touched my heart. Overall, quite an enjoyable book, unexpected for me in its complexities, and was truly a treat to read.

Beautifully toxic and I loved every second, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Genre: literary fiction, dark fiction
Trigger warnings: grief, death, sexual violence
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my gosh. I did not expect to feel so much whilst reading this book - my heartstrings were pulled, and tears were shed. This book is painful to read and discusses unpleasant topics. 💔

The writing is achingly beautiful and will tug at your heartstrings like there's no tomorrow. "New Animal" is essentially an emotional novel on grief, so please do be aware as it may be triggering for some.

My heart literally hurt for Amelia whilst reading this book, and I just wanted to give her a hug. 🥺

To be honest, I can't really recommend whether you should read this book or not. Simply because it deals with such complex topics that it may be triggering for some. I recommend reading the trigger warnings and more reviews before you decide if you're mentally in the right place to read this book.

Thank you to the author, Ella Baxter, and the publisher for letting me read this early in exchange for an honest review. 🥰

A cosmetic mortician loses her mother suddenly and develops extreme coping behaviours. A short but punchy novel that really took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to love it, if I’m honest but Baxter writes in such a simple yet poignant way that I couldn’t put this down. It seemed liked a strange premise - girl grieves for mum so turns to BDSM. Turns out, it was 5 star brilliance.

Baxter explores themes such as family, grief, sex and human connection whilst being darkly funny. If you’ve ever lost someone or felt an immense grief, I’m confident you’ll adore this refreshing and witty approach to the subject. Baxter skilfully packs a lot of imagery, metaphor and humour into Amelia’s mourning and self-discovery. She also flashed an uncomfortable light on the selfishness of humans, particularly in our pain and grief. Personally, I vibe with a book that has messy characters that demonstrate just flawed humans can be. It feels real and relatable.

As someone who has immense anxiety around death and couldn’t fathom ever choosing to work with or near death, I did worry this could be a triggering read for me. It was the opposite. It gave me a new perspective on death and those who choose to work in a “morbid” industry. Baxter paints a picture of a peaceful and necessary part of life whilst reminding us all that everyone’s job has an element of the old “9-5” to it.

I laughed out loud. I didn’t want it to end. I’ll auto-buy whatever Baxter brings out next. Read this book!

3.5 stars rounded to 4

First of all, this is a book about grief and loss. It's about dealing with the death of a mother and working out your coping mechanisms. It will resonate with anyone who has been on a path of self-destruct, even if your mode of doing so was not seeking out kink clubs and BDSM.

It is really well written, and although there were part of it that really made me cringe, the writing was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. Darkly hilarious, it ticked a lot of boxes for me - mainly that it didn't read like a cathartic self-indulgent circle jerk, that a lot of sex heavy contemporary lit does (I'm looking at you, Normal People and your literary descendants).

I don't know anything about BDSM or the kink scene so I don't feel like I'm really in a position to comment. It is worth reading other reviews from people who do, who raise issues with the presentation of it.

CW: Loss of a parent, BDSM, violent sexual encounter (inc. bull whip)