PRAISE FOR
NEW ANIMAL
‘New Animal is a wild, moving and original debut—and like the best bits of sex and funerals, it’s very, very funny.’
ROBERT LUKINS, author of The Everlasting Sunday
‘If Six Feet Under was transplanted into small-town Australia and centred on a mordantly hilarious mortuary cosmetician in the throes of her Saturn return, it might look something like New Animal. Ella Baxter’s prose is clear, confident, and delectably off-kilter, and Amelia is one of the most memorable heroines I’ve encountered in a long time. Sex, death, humour, and heart—this novel has it all.’
LAURA ELIZABETH WOOLLETT, author of Beautiful Revolutionary
‘So complex is Amelia’s character and narration that as I read New Animal, I found myself squirming with discomfort, sniggering at the earthy and often incongruous humour, and tearing up—often at the same time. New Animal is an unputdownable read, which will linger with you long after you’ve torn through the pages.’
ERIN HORTLE, author of The Octopus and I
‘Equal parts profound and profane. Somehow both darkly hilarious and just plain dark. Baxter gives you everything you want in a debut—fresh ideas, fresh language, and fresh blood. She has officially exploded into the literary scene. I shrieked with laughter and horror. New Animal is a book for anyone who’s struggled with the interminable disconnect between brain and body. I tore through this and I guarantee you will too.’
BRI LEE, author of Eggshell Skull
‘A novel about having so much grief you want to break your body to match your heart. New Animal is funny, raw, gutsy and stealthily sweet. I sobbed my way through the last few pages and was left feeling bruised, but also wiser, braver and more generous.’
EMILY MAGUIRE, author of An Isolated Incident