Bunny sat on my reading list for months before I finally picked it up. I finished it in two sittings.
It is that kind of book. Strange, dark, funny in the wrong places, and impossible to shake.
If you are on the fence about reading it, this post is for you.
I break down the story, the themes, the characters, and give you my completely honest opinion after reading it cover to cover.
Short, straight, and no imgfluff. Just everything you need to know before you decide.
Quick Book Overview
Bunny is a dark, satirical literary horror novel by Mona Awad, published in 2019.
It follows Samantha Mackey, a lonely MFA student at an elite New England university called Warren.
She despises a cliquey group of girls in her program, all of whom call each other "Bunny." When Samantha gets pulled into their world, things get deeply strange.
The novel blurs the lines between fantasy, horror, and dark comedy. It is bold, weird, and not for everyone, but it leaves a mark.
Bunny Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Samantha is an outsider in her MFA program. She has one real friend, Ava, and a deep distrust of the Bunnies, the four wealthy, saccharine girls who dominate her workshop.
When Samantha is suddenly invited to their "Smut Salon," she crosses into their world.
What happens next is surreal, violent, and strangely emotional. The story plays with memory, obsession, and the cost of wanting to belong somewhere you were never meant to fit.
It reads like a fever dream you can't stop watching.
Major Themes
Mona Awad packs this novel with ideas that hit harder the more you sit with them.
Art vs Reality
The MFA setting is a pressure cooker for this theme. Samantha's writing is raw and real. The Bunnies' work is polished but hollow.
Awad asks a sharp question: what happens when artistic ambition becomes a way to escape the truth?
Identity & Belonging
Samantha spends the whole book caught between who she is and who she could be. The Bunnies offer her a version of belonging that costs her sense of self.
The novel shows how badly we can want to fit in, even when the price is too high.
Loneliness & Isolation
Loneliness drives almost every decision Samantha makes. Her bond with Ava keeps her grounded, but even that relationship gets tested.
Awad writes loneliness not as sad background noise but as something with teeth.
Satire of Academia
Awad takes clear aim at the pretension of elite literary programs. The workshop scenes are painfully funny.
The way the characters talk about their writing, the power dynamics, the performance of being an artist, it is sharp, targeted satire.
Main Characters
Each character in Bunny does real work in the story.
Samantha Mackey
Samantha is the narrator and the emotional core of the book. She is sharp, self-aware, and deeply alone.
Her voice is one of the most distinctive in recent literary fiction. You root for her even when her choices get messy.
Ava
Ava is Samantha's only real friend at Warren. She is vivid, opinionated, and full of life. She serves as Samantha's anchor to reality.
As the story moves forward, her role becomes more complicated and more important than it first appears.
The Bunnies
The Bunnies are the four MFA girls Samantha both resents and secretly wants to be close to. They are presented as a single unit at first.
Sweet on the surface, but something darker underneath. They are more symbol than character in many ways.
Max
Max is a figure from Samantha's past. He appears through memory and imagination more than in direct action.
He represents longing, loss, and the way we build people up in our heads until they stop being real.
Jonah
Jonah is connected to the stranger, more surreal side of the plot. He plays a key role in the horror elements of the story.
His presence adds tension and raises questions about what is real and what Samantha has invented.
Writing Style & Narrative Technique
Mona Awad writes in a close first-person voice that pulls you deep inside Samantha's head. The prose is sharp, funny, and unsettling all at once.
She uses repetition deliberately, especially with the word "Bunny," to create a hypnotic, almost cult-like effect. The line between reality and fantasy blurs slowly, then suddenly.
Awad's style owes something to Angela Carter and Shirley Jackson, but the voice is completely her own. It is not always easy to follow, but it is always intentional.
Why Readers Love It
The book has a devoted following for good reason, but it also has real critics.
Strengths
Samantha's voice is the strongest thing about this book. It is funny, specific, and deeply human.
The satire of MFA culture is sharp without being obvious. The horror elements feel earned.
Readers who love dark literary fiction find it unforgettable. It does things most novels are too careful to try.
Criticism & Limitations
Some readers find the plot too loose to follow. The surreal elements can feel more confusing than meaningful.
The pacing drags in the middle section. If you need a clear narrative arc with clean resolution, this book will frustrate you.
It rewards patience and a taste for ambiguity, which is not everyone's preference.
Goodreads & Amazon Ratings
Readers have a lot to say about Bunny, and the ratings reflect just how divisive this book really is.
Goodreads: 3.5 out of 5 starson Goodreads. Readers either love it or feel completely lost by it. The reviews are passionate on both sides, which tells you this book is doing something.
Amazon: 4 stars. Readers there tend to praise the writing style and the dark humor most. A common note is that it stays with you long after you finish it.
One thing is clear across both platforms: nobody finishes Bunny and has nothing to say about it.
My Personal Opinion After Reading This Book
I finished Bunny in two sittings because I had to know what was real. The writing pulled me in even when the plot got slippery. Samantha felt like someone I knew.
The MFA satire made me laugh out loud more than once. It is not a perfect book, but it is a brave one. I would read it again.
Who Should Read This Book:
This book is a great fit for a specific kind of reader.
- You enjoy literary horror with a dark, comedic edge
- You've spent time in academic or creative environments and felt like an outsider
- You are drawn to unreliable narrators and surreal storytelling
- You loved books like Luster, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, or anything by Carmen Maria Machado
- You are okay with a story that does not explain everything neatly
If that sounds like you, go read it.
About the Author
Mona Awad is a Canadian-American author and academic.
She holds an MFA from Brown University, which clearly fed into the world of Bunny.
Her debut novel, 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and won the Amazon Best First Novel Award. Bunny came next and made her name in literary horror circles.
She also wrote Rouge, published in 2023, which continues her interest in dark, body-focused, surreal fiction.
Awad teaches creative writing and brings a sharp, self-aware perspective to every book she writes. Her work is bold, strange, and hard to forget.
Conclusion
Bunny is not the kind of book you finish and move on from. It lingers. The voice, the strangeness, the dark humor with real ache underneath.
It got to me in a way I did not expect.
If you have read it, drop a comment below and tell me your take on the ending.
If this post helped you decide, share it with someone who loves weird literary fiction.
And if you want more honest book breakdowns like this, stick around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bunny by Mona Awad a horror book?
It blends literary fiction, dark comedy, and horror, so it fits all three categories depending on how you read it.
Does Bunny have a clear ending?
The ending is intentionally open and surreal, which some readers love and others find frustrating.
Is Bunny part of a series?
No, it is a standalone novel with no sequel planned.
How long does it take to read Bunny?
Most readers finish it in 6 to 10 hours, depending on how much time they spend re-reading confusing passages.
Is Bunny appropriate for all readers?
No. It contains dark themes, violence, and surreal content that may not suit readers who prefer straightforward, comfortable fiction.
