New Animal

ABA Indie Next List pick for March 2022. 2022 Best Young Australian Novelists awards Winner. Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction Shortlist. A Best Book of 2022 —NYLON Glamour Refinery29 UK Harpers BAZAAR UK A Most Anticipated Book —Lit Hub The Millions New Animal is a poignant darkly comedic look at human connection from a biting and original new voice in Ella Baxter. Amelia Aurelia is approaching thirty and her closest relationships — other than her mother — are through her dating apps. She works at the family mortuary business as a cosmetic mortician with her eccentric stepfather and older brother whose throuple’s current preoccupation is with what type of snake to adopt. When Amelia’s affectionate mother passes away without warning she is left without anchor. Fleeing the funeral she seeks solace with her birthfather in Tasmania and stumbles into the local BDSM community where her riotous attempts to belong are met with confusion shock and empathy. Hilarious and heartfelt New Animal reveals hardwon truths as Amelia struggles to find her place in the world without her mother with the help of her two wellintentioned fathers and adventures at the kink club.