I was so excited to read this after absolutely adoring Three Women, and while this felt very different tonally, Taddeo's writing was eq;ually as propulsive to enjoy.

This is a brutally honest story of being a woman, but while it’s indubitably well written, the darkness eventually became just overwhelming, especially towards the end when the horrors came so thick and fast that I could hardly manage to read to the conclusion. It’s a shame because that level of misery and pain and trauma demands that a reader question the veracity or the likelihood of so much terrible stuff happening to one person - at least it did for me and that took me out of the narrative too much at a crucial point.

This would be a hard book to recommend to anybody. It would be like asking them to slap themselves in the face.

I dont know how I feel about this book - The story follows Joan, a woman on a path of rage fuelled self-discovery, navigating trauma, violence, and complicated relationships. Taddeo dives into the darker aspects of womanhood, sexuality, and survival, and while her writing is sharp and powerful, the relentless intensity can feel overwhelming.

Joan’s raw, often shocking narration forces readers into her perspective, and while that can make for a gripping read, it’s also emotionally taxing. Some parts feel like they’re pushing boundaries for the sake of shock, but others offer unfiltered honesty and insight into a character scarred by experience. Animal is challenging and provocative—definitely not for everyone, but worth it if you’re up for a gritty exploration of female anger and resilience.

This is a popular book already . I’m did enjoy it although there were moments I found tough going. Worth a try

"Animal" by Lisa Taddeo is a gripping story about a woman named Joan dealing with her painful past and intense emotions. The book dives deep into themes of trauma and desire, showing Joan's struggle and strength. Taddeo's writing is powerful and draws you into Joan's turbulent world. It's a compelling and intense read that explores the darker sides of life. It was ok - it's the kind of book that I woudn't recommend to everyone, but recommend to select people.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.

Really enjoyed Three Women, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Animal. Unfortunately this didn’t really hit the mark.

Was a good read but not great

I enjoyed Lisa's first novel and I was very excited to read this one. It is different but still a page turner and I enjoyed it.

This book is about power and it’s very graphic in places.
I felt the timeline bounces around so much that the book becomes so confusing. I did enjoy the style of writing. But it’s not for the faint hearted

Animal by Lisa Taddeo is a dark and disturbing novel about a young woman named Joan who is on a destructive path of self-destruction. Joan's journey is one of violence, addiction, and depravity. She sleeps with married men, gets into fights, and uses drugs and alcohol to numb her pain.

Taddeo's writing is raw and unflinching. She does not shy away from the ugliness of Joan's world, and she does not attempt to make her sympathetic. This makes for a difficult but ultimately rewarding read. Animal is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

I LOVED Three Women by Taddeo, so I was extremely excited to read Animal. What an absolutely breathtaking and visceral book - the language is so evocative, and it took me a while to actually get through because I was having to go back and reread parts.

I loved Three Women but unfortunately really didn’t get on with Animal. Clunky and confusing, and off-putting for the reader.

Lots of TWs with this book.
A very gutsy piece of literature for a debut novel.
A very brave number of topics to which to write about.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me the book

'Animal' is not the type of book that I typically read. This book is a very dark read and I am much more of a happy, romance/fantasy girl, so maybe that's why I did not enjoy this book as much as I am sure a lot of people do.
There were so many interesting messages in this book about women and power and anger. It was definitely an interesting read and there were a lot of aspects of this book that I did enjoy. I do think that I did not enjoy it as much as a lot of people will simply because this is not the type of book that I would typically pick up and read.

This was a dark and uncomfortable read that I couldn’t put down. The hate and anger within our protagonist was difficult to engage with, the story flits between time and it can be confusing figuring out what is going on, but once you do, you are gripped, and everything hangs in this dark secret that we are waiting for the story to reveal. This is a book that will stay with me.

This is a thoughtful, beautifully written book with each woman written with justice and importance. great for reading groups.

I really enjoyed the depth of the main character. There seemed to be so many layers to her that you weren't ever sure what was next.

I believe there should be a trigger warning for miscarriage as one particular scene is quite graphic and could be triggering for some.

I did have hopes that the level of violence would go further as the name "animal" suggests an idea of a character becoming almost feral.

Love Lisa Taddeo's descriptive flair. Read this book really quickly as couldn't put it down. She really grips the reader and although the characters aren't always likeable, you're invested in knowing what happens to them.

Lisa Taddeo—author of Three Women, the blockbuster 2019 study of desire and abjection—has made her first foray into fiction with the confrontational novel Animal. In some ways it’s a continuation of her work in Three Women, touching on similar themes—notably, the domination of women by men—but also a corrective. Joan, the protagonist, does not simply lie down and take it. She hurts, but also hurts in return. It’s a book of female rage and sometimes graphic violence. Buckle up: this book goes dark and deep."

This wasn’t my usual kind of book and I found it quite difficult to gel with. I’d heard such great things about Lisa Taddeo’s previous writing and I can certainly see the appeal; it’s just not to my personal taste

Wasn’t really my cup of tea unfortunately! Still kudos to Taddeo’s immersive storytelling. I wish I could have gotten in to it but perhaps I read it at the wrong time for me personally. No reflection on the author.