Bunny (novel)

Bunny, published in 2019, is a dark academia horror novel written by Mona Awad. The story centers on Samantha Heather Mackey, a scholarship student at the elite Warren University's MFA program. Alienated from her wealthy and eccentric classmates, Samantha finds herself increasingly drawn to a clique of four wealthy, blonde women who call each other "Bunny."

The novel explores themes of identity, belonging, creativity, and the pressures of academic life, particularly within the context of a highly competitive and privileged environment. As Samantha becomes entangled with the "Bunnies," she is drawn into their bizarre and unsettling rituals, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. These rituals involve manipulating and transforming animals, primarily rabbits, into something else entirely.

Bunny employs a surreal and darkly humorous tone, utilizing elements of body horror, psychological suspense, and satire. The novel's narrative structure is often dreamlike and unreliable, reflecting Samantha's increasingly fragmented mental state. It received positive reviews for its originality, its exploration of female relationships, and its unflinching portrayal of the often-absurd realities of academia. The novel has also been praised for its sharp social commentary on class disparities and the pressures faced by women in creative fields.