An epic and transformative novel following a young woman as she navigates three distinct romantic relationships, reckons with the false promise of family intimacy, and seeks connection with the sublime and natural worlds.
A 2026 Indies Introduce selection and July 2026 Indies Next selection
Longlisted for the The Center for Fiction 2026 First Novel Prize
2026 Best Book of the Year by VOGUE
2026 Most Anticipated Book by TIME
2026 Best Book of the Summer by Elle
As seen in The New Yorker, New York Magazine, PEOPLE, & Forbes
STARRED reviews by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Shelf Awareness
“Emeline Atwood’s Lucy is a marvelous, maddening, monstrous creation, and A Real Animal is an irresistible whirlpool of a novel.”
—Joy Williams, author of The Quick and The Dead
“Lucy is an unforgettable narrator; compelling, terrifying, lovable, surprising, human. She, and this book, are extraordinary.”
—Elizabeth McCracken, author of The Souvenir Museum
What Critics Are Saying
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"A beautiful and unflinching look into pain, healing, human nature, and what it means to be a person . . . A magnificent debut."
— Devyn Andrews, Chicago Review of Books
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“A powerhouse. Atwood’s book is simply one of the best books I’ve read since I started covering books."
— Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful
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“A coming-of-age tale of Homeric Odysseian proportions, A Real Animal is a typhonic stunner of a debut. Not one to miss.”
— Southern Bookseller Review
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“Lucy’s human life is painted in exquisite detail, relatable for all, which grounds the magical realism without missing a beat, making for a cathartic and innovative construction.”
— Booklist
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"A Real Animal is as raw and visceral as an open-mouthed scream: you hear it in your bones. You can see its teeth."
— Julia Hass, Literary Hub
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“Brave and fantastic . . . This unforgettable first work is visceral, fearless, relentless and confrontational... A Real Animal is gorgeous, frightening and highly recommended."
— Sarah Rachel Egelman, Book Reporter