Oh how I wanted to fall in love with this one. It had all the right elements of multi-generational weirdness and it seemed to be hitting all the right buttons. Heathers meets The Craft in a polished Stepford Wives wrapper tied together with some gentle hints of depression, anxiety, and smattering of substance abuse and imposter syndrome.
Bunny, however, falls short.
It kicks off wonderfully. Samantha “Smacky” Mackey is a student out of place in her graduate program at the exclusive Warren University. Her cohort consists of her own dark self, and the four “Bunnies:” Cupcake, Creepy Doll, Vignette, and The Duchess.
The Bunnies, who pretty much exist as a single unit, spend Samantha’s first year ridiculing her and, basically, breaking her down before, seemingly, embracing her wholeheartedly in their second year.
I could go more into what transpires, but, if you are going to read this one, I would hate to ruin the little bit of joy the unfurling of the chaos provides before it all falls apart.
Bunny reminds me very much of a hill I often tried to skateboard on the university campus near where I grew up. It was steep, terrifying, and seemed like a damn good idea to attempt. The first part was exhilarating, the mid starts to get shaky, and, by the time you reach the home stretch, speed-wobbles throw all control out the window and you end up wiping out across the lawn.
I went back and read parts of this book multiple times just to make sure I didn’t miss something pivotal that seemed to be driving the wrap-up. Some tropes were flexed with deft skill, and others were just slapped in the readers face like a week-old mackerel.
This is one of those books that I’m glad I read because I want to talk about it with others who have read it. I’m all about unhinged fiction with a “weird” slant, but, at the very least, hold the story together.
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