Bunny

After a lovely vacation, I’m back to reading the books I recently purchased. This time, I’m diving into a work in the horror genre, which sets it apart from what I’ve read before. Although "Bunny" has been talked about a lot lately, I must admit it fell short of my expectations. Let’s start the review…

The story begins with a simple and innocent “Mean Girls” theme. Samantha Heather Mackey, who is pursuing her master's in a writing program, describes how four girls in her class call each other “Bunny” and get lost in their own worlds while constantly complimenting one another in their clothing and conversations. She also highlights how tightly knit this group of girls is, never opening up to anyone outside of their circle, and she mocks them for it. As for Samantha, she struggles to fit in with this crew and, as her professors can see from her assignments, she tends to write quite dark and tension-filled stories and poems. Although her classmates don’t address her, she has a dear friend named Ava, who is just as dark as she is, and Jonah, who is probably in love with Samantha, enjoys hanging out with them.

Unexpectedly, one day Samantha receives an invitation to the “Smut Salon,” the mysterious gathering her classmates often talk about and that she has mocked. Initially hesitant because she suspects the invitation is meant to make fun of her and because her best friend Ava advises her not to go, her curiosity ultimately gets the better of her. Samantha finds herself caught between reality and imagination, right in the middle of an event filled with strange rituals.

Personally, I don’t understand how this book became so popular and praised through marketing. The confusing imagery and disjointed storytelling made me want to toss the book aside. You might find yourself reading each page of this three-part book hoping that something will finally become clear. Furthermore, as a work that claims to be in the horror/thriller genre, it falls far short compared to the expertly crafted works of Stephen King. Of course, if we look at the book from a Pollyanna perspective, there might be a few redeeming qualities to mention. Despite its interesting premise, I must point out that the main theme is lost in a terrible style. Even knowing that the book is written in an imagistic style, I still read it in its original language to ensure I didn’t miss any details. I know you might wonder if this is praise, but believe me, the suffering I endured while reading makes these words seem quite mild.As a final note, my humble advice is to avoid wasting your time on this book. I also remind myself to approach books that everyone praises with caution.