What does it take to come back to life?

Kristen Arnett's debut is a darkly funny, heart-wrenching, and eccentric look at loss and love... and taxidermy!

'Messed-up families, scandalous love affairs, art, life, death and the great state of Florida in one delicious, darkly funny package. Kristen Arnett is a wickedly talented and a wholly original voice' Jami Attenberg

What does it take to come back to life?

In the wake of her father's death, Jessa-Lynn Morton has stepped up to manage his failing taxidermy business. Meanwhile the rest of the Morton family messily falls apart. Her mother starts sneaking into the shop to make alarming art with stuffed animals, while her brother, Milo, withdraws. Meanwhile his wife Brynn - the only person Jessa has ever been in love with - leaves home without a word. A string of unexpected incidents opens up the chance to mend: but can the Mortons piece themselves together again?

Kristen Arnett's breakout debut is a darkly funny family portrait; a peculiar, bighearted look at love and loss and the ways we live through them together.

'Hilarious, deeply morbid and full of heart' BuzzFeed

'Its humor is as dark and glinting as the black plastic eye of a taxidermy ferret' Nylon

'Gorgeously twisted' Vanity Fair

'The writing is subtle and meditative, with the tactile weight of dense fur' The New Yorker

'Messed-up families, scandalous love affairs, art, life, death and the great state of Florida in one delicious, darkly funny package. Kristen Arnett is a wickedly talented and a wholly original voice' Jami Attenberg

What does it take to come back to life?

In the wake of her father's suicide, Jessa-Lynn Morton has stepped up to manage his failing taxidermy business while the rest of the Morton family falls apart. Her mother starts sneaking into the shop to make alarming art with stuffed animals; and while her brother Milo withdraws, his wife, Brynn - the only person Jessa's ever been in love with - leaves home without a word. A string of unexpected incidents opens up the chance for the Mortons to mend: can they piece themselves together again?

Kristen Arnett's breakout debut is a darkly funny family portrait; a peculiar, bighearted look at love and loss and the ways we live through them together.

'This book is my song of the summer' Parul Seghal, New York Times

'Wonderful' Esmé Weijun Wang, Guardian

'Explores love, loss and death and is guaranteed to keep you gripped throughout' Mirror

'The writing is subtle and meditative, with the tactile weight of dense fur' New Yorker