Bunny Mona Awad Novels & Stories

Mona Awad's books are like slipping into a fever dream where reality's edges are frayed and glitter-coated. She writes about young women—often in academia, obsessed with beauty, diet culture, or artistic ideals—but her narratives quickly spiral into surreal, darkly funny, and often grotesque satires. Reading her feels like watching a David Lynch film about modern femininity; it's unsettling but you can't look away.

For the uninitiated, I'd say start with 'Bunny'. It's her most discussed novel for good reason. Set in a hyper-competitive MFA program where a clique of saccharine-sweet girls call each other "Bunny," it descends into bizarre ritualistic horror. It's a perfect blend of satire on literary cliques, body horror, and a twisted fairy tale. If 'Bunny' clicks, move to 'All's Well', which tackles chronic pain, campus theatre, and a deal with possibly demonic forces. Her debut, '13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl', is a more grounded but sharp-linked story collection about body image. Her latest, 'Rouge', dives into the skincare and wellness industry with gothic overtones. Honestly, 'Bunny' remains the gateway—it’s the one I keep foisting on friends just to see their reaction.

That's a fun gateway into her work. If you're coming in blind, I'd probably steer you toward 'Bunny' first, rather than 'All's Well'. The reason isn't that 'Bunny' is necessarily ‘better’ in some universal sense, but it throws you right into the deep end of her signature style: that darkly hilarious, hyper-stylized, and slightly unhinged satire of artistic/academic cliques. It’s a wild ride, but its premise—a MFA workshop that might involve literal monster-making—is a more immediate hook.

'All's Well' is phenomenal, but its exploration of chronic pain and theatrical obsession is a denser, more internal psychological trip. Starting with 'Bunny' gives you a taste of whether you vibe with Awad's particular brand of acidic fairy tale logic. If you finish it and think, 'More of this, please, but make it Shakespearean and painful,' then 'All's Well' is your perfect next step. Her debut, '13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl', is sharper and more grounded in realism, so it feels like a different flavor altogether.

I'm actually not sure she's won a ton of big, mainstream literary prizes like the Booker or something, which is kind of surprising given the buzz around her. Her recognition seems to come more from critical acclaim and being a finalist for stuff. I think '13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl' was up for the Scotiabank Giller Prize? Or maybe it was longlisted. That's a major Canadian award.

What's wild is that her work feels so award-worthy in its own unsettling way. The lack of a trophy case stacked with prizes might even fit her vibe—she's operating in a weird, satirical lane that award panels sometimes overlook. The real win is how her books stick with you, prize or not. I still think about 'Bunny' at random times and shudder.