Synopses & Reviews
Dear Skunks,
I wrote. Then I got stuck. What was there to say about the skunks?
Of course there was the smell--the spraying. Everyone's mind jumped to
the spraying. I often forgot about the spraying entirely, which was nice
because it made me feel that I wasn't like other people.
From the outside, Isabel doesn't seem to have much going on. It's
the summer after college graduation and she's moved back to her
hometown, where she spends her days house-sitting, babysitting, working
the front desk at a yoga studio, and hanging out with her childhood
friend Ellie. But on the inside, Isabel's mind is always running, always
analyzing, and right now, she's trying hard to not let her thoughts
give weight to boys. So when Isabel spots three baby skunks in the yard,
their presence is not only a strangely thrilling break from the
expected, it feels like a fortuitous sign from the universe. Skunks.
That's what she should be thinking about.
As the summer unfolds,
Isabel becomes increasingly preoccupied with the skunks, while also
navigating her various jobs and an ambiguous relationship with Eli, the
son of the couple she's house-sitting for. In her own life and in the
imagined inner lives of the skunks, Isabel ponders the nature of
existence, love vs. infatuation, and the many small moments that make us
animal, make us human.
The Skunks is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about the complexities of crushes, desire, friendship, and modern life.
Review
"The Skunks is a gleaming, zany little gem--a novel that
perfectly captures the weirdness of being young and just out of college,
and not sure what comes next. Compassionate, quirky, and beautifully
written, I adored it." Annie Hartnett, author of Rabbit Cake and
Unlikely Animals
Review
"One summer can change everything in
The Skunks. A relatable and heartwarming capture of that
pivotal coming of age moment in early adulthood when the world is
demanding you make declarations about who you are, but you aren't quite
sure yet. Warnick gets at the pangs of awkward encounters, the trials of
returning to your hometown, and most of all, finding love within
yourself. An inventive new novel that ensures you'll never think of
skunks the same way. A joy to read." Chelsea Bieker, author of Godshot
and Heartbroke
Review
"Brimming with charm and philosophical humor,
The Skunks sweeps readers into a young woman's first foray into
adulthood. This is a novel that asks big questions of friendship,
romantic firsts, and finding one's way in the world. Prepare to be
dazzled--Fiona Warnick is a wunderkind." Allegra Hyde, author of The
Last Catastrophe
About the Author
Fiona Warnick grew up in Western Massachusetts and
holds a BA in Creative Writing from Oberlin College, where she won the
Emma Howell Poetry Prize. She teaches preschool in Providence, RI.