L.A.'s Reviews > Unlikely Animals

An extraordinary book that encompasses what I thought it would be. I highly recommend if you are up for a heartwarming and emotional story, yet a humorous look at depictions of families.

Emma returns to her home in Everton, New Hampshire to help with her father suffering with a progressive brain disease, much like Alzheimer. After studying medicine to be a doctor, she dropped out of medical school and must confront the wrath of her family. Her mother is of little help with her father since she has dealt with her husband's infidelity. Her brother Auggie is dealing with his own demons as a recovering drug addict. Her best friend is missing and to no avail from the local police to locate her because of her drug addiction. The opioid crisis has hit this little town hard and Emma works as a substitute teacher after a teacher's family is affected.

Emma's father was a former professor and is obsessed with Ernest Harold Baynes (1868-1925)...he was known as the real life Dr. Doolittle seen conversing with animals. Her father now sees these animals in his house. Emma and her father's bond strengthens in a touching yet sometimes comical way when she cares for him and he helps her search for her missing friend.

One of the most quirky and genius parts of the book is the residents of the Maple Street Cemetery that keep watch over the living. They each long for one more chance to do life over and appreciate the little things. Their conversations are humorous and include 2 rules: #1 No meddling in the living's affairs #2 If you stop caring about the living, your soul will wither away. The realization that they are dead
can be haunting yet humorous. They witness realistic views as families battle daily with problems and as caretakers of loved ones.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this title in exchange for my honest review.