Annie Hartnett Books in Order

Picture a storyteller who weaves humor, heart, and a menagerie of animals into tales of small-town life—meet Annie Hartnett! This American author burst onto the literary scene with her darkly comic...

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Picture a storyteller who weaves humor, heart, and a menagerie of animals into tales of small-town life—meet Annie Hartnett! This American author burst onto the literary scene with her darkly comic debut, Rabbit Cake, in 2017, capturing readers with her unique blend of wit and empathy. Known for tackling heavy themes like family loss with a playful touch, Hartnett’s stories resonate with anyone who’s ever loved, grieved, or laughed through life’s messiness.

From her days living in a cemetery to her MFA at the University of Alabama, Hartnett’s journey is as quirky as her novels. Her animal-centric storytelling and genre-bending narratives have earned her critical acclaim and a devoted following, making her a rising star in contemporary fiction.

The Making of Annie Hartnett

Annie Hartnett’s path to authorship was anything but ordinary. A philosophy graduate from Hamilton College, she later earned an MA from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English and an MFA from the University of Alabama. Her time in Alabama, where Rabbit Cake began as her thesis, honed her craft under the buzz of countless lattes in a Starbucks corner. Hartnett’s early jobs, often involving animals, and her stint living in a cemetery groundskeeper’s house in Massachusetts, infused her writing with a deep love for nature and a fascination with life’s oddities.

Influenced by authors like John Irving and Thornton Wilder, Hartnett developed a voice that balances the absurd with the profound. Her residencies at MacDowell and Sewanee Writers’ Conference, along with fellowships from the Associates of the Boston Public Library, gave her the space to refine her storytelling, setting the stage for her literary breakout.

Annie Hartnett’s Unforgettable Stories

Hartnett’s debut, Rabbit Cake (2017), introduces Elvis Babbitt, a ten-year-old zoology enthusiast navigating her mother’s death in Freedom, Alabama. The novel’s dark humor and tender exploration of grief earned it a spot on Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2017 and a finalist nod for the New England Book Award. Its quirky charm, blending animal facts with family dynamics, showcases Hartnett’s knack for making the heavy feel light.

In 2022, Hartnett released Unlikely Animals, a genre-bending tale set in Everton, New Hampshire. Following Emma Starling, a med-school dropout caring for her dying father, the novel weaves ghosts, a missing friend, and a naturalist’s legacy into a tragicomic tapestry. Praised for its “fiercely tender” storytelling, it won the Julia Ward Howe Prize and was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. Hartnett’s use of a Greek chorus of cemetery ghosts adds a whimsical layer, reflecting her love for playful narrative structures.

Her upcoming novel, The Road to Tender Hearts (2025), promises more of her signature style, following an old man, a boy, and a cat on a road trip. Hartnett’s work consistently explores family, loss, and community, infused with animals that bring joy and physical comedy. Her empathetic voice and mordant humor make her stories both heartwarming and unforgettable.

Why Annie Hartnett Matters

Annie Hartnett’s impact lies in her ability to transform grief and small-town struggles into stories that sparkle with hope and humor. Her animal-centric narratives advocate for nature’s well-being, resonating with readers who crave stories that blend the real with the magical. By tackling the opioid crisis, dementia, and fractured relationships with a light touch, she makes complex issues accessible, earning praise from authors like Kevin Wilson and Jeff VanderMeer.

As a teacher at Grub Street and co-host of the Good Moms on Paper podcast, Hartnett inspires aspiring writers to embrace the “long, slow, joyful, terrible process” of storytelling. Her growing body of work, from indie darling to mainstream acclaim, cements her as a vital voice in contemporary fiction, inviting readers to laugh, cry, and root for her characters—human and animal alike.

  • Born: Date unavailable, raised in the United States
  • Key Works: Rabbit Cake (2017), Unlikely Animals (2022), The Road to Tender Hearts (2025)
  • Awards: Julia Ward Howe Prize (2023), Kirkus Reviews Best Books (2017)
  • Fun Fact: Hartnett once lived in a cemetery, inspiring Unlikely Animals’s ghostly narrators

Snag Rabbit Cake or Unlikely Animals and dive into Annie Hartnett’s whimsical, heartfelt world—your heart (and your funny bone) will thank you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Annie Hartnett?

Annie Hartnett is an American author known for her darkly comic novels Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals. With an MFA from the University of Alabama, she blends humor, animals, and small-town life to explore grief and family, earning critical acclaim and a devoted readership.

What are Annie Hartnett’s best books?

Annie Hartnett’s standout novels include Rabbit Cake (2017), a quirky tale of grief, and Unlikely Animals (2022), a genre-bending story with ghosts and animals. Her upcoming The Road to Tender Hearts (2025) promises more heartfelt humor.

What inspired Annie Hartnett’s writing?

Annie Hartnett draws inspiration from her animal-centric jobs, living in a cemetery, and authors like John Irving. Her love for animals and small-town quirks shapes her humorous, empathetic stories about family, loss, and hope.

Why does Annie Hartnett include animals in her books?

Hartnett loves animals for their joy and comedy, using them to reflect human emotions and advocate for their well-being. From Rabbit Cake’s zoology facts to Unlikely Animals’s wild boar, animals are central to her storytelling.

What awards has Annie Hartnett won?

Annie Hartnett won the Julia Ward Howe Prize for Unlikely Animals in 2023. Rabbit Cake was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2017 and a finalist for the New England Book Award.