I devoured this in the span of 24 hours because it’s just that gripping and readable. At its core, Fellow Creatures is a cautionary tale against the lengths obsession will take you, even if, at face value, that obsession seems to pay off. Shannon, our protagonist, is 18 years old and just about to start 3 years at a prestigious London drama school. From the very beginning, the first-person narration drips with subtle self-deprecation and the unfortunate need to impress as she irreversible enters the orbit of Victoria, a fellow student and the object of Shannon’s evolving infatuation. What follows is an exploration of a complex and toxic friendship, with Shannon always feeling several steps behind Victoria. It was so incredibly interesting to follow along with Shannon’s narrative voice, because it’s obvious she loathes and loves Victoria in equal measure and can never quite allow herself to champion one feeling over the other. She constantly compares herself to Victoria, bristles at throwaway comments Victoria makes that are intended to hurt, and even preens when she is sometimes compared to Victoria (not a positive comparison, fyi). Shannon presents herself as a tangled tapestry of despising the way Victoria treats her and craving nothing but her attention. The friendship group revolving around this pair were also thoroughly engaging, and each battled their own various issues as they ploughed their way through the same 3-year stint of drama school. Jolly, for example, as a young gay man fears being typecast and fears for his future as an actor. Stefano, misogynist at heart and not very likable, constantly feels judged and looked down upon by his friends. Obi, kind and thoughtful, engages in a seemingly fraught relationship with Victoria at the same time as trying to keep the peace within the group. And at the centre of it all, causing conflict where none need exist, is the Mean Girl herself. Victoria’s cruelty was always subtle, always skirting that nebulous edge where Shannon wonders if she’s misreading the situation. Maybe she’s overthinking things. Maybe Victoria didn’t mean it that way. Maybe hounding Stefano into a blazing row was because Victoria was drunk, and not because she just loves causing chaos and upset. And this is where Victoria is such a masterful character. Her actions can be reasoned away, even if we as the reader understand that her every action and word is deliberate. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and she does it so well. The whole time, you’re rooting for Shannon to come to her senses and sever the toxic friendship, even if at the same time you want the torment to continue to see just what Victoria will say or do next. Overall, I loved this book. It touches upon the unfair expectations education places on young people at the same time as gorily dissecting the catastrophic bonds that form between these stressed, harried individuals. Thank you to the publisher for my early reader copy.

This is a propulsive read that really builds tension. I finished it in a day, and then couldn't stop thinking about it. The audio book is read by the author which is so good and well paced, that after listened to the trailer I'm now hooked in again!