Book review: A Good Animal by Sara Maurer
Genre: Historical fiction
Release date: February 24, 2026
Goodreads rating: 3.76
My rating: 3.5
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I love books that make me feel rooted in a place and a life, and A Good Animal by Sara Maurer does exactly that. It’s a coming-of-age novel about love, family, and the weight of choosing your future.
It follows Everett who is seventeen, finishing high school, and completely certain of the life he wants: to stay on his family’s generational sheep farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He loves the work, the animals, the land, and the steadiness of it all.
Then Mary arrives.
The daughter of a Coast Guard officer, Mary has grown up moving from place to place. She’s only in town for her senior year and already planning her next chapter: art school, the ocean, something bigger than Sault Ste. Marie. Everett falls for her and as their relationship grows more serious, so does the tension between staying and leaving.
One of my favourite parts of this novel was its immersive portrayal of sheep farming and rural life. The details feel authentic and lived-in, and I loved how Maurer draws subtle parallels between the instincts of animals and the emotional lives of her characters. There’s something quietly powerful in the way Everett’s bond with the sheep mirrors his loyalty to home.
The characters are heartfelt, especially Everett’s little sister, whose presence adds contrast between the simplicity of early childhood and the complexities of growing up. This isn’t just a romance; it’s also a story about friendship, generational expectations, and the hard realities that come with growing up.
While I found parts of the plot somewhat predictable and expected a more dramatic turning point, the novel’s strength lies in its emotional honesty.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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