The Animators: A Novel

“A wildly original novel that pulses with heart and truth . . . That this powerful exploration of friendship, desire, ambition, and secrets manages to be ebullient, gripping, heartbreaking, and deeply deeply funny is a testament to Kayla Rae Whitaker’s formidable gifts. I was so sorry to reach the final page. Sharon and Mel will stay with me for a very long time.”—Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, author of The NestONE OF THE BEST DEBUT NOVELS OF THE YEAR—Entertainment WeeklyONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—NPR, Kirkus Reviews, BookPageShe was the first person to see me as I had always wanted to be seen. It was enough to indebt me to her forever.In the male-dominated field of animation, Mel Vaught and Sharon Kisses are a dynamic duo, the friction of their differences driving them: Sharon, quietly ambitious but self-doubting; Mel, brash and unapologetic, always the life of the party. Best friends and artistic partners since the first week of college, where they bonded over their working-class r