"Chelsea Sutton's writing is electric. The stories in Only Animals crackle with wit, emotion, and big, strange ideas that linger long after you're finished reading."

— Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of THE FRAME-UP


"Chelsea Sutton’s stories are so enthralling and vividly imagined that I read this collection first in one long drink—and then, as is best with each story so self-contained and singular—I read it again as if doing shots—one by one, stopping to savor and think about the scene. The magic of transformation in each narrative is pure and undeniable."

— Susan Straight, bestselling author of MECCA and IN THE COUNTRY OF WOMEN


“Chelsea Sutton’s ONLY ANIMALS is bursting with tiny delights. These stories dive into the absurdities of life with language that is devilishly alive and always surprising. Sit down and treat yourself to an afternoon with this lovely and bold collection by an exceptionally imaginative writer.”

— Natalie Lima, Best Small Fictions and Best American Essays


"Chelsea Sutton's chapbook ONLY ANIMALS is whimsical yet brutal. In this collection of flash stories, Sutton expertly creates a world full of unique human and non-human characters who in one way or another discover their place in the world through the physical body. Whether in transmogrification, death, or missing body parts—each piece gracefully explores the themes of acceptance, identity, and collective vulnerability. This is not one to miss."

— Lauren Gorski, Editor at Exposition Review