“I was always going to kill my father. Or at least the idea came to me very young. I never had a specific plan. I knew I was going to kill him the same way you know sooner or later it’s going to rain. It was a natural fact.”

This is a story of a woman, her terminal diagnosis, and her quest to fulfill her dream before she dies. And while she is far from a hero, you’ll probably cheer her on anyway.

Hester is unhinged, rich, and is ready to burn her whole life to the ground. I mean, why not? She has nothing left to lose. She accepts her plight, leaves her life in NY behind, and starts her cross-country journey to see her father one last time.

I love a good unhinged protagonist on a mission. You never know what you’re going to get by the end of the novel. And while Hester hold tight to her plans and wishes to see them through, she didn’t anticipate John, a 20-something guys who is on an environmental quest, interrupting them. April allow the reader a peek into Hester’s inner workings, and we see that despite her “Devil may care” attitude, there’s a part of her that has longed for companionship-something that is neutral and platonic. And no matter how often she says psychotic things, starts fights with him regarding his convictions, and puts up walls, he sticks by her, and she slowly starts to appreciate him.

You also see her start wrestling with the realization that she is truly dying, and how she teeters between wanting to end it all, and wanting to cling to life. She has kept herself locked away from everything and everyone for so long, but can’t seem to stop herself from caring about John. She’s still unhinged, but there is apart of her that longs for the stability, and comfort, John has brought to her.

This novel is darkly humorous, bleak, and crazy, with a splash of antihero. If you are a fan of an unhinged heroine, this one’s for you. 4.25 stars

Bad Nature, by Ariel Courage, I was gifted the Kindle version and the audio version narrated by Cia Court from NetGalley. The book is about Hester who on her 40th birthday finds out that she has breast cancer. This is when she decides to take stock of her life or what is left and drive to California to kill her long neglectful father. I really thought this book was going to be witty with Hester‘s self reflection and possible redemption from an on feeling life, but unfortunately it almost seems that even with the intervention of a social environmental warrior, who she meets along the way along with making pitstops to see those that played apart in her sadly depressing life. It’s almost as if she in the end doubles down on her initial thoughts and feelings and I honestly just didn’t like this book. Not to mention the narrator seemed as if she was just reading the story with no emotion whatsoever and I have read other reviews where they absolutely love her, but I sadly did not. I have read books before that when it got to the ending it was such a great ending. It made me rate the book much higher than I initially was going to, but this book seemed to IDK… Just end? also, it seems in most books. Nothing is written that isn’t going to play some part in the overall story, but I found things in this book Were just pointless, like the cop calling about her car, her whole stop in West Virginia and I’m not even saying what an unlikable person Hester was. I just didn’t like this book not the kindle version nor the audio I finished hoping the ending would save the book but sadly it did not. it was just more of the same, and that same to me was quite boring.#NetGalley, #HenryHoltAndCompany, #McMillanAudio, #AerialCourage, #BadNature, #TheBlindReviewer,

In “Bad Nature,” Ariel Courage introduces readers to Hester, a forty-year-old corporate lawyer who, upon receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, embarks on a cross-country journey to confront her estranged father. The novel delves into themes of revenge, self-discovery, and environmental decay, offering a darkly humorous yet poignant narrative. While Courage’s sharp prose and the intriguing premise hold promise, the story’s pacing can feel sluggish at times. Nevertheless, Hester’s complex character and the novel’s exploration of moral ambiguity make it a thought-provoking read!

This is one of those books where you read the premise and imagine a book better than the actual book. This writing was solid and kept me interested but I don't think I understood the point. The environmental story, the childhood abuse, the religion...it was all there but I didn't get anything from it.

Thank you NetGalley for sending an advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book was a brutal read due to subject matter, though the writing was beautiful. It's the story of an adult struggling with illness and coming to terms with her childhood.

I do not know which type of reader I would recommend this book to.

Overall, I thought this was a perfectly adequate book. The dynamic between the two characters was interesting, but I can't say that I found the main character to be compelling enough to be invested in her. It wasn't a matter of liking or disliking a morally grey character, but more that I just thought she was mildly boring. More broadly, the pacing felt a bit off--too slow.

Bad Nature by Ariel Courage follows Hester, the protagonist who, after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis with only six months to live, makes an unorthodox decision: she quits her lucrative career and embarks on a road trip with one singular goal in mind—kill her father.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise, and though Hester is undeniably deranged, withdrawn, and odd, there’s something deeply captivating about her. She's raw, blunt, and unapologetic, and her deep-seated resentment toward her father drives much of the story. As the novel unfolds, we learn the complex, painful reasons behind Hester's behavior and mindset, which adds depth to her character.

The ending felt somewhat abrupt, especially given the build-up throughout the novel. I had been anticipating a bigger twist, but even so, I remained fully immersed in Hester’s dark journey. While the story tackles heavy subjects—such as childhood abuse and trauma—it also offers a surprising amount of dark humor that offsets the more somber moments.

Overall, Bad Nature is a deeply engaging, if unsettling, read. Ariel Courage masterfully balances the tragic and the absurd, making for a thought-provoking and, at times, laugh-out-loud dark comedy.

This book is set to be published on April 1st, 2025. Thank you to the publisher, Henry Holt & Company, author Ariel Courage, and NetGalley for a free copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

(2.5/5, rounded up)
This started out so strong that it backfired. When I'd expect some sort of build up, we'd already plateaued. The tension that <i>is</i> built, <spoiler>then comes crumbling down anyway with that ending. I have never written and will never write a book so you'd think I'd have no room to talk- but unfortunately the task at hand is reviewing this book soo... That ending made me really aggravated, I spent all this time reading...for what? </spoiler> The premise is so strong, ugh..

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Ariel Courage and Henry Holt & Company for the DRC in exchange for my honest review! PUB DATE: 4/1/25}

This book sounded darkly funny, and it was, some of the time. However, the rest of the time it felt oddly dark and hopeful at the same time. Hester gets a terminal diagnosis and decides that, at 40, she is going to choose to fulfill her dream of revenge instead of getting treatment to prolong her life.
Despite her prickly nature, Hester was surprisingly sympathetic to me. She has to drive to her father's home, so she can bring her gun, and ends up bringing along someone she meets on the road. I guess what I really liked was how unexpected this whole adventure was.I thought I would feel one way but with a whole different perspective. Those are the best kinds of stories for me, and I'll be thinking about Hester for a while.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

A forty year old lawyer with few friends or family connections due to a slew of emotional and interpersonal issues, finds out she is about to die. Instead of fighting the cancer she decides to drive across the country to exact revenge on her father. The premise is pretty strong and the narrative is fun. With a pretty unlikable protagonist who tries her best to not be redeemed this is not a novel for everyone. I, however, thoroughly enjoyed this book. I giggled constantly, thinking that if I let my own questionable ID out of the box, I would probably do the same type of fuckery.

When receiving a damning cancer diagnosis, I'm sure there are many thoughts that flood through a person's head. Rather than go through despair or worry, forty-year-old Hester prepares for revenge. She makes it her personal mission to kill her estranged father after twenty-five years. Along the way, she meets John, a young environmental activist that needs a ride. Together they travel across the country and have many interesting, revelatory discussions.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of this story and haven't read one quite like this. That being said, it didn't wow me like I hoped it would. I don't mind an "unlikeable" main character, but I didn't find myself particularly engaged in Hester or her journey. The environmentalism, while appreciated, was a bit of an odd addition. Even so, it was a gritty book with some dark humor, and I can see why it's gotten so many positive reviews so far.

This debut novel was gripping; I love an anti-hero & i thought this author did a great job at that with Hester. She's a rich lawyer who does nothing to help anyone yet I still loved reading her trek across the country. For being such an unlikeable character, i liked this story very much. I will also say it does not have a stereotypical "happy" ending which i found refreshing. Overall, if you like an anti-hero, dark humor & snark I'd say to give this one a try.

When our narrator—40-years-old, relationshipless, childless, without family—receives a cancer diagnosis that promises only six months to live, she quits her job, packs a bag, and sets out on the road with one extreme plan: kill her father. “I was always going to kill my father… I knew I was going to kill him the same way you know that sooner or later it’s going to rain.”

Strapped with a decades-long resentment and a gun, Hester heads west from New York City, picking up a straggler along the way, and the two journey together, each on a different mission.

This book is so wildly different from what I thought it would be. I had expected a soft, forlorn tale about a woman and her acrimonious but tender relationship to her father but what I got was a truly unhinged woman on a quest for revenge. It wasn’t just a revenge tale though and there is still a lot of heart within these pages. From the start, Hester is very bitter and cynical and dismal. Readers can choose to view this as annoying or darkly comedic. I connected with the latter but Hester’s cynicism can definitely be grating. However, I think this was a very intentional move from the author as readers witness Hester’s growth and development as the novel goes on.

Courage’s prose cuts sharp as she uses her characters to explore the ongoing climate crisis, disease, trauma, morality, nature versus nurture, and the power of connection. Bad Nature is a smart and poignant novel that will entice and excite a wide variety of readers.

Thank you Henry Holt and Company for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available Apr. 1 2025
*Quotes are pulled from an advanced reader copy and are subject to change prior to publication*

This was an entertaining and quick read. The author does an excellent job to keep the reader interested even thought it is a bleak story with a fairly unlikable main character. She is definitely a good writer and quite promising. I got Ottessa Moshfegh vibes from this one.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I loved this novel. Let's start there. The author elegantly paints a woman's grieving process. A woman whose childhood did not uplift her soul but instead drove her to success to counteract the memories. A woman who, by many people's standards, led an empty life driven only by a desire to succeed without much else to fill that void.

Hester isn't terribly likeable in the beginning (which is kudos to the author as well) so it's slow going to invest in her story. Her prose is excellent though; she demands attention. We read as her story devolves from empty, time-filling activities to a discovery of late stage breast cancer, and the subsequent decisions she makes in the pursuit of "justice" in the name of her mother and her childhood. Hester's relationship with herself, her cancer, and the hitchhiker, John, is endearing to experience. Over time, she grows an attachment to all three and, as the book states in the summary, you begin to wonder what her final decision will be. While the book's premise is outlandish, it's still a wonderful reflection on what we may think, feel, or do when faced with our mortality. It's a look into the people and the relationships we've filled our life with. It's also a reminder to keep our hearts and minds open to new thoughts and activities because you never know what you don't know, what your unconscious biases are, or what might surprise you.

it drug on at times but overall I liked the dynamic between the two main characters. Hester was a typical unlikable character but in a well-fleshed out way

3.5 rounded up

At the beginning of this book, I was skeptical. It felt too snarky, too black and white, to sustain for a full novel. It felt like a short story at best. But as the story unfolds, so does Hester. I was moved and even a little surprised by the climax.

This would be a great vacation or airport book. Quick and satisfying, interesting but not too terribly deep.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

This book and it's dark humor will definitely stay with me!

When forty-year-old Hester gets the news that she's terminally ill, she decides to set off on a cross-country road trip to kill her father. Embarking from NY to California with the goal of shooting him and then killing herself.

There is so much to unpack with this book. First, I have to say that the writing was incredible. Sharp, darkly witty, insightful, descriptive - this was a meticulously crafted novel with so much care and attention to detail.

The settings of small town America, seen through the eyes of a cynical dying New Yorker, were so visual and resonant. And the character development was so strong - Hester truly felt real in all her complexity. She is intentionally unlikeable, at times fully unhinged, but as you get to know and understand her more deeply, you can forgive her for that. It also helps that we also got to see her through the lens of her friendship with John, a hitchhiker she picks up who is a genuinely good person traveling the country photographing Superfund sites - locations in America that have been contaminated by toxic pollutants.

I thought the Superfund sites, which looked normal but were toxic right below the surface, were a poignant metaphor for the cancer spreading through Hester underneath her skin - and her refusal to cope with what was happening to her.

This is a dark book. I would stress that though there is a humor to the writing, it is not at all a light book. It also felt like the road trip was maybe a little slow at times - though I don't think I can really stand behind saying that, because every scene contributed to us getting to know Hester in one way or another a little more deeply.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for this ARC to read and review.

This was such an interesting read. The psyche of the main character kept me invested throughout. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Ariel Courage’s Bad Nature is a brilliantly subversive and darkly humorous novel that takes readers on an unforgettable journey across America. This debut novel is a masterful blend of road trip adventure, revenge tale, and poignant social commentary, all wrapped up in a narrative that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking.

The story follows Hester, a forty-year-old woman who, upon receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, decides to abandon her life in New York City and embark on a cross-country road trip to fulfill her lifelong dream of killing her estranged father. Along the way, she picks up John, an environmental activist with his own agenda, and together they navigate a series of bizarre and often darkly comedic encounters.

Courage deftly explores themes of revenge, moral ambivalence, and the possibility of redemption. The novel also serves as a lament for the ongoing ecological crisis, weaving in environmental themes that add depth to the narrative without overshadowing the central plot.

Hester is a fascinating protagonist whose caustic wit and unflinching determination make her both relatable and compelling. Her interactions with John and the various characters they meet along the way are richly detailed, providing insight into her motivations and the complexities of her character. John, as a foil to Hester, brings a contrasting perspective that enriches the story and highlights the novel’s thematic concerns.

Courage’s writing is sharp, witty, and often darkly funny. The prose is engaging, with a pace that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The novel’s structure, with its episodic encounters and detours, mirrors the unpredictability of Hester’s journey and adds to the overall sense of adventure and discovery.

While Bad Nature is a compelling read, some readers may find the novel’s dark humor and bleak outlook challenging. The narrative’s focus on revenge and the protagonist’s terminal illness can make for a heavy read at times. However, those who appreciate a novel that tackles difficult themes with honesty and a touch of humor will find it deeply rewarding.

Bad Nature is a stunning debut that showcases Ariel Courage’s talent for blending dark humor with profound social commentary. It’s a novel that challenges readers to confront their own beliefs about revenge, redemption, and the human condition. Courage has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for fans of literary fiction and dark comedy.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy dark humor, road trip adventures, and stories that delve into complex moral and social issues. This novel will particularly appeal to those who appreciate a blend of sharp wit and deep thematic exploration.