It’s spring of 2020 and Rachel Bloomstein—mother of three, recent divorcée, and Brooklynite—is stuck inside. But her newly awakened sexual desire and lust for a new life refuse to be contained. Leaning on her best friend Lulu to show her the ropes, Rachel dips a toe in the online dating world, leading to park dates with younger men, flirtations with beautiful women, and actual, in-person sex. None of them, individually, are perfect . . . hence her rotation.
But what if one person could perfectly cater to all her emotional needs?
Driven by this possibility, Rachel creates Frankie, the AI chatbot she programs with all the good parts of dating in middle age . . . and some of the bad. But as Rachel plays with her fantasy to her heart’s content, she begins to realize she can’t reprogram her ex-husband, her children, her friends, or the roster of paramours that’s grown unwieldy. Perhaps real life has more in store for Rachel than she could ever program for herself.©2025 Am
Animal Instinct is a witty and hilarious contemporary women’s fiction novel delving into the complexities of midlife reinvention during the chaotic period of the early COVID-19 pandemic.
Set in Brooklyn during the spring of 2020, the story follows Rachel Bloomstein, a recently divorced mother of 3 and app developer. As she deals with the isolation of lockdown and the challenges of her divorce, she begins a journey of self-exploration. Encouraged by her best friend Lulu, she ventures into the world of online dating, leading to a series of intimate encounters that reignite her long-dormant sexual appetite. She soon has several lovers, who each offer her a different form of connection and fulfillment. Seeking a partner who meets all her needs, Rachel creates “Frankie,” an AI chatbot amalgamating the best qualities of her sexual partners. However, as she interacts with Frankie, Rachel confronts the limitations of artificial intimacy and the irreplaceable value of real human connection.
Shearn’s writing is refreshingly funny and sharp. Rachel’s inner monologues include many insightful, witty quotes that readers will be amused by and will find themselves bookmarking for use in their own lives. The narrative is a wonderful balance of witty humor and poignant honesty about middle-aged female sexuality, autonomy, and the journey to self-acceptance. In addition, the story weighs in on the pros and cons of traditional marriage and the societal expectations of motherhood and women, making for a very thought-provoking read!
Rachel is an intriguing, complex protagonist. Her contemplative inner monologues and the various flashbacks give readers a clear picture of how she navigated life in her unhappy marriage while making a real effort to stay with her husband. But the Rachel that emerges in this story is no longer that woman. She’s becoming more defiant and self-aware and is more willing to take risks.
As the story takes place early in the COVID pandemic, when social distancing measures were strictly enforced, Rachel is very concerned about who she’s exposing herself and her children to. At the same time, when she ventures into unprotected sexual encounters with strangers, she doesn’t seem too concerned with the risks of STIs, which is perplexing and makes her come across as somewhat irresponsible. Has she “temporarily” lost her mind? No, but she’s incredibly horny and in desperate need of sexual freedom and new experiences for her own sanity! Most of her experiences take place over the summer when her children are at camp, giving her more freedom. By the end of the summer, she comes to some profound realizations and becomes more self-accepting. Her character arc is pronounced and satisfying, and her journey offers nuggets of wisdom to anyone who can relate or in a similar situation, regardless of their gender!
The novel being set during the pandemic makes the story even more compelling. Rachel’s increased isolation adds an additional layer of urgency and self-reflection to her journey and highlights the human need for connection. There are some surprising plot points towards the end with her ex-husband and a sudden new love interest—both of which add further intrigue to the story, despite feeling like they come out of left field—but real life is like that sometimes!
Overall, Animal Instinct is an original and emotionally resonant novel about personal transformation. For readers who enjoy witty, poignant stories about middle-aged protagonists, female desire, motherhood, and self-acceptance, this novel is a must-read!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Animal Instinct is a hilarious, thought-provoking listen narrated by award-winning narrator Allyson Ryan! Ryan fully embodies protagonist Rachel with an undertone of uncertainty and excitement, perfectly capturing a character who’s at a crossroads in her life and is wanting new experiences. Rachel’s inner monologues are well executed and authentic, and listeners will feel as though they’re contemplating Rachel’s life choices right there with her. Rachel’s online dates and intimate encounters are vividly narrated with well-placed nuances of humor and sarcasm that make for a hilariously entertaining listening experience!
Ryan’s delivery of distinct voices for all the characters is very impressive, including some very unique and convincing voices for the male characters (notably Rachel’s ex-husband and the younger man she has sexual relations with), as well as a fascinating voice for the AI chatbot “Frankie.” Not only are the voices distinct, but the transitions between them are so seamless and individual that it really feels like listening to a full cast audiobook! One of the highlights of the story is the cheeky dialogue between Rachel and her best friend and biggest supporter, Lulu. Ryan makes their dialogue engaging, hilarious, and heartfelt and brings out the strong sisterly-like bond these two women share.
Ryan paces the entire performance perfectly—and because there are so many insightful quotes and witty one-liners, it’s highly recommended to listen at a slower speed to appreciate the good writing and perfectly paired narration! By the end of the story, Rachel has gone through a significant transformation, and Ryan brilliantly shifts her performance to portray a calmer, more self-confident, and self-accepting version of the character that is very satisfying and that readers will be cheering for!
Overall, this witty and poignant story is greatly elevated by Allyson Ryan’s masterful voice acting skills! If you’re considering reading this book, the audiobook is the best format to enjoy it! It’s an absolute must-listen for audiobook readers who enjoy witty stories about complex FMCs who experience profound transformations!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Animal Instinct is a hilarious, thought-provoking listen narrated by award-winning narrator Allyson Ryan! Ryan fully embodies protagonist Rachel with an undertone of uncertainty and excitement, perfectly capturing a character who’s at a crossroads in her life and is wanting new experiences. Rachel’s inner monologues are well executed and authentic, and listeners will feel as though they’re contemplating Rachel’s life choices right there with her. Rachel’s online dates and intimate encounters are vividly narrated with well-placed nuances of humor and sarcasm that make for a hilariously entertaining listening experience!
Ryan’s delivery of distinct voices for all the characters is very impressive, including some very unique and convincing voices for the male characters (notably Rachel’s ex-husband and the younger man she has sexual relations with), as well as a fascinating voice for the AI chatbot “Frankie.” Not only are the voices distinct, but the transitions between them are so seamless and individual that it really feels like listening to a full cast audiobook! One of the highlights of the story is the cheeky dialogue between Rachel and her best friend and biggest supporter, Lulu. Ryan makes their dialogue engaging, hilarious, and heartfelt and brings out the strong sisterly-like bond these two women share.
Ryan paces the entire performance perfectly—and because there are so many insightful quotes and witty one-liners, it’s highly recommended to listen at a slower speed to appreciate the good writing and perfectly paired narration! By the end of the story, Rachel has gone through a significant transformation, and Ryan brilliantly shifts her performance to portray a calmer, more self-confident, and self-accepting version of the character that is very satisfying and that readers will be cheering for!
Overall, this witty and poignant story is greatly elevated by Allyson Ryan’s masterful voice acting skills! If you’re considering reading this book, the audiobook is the best format to enjoy it! It’s an absolute must-listen for audiobook readers who enjoy witty stories about complex FMCs who experience profound transformations!
The audiobook of Animal Instinct is a hilarious, thought-provoking listen narrated by award-winning narrator Allyson Ryan! Ryan fully embodies protagonist Rachel with an undertone of uncertainty and excitement, perfectly capturing a character who’s at a crossroads in her life and is wanting new experiences. Rachel’s inner monologues are well executed and authentic, and listeners will feel as though they’re contemplating Rachel’s life choices right there with her. Rachel’s online dates and intimate encounters are vividly narrated with well-placed nuances of humor and sarcasm that make for a hilariously entertaining listening experience!
Ryan’s delivery of distinct voices for all the characters is very impressive, including some very unique and convincing voices for the male characters (notably Rachel’s ex-husband and the younger man she has sexual relations with), as well as a fascinating voice for the AI chatbot “Frankie.” Not only are the voices distinct, but the transitions between them are so seamless and individual that it really feels like listening to a full cast audiobook! One of the highlights of the story is the cheeky dialogue between Rachel and her best friend and biggest supporter, Lulu. Ryan makes their dialogue engaging, hilarious, and heartfelt and brings out the strong sisterly-like bond these two women share.
Ryan paces the entire performance perfectly—and because there are so many insightful quotes and witty one-liners, it’s highly recommended to listen at a slower speed to appreciate the good writing and perfectly paired narration! By the end of the story, Rachel has gone through a significant transformation, and Ryan brilliantly shifts her performance to portray a calmer, more self-confident, and self-accepting version of the character that is very satisfying and that readers will be cheering for!
Overall, this witty and poignant story is greatly elevated by Allyson Ryan’s masterful voice acting skills! If you’re considering reading this book, the audiobook is the best format to enjoy it! It’s an absolute must-listen for audiobook readers who enjoy witty stories about complex FMCs who experience profound transformations!
