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Irene Cuevas returns with story collection 'Animal Print' after Almodóvar's praise

publication · 2026-06-19

Irene Cuevas, a self-described 'superbollera de izquierdas' author, has released her new story collection 'Animal Print' with Reservoir Books in 2025, following her 2024 debut novel 'Un momento de ternura y de piedad' which was named Pedro Almodóvar's favorite novel of the year. Cuevas originally wrote the stories for 'Animal Print' six years ago, but her publisher requested she publish a novel first, delaying the collection. The stories feature characters confronting a society that attempts to domesticate their ways of being, desiring, and feeling, and connect metaphorically or literally with the non-human animal world as a means of resistance. Cuevas identifies primarily as a short story writer and expressed frustration at having to delay her collection.

Key facts

  • Irene Cuevas published 'Animal Print' in 2025 with Reservoir Books.
  • Her 2024 novel 'Un momento de ternura y de piedad' was named Pedro Almodóvar's favorite novel of the year.
  • Cuevas wrote the stories for 'Animal Print' six years prior to publication.
  • Her publisher asked her to release a novel before the story collection.
  • Cuevas identifies as a 'superbollera de izquierdas' and primarily a short story writer.
  • The stories in 'Animal Print' explore themes of societal domestication and resistance through animal metaphors.
  • Pedro Almodóvar publicly praised Cuevas's novel.
  • Both books are published by Reservoir Books.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Reservoir Books

Sources