Back in April, an announcement was made that the movie version of Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder was going to have a theatrical release on December 6, 2024 and star Amy Adams. This novel has been well known for the last few years. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on it ever since it came out in 2021. Once the film was announced, I knew that now was the time to read it. And I’m glad I did because it’s one of the most insane novels I’ve ever consumed, and I’ve read some bizarre ones before.
Nightbitch is about a woman who thinks she’s turning into a dog. As a stay-at-home wife and mom, a woman is exhausted and lonely because she can’t do the thing she loves: creating art. Her husband travels for his work, and she believes she’s going to lose her mind if she had to put her kid to bed one more time. Instead, on one such night, she begins to develop sharper canines, new patches of hair in strange places, new appetites, new instincts, and a new voice from deep within her.
The cover is one of the most iconic ones I’ve ever seen. It’s not just that there’s raw meat on it. There’s also the slabs being held by hands that could’ve come out of a 1950s dish detergent advertisement. And if one looks closely, there’s a dog or a wolf’s head in the shadows. When I first saw this cover on Literary Hub in 2021, I was intrigued because it’s weirdly enchanting even if it’s a bit on the nose. I’m not just saying that since one can see the dog/wolf’s nose on the cover.
I didn’t know what to expect outside of its initial premise. It kept me on the edge of my seat because I wanted to know how insane it was going to get. And reader, it got pretty crazy. If I reveal anything of what went down, I would be spoiling it.
Instead, I’ll focus on the characters, themes, and writing. The main character, who only refers to herself as Nightbitch, is frustrated with her situation. As a housewife and mom, she’s stuck at home with a toddler who has trouble sleeping at night. It doesn’t help that her husband travels for work, and when he’s home, he barely helps out. Yoder repeatedly reminds readers of Nightbitch’s circumstances, which can get irritating to some. Luckily, what happens to her makes her realize her true desires and to be more vocal about them. When she musters up the courage to tell her husband to put their son to bed whenever he’s home, he’s actually pretty cool with it. Even though this was all resolved a bit too neatly and quickly, it was nice for the husband to realize that his wife has needs and that marriage is about working together.
The main theme is motherhood. Specifically, it’s supposed to be a commentary on how it can be violent as children may enter the world in a brutal manner and deprive the mother of any sense of individuality even if they do work. The book is on the nose about this, as Nightbitch herself has these realizations along with several scenes of her pondering what she wants to do with her life and putting her son to sleep. Normally, I wouldn’t have an issue about this if it weren’t for the fact that the novel spells out the motherhood theme at the very end. On top of that, although I’m not a mom, this take on the subject seems basic. I wouldn’t be surprised if other feminist-based stories have taken a more nuanced stance on it. At the same time, there are people who need to read this, and this may be their introduction to seeing motherhood from that angle.
The writing is the strongest aspect of the book. The whole tale feels as if Franz Kafka was a woman and wanted to write about motherhood. It’s fitting because this month marks the 100th anniversary of his death. The reason why I was on edge was because the text was that way. I could feel the anxiety between the lines. Yoder balances this out with sections of relaxation like the mother and son bonding by pretending to be dogs. My one complaint about this element was that the story could’ve been shorter. Considering that it constantly reminds readers of the main character’s frustrations with her lot, how demanding her son is, and the violent theme of motherhood, it gets a bit tiresome. Sometimes, I was like, “Ok, I get it,” but not in an annoyed manner, yet it could’ve gotten there if the novel had more than 250 pages. I’m sure this will be greatly condensed for the movie.
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder is one of the strangest novels I’ve ever read. The plot will always have people intrigued. It had me on the edge of my seat because I wanted to know what was going to unfold. It may not have the most profound take on motherhood, but those who need to hear it will certainly feel empowered. Also, look at that cover. Will you ever see something like that again? It’s iconic! I would recommend this to readers who like Kafkaesque plots, stories about motherhood, and plenty of insanity. Reading the book makes me excited to see the film when it comes out in December. And yes, I plan on reviewing the movie, so watch out!
Before I go, I want to let everyone know that I plan to record the latest episode of the Adapt Me Podcast soon. Guest Sam Meltzer and I will talk about how we would adapt this novel. Keep an eye out for the link.
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Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything 