First published 2021

238 pages

Contemporary, Magical realism, Literary

In this novel, an ambitious artist puts her career on hold to stay at home with her newborn. We begin the story two years in, and we watch as this stay-at-home mother loses herself in the societal and internal pressures of motherhood. One day, she finds a dense patch of hair growing on the back of her neck, and her canines have grown impossibly sharp. With her husband dismissing her concerns from hotel rooms on business trips, she is left on her own to deal with her rapidly changing body. Her symptoms intensify and so do her canine instincts.

There are different aspects of this book that spoke to me as a childless 24-year-old woman. The desire to be animalistic. To be feral and completely uncaring of perception. The description of motherhood was exactly what I thought it would be. The fatigue, the overwhelm, not a single moment to yourself, and the constant crushing societal, social, and internal pressures.

While still maintaining the desire to be monstrous, to be unselfconscious, to be feral. To truly be an animal, to pursue that base animal instincts and intuition. That’s what spoke to me. I've thought about that desire, it's struck me multiple times, to burrow in a warm den, to only be concerned with animal things.

The imagery of a woman on the brink, unable and unwilling to keep up with societal standards. Eventually saying fuck it, and jumping off that cliff, barking and snarling at people, killing animals and shaking them wildly, spattering blood all over the kitchen. Growing hair, smelling the whole world around you. The commentary on womanhood and the roles we fill, the roles we have thrust upon us. And simultaneously the brutal, animalistic nature of womanhood and motherhood. The book ended in a really beautiful place, cherishing and worshipping motherhood as a god like role, elevating the mother into a deity, the giver and taker of life. It was weird and gross and honest. All the best books are.

There were lines and philosophical thoughts that protagonist had that felt so deeply reflective and almost enlightened, the awareness of modern motherhood and the brutally honest portrayal was extremely engaging.

And the overall arc was deeply satisfying, Nightbitch found her art again, found herself within motherhood and womanhood.