Reviews

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

sophganeson's review

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

vkcwy's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

slowmorningdiaries's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

forestfantasy's review

I just couldn’t get into it. The bad parts of this book outweighed the good parts. I could see what the author was going for but unfortunately it just wasn’t my cup of tea. The thing that really disturbed me was

the senseless harming of animals for her art exhibit in college. That was a major red flag for me personally and really made me want to stop reading.

Due to this I felt myself going into a reading slump so I had to DNF.

lidenek's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

youngthespian42's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this book. I don’t usual like magical realism but this leaned into the strange in a way that can’t be avoided. The comparisons to Metamorphosis or the fly cannot be understated.

I read this as it was recommended form when I listened to a review of A School for Good Mothers which I did like a lot more but these two are a good double feature on the challenges of motherhood.

The last third of this gets pretty unbelievable with her husband buying into what’s happening, but it’s prolly all a metaphor for him see her as a person?

natalie_is_reading's review

4.0

Probably a 4.5
THIS BOOK
WHAT
FASCINATING CRAZY UNEXPECTED
to quote Isabelle who’s door i knocked on at 11 pm asking for a book so I wouldn’t lose my reading streak and she gave me this: “Girlboss lady joker intellectual mitski red riding hood mental illness suburban experience”
Ummm if you ever wanted to feel some things about motherhood and womanhood this is the book to read. I have no idea if you’re actually a mother if you would just go crazy or go into a depressive spiral reading this, like i’d imagine it hits hard. And you know what, all the craziness in the end, it works out. She doesn’t need to be fixed.

emilynhansen's review

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

hiamoreena's review

dark funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the commentary on motherhood, societal expectations, and patriarchy. I know so many women who deal with complex feelings about the division of labor and childcare in their relationships so this really hit home. My interpretation leads to me believe all of the dog transformations and art show sections are taking place in the main character’s head and what’s actually happening on the outside is that she’s becoming this perfect domesticated housewife, while the animalistic rage plays out in her fantasies. This one will definitely stick with me.

fluoresensitive's review

(sniffling) I can't read another unhinged woman novel by a white woman with no understanding of intersectionality and racism and the way her whiteness and cisness affects the text, I just can't.