Nightbitch And What's Making Us Happy

In 'Nightbitch', Rachel Yoder tells the story of a stay-at-home mother who feels trapped in her role and begins to undergo a physical transformation, growing hair and sharper teeth, and developing animalistic instincts. The novel delves into themes of motherhood, the societal pressures on women, and the struggle to maintain one's identity and creativity in the face of domestic responsibilities. It is a darkly humorous and insightful exploration of the complexities and challenges of modern femininity and motherhood.

The novel tells the story of Tita de la Garza, the youngest daughter in a family living in Mexico at the turn of the twentieth century. Tita falls in love with Pedro, but her mother, Mama Elena, forbids their marriage due to a family tradition that the youngest daughter must care for her mother until she dies. Pedro marries Tita's sister Rosaura to stay close to Tita. The novel employs magical realism, combining the supernatural with the ordinary, and features recipes and home remedies that correlate with specific events in Tita's life. The story spans over two decades, chronicling Tita's struggle for love, independence, and self-expression through her cooking.