Book Review: "The Night Always Comes" by Willy Vlautin

I don't know how I found this book but I did tell you I wanted to read more books by authors I had not hear of before. This is one of them. This book was not on my radar at all. It was not something in my recommendations and it was not something on a reading list anywhere. Honestly, I have no recollection of how I came across it. All I know is that when I read it, it took hold almost immediately. Intense and emotional, this book seems to detail the most human feelings in the most incredible ways. I was astounded to find out how good it actually was. So, let's go through what I thought of it...

At the heart of the story is Lynette, a 30-year-old woman who has spent years trying to lift herself and her family out of poverty. She lives with her mother, a bitter, hard-working older woman, and her developmentally disabled brother, Kenny, for whom Lynette feels a profound sense of responsibility. The family rents a dilapidated house, but Lynette has been saving tirelessly in hopes of buying it before the neighbourhood’s escalating property values push them out entirely.

The novel begins with a sense of urgency: Lynette has managed to scrape together a down payment, but her mother, who has wavered in her commitment to the purchase, now seems reluctant to move forward. This hesitation sparks Lynette’s spiral into desperation as she realises that her dreams of security may slip through her fingers. Over the next two days, she embarks on a harrowing journey to salvage the deal, taking increasingly risky and morally ambiguous actions to secure the money she needs. I think that this is such a relatable feeling that one day, for almost no reason whatsoever, you could have nothing. I certainly feel that way about my job: that if I get too comfortable or seem too contented - they will toss me out in the cold. Security and the lack of it is certainly a universal feeling.

Lynette’s determination is deeply rooted in her past, which Vlautin gradually reveals through flashbacks. She has endured a history of trauma, including sexual abuse by a family member and a series of abusive relationships. These experiences have shaped her resilience and fierce protectiveness over her brother, but they have also left her deeply scarred, struggling with self-worth and plagued by a gnawing sense of inadequacy.

Lynette’s mental health is a recurring thread throughout the novel. She battles anxiety, self-doubt, and moments of despair, yet her determination to persevere is unwavering. Vlautin conveys these struggles with raw empathy, creating a character who is both deeply flawed and profoundly relatable. Lynette’s internal monologue is suffused with longing—for safety, for love, for a life free from the constant weight of fear and failure. This is something I think, though the character's situation is a bit out there, we can all relate to. The fear of failure often dwells within all of us - we don't want to disappoint ourselves as much as we don't want to make ourselves look like we are not as good as others.

Portland itself becomes a character in the novel, its gentrification serving as both a backdrop and a metaphor for the broader themes of displacement and inequality. Vlautin’s descriptions of the city capture its dualities: the gleaming new developments and trendy cafes juxtaposed with the crumbling homes and marginalised individuals who can no longer afford to live there. This changing landscape mirrors Lynette’s struggle to hold onto her place in a world that seems determined to push her out. I like it when the author is committed to making the place feel like a character in the novel and it definitely worked in this case. The displacement through gentrification is one of the ideas that drives parts of the plot.

All in all, through Lynette’s story, Willy Vlautin captures the brutal realities of life on the margins while illuminating the enduring strength and vulnerability of those who inhabit them. His prose is spare yet evocative, creating a narrative that is both deeply personal and profoundly universal. This is a novel that lingers long after the final page, challenging the reader to confront the complexities of economic injustice and the indomitable will to survive. It is a brilliant novel which I am very glad I read.