A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick

A riotously sharp novel about self-righteousness, control, and the unexpected afterlife of a dog

Rose Cutler prides herself on her principles—veganism, feminism, eco-consciousness, and general moral superiority. She runs a yogurt business she quietly despises and lives alone, comfortably distanced from the mess of human relationships. But, when her brother and sister-in-law let her watch her six-year-old nephew Nathan, things go spectacularly wrong. 

After Rose’s dog kills a corgi at the park, Nathan begins to bark, overeat, and claim that the dead dog has possessed his body. Rose assumes this is trauma. Nathan insists it’s metaphysical fact. As Rose embarks on a misguided quest to free Nathan from his canine passenger, what begins as an attempt at childcare devolves into a surreal, anarchic spiral of suburban chaos. 

Brimming with unhinged charm and moral ambiguity, The Hitch is a biting satire of the stories we tell ourselves to stay sane—and the havoc we wreak when those stories fall apart. 

"“Levine is a wonderful storyteller with a vibrant voice. Treasure Island!!! is a rollicking tale, shameless, funny and intelligent.”" - New York Times

"A winningly zany portrait of a know-it-all whose beliefs are tested by a supernatural intrusion at a family visit . . . Levine is an unusual talent. Her commitment to boinging around the loopy little world she’s built is total. Only a killjoy would refuse to join her." - The New York Times Book Review

"“An irreverent comic novel of self-empowerment.”" - O, the Oprah Magazine

"Bizarre and mordantly funny . . . A vibrant portrait of childhood wonder and adult anxiety." - Publishers Weekly