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The Nobody Code: A Novel
A spellbinding novel steeped in New England folklore following a woman who leaves her marriage to uncover who’s punishing her for the crimes of her adolescence—for fans of Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.
"Spellbinding." —Maria Hummel, author of Still Lives and Goldenseal
"Audacious and dazzling." ―Jedediah Berry, author of The Naming Song
One fateful night in the 1990s, Dinah, a small-town Vermont teen, sneaks out on a mission to jump on the neighbor’s forbidden trampoline. There she comes upon a handsome, seductive boy named Rex, who leads a group of underground vigilante teenagers who call themselves "Nobody." Dinah falls under Rex's sway and joins the group. She'll do anything to impress him, even when it's dangerous. After an incident orchestrated by Rex results in steep repercussions for herself and others, Dinah leaves the town and her adolescent years behind.
Now, twenty years later, Rex has long vanished. Dinah is married with a baby and a job at the local zoo. But she is not at peace, and it seems as if someone from the past won’t let her go quietly. When mysterious clues start appearing, animals at the zoo go missing, and an old conspirator barely survives a suspicious fire, Dinah’s paranoia gets the best of her, and she takes the baby and drives back to her hometown to investigate. Although Dinah reunites with old friends, the forces out to get her make it painfully Dinah must repent and face her enemies alone.
“The Nobody Code is that rare a novel that astonishes on every page, twists and turns with wildness, beauty, and delight, and makes you, ultimately, question the stories you’ve been told about your life. A mystery that is also about adolescence, fairy tales, friendship, and love; I read this book with wonder and pleasure and finished it in tears—in awe of this strange, sublime, and haunting masterpiece.” ―Robin MacArthur, author of Half Wild
"Spellbinding." —Maria Hummel, author of Still Lives and Goldenseal
"Audacious and dazzling." ―Jedediah Berry, author of The Naming Song
One fateful night in the 1990s, Dinah, a small-town Vermont teen, sneaks out on a mission to jump on the neighbor’s forbidden trampoline. There she comes upon a handsome, seductive boy named Rex, who leads a group of underground vigilante teenagers who call themselves "Nobody." Dinah falls under Rex's sway and joins the group. She'll do anything to impress him, even when it's dangerous. After an incident orchestrated by Rex results in steep repercussions for herself and others, Dinah leaves the town and her adolescent years behind.
Now, twenty years later, Rex has long vanished. Dinah is married with a baby and a job at the local zoo. But she is not at peace, and it seems as if someone from the past won’t let her go quietly. When mysterious clues start appearing, animals at the zoo go missing, and an old conspirator barely survives a suspicious fire, Dinah’s paranoia gets the best of her, and she takes the baby and drives back to her hometown to investigate. Although Dinah reunites with old friends, the forces out to get her make it painfully Dinah must repent and face her enemies alone.
“The Nobody Code is that rare a novel that astonishes on every page, twists and turns with wildness, beauty, and delight, and makes you, ultimately, question the stories you’ve been told about your life. A mystery that is also about adolescence, fairy tales, friendship, and love; I read this book with wonder and pleasure and finished it in tears—in awe of this strange, sublime, and haunting masterpiece.” ―Robin MacArthur, author of Half Wild
384 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 13, 2026
Maybe this book was just too deep for me, but this review is my honest opinion.
First, thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.
I really liked the concept of the “Nobody Code” and the stories connected to the idea of the Nobody. Some of the themes were very interesting, especially the way the author wrote about women and the conflicting expectations placed on them—being expected to be innocent but also sexy, strong but agreeable, and everything in between. That aspect felt very real and thoughtful, and it was one of the parts of the book that stood out to me the most.
Unfortunately, I struggled a lot with the structure of the story. The narrative jumps around frequently with very little warning, and I often felt like I was trying to catch up with what was happening. By the end, I was left feeling more confused than satisfied. The epilogue didn’t really clear things up for me and instead seemed to add even more questions. It’s possible the deeper meaning just went over my head, but I finished the book feeling like a lot was never fully answered.
There was also a strong focus on animals throughout the story. I’m guessing this was meant to add symbolism or depth, but for me it started to feel a bit overwhelming and pulled me out of the main story at times.
Overall, I can appreciate the ambition and the ideas behind this book, but the execution made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story. I’m sure some readers will enjoy digging into the deeper meaning, but it ended up being a confusing read for me.
First, thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.
I really liked the concept of the “Nobody Code” and the stories connected to the idea of the Nobody. Some of the themes were very interesting, especially the way the author wrote about women and the conflicting expectations placed on them—being expected to be innocent but also sexy, strong but agreeable, and everything in between. That aspect felt very real and thoughtful, and it was one of the parts of the book that stood out to me the most.
Unfortunately, I struggled a lot with the structure of the story. The narrative jumps around frequently with very little warning, and I often felt like I was trying to catch up with what was happening. By the end, I was left feeling more confused than satisfied. The epilogue didn’t really clear things up for me and instead seemed to add even more questions. It’s possible the deeper meaning just went over my head, but I finished the book feeling like a lot was never fully answered.
There was also a strong focus on animals throughout the story. I’m guessing this was meant to add symbolism or depth, but for me it started to feel a bit overwhelming and pulled me out of the main story at times.
Overall, I can appreciate the ambition and the ideas behind this book, but the execution made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story. I’m sure some readers will enjoy digging into the deeper meaning, but it ended up being a confusing read for me.
June 21, 2026
A deliciously haunting book with characters who think deeply and act oddly. I’m in awe of everything Miciah accomplished here. Themes of girlhood and womanhood and motherhood and identity are woven throughout a mystery from the past that seeps into the future, all while also maybe being a fairytale or a dream. I feel like you can read this novel multiple times and get new perspectives each time. It’s almost like meta fiction too. Go into this book knowing it’s going to go deep. And dive in.
September 13, 2026
2.5 actually... because, how many times did I almost give up?
There were times when I thought, "what the hell is going on?" So much existential angst that seemed nothing but stream of conscious writing.
There was an interesting idea in here. I mean a group of "meddling kids" who want to protect vulnerable kids. They take on projects. But the back and forth of our narrator, is she in, is she being herself, do others understand her ambivalence, does her mother not love her. Exhausting. And took me out of "the story."
That's when I would almost give up. But I don't like giving up, especially when the writing is clear, and I sense there is something here to grapple with. Even so...
There were times when I thought, "what the hell is going on?" So much existential angst that seemed nothing but stream of conscious writing.
There was an interesting idea in here. I mean a group of "meddling kids" who want to protect vulnerable kids. They take on projects. But the back and forth of our narrator, is she in, is she being herself, do others understand her ambivalence, does her mother not love her. Exhausting. And took me out of "the story."
That's when I would almost give up. But I don't like giving up, especially when the writing is clear, and I sense there is something here to grapple with. Even so...
September 4, 2026
Miciah Bay Gault’s The Nobody Code tells the twisty-turney, possibly supernatural tale of 35-year-old new mom Dinah whose past collides with her present in strange, unsettling, yet often poignant ways. I followed Dinah’s story with bated breath, in awe of how Gault’s evocative writing created a veritable rollercoaster whoosh in my brain. I also loved how story-telling, fairy tales, and memory crissed and crossed throughout the novel, both propelling the action forward and making me think hard about what was going on in the hearts and minds of all of the characters. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In The Nobody Code we meet an underground teenager vigilant group (Nobody) who're meting out justice on bullies.
This is a vivid story that defies convention while spinning a mystery around the reader.
At times it's hard to follow the story because of timejumps and places - often even within the same chapter. As a reader I get easily distracted by this.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is a vivid story that defies convention while spinning a mystery around the reader.
At times it's hard to follow the story because of timejumps and places - often even within the same chapter. As a reader I get easily distracted by this.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 7, 2026
Beautiful, haunting, profound…so much to love in this book, especially Miciah’s gorgeous language. Dinah, the heroine, is wonderfully complex and also, thinks and expresses things at times that seem to embody all women. A thriller, a coming of (all) ages, a modern fairy tale, a love letter to connection and motherhood…so much to love.
Did Not Finish
August 6, 2026The writing style wasn’t working for me. I was intrigued by the story, but having a tough time following what was going on. It was more stream of consciousness than I’m used to and it felt like it rapidly jumped around and skipped short chunks of time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read this book's briefing and thought I'd enjoy reading it, but I had difficulty following the story and also engaging with it. A past that resurfaces in the most surreal ways and the truth that wants to come out. It could be entertaining but it was not the book for me.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There was a lot to find intriguing here, especially with the high school club of nobodys and the themes about female expectations, but ultimately, it was too overstuffed and the ending was a letdown.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A literary thriller exploring coming-off-age, motherhood and vigilante justice.
Zookeeper, Dinah, belonged to an underground teenager vigilant group when living in Vermont, meting out justice on bullies. Ten years later in NYC she meets Rex, the leader of the group (and her first love) but he disappears before they can meet later that evening. Fast forward ten years and Dinah is a young mother with a son, Brandon, working at a zoo where she cares deeply for the bears. When she’s accused of mismanaging the animals, she knows Rex is behind it. Her marriage to Anders is on the rocks too. So Dinah returns home to Vermont when she learns of a fire at the hospital where her mother works. She also learns one of the Nobody (the name of the underground vigilante group) has been hospitalized as well. Dinah knows old scores have come back to roast and she must confront that.
The moves around in time and place even within a chapter. So when reading you can’t get distracted or you need to re-read (I found this tedious at times). I did enjoy the slight mysticism where Dinah could believe she was talking to the bears. I liked the conceit of the book and was especially intrigued by the theme of transgenderism. Mainly though the book explores motherhood in a very convincing way.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Union Square & Company for granting me access to this book.
Zookeeper, Dinah, belonged to an underground teenager vigilant group when living in Vermont, meting out justice on bullies. Ten years later in NYC she meets Rex, the leader of the group (and her first love) but he disappears before they can meet later that evening. Fast forward ten years and Dinah is a young mother with a son, Brandon, working at a zoo where she cares deeply for the bears. When she’s accused of mismanaging the animals, she knows Rex is behind it. Her marriage to Anders is on the rocks too. So Dinah returns home to Vermont when she learns of a fire at the hospital where her mother works. She also learns one of the Nobody (the name of the underground vigilante group) has been hospitalized as well. Dinah knows old scores have come back to roast and she must confront that.
The moves around in time and place even within a chapter. So when reading you can’t get distracted or you need to re-read (I found this tedious at times). I did enjoy the slight mysticism where Dinah could believe she was talking to the bears. I liked the conceit of the book and was especially intrigued by the theme of transgenderism. Mainly though the book explores motherhood in a very convincing way.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Union Square & Company for granting me access to this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The story follows Dinah, who, as a teenager in the 90s, becomes entangled with a mysterious underground group called “Nobody” led by the charismatic and manipulative Rex. After a dangerous incident changes everything, she leaves her hometown behind. But twenty years later, now married with a baby and working at a zoo, strange events begin pulling her back toward the past she thought she escaped.
The strongest aspect of the book for me was its themes. There’s this unsettling quality running through the entire story that perfectly captures the feeling of being haunted by your adolescence and the choices you made when you were young. The small-town setting, the eerie influence of Rex, and the strange “Nobody” group all created this nostalgic but dangerous feeling that I really enjoyed.
I also appreciated the commentary on womanhood, identity, and motherhood woven throughout the story. Dinah’s struggles with guilt, marriage, expectations, and the lingering pull of her past gave the book a lot of emotional depth beneath the mystery.
This was an interesting read for me because it contained elements I genuinely loved, while other parts kept me at a slight emotional distance. I’m still a little conflicted on how I fully feel about it, but it’s definitely one of those books that lingers in your mind afterward. It’s strange, haunting, atmospheric, and emotionally messy.
Thank you so much Union Square & Co., and Miciah Bay Gault for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤
The strongest aspect of the book for me was its themes. There’s this unsettling quality running through the entire story that perfectly captures the feeling of being haunted by your adolescence and the choices you made when you were young. The small-town setting, the eerie influence of Rex, and the strange “Nobody” group all created this nostalgic but dangerous feeling that I really enjoyed.
I also appreciated the commentary on womanhood, identity, and motherhood woven throughout the story. Dinah’s struggles with guilt, marriage, expectations, and the lingering pull of her past gave the book a lot of emotional depth beneath the mystery.
This was an interesting read for me because it contained elements I genuinely loved, while other parts kept me at a slight emotional distance. I’m still a little conflicted on how I fully feel about it, but it’s definitely one of those books that lingers in your mind afterward. It’s strange, haunting, atmospheric, and emotionally messy.
Thank you so much Union Square & Co., and Miciah Bay Gault for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This work did a lot all at once. Multiple timeframes explored in the same chapter, multiple themes, two plots and a past and present that were both different and simultaneously the same. Whew. This is the sort of book you want to read during long stretches of time, because at least for me it's very easy to lose oneself in it.
I was not as engaged as I thought I would've been with the book, mainly because I primarily read it when I had snatches of time to do it, but I did find it a good read about motherhood, high school social statuses, how women are "supposed" to act, how wives are "supposed" to act, etc, etc. I do agree with the other reviewers about some trouble in keeping the different timelines coherent when offered in quick succession, but I think on subsequent reads that won't be as big of a problem for me.
Thank you, Miciah, and the publishers for the early access to the ARC!
I was not as engaged as I thought I would've been with the book, mainly because I primarily read it when I had snatches of time to do it, but I did find it a good read about motherhood, high school social statuses, how women are "supposed" to act, how wives are "supposed" to act, etc, etc. I do agree with the other reviewers about some trouble in keeping the different timelines coherent when offered in quick succession, but I think on subsequent reads that won't be as big of a problem for me.
Thank you, Miciah, and the publishers for the early access to the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved this book! I read it after a few duds and it completely brought me out of my reading slump. The mystery was just so weird and unique that I had to keep reading, and the ending completely blew my mind. One of those books you want to read again as soon as you finish, so you can watch all the pieces coming together, and the clues you missed the first time. It's also just wonderfully atmospheric and transporting, a real small-town Vermont feel, stocked with locals who feel real and complex, specific settings you can really picture - a very lived-in, built-out world. I can't wait till everyone else reads this book so I can talk about it with people!!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A bold, vivid story that defies convention, while weaving a gorgeous mystery around the reader. New mother Dinah is balancing work at a zoo with a toxic boss, a strained marriage, and the memories of a moment in New York that could mean everything or nothing. With all this mounting pressure, plus strange happenings that remind her of her teenage years when she was involved in a unique group, Dinah must pause and finally face her past. Told in lush prose that intermingles fairy tales, mystery, and literary fiction, this is a story that will keep you turning pages.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Flitting from past (high school) to present (young baby) we follow Dinah as she comes to grips with her unfinished past, by going back to her teenage town. It’s a slow book, with some themes and images that were just too inaccessible.
A very mixed read for me. I loved the premise of the story, but it was incredibly disjointed and I didn’t find all the threads pulled together satisfactorily.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Union Square & Co. for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
A very mixed read for me. I loved the premise of the story, but it was incredibly disjointed and I didn’t find all the threads pulled together satisfactorily.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Union Square & Co. for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews