Let me preface this review by saying that I was very confused by the premise of this book before I began to read it. Never judge a book by its cover, but the corgi that stared back at me as I searched for new books to read invited me in. I was pleasantly surprised. Sara Levine’s latest novel, “The Hitch,” possesses a much deeper meaning behind just the right amount of whimsy.

Levine introduces us to Rose Cutler, a woman who is convinced that she knows how to do everything right, from food to furniture, even raising a child. Rose adores her six-year-old nephew, Nathan, so when her brother Victor and his wife Astrid decide to go on vacation for a week, she convinces them to let Nathan stay with her. After a series of disastrous events, Rose’s Newfoundland attacks and kills a corgi, whose spirit ends up entering Nathan during a walk in the park. Rose initially expects this to be some sort of traumatic response, but several assurances that the dog—Hazel—is very much alive (accompanied by many knock-knock jokes) make her realize that Nathan has indeed become possessed by a corgi. So begins the race to get the corgi out of Nathan before his parents realize what went wrong.

When I say that there is whimsy in this novel, I do mean a healthy dose. We, the readers, are not meant to question how and why Hazel the corgi decides to merge with Nathan; we merely remain amused with every instance he decides to show Hazel’s muzzle. The owner of the maybe-dead corgi seems checked out and is content to be rid of it, explaining that it was not even her corgi—well, corgi, chihuahua mix—to begin with. Then there is Nathan. It is quite easy to tell that he appropriately sees the world through the eyes of a six-year-old, happy to have a friend to play with and quite content with the situation Rose is panicking to undo.

Then there is Rose herself, with a lifestyle that is intriguing. Being vegan is an important part of her personality, including her slightly unstable company “Cultured Cow,” which is dedicated to selling artisanal vegan yogurt (there are a few vegan recipes sprinkled throughout the story, all free of “artery-clogging” cream). She is convinced that the sophistication of her choices stretches beyond what can be found on Craigslist, from getting antique toys for Nathan to having a Louis XV sofa. Her insistence on being close to Nathan and being present in his life for more than every Saturday causes conflict with Victor and Astrid, who think she is overstepping and a bad influence on Nathan. Seeing the story through her eyes reveals the internal motivations she struggles to communicate to the rest of the world. There is something almost childish about her view of life, despite the maturity she attempts to portray to the rest of the world. The dialogue, coupled with Rose’s way of explaining what she sees around her, is so subtly amusing that it makes the book such an engaging read.

There’s also the theme of loneliness beyond Rose’s inability to find someone capable of responding to a corgi crisis. Victor and his family are the only familial connection she has left, yet this relationship is so strained. She craves more time with Nathan, yet that time is limited. Her own pursuits, such as Cultured Cow, are failing. Her friends are few, and she struggles to maintain them. Her closest friend, Omar, at times struggles to connect with her, and she is forced to take Nathan’s principal’s advice and write an apology letter.

In fact, it’s these struggles that make this story realistic. They are never thrust in our faces, yet they guide Rose’s actions, causing her to be as unreliable as we see her to be. Despite the story being as hilarious as it is, there is enough sadness to ground the narrative, bringing this whimsical creation back to earth.

I didn’t expect to connect so much with a story such as this, yet it was a welcome surprise. “The Hitch” is a nearly perfect concoction, made up of a realistic filling inside a supernatural coating, a perfect addition to the bookshelf chocolate box!