Book Review: Alice on a Friday Night

Reviewed by Erin Britton

A captivating glimpse into the life of an enigmatic and rebellious young woman in search of purpose and belonging

Alice on a Friday Night by Dessi Nikko, featuring striking illustrations by Diana Naneva, is a provocative story that offers a sometimes mind-bending glimpse into the turbulent life of the eponymous Alice. 

“I’m Alice. But Alice in reverse. First I shattered all the mirrors I could find in the Looking-Glass World. Then I crashed into Wonderland, eager to meet every mad hatter, every shade of insanity, and creep through seven years of bad luck for every mirror I’d broken.” 

Alice is a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads in life, working at a bar to make ends meet while fervently seeking a more unique and fulfilling path. “I don’t know if the crisis of being 24 is an officially recognized thing, but that’s definitely what I’m going through. […] I plan for the past, all the while regretting the tremendous mistakes I might make in the future.” While Alice hopes that such preoccupations at a relatively young age might eventually save her from a midlife crisis, she nevertheless tempers them with more common worries: what to wear, how to behave, who to impress, etc.

Despite the big issues at stake, most of these worries might seem like the typical concerns of youth, except what sets Alice apart from most others of her generation is her insatiable curiosity, which she applies with near-scientific precision in an attempt to understand other people. “I thought stereotypes were bullshit. I thought people were the same everywhere. But then I saw for myself. Even if we’re all born the same, our environment is a great influence too.” Still, for all her observational prowess, Alice is determined to be an active participant in life, eagerly plunging into the depths of human experiences, even those recognized to be dark and tumultuous.  

Aside from the day-to-day, the odd, and the criminally adjacent, Nikko’s exploration of this particular period of Alice’s life involves consideration of a host of addictions, ranging from the relatively benign allure of love and compulsion to comprehend human behavior to the far more harrowing issues of drug and alcohol dependency and eating disorders. Each addiction serves as a portal to a distinct world and Alice, in her role as unwitting guide, ventures fearlessly into these uncharted territories. But all as Alice muses, “will I ever find my way out of the dark rabbit hole?”

Here, Nikko skillfully and generally sympathetically peels back the many layers of life that have led to—and continue to drive—these addictions, unflinchingly exposing the complex and often destructive situations that they can create. In fact, Alice on a Friday Night is unapologetic in its exploration of the dark and troubling aspects of life, addressing them head-on through the experiences of Alice and those around her. As Nikko doesn’t shy away from the gritty and raw moments, the story packs an emotional punch. 

As the novel unfolds, Alice experiences a rollercoaster ride through wild parties, periods of depression, trips down memory lane, encounters with peculiar characters, and much procrastination regarding her dream of being a writer. However, despite her adventurous spirit, engaging personality, and insatiable curiosity, Alice continually grapples with the belief that she doesn’t quite fit in anywhere. This feeling of displacement is a recurrent theme throughout the novel, adding an additional layer of complexity to her character.

Nikko also introduces a rich cast of supporting characters who all have profound impacts on Alice’s outlook, both for the good and for the bad. From “savage siren” Annie to “exceptionally helpful” slum landlady Señora Rosario and adorable nurse sex doll Sister Chelsea (“big smile, big tits, big everything”), these individuals—both real and imagined—are as peculiar and compelling as Alice herself, providing an ever-shifting background of ideas, thoughts, and emotions for her to contemplate. These relationships contribute to the intricate tapestry that Nikko weaves in revealing the mundanities and peculiarities of Alice’s life.

Moreover, as Alice’s life takes unpredictable and often chaotic turns, the novel’s form and pace reflect the turbulent nature of her journey. Nikko presents Alice’s exploits in an evocative and often thought-provoking manner, balancing the darker and more explosive elements of the story with moments of surprising insight and introspection. While far from perfect, Alice’s world is certainly captivating, drawing attention and triggering reflection on real-world relationships and experiences.

In Alice on a Friday Night, Nikko has crafted a compelling and emotionally charged story that explores the multifaceted nature of addiction and the human compulsion to seek both meaning and connection. It offers a gripping and unflinching portrayal of a young woman’s tempestuous journey through life, thereby illuminating the microcosm of the individual, the macrocosm of humanity as a whole, and the fact that it is impossible for a person not to influence and be influenced in turn.

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