The following version of this novel was used to create the guide: Vlautin, Willy. The Night Always Comes. HarperCollins, 2021.

In Willy Vlautin's novel The Night Always Comes, 30-year-old Lynette was desperate to fulfill her dream of buying her childhood home. After making the plan with her mother, Doreen, Lynette began working tirelessly to save money. For three years, she worked as a baker, a bartender, and an escort, while attending school, and helping her mother care for her developmentally disabled brother, Kenny.

Then one day, Lynette came home to discover her mother had purchased a new car. Doreen explained that she no longer wanted to buy the house. The house was a trap, and a symbol of everything she had suffered and lost. Lynette was furious, but tried begging her mother to see how foolish it would be to abandon their plan. No matter how honest Lynette was with Doreen, Doreen would not bend. She reminded Lynette about the way she used to be, insisting that she had not changed at all. Lynette was frustrated that her mother thought she was the same angry and depressed person. Though she had run away as a child, and suffered with depression and suicidal ideations for years, she had done a lot of work to change. Doreen ignored her daughter, lighting another cigarette and burrowing into the couch in front of the television.

Lynette tried composing herself, and got ready for her evening shift at the bar. However, during the shift, she was formulating a new plan. She fixed herself up afterwards, and drove to a downtown hotel. When she first started saving for the house, she began working as an escort. She was meeting one of her clients at the hotel bar. She confessed that she needed his help with investing. The man refused. After having sex, Lynette stole the key to his Mercedes, took the car, and parked it on a dark street.

Afterwards, she drove to her coworker Gloria's apartment. She needed Gloria to pay her back the money she had loaned her. Gloria insisted she was broke and refused. Lynette noticed Gloria's safe in the corner, and asked if she could stay the night since Gloria would be out. Gloria gave her the key and agreed.

Lynette then drove back to the Dutchman, where she asked another coworker, Cody, for help with a burglary. She needed someone who knew about robberies, to help her take and open Gloria's safe. Cody eventually agreed. After they procured the object, they drove it to an auto repair shop. Cody knew the owner, Kansas, and thought he could help them open it. While there, Kansas became greedy and violent. Lynette and Cody escaped just in time. They managed to recover the cash, jewelry, and drugs from the safe that Kansas had tried to take.

Lynette then agreed to sell Cody the Mercedes. When they arrived at the car, Cody became just as greedy and violent as Kansas had been. Lynette managed to escape, and later reported Cody to the police.

Afterwards, Lynette stopped at the Original Hotcake House, where she considered what to do. She felt ashamed of herself, and knew her grandfather, and her ex, Jack, would not be proud of who she had become. She decided to get rid of the drugs via another old friend, JJ. JJ proved similarly untrustworthy, and disrupted Lynette's attempt at levelheadedness. After leaving, she stopped at the truck stop. This spot also evoked memories. Lynette sat and recalled her long relationship with Jack. She knew she was to blame for the relationship's devolution.

After trying to sell the drugs to JJ's friend, Rodney, Lynette finally returned home. She talked to Doreen again, explaining herself once more. She apologized for all the hurt she had caused her, and thanked her for all she had done for her. Doreen still did not change her mind about the house.

Eventually Lynette decided to discard all of her old belongings and leave town. Her coworker, Shirley, gave her a car, and encouraged her to start a new life outside Portland and her family. Lynette said goodbye to her mother and brother, and drove into the dark.