Banal Nightmare

Margaret Anne Yance returns to her Midwestern hometown not to find comfort, but to confront the ghosts of her youth—and the quiet desperation of a life unraveling. After escaping a draining decade in the city and ending a toxic relationship, she dives headfirst into the awkward rituals of old friendships now tinged with middle-aged restlessness, petty grudges, and unfulfilled dreams.

In Banal Nightmare, Halle Butler masterfully captures the sharp, darkly funny unraveling of a woman caught between who she was and who she’s become. As parties spiral into silent battles and an enigmatic artist stirs up buried tensions, loyalties fracture and secrets resurface, forcing Margaret—and everyone around her—to face the raw truth about their lives before it’s too late.

A brutally honest, painfully hilarious exploration of small-town stasis, fading youth, and the uneasy search for meaning in the everyday.