Other People's Fun

A Novel

By: Harriet Lane

Narrated by: Clare Corbett

A chance encounter draws two old classmates toward an unforgettable reckoning in this "very smart and darkly funny" novel exploring power—and how it tangles with privilege, marriage, motherhood, and midlife—from the acclaimed author of Alys, Always, and Her (Flynn Berry, author of Northern Spy).

"I look. I can’t stop looking. That’s the deal, isn’t it? We all know that’s how it works. If someone wants to be seen—and oh, how they want to be seen—then someone has to watch."

Ruth is alone, unnoticed, and at a loss: her marriage has ended, her daughter is leaving home, and her job is leading nowhere.

But luckily Sookie is back in her life–vivid, self-assured Sookie, who never spared the time for Ruth when they were teenagers, but who now seems to want to be friends. But as Ruth is caught up in Sookie’s life, she sees that everything is not as Instagrammable as Sookie would have you believe. As the truth about Sookie becomes clearer, so too does the choice Ruth will have to make.

Unputdownable, spiky, and subtle, Other People’s Fun is a novel about modern life, from the little lies we tell our neighbors, friends, families, and ourselves to the hall of mirrors that is social media. Filled with Harriet Lane’s trademark creeping unease and forensic observation, this page-turner considers how desperately we want others to see us as we are—and what happens when they finally do.

Critic reviews

“Thrilling, sharp, and hugely interesting. Like Jean Rhys and Patricia Highsmith, Harriet Lane writes with a gripping, inexorable sense of tension. Other People’s Fun is very smart and darkly funny, a brilliant take on displacement, envy, and artifice. I couldn’t put it down.”—Flynn Berry, author of Northern Spy

“Spiky and atmospheric. A smartly-observed meditation on self-presentation and female friendships.”—Sarah Harman, author of All the Other Mothers Hate Me

“The perfect lesson in backstabbing. Bitchy, sly, and twisty—what a ride.”—Claire Fuller, author of The Memory of Animals

“Brilliant, clever, such a pleasure to read . . . Her writing is as sharp as a scalpel and her judgement is savage (this is not a criticism).”—Marian Keyes, author of My Favorite Mistake

“Chilling, witty, and unputdownable—a superb revenge drama that peels away the facades of social media.”—Lissa Evans, author of Old Baggage

PRAISE FOR HER

"[A] meticulously observed domestic drama."--New Yorker

"[Lane] joins the ranks of a new generation of female suspense novelists...who are redefining contemporary crime fiction with character-driven narratives that defy genre conventions."--The New York Times

"The end...is perfectly executed, leaving you at the most excruciating moment possible-when a horrible thing is about to happen and there is nothing you, or any of characters, can do to stop it, save read as fast as you can until the words run out at that last, crucial moment."--Oprah.com

"Brilliant.... As the number of pages left in HER dwindles, you may find yourself wondering if Lane has given herself enough room to wrap the story up satisfactorily. Trust me, she has."--Washington Post

"Through measured prose and crisp, penetrating descriptions, Lane unfurls a chilling tale that begs you to peek at the last page-if only you could pull yourself away from the present."--Entertainment Weekly (Rated 'A')

Wicked and Keenly Observed

This skewering of toxic society ladies and middle aged mean girls is a compelling slow burner with real bite. Especially for lovers of schadenfreude and keenly observed relationships. Actions have consequences, darling…