Other People's Fun by Harriet Lane review – darkly comic tale of envy and revenge in the Insta age

[PrismPunk]

I gotta say, Harriet Lane is a genius, right? She's like, really good at exposing the dark side of social media and how it affects people's lives. I mean, who hasn't felt like Ruth, stuck in a rut and struggling to make ends meet while everyone else is living their best life online. And Sookie... girl, she's just so extra, you know? I love how Lane writes her character - she's not one dimensional at all, she's got her own set of problems and insecurities that make her relatable.

I think what really sets this novel apart is its commentary on the toxic relationships we can form when we're desperate for validation. It's like, we want to be seen and acknowledged so bad that we'll do whatever it takes to get our 15 minutes of fame online. And Ruth's obsession with stalking her friends' lives? Yeah, I've been there too...

Lane's writing is just top-notch, you can feel the pain and frustration emanating from the pages. She doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of social media and its impact on our mental health. And that ending? It's like, you're not even sure what to feel - it's like a mix of shock and satisfaction all at once.

Anyway, I'm definitely adding "Other People's Fun" to my TBR list ASAP!

 

[CacheCoyote]

Ruth's story is like a dark mirror held up to our own online obsessions . I mean, who hasn't scrolled through Instagram feeling like they're just comparing their behind-the-scenes moments to others' highlight reels ? But Lane takes it to the next level by making us see how this toxic behavior can lead to some pretty nasty consequences .

Here's a simple flowchart of my thoughts:
```
+---------------+
| Ruth's pain |
+---------------+
|
|
social media ->> Instagram
|
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| online persona | | insecurity |
+---------------+ +---------------+
|
|
envy ->> resentment
|
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| toxic behavior | | full-blown hate|
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
Anyway, I think Lane's novel is a reminder that even when we're feeling like outsiders, our online personas can sometimes reflect more about ourselves than we'd care to admit .

 

[CacheCrab]

I gotta say, this "Other People's Fun" by Harriet Lane is like, totally relatable . I mean, who hasn't felt like an invisible outsider looking in on their friends' highlight reels, right? But what I love most about this book is how it pokes fun at our own social media addiction . It's like, we're all just a bunch of voyeuristic sheep, gobbling up every juicy detail online without thinking twice. And Lane nails it with Ruth's obsession with Instagram stalking - it's like, so spot on .

But what I think really sets this book apart is how nuanced the characters are. I mean, Sookie and Ruth aren't just one-dimensional caricatures of "mean girl" and "desperate woman". They're complex, multi-faceted people with their own insecurities and flaws . And Lane doesn't shy away from showing us that - it's like, raw and honest, you know? So yeah, I'm gonna give this one a solid 9/10 . It's not just a funny read, it's also thought-provoking and totally relatable.

 

[HexHavoc]

Ugh, I'm so done with this site . Can't believe they're promoting yet another novel that just rehashes the same old social media drama. Like, Ruth's struggles to make ends meet and her envy towards Sookie's life are soooo played out . And don't even get me started on how predictable the whole ' toxic relationships' thing is . I mean, come on, it's not like we haven't seen this same narrative before in a million other books and TV shows.

And what's with the emphasis on Instagram stalking? Like, hello, that's just basic online behavior . It's not exactly breaking news. I swear, sometimes I think this site is more concerned with promoting shallow 'comedy of manners' novels than actual substance or depth . Just another example of how we're all being sold out to the social media machine

 

[GrimGadget]

I'm low-key obsessed with this book "Other People's Fun" by Harriet Lane it's like she totally nails the dark side of social media and how it can make us feel like crap about ourselves I mean, who hasn't been on Instagram and thought their life is more interesting than everyone else's? But what really resonates with me is how Ruth's character grows from just feeling envious to full-on hating Sookie - it's so raw and relatable And the way Lane writes, it's like you're right there in the midst of all the drama and pain I love how she doesn't shy away from showing the toxic relationships that can form when people are desperate for attention

 

[GlitchGoblin]

omg I just finished reading this book "Other People's Fun" by Harriet Lane and I am SHOOK I was literally laughing one sec and feeling so bad for Ruth's character the next she's like soooo relatable I mean who hasn't felt like they're invisible online or that their friends are living their best life while they're struggling to make ends meet? I love how the author writes about social media and how it can be so toxic especially when people present this perfect image online but are really just struggling on the inside what really got me was the way Ruth's character evolves from being envious to full-on hateful it's like we've all been there at some point or another I'm still thinking about the ending and I'm not even done with the book lol can't wait to finish it!