The latest novel from acclaimed British author John Lanchester, Look What You Made Me Do is an enthralling, entertaining dark comedy. Set in London, we are first introduced to Kate, whose apparently comfortable life is punctured by the sudden death of her husband. In a parallel narrative, Phoebe – an outwardly successful screenwriter – is surfing a wave of triumph following the launch of her new TV series Cheating.
When Kate recognises elements from her own life appearing in the show, she begins to question the foundations of her relationship, resulting in extreme consequences for both women. There’s a generational gap between the two protagonists, but – in due course – a fierce sense of justice, masked by revenge and impacted by secrets and betrayal.
Lanchester reaffirms his rep as a masterful storyteller with LWYMMD: as the plot develops and we learn more about the characters’ past, the level of entertainment escalates and becomes a clever and witty satire. There’s some class politics in play too, with high-profile celebrity chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi and Cotswolds members club the Soho Farmhouse getting skewered along the way.
I’ve been transfixed by Lanchester’s storytelling in the past, with Capital and The Wall, and his latest novel matches them in terms of form and flow. The perfect combination of humour and escapism, this is one to enjoy in a sitting – and would be well suited to a TV adaptation.
