Other People's Fun is a story about Ruth, a woman at a tough spot in her life. Her marriage is ending, her daughter's about to leave home, and she's never liked her job. To make things more interesting, Ruth reconnects with Sookie, a woman from her past who used to ignore her, but now wants to be friends.

What starts as a weird friendship then shows some serious problems. Ruth is drawn to Sookie's flashy social media life, but soon realizes things aren't as great as they seem. Ruth has to figure out her own life while dealing with the changing dynamics of her friendships, all while trying to reconcile what's real versus what people expect.

It's a touching story about Ruth's life, especially as she reinvents herself after feeling lonely. Her friendship with Sookie makes her question who she is and what she wants. Sookie’s sure of herself and sort of mysterious. Plus, she pushes Ruth to see beyond the surface. Lane paints Ruth's inner thoughts, her doubts, regrets, and hopes, really well. The side characters add depth, showing a modern world full of tricky, unspoken feelings.

This book fits right in with today's world as it explores how fake images rarely match reality, especially on social media, where fun is edited but doesn't always hit hard. It gets into the stress of keeping up a perfect online life and how anxious it makes people. Themes like worrying about getting older, how shaky friendships can be, and lying to yourself appear throughout the story, reflecting what society thinks about being real.

Harriet Lane's writing is sharp and observant, and she balances humor and discomfort well. The mood changes between normal and unsettling, just like Ruth's thoughts. While you mostly see things from Ruth's perspective, you get Sookie’s view every now and then. The story is slow-paced, letting psychological elements grow naturally instead of huge revelations. It urges readers to really observe small moments of discomfort and exploration.

Other People's Fun feels empathetic, adding a certain distance. The narrative asks us to look at the curated lives we observe online and the masks we wear. To expose the underbelly is the promise of loneliness, whilst pondering on friendships among adults and the question of self-identity is quite the issue. The feeling hangs in familiarity, but a scarcely audible tension keeps the reader connected.

Other People's Fun is great at mixing normal life with a strange sense of unease, creating a familiar yet uncomfortable vibe. Some readers might find the pacing slow and the ambiguity difficult. The book doesn't have a clear ending or exciting conclusion, which might disappoint those who want a clear resolution and speed. Still, this ambiguity makes the book special; it represents the ignorance and subtle ways we deal with trust and truth in this relationship.

Overall, Other People's Fun maps out identity, friendship, and the gap between image and reality with insight and care. It asks its readers to really think about their own social world and maybe recognize some uncomfortable truths behind what they see every day.