Seeing Other People (Diana Reid, Ultimo)

Eleanor and Charlie are sisters in their 20s, emerging from the pandemic and trying to decide what they want from their lives. Intellectual, straitlaced Eleanor has just broken up with her boyfriend and turns to her sister for comfort. Charismatic, empathetic Charlie is used to being taken care of, and while she effortlessly charms those around her, she is full of doubts about her career as an actor. Charlie eagerly welcomes Eleanor—who is used to being the responsible one, caretaker and peacemaker—into her bohemian world. As the sisters’ circles begin to overlap, it leaves them both questioning: what if your happiness comes at someone else’s expense? Diana Reid’s close third-person narration captures every gesture and thought, creating a strong sense of interiority for all her characters. She effortlessly documents the process of watching, the awareness of being watched, and the split-second analysis of social interactions. Like a more bubbly Sally Rooney, Reid’s work is full of interactions and interconnections, sex and conversations, friends and family. Part romance, part social commentary and part family saga, Seeing Other People questions what we owe each other and what we owe ourselves. This charming, insightful and clever follow-up to Love & Virtue is an immensely readable novel that explores the bonds of family, friendship and principle.

Fay Helfenbaum is a freelance writer and editor and was a bookseller for five years.

Category: Reviews