Lily Allen's Breakup Album Sparks Conversation on Infidelity
In her recent album West End Girl, Lily Allen tackles the sensitive topic of infidelity and its aftermath. Through a long phone call between Allen and her husband, fans drew parallels to her own marriage to David Harbour, which was reportedly marked by an open relationship that ultimately ended in hurt.
This theme is not new to literature, with authors exploring polyamory and infidelity in various works. Andrew Miller's Booker-shortlisted The Land in Winter delves into the complexities of a 1960s-era affair, while Miranda July's All Fours takes a more comedic approach to perimenopause and an unexpected road trip romance.
These novels demonstrate how infidelity can serve as a catalyst for exploring contemporary life, with its accompanying stakes – shared homes and families. Novels like Emily Adrian's Seduction Theory and Julia May Jonas's Vladimir offer satirical perspectives on the topic, while Raven Leilani's Luster provides a more intense portrayal of navigating multiple relationships.
More recent examples include Andrew Miller's The Land in Winter and Miranda July's All Fours, both offering unique takes on the genre. Liars by Sarah Manguso and The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey explore the anger and resentment that can accompany infidelity, but ultimately fail to offer a deeper perspective on the issue.
In contrast, Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding uses desire as a central theme and offers a more nuanced exploration of affairs within long-term relationships. By using a dual structure and weaving together narratives from different eras, Elkin presents the universality of these problems and their intractability.
This emerging trend of writing about domestic repression reflects changing societal values, particularly among millennials. Polyamory has emerged as an idealized solution to monogamy's shortcomings, but its complexities are also creating new problems. Novels like Scaffolding center women's experiences, showcasing their fallibility, humor, and dynamic nature.
Ultimately, the appeal of these novels may stem from a mix of voyeurism and evolving perspectives on longing, aging, and mortality. As one character in Scaffolding remarks, "The most interesting part of infidelity isn't will they or won't they – it's everything else around it."
In her recent album West End Girl, Lily Allen tackles the sensitive topic of infidelity and its aftermath. Through a long phone call between Allen and her husband, fans drew parallels to her own marriage to David Harbour, which was reportedly marked by an open relationship that ultimately ended in hurt.
This theme is not new to literature, with authors exploring polyamory and infidelity in various works. Andrew Miller's Booker-shortlisted The Land in Winter delves into the complexities of a 1960s-era affair, while Miranda July's All Fours takes a more comedic approach to perimenopause and an unexpected road trip romance.
These novels demonstrate how infidelity can serve as a catalyst for exploring contemporary life, with its accompanying stakes – shared homes and families. Novels like Emily Adrian's Seduction Theory and Julia May Jonas's Vladimir offer satirical perspectives on the topic, while Raven Leilani's Luster provides a more intense portrayal of navigating multiple relationships.
More recent examples include Andrew Miller's The Land in Winter and Miranda July's All Fours, both offering unique takes on the genre. Liars by Sarah Manguso and The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey explore the anger and resentment that can accompany infidelity, but ultimately fail to offer a deeper perspective on the issue.
In contrast, Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding uses desire as a central theme and offers a more nuanced exploration of affairs within long-term relationships. By using a dual structure and weaving together narratives from different eras, Elkin presents the universality of these problems and their intractability.
This emerging trend of writing about domestic repression reflects changing societal values, particularly among millennials. Polyamory has emerged as an idealized solution to monogamy's shortcomings, but its complexities are also creating new problems. Novels like Scaffolding center women's experiences, showcasing their fallibility, humor, and dynamic nature.
Ultimately, the appeal of these novels may stem from a mix of voyeurism and evolving perspectives on longing, aging, and mortality. As one character in Scaffolding remarks, "The most interesting part of infidelity isn't will they or won't they – it's everything else around it."
and i'm still reeling from the emotional depth she pours into these songs. her personal life aside, what resonates with me is how these stories about infidelity can be so... humanizing? we're all just trying to figure out love and relationships in our own ways, right?
what about david harbour tho? some ppl think he and lily had an open relationship but idk about that 
anyway, i read this book "scaffolding" by lauren elkin and it was SO good 
she writes about desire and affairs in long-term relationships and it's like she gets the whole thing 
. It's not just about cheating, but also about the societal expectations, the desires, and the consequences that come with them 
. Like, have you seen the stats on relationships in 2025? 40% of millennials are in open relationships, and it's on the rise 
! And then there's the whole polyamory vs monogamy debate... I mean, did you know that the average person has around 4-6 intimate partners in their lifetime 
?! It's all about perspective & understanding each other's needs 
. Anyway, I think these novels are offering a fresh take on this topic, and it's so relevant to our times 
. It's crazy to see how relatable these stories are, even if you haven't been in a situation like that yourself 
. I mean, who hasn't had those feelings of uncertainty or hurt after something goes wrong? 
. It's not just about the cheating itself, but what happens before and after, and how that affects everyone involved 
. I love that they're putting a spotlight on women's experiences and emotions – it's so important to hear those stories 
.
. We're becoming more accepting of non-monogamous relationships, but at the same time, we're realizing that these things aren't always easy or straightforward 
. I think that's why this conversation is so interesting – it's forcing us to think about what we want from our relationships and how we can navigate the complexities 
i mean, who doesn't love a good trainwreck? but seriously, what's up with the fascination with this topic? like, isn't it just painful and messy? 