Rosa Rankin-Gee’s latest novel, *My Only Boy*, presents a near-future dystopia marked by political upheaval and social decay. Set in a society grappling with the consequences of climate crisis and rampant inequality, the story follows Elle, a communications director for Gigr, a company facilitating on-demand shift work. The narrative opens with Elle attending a party mourning the election of a far-right populist government, setting a bleak tone for the deteriorating social landscape that underpins the novel.

In this vision of the future, exhaustion and poverty are pervasive, with workers often juggling precarious Gigr shifts after public sector jobs fail to provide a living wage. The company’s algorithm pays individuals the minimum they will accept based on their circumstances, illustrating a widening economic divide. As environmental conditions worsen—marked by increasing heat, pollution, and erratic weather—the wealthy grow richer while the majority confront shorter, harsher lives. These pressures manifest in escalating violence and social unrest.

Elle’s personal story intersects with broader societal tensions through her relationship with Ed, a younger writer who gains sudden acclaim for a gay love story and becomes a symbol of threatened LGBTQ+ rights. Their initially playful but politically charged interaction leads to a surprising romantic connection that challenges Elle’s long-held self-identification as lesbian. Further complicating matters, Elle embarks on an affair with a younger colleague, Luisa, who also reports directly to her, intensifying the ethical and professional conflicts central to the plot.

The novel’s driving forces are this tangled web of romance and corporate-government corruption, which together illuminate systemic injustices. Elle’s increasingly questionable decisions—including violations of labor laws and human rights—position her as both a flawed and morally ambiguous figure. The story is primarily told through Elle’s first-person perspective, a choice that demands readers engage with a complicated narrator whose actions invite both empathy and criticism.

Rankin-Gee’s writing style captures the sharp wit and cynical survival tactics of a brittle social circle, marked by humor, repression, and coping mechanisms such as alcohol. While this dynamic injects energy and dark comedy into the narrative, some readers may find the tone unrelenting as the plot progresses, with the interplay of darkness and humor sometimes diluting the impact of the novel’s themes. A late turn toward emotional warmth feels somewhat incongruous within the established style.

*My Only Boy* explores political and environmental crises through the lens of personal and corporate entanglements, offering a sharp, if challenging, depiction of a society on the brink.