Look Closer

Content Warning: This section briefly mentions racism, sexual assault, addiction, abuse, suicide, and violence.

Many aspects of the novel emphasize that appearances cannot be trusted. Every marriage portrayed in the novel involves some level of dissonance between the outward picture and the actual relationship. Simon and Vicky are only pretending to be married to enact revenge on Lauren and Christian/Nick. Ted Dobias is unfaithful to his wife, and Monica cheats on her husband and divorces him due to her addiction. Lauren Betancourt marries unhappily for money and lives apart from her wealthy, older husband. On the surface, these relationships appear to be picture perfect, but underneath they are all dysfunctional.

The theme is also emphasized by the novel’s title, which cautions readers to Look Closer. While it seems obvious from the beginning of the book that Simon and Vicky are deceiving each other, the twist reveals that the reader is also being deceived. Ironically, Simon and Vicky turn out to have a loving and stable, if very unconventional, relationship and are using the disguise of an unhappily married suburban couple to get revenge on Christian/Nick and Lauren. Christian/Nick and Lauren also rely on appearances to con their victims.