A new wave of British literature is dramatically reshaping one of storytelling's oldest plots: the tale of infidelity. Moving beyond simple tales of betrayal, a generation of authors is using the framework of affairs to explore contemporary anxieties around monogamy, ageing, and the search for meaning.
The Polyamory Plot and the Millennial Throuple
This shift is evident in the mainstream success of what some are calling the 'throuple blockbuster'. The novels of Sally Rooney, particularly Conversations With Friends and Intermezzo, have brought complex, non-monogamous relationships to the centre of literary discussion. Similarly, Raven Leilani's acclaimed novel Luster delves into the messy reality of a young Black woman navigating a relationship with a man and his wife.
The theme has even echoed in the pop culture sphere. The public dissection of Lily Allen's marriage to actor David Harbour, and the tracks on her album West End Girl, highlighted a real-world fascination with the promises and pitfalls of open relationships. This cultural moment reflects a broader literary trend where polyamory is presented not just as scandal, but as an idealised—though often complicated—solution to the constraints of traditional monogamy.
Formal Innovation and Shifting Perspectives
Contemporary authors are matching these new themes with inventive narrative structures. Erin Somers's novel The Ten Year Affair employs a dual timeline that converges and diverges, using comedy to subvert classic affair tropes. Meanwhile, Andrew Miller's Booker-shortlisted The Land in Winter sets marital strife against the bleak backdrop of rural England in 1962, examining a society on the cusp of change.
Perhaps one of the most celebrated examples is Miranda July's All Fours, a novel that brilliantly ties a narrative about infidelity to the experience of perimenopause. Its protagonist's crisis, triggered by the fear of her declining sex drive, leads her on a strange journey that culminates in a thrillingly unexpected and dark romantic turn.
Judgement, Voyeurism and the Enduring Appeal
Not all new entries abandon moral scrutiny. Novels like Sarah Manguso's Liars and Catherine Lacey's The Möbius Book simmer with a palpable resentment towards cheating partners. However, as critic and author Lauren Elkin demonstrates in Scaffolding, there is a powerful alternative. Her novel, which interweaves the stories of two couples in a Parisian apartment across different decades, treats desire with serious, non-judgmental analysis, framing marital strife as an ordinary part of the human condition.
The enduring power of the infidelity plot may stem from voyeurism, but its current renaissance speaks to deeper concerns. Modern iterations increasingly centre women's voices, allowing them to be fallible, funny, and dynamic. They use the high-stakes framework of an affair—a shared home, children, a built life—to probe universal fears about longing, mortality, and the passage of time.
As one character in Scaffolding astutely notes, the most compelling part isn't the 'will they or won't they' but 'everything else around it.' As millennials navigate marriage and its challenges, this nuanced, formally adventurous exploration of fidelity is set to define the literary landscape for years to come.
