My Only Boy by Rosa Rankin-Gee review Rosa Rankin-Gee’s “My Only Boy” depicts a near-future England under a far-right populist government, grappling with climate disasters and a predatory gig economy that exploits desperate workers. The novel intertwines a confusing romance between Elle, a corporate communications director, and Ed, a gay author, with themes of corporate and government corruption. Despite its bleakness and a narrator whose morality is often questionable, the story offers sharp wit and brittle characters navigating a world where survival depends on exploitation and repression.

• The novel portrays a near-future England with a far-right populist government, worsening climate conditions, and a dominant gig economy.
• Elle, the protagonist, works for Gigr, a company that exploits vulnerable individuals by offering low-paid work through algorithms.
• A central plot involves the confusing romance between Elle and Ed, a newly successful gay author, which includes unexpected heterosexual experiences.
• The narrative explores themes of corporate and government corruption, labor law violations, and the psychological toll of living in a desperate society.
• The writing style is characterized by wit, brittleness, and dark humor, with a first-person perspective from Elle that challenges the reader’s sympathy.
• The novel explores the moral compromises characters make to survive and cope with societal decay.