When Life Gives You Lululemons

The Greenwich, Connecticut, setting is a symbol of Privilege and Hypocrisy in Suburban Elite Culture. Located in Fairfield County, the town is defined by its wealthy community, palatial homes, and close proximity to New York City. On its surface, the place seems idyllic, quiet, and welcoming. However, the longer the main characters—Emily Charlton, Miriam Kagan, and Karolina Hartwell—are there, the more dubious the culture and people seem. Although everyone is vocal about their disdain for Karolina after her arrest, Emily insists that the county has “more functioning alcoholics per square foot than anywhere in the world except maybe Moscow” (259). The community also poses as liberal, but the characters discover through their research, many people “secretly vote Republican” (259). Some of the citizens may be generous and hospitable, but Emily, Miriam, and Karolina quickly learn that few Greenwich inhabitants will do anything that “goes against their own financial interests” (260).

These hypocritical behaviors underscore the exclusive nature of affluent suburban communities like Greenwich. The author embraces satire, hyperbole, and humor throughout the novel to underscore how wealth can breed inauthenticity. Nearly every woman in the town believes her husband is cheating on her.