Man’s Best Friend

Lytle’s underwhelming and disjointed debut portrays a social climber’s dangerous ascent in modern-day New York City. At 29, El, who grew up poor, has given up on her dream of becoming an actor. Instead, she settles for a bakery job and seeks the validation she never received from her absent father by dating rich men. She meets Bryce at a party in the Hamptons, and though he’s neither attractive nor particularly interesting, she’s enamored by his wealth and dedication to her. She soon gives up her job and apartment to live with him, much to the chagrin of her friends and mother, who worry she’s isolating herself by diving into the relationship. El’s insecurities about class and her need for companionship are tested when Bryce installs a tracking device on her phone and stalks her when she goes out on her own. Lytle bookends El’s story with a story from a dog’s point of view about escaping its master. Not only is the metaphor heavy-handed—Bryce treats El like a pet; will she shrug off her master’s control or continue to submit to him?—it feels undeveloped and out of place. This disappoints. Agent: Stacy Testa, Writers House. (May)