⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Rachel Connolly proves the “messy girl” trope can still shine with some nuance and empathy. 

Lazy City follows Erin, an au pair (a title she reluctantly accepts) taking a break from school due to a major loss in her life. Erin drinks, meanders, thinks about her future, and slowly ponders the effects of her loss. She does this with a sobering and often humorless clarity (despite rarely being sober). 

I particularly enjoyed how in control she appears to be from the outside, something the messy girl trope often fails to achieve in its own goofiness. Erin binge drinks and does drugs, but there’s nothing particularly cool or out of control about it. She’s simply lost, and it seems her peers are as well in their own different ways. If they recognize her grief, they don’t know how to openly talk about it. When one acquaintance bluntly reveals important information, she squirms, but recognizes the possibility of a deeper friendship. I loved her internal voice and the quiet way she shifts forward. It’s a slice of life story that feels deeply real. I enjoyed it’s quiet moments, but also the vivid portrayal of Irish friendships and dynamics. I think fans of Fleabag and Sally Rooney will find a lot to love here.