Look at Us is about a couple who are well-educated, have good jobs, and live in NYC with their two children and au pair. The parents live life on the surface and lack depth. They are in a crisis, albeit a quiet, unassuming one that goes unrecognized by friends and colleagues. Toma uses his characters to illustrate the darkly held secrets hidden behind closed doors. From racial and culturally charged thoughts to predatory sexual behavior, Toma brings to light a chilling reality that is unsettling.
This book is not for the light-hearted. While it is not filled
with physical violence, there is an underlying sense of psychological violence
that keeps the reader engaged and horrified by the actions of its protagonists.
The protagonists’ lives are experienced from a distance by both their peers and
the reader, which creates a palpable tension. Toma’s writing style is fluid and,
despite the subject matter, often beautiful.
