This debut novel by Charlotte Runcie is a smart and witty look at the world of the arts, art criticism, and viral fame that also touches on the challenges of finding balance between private and professional life.
Set during the Edinburgh Fringe Arts Festival, the story starts when Alex Lyons, a well-known and notoriously harsh newspaper theater critic, submits a savage one-star review of a one-woman show—then spends the night with its creator, Hayley Sinclair, without first telling her that he’d publicly trashed her show. What follows is a whirlwind of revenge performance art and viral media chaos, told through the eyes of Sophie, a junior writer caught in the middle.
For me, this was a compelling read—I enjoyed feeling as if I were sitting with my popcorn looking on as this captivating drama unfolded in other people’s lives. It might have been a bit of a guilty pleasure, but the excellent writing and consideration of thought-provoking moral questions alleviated that.
This would be a great pick for book clubs or anyone who enjoys fiction that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.
