On this occasion this book wasn’t for me. I found this book a very angry book rallying about things that are wrong with the world and the UK, Brexit, sexism and racism. I appreciate that these things are all important but I think I needed something more fictional at the moment so a case of wrong time wrong place for me.

I have to say I thought I would love this book and I was not at all disappointed. More than just an interesting read The Grand Scheme of Things does a great job at highlighting the racism, sexism and classism views held in some forms of medium, namely this time in the theatre.

Jay’s characters are both interesting but I absolutely adored Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, hereafter referred to as Eddie. She was so well rounded, interesting and ultimately fun. I also did like Hugo Lawernce Smith but not as much I must admit. That said the dynamic between the two in the novel was something I did enjoy.

That said I also really enjoyed the writing style and pacing both of which made the novel incredibly readable and most importantly enjoyable. I also loved that the novel had a purpose. While, yes, it’s a fun and enjoyable read it has meaning behind it as well. If you are looking for an enjoyable read with wonderful characters that examines the racism and sexism still found in a lot of ‘traditional’ publishing mediums you will love this one.

As always thank you to Footnote Press for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.

I was a bit worried this was going to be a bit too much like Yellowface but it turned out to be quite different.

There was a lot I liked about this. I liked the set up, I liked the characters, I liked the theatre world.

I really wanted a bit more about Eddie’s relationship with Blue which I felt was dashed over too quickly, and towards the end as the conceit starts to unravel I felt the narrative struggled to keep up too.

But I really enjoyed this one. It’s great fun and will be a great book for discussion!

4 stars

This was an engaging, well written novel with a nicely constructed plot. It had an important premise, that opportunities for minorities are limited compared to those for a white man. This is supported from a non fiction books like everyday sexism by Laura Bates which details many instances where professions are dominated by men, especially if they are white. More than that, the book points out that this prejudice is there even among people who profess to be non discriminatory, making this a worthwhile and important read.

I struggled a bit with this as I found the actions of the main protagonist difficult to believe. I enjoyed it overall and was invested in the characters, just struggled with the initial premise

An exploration of structural racism and the class system in the UK theatre world. Naledi (or Eddie, for short), a talented young woman trying to get a play noticed and publisher. Hugo is a young man with all the attributes of economic privilege, great (private) education, and strong familial links in the publishing industry. When Naledi struggles to get noticed she comes up with a crazy idea of having Hugo front the play, and prove, once and for all, how structurally discriminatory the theatre world actually is. Things spiral out of control quickly, and we see lies begetting lies, and causing upheaval in the lives of our protagonists.

The book is an interesting angle on an age-old problem. It's a modern take on the issue of racism in theatre and arts, and benefits from very strong and vibrant characters, and an apologetic in-your-face depiction of how racism affects its victims. I particularly liked Naledi's depiction. I don't know how much the author intended this outcome, but Naledi came across, at least to me, as somewhat of psychotic sociopath, and her decisions and behaviours were amusing and disturbing at the same time.

While an interesting concept, and solid writing, I didn't think there was anything special about this book. Firstly, I struggle with rage novels. While the issues are obviously important and painful, and the is no argument about the awful effects of structural (covert) racism, I dislike it when it's all presented in a black and white way (excuse the pun), with few shades of grey. A quick scan of the characters reveals all white upper middle class British people as self-conceited villains (who, at best, have a messiah complex), while all minorities and Brits from poorer backgrounds (or Liverpool) are oppressed but essentially well meaning and good.

The other thing I disliked is the ending. I don't want to spoil it, but I would have expected something more gruesome and tragic. The ending felt forced and, in my view, was the least believable part of the story. It's a shame. Some inspiration from Shakespeare would have been amazing here.

Finally, overall it felt rushed and immature. The writing came across as jittery and lacking emotional depth and complexity. The dialogues, the relationships, and the backstories were just too simplistic, and character development, while not entirely missing, was superficial.

Overall - I'd say it's a miss. There's nothing here that stands out, and, frankly, if you want to explore the irony of how the publishing or theatre world works, Yellowface is that much better. The author clearly has talent, but this book is a bit like an unripe fruit. You see what it could have become, but maybe the author needs a few more years of experience.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is a long and rambling story, which begins with an interesting conceit even if it is a little contrived. Hugo Smith, bored with his job in the city, meets up with Eddie in a café. Eddie, also known as Naledi Moruakgomo, is a frustrated playwright who faces constant rejections. So, Hugo masquerades as the author of her play, Great Belonging, which goes on to win awards and critical success.

It’s kind of a good idea and it highlights the difficulties faced by writers from any culture without a track record but the story then goes off into a series of complicated subplots involving other people and loses its way.

Worse still, all of the chapters are told in the second person so Hugo writes about Eddie as ‘you’ and Eddie writes about Hugo. It kind of mirrors the deceit but it limits insights and is sometimes simply downright confusing.

In the end, the plot is revealed, the awards are given back and Eddie finds fame in magazine journalism but it’s been a difficult ride with odd diversions. Having said that I think that some readers, sympathetic to the content, will love it.

Naledi, or Eddie, is by all accounts due to be a brilliant playwright. She finished uni top of her class and has since written a play that she thinks is excellent. Unfortunately she just can’t seem to get anywhere with agents.

One afternoon she meets Hugo in a cafe & the two get to talking about theatre. A year later they reconnect via social media and hatch a plan to get Eddie’s play onto the stage.

Eddie is convinced that her non-white name is causing the majority white agents to not even give her play a second look. Which, deeply believable. A great irony when the play is about the immigrant experience. She asks that Hugo pretend the play is his own to see if it is accepted. It is. And it’s successful. Then things spiral.

The premise of this sounds so excellent! I just don’t think if the execution lived up. It feels like a good portion in the middle of the book goes nowhere? They end up with the successful play and what? Kind of blow up their own lives instead of exposing the theatre world? To me it was gravely unsatisfying.

I also did not like the writing style. It isn’t epistolary but it’s told from Eddie & Hugo’s perspectives as though they are writing to each other? I thought it was quite distracting. Really sad I didn’t love this as much as I’d hoped!

Eddie is a brilliant playwright. But in 2017 London, being a black woman closes every door in her face. Hugo is white, rich, and bored. When they strike up an unlikely friendship, they hatch a scheme to bring the theatre world to its knees: Hugo will claim Eddie's play as his own, and watch as he's offered every opportunity she wasn't. But nothing is ever that simple.

I loved the premise of this book and for the first 50% was completely engrossed. The characters felt completely believable and I couldn't wait to see what happened. But then I felt like it completely fizzled out... (minor spoiler) the play is put on and then... nothing happens? They seem to have no further plan and I cannot understand what Eddie wants to get out of this or how she lets things continue. What is the goal? It goes from being a propulsive exploration of race in theatre to just watching her wait around for an argument that never really starts. I was really disappointed by the end of this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I found this to be very slow and dull until about half way through. It does pick up a bit then but all in all I did not enjoy it very much.

I did not like the writing style, the story is told by both Eddie and Hugo but each one writes as if they are directly addressing the other one. To me their voices were indistinguishable and I could not always get immediately who was the narrator and who was the "you".. I found all the characters rather flat. There is a lot of deception and betrayal but it all seemed rather unlikely and mundane to me.

It is possible that I have missed the point of the book so I will put my 2.5 up to 3.

Eddie and Hugo are physical opposites but they make a powerful team that gets Eddie's work published and produced and Hugo onto the stage. And then....This is told from both of their perspectives. It's very much about prejudice in the arts world and, unfortunately, it's being published in the immediate wake of By Any Other Name which is focused on misogyny in the world of the stage. Jay has created two very good characters, has a distinctive and incisive writing style, and has made me eager to read more. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

An interesting premise for a novel: what happens if a piece of work that becomes famous under one name turns out to be the work of someone else? This book is not that simple, obviously.

Naledi is a playwright. She has sent her work to the famous Wentworth Agency under an assumed name believing that sending it under her own name (Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo) is getting her nowhere. However once the agent Helen Hunter, meets Naledi she soon changes her mind about the play being good.

At her wits end Naledi asks an acquaintance, Hugo Lawrence Smith, to pretend the play is his. Her aim is to prove that the agency and wider theatre world is biased. Of course once the play wins a prestigious award things spiral out of control and Naledi is in danger of losing everything.

I thoroughly enjoyed 95% of this book. The characters are excellent - even if most of them aren't particularly likeable. I certainly railed enough at Hugo, Naledi and Nahid during the course of the narrative.

There was just one part of it that didn't ring true regarding Naledi's relationship with her girlfriend, Blue, after the award has been won. I simply didn't believe Naledi's reaction towards someone she purported to love. However that was the only part that grated.

Warona Jay is an author new to me but I will look out for more of her work in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Warona Jay's debut is a real 'heart versus head' novel. It is a detailed examination of a person, Eddie- Relebogile Moruakgomo- trying to break into the world of theatre as a playwright. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with the quintessential Hugo Lawrence Smith. Following multiple rejections of her play under her own name, she works with Hugo and they submit the play using his name. Needless to say, there are consequences, good and bad. A great expose into the clashes of gender, race and class. It is well written and a real insight into the struggles of a young artist. Warona Jay is one to watch.

Due to health issues cannot write a proper review now even if I enjoyed this book as it's well written, thought provoking, and compelling
A more extensive and proper review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was kindly gifted me a copy of The Grand Scheme of Things and I whizzed through it; several times I turned to my fiancé and gasped “oh this is JUICY!”. The plot is propulsive, taking the reader to unexpected places.
Relegobile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo - aka Eddie - is sick of being shafted by the theatre industry; after years of hard graft and sacrifice, her play is still being rejected left, right and centre. And so she enlists her white male friend, Hugo Lawrence-Smith to submit her play under his name. Eddie meets Hugo by chance in a coffee shop - he is a wealthy, privileged white boy who wants to shake off a dull legal career as well as his parent’s expectations. He takes a shine to Eddie and a friendship forms between the two. And so, when Eddie suggests Hugo be the face of Eddie’s play, it seems like a perfect ploy to expose the racism and hypocrisy of the theatre world. Shenanigans ensue!

Warona Jay’s voice is sharp, fresh and fearless; she packs an awful lot into this little book, from the racism & classism of the theatre industry to sexuality and coming out. The novel fizzes with energy and, at times, anger, which for me really helped me connect to two characters so unlike myself. It’s also very funny and a couple of times, I laughed out loud - usually at the acerbic wit of Eddie.

A few things didn’t work for me - the ending, set several years after the rest of the novel, felt a little too pat, and I would have liked Hugo to have been written with a little more complexity as a character. Both himself and Eddie show themselves to be distinctly unlikeable in different ways as the novel progresses, but I found myself whispering “good for her” in Eddie’s sections and wincing in Hugo’s.

If you liked Dominoes by Phoebe Mackintosh or Yellowface by RF Kuang, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s exciting, engaging and gave me plenty of food for thought; it’s a really fresh and exciting debut that I’ll be recommending widely.

A very refreshing debut from Warona with an interesting plotline and characters. The book follows playwright Eddie who is originally from Africa and living in London. She keeps getting rejected when sending off her most recent play and has a suspicion its due to her name and being a woman of colour. When she meets 22 year old white Hugo she persuades him to take on the play in his name, which he does and immediately it becomes a success winning awards and being a sell out show. The book focuses on relationships, lies and friendships and takes us through the years after the show debuts with topics such as racism , adultery and secrets discussed. I didn't really like Eddie as a character if I am honest, she comes across as selfish and everything being all about her although I did like Hugo as a main character with his point of view as character also being told. I enjoyed reading this and will be recommending

This one had me hooked from its description and I found it extremely captivating. The concept is brilliant, I think at times it veered a little into murky waters and flowed away form the main storyline a little too much for me, but also who doesn’t love some colour to the landscape, so some extra details about our characters is never a bad thing either, that’s just a personal preference for me
-
That also didn’t take anything away from he fact this was an immensely interesting read and one I feel will start many a conversation and would be an amazing book club pick!
-
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

This sounded really intriguing - two characters tackle the embedded racism and prejudice in the Theatre world by submitting Eddie's socio-political dystopian play, heavily centred on her own upbringing as a Black second-generation immigrant, under Hugo Lawrence Smith's name, a white, privileged trust-fund kid who's bored of his direct path into Law.

The first half is great - the writing is witty, and Eddie's character is clearly realised and realistic, as she navigates rejection after rejection of her play, struggling with the cards stacked against her. The issue is this book starts to lose me when it becomes borderline a fake-dating romance and Eddie becomes irrational and judgemental, as does Nahid. Hugo comes out looking like the level-headed one stuck in the middle...which maybe is intentional? To show how no matter what, the white man comes out on top?

I don't know - the concept was great, the first half was great and then it started to lose trajectory for me. The pacing was off - we reach the opening night of the play just before the halfway mark, and I wasn't really convinced about where this was going from here.

I still think it's an interesting read, and a good discussion starter, I just wish the second half held up a bit more.

This novel took me a while to get into; at one point I nearly gave up. I felt I needed to persevere as the author obviously had something important to say. The cultures and backgrounds of the main protagonists vary considerably; one black girl, an aspiring playwright, from a middle class background struggling to get her first play accepted and one young man from a privileged background, destined for the law. It’s an odd combination, so when they invent a ruse to get Eddie’s work taken seriously, design a complex scheme to achieve success. It’s beneath the surface that the cross-currents in the theatre industry are revealed. A clever and thought-provoking tale that warrants a read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity to read and review.

3.5 stars.
The idea of a Black (discriminated against, underrepresented) playwright facing racism and discrimination and fighting against these via unusual ways is not entirely original except for the nuances. Yet, this book has some strong nuances.
The authentic experiences of Eddie were strong.
As for the story as a whole and the prose, I found it lacking in layers a bit.
Premise 2.5
Plot 3
Themes 4
Characterisation 3
Prose 3.5