Potent clash between race and elitism
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Told in a slightly overblown first and second person narrative, the novel details a Black writer's attempt to subvert the possibly elitist bastions of British theatre by presenting her racially-charged work in a white, cis male alter ego, roping in a complete stranger as her avatar. The latest in a string of novels with successful writers masquerading or being masqueraded, The Grand Scheme of Things starts off with a strong punch but veers into soap opera before coming to what might be only one of all possible denouements. I'm a fan of fairy tales, but this is perhaps one fairy tale too far, with almost everyone getting what they want, bar one romance.

Keeping this spoiler free, there is a moment when a key deceptive romance is questioned for its optics when the romance behind it isn't. There's just something missing, perhaps an attention to detail that might have picked up on some, to my reading at least, leaden sentences full of allusion and hyperbole that land on the page with an inauthenticity. Well plotted but perhaps the characters are a little too self-aware in some areas, not at all in others.

I loved the subject matter this book sheds light on. It is real, it exists and I have had conversations like this in real life. The premise is both clever and confronting, exposing the unfairness and bias within the theatre world while keeping the story entertaining and thought-provoking. Eddie and Hugo’s scheme is as audacious as it is risky, and watching it unfold kept me hooked.

What I particularly appreciated was that both characters had space to explore their own personal struggles beyond their joint mission. It made them more rounded, flawed and relatable, adding depth to the fast-moving plot. The book does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, and that willingness to challenge the reader is part of what makes it so engaging.

I am glad I picked up this brilliantly unusual story that is wide open to interpretation.

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