Having met the novelist James Runcie a number of times, I was eager to read this new book by his daughter, Charlotte. She is a journalist and has written a work of non-fiction, but this is her first novel and draws on her own experience in the world of theatre. It's about a theatre critic getting his comeuppance but it also has a lot to say about journalism, reviewing, commentary and opinion. 

Alex and Sophie have been sent to report on the Edinburgh Festival by their newspaper and have been given a flat to share for the duration.

Sophie is still trying to make her name as a journalist but Alex is an established critic, known for his brutal reviews and he's confident of his status and his immunity. His 'honesty' is what people expect of him.

When he sees Hayley Sinclair's terrible one-woman show, he thinks nothing of giving it 'one star' and dashes off a damning report. But he's no sooner submitted the piece than he's inviting Hayley back to his room after the performance, without telling her who he is. 

The next day, he moves on - to other plays and other liaisons. But Hayley, instead of being destroyed by the review and his behaviour, decides to turn her show into a review of Alex - and it's not favourable. The show is a hit, and Alex becomes national news. 

This is a funny and gripping investigation into art, performance, revenge, power, rejection, and criticism.

'I can't imagine what it must be like to get a bad review on the first night of your theatre run and then have to get up again and keep going, putting yourself out there, knowing that people think you're ****,' says one of the characters.

I loved it, possibly because it explores the world of journalism as much as the theatre, debates the role of newspapers and the internet, and highlights our changing expectations. Raced through it and want to read it again. Excellent!