The Grand Scheme of Things - by Warona Jay (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Two unlikely friends hatch an extraordinary scheme to expose the theater world in this "layered, hyperaware, and as entertaining as it is incendiary" (Mateo Askaripour, New York Times bestselling author) debut novel exploring perception, redemption, and how success shapes us all.

"American Fiction meets Queenie: The Grand Scheme of Things skewers racism in the arts, while humorously and honestly exploring the importance of community, and what we'll do for love and success" (Jenna Clake, author of Disturbance).

Meet Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo. Or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright who dreams of making it big in London's theater world. But after repeated rejections, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem.

Enter Hugo Lawrence Smith: good looking, well-connected, charismatic, and...very white. Stifled by his law degree and looking for a way out of the corporate world, he finds a kindred spirit in Eddie after a chance encounter at a cafe.

Together they devise a plan, one which will see Eddie's play on stage and Hugo's name in lights. They send out her script under his name and vow to keep the play's origins a secret until it reaches critical levels of success. Then they can expose the theater world for its racism and hollow clout-chasing. But as their plan spins wildly out of control, Eddie and Hugo find themselves wondering if their reputations, and their friendship, can survive.

Review Quotes

"American Fiction meets Queenie: The Grand Scheme of Things skewers racism in the arts, while humorously and honestly exploring the importance of community, and the what we'll do for love and success. I couldn't put it down." --JENNA CLAKE, author of Disturbance

"Explosive from the first page, The Grand Scheme of Things gleefully lays bare the lengths artists will go to in order to achieve their dreams, as well as the hypocrisy of gatekeepers who espouse the myth of meritocracy. Never shying away from complexity while also giving readers much to delight in, Warona Jay makes an unforgettable entrance to the world of literature. Layered, hyperaware, and as entertaining as it is incendiary, Jay's debut is a hit." --MATEO ASKARIPOUR, New York Times bestselling author of Black Buck

"From the commanding, direct opening to all the beautiful lines - I was gripped! I was totally along for the ride with Eddie and Hugo; flawed characters with strong, distinctive voices. As the stakes and the tensions rise we can't help but root for them! The Grand Scheme of Things is a propulsive, fast-paced read which also holds up a mirror to some very real problems in the performing arts world' --RACHEL DAWSON, author of Neon Roses

"Funny, fast-paced and gloriously queer, The Grand Scheme of Things is a nail-biting tale of racism in the British theatre industry. Jay's writing is hard-hitting but hilarious, and the plot twists meant I couldn't put this book down!" --JAKE HALL, author of The Art of Drag and Shoulder to Shoulder

"Jay plays with romantic conventions, employs thriller-esque pacing, and seems to be having fun. Readers will, too. An assured and nimble satire." --Kirkus (starred review)

"Jay turns a fiercely critical eye on entrenched racism in the contemporary British theater scene...Fans of R.F. Kuang's Yellowface should take note." --Publishers Weekly

"Pacey and deliciously wry, The Grand Scheme of Things feels like a front-row ticket to the season's hottest two-hander. Warona Jay has crafted a clever, biting chronicle of institutional racism and implicit bias but also a moving plea for empathy." --GAAR ADAMS, author of Guest Privileges

"Sharply observed, The Grand Scheme of Things is an important book about bias, white privilege and gatekeeping in the theatre and publishing industry. The story is incredibly propulsive-I was kept guessing about whether Naledi and Hugo's plan would succeed. Jay writes about intersectional identity and belonging with great compassion and precision. A brilliant story that exposes the myth of meritocracy." --HALEH AGAR, author of Out of Touch

"With a combination of wit and compassion, Jay offers a trenchant examination of systemic racism in the arts from the POVs of survivors, unwitting contributors and intentional participants, while at the same time shining a light on the drives that bind us all: the desire for love, success, and a sense of worth in our communities. Jay doesn't offer easy answers or simplistic characterizations: everyone is beautifully complicated--they keep you guessing from start to finish. What a fabulous debut novel!" --MEGAN CAMPISI, author of The Sin Eater

About the Author

Born in Botswana and raised in England, Warona Jay studied law at the University of Kent and King's College London before switching to a creative writing PhD at Brunel. As a teen, she was shortlisted for the Sony Young Movellist of the Year Award judged by Malorie Blackman, and more recently, in 2020 she was longlisted for Penguin Random House's WriteNow program. The Grand Scheme of Things is her debut novel.