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Bring the House Down

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Bring the House Down

By: Charlotte Runcie
Narrated by: Isabelle Farah
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About this listen

'Punchily provocative and often bitingly funny' THE TIMES, Book of the Month

‘Binge-worthy, real, really funny’ KILEY REID

‘Spiky, smart and so original’ CLAIRE DAVERLEY

'Entertaining and very timely… One of the most enjoyable novels I’ve read in a long time' GUARDIAN

A ONE WOMAN SHOW A ONE NIGHT STAND A ONE STAR REVIEW

Theatre critic Alex Lyons made his name from his brutal, brilliant reviews.

So when he sees Hayley Sinclair's dismal one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe, he thinks nothing of dashing off another of his trademark one-star pans for the newspaper. He also thinks nothing of taking her home after the performance, failing at any point to mention who he is.

What he doesn't expect is for Hayley to revamp her show into a review of Alex's entire life, exposing what an awful person he really is. Worse, the show is a smash hit, and Alex is about to become national news. But can Hayley bring the establishment down without taking herself with it?

Funny and thrilling, Bring the House Down gives you a front row seat to the downfall of the people who tell us what to think. It's about art, performance, female rage, and how while revenge may be sweet, it can also be perilous.

'An enticing debut. This is a binge-worthy novel that explores our obsessions, our inner critic, and who we think we are in person and in print. Intimate, real, and really funny. This one has teeth' KILEY REID

'Sharp, shrewd and witty… a stunning debut, one that I’m sure will be binge-read by many' INDEPENDENT, Book of the Month

'Dark, obsessive and razor-sharp, this is your next Baby Reindeer fix’ ELLE

©2025 Charlotte Runcie (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Urban Funny Witty
All stars
Most relevant  
As a mature reader, who has visited the Edinburgh Festival several times, I enjoyed reading about the festival’s world behind the scenes.

I thought the descriptions were excellent and very insightful, and I felt that she obviously sympathised with her characters. I do wonder if she saw herself in any of them.

It would be a good read for a book club, with lots to discuss, and I will be recommending it to mine.

Another aspect of The Edinburgh Festival

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an absolute brilliant take on the Fringe through a very different lens that will leave you gripped.

Five Stars

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