Universality contains themes and thoughts on classism, elitism, racism, and sexism from characters varying in age and gender. The novel is short, character-driven, and structured in multiple parts. Admittedly, I enjoyed the first section, A Fool's Gold, more than the others and quickly lost interest in the characters and plot/mystery in the later sections. The author provides robust backgrounds and spins curious interrelationships among the cast; but it just didn't pique my interest enough to keep me focused. Thanks to the publisher, Random House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for the ebook. A fascinating novel that starts with a reporter investigating a farmhouse that’s been taken over with a small radical group that get busted during a rave, at the heart of the pandemic. The rest of the novel pulls back the layers to show that the young reporter may have been manipulated to write the story by a woman who is looking to boost her own profile in the crowded media world.

2.5 rounded to 3. Natasha brown is an incredible writer and knows how to write a lot in a short book. I really enjoyed her debut novel Assembly a lot and it stuck with me for a while after I read it. Unfortunately Universality was not really for me, or at least not right now. I think a lot of folks are going to enjoy this one, as there is something there and I appreciate the message. Sometimes I read things and it's just not the right time for me to read that book and I think that was the case for this one. More detailed review to come. Thanks very much to the publisher for an advanced copy!

I recently read “Assembly” by Natasha Brown. (her debut, shortlisted for the Goldsmith Prize and a finalist for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction).
The endless cruelties were up in our face… (suffering, loss of identity) … etc. . . .
….examining race, diversity, class, capitalism, colonialism, slavery, misogyny, and British history.
At the center, was a Black woman struggling for her identity… her independence…
The book was powerful…affecting… and gorgeously written!
So….
I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting myself into by choosing to read “Universality” . . .
I wasn’t entirely wrong …. many of the same themes are examined
But …
….in Natasha’s sophomore book … we get more than one woman’s perspective…
we get the entire enchilada: multiple perspectives.
“Everyone sees themselves, and those like them, as a victim”.
“And the reader’s sympathy is naturally drawn to those who they identify — “ …. (grew up privileged? poor? racially or sexually victimized?)….Readers have the opportunity to reflect on our own upbringing….our beliefs, our prejudices, our egos—while at the same time imagine yourself living on an intentional communal community. This is (at least), the third book I’ve read this year with commune-themes …. and it’s the best of them all.

At the start….
….we are presented with a fictional news article about a crime years ago on country farm.
“A Fool’s Gold”
“A missing gold bar was a connecting node—between an amoral banker, an iconoclastic columnist, and a radical anarchist movement”.
An illegal rave took place during the Covid-lockdown.

We meet/follow interesting characters ….
Hannah Nicholson . . . The author/reporter.
Richard Spencer . . . The banker.
Lenny Leonard . . . (or Miriam is her proper first name) . . . the architect controller genius.

The writing is superb…insightful…relating across social economic and cultural backgrounds.
There is seriousness. There is laughter. (often mixed together at the same time).
Terrific characterization….
Fun razor-sharp dialogue…
Straight up ….its one heck of an enjoyable (shake your head a few times), relevant book for our times today.

“In recent years, differences and wealth became insurmountable challenges, unavoidably affecting Hannah’s friendships. What had once been a kind of bohemian brokenness, indulged by her friends now seemed an unattractive, immature trait in this new phase of adulthood. It made things awkward”.
She couldn’t afford to join in on many of the things her friends were doing and eventually she stopped getting invitations.

“Pay attention to the people around you. Notice who they are, what they say and do. Take that woman over there, on my left, shoveling porridge into her mouth. Do you see it? I’ll tell you what that is: ugliness. People are ugly. And stupid. Motivated only by fear or jealousy or, I don’t know, occasional petty hatred. The Internet simply offered a medium for all this crapola. It’s the sad, inevitable consequence of semi-educating the masses. Granting every idiot, the dizzying power of a spray can and wall”.

“Since the pandemic swept across the globe in 2020, many people have suffered badly, losing their lives and loved ones. Spencer is alive and well. His loved ones are safe—though possibly not reciprocally loving at this moment. But Spencer has lost some thing significant: his status. Back in 2019, all the excessive fruits of late capitalism were his. He owned multiple homes, farming land, investments, and cars; he had a household staff; a pretty wife, plus a much younger girlfriend. As a high-powered stockbroker at a major investment bank, he enjoyed immense power, influence, and wealth. He had everything. Now, stripped of all that, he has become the man across from me: a grounded giant, cut off from his castle in the sky”.

Absolutely OUTSTANDING…..
…..exasperating….infuriating….uncomfortable…..
Controversial issues….political issues….economic issues….policy issues…. EVERYTHING WORTH LOOKING AT TODAY!
Kudos to Natasha Brown. This book should win awards!!!

Natasha Brown has written something truly brilliant, nuanced but approachable.

Universality is a clever story about the ego, stories and how we wish them to be told and interpreted. The common theme of diversity and class are examined from many angles and points of view all including the common thread of “universality” of wanting to be truly seen in all it and how we become the victims of our own making.

This is a quick statement read, no words wasted and the wit is brimming over, Brown has an uncanny knack for making characters relatable across social, economic and cultural backgrounds while also exposing them. Like how? There is a level of poke fun and then the hard truths we live with and I believe this book forces us to look at ourselves and the way we interpret our part in the current times, is this a lot, yes, but is it something we should be demanding, absolutely.

I am rambling but I can’t quite formulate the right words for a book this layered in commentary, just read it.

Loved this. Author was great with Assembly. This is a fine follow up, perhaps even better than the last.

A strange, formally inventive novel that only Natasha Brown could have written. It feels like a departure from ASSEMBLY in that sense, but Brown's critical eye towards our dated social structures remain. I gobbled this up.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from this book; it’s equal parts “wow, this is smart but accessible” and “wait, actually, am I intelligent enough to be reading this?”

What a complex web of characters and narrative Natasha Brown expertly weaves; it’s difficult to succinctly describe this novel, which initially takes the form of a long-form magazine article. When the book begins, Pegasus, the de facto leader of a commute, rests in a semi-conscious state after being attacked by Jake, another member of the commune. Jake’s weapon of choice was a gold bar worth a half-million dollars, belonging to an avid capitalist named Richard Spencer. We also meet Jake’s mother, Lenny: a journalist on a crusade against being “woke” and who believes her son is a casualty of a society that prioritizes diversity. The magazine article addresses a broad range of topics, including, among others, capitalism, anarchism, racism, classism, communal living, Occupy Wall Street, and Covid-19.

The second part of the novel shifts to the third-person perspective of Hannah, the author of the aforementioned magazine article. Here, we gain insight into Hannah’s own identity and viewpoints, which which led to the question: how did those aspects of her background and belief system influence her approach to the article’s narrative and framing?

The novel’s third section (written in the third person), fourth section (written in the first person), and fifth section (first person again) continue to interrogate a question raised in the preceding section: how much of what was written in the article was actually true? And for the parts that were true, were they overly simplified? The fifth section delves further into Lenny’s ideology, as well as her view into media’s approach to sales.

This short novel really packs a punch. It is quiet and thought-provoking and I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this for fans of Hernan Diaz’s “Trust.” I can’t wait to read Natasha Brown’s first book, Assembly!

This was an interesting read, I'll say that first. I also have to admit I'm not quite sure of the message (if there is just one) the author is trying to convey. I liked the different styles used to propel the story, although I felt the first "article" dragged on a bit too long. As an American, I could identify with many of the social issues being discussed, with many of the same discussions having taken place here across the ocean.

Was I engaged? Yes. Did the book help me consider different ways of looking at an issue? Yes. Did I feel stupid and simple at times while reading? Yes. Was I satisfied at the end of the book? Not really, no. I felt things ended very abruptly. Most importantly, would I read more from the author? Yes, absolutely.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

I am torn with this book. I enjoyed it and thought it was excellently written and paced. The story drew me in but by the end I was a bit confused as to what was trying to be conveyed through the story. I don’t know how else to put it. I read a NetGalley version of this book.

I struggled with this brilliant book, and I am certain the deficiency is mine. I feel like an outsider
surrounded by brilliance, but I just don’t feel like the party is for me. Feeling enjoyment with
individual passages that intrigued me is not the same as feeling immersed in or changed by a
story.
My thanks to Random house via NetGalley for the download of this book for review purposes.

Incredibly funny and brutal social commentary with a little mystery thrown in. A not so subtle bashing of pundits, journalism, and British white upper class cosplaying as middle.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
Publication date: May 4, 2025

Universality is shaping up to be one of the standout books of the year! Natasha Brown's razor-sharp wit and knack for creating flawed but realistic characters make this novel an engaging read. Part mystery, part social commentary, Universality explores the messy intersections of wealth, privilege, and politics. The title speaks to humanity’s shared failings—greed, envy, and corruption—woven into both the literal and metaphorical fabric of the story. The theme of universality pops up throughout the book, tying everything together in a clever and thought-provoking way.

The plot follows a journalist as she investigates an illegal rave gone terribly wrong, with a man ending up dead from a blow with a solid gold bar. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a tangled web of relationships that cut across social classes. The story is split into five distinct sections, each pushing the investigation forward while shining a light on the societal cracks it exposes. Brown’s semi-satirical takes on capitalism, class, and media are brilliantly integrated into the characters’ lives without ever feeling preachy. It’s not your typical mystery, and while none of the characters are particularly likable, their complexity and relatability will stick with you long after you’ve finished.

This was a fantastic job in the genre and I enjoyed going through this book from beginning to end. It had that element that I was looking for and was invested in the characters and what was going on. Natasha Brown has a great writing style and I enjoyed what I read.

Universality might just be the book of the year. Is that year 2024 (when I read it) or 2025 (when it releases)? Not sure!

With razor-sharp wit, Brown crafts a cast of deeply flawed yet realistic characters. Universality is as much a social commentary as it is a mystery. Wealth, class, politics, and privilege all intersect to create an expertly woven tapestry of narratives. The title reflects humanity's universal shortcomings: greed, corruption, and envy. I loved the metaphorical and literal references to the theme of universality sprinkled throughout.

The novel follows a journalist’s attempts to uncover the truth after an illegal rave goes awry and leaves a man bludgeoned with a solid gold bar. As the journalist digs deeper into the story, she uncovers a complex web of relationships that span different social and economic classes. The novel is split into five major sections, each of which further explores the fallout of the investigation and the rising success of the journalist behind it. I wouldn’t quite describe this as a short-story collection or a true-to-form novel - it incorporates a bit of both to tell its story.

As with Assembly, Brown integrates plenty of semi-satirical remarks about late-stage capitalism, the gig economy, race, classism, and the rising popularity of right-wing media. Her writing has a level of nuance that’s hard to get right; the characters don’t feel like mouthpieces for commentary, but rather as fully realized people who embody the contrasting perspectives on current social issues. While nobody emerges as particularly likable, they all represent the collective apathy & nihilism of society and the divisive cultural war that the media perpetuates.

Something I appreciate about Natasha Brown is her ability to accomplish so much in such a minimal page count. The writing never feels bloated or superfluous, and the intent behind every sentence is evident. What she deliberately leaves unsaid is as important to the story as what it is presented. The best comparison I can make is to a painting where the negative space is just as much the focus as the positive space. It leaves room for interpretation and discussion in a way that I haven't seen other authors emulate successfully.

Assembly was a book I appreciated more than enjoyed, but Universality takes similar ideas and runs with them. It will leave you uncomfortable, reflecting and eagerly awaiting her next release. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

Thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC of the novel.

In the acknowledgements for her new novel, author Natasha Brown calls <em>Universality</em> “this weird little book.” And I have to agree. It is a weird book in the sense that it is an unconventional novel in structure, and this unconventional structure allows for the revelation and development of the novel’s characters and themes in a seemingly disjointed fashion that kept me guessing as to who was the focus of the current section of the novel that I was reading. This is not meant as a criticism; in fact, I found the approach challenging in the way one is challenged when reading a really good mystery. Slowly, the black center of the novel around which the action swirls is revealed and then you look back and see that the black threads that lead to it were always there.

For such a short novel, it manages to explore some very contemporary issues like woke politics, extreme wealth, and the ever slippery notion of <em>truth</em>in a fairly thorough way. Information silos, outrage, and clickbait are explored, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit distressed with what I was reading. And perhaps that is the point of it all. There is a moment in the novel when one of the characters reflects that “It’s a strange thing, to achieve success and adoration, but without any real understanding” because her fans only want to hear sound bites and catchphrases; any attempt to truly explore the issues makes “eyes glaze over and yawns need to be stifled.” No one in this novel seems capable of achieving “real understanding” whether on personal matters such as marriage or large-scale issues such as immigration. They can’t seem to find common ground. Motivations are misunderstood, and words fail to convey <em>truth</em>. The characters talk at one another, argue, pontificate, yet never seem to come to agreement. Some of them say things that are truly (I think) terrible, and it is to Natasha Brown’s credit that she created characters who are very believable in their harsh worldview.

After finishing the novel, I couldn’t help but think that the title is meant to be ironic. Is universality possible? Given the current state of the world, can there ever be some true universal collective good that <em>everyone</em> can agree on? Or is Brown saying that our current state of perpetual outrage and disagreement at all levels of human communication is the true universality? Sigh.

The unbelievable tale of social class and wealth via the points of view of three very different voices. We start with a long article detailing the assault of a man (Pegasus) by another with a gold bar. The article becomes a fictionalized show for television and the author is highlighted in our next portion of the book. Also included in the banker, the owner of the gold bar and an atrocious man! Finally we round out with the dreaded Lenny, an equal opportunity misanthrope who is against "The Woke" and has found her place amongst the anarchists whose worldview has become more global and is now known as The Universalists!

The complex rendering and fitting of the points of view are a cat and mouse game all in itself. How Brown manages to create this world and so easily fall into the personal world views of so many others just blows my mind. This is a book you will be hearing about for a long, long time.

If you love a book about contemporary society, a book that is almost an ouroboros of itself, or just want to read some truly sharp and brilliant literature, Universality is for you!. #randomhouse #universality #natashabrown

Natasha Brown's UNIVERSALITY is at once about both a lot and almost nothing. It's about capitalism, it's about woke culture, it's about classism. Unfortunately, it doesn't actually interrogate or plant a flag into any of its intrinsic debates, and for that the book suffers.

I quite enjoyed the opening section - an article about a gold bar that was stolen off a farm and used as a weapon in an attempted murder. The young journalist who reports on the events is brought to the story through a tangled web, and reveals a lot of messy, juicy twists in the process. The book then goes on to tell chapters from a few characters connected to the article: the journalist herself, the gold bar owner, and the woman who gave the tip to the journalist about the story in the first place.

I wish every subsequent section had gone further at really poking the issues that the book brings up. Ultimately, it's a slim and shallow novel, as incoherent as the book itself accuses the lynchpin of being.

2.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a pretty good book, but I do feel like there was too much going on at once and felt messy and not too thought out at times. I think it should have been less hectic and I would have enjoyed it more. It was just okay

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I appreciated the author's debut, Assembly, more than I liked it. But her follow-up, Universality, true to its name, had more of an immersive, inclusive appeal.
The book can be described in deceptively simple way as the circumstances and aftermath of one man hitting another with a gold ingot. The beautiful thing about this novel is that there is nothing simple about it. The author expertly peels layer after layer to create a complex and oh-so-spot-on representation of the modern zeitgeist: wealth division, racism, xenophobia, privilege, wokeism, and all the rest.
The book is visceral, clever, brilliantly written, and difficult to put down no matter how repulsive its characters may come across. Each individual's perspective is presented in a such matter-of-factly way as to remind the reader that these people are all around us, that this is who you're sharing the world with, and their perceived evils and sins can be tragically, shockingly ordinary.
What's more remarkable is that the author managed to do all that well under 200 pages. And this is, in fact, considerably longer than her debut. Natasha Brown's writing is succinct but never sparse. And it's so impressive in this day and age of oversized books and a beautiful reminder that a novel can have a serious weight to it without doing so literally. For that alone, I'm uprating my review to all stars.
A great, thought-provoking, compelling read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.