Bring the House Down
A Novel
by Charlotte Runcie
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Pub Date Jul 08 2025 | Archive Date Aug 08 2025
Doubleday Books | Doubleday
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Description
“Bring the House Down is sharp-witted, wise, and authentic—what a fierce, fantastically funny read.”—Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had and Same As It Ever Was
Alex Lyons always has his mind made up by the time the curtain comes down at a performance—the show either deserves a five-star rave or a one-star pan. Anything in between is meaningless. On the opening night of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he doesn’t deliberate over the rating for Hayley Sinclair’s show, nor does he hesitate when the opportunity presents itself to have a one-night stand with the struggling actress.
Unaware that she’s gone home with the theater critic who’s just written a career-ending review of her, Hayley wakes up at his apartment to see his scathing one-star critique in print on the kitchen table, and she’s not sure which humiliation offends her the most. So she revamps her show into a viral sensation critiquing Alex Lyons himself—entitled son of a famous actress, serial philanderer, and by all accounts a terrible man. Yet Alex remains unapologetic. As his reputation goes up in flames, he insists on telling his unvarnished version of events to his colleague, Sophie. Through her eyes, we see that the deeper she gets pulled into his downfall, the more conflicted she becomes. After all, there are always two sides to every story.
A brilliant Trojan horse of a book about art, power, misogyny, and female rage, Bring the House Down is a searing, insightful, and often hilarious debut that captures the blurred line between reality and performance.
Advance Praise
“Bring the House Down is sharp-witted, wise, and authentic—what a fierce, fantastically funny read.”
—Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had and Same As It Ever Was
“Funny, bold and tender, Bring the House Down is a biting study of power, gender and the meaning of art. I loved this incendiary debut.”
—Emilia Hart, New York Times bestselling author of author of Weyward and The Sirens
“A novel about losing and finding yourself again, about who we are versus who we think we are, and about the inner lives we rarely reveal. Runcie’s characters feel so real I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself next to them on the train or to overhear them on the streets of Edinburgh.”
—Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of The Sleep Watcher, Starling Days and Harmless Like You
“I devoured Bring the House Down—and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. Charlotte Runcie combines her searing observation and immaculate pacing with infectious prose in this compelling, comedic and seriously clever debut novel. I can’t wait for everyone else to read it so I can finally talk about it at length.”
—Alice Vincent, author of Why Women Grow
“Bring the House Down is an agile, addictive story exploring art, ethics, the role of the critic, vindication of female rage, and the public appetite for blood. Runcie is sharply attuned to the vast uncomfortable grey areas of gender and power relations, navigating them with wry, revelatory observations that are devastatingly acute. Atmospheric, propulsive, electric.”
—Heidi Sopinka, author of Utopia
Marketing Plan
- Doubleday Fall Media Lunch Featured Author
- National Review and Media Appearances, including TV and NPR, and Newspaper and Magazine Features Most Anticipated Book Lists
- Women’s Magazine, Literary, and Performing Arts Media Coverage
- Original Essays and Opinion Pieces
- Online Advertising Campaign Including 1P Genre and Author Targeting
- Custom Social Media Assets to Include Cover
- Reveal, Giveaways, and Author Videos Featured on Doubleday’s Social Media
- Social Promotion to Coincide with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August
- Inclusion in the Doubleday Bookstagram Program
- Custom Outreach / Big Mouth Mailing to Influencers and Contacts (Including Bookmarks)
- Pitch for Inclusion in KDPG newsletter
- Feature in Summer Fiction and Holiday Promotions
- Available on NetGalley
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9780385551076 |
| PRICE | $28.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 304 |
