Blank Canvas

by Grace Murray

If I ever woke up with an ungodly dread — that I could change it all now, turn around, and confess — I ignored it. I had never been good, and there was no point in trying now.

On a small liberal arts campus in upstate New York, Charlotte begins her final year with a lie. Her father died over the summer, she says. Heart attack. Very sudden.

Charlotte had never been close with her classmates but as she repeats her tale, their expressions soften into kindness. And so she learns there are things worth lying for: attention, affection, and, as she embarks on a relationship with fellow student Katarina, even love. All she needs to do is keep control of the threads that hold her lie – and her life – together.

But six thousand miles away, alone in the grey two-up-two-down Staffordshire terrace she grew up in, her father is very much alive, watching television and drinking beer. Charlotte has always kept difficult truths at arm’s length, but his resolve to visit his distant daughter might just be the one thing she can’t control.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Ebooks, Adult Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2026

About the author

Grace Murray is twenty-one and grew up in Norwich. She is a final year student reading English Literature at Edinburgh University, where she finds time to write between her studies and two part-time jobs.

In writing Blank Canvas, Grace set out to explore themes of Catholic guilt and queer identity, clashing moral codes and lies, and the opportunity for reinvention presented by moving between countries and settings.
Blank Canvas was written over the course of a year as part of WriteNow, Penguin Random House’s flagship mentorship scheme for emerging talent. Grace Murray won one of nine places on the scheme on the exceptional strength of her writing, selected from a pool of over 1,300 applicants.

Reviews

[Morgan Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m having a great run of books at the moment. I luuurved this and it’s definitely solidified my favourite novel type: complex, misunderstood characters seeking validation and acceptance. I thoroughly enjoyed the story developing through an internal monologue, particularly the character’s perception and commentary of the world vs her response/actions within it. Can’t believe this is a debut novel. Murray’s writing was both intelligent and witty and I will 100% be picking up her next book!!

[Manuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blank Canvas is a novel that’s far less interested in exposing a lie than in examining why someone might need it in the first place.

Charlotte, an English art student spending a year at a small American college, invents the death of her father almost casually - and then quietly builds an entire version of herself around that absence. What follows isn’t a thriller about being found out, but a close, psychologically focused study of loneliness, self-erasure, and the strange intimacy that grief (real or performed) can create.

Grace Murray’s control of voice is impressive. The novel stays tightly lodged inside Charlotte’s head, capturing her vanity, insecurity, and moral evasions with sharpness and restraint. The prose is often darkly funny, sometimes deliberately uncomfortable, and very attuned to the self-conscious intensity of early adulthood - especially within a campus environment where everyone is experimenting with who they might become. Charlotte’s lie doesn’t make her exceptional so much as it makes her legible, and that’s where the book’s real interest lies.

I particularly appreciated how the novel treats identity as something fluid and imitative. Charlotte’s relationships - especially her romantic one - blur the line between desire and self-disappearance, and the book is very good on how longing, shame, and admiration can collapse into performance. There’s a strong sense that Charlotte doesn’t yet know what she wants, only what seems to make her more acceptable.

That said, while I admired the book’s psychological precision, I struggled to fully connect with it on an emotional level. Charlotte’s detachment feels intentional and thoughtfully rendered, but it kept me at a certain distance as a reader. Midway through the novel, a shift in setting and energy briefly opens the story up, and I found myself wishing that looseness and expansiveness had arrived earlier.

Overall, this is a smart, controlled, and unsettling debut that knows exactly what it’s doing. I didn’t love it, but I respected it deeply - and I’ll definitely be curious to see what Grace Murray writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC :)

[bowiesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blank Canvas is a dynamic, intrusive and sharp read that follows student Charlotte and her web of lies. The reader is immersed in Charlotte’s messy array of thoughts as she navigates her relationship with fellow student Katarina. As their relationship progresses, we see Charlotte’s lies begin to unravel…

Murray’s writing of Charlotte depicts a complex and complicated character who struggles to connect with those around her, yearning for meaningful relationships. I loved how complicated of a character she was. As a reader, it allowed me to simply surrender myself to her thoughts rather than question why she may do things. I was happy just to be along for the ride. After being inside of her head so much, I was jolted when I remembering her lies. Just as she did, I could almost convince myself that they were real; a true testament to Murray’s writing.

She writes with intelligence and wit, with serval paragraphs making me laugh out loud at the spot on social commentary and accuracy of the (sometimes insufferable) university students. It’s clear that Murray has her finger on the pulse of society as she explores themes of obsession, desire and compulsiveness. Mark your calendars for January 2026, because this is one debut you do not want to miss!

[Katrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The protagonist remains the titular blank canvas for most of the book and this just wasn't fun to read

[Ruby Slade · Rating 4 out of 5]

So moody and desperately desperately sad. I could literally feel and smell the air. Such a great telling of loneliness and complex mental burdens. Complicated and conflicting but fantastic.

Slow start but once I was in it, I was in it.

Also the fact that this is a debut & the author was born in 2003. Incredible. Will be looking out for more from her as this was written so deliciously. Especially loved the interactions between Charlotte & her dad, and the therapist, & Matthew.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this book. I found it difficult to get into and it wasn’t until over halfway through that I found myself actively wanting to pick it back up. Very much character driven - for me this was the cause of both struggling with the first half and enjoying the second half.

[⋆˙⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

some lines were a personal attack

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

this made me so painfully self aware christ. Woman with lesbian tendencies, chronic lying problems and repressed past representation

[haunted.kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m mad at myself for not reading this sooner. I enjoyed this book, do i think it’ll be for everyone? No.
It definitely falls under the “weird girl lit, unreliable narrator” umbrella and I fully love books like that. It started slow but I would recommend pushing through bcos it is worth it. The drama, humour & sadness really made this book.

I will say if you liked “boy parts by Eliza Clark” you will probably like this! It’s not as extreme BUT it has the same sort of themes & elements to it. I got the same vibes and really enjoyed that one too.

Thank you netgalley for the arc.

[Joanna Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Murray's captivating debut is a profound exploration of grief, loneliness, and reinvention, and I would describe this as a 'thrilling' story, rather than a thriller. These themes are beautifully explored, through the narrator Charlotte, a British girl at college in the US, who begins her final semester with one very big lie. There is so much sharp, observational humour in this novel - which somehow manages to be both incredibly funny and deeply poignant, and as Charlotte's house of cards begins to fall, Grace Murray's understanding of the fragility of the human spirit and her ability to convey that on the page is utterly breathtaking.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s actually stupid that this is debut novel and the author is 23🫩 i have done NOTHING with my life!!!

anyway i loved this - from one mentally ill disaster from west midlands to the other🫶🫶🫶

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautifully eloquent writing style. Couldn’t put it down. Murray’s characters are dynamic, vulnerable, and full of complex depth. Her writing is sensationally poetic, fierce, and raw. Cannot wait to see what else she has in store.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC kindly gifted to me by Penguin*

In her final year of college, art student Charlotte tells the lie that her father died over the summer. This is the start of her relationship with fellow student Katarina and two of them become very close very fast. But her father is alive back in England and her lie unravels as her relationship with Katarina progresses.

The premise of this book is so incredible interesting. It’s a book totally outside my usual genre comfort zone but I’m so glad I read it. To be in Charlotte’s head constantly was a humbling, embarassing and also interesting experience. She’s incredibly flawed and not very nice but I couldn’t help but feel for her a lot of times. The fallout of telling a lie like that and it constantly hanging over every part of the story was daunting and uncomfortable. But story goes much deeper than that and explores character, art and Charlotte’s reasonings in a digestible and layered way.

This book is a fast read but I sometimes had to put it down due to the second hand embarassment of it all.

There were some small parts where the story felt a bit stagnant but that might have been the fault of my short attention span and also fitted the story.

Would really recommend this book. I had a good time reading it.

[abi slade · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

pros ✅
- did make me giggle more than once
- the first chunk (before charlotte and katarina get in to a relationship) was fun, i liked how unnecessarily spiteful charlotte was
- i reckon i could do charlotte justice in a tv adaptation

cons ❌
- generally a bit underwhelming, the whole thing lacked oomph that i was hoping for. premise made it seem like it was going to be more manic ‘bunny’-esque, bad characters doing odd shit but it wasn’t
- i would’ve liked to see more of how charlotte’s lie affected the wider friend group
- the book has an inevitable climax

[Spacey Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blank canvas follows a young woman at a new university in America who on a whim decides to lie to her classmates that her father is dead. Soon the lies keep piling on and the relationships get stronger things start to unravel.

The book was well written and I enjoyed the concept of lying to make yourself seem more interesting as I think we can always remember someone we went to school with who was like this as well. However, we never really understand our protagonists real motivations and why she has decided on this but perhaps that’s the point.

Thanks to Penguin fig tree for the copy!

[johanna ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of potential here but not much at the moment distinguishing this from the rest of the mass of contemporary litfic. I was impressed by the control of the prose but I thought that the concept wasn't drawn out to its full potential and that the first half of the book especially felt quite unfocused, leading to the second half feeling rushed.

I also wasn't sure about how convincingly any of the characters beyond Charlotte were drawn. As an observational comedy, sure, it works - haha yeah people do make in and out lists don't they - but there's some work to do here communicating interiority (weird gripe, but I found this especially noticeable with Charlotte's dad).

[Cordelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blank Canvas sets the scene with a to the point Brit, Charlotte, at art school in America, trying to navigate life. Touching on themes of loneliness, sexuality, religion and grief this is a good starting point for anyone wanting to branch into the world of contemporary fiction.

This starts off so strong but I felt it got a little lost in the middle making the ending seem a bit rushed... but overall a good debut.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to finish I was CAPTIVATED - Charlotte is such an interesting narrator, and it’s a breath of fresh air to feel conflicted about her decisions and opinions. The writing immerses you the campus life, one moment hitting you in your FEELS and the next you’re laughing out loud. What 👏 a 👏 book 👏

[Bella Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Interesting story but can’t help but wish for a happier ending 🌟

[Chris Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could have read 1000 pages of this I didn’t want it to stop

[Kate Drysdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ loved the writing but kind of wanted more chaos (I know thats completely not the point of the book im clearly just feeling in the mood for some pranks)

[Georgie (georgiesbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

last 80 pages redeemed it a bit … loved the writing but dunno story was a bit flat

[Unu Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that, as you’re reading it, you’re not quite sure where it’s going but you get to the ending and it all makes sense and you’re so glad you read it

[Lu · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️

[Izzy Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this, wasn’t too sure what to expect going into it but I found it to be a wonderfully written exploration of loneliness and humanity in all its forms.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

This has all the ingredients I love in a book - art, academia and an unreliable narrator. Sadly it was too slow paced & emotionally flat.

thanks for the publisher & NetGalley for an eARC.

[Kat Bassett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shockingly well written for a debut but I just didn’t like this at all

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excited to see what this author does in the next ten years but this wasn’t great- incredibly slow for the first 2/3 and then felt really rushed to tie it all together and finish. I’m also questioning whether I vibe with Gen Z writers 😬

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blank Canvas is a novel about a woman at an arts college who lies about her father's death. Charlotte studies at a small arts college in New York state and when she tells one classmate that her father died, it spirals into a new reality for her. However, her father is alive in England, and as Charlotte falls into a relationship with her classmate Katarina, she finds herself caught in a web of lies.

It almost feels surprising that this book doesn't already exist: it's a campus novel that mixes that liberal arts college atmosphere (e.g. The Secret History) with a dash of Ripley-style lying, and the narrative voice is distinctive, with Charlotte being distant and harsh and having secrets in her past she tries not to think about. Her first person perspective means you never quite know what is meant to be real, and there's a sense that people might think of her entirely differently to how she believes, especially given that she often lies or holds in what she really thinks of others. There's a definite atmosphere created, with her as a reinvented outsider who seems to have difficulty expressing her actual feelings and preferences, and it is interesting to see how it unfolds. I liked the fact she's from the UK and that brings an extra layer to the US campus novel, though the book being told from Charlotte's perspective means that you don't always see the full effects of this.

The romance side of the book is excruciating at times, in a good way: it really explores the ways in which Charlotte and Katarina have very different ideas about their relationship, and with the reader knowing the huge lie at the centre of it, you have to wince as it goes on. With so many campus novels being about unspoken homoerotic relationships, I like when they have actual queer relationships and let these be appropriately messed up for the genre.

I did feel that the plot didn't quite hold up to the promise, with the ending feeling frustrating in ways I couldn't quite define. Overall, this is a campus novel with a strong premise and a fascinating protagonist and central relationship, that asks what happens when we try to reinvent ourselves and what might be lurking underneath that.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting your final year of university with the lie that your dad died over the summer feels like it could have been a gimmick but instead gives the perfect cover to explore questions of identity in a way that feels light and easy to read.

Charlotte is an outsider in many ways, she’s English at a New York college, hasn’t made friends yet and hides her life by compulsively lying. This starts to change when she says her dad died over the break and she gets the chance to reinvent herself.

It’s told from her perspective which makes us question how much who we are is shaped by our conscious self, how much by the ways we act that we don’t understand and how much by the expectations of the group.

It’s also a fun, and quite mean, campus novel that changes shape over its 300 pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fig Tree for the arc.