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.

272 pages, Paperback

Expected publication 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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Magnolia Cure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, netgalley and penguinfigtree , for the e-ARC.

I demolished it in 3 days! I couldn't put it down.
To start with, Charlotte was HILARIOUS, in a mean way, but pretty much everyone came across as terrible people, so I didn't even care. It's true we're only reading the story through her POV, and a lot of liberties may have been taken. I'm all here for making fun of the wannabe academic types (The Secret History comes to mind).

My girl had to tell a lie to make friends, and by the end of the book, I couldn't even blame her.

I initially thought Charlotte was either emotionally stunned or had some sociopathic tendencies. As the story progresses, it's clear as to why she behaves in certain ways.
Then, I simply felt sorry for everything that had happened to her and hoped she found some peace and kindness later in life. No, you're not a bad person. You were just brought up in a shite environment.
Charlotte, I would have forgiven you in a heartbeat. I can imagine all the horrid things you would think of me, though.
This is very much a character focused story, which I enjoy getting into. Not everything needs to be plot, plot, plot, fast, fast, fast.
Beautifully written character analysis. No notes. I'm still carrying all the emotions.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fact of life: the Fibonacci sequence; Newton’s apple; hamsters eating their young. And I was crying again. Between those sputtering, aching breaths, pulled out from the diaphragm, I had settled on a phrase, as if to prove my insanity further: I’m bad. I’m bad. He stood up, and came over to hug me again. I watched the red blur of his movements, and tried not to be touched. He reached me anyway. What a shame, for him to have raised this. He started patting my head, and said that I was his daughter again, as though that might remedy everything, every evil. That stuffy room, with its thick heat, was confessional-like, warm and close. Later, when searching for a quotation for a painting – little dots, like raisins, on the edge of the work, childish fingerprints – I would find a passage, and think of him, and that tentative hug. He who created you, he who formed you: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you

 
The debut novel from a Norfolk born based writer, and 2025 English language graduate from the Edinburgh University – this novel written as part of her participation in 2024-24 WriteNow, Penguin Random House’s flagship mentorship scheme for emerging talent.
 
The set up of the novel is simple, our first party narrator - an English girl Charlotte – is studying at a small New England liberal arts campus and decides, on something of an impulse, to start her final year by sharing that her father back in England died over the Summer Break – starting with telling Katarina (a girl who she – claims she - finds almost magnetically physically unattractive but nevertheless charismatic).
 
The problem is that her father – who loves in their small family terrace in Staffordshire – is very much alive if very distant (initially we think by way of very different cultural circles – but we quickly realise due to a more serious/longstanding breach, we also realise quickly that Charlotte’s mother died some time ago); and secondly that Katarina immediately latches on to the news and seems to make Charlotte some form of project (art projects feature throughout the novel).
 
And the repercussion of both the lie and the rapidly intense relationship then play out through the novel which takes place over three main phases: the initial set up and Charlotte’s last year at college with Katarina and her circle of friends; a working Summer holiday that she takes to Italy with Katarina and two of Katarina’s gay friends (themselves in a relationship) – one which finally brings her deception to a head; the aftermath back at college.
 
Charlotte – a non-believer – had catholic parents and still has buried sensibilities (or at least a sense of guilt) but herself a deliberately neutral, almost para-ethical take on life – almost the first we hear of her is her statement that: “I had no standards to live up to, either. I had never been particularly honest. Other people were good and kind – the rest were predestined for mediocrity, or cruelty. It wasn’t my fault that I fell, through the random act of my birth, into the second category. 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.” and later “Because I was an idiot, I believed that if I could cut goodness out –  laughter, kindness, generosity –  I might be protected from negativity, simply by becoming an emotionless eunuch. This was unsuccessful, obviously. I left the exhibition drained, and drew my blinds the minute I got back, keeping them closed”.

Charlotte, to Katarina’s frustration, is the titular blank canvas: “My personality could be characterized by a distinct lack – of almost everything. Lying was one of the only things I did for myself, the only time I felt active, a real person, and I was good at it. But it was just another absence, this inability to be honest.”
 
In the afterword, Murray quotes novelists Garth Greenwell, Brandon Taylor and K Patrick as inspirations – for me I was reminded perhaps more of Elif Batuman (with perhaps less goofy humour) and Ledia Xhoga (and her recently Booker longlisted “Misinterpretation) in an outsider’s portrayal of America and its collage and art scenes respectively.  I must say that it is very refreshing to read an American campus novel written by an English writer as it removes the unfulfilled need for cultural translation that I require in many campus novels (2025 Booker judge Kiley’s Reid’s “Come and Get It” just one example).
 
But whereas Brandon Taylor’s Booker shortlisted “Real Life” campus novel featured a biochemistry student (and was interesting as a result) the art students here with their desultory attempts at any form of hard work and conceptual art projects in which serious art and satire seem almost interchangeable were not to my liking at all – and I must admit after a really interesting initial set up and the intrigue of Charlotte’s voice I found myself really struggling – her three holiday companions in Italy were far from my ideal novel companions. 
 
The novel for me though took off when her father (who for some time was only really a nagging presence for Charlotte knowing she has lied – and that for the novel felt to have a Chekhov’s Gun style inevitability of unravelling) enters the narrative – as suddenly we are privy both to some hard revelations about Charlotte’s past (and the reason for her blankness and for her strained relationships with her father) but then a pathos which resists easy resolutions – making this an impressively mature novel from an author with a bright future ahead of her.
 
My thanks to Penguin General UK for an ARC via NetGalley

[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.

[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.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book moves me so much, and is so personal, that I struggle to articulate my thoughts in a review. This is the case for ‘Blank Canvas’, but I will try!

The book follows Charlotte’s final year in art school in America as she falls into a relationship with Katarina - which begins on the basis of Charlotte lying that her father has just died.

I loved the writing style. Admittedly, I did find the writing to be somewhat stilted at the start of the book, which made me feel a bit distanced from the characters, but once I got 15% or so in I was completely enthralled. (Besides, this “stilted start” may well be an intentional choice due to Charlotte becoming more vivid, or perhaps is seen as such by her future self, once she begins dating Katarina.) I think that the way the author articulated the main character’s feelings was so well done, particularly with respect to her relationships with her parents and Katarina. Anyone who has had a borderline-obsessive, or just full-on obsessive, relationship (be that platonic or romantic) will be able to see themselves reflected here.

The first couple of chapters may have not been perfect for me, but the rest of the book (particularly the second half) absolutely was. I thought it was perfectly paced and every sentence was so emotive, yet never over-written.

I don’t necessarily think this book would be something I could widely recommend, but it was definitely For Me. If the premise intrigues you, you enjoy character-focused books, and can empathise with messy/”unlikeable” characters, then I would encourage you to pick this up. I am looking forward to any future books by Grace Murray.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Books Before Bs · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Blank Canvas’ is touted as a “sensual, sharp, and utterly compelling campus novel about grief, reinvention, and the ripple effects of telling lies” from an “outstanding new voice”. My interest was piqued; my expectations were high. Unfortunately, much like the protagonist’s story about her father’s death, this promise turns out to be a lie.

The novel is a varsity novel that has little to do with reinvention; no exploration of the ripples cast by falsehoods; and only an oblique consideration of grief. Furthermore, the prose lacks fluidity, momentum, and emotional texture, and is devoid of anything resembling voice, instead reading like the debut of an author published far too soon. Which is a real shame, because there is much potential evident on the page—potential that should have been given time to flourish.

Overall, I struggled to find the novel engaging, with the vast majority of characters—and the protagonist in particular—being irredeemably unlikable, and the emotional landscape remaining frustratingly flat throughout, offering neither tension nor thematic urgency. The book ultimately seems unsure of what it wants to say.

Yet, it isn’t a bad novel so much as an underdeveloped one. There are glimmers of talent scattered across the pages, enough that I would be curious to see what this author produces in ten or twenty years’ time. For now, though, ‘Blank Canvas’ is a forgettable read—one that unintentionally illustrates the risks of publishing too early.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grace Murray and Fig Tree for the ARC.

⚠️ Suicide attempt referenced, implied rape, paedophilia, mental illness, death of a parent

[Red Newsom · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Charlotte tells her fellow art student Katarina that her father died over summer break, she realises how easy it is to deliver these fantasies to her sympathetic classmates. But when Charlotte and Katarina end up romantically involved, we the reader are just waiting for the guillotine to fall and the truth to be revealed. Grace Murray adeptly captures the dread of waiting for a lie to be found out.

Charlotte is a frustrating character. Blank Canvass is the perfect title to capture her avoidance, her emotional repression. She's on the periphery, cynically observing her fellow art students,l exaggerated traits whilst not displaying much of a personality herself. You're often not just willing her to be honest, you're willing her to offer anything of substance at all. This isn't a criticism - I love problematic characters who don't behave the way people "should". The novel also delves into her childhood and why she is so closed off, which was heartbreaking at times. 

This is a strong debut and a great character-driven story. I appreciated that a novel about such a complicated character didn't end with everything being magically resolved.  It's a realistic coming of age story that captures the awkwardness of trying to make meaningful connections at university, coming to terms with your past to try and make the best of your future.

[Hannah Jung · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a coming-of-age tale, about navigating grief and learning to cope with the tangled realities of life.
Charlotte is an art student at an American college, far from home in England - and her messy past.
Troubled by the loss of her mother, confused by feelings about her body, appearance and identity, she lies to a fellow art student Katarina about the death of her father. The relationship that develops between the two is therefore built on a web of lies.
I liked the fact that although Charlotte suffers, it never goes too far, and she does get help. She seems to mature over the course of the novel, so the character development was well done. Her relationship with her father was troubled, but sweet and I liked how it progressed.
Overall, a bittersweet story about starting afresh - a blank canvas.

[Ben Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Murray's Blank Canvas, her debut novel, is stunning in its ferocious quietude. Charlotte, in a university in upstate New York tells a lie - her father died over the summer. Back in the UK, her father is preparing to visit. Murray draws Charlotte so brilliantly on the page from the outset that you want to love her, even despite the lies, and when her relationship with Katarina blossoms you feel love for them both - but as the reader you know there is this bomb, waiting to go off.

Blank Canvas is a truly gripping novel, a fantastic debut, and marks Murray out as a writer to watch. I gulped this one down in one sitting, breathless. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Jodie Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blank Canvas by Grace Murray is one of the best debuts I’ve read this year - I read the whole thing in one sitting, so enmeshed in Catherine’s life and lies that I simply couldn’t leave her. A character eliciting the level of frustration and sympathy that Catherine does in a reader is a mark of truly impressive writing. The middle act, set in Italy, floored me. Murray’s writing moves between a New York campus, a terraced house in Lichfield and a workaway trip in Italy with the ease of a writer unencumbered – each setting, each relationship, and each conversation felt real, as if they were being recounted to the reader from memory. Grace Murray is a writer to watch.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The writing was brilliant and raw, but unfortunately I didn’t connect to any of the characters. Charlotte was deeply unlikeable and I found myself inwardly cringing at her decisions and actions. The few weeks spent in Italy were my favourite, the descriptions of the deep summer made me yearn for a day spent in the sun. But after they returned, I found myself losing interest in the story and everything that was happening.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #BlankCanvas #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[rubee ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

utter brilliance, caused my second crash out of this year

[Lucy Skeet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

What a banger!!! (Thanks so much to Fig Tree for my copy!)

[nell · Rating 3 out of 5]

a solid three! strong, well-written debut. wanted a little bit more from the second-half, but enjoyed overall. looking forward to seeing more from grace murray!!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible debut. 👏🏻

“I had no standards to live up to, either. I had never been particularly honest. Other people were good and kind - the rest were predestined for mediocrity, or cruelty. It wasn’t my fault that I fell, through the random act of my birth, into the second category. If I ever woke up in 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.”

Everyone probably thinks, what sick person would actually lie about their dad’s death? A lonely girl at college would. It was also very funny in parts. I loved Charlotte. You can’t help but like her. I love weird, unhinged main characters. But with any weird lit novel, it comes with some sadness too. It’s a novel about grief, reinvention and connection. It’s character driven and Grace writes with intelligence and wit. It was written so well and it gripped me from the first page. It didn’t read like a debut. Grace Murray is a writer to watch. I urge you all to pick it up, it’s a little gem.