“The Original” is the latest novel by Nell Stevens that prompts readers to contemplate authenticity, social class, and the values we assign to various aspects of life. The story follows Grace, who is living with her wealthy extended family after her parents succumbed to madness, leaving her orphaned.

Set in the late 19th century, primarily in England, the novel’s premise revolves around Grace, who, despite struggling with face blindness, is a talented forger. She secretly engages in this craft while attempting to save money for herself. Her cousin, Charles, whom she hasn’t seen since childhood, returns over a decade later, seeking to reclaim his inheritance. However, questions arise about his true identity.

Readers will be left wondering whether Charles is indeed the rightful heir and Grace’s cousin or just an imposter. This mystery unfolds in a way that keeps you guessing until the very end. The novel evokes vibes reminiscent of “Jane Eyre” and Sarah Waters’ “The Fingersmith.” Fans of those works, as well as Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” are likely to appreciate this queer, turn-of-the-century mystery.

I highly recommend this book—it was so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and WW Norton and Company for providing the ARC.

Nell Stevens' The Original is a captivating blend of mystery, deception, and art set in a decaying English estate. Grace, an outsider in her own home, finds solace in forging paintings—until the arrival of a supposed long-lost cousin disrupts her carefully controlled world. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, the novel explores identity, authenticity, and the blurred lines between truth and illusion. Elegantly written and rich with intrigue, The Original is a compelling, atmospheric read.

ell Stevens has remained on my radar since I read A Briefly Delicious Life, as the author has such a singular talent for painting intriguing stories with peculiar characters, and I feel very blessed to have received an ARC of this novel.

I enjoyed Grace's perspective as someone with face blindness (and potentially some other neurodivergences), the way she moved through the world around her with a sort of obliviousness, while being attentive to details others would surely miss. I empathized deeply with her social struggles, and the confusion over what potential your life may even be open to.

The premise of intertwining the lives of two copyists was so unique, and when I finished the book I wanted to open it again and start over, to glean every kernel of interest that I may have missed. The visualization of the complicated relationship dynamics of queer people in the Victorian era was well done and welcome, and overall it felt like I was getting a sneaky glimpse into a noble family's privately scandalous life.

The use of the paintings for imagery and how much colour was discussed leads me to believe the author has a background in art, as every reference felt nuanced and thoughtful. Every time a new painting was referenced I had to look up an image of it, and analyze it along with the artist. Reading her impressions of the art was interesting, and triggered a part of my brain I hadn't interacted with much in a long way, I enjoyed that aspect very much.

Overall, I would recommend this book to any fan of Historical Fiction, particularly if you enjoy LGBTQIA+ works, and I will be buying and re-reading it when it is fully released!

Screaming because this is so good! It’s giving ‘be gay do crime’ but with Nell Steven’s beautiful writing style. I loved Briefly, a Delicious Life and I was so excited when I saw this and it definitely hasn’t let me down.

Grace lives in her uncle’s house following her parents' admission into an asylum. She is face blind but has a talent for copying paintings. Her cousin Charles returns after being presumed lost at sea for over a decade to claim his inheritance although there are questions surrounding his true identity.

Parts definitely reminded me of Shirley Jackson, specifically the crumbling manor, the threads of madness that run in the family, and the mc being a strange young woman. Of course the tone is much less horrific overall but I really enjoyed this.

Artworks are woven into the text in a similar way to how music was present in BaDL, adding an additional depth to the storytelling. I was obsessed with the way forgery was used as an act of love and devotion throughout the story.

Overall I adored this and I can’t wait to get a hold of a physical copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Beautifully written and atmospheric, this is a genre-twisting novel that has the gothic broody mood of Jane Eyre (with an poor-relation orphan living with wealthy relatives that take almost no interest in her) combined with a modern-day queer sensibility. A story about imposters/fakers of all kinds -- from a man claiming to be the long-lost heir of a wealthy family, to the heroine's secret talent for painting copies of famous paintings, to those hiding their true sensibilities. A dark and wholly original page-turner!