
Member Reviews

Midwest girl makes big in New York and the trials and tributes that come with her life experiences. Life during the roaring 20's and the crash of the stock market...one girl's life experiences.

In The Show Girl, Nicola Harrison has another wonderfully fleshed out novel, much like she did in her novel Montauk. Olive is a young girl from Minnesota who has a dream of making it big on the New York stage against all odds. Circumstances are against her but when her family finally takes the leap and moves there, all of the pieces fall into place and she has the opportunity she hoped for, the chance to be one of the girls in the Ziegfield Follies. It's a heady life for a young woman, especially since she is working in what her parents think is a degrading business, but it's all Olive ever wanted. But it's a world of men who are all out to get what they can from a young woman, especially if she is a show girl. Is Olive able to tell between those that want her for what she is on the outside and those that want her for the real person she is on the inside?
This is a great story of life, love and second chances set in the glamorous world of the 1920s. Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I’m sure this is a wonderful story but the characters seem too wooden and did not keep my attention.
I’m sure others will love the story.

The Show Girl is an extraordinary, fast moving, and heart tugging book. The relatable characters come alive and into your life with their very human qualities, struggles, and yes, the triumphs. The story takes place during the 1920s which provided an interesting historical background. This is a ten star book! Highly recommended.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

I adored Harrison's novel Montauk so when I was offered this ARC, I jumped at the chance. And it was lovely! Olive is a young performer who moves with her family to New York and joins the Ziegfeld Follies. She's dynamic and fans love her. When she meets suave and handsome Archie, she believes she has found the man of her dreams. But she's hiding a secret from her past that prevents them marrying and having children. There are lots of surprises and the book is deftly written, revealing the inequities and hardships for young women in the 1920's. But the best part is that redemption is possible and some mistakes can be rectified. This is a sure-fire winner in my eyes!

Again, Harrison has written a beautiful, rich novel that details tge life of a young woman during the 1920’s. Her earlier novel, MONTAUK, was a favorite of mine. The protagonist is Olive who comes to NYC for a career in the theater after dealing with tumultuous experiences earlier. She represents the suppression of women and the totality of a woman’s dependence on husbands and fathers.
Olive is successful and rises to fame as a ZIEGFELD GIRL. Despite her success, she faces censure from her family and much of society. As we read about Olive, we also view the lives of the very wealthy and visit the famous camps of the Adirondack Mountains. The author has done a truly remarkable job of research, combined with her writing skills, which brings us to these “camps.”
Sometimes mistakes can be fixed, so this is a story of hope. I found this book interesting and highly readable. I think book groups will enjoy it.
Thank you Netgalley for another wonderful book by Nicola Harrison.