Olive McCormick follows her family to New York City, trying to recover from a devastating experience. She is determined to become a Ziegfeld girl, and once she does, most of her dreams come true. Her parents' disapproval is a setback, but she enjoys the glamor and attention. When she meets wealthy Archie Carmichael, it seems all her dreams will come true. But can she quit performing and move to Cincinnati?

Her decision to break off their engagement shocks everyone, most of all Archie, but when her past literally catches up with her, she's sure she's made the right decision.

I loved the fabulous 1920s Manhattan and Adirondack settings. Olive's combination of chutzpah and vulnerability made her relatable, as did Archie's surprising vulnerability. This was a fun, engrossing, light historical. #TheShowGirl #NetGalley

I saw this cover and I just KNEW this would be as good of a book as City of Girls. I think I am a full fledged Nicola Harrison super-fan now because I could not put this book down and devoured this book at the same insane rate as her first. This book follows a young hopeful as she goes to the big city of NYC to become a glamorous member of the Ziegfeld Follies. This book just feels couture or expensive. The writing is so next level and the plot is so elevated and swanky with that Roaring 20s vibe. All that glitters isn't always gold though, and Harrison explores the darker side to the life of a woman of the 20s. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.

4 stars
I am so thankful I am a woman of these times. Reading The Show Girl was insightful to how repressed and hard it was to be a woman in the 1920s. Men ran everything, women were property, and if they showed any interest in the arts, well that was just not allowed.

The Follies were the top level for a performer and to be there it took much sacrifice. When confronted with choices of stay or be with the man she thought she loved...that was a difficult choice.

This is when historical fiction is done right. As much as I love history, sometimes they can be a bit cheesy or cliche - so sometimes it's refreshing to find one that is entertaining the whole way through. It is 1927 - Olive McCormick aka “Olive Shine” moves with her family to NY from Minnesota to try to make it on Broadway as a Ziegfeld girl. Her parents are against this crass and “unladylike” occupation especially after her scandalous incident in which she had to put her daughter up for adoption. After finally making it on her own, she meets Archie Carmichael, a successful businessman from Ohio who is enamored with her. In order to grow in their relationship, she has to come to terms with her past and the consequences of her decisions. This all comes to a head after they are engaged and the guilt of keeping her secret is too much to bear.

There are so many different layers and themes to Olive - her strong feelings toward being a modern, independent woman who does not give up her career to be a housewife, to always pursue her dreams no matter what, and to take responsibility for all your actions. Some of her actions made me want to scream - if she was just honest with Archie, then I’m sure most of the drama towards the end would not have happened. The timing of the story makes you think about how the stock market crash of 1929 would fit into their story and it added such an interesting and tragic aspect to the story. I wish there were more interactions between Olive and her father - as he seemed to be such a central part of her mind, but his personality seemed to shift without explanation.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Aww..Historical Fiction, you are a true friend.

This book set in the late 1920s will transport you to a New York City that’s full of the glamour, elegance and glitz of the big money folks. It showcases the Ziegfeld Follies and the ladies that broke out of their mama’s roles to become the face of the independent woman.

There are clubs that are open all night, gentlemen admirers that send flowers and gifts, and copious amounts of illegal alcohol.

There is also a part in which our main character, Olive, performs with some other Ziegfeld girls on a summer tour of the Adirondacks where the wealthy “camp” in luxury compounds away from the heat and grime of the city.

The story itself is beautifully told. Olive wants to take her talent and showcase it on the stage. She made a mistake when she was 19 which twinges at her consciousness.

Men literally fall at Olive’s feet but she meets a unique man named Archie with money and an appreciation for her talent.

But when Archie and Olive become engaged, will the spirited girl leave the spotlight? And how will that secret from the past follow Olive?

I loved immersing myself in this time, place and with these characters and their story.

My favorite extravagance Amon the many in the was Archie’s private rail car!!

I have only read a few books that take place during this time period and have never read about this specific part of history. This very much reminds me of City of Girls so if you enjoyed that - I highly recommend picking this one up. I admired Olive's dedication to performing and being an independent female; the treatment of women during this time period was cringe worthy at best. There were so many decisions made for women that were controlled by their families and women were shunned away from their homes if they didn't follow these expectations. I found Olive has her faults but enjoyed her journey and reading more about the rise and fall of the follies.

As soon as I read the synopsis of The Show Girl, I knew I had to read it! This is a fantastic story of the Roaring 20's! I can't wait to read her next book!

This one has all the vibes from the roaring 20s. I don’t normally like historical fiction because so much of it uses war as a plot point but books like this - with strong and defiant female characters are my jam. I would love to see what the author does next

This was my 2nd novel by Nicola Harrison — both by courtesy of Net Galley. I LOVED Montauk and when I saw that Nicola Harrison had another book on the horizon, I knew I had to read it!

I love historical fiction and loved having Montauk as the perfect beach read!

While I loved the first half of The Show Girl, I lost some interest in the second half. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if she wouldn’t have broken up with Archie and we continued to learn about their life. I felt like the first half of the novel was so engaging and reading about the bubble before the Great Depression. Once she parted ways with Archie the story kind of jump around and then wrapped up too quickly.

Overall, I would give this book a 3.5 rounded up to 4.

Nicola Harrison’s second novel, The Show Girl, is about a small town girl from Minneapolis, who has big dreams of becoming a famous Ziegfeld Follies girl fighting against all odds and unsupportive parents and many obstacles along the way hoping to achieve her dreams.

Olive McCormick realized she wanted to dance from a young age. She really knew she wanted to be a Ziegfeld girl. This was during the 1920’s and women’s dreams depended mostly on men’s assessments of them. Against her mother’s wishes and her father’s disappointment in her she chose to follow her dreams. And after many regrets, failures and hard work she became a show girl for Ziegfeld! She was singing and dancing. But when her parents are invited to see her perform, their reaction is nothing but disgust. Her father embarrassed by her. Having to make the hardest decision of her life, she decides to pursue her dreams over her family, never realizing how this predicament would someday come back to haunt her.

But Olive is a strong woman able to weather any storm with the brains and wit of any man, and is not afraid to question their decisions.

And as her career takes off something else wonderful happens to Olive, now known as Olive Shine! She falls in love. When she meets Archie Carmichael, a wealthy, handsome businessman with a heart of gold, she finally believes she has it all! He is proud of her career, and loves her. But when they decide to marry, Olive realizes Archie may want more than she is capable of giving him.

Her secretive past now comes back to torture her. She must decide if she should tell Archie what she has been hiding since she was young, and lose him forever, or keep her secret and walk away from the love of her life. Neither decision will make her happy. But her love for him is more powerful than any secret, even though Archie will never truly understand.

Will Olive’s strength and determination be enough to keep her on the new path she has chosen?

I was introduced to Nicola Harrison when I read her first novel back in 2020 called Montauk. It still haunts me to this day. But now I can add to the list of favorite books of 2021 with her latest, The Show Girl. Harrison is able to develop powerfully strong women characters with wills of their own, not afraid to reach out and take what they feel they rightfully deserve.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #TheShowGirl #NicolaHarrison for the advanced copy.

This is the story of Olive Shine, a showgirl in 1920's New York. She has big dreams and loves nothing more than being on stage and the star of the show. She is talented and envied. Shine is a stage name she takes and suits her well. She thrives and shines in all she undertakes after becoming a part of the Ziegfeld Follies. This is the life for her and she plans to hold onto it tight now that she has it. She loves the costumes and elaborate headpieces. She also loves all of the attention.

The author did a lot of research on the time period and what life for a showgirl in the follies must have been like. Olive is a well-drawn character full of ambition and fortitude. She comes across as selfish and driven. She falls in love with Archie, a very prosperous man, and has to make some hard choices. Can she have a career dancing in nightclubs and being in the arms of drunken men every evening and marriage too? Often she dances on stage late into the night with barely anything on. She is in clubs most of the night and sleeps during the day. Archie's family does not approve of her. Her own family really doesn't either and she often finds herself in conflict with them.

I am giving the book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because of all of the interesting information about this time period. I really didn't like Olive's character all that much, or Archie. I feel like the author was trying to send a message that women are in control of their choices and Olive recognized she did not have to marry and have children to live in the world and be happy. Certainly, that was what her parents wanted for her. Also, most of her other showgirl friends wanted that too. To meet a man while performing and give it all up to be a wife and mother. Olive was very different in her desires and always knew what she wanted. Great qualities of being independent and self-confident. I thought she was selfish tho and didn't care about others.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy to read for review. If you like Historical Fiction you might really enjoy this one!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nicola Harrison is a beautiful writer. Her pages just come to life. I learned this about her when I read Montauk, but reading The Show Girl, you feel like you're in the audience watching Olive and the girls dance, you feel like you're at the clubs with them. I remembered that wide eyed feeling I had when I first moved to NYC that Olive had. I love that she was becoming this modern woman in a time where modern women weren't yet accepted. It's always fun to read about the roaring 20's. Well that is until the market crashes. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to see what she writes next!

I have really enjoyed this author's previous work and was looking forward to reading this title. As I expected, the research into the era is exceptional, the age of the 1920's is really brought to life. The way women were treated and looked upon we hope has changed but sometimes the headlines in the newspaper belie this idea. As Olive risks everything to become a showgirl her life changes forever.
unusual, different , captivating and a great book to discuss.

The Ziegfeld Follies are still famous a century later, so imagine living in the roaring 20’s (1920’s) and moving from the Midwest to New York with dreams of being a part of Ziegfeld’s theater!
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I loved reading this novel, The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison, because it swept me away in the glitz and glamour of the time period from the Follies to the devastation of the stock market crash. Experiencing it all through the eyes of the main character, Olive, was almost a visual experience, everything was so well depicted.
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Olive is a strong woman, determined to make her own way in a male dominated society. She meets handsome, wealthy Archie who seems to love and accept her just the way she is…until they are engaged. Then Olive had some choices to make.

This was a fun novel! I liked the lively storytelling and I found the pace and the language appropriate and engaging.
Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre, but I was getting tired of the abundance of Holocaust stories and this was a pleasant diversion.
I was, of course, familiar with the time period, the Ziegfeld Follies, and the resorts in the Adirondacks, but had never read anything set here before. I didn’t know about the men behind the headlines and the early days of the “camps, and I enjoyed learning a bit of that history (although … Ziegfeld was a gross, dirty old man!).
I liked Olive and her varied cast of characters, they were portrayed very true to life and with flaws and all. Although her mother wasn’t likeable, she exemplifies women of the time - her admitting some regret was lovely and a bonus to the character portrayals. I admired Olive’s independent ways, despite the troubles they led her to.
But, perhaps best of all, I finally got the happy ending that I’ve been searching for in all my recent reading endeavors.
Due to the subject matter, this is not something I could have in a classroom, nor recommend to my students, but it is a perfect holiday read for the adults with whom I share my reviews. It would also make a great book club selection - there’s lots of social commentary that could be discussed!

As if Nicola couldn't get any better! I'm not a historical fiction reader, but this book was phenomenal. I couldn't help to feel for Olive. I just had such a big heart for her. She went through so much in this book, and I just wanted to be her best friend and steer her in the right path. I really felt like I was in the 1920s reading this novel. Nicola has such an awesome talent for writing such beautiful and captivating stories. This comes highly recommended!

Now lookee here see! I’m pleased as punch to be on tour with @letstalkbookspromo and @stmartinspress for this swell book by @nicolaharrisonauthor called The Show Girl!

Picture it. 1927. That’s when we meet Olive McCormick, a wanna be dancer with stars in her eyes. Living in Minneapolis, Olive longs to become a big star with the Ziegfeld Follies. What she lacks in street smarts, she makes up for in talent. But as we all know, talent alone does not always a star make.

Then life happens, nearly derailing Olive’s big chance at success. Even her family thinks continuing to pursue her dreams are foolish. But the sacrifices she makes pay off once she finally becomes a glamorous show girl, now known as Olive Shine.

One night she meets the handsome and rich fella, Archie Carmichael. Archie is equally sweet on Olive and even seems to fancy that she’s a modern dame. That is, until, Archie proposes. Now Olive has to make a choice- leave behind the dapper life she’s always dreamed of or shatter the dreams of the man she loves by not being completely truthful about her past?

The Show Girl was a great escape to the past. The glitz and glamour of the 1920s have always fascinated me, probably because everything always seems so exaggerated in the pictures. Olive’s story seems like it’s bound to be a predictable tale of another girl who loses herself in her desire to make it big. It was refreshing to see Olive evolve, even if some of the events in this story tied up slightly too neatly for my taste. I’d still recommend this read to anyone who loves taking a dance step back in time.

This is a fun book! I enjoyed not only Olivia's story but being transported to the 1920's and the life of a show girl. I found her relationships with her parents so interesting and the struggles that Olivia overcame throughout the book. Parts of this book made me feel like I was at a summer camp too! This was a great read!

I had mixed feelings about The Show Girl, although I think a large part of that was my own expectations and headspace while reading. I previously read Nicola Harrison’s Montauk and I absolutely loved it, so I had high hopes for being transported in a similar fashion.

Taking place in the late 1920s just before the stock market crash, The Show Girl chronicles Olive McCormick’s road to stardom from small-town Minnesota to one of Ziegfeld’s show girls in NYC. While part of me did feel for Olive, I just found her character to be a little too selfish and self-indulgent to connect with and her growth didn’t feel natural.

There were a few scenes in the book that reminded me of Harvey Weinstein and the #metoo movement that I would’ve liked to have delved into a bit deeper. In the beginning, Olive gets caught up with a studio executive on a trip to LA that really reminded me of the power dynamics between men and women, particularly in show business. Then, when Olive gets cast and becomes one of “Ziegfeld’s girls,” he seemed like the 1920s version of Harvey Weinstein. I would’ve liked to see this theme developed a bit more.

Harrison did a great job in being true to the time period and portraying the roles men and women were boxed into. Olive’s relationship with her parents was especially compelling, although I wonder how her brothers played into it and how forward-thinking they may have been.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and I liked how it ended. I just felt that it was wrapped up a little to neatly to be realistic, but I do think my cynicism can sometimes be attributed to my headspace while reading a story and this one still made me smile!

This is a thrilling look back through history to the time of Zeigfield's follies. It reads similarly to Gilbert's City of Girls. Highly recommended.