ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church was a pleasant enough read. I enjoyed the journey to the golden days of Las Vegas and the entertainment.

I enjoyed spending time with Ruby and friends in the 1960s; the historical aspects of the book were interesting in the context of the story.

It is a story of survival, of lessons learned, a heartbreaking story, told with passion and love.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a story of friendship, a story of friendship between woman who become each other's families, their lifeline. I enjoyed reading about strong women who were not out to destroy each other but to life each other up.

Lilly’s family is killed in a car crash when she is just a small child. She is then raised by her aunt and uncle. It is a loveless home plus, she is abused by her uncle. However, through an anonymous benefactor, Lilly is allowed to take dance lessons. This becomes her lifeline and her saving grace. She uses her talent to escape her childhood and create and amazing life as Vegas showgirl.

When I started this book I almost put it down within the first chapter. I had just finished Before We Were Yours. I did not think I could handle any more child abuse. I am glad I didn’t stop…this is an amazing and fascinating read not to be missed.

I don’t think I have ever loved a more flawed character as I have Lilly or Ruby….she changes her name when she runs away to Las Vegas. She has resilience and astounding toughness. She makes some tragic mistakes but still manages to get her act together and come out on top!

I enjoyed learning the behind the scenes actions of a showgirl. There is a lot more to it besides the dancing and the costumes. The high-rollers, the partying, the philandering all make up a life I did not know existed. And all the money! Geez!

Lilly conquers some tragedies which most people could never overcome. She does this with a style and a strength which are above and beyond!

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

I am sorry I had to DNF this book not because it was bad but because there were some really big triggers for me. There are triggers of an animal death and intense childhood abuse scenes. I'm sure this book was great and many others have enjoyed it, I just can't finish it because of some recent trauma that I have experienced. I don't know how to rate this story because I couldn't get past the first chapters without a panic attack but it was well written and think many will enjoy so I left it at three stars. If you're not triggered by these events than I would suggest you checking it out for yourself.
I want to thank the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views expressed are my own.

All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church is a deeply moving story of brokenness and redemption. Lily, the main character, is bright, driven and a survivor of childhood abuse, tragedy and a lack of affection from the aunt who raised her. The world of glamor is appealing because it takes away from the ugliness of growing up, but it too proves unfaithful and harsh. And when you seek love when you haven't know love, you are bound to fail. Her one redeeming relationship comes from the unlikely source of driver who took her family from her in a horrible accident. He proves to be the solid force that keeps steering her back from poor decisions. I loved the book. The pacing was perfect, I had to keep reading. The descriptions of the Las Vegas life style and the glamor of the dancer's life were captivating. Characters were well developed from the main ones to the minor ones. I would definitely read anything else this author has written.

Let me just say, this is my first Netgalley title, so I didn't know what to expect, but wow, this book blew me away. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.

This book follows Lily Decker, a little girl whose family is killed in car crash. She goes to live with her aunt and uncle, and to put it simply, has a pretty rough childhood with them. She uses dance as her escape, and so when she graduates high school, she leaves her small town in Kansas and heads to Vegas, where she winds up becoming a showgirl and is essentially thrown into a world of sex, drugs, sleazy men, and Vegas nightlife.

To me, this book was essentially Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas combined with the The Help combined with a little bit of Forrest Gump. It captures glimpses of the Vegas nightlife the way Fear and Loathing did (although it's much easier to understand because the MC isn't high all the time), focuses on women, female relationships, and their struggles the way The Help did, and to me, it was just as heart-warming as Forrest Gump.

This book was also set in the 1960's and 70's the way all three of those works were, which is one of my favorite time periods to read about. And let me tell you, if there's one thing this book gets right (and it gets a lot of things right), it's capturing the setting and time period. I took a class on the history of rock last semester, and we spent a lot of time talking about the music and cultural events of the 60's and 70's, and this book referenced so many songs, artists, and cultural events we discussed in the class. It was those little references to real life and actual things that happened that made this book and the setting even more realistic and enjoyable to read.

And this book was really quite enjoyable to read. Lily is a lovable main character from the start. You pity her for the terrible childhood she had and spend a lot of the book just rooting for her to improve her lot in life. Her friends are equally wonderful, and I loved reading about these strong female friendships they had and the ways they'd support each other. This book was sex-positive, but also showed Lily and the others trying to sort out their feelings about sex, their bodies, and slut-shaming, which are all things I think are relatable to women, especially young women, no matter what time period you're living in. It was so cool to see that in a book, and even though my life as a college student in the 21st century is in no way similar to that of a Vegas showgirl in the 1960's, I found myself relating to Lily and some of the internal issues she struggled with a lot more than I'd have thought. All the Beautiful Girls hits at some of those universal themes and issues all girls deal with as they progress into adulthood, and I commend Elizabeth Church for capturing that so well in a book.

This book addresses rape/sexual assault, abusive relationships, and drug use, so I'm including that in this review as a warning to anyone who might not want to read about those things. If there's one complaint I had about the book, it's that I think the drug issue was kind of glossed over a bit more than it should have been, as it made it seem like kicking a drug addiction was easy, when we all know that's not the case. However, the issues related to rape, assault, and abuse were handled a lot better, and I think Church really captured the experience/feelings those kinds of things can make someone feel.

Overall, this was a great book that I was pleasantly surprised by. If you liked The Help, like women's fiction that addresses big issues, or just like 1960's/early 70's pop culture references, this book is definitely for you. I promise you'll fall in love with Lily Decker/Ruby Wilde.

(Also, can I just say, I want an Aviator in my life....someone who looks out for me and sends me books in the mail? Yes please).

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences or affects my review. Special thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.

All the Beautiful Girls is a captivating story of Lily and her journey to overcome childhood trauma. Filled with the glitz and glamour of Vegas in it's prime, the 60's and 70's, All the Beautiful Girls is a wonderful glimpse into the showgirl life. I loved the interaction that Lily had with celebrities from that time period, namely Tom Jones and Sammy Davis, Jr. I had a hard time putting this book down and hated that it ended.

I have just found the first great beach read for the summer. “All the Beautiful Girls” by Elizabeth Church fits the bill perfectly. There is just enough drama, heartbreak, plot twists and character development to keep you turning pages. Due to a tragic accident, Lily Decker is left to be raised by a reluctant aunt and uncle. Both are sorely lacking in parental skills and the emotional damage inflicted dictates Lily’s decisions as she becomes a famous Las Vegas showgirl.

This is an easy, fast moving story to follow. The individuals, their personalities and the storylines are expanded sufficiently to keep you interested but do not overwhelm. It is written in chronological order in the third person. At times, you feel like you have the plot figured out and it takes an unexpected turn that you don’t see coming.

If you have some free time and want to get lost in a behind the scenes look at Las Vegas, this is the book for you. Grab a comfy chair or a spot in the sun and dig in. Because of the adult nature of the situations that take place, I recommend it for young adult to adult readers.
All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church ****03/01/18 Fast Moving, Heart Breaking

I have just found the first great beach read for the summer. “All the Beautiful Girls” by Elizabeth Church fits the bill perfectly. There is just enough drama, heartbreak, plot twists and character development to keep you turning pages. Due to a tragic accident, Lily Decker is left to be raised by a reluctant aunt and uncle. Both are sorely lacking in parental skills and the emotional damage inflicted dictates Lily’s decisions as she becomes a famous Las Vegas showgirl.

This is an easy, fast moving story to follow. The individuals, their personalities and the storylines are expanded sufficiently to keep you interested but do not overwhelm. It is written in chronological order in the third person. At times, you feel like you have the plot figured out and it takes an unexpected turn that you don’t see coming.

If you have some free time and want to get lost in a behind the scenes look at Las Vegas, this is the book for you. Grab a comfy chair or a spot in the sun and dig in. Because of the adult nature of the situations that take place, I recommend it for young adult to adult readers.

4 beautiful, character-driven stars to All the Beautiful Girls! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

The glitz, the glamour, the surreal-looking hotels, the Cirque de Soleil shows, the food, and...the slot machines, I am enamored with all things Las Vegas. So much so, that I rang in my 22nd and 30th birthdays there. I was drawn to this book because of its Vegas setting.

I was three quarters of the way through before I put it together that Elizabeth Church, the author, also wrote a book I listened to last year, The Atomic Weight of Love. All the Beautiful Girls is such a departure, I am still wrapping my head around both books being written by the same author. I actually preferred All the Beautiful Girls.

Lily’s family is killed by a mysterious man called The Aviator who will play a big part in Lily’s story throughout her life. Lily is a sympathetic character from the start. I was rooting for her and hoping she would find her way to a happier life; however, her hard times were very hard. Her childhood was dark with an uncle who abused her for years.

The settings were atmospheric: Kansas in the 1950, Las Vegas in the 1960s, and New Mexico in the 1970s. At first glance, thinking of a woman desiring to be a Vegas showgirl, choosing that over her own education, one might make judgments that this story is lacking substance; however, Church presents this in a way that exposes abuses and the objectification of women based on their looks. While a Vegas showgirl might be glowing and beautiful under the shiny lights, there can be tragic story behind that lipsticked smile. There was for Lily. Will she ever escape her past?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lily’s story and processing all the underlying messages in the stunning prose.

All the Beautiful Girls will be published on March 6, 2018. Thank you to Elizabeth Church, Random House Ballantine, and Netgalley, for the complimentary copy.

In 1957, 8-year old Lily Decker loses her parents and sister in a tragic car accident and is taken in by her child abuser uncle Miles and heavy-handed ‘head in the sand’ aunt Tate. The effects of Lily’s abuse run deep and she becomes a ‘cutter’. So much sadness that broke my heart in the beginning of this book. Time passes and Lily’s commitment to dancing brings her to Vegas on the advice of a dance instructor. Resourcefulness, chance meetings and new friends give Lily the confidence to see her true calling as a Vegas showgirl. She transforms from a caterpillar to a butterfly - becoming a successful showgirl named Ruby Wilde working in the glamorous world of burlesque entertainment. LOVED her story and found myself transported to Vegas, dazzled by the bright lights, in awe of the atmosphere, costuming, choreography and mention of greats like Sammy Davis Junior. I looked Lily Decker up as Church’s superb writing made me truly believe she was a real person (she is not).

I loved, loved, loved Lily's long-lasting connection with guardian angel Stirling Sloan aka the Aviator, the man who caused the horrific life-changing car crash and who she discovers is the mysterious person who has been sending her books to read. One of the most compelling pieces of the story. A great story and one I highly recommend to book clubs.
*will post in additional online venues once published. (Amazon, B&N, Powells)

All the Beautiful Girls is the heart wrenching story of Lily, an 8 year old girl devastated when her entire family is killed in a car wreck, leaving her to be raised by her mother's sister, Aunt Tate and her husband, Uncle Miles. This beautifully written tale of Lily's resilience to overcome her obstacles poses the question of what truly is important in life: material possessions or family? And is it possible to have both? From small town Kansas to the mean streets of Sin City, Lily, now Ruby Wilde, pursues her dreams, but fate helps her realize that maybe those dreams weren't really what she was meant to be.

I was absorbed into this book the moment I picked it up. Growing up in Las Vegas myself, I loved the details about the city and the showgirl career Ruby lived. I felt like I was in the 60's in Las Vegas, during the heyday with the glittering lights, mob activity and anything goes attitudes. But, this book is more than that. Lily/Ruby overcame tough circumstances and followed her goals, achieving them brilliantly. She danced, fell in love, had her heart broken, developed friendships, and lived. I really never wanted her story to end.

If you are a historical fiction fan, this book is for you. And even if you don't like historical fiction, there is a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and enough drama to keep anyone's interest. I'm suggesting this for my bookclub next time I host, because I think it's one that we will all enjoy and have a meaningful discussion about.

Wonderful book about Lily, an abused orphan, who reinvents herself as Ruby, a Las Vegas showgirl. This is one for those who enjoy good stories- stories that sometimes aren't easy to read and sometimes go a tad over the top. Ruby's struggles as a woman in the 1960s and early 70s will ring true, as will her self destructive tendencies. She doesn't always make the best choices but she's always sympathetic. There is hope and positivity here, not only as she finds her way but also as she finds first the Aviator and then Jack and learns that not all men are like her uncle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is one to savor.

I loved this book ! I went into it without knowing what it was about or the author and this book hooked me immediately!
In 1957 Lily Decker is orphaned and sent to live with her aunt and uncle. Two people who should never have been allowed to raise a child! Lily suffers so much abuse under their watch. But this Lily does not allow this to define her. She finds peace in dance lessons and the minute she turns 18 she's off to Las Vegas to live her dream of being a professional dancer! Lily s tough, resilient,determined and I just loved her grit and her heart!
Last Vegas in the time of Elvis, Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Tom Jones and so many more was so exciting to read but the pull of this story was Lily! I will recommend this book over and over again!

The description of this book was a bit deceptive, in my opinion. Touted to be a book about a resilient girl, faced with adversity, who heads to Las Vegas in the 1960's to be a costume-wearing, dripping with jewels and feathers, showgirl, I would say this book is far more about the sexual abuse of a child, in great detail, and her battle against a variety of demons, both exterior and interior, to find some peace. Yes, there's some intriguing scenes that beautifully describe the showgirl lifestyle, the stars of the 60's club scene, and the rampant drugs and free sex of the 60's era. With that said, it is an admirable plot idea, that fell flat for me. Lily (aka Ruby Wilde in Vegas) is fairly likable, but thinly drawn; I did not find myself rooting for her as much as I should have, as I did not have a deep sense of who Lily actually was as a young girl, or as a grown woman. Complexity in characterization all around was lacking for me. And while I understood the focus on physical beauty in the Vegas showgirl life, if I heard one more time that Ruby was devastatingly gorgeous, I was going to yack. Every plot 'twist' was pretty predictable, with very little to keep my interest. I would recommend The Clay Girl by Heather Tucker if you want to read about complex characters dealing with serious child abuse and the heroic avenues a young girl will go to in order to save herself. This one was a miss for me.

Lily Decker loses her entire family in a car crash and is forced to go live with her aunt and uncle. Her aunt is a strict disciplinarian and seems to enjoy punishing Lily and her uncle molests her regularly. The dream that she clings to and which helps her endure this life, is the dream of being a professional dancer.
This book follows Lily through the horrible conditions of her childhood and her adulthood as a dancer. You will want to cheer her on when she needs someone in her corner, cry with her when it seems like she can't catch a break, and wish you could reach through the book and punch some of the characters. I think I went through every emotion possible reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed and think you will too.

Are you looking for an historical novel featuring a hard-working, single-minded heroine? Do you adore books that revolve around a tight-knit group of female friends? Are you always eager to lose yourself in the glitz and glamour that can only be found in Las Vegas? If you've answered yes to all of these questions, you absolutely must read All the Beautiful Girls, the latest novel from author Elizabeth J. Church. It captivated me from the very first page, and I can't wait for others to pick it up, read it, and fall in love with it just as I did.

When Lily Decker is only eight years old, her life is turned completely up-side-down when her parents and sister are killed in a tragic automobile accident. Lily is sent to live with her aunt and uncle, where she is made to feel like an enormous imposition. Her aunt is distant and unwilling to expend the energy needed to comfort and connect with the grieving Lily, while her uncle takes an unhealthy interest in her body.

It is only through dance that Lily finds any semblance of peace. As she grows into an extraordinarily beautiful young woman, she becomes an incredibly skilled dancer. Her instructors urge her to leave small-town life behind her and head to Las Vegas where she's bound to make it big, and as soon as she turns eighteen, that's exactly what Lily does. She changes her name to Ruby Wilde and heads for Vegas where she hopes to get a job as a troupe dancer.

Once she arrives in Las Vegas, it becomes obvious that she lacks the finesse necessary to achieve her dream, and what her dance teachers saw as incomparable talent, the talent scouts see as just run-of-the-mill. At first, Ruby is discouraged, but she knows she can't go back home and so she auditions for a job as a show-girl. Her stunning good looks and sensual grace make her a natural for such a position, and it doesn't take long before Ruby's star is on the rise.

The novel traces Ruby's rise to stardom, placing particular emphasis on her relationships with her fellow dancers. So many books portray women as extremely catty, cut-throat individuals who sell each other out in a second if it will get them what they want, so I was beyond pleased that Ms. Church chose not to take that tack here. Instead, Ruby's friendships with her co-workers are warm and supportive. It's not that the women never disagree with one another, but there's an unwavering love and affection at the root of all their interactions that I just couldn't get enough of.

Ms. Church tackles some serious issues such as domestic violence and drug addiction in the novel, but she's not at all heavy-handed in her approach. Instead, she allows her characters to make mistakes that they are forced to learn from, and what they learn has a very authentic feel. I never felt as if the author were trying too hard to make a particular point.

Some portions of the novel, especially those dealing with an abusive relationship Ruby gets involved in, were very difficult to read. Ms. Church doesn't go into great detail when describing the abuse Ruby suffers, but her writing has a very visceral feel that was sometimes challenging for me. I felt as though I were living through these experiences alongside Ruby, and I was moved to tears on several occasions.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing the city of Las Vegas to life. I'm no expert on the city, but her lush descriptions made me feel like I was actually there. I was particularly taken with her descriptions of the various dance halls. I know absolutely nothing about dance, but I was still able to be completely sucked into the story.

All the Beautiful Girls is a delightful and poignant novel I'll be recommending to everyone I know. It's the kind of book that remains with the reader long after the final page is turned, and while the feelings it evokes might not always be warm and fuzzy, the story is captivating enough to make up for any discomfort the reader might experience. I wish there were more books like this out there.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

All the Beautiful Girls is an absorbing read. Lily Decker is a damaged child. After losing her family, she lives with relatives who abuse her. A benefactor makes her life bearable until she escapes into,the glitz and glam of Las Vegas in the late sixties. She changes her name and becomes a show girl and undergoes trials. Then she is broken, literally and figuratively. But heals eventually. The book plays out well, the narration is strong and depicts the essence of the late sixties and ealy seventies pulse.

This was a beautifully written tale about a young woman growing up and finding how to love herself and others after a traumatic childhood.

The book opens with the loss of Lily’s parents and sister in a car accident. She is taken in by her aunt, a cold woman, and her aunt’s husband, who abuses Lily for most of her young life.
Dancing, though, saves her. As does the mysterious Aviator, the man involved in the accident that kills her family. Thanks to dancing, and with some financial help from the Aviator, Lily escapes Kansas and goes to Vegas, where she reinvents herself as Ruby Wilde and becomes a Show Girl!

Glamourous and not always as gritty as it could be, she is surrounded by friends who love her. She also makes some poor choices, as would any young woman with her background.

When she eventually leaves Vegas, she finds a path towards loving and forgiveness that can only be learned by living life. A satisfying read. I love how her relationship with The Aviator was woven throughout, especially at the end.

The ONLY reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that some of the descriptions of abuse were a bit hard to read and could trigger anyone that was abused by a trusted family member. I will continue to look for Church's future work as she writes well thought out books with intriguing characters.

Thanks to Ballantine Books, Net Galley, and Elizabeth Church for the ARC. All Opinions are my own.

All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church

Scrappymags 3-word review: Unmasking Vegas glamour

All my reviews available at scrappymags.com

Genre: Contemporary Fiction (1960’s), Women's Fiction

Shortest summary ever: Lily Decker is just a small town girl (insert Journey lyrics) wanting to make it somewhere - ANYWHERE away from her trapped-in-the-impossible life. And she deserves it. Orphaned by an accident that took her parents and sister, she is forced to live with an aunt with no feeling for motherhood and a devastatingly abusive uncle. The only thing Lily has going for her is dance, so at 18 she flees Kansas in the night and is thrust into Vegas showgirl life, reinventing herself as Ruby Wilde. But being a showgirl ain't easy. Old demons haunt. Overcoming adversity isn't always a story book, and life can change on a dime.

What’s good under the hood: As I started reading, I felt a sense of dread, that eye-rolling“oh poor pretty girl has problems” sort of feeling. SHAME ON ME, because Lily DOES have legitimate problems and compassion grabbed hold of me because Lily is likeable. And normal. And finding her way. I found myself cheering for her, and it taught me immensely about making swift judgements just because someone is pretty and chooses a career based on aesthetics. Instead, like I do with so many books, I tried to put myself in her head - in her place in life, how it would feel, the power to feel beautiful in gorgeous costumes and elegant style. Incredible. And Church completely captured that fascination in the 60's of the Vegas showgirl. I adored walking the stage...

What’s bad or made me mad: I'm a feminist, so there's a part of me that screamed "CHOOSE EDUCATION!!!!", but feminism is about making choices, and Lily made her choices. I had to make my piece with that.

Recommend to:
The “it” and “now” book readers.
Book clubs, circles, groups, etc.  - lots to talk about in regards to women since the 60's and the choices Lily makes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine and Ms. Church for an advanced copy (and allowing me to strut my stuff - mentally - in a skimpy Vegas costume. To applause and not laughter) in exchange for this completely h

All the Beautiful Girls is at heart a romance novel, not a romance between two people, but a woman learning to love herself. I particularly enjoyed the Las Vegas section of this book, the behind the scenes look at the show business world, but also the camaraderie between the women. Hang in there through the rather harrowing early scenes; like all romance novels, this one has a happy ending.

The plot and story felt rushed to me. The initial start in childhood with the abuse just didn't work for me.