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.

Olive has always dreamed of the stage. She ends up having to postpone her dream due to an extenuating circumstance. As soon as she is able, she heads to NYC to take Ziegfeld up on his previous offer. Through determination and hard work, Olive becomes one of the best show girls around. Then she meets Archie!

Archie is a very wealthy man. He and Olive hit it off quickly. They soon become engaged. But, Olive has a terrible secret. She is not quick to share and it devastates their relationship.

I enjoyed so many things about this novel. I loved the setting of NYC during the prohibition. But the best thing…is the Ziegfeld Follies! I have read a few books set during this time but this one is the best. I loved learning about how the showgirls survived and worked. Add the setting with the wonderful character, Olive…and you have a fantastic book! Don’t forget her secret….you will have to read this to find out!

Need a fabulous historical fiction…THIS IS IT!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

4.5 ⭐️‘s
The year is 1926 and Olive McCormick is performing in a traveling opera company in California. She loves the theater and has great aspirations of becoming a Ziegfeld girl and performing in the Follies in New York City, especially after meeting Florence Ziegfeld. After a life changing setback in California, her plans are put on hold for a year, but in 1927 she makes it to New York. Using her good looks, charm and spunky attitude she gets a spot in the Follies and later becomes a star of the Midnight Frolic. Loving the limelight she never wants to be anything else but a singer and a dancer. When she meets Archibald Carmichael, she falls in love and is happy that he doesn’t want to change her lifestyle. As their relationship blossoms and they plan to marry, Olive’s past comes back to haunt her. Can she have the life and love she desperately craves or will she lose it all? Set in New York and the camps of the Adirondacks, this novel gives us a glimpse into the Ziegfeld Follies and the roaring 20’s. Filled with family drama, the entertainment industry and the devastation of the stock market crash, this book was an entertaining read from start to finish.

I knew that a lot of these women were discriminated against simply because they were beautiful and could dance. No doubt, they were talented and did things their way. Truly, these women were some of the first feminists really leading the way. I sure do love a story that features strong women and this one is definitely that!

This book is an enjoyable tale about women making their own way!

The cover of this book though had me interested and fascinated. What followed was a very good #HistoricalFiction novel set during a time when women were to marry, have children, and manage a household - not follow their ambitions...⁠
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Olive is the type of girl who has talent and wants to share it with the world - not content for the time's "normal" for women. She is rewarded with success and loving it. She then meets Archie and finds her life perfect. Immediately, I knew things wouldn't be perfect with Archie, and I was right when he began changing - trying to get Olive to conform to more traditional roles.

I felt Olive's heartbreaking decision as she has to choose between her passion and the man she's fallen in love with.

Everything about this book was interesting and fascinating and perfect for anyone looking for historical fiction not involving a war.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way this book examined the rise of the modern career woman through one woman's story.

Olive wants to sing and dance. It's why she joined a traveling troupe. When she becomes a Ziegfeld Follies performer, she can finally pursue her dreams of stardom. But the Follies, and Mr. Ziegfeld in particular, are not exactly what she expected. There is a world of grit beneath all of the glitter, and she works fiendishly to survive in the cutthroat world of showbusiness. The glamour hides a very real environment shaped by manipulation, exploitation and greed. At times, Olive's naivete and willingness to be objectified nauseated me - but I understood that she was a reflection of her upbringing and social conditioning.

The depictions of Flapper Age New York City, the descriptions of the lavish nightlife and decadent parties, and the realistic representation of the chaos and pressure surrounding the world of entertainment were fascinating.

The love story between Olive and Archie was sweet, and highlighted the clash of the old world and the new, Olive was caught between Edwardian expectations of female submissiveness and the Flapper ideals of self realization and self-discovery.

More than anything, the way the story was wrapped up emphasized that Olive was the captain of her own destiny. All of the loose ends in her life were resolved because she embraced her opportunity to shine-- and truly became her stage name.

3 Stars

I received an ARC of this book. Another complex and engrossing story from Nicola Harrison. This author brings her characters to life in a way that grabs my interest from the beginning until the very end. This tale is of a young woman who dreams of being on stage and finds herself becoming a show girl in the time of bootleg whiskey and flappers really kept me reading. Couldn't put it down!

The Show Girl takes us back to the 1920s, New York City and the Ziegfeld Follies. The main character, Olive, is a young Midwestern girl (from St. Cloud, MN - coincidentally, this is where I went to college!) trying to make it on her own.

If you like historical fiction, and you’re looking for an era I don’t think we’ve read much about (at least I haven’t)…this is for you. I enjoyed reading about the 1920s, the glamour of NYC, the time spent in the Adirondacks, and the independence of the flapper girls. I would be interested in reading more about this time period.

While the setting was great and the story was interesting, I did not care for Olive at all. Really, that’s ok…no one says you have to love every book character (sometimes I love to hate them!!) but I had an extra hard time with her. I thought she was bratty but I guess that is probably because of her age…I can’t connect anymore with those youngsters???!

Without spoiling the ending, I felt like it wrapped up too quickly and too smoothly. Olive herself even ponders everything moving so fast! I would’ve liked this more had the story taken a few different turns or maybe spanned a longer length of time.

EXCERPT: '... if they can't stand to see a young woman exercise her rights, then maybe they need an education in how the modern world works.'

The waiter turned on his heel and left, and my mother began to collect her things. I reached out and put my hand on hers. 'Where are you going, Mama? Don't let them bully us into leaving.'

'It's not them,' she said softly. 'It's you.' I saw her eyes fill with tears. 'Your manners, your lack of etiquette, of decency - living here with a man you've only just met - even your lovely hair . . .' She reached out and tucked a piece of my cropped hair behind my ear. 'It's all gone.'

She stood, pushed in her chair and gently placed her handbag on her arm. 'Olive, you're forgetting who you are.'

'You're wrong, Mama,' I said, almost in a whisper. 'For the first time in my life I know exactly who I want to be.'

ABOUT 'THE SHOW GIRL': It's 1927 when Olive McCormick moves from Minneapolis to New York City determined to become a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. Extremely talented as a singer and dancer, it takes every bit of perseverance to finally make it on stage. And once she does, all the glamour and excitement is everything she imagined and more--even worth all the sacrifices she has had to make along the way.

Then she meets Archie Carmichael. Handsome, wealthy--the only man she's ever met who seems to accept her modern ways--her independent nature and passion for success. But once she accepts his proposal of marriage he starts to change his tune, and Olive must decide if she is willing to reveal a devastating secret and sacrifice the life she loves for the man she loves.

MY THOUGHTS: Spanning 1927 to 1929, and encompassing the beginning of the great depression, The Show Girl is an exciting and balanced blend of history, drama, and romance.

Harrison has captured the excitement of the end of the roaring twenties; a time of changing social mores, a time of desperate need for excess as people tried to block out the devastation and decimation of the first world war. There is a frantic need for enjoyment, and social boundaries are pushed as women begin to assert their independence.

This is the backdrop to a story of a young woman with ambition, a dream that, despite all the obstacles placed in her way, she is determined to attain. Young and naive in New York City, this is both a coming of age story and a social commentary. I hope I am not making this sound dull, because it is anything but. It is brimming with life, love, and drama.

Harrison's characters are very true to life. Olive comes from a very traditional family; a rigidly strict father, and a mother who stays at home to care for the children. Their plans for Olive were more along the lines of a nice little job in a department store until she marries, than a scantily clad show girl!

Olive is not always a likeable character. Sometimes, like most of us, she doesn't even like herself. But Olive is determined, and very single-minded; totally focused on reaching her goal even if she is abandoned by her family along the way. And she is the star of this story. The spotlight never leaves her.

I found this a fascinating read. On my bucket list is a trip to Paris to see the Follies Bergére, and it is on this famous troupe that Ziegfield based his own troupe of dancers in New York. So between that, and The Show Girl being written by Nicola Harrison, I just knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed.

⭐⭐⭐.9

#TheShowGirl #NetGalley

I: @nicolaharrisonauthor @stmartinspress

T: @NicolaHAuthor #StMartinsPress

#historicalfiction #romance

THE AUTHOR: I'm originally from Hampshire, England, and moved to California when I was 14. I studied Literature at UCLA and received an MFA in creative writing at Stony Brook University. Soon after college I moved to NYC and worked in magazine publishing. I was the fashion and style staff writer for Forbes and had a weekly column at Lucky Magazine. I spent many summers in Montauk, which inspired my first novel, but after 17 years in the Big Apple I recently moved back to California and have settled in Manhattan Beach with my husband, two sons and two chihuahuas. When I'm not writing I love to paddle board, do yoga and get outside with my boys.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to St Martin's via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

The Showgirl was a trip through the eyes of Olive. A Midwest girl with big dreams of being a star in the 1920s. Totally different kind of story that just brings you back in time. A very enjoyable historical fiction read. I loved Olives string female character

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the story of Olive McCormick. In 1927, small town girl Olive leaves Minneapolis and moves to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. I loved all the details of the Follies, as well as reading about Olive's struggles along the way. This was a very good book! Loved it!

I loved this book. I have not read a historical fiction book since the four winds and while they normally seem to be slow burns for me this did not. It was so exciting reading about Olives life dancing even in high school although what happened to her in California was sad to read about. It was heartbreaking when she got shunned by her family when she became pregnant but the ending brought everything full circle in an unbelievable way. The descriptions of the follies and the shows and New York in the 20s was written so well I thought I was there for the ride. If you are a fan of city of girls or the marvelous mrs maisel. You would love this book. Five stars for me.

I just loved Olive McCormick Shine, the show girl of the title. She a small town girl yearning for the bright lights. She's got talent, beauty, drive, and she's quite a rebel. Against her family's wishes, she's on her way to becoming a star, when she meet the handsome and successful Archie Carmichael. She's a woman in the 20's, so of course she can't have it all (or can she), so will she chose fame or love? Olive isn't perfect and makes plenty of mistakes, but you'll be rooting for her through the whole book. The Show Girl is also fun historic fiction. I loved reading about the Ziegfeld follies and the glamour of NYC during the roaring '20's. This is a great book group book...discussion for days.

THE SHOW GIRL is the story of Olive McCormick, a young girl from the Midwest who moves to New York City to pursue her dream of being a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. there’s glamour and excitement in her new city life, but can she make the sacrifices necessary to continue building this life for herself? set in the 1920s, the novel is a delightful blend of romance and drama and history. I was swept up into the story from the very beginning! this fast-paced story of love and ambition was such a fun look at the Roaring Twenties. 4.5/5⭐️—I really liked it!

THE SHOW GIRL by Nicola Harrison is a sumptuous and luscious read for historical fiction fans! It brought to life so vividly the Roarin’ 20s through the eyes of a young ‘new woman’ called Olive Shine, who fulfills her dream through sheer determination to perform on stage as a Ziegfeld Follies show girl. The novel charts her journey of self discovery and heartache as she pursues her career under the bright lights of the stage and she finds love along the way with the man of her dreams. But she has a secret that is eating her up and could jeopardize everything!
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This was such a well researched book that completely immersed you in this era of immense change, that started with a roar and ended with a crash! The atmosphere of decadence, carefree living and social change was captured so well through the experiences of Olive as a show girl being wined and dined by rich suitors in New York City. But what I enjoyed the most were the insights into the struggles of newly emancipated women - not too long after they gained the right to vote in the US , as they started to forge a new role in the workplace and politics while still fighting traditional expectations of their place in society.

I received a complimentary copy of THE SHOW GIRL by Nicola Harrison from St. Martin’s Press as part of a scheduled Let’s Talk Books tour!

THE SHOW GIRL is set in 1920s New York. Olive is a singer and dancer with real talent and she has set her sights on becoming a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. In a world largely determined by men, she is determined to make her own way, not bowing to her father’s wishes for her future. She braves her way onto the stage and out of her parents’ house to fend for herself. She loves the glamor and glitz of Ziegfeld’s shows and the success it brings her.

When Olive meets Archie, it seems she has found a man who’s willing to accept her life as it is. But as their relationship evolves, a secret she has been keeping from her past puts a barrier between them.

The 1920s are a time period that I have not read a lot about but really enjoy. I thought Olive made for a really fun character to follow. She had incredible talent but even more so she had a strong backbone. She was fierce when it came to standing up for herself and taking brave steps forward even when outcomes weren’t sure.

It was easy to tell early on that there would be bumps in the road between Olive and Archie, but they had a good solid relationship to work from. At the end of the twenties the glitz and glamor and era of indulgences of course came to an end with the stock market crash in 1929, so it was interesting to see Olive’s life against that backdrop.

I would definitely recommend this one to those who enjoy historical fiction and strong female protagonists! THE SHOW GIRL is out now!

The Show Girl: A Novel by Nicola Harrison

It's 1927 and Olive McCormick knows what she wants to do with her life despite her parents very strong objections. After a short stint as a showgirl in CA, which ended very badly, Olive is now in New York and a Ziegfeld Follies show girl. She thrives on the difficult rehearsals, the late nights, the crowds, the adoration, and all that goes with being a show girl. She doesn't understand the other girls considering this a temporary job, looking forward to getting husbands and having children.

Olive was naïve when she went to CA and she's just as naïve in NY. She enjoys the free food and drink from the men who attend the shows but she's not going to fall under their spell long enough for them to distract her from being a show girl. For the other girls, this job is a means to an end but for her it's the life she wants to live.

Then Olive meets wealthy Archie Carmichael, fifteen years her senior, and her life acquires the glamour she could never have attained on her own. But Archie has secrets and Olive has her own secrets. Before she knows it, she is engaged to be married and faces giving up her show girl dreams. Being the same rash, naïve girl she was when she went to CA, she manages to destroy what she's attained and falls farther than she thought possible.

Reading of this time, right before the Great Depression, the people work hard, play hard, and are primed to lose so much, whether they have riches or not much at all. I enjoyed watching the showmanship and back scenes life of the show girls but had trouble liking Olive when she is so single minded, self absorbed and oblivious to the hardships of those around her. But nothing can keep Olive down for long, if for no other reason than she doesn't have the foresight to think about her future. For me, the real story is in what we get to see and learn of the Ziegfeld Follies. As far as Olive goes, I can only hope she grows more aware of those around her because she has someone depending on her.

Publication: August 10, 2021

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

A Ziegfeld Show Girl in the Roaring Twenties

Olive McCormick dreams of becoming a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. Her conservative family objects, but Olive follows her dream first to California then to New York and a meeting with Ziegfeld himself. As a member of the cast, Olive relishes the life. While the other girls consider the job as a step to marriage and family, Olive is totally focused on being a star until she meets Archie Carmichael. He perseveres, and finally, she agrees to marry him.

She likes the way he doesn’t seem bothered by her success and independence, but once they’re engaged he starts to change. Olive is young and self-centered. She makes numerous bad decisions and finds herself in more trouble than she dreamed possible.

The glamour and excitement of New York in the twenties is on full display. The author has done and excellent job inviting the reader into the Follies. It’s a lavish picture and historically accurate. I loved it.

Olive is an independent self-centered character. I found it hard to like her, but I respected her desire to succeed as she coped with numerous difficulties. Life wasn’t easy in the twenties for a woman trying to make it on her own. I thought the author illustrated the expectations for women in the era and highlighted their struggles well.

If you enjoy well done historical fiction with a good dollop of romance, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Oh Olive. All she wants is to be a show girl- to perform in Ziegfield's Follies or Broadway or anywhere- but things don't go as planned. A rotter seduces her while she's in Los Angeles, she becomes pregnant, gives up the baby, and despite everything, she picks herself up and heads back out. Not all is sunny in the Follies world (there's a real me too moment) but then there's Archie. Is it true love? This is, in many ways, a familiar story but Harrison has a nice way with period details. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical fiction.