Totally drawn to this story of Olive McCormick, who loved acting and singing from a young age. She dreamed of becoming a show girl in the Zeigfield Follies in New York City and was determined to make her dream come true. She had no support from her family, who wanted her to marry well and be a respectable woman. Despite many obstacles and difficulties Olive does go on to become a showgirl, and this book follows her through the triumphs and setbacks of her life as a star.

This novel is totally fascinating and is a great piece of historical fiction and provides a sense of place for the 1920's and life in New York. The novel touches on the struggles of women during that period, relationships, overcoming adversity with strength and courage. The characters and costumes were amazing and colorful. I enjoyed my time with this book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. The book will be published on August 10, 2021.

The Show Girl by
Nicola Harrison

“Anything is possible if you want it badly enough.”

Olive hailed from small-town Minnesota. Her’s was a family of planners and organizers, with routines and set dinnertimes. Even the meals they ate rotated on a schedule.

She craved variety and excitement and novelty. She longed to sing and dance to adoring crowds each night.

At the Ziegfeld Follies, she got her wish. Amid the glamour and mayhem of New York City’s Roaring Twenties, Olive lived the raucous life of her dreams. A lifestyle her parents opposed for the “nice girl” they’d raised.

Olive thinks she knows exactly what she wants. But sometimes we change. And we end up desiring something completely different.

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of this book, and I can't wait to shout its praises to others. I loved it!

The Show Girl is a vivid historical fiction set in the late 1920s about a young woman moving to New York to pursue her dream of performing and entertaining. Nicola Harrison's writing is detailed and eloquent.

Olive is a young woman who always envisions herself singing on a big stage. After she catches the attention of a high-profile show owner/creator, she travels to New York to make the most of the opportunity. Everything doesn't go as planned but she isn't going to give up. She will do whatever it takes to become a star.

After showing off her talents. she gets a job opportunity as a showgirl. It wasn't what she initially wanted but feels on top of the world when she is on stage.

She is getting a taste of the luxurious life and is liking it. She also meets a wealthy and gorgeous man named Archie. They have great chemistry and can't stay away from each other.

Things get a bit complicated when secrets are revealed. Can Archie and Olive survive the truth? Will they be able to accept each others past?

I give The Show Girl 4 stars. It is a captivating historical fiction with the right amount of romance, drama, entertainment. Nicola's writing transports readers to the roaring twenties. Olive's tenacity and growth throughout the book was great to read about. This is a must read for historical fiction readers.

Olive is a midwestern girl who moves to New York in hopes of becoming a star in the Ziegfield Follies. Once there she meets and becomes engaged to Archie. When they first are together he seems tolerant and even encouraging of her "modern" ways. Once they become engaged, things change and not necessarily for the better. Olive has to make tough choices, either decision means she has to sacrifice what she loves. If you are a fan of the 20s, early entertainment, then you will love this book. The story is well written, entertaining and gives a light glimpse into the lives of the early "stars" of the stage.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an unpaid, honest review.

Nicola Harrison's The Show Girl is Historical Fiction. The story is about a Ziegfeld Follies dancer set in wild and exciting 1920‘s New York City. This unforgettable novel transports the reader into the life of a showgirl. The dramatic characters, historical scenes and places seem very real and memorable. If you enjoy reading books by Beatriz Williams or Fiona Davis this exceptional new author is for you. Ms. Harrison’s first book Montauk, while very different, should not be missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

I really enjoyed the authors debut novel last year, so I was thrilled to be able to read an ARC of the newest, The Show Girl. Olive is a character you love or dislike. She seems to create messes in her life but somehow, with determination, she comes out on top. We know show girls have a hard job. Some glamorous and some in not so good circumstances. Olives story shares some of both along with a secret she has that might keep her from the love of her life. A different kind of historical fiction for me that I enjoyed very much.

This was a fictionalized account of New York City in the 20s, through the eyes of a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl. The characters are well drawn The author made it all very believable. We are transported into life in Hollywood, middle America, NYC, and the great camps of Upstate New York. Nicola Harrison has written a book with an interesting plot, portraying not only Broadway and the "Folies" back in the 20's, but also the challenge of women trying to become independent at that time. Olive may have had a" feisty and independent attitude ," had struggles as well as a hidden secret, but this story had heart, it had hope and a character you come to love. The times were fascinating...the story was well researched and well told, it too was fascinating.

Thanks to NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

All Olive McCormick has ever wanted is to perform. She loves to sing and dance for an audience and the stage is where she belongs. When she has an opportunity to be a Ziegfield chorus girl in one of their popular productions, she runs with it and eventually she becomes a Ziegfield star. She loves the glamour and glitz of being on the stage and the nightlife in New York. But when she meets Archie, a wealthy and handsome suitor, she may have to give up the life that she loves so much.

I always like a story about performers and the glitz and glamour of stage productions. Olive's rise to stardom was entertaining, even though I thought it was a little contrived considering how easy it was for her to rise to the top. I like my lead characters to have some challenges in their rise because I feel like that's more realistic.

Archie and Olive's love story had me wanting to turn the pages to see how their relationship would pan out. Archie had me swooning with his gentlemanly ways and his professions of love for her. It broke my heart that Olive as keeping secrets from him that she shouldn't have kept.

Nicola Harrison does a great job of describing the productions in this novel. I was really impressed! I felt like I could easily visualize what was going on during the performances, which I imagine is hard to do on the page. I would have liked a bit more depth to the story and characters, but overall, this was an enjoyable read.

⚠️: sexual harassment

I highly recommend the historical novel The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison. This is one of my favorite historical novels, and I am impressed with the elegance and depth of its prose. In addition to the fantastic descriptions of the 1920s, the main character is also well written. Her voice is perfect for driving The Show Girl. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and enjoyed taking a brief journey into another world, as I hope others will too.

I absolutely loved it. I'd enjoyed the author's debut, Montauk, but this book far exceeded my expectations for the author's sophomore novel. Olive was such a vivacious character and the romance with Archie had so many twists and turns! The backdrop of Broadway was so intriguing. I genuinely had difficulty putting this book down between reading sessions and was anxious to see how things turned out in the end. I was not disappointed; just a little teary eyed.

Reading The Show Girl is kind of like watching an old movie about those days when young women went to New York City or Hollywood, lured by the dream of a glamourous life as a Ziegfeld Follies girl or a movie star. Olive McCormick is one of those young women. In 1927 she is finally able to move from dreary Minneapolis to New York City and show the world she has what it takes. She is a very talented singer and dancer, but Ziegfield’s “come and see me if you’re ever in New York City” wasn’t exactly the promise to guide her to stardom that Olive thought it was.

While it’s true that Olive has an independent nature and passion for success and is a modern young woman who perseveres through huge sacrifices, in the story those traits often translate into selfishness, entitlement and greed. The glimpse into the glitzy world of the Ziegfeld Follies is fun, but Olive unfortunately never captured my heart or sympathy.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of The Show Girl in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I read * a lot* of Vaudeville memoirs when I was a kid. The library was full of them, most of these rotated out of circulation and then out of publication by now, except for some very famous names. I also had a great-aunt, recently deceased, who toured on the road with two other women as a girl group, doing covers of other people's music, and I heard many of her stories.

So I have a fairly good sense of the period, the attitudes, and the language. Harrison really did her research--she conveys a sense of the clubs, of the lives of the women who flocked to Broadway hoping to make it big as entertainers. The language is a tad more modern than I would have liked, but that probably makes it an easier read for today's audience, who wouldn't be familiar with American idiom of the twenties, especially the Vaudevillian slang.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. It was an absorbing evening's read. My only hitch was the subplot with Olive's child, which felt a bit tacked on, especially toward the end, but that was a single thread. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest

I didn’t want this book to end; I loved it! I loved Olive’s dedication and perseverance to reach her dream of stardom. The story was so moving, it was beautifully written. I look forward to more books my Nicola!

The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison is an enjoyable glimpse into the world of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927. Not only are we witness to the auditions, rehearsals and costumes, we also learn of the camaraderie, jealousy and friendships that grow between the chorus girls. Along with this exciting world, we meet Olive McCormick, a naive girl living in Minnesota who dreams of better and bigger things. She knows what she wants—to be a star. Circumstances work against Olive, and she soon finds herself in an unattainable situation which she must face mostly alone. Her family is ashamed of her and very unforgiving. Relocating to New York, she soon becomes a Ziegfeld star, meets Archibald Carmichael , falls in love. It appears that Olive has everything she ever wanted. However, life is not always that easy. A series of failures, disappointments and family strife soon appear in her life. Only after she hits rock bottom does Olive know that true happiness is with family, especially the special ones you truly love.

Olive has dreamed of being on stage her whole life. To her family, her singing and dancing is nothing more than a hobby, one she will give up when she gets married. But Olive doesn't see her life fitting into society's norms of what a woman can and cannot do. When she gets a bit of encouragement, she heads to the Ziegfeld Follies, sure that she will get a role and be a star.
A traumatic event slows her down, but once she locks it up in a box in her mind, her determination and talent land her a coveted role. She pays a steep price though, as her family refuses to have anything to do with her unless she gives up show business. When she falls in love with Archie Carmichael, it seems that she might just be able to have it all. A successful career and a husband, but the secret she has kept might cost her everything.
I really enjoyed Montauk and The Show Girl was also a very good read. Historical fiction set in the 1920s that ends in 1929, when the stock market crash made the very wealthy paupers overnight. Did I know anything about the Ziegfeld Follies and the life of a showgirl when I started this book? I did not, but I was fascinated by glimpsing all the hard work behind the glamour. Olive was making good money, showered with expensive gifts, and living life on her own terms. She made more than a few questionable choices, but I was rooting for her to achieve her version of happily ever after.

THE SHOW GIRL by Nicola Harrison is a fascinating work of historical fiction told through the eyes of a Ziegfield Follies show girl in New York in the 1920s. As a young girl in Minnesota, Olive McCormick has already shown that she is a talented singer, dancer and performer, but she longs to break free from small productions and find her way to the big stage in New York City. Her very conservative family is against it and only wants a traditional lifestyle for her. After a traumatic and life-changing event occurs, Olive is even more determined to follow her dreams. Her bold confidence and engaging personality win her a spot in Ziegfield’s Follies and her entrance into the exciting and glamorous world of show girls. But her success comes at the price of hard work, sacrifice and emotional turmoil. When she accepts the marriage proposal of the wealthy and handsome businessman, Archie Carmichael, Olive will soon have to decide whether to reveal a long-buried secret that could threaten their relationship. She must also decide if she is willing to give up everything she has worked for all these years. The story is filled with vivid details and descriptions of the times and the setting. I felt like I was right there in 1920s New York. The characters were richly portrayed and authentic. Despite her flaws and sometimes poor choices, Olive shows her strength and resilience as she tries to break through the limits placed on women during this time. I enjoyed this well-researched and well-written novel of family, friendship, love and ambition and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

Show Girl is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I loved going along with Olive in her journey to bring a Ziegfeld girl and beyond. Couldn’t put it down!

The Show Girl is a good read about a young woman who wants to be in show business. Against disapproval by her family, a personal set back, she accomplishes her dream. But Olive pays a high price for following her Dreams. I think it’s good historical fiction. I think the author did a good job depicting life in the 1920’s leading up,to the crash of ‘29. The ending was a little rushed with several things being crammed together, but it doesn’t detract from the story.

It’s 1927 and Olive is desperate to joint Ziegfeld Follies. She knows she has the talent for singing and dancing, and just wants to be on stage. When she meets Archie however, she sees a different life that could be, but due to her past, it can’t. Now she must decide if she should tell Archie and possibly lose him, or leave before he finds out.

While this one was a bit more character driven than I prefer, I truly enjoyed this story! I loved learning more about the show girls from Ziegfelds shows, and reading the story I felt like I was watching Olive and the other ladies on stage. Harrison did a great job in vividly describing the scenes throughout the book. Olive definitely made some questionable choices, but I also had to remind myself a few times of how young she was, being thrown into a show girl life and living on her own. I can’t wait to see what Harrison writes next!

What a good book! It was a quick paced book with a strong female character, Olive. The description was so good I felt like I was right behind her. I enjoyed the little bit of historical facts that were sandwiched in between the story.
Definitely recommend!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy