Nellie Bly is out to prove that women can do a job better than men or at least just as well. After fighting for a chance at writing articles in NYC newspapers other than the society pages and being told that it is no place for a lady, Nellie shows them that journalism is no place for anyone who is afraid of getting their hands dirty or taking a risk. She has herself committed to one of the worst mental institutions in the city knowing that she can get in and hoping that her editor remembers to get her out. What she finds there is appalling- little food, unsanitary conditions, little or no medical treatment as well as constant humiliation and boredom. The articles she wrote exposing the atrocities caused public outcry for change and helped free the innocent mentally sound women imprisoned there. Nellie's tough brand of investigative journalism shook up the system and encouraged young women to tread boldly where only men walk. An in-depth look at the women's movement as well as a fast paced adventure and the fierce charm of Nellie and the other women stunt reporters- this looks like the first in a series with more to come. Fans of Fiona Davis and Marie Benedict as well as Caleb Carr's THE ALIENIST will find much to love. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Fiction(ish)
Pub Date: April 26, 2022

I liked this book a lot. It is based on a true story, and I feel like Maya Rodale wrote a story that has a lot of panache and energy in it. I was really swept into the late 1800s in this one, and I was immersed in the story when the story was moving along nicely. Historically, I thought the story was complex and beyond interesting! To think this really, for the most part, happened is crazy yet so interesting at the same time.

That being said, the book did drag at parts, and those parts that dragged for me REALLY dragged. That kept me from enjoying this book as much as some others I've read recently, and that's what led me to a three star rating. This is a little outside what I normally would read, but I think if the story had been paced a bit better, I would rate the book four stars easily. Once I was hung up on the pacing, though, it was hard for me to let it go.

I’m a fan of reporter Nellie Bly and have read a few biographies and nonfiction books about her trip 72 day trip around the world against Elisabeth Bisland, and her time on Blackwell’s Island, so when I saw there was a fictionalized account of her adventures, I knew I had to read it.

Nelly is clever, determined, and oh so tired of being underestimated because she’s a woman. In 1887 she’s arrived in New York to further her investigative reporting career, but none of the papers will give her the time of day. She has no job, no money, and no friends—until she follows a woman leaving The World offices and discovers a group of women reporters.

“Women have to look out for each other because no one else will. Remember that.”

She gets the idea for a “stunt” and manages to present her scheme to the editor of the World to be admitted to an insane asylum for women in order to report on the rampant misdiagnosis of insanity and the deplorable conditions. Nellie has no plan on how to be admitted and little plan for getting released, but that doesn’t rein in her enthusiasm in the slightest.

While I liked her supporting cast of friends and acquaintances, I didn’t enjoy their points of view as much as Nellie’s. I could have stayed with her the entire time. Sam Colton with the Sun needs a scoop to support his ill sister and Marian from the Herald wants to write for more than the ladies’ pages. Everything tied up satisfyingly at the end.

There’s an excellent balance between Nellie’s spunk and courage, and her fear and revulsion at how the women at the asylum were treated. It’s a fast-paced and sometimes horrifying blend of fact and fiction. All of the women portrayed stayed with me, especially Princess’s snd the tie-in to Marian’s story. The writing is modern, snappy and clear—just like Nellie.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

What a fascinating story! Based on the real life of reporter Nettie Bly who infiltrated Rockwell Island's insane asylum for women to expose the atrocities of how women were treated there. What she found was worse than imagined. Well written historical novel.

This is a fun take on Nellie Bly, intrepid girl reporter, who expanded the field of investigative journalism. Her undercover entrance into an asylum was well known and helped to push reforms. Overall this historical fiction is fun, but nothing truly extraordinary. A useful addition to any library collection nonetheless.

Captivating! We know Nellie Bly will survive her experience, yet to read about how it must be survived was so compelling! I felt like I knew some of this story from long ago (even searched for a title, Nellie Bly, Girl Reporter, with no luck). This was so much more vivid, though. It is horrible to see how easy it was to put a woman out of commission. A great blend of fact and fiction, this is a haunting story of the life of some women in the late 19th century.

Nellie Bly was a real person who lived and worked in New York during the late 1800s. This book is a fictionalized account of her experiences on an undercover assignment in Blackwell's Asylum for Women. I found myself both captivated and angered by this book. While I don't know for sure how much is true and how much is fiction (the author does address this a little in her afterword), it was still infuriating in places because the author tried to keep it as historically accurate as possible so if everything didn't happen exactly as described, it very easily could have and probably did to other women, real-life women.

The plot was fast-paced and the characters had enough depth to them that you cared what happened to them. The writing was well-done and didn't draw any attention to itself (exactly as it should be for a story like this one). If you're at all interested in the time period or women or if you like adventurous stories and strong female protagonists, give this book a try! Definitely recommended!


Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale is based on the true story of female reporter Nellie Bly. The author takes the facts and spins a wonderfully engaging story of life in New York City in the late 1800s. From the clothes to the social mores, this novel keeps historically accurate. A fast-paced, easy to read narrative kept my attention the entire book. This is a fresh look at a notable figure that really brings her story to life.

What a genuinely fun book to read - interesting, well written, and all the better since there were some true elements - I did a deep dive into Nellie Bly and it was really lovely to read a fictionalized account of her life. Well written, and I look forward to what seems to be the first of a series!

> 4.5 stars rounded down to a 4 <

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for access to this ARC! This book will be published on April 26th, 2022.

One of the reasons I love historical fiction is because it teaches you about history without being monotonous like a textbook. This one taught me about The Asylum at Blackwell’s Island and Nellie Bly, two very real pieces of history I didn’t even know existed until I read this.

This book was GOOD. I was completely suprised to find out how many of the characters and storylines were real. The author did such an amazing job making this real story both interesting and captivating. And what she did make up for the story’s sake, she wove it in so seamlessly.

1880s. New York City. Nellie Bly left Pittsburgh to make it as a newspaper reporter in the big city - not an easy feat for women at the time. She’d do anything to get the job, even spend 10 days in the infamous Blackwell’s asylum. The story stays mostly with Nellie’s experience but also switches to chapters from the POV of rivaling reporter, Sam Colton and friend (although also rivaling reporter), Marian. Their stories were great additions.

This was an amazing display of strong women in history. It had some mystery and suspense, and I sincerely enjoyed it from start to finish. I highly recommend you pick this one up if you get the chance!

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale A comprehensive account of Nellie Bly's undercover investigation into Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum for Women. Entertaining and engaging read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This is such a nicely done story of Nelly Bly! Historical fiction based on events in New York City almost always makes for a good and enlightening tale. This book has everything it needs to hold the reader's attention and would be a great selection for a book club to read and discuss. The status of women was so very tenuous when husbands controlled their very lives. Extra points for some focus on Black women as well in this story. And of course after you read this, you'll be wondering what Nelly did next!

The story of Nellie Bly who came to New York in 1887 to make a name for herself as a a reporter. The only way she could get hired was to do an expose on the women’s madhouse on Blackwell’s island, so she had herself committed for 10 days. Her story became a sensation and her career was made. A very good story about a fascinating women and a real heroine.

Set in 1887 New York, this historical fiction novel tells the story of Nellie Bly and her groundbreaking undercover investigation into the conditions at Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum for Women. Nellie's strong determination and passion shone though the pages of this novel and I cheered her on every step of the way! I'm excited for the rest of the books in this series. Thank you to the publisher for an ARC copy of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC of The Mad Girls of New York!

From what I can tell this is a fairly early version with stylistic notes from the author in the text, so I won't comment on any minor grammatical/spelling issues I tripped on in the text as I assume they're long since cleaned up.

The Mad Girls of New York is set in 1887 and follows the (mostly) true story of Nellie Bly, an intrepid female reporter who published a groundbreaking series of articles called Ten Days in a Mad-House (which she eventually went on to publish as a book). "The Mad Girls of New York" tells the story of how Nellie landed a job at the New York World and went undercover at Blackwell's Island to expose the misdiagnosis of women with insanity and the subsequent mistreatment and abuse at the asylum.

Nellie's true story does a lot of work in this novel, but Maya Rodale tells the story with panache, pulling in details of a fire in Nellie's past (not unlike Lizzie Halliday, who Nellie interviewed many years later), a group of supportive female reporters, a hidden lunch spot for professional women, and a rival reporter Sam Colton. After reading Mad Girls of New York, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, as I'd like to know more about Nellie's adventures!

What a wonderful depiction of Nellie Bly's life. A thoroughly telling of the difficulties faced by women trying to find a place for themselves and the women considered problematic.

This was a very cool read! I’m usually not a big historical fiction person, but I highly enjoyed this one! I love people going undercover to fight for injustice and this one was certainly no exception. I’ve always loved Berkeley’s books and even at an advanced age I still find find them completely relatable, funny, heartfelt, and all around spectacular. I definitely will elaborate more on this fantastic book unfortunately my eyes are playing up a bit on me at the moment but I can’t recommend it enough!

Here is a bit of background on what it is based on

n 1887 New York City, Nellie Bly has ambitions beyond writing for the ladies pages, but all the editors on Newspaper Row think women are too emotional, respectable and delicate to do the job. But then the New York World challenges her to an assignment she'd be mad to accept and mad to refuse: go undercover as a patient at Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum for Women.