This book was riveting ... see what I did there? No, seriously, it was riveting. I couldn't put this book down. We all have an idea of what the Depression was like for the common folk, but no book that I've read so far has captured it so clearly. The research that went into this book was outstanding.

The story is about twins, one a man and one a woman, their mother, a younger and ill sister, and several other families. Grace, our main character, was born to be a dancer, but circumstances intervene, and she finds herself the first Rosie the Riveter on the Empire State Building. Can you imagine working on a building like that without the safety mechanisms we have in place now? There is no net, no anything as far as safety goes. But Grace did it and even saved a life while doing so.

Life is not easy for Grace's family, nor was it easy for many other people, but horrors just keep piling up on Grace's shoulders. And just when you, the reader, think things can't get any worse, they do. But never fear; life eventually becomes better, and there is even romance in the air!

I highly recommend this book for those who like strong, capable women and like learning a bit about the era's history. This would be perfect for book clubs.

Bravo for this debut novel.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Gallery Books/Simon Schuster, the author, and NetGalley

A badass female heroine is what every good book needs and Grace is exactly that! We know from the cover alone that Gemma will end up on the steel, but the story of how she gets there and what she does once she makes it onto the Empire State Building is nothing short of miraculous.

Set in the 1930s during a time when most people were out of jobs, struggling to put food on their table and a roof over their heads, the O'Connell family is faced with more devastation after losing the father of the family when Grace loses her job and her twin brother, Patrick, has a mishap at his. This story looks at the love siblings have for each other and defines what empathy is when considering the struggles of those around you.

Many characters are faced with the question of how they will show up and help others when they themselves are in desperate need of help as well. This book is about family, love, dedication, friendship, loyalty and bravery.

I enjoyed this read and felt my stomach drop many times as I read about going up on the steel. Having been in the Empire State Building, I have a new appreciation for how it was built

A sweet, well researched historical fiction novel about a young woman working on the Empire State Building. It was an easy read but nothing beyond memorable. If you are looking for an easy vacation book and love historical fiction that puts women in the spotlight where they may have been written out of history, then this is the book for you.

Loved the characters, loved the book. It went too fast. A great read. I couldnt get enough of this book!

Thank you for this early copy NetGalley and publisher. I loved this book. Great characters and historical info. I would reconsider mend this highly!!!

“Grace of the Empire State” is a historical fiction book by Gemma Tizzard. I really liked the historical research that went into this book - from how the job of riveter was performed, the necessary tools, and how the building was erected. I found the main character, Grace, to be an interesting one - though for most of the book she was such a soft touch that I found it a bit frustrating. I liked her romance with Joe. I found Patrick’s romance, while understandable in the book’s content, distracted from Grace’s story. This book was a little predictable in the ending (at least for me) but it was a satisfying ending. This book takes place during the Depression, so it hits on some serious topics.

This was a different take on historical fiction that tells the story of a female working as a steel worker during construction of the Empire State Building.
It will give you a new appreciation for this landmark
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

The author's premise is that when studying history, she wondered, "Where are all the women?" She took the idea of a woman working on the Empire State Building and ran with it....and who's to say that there WASN'T a woman who did work on that site? This book intrigued me from the first chapter and held on tight through the epilogue...so much so that I want to see the story of Grace's daughters...this could easily be the start of a series of strong and unconventional women in history. The scenes are vividly described. The supporting characters are so realistic that you'll love and hate them. There is one particularly well-written scene that is so suspenseful I just HAD to finish it...and ended up being late for work! (It's a longer scene) Overall, a fabulous read that left me wanting more....more of the history, more of the culture, more of 1930s New York!

3.5 stars

Intriguing story of a woman working “on the steel” during the building of the Empire State Building. Some of it seemed implausible, but it was still an entertaining read. Plus, it gave me a whole new appreciation for the Empire State Building and the effort to construct that landmark.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.