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March 10, 2026
Ballantine Books
PRAISE FOR IT GIRL:
“As stunning as the incomparable leading lady who inspired it . . . unputdownable, with a twist that will leave you breathless.”—Emily Giffin
“Captivating . . . Pataki expertly captures turn-of-the-twentieth-century New York City, where anything is possible, especially for the newly minted Gibson girl. Pataki has fashioned a soaring new tale—I adored it.”—Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Personal Librarian
“A scintillating, fictionalized tale of one of America’s first models and superstars. Readers will cheer for Evelyn as she navigates the path from childhood hardship through rising stardom and the sexism and misogyny of the entertainment industry to standing on her own two feet. Inspired by true stories, It Girl is a powerful tale of female empowerment and friendship, immaculately researched and beautifully told. In crafting it, Pataki shines brighter than ever!”—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of Last Twilight in Paris
“It Girl is a rapid-fire and deliciously innovative period piece that shatters the mold and grabs our attention as we sit up and cheer for its indomitable heroine. I loved it!”—Deborah Goodrich Royce, nationally bestselling author of Reef Road
“Pataki [keeps] the reader intrigued by Evelyn’s slow awakening to reality and the enduring value of female friendship in a male-dominated world. Fans of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age will enjoy another dip into that world of moneyed elegance.”—Historical Novel Society
“Unforgettable characters and a page-turning story come to life in Allison Pataki’s latest historical fiction novel.”—Woman’s World
“[An] irresistible rags-to-riches-to-trauma tale . . . [Pataki] riffs on the real-life Evelyn Nesbit and the notorious 1906 murder of architect Stanford White by her railroad magnate husband, Harry Kendall Thaw. . . . Beneath her woes and hard-earned glamour in an era when women had no rights and few options, Evelyn is strong, courageous, and determined. Scintillating with pinpoint period details and told from Evelyn’s perspective, Pataki’s eventful, suspenseful, turn-of-the-twentieth-century novel is an entrancing progression of shocks and adaptations, suffering and liberation.”—Booklist, starred review
“A somewhat fictionalized account of ‘Gibson Girl’ Evelyn Nesbit’s tumultuous fortunes, with a wholly invented ending worthy of the protagonist’s talents . . . Evelyn’s alternate fate might be a feminist sleight of hand, yet as an author’s note explains, ‘What if I give Evelyn the opportunity to reclaim her own agency, even to rewrite her own ending?’ It’s a worthy goal for a novel, and ultimately a very satisfying one. . . . Each character comes alive in this rich, dynamic novel.”—Kirkus Reviews
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ABOUT IT GIRL:
At the dawn of the twentieth century, New York’s streets teem with change: electricity, automobiles, the brash young President Teddy Roosevelt—and the It Girls. As artists’ muses and working models, these independent young women soar to stardom not because of their pedigrees or inherited wealth, but because of their talent, charisma, and irresistible beauty. Pop culture is born, and in a world alight with Mr. Edison’s new bulbs, no one shines brighter than America’s sweetheart, Evelyn Talbot.
But the journey to stardom is not simple or straight. While working as a shopgirl, the young Evelyn is recruited as a studio model and soon catches the eye of the preeminent artists of the age. When Broadway comes calling, Evelyn solidifies her status as the first self-made American female celebrity: the iconic Gibson Girl, the most sought-after figure and face of her time. Enter a parade of powerful and power-hungry men, from world-famous architect Stanley Pierce, the visionary behind Manhattan’s mansions and iconic landmarks, to Hal Thorne, the shockingly wealthy railroad heir and premier “playboy” of high society. Each man promises comfort, glamour, security—even love. But fame and fortune are cruel teachers, and Evelyn learns that the only person she can rely on is herself.
When Evelyn finds herself at the center of a murder of passion declared “the Crime of the Century,” she is blamed for the acts of the men in her life. In the media frenzy that spirals around her, Evelyn realizes that to survive, she will have to write her own ending. But can this artists’ muse turned showgirl pull off the greatest act of her life?
It Girl is a breathtaking ride inspired by a singular artist and icon who captured the collective imagination of American society. Allison Pataki has crafted yet another unforgettable leading lady, a heroine who must find the power to change not only the world around her but her own destiny.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo: © Gabrielle Gerard
Allison Pataki is the New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor’s Wife, The Accidental Empress, Sisi, The Queen’s Fortune, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, Finding Margaret Fuller, Beauty in the Broken Places, and two children’s books (with Marya Myers).
Pataki’s novels have been translated into more than twenty languages.
A former news writer and producer, Pataki has written for The New York Times, USA Today, and other outlets.
She has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, and Morning Joe. Pataki graduated cum laude from Yale University and lives in New York with her husband and family.
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CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR
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