Ella had to live through her life with the rape at nine years old and then again nineteen years later when a trial for the three men accused of killing the man who raped her went to court.
A well-written, emotional read with a main character who pulled at my heart strings.
Spring melt is for those who enjoy historical fiction as well as courtroom drama. 5/5
PHOTO SOURCE:
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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PHOTO SOURCE:
March 3, 2026
William Morrow
PRAISE FOR MISSING SISTER:
“Deliciously sinister, this exploration of the uniquely intense bond only twins share is a winner. Joshilyn Jackson’s twisty storytelling is not to be missed.”— Karin Slaughter, #1 NYT-bestselling author
“Penny is the perfect narrator: Whip smart, funny, flawed, big-hearted, and caught up in a wild ride of a story that kept me up way past my bedtime.”— Sara Gruen, #1 NYT-bestselling author
“A thrill ride that kept surprising me, but the real treasure is the family at the heart of this fast-paced tale of sisters and revenge. I loved every breathless minute of it.” — Abbott Kahler, NYT-bestselling author
“Gaspingly sinister, deeply emotional, and an absolute page-turner, MISSING SISTER is a beautifully written exploration of the dark and powerful depths of the human heart — into sisterhood, into grief, and into terrifying revenge. Multi-layered and constantly surprising, MISSING SISTER is a master class in voice and a terrific mystery — and proves, yet again, that Joshilyn Jackson is among the premier talents writing today. Do not miss this!”—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours
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ABOUT MISSING SISTER:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Never Have I Ever comes a chilling story of sisters and revenge.
Revenge...It's all relative.
Born three minutes apart, Penny and Nix Albright grew up doing everything together, close as only twins can be. But when Nix dies in a tragic accident soon after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail that has Penny guilt-ridden and desperate for justice.
Five Years Later
Penny has found new purpose as a rookie cop. She’s working to fulfill Nix’s dream of making the world a safer place, but following that dream becomes a nightmare when she’s called to her first murder scene. When she sees the victim, she knows him instantly. It’s Danny Bowery—one of three men she’s long blamed for Nix’s death—splayed in a pool of blood outside a posh Atlanta shopping center, almost as if she’d wished it so.
Stunned, Penny steps away to catch her breath and discovers a blonde in blood-drenched clothes gripping a box cutter. Before Penny can arrest her, the woman reveals that Bowery’s murder is part of a larger story that is far from over. A story about sisters. And with that, the killer disappears.
Now, Penny will stop at nothing to pursue this dangerous woman and learn why she’s avenging Nix’s death. The deeper she dives into the mystery, the less clear it becomes who is hunting whom in this captivating page-turner of hidden motives and deadly consequences.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joshilyn Jackson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eleven other novels, including Gods in Alabama and Never Have I Ever.
She writes both page-turning domestic suspense and Southern book club novels that revolve around timely women’s issues, raising questions about justice, motherhood, career, class, and the thorny mechanics of redemption.
Her critically acclaimed work has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Jackson is also a former actor and an award-winning audiobook narrator.
A recent expat from the American South, she lives in a gently haunted 150-year-old Victorian Rowhouse in upstate New York with her family.
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