April 2026

Allison Pataki has a way of making the past seem like it was a whole lot of fun in her latest novel, IT GIRL. Who’s the girl? She’s Evelyn Talbot, who’s based on Evelyn Nesbit, the real-life Gibson Girl who landed in New York City from Pittsburgh during the days leading up to and through the Gilded Age. The scene it sets --- with Mrs. Astor holding court in the city, traveling abroad on ocean lines --- is all the rage, and the New York theater is a place where you see shows not just once but rather multiple times.

Evelyn first moves to Philadelphia with her mother and younger brother. Her mother gets a job at the department store Wanamaker’s. Seeing a chance for Evelyn to bring in even more money for the family, she makes sure that Evelyn works there too, even though she is only 13. So while others her age are becoming book smart, Evelyn is honing her street-smart skills. She is spotted and asked to become an artist’s model, and her face quickly becomes one that is used in all kinds of advertisements. As her fame grows, she moves to New York City with her mother where there is a larger artist community looking for her to be the face of many brands.

Along the way, Evelyn finds herself bringing her singing and dancing talents to the Great White Way. Suddenly the artist’s model is a Broadway star.

Evelyn becomes the darling of one man, Stanley Pierce, a prominent New York City architect, who keeps her in fine clothes and champagne. She’s just 16, and her star is shining brightly. Does he take advantage of her? Or is he a benevolent caretaker to her and her mother? The action takes another turn when Hal Thorne catches her eye. Little does she know that Stanley and Hal are huge competitors, and she is in the middle.

The story wraps in a way that I did not see coming. It was such fun and so sharply done.

I listened to IT GIRL on audio and loved the narration by Barrie Kreinik, who also has read Allison’s two previous books. Be sure to read or listen to the Author’s Note at the end, which gives readers lots of information on Allison’s research and writing process.