It Girl by Allison Pataki

 It Girl brings to light the story based on real-life of Evelyn Nesbit - model, actress, and one of those first girls for whom beauty and talent allowed to become independent. They were one of those giving birth to the pop-culture.

The novel is based on the life of Evelyn Nesbit with her last name changed to Talbot in the story.
Evelyn’s story begins in 1897 Pittsburgh when she is an apple in her father’s eye who encourages her to dream big, but the fairy tale talk ends when her father dies suddenly.

In order to help pay the bills, the mother takes thirteen year old Evelyn out of school and gets her a job at department store. Evelyn is told to present herself as sixteen year old, and to observe what life could be.

Evelyn’s features grab attention of a customer who is a sketch artist and approaches Evelyn to pose for her. This is the beginning of cascading steps that lead Evelyn to the Broadway stage and ultimately her greatest fame.

After arriving in NYC in 1899, she begins her career in the city with the city’s most venerated artist James Carroll Beckwith. Then, Charles Dana Gibson, the famed sketch artist who wants Evelyn to be the next Gibson girl.

But when a stage agent approaches Evelyn, that’s when her interest truly peaks. She wants to sing and dance on stage. Movement makes her feel alive, so different from stagnant posing.

As she becomes a chorus girl, she catches an eye of Stanley Pierce (based on real-life architect Stanford White), a much older admirer who becomes her benefactor, showering her and her mother with luxury living, goods and travels.

When things get rocky between them, to pacify her, he gets hear a lead role in Shakespeare’s beloved masterpiece –The Tempest. She resents his help but here is her big chance to become a serious actress.

When she nears twenty, she becomes one of the oldest girls backstage. The girls her age move on as soon as they receive marriage proposal. It seems as at the right time the right man appears, Hal Thorne (based on real-life railroad tycoon Henry Thaw) – steel and railroad heir.

The novel is narrated in the first person with eloquent prose. The voice of Evelyn sounds very real and endearing. She exemplifies a character of someone who at young age loses support much needed at such fragile age, and someone who becomes a supporter of the family at very young age. The characters are well-developed, intriguing and flawed.

The author is known for staying close to the facts with historical figures and events in her biographical fiction. With this biographical fiction, the author takes more creative liberties. The very ending is completely different from the real one.

Released in March 2026

Source: Ballantine Books; Random House