City of Girls Book Review
“…at some point in a women’s life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that she is free to become whoever she truly is.” - City of Girls, Elizabeth Gilbert *
At nineteen, Vivian is a very silly girl with very silly notions. Having failed out Vassar, for lack of effort not lack of ability, she is hustled off to New York City to live with her free-spirited Aunt Peg at her dying theater house, The Lilly. Silly and accustomed to being cared for as she is, Vivian is good at one thing, sewing.
And in the shadow of the Second World War, being able to fashion something from scraps and orphaned garments is a valuable skill. Quickly, Vivian claims a space for herself among the theater troupe that calls The Lilly home.
The beautiful show girl, Celia, takes Vivian under her wings and shows her how to harness her power of beauty to squeeze the best out of life. When a famous stage actress, stranded in New York after the London bombings, comes to stay at the Lilly and put on a show, Vivian finds her self entranced but her nativity will land her in some serious hot water that sends her running home with her tail between her legs.
Will Vivie be able to recover from her social faux-pas? Will she ever be able to return to The Lilly, the first place she ever felt at home? Or will she live the life her parents set out for her - marry a respectable boy from respectable family, raise children, and inherit the family fortune?
City of Girls is laugh out loud funny. Vivie is a smart and witty. Her story is admittedly shallow but her experience is richly pigmented and stunning in its honesty .
If you are looking for a fast-paced, flimsy read, City of Girls will be perfect for you! I truly enjoyed this novel and only wish there was more of Vivian’s adventures to devour!
Disclaimer: As an Amazon affiliate, if you shop using my links, denoted with a *, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting Laurel and Iron!
