It Girl by Allison Pataki ~ a Review

by MK French

In 1900, New York City, the It Girls are models and muses who get popular due to their charm and personalities. Evelyn Talbot 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, a “Gibson Girl,” the most sought-after figure and face of her time. Enter a parade of powerful and power-hungry men, and she soon learns that she can only rely on 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. Can this artists’ muse, turned showgirl, pull off the greatest act of her life? 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

March 2026; Ballantine Books; 978-0593873410
audio, ebook, print (416 pages); biographical fiction

Evelyn was poor but pretty, with natural coloring and features that artists wanted to draw. This brought her from Pittsburgh to New York City, and the famous artists asked her to pose for drawing, sketches, and eventually photographs. Her mother kept tight rein over her, since she was younger than she said, so she could work. Starting to get on Broadway drew more attention in public, but also from the rich men in the city. We know what they are after long before she does, and the transition for her is heartbreaking. She's stuck between comfort and love, and is seen as a prize more than a person. 

The story is based on Evelyn Nesbit, the actual woman who had been a Gibson Girl caught between two rich men who hated each other. This novel gives Evelyn more agency and a different ending than the one that Nesbit got. I definitely like this ending better for her and the hope that it brings.

Buy It Girl at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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