City of Girls: A Novel
📚 Why We Recommend ItElizabeth Gilbert—bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love—returns to fiction with a glittering, heartfelt love letter to 1940s New York City’s theater world. City of Girls isn’t just a story; it’s a vibrant journey through youth, mistake, and self-discovery, told by 89-year-old Vivian Morris as she reflects on her wild, unapologetic past.
Kicked out of Vassar for being “unfocused,” Vivian finds herself in Manhattan with her aunt, who runs the quirky Lily Playhouse. There, she meets a cast of unforgettable characters—showgirls, charmers, and dreamers—who pull her into a world of glamour, joy, and occasional scandal. When a personal misstep upends her new life, Vivian learns a powerful lesson: life is too short to hide who you are or deny yourself pleasure.
Gilbert’s writing is rich with sensory detail—you’ll almost smell the theater’s old curtains and taste the cocktails shared after shows—while her exploration of female freedom and self-acceptance feels timeless. As Vivian puts it, “At some point in a woman's life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that, she is free to become whoever she truly is.” For anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, or wondered if “good” has to mean “perfect,” this book is a warm, witty, and spellbinding must-read.
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