The It Girls

September 1, 2017
Lucy and Elinor Sutherland hadn't always been the talk of the town. Growing up in poverty on the Isle of Jersey in the 1870s, the sisters find that a chance meeting with socialite Lillie Langtry spurs them on to find their own place in London's high society. As a designer, Lucy became known for her risque dresses, luxurious fabrics, and clever mannequin displays. Elinor, always more comfortable with a pen and paper nearby, spun her stories into novels and screenplays that made Hollywood sit up and take notice. Mixing with artists, actors, and no shortage of potential beaus makes for plenty of drama between the sisters, but their familial bond never wavers. In today's age of Kardashian celebrity buzz on every magazine cover and social-media platform, Harper takes a look backwards at the earliest it girls. Film-history buffs will adore exploring the early days of Hollywood with cameos from famous stars; fans of Kathleen Tessaro and Penny Vincenzi will enjoy the layers of intrigue and the sweeping plot. Harper's ability to shift between raw ambition and tender compromise makes this family-focused novel a genuine delight.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)