“An exquisitely crafted novel of love discovered and friendship found.”—Martha Hall Kelly, author of Lilac Girls
Ruby’s life glitters with success, but she still must conquer her tragic past and discover what love really looks like.
Lily Decker never meant to become a showgirl. As a young girl in small-town Kansas, she danced to forget the pain of losing her family in a car accident. And dancing made her feel beautiful when the attentions of her Uncle Miles only brought shame. In 1967, Lily is grown and ready to leave her past behind. She changes her name to Ruby Wilde and heads to the Rat Pack’s Las Vegas to make a name for herself as a troupe dancer. However, the competition is fierce and she finds work as a showgirl, instead, doing fan-kicks in sky-high headdresses and sparkling costumes. Her new life brims with glamour and excitement, but something is still missing. Is it love? What choices will she make to feel whole again, and at what cost?
With her uncanny understanding of the hidden lives of women, Elizabeth J. Church captures the iconic extravagance of an era and the bravery of a woman who blazes her own path to freedom.
Praise for All the Beautiful Girls
“[Elizabeth] Church’s lively coming-of-age tale transports us to a world of ostrich-plumed headdresses and pinky-ringed mobsters while tracing a tumultuous quest for acceptance and love.”—People
“A gorgeously written novel with the bite of a gin martini, All the Beautiful Girls goes beyond the splashy, gaudy dazzle of Las Vegas in the sixties to reveal the beating heart beneath the glamorous façade of a showgirl with big ambitions.”—Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of At the Water’s Edge
“A stirring bildungsroman that follows a girl from trauma in 1957 Kansas to self-discovery in 1960s Las Vegas . . . Church paints an unflinching, frequently heartbreaking portrait of a resilient young woman’s coming-of-age set against an exciting, glamorous backdrop.”—Publishers Weekly
“Church’s appreciation of language is apparent as she masterfully creates pictures with words . . . All the Beautiful Girls provides a delightful antidote to cold and dark mid-winter days.”—Associated Press
“A beautifully rendered tale of personal redemption filled with friendship, loss, extravagant furs, and feathery headdresses.”—Kirkus Reviews
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"A gorgeously written novel with the bite of a gin martini, All the Beautiful Girls goes beyond the splashy, gaudy dazzle of Las Vegas in the sixties to reveal the beating heart beneath the glamorous façade of the showgirl with big ambitions. Our protagonist Lily’s grit, determination, and grace as she discovers the heady possibilities and dark perils of the American dream make Elizabeth Church’s second novel unforgettable."
— Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of At the Water’s Edge
“A gorgeously written novel with the bite of a gin martini…Unforgettable.”
— Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author“Oh, what an incandescent debut!…So engrossing I couldn’t wait to read another page, and so alive I never wanted the story to end.”
— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author, on The Atomic Weight of Love“A tightly crafted novel.”
— New York Times Book Review on The Atomic Weight of Love“Exquisite…the beautifully written story of a woman who must negotiate the tricky terrain of love, responsibility, ambition, and sacrifice…It shows the impossible choices women faced—and still face—between family and self.”
— Tara Conklin, author of The House Girl, on The Atomic Weight of Love“What does love require of us? How does one strike a balance between compromise and self-fulfillment? In her debut novel, Church writes to these issues in a style that is thoughtful and elegant…Church hits the mark in this emotionally driven debut.”
— Library Journal on The Atomic Weight of Love“A striking story of a woman forced to choose between the future she desires or the path society insists she take.”
— Harper’s Bazaar on The Atomic Weight of Love“An elegant glimpse into the evolution of love and womanhood.”
— Kirkus Reviews on The Atomic Weight of LoveAn exquisitely crafted novel of love discovered and friendship found.
— Martha Hall Kelly, author of the New York Times bestseller Lilac Girls[Elizabeth] Church’s lively coming-of-age tale transports us to a world of ostrich-plumed headdresses and pinky-ringed mobsters while tracing a tumultuous quest for acceptance and love.
— PeopleA stirring bildungsroman that follows a girl from trauma in 1957 Kansas to self-discovery in 1960s Las Vegas . . . Church paints an unflinching, frequently heartbreaking portrait of a resilient young woman’s coming-of-age set against an exciting, glamorous backdrop.
— Publishers Weekly“Church’s appreciation of language is apparent as she masterfully creates pictures with words . . . All the Beautiful Girls provides a delightful antidote to cold and dark mid-winter days.A beautifully rendered tale of personal redemption filled with friendship, loss, extravagant furs, and feathery headdresses.
— Kirkus ReviewsOn the run from misery, eighteen-year-old Lily Decker transforms herself into Ruby Wilde, devouring Las Vegas in glittering bites. Church has given us a true heroine, both flawed and beautiful, who rises even as she falls.
— Juliette Fay, USA Today bestselling author of The Tumbling Turner SistersA razzle-dazzle novel about loss, love, and friendship . . . All the Beautiful Girls pulls back the curtain on the glamorous, titillating world of showgirls, revealing the emotional bruises hidden beneath the dazzling costumes.
— Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth AvenueA riveting novel, at once raw and tender, of a woman’s struggle to heal the wounds of a devastating childhood . . . Church makes us feel Ruby Wilde’s pain and root for her to survive. This is a heartbreaking story, passionately told.
— Ellen Feldman, author of Next to LoveA brave and powerful novel that captures the very soul of a young woman coming of age . . . With heart-wrenching immediacy and gorgeous prose, Elizabeth Church examines the often desperate choices women must confront, and the secrets they must protect.
— Lauren Belfer, New York Times bestselling author of And After the Fire “Church brings 1960s Vegas to life in this delightful, moving read. Lily/Ruby, two sides of a complex woman, pulls us through her dance of life. And what happens in Vegas stays in Lily’s heart.All the Beautiful Girls is a delightful and poignant novel. . . . It’s the kind of book that remains with the reader long after the final page is turned, and while the feelings it evokes might not always be warm and fuzzy, the story is captivating.
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Elizabeth J. Church, who grew up in the mountains of northern New Mexico, is the author of The Atomic Weight of Love. All the Beautiful Girls is her second novel.
Sarah Scott is an actress and producer, known for The Artist, Haunted Boat, and The Darkside of Happiness. She has narrated several audiobooks.