A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love

The pseudonymous Murphy pens a novel inspired by the true story of a late-1890s Progressive Era troop of plus-sized dancers known as Billy Watson’s Beef Trust. In the present, Phoebe Blair, archivist for the Manhattan Historical Preservation Society, is hired by handsome Armitage Gallier, the heir to a wealthy family, to research Evelyn Cross, a famous plus-sized performer who disappeared from the spotlight and whom Armitage’s ancestor might have been in love with. The narrative transitions to 1897 Manhattan, following Cross during a difficult time in her career when thin is in and curves are not. She meets Thomas Gallier, the man behind a new palace of entertainment promising to be the apex of New York City’s theatrical scene. He’s searching for a star for his vaudeville spectacular, and when he hears Evelyn sing, he knows that she’s it. Strong attraction and emotions prove too difficult to overcome for this ill-fated couple. Back in the present, Phoebe steps in to reveal secrets, showing readers what it really means to claim self-love.