It’s 1897, and a new fashion for thin threatens to end the career of proudly fat vaudeville performer Evelyn Cross. Enter Thomas Gallier, the man behind the new palace of entertainment promising to be the apex of New York City’s theatrical scene. He’s in search of a star for his vaudeville spectacular, and when he hears Evelyn sing, he knows exactly who he needs to grace his stage.
 
In a grand finale, present-day narrator Phoebe steps in to reveal secrets and show readers what it really means to claim self-love. Inspired by the true story of a Progressive Era troop of plus-size dancers, this is a story about the spirit of community and the power of romance.

This had almost everything I could ever want. Illusions, Coney Island, songs, glitter, elephants! It was pitched as The Greatest Showman meets Moulin Rogue, and it delivered. Murphy even slipped a lyric reference from Elephant Love Medley!

So yeah, I think I may have been predisposed to enjoying this. Murphy’s novel is unique as it’s a frame story by parallel romance in the present day between the historian, Phoebe, and Gallier descendant, Armitage investigating what exactly was the relationship between Thomas and Evelyn. The back and forth between the two couples kept the novel engaging, and illustrates the slippery slope of interpretating historical relics and diaries.

Murphy never let the reader forget that this story is an account cobbled together by Phoebe, and that she’s making educated guesses. This also allows for more acceptance by readers for the slightly anachronistic banter between Thomas and Evelyn.

Additionally, it harkens to a reoccurring theme that the characters create their stories. They create their images that constrain them to society’s values. In Thomas’ case, his desire to fit in. In Evelyn’s case, reacting against society and laugh in their face because she knows she’s enough. But they also have the ability to rewrite those stories if they are brave enough to choose love over fear. Murphy ably connects the two through their internal monologue as both muse how they feel too much, their desire to be undeniable, it primes readers to see that they’re more alike than different and they’re twin flames.

Evelyn is a delight, and readers can understand Phoebe’s fascination with her unwavering confidence. I think we all wish we could be so brassy. Evelyn’s confidence is hard-earned, almost a shield against an uncaring world that wants to diminish and ridicule her, and it is almost part of her downfall as she refuses to let down those walls.

Thomas is a contrast in they he refuses to indulge, obviously it draws him to Evelyn immediately as her boundless love and expression is something he won’t permit in himself. So Murphy draws you in more, waiting for him to lose control. Moreover, waiting to understand why he is so repressed. The backstory is utterly unique and tragic, lending it to more tragedy. We know from the beginning that their story does not a happy ending, but it doesn’t change how much the reader along with Phoebe want it to be.

In the same thread, the relationship between Phoebe and Armitage may have less page time, but it is equally unexpected as it doesn’t favor a clear HEA. Rather it stands by the prevailing ethos that love should not be shamed, should not be hidden away, and fat women in particular deserve better as such Phoebe stands for herself and not take it upon herself to teach Armitage to be a better boyfriend. He has to do it himself.

As for the romance, it only has two stand-out moments of which I have to compliment. Coney Island! Coney Island! It is so fun and it is fantastic.

The rest of the vaudeville troops sound interesting like the wheelchair escape artist, Betsy the medium etc, especially as they’re based on real people. But they’re tertiary characters. Disappointing because Murphy wants to show that these people (disabled, POC, on-heteronormative) have always existed, they did have chances of success and fame, but they feel more like set dressing. She did succeed in whetting my appetite for more about this fascinating time period though.

Nonetheless, it succeeds in all other aspects having a confident, fat heroine, a repressed noble who is smitten at first sight, descriptive immersion of the time period, Coney Island, unabashed celebration of love and other indulgences, and untraditional story structure.

I’m reading it again tomorrow.

5 stars.