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    All the Beautiful Girls: An uplifting story of freedom, love and identity
    Unavailable
    All the Beautiful Girls: An uplifting story of freedom, love and identity
    Unavailable
    All the Beautiful Girls: An uplifting story of freedom, love and identity
    Audiobook12 hours

    All the Beautiful Girls: An uplifting story of freedom, love and identity

    Written by Elizabeth J Church

    Narrated by Katherine Fenton

    4/5

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    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this audiobook

    Heart Radio x Dreams Bedtime Bookclub April Book of the Month

    The dazzling, powerful story of a gutsy showgirl who tries to conquer her past amongst the glamour of 1960s Las Vegas – finding unexpected fortune, friendship and love.

    In the summer of 1968, Ruby Wilde is the toast of Las Vegas. Showgirl of the Year, in her feathers and rhinestones, five-inch heels and sky-high headdresses, she mesmerises audiences from the Tropicana to the Stardust. Ratpackers and movie stars, gamblers and astronauts vie for her attention and shower her with gifts.

    But not so long ago Ruby Wilde was Lily Decker from Kansas: an orphaned girl determined to dance her way out of her troubled past. When she was eight years old, Lily survived the car crash that killed her parents and sister. Raised by an aunt who took too little interest in her and an uncle who took too much, dancing was her solace, and her escape. When a mysterious benefactor pays for her to attend a local dance academy, Lily’s talent becomes her ticket to a new life.

    Now, as Ruby Wilde, the ultimate Sin City success story, she discovers that the glare of the spotlight cannot banish the shadows that haunt her. As the years pass and Ruby continues to search for freedom, for love and, most importantly, herself, she must learn the difference between what glitters and what is truly gold.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateMar 6, 2018
    ISBN9780008267964
    Unavailable
    All the Beautiful Girls: An uplifting story of freedom, love and identity
    Author

    Elizabeth J Church

    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.

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    Reviews for All the Beautiful Girls

    4/5

    46 ratings9 reviews

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    • 2/5
      This had a strong start in the first part called Lily Decker. Lily was 8 when her entire family (Mom, Dad and older sister) were killed in a car crash. She survived. She was dumped on her Aunt Tate and Uncle Miles who were very "country" in KS in the the late 50s. She is treated horribly by them - Aunt Tate is cold and cruel and Uncle Miles is a sexual predator, so her childhood is fraught with sorry and fear. This part is well written and poignant and the limited view of events from Lily's young eyes really strikes a chord. She lives in the same town as the man who killed her family- "the aviator" - a test pilot for jets beating the speed of sound - his speed on land was the fatal blow to her family. Sterling Sloane becomes her (initially) secret benefactor and later a public mentor, which while touching also feels a little off and it's also hard to believe Lily's evil guardians would allow it. He buys her dance lessons and Lily finds her passion there, succeeding well for her small town and giving her the confidence to leave home at 18 - for Las Vegas. 60s LV is hot, and Lily keeps her standards high at the outset, hoping to be part of a respectable dance troupe, but KS won't really cut it and faced with little money and the shame of returning home, she accepts a position as a show girl - all but nude - at the Tropicana. These years are grouped under Ruby Wilde her show name and here she goes through every cliche - addicted to drugs, in an abusive relationship, ending up pregnant, and only good friends Rose, Vivid and Dee are able to keep her going - along with the long-distance support of the aviator. After a horrible accident, Ruby is entrusted to his care, learns more about his personal life and resumes life as Lily Decker. Their relationship is heart-warming, but it's not enough to save the book from feeling pat and trite.
    • 4/5
      Lily becomes an orphan when she’s young and goes to live with her aunt and uncle in a not so great environment. One year, Lily gets a dance scholarship and it begins her love of dance. After graduating high school, Lily moves to Las Vegas to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. Due to her looks, Lily doesn’t become the dancer she envisioned and instead ends up as a showgirl. “With her uncanny knack for understanding the hidden lives of women, Elizabeth J. Church captures both the iconic extravagance of an era and the bravery of a young woman who dances through her sadness to find connection, freedom, and, most important, herself.”TW: child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable and easy to read. The issues were treated respectfully. Enjoyed the people in the book. Would make a fun movie
    • 4/5
      When Lily was eight years old, her parents and sister were killed in a car crash. Raised by her strict Aunt and perverted Uncle, she found herself developing a bond with the Aviator, the man who killed her family. The Aviator provides Lily with books, and when he learns that she loves dance, he gifts her a scholarship to the local dance academy. At 18, Lily heads to Las Vegas, where she rebrands herself Ruby Wilde. Reluctant at first, she eventually gives in and takes a job as a topless showgirl. Lily was very interesting and dynamic character. She really grew and progressed throughout the book. Her struggles to overcome sexual abuse and figure out who she is was very poignant. The author was really good as transitioning throughout time, a feat many just can't do. Overall, highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      When I first started reading this book, I thought it was more historical fiction, like Ruby Wilde was real. Especially what with all the name dropping, the mention of timely events and what Ruby was doing during them and all the Vegas hotspots.It took a while into it before I realized it was just "true fiction". That word "just" in no way is meant to take away from this story.I followed Ruby's (Lily's) journey through her highs and lows and had a great time! Well, I still want to kick that Spaniard's A double S though. What an A$$hole!! I think I just seethed up again at the mention of him. Grrr!This was true entertainment that had me mesmerized.Thanks to Random House Ballantine and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
    • 5/5
      Lilly’s family is killed in a car crash when she is just a small child. She is then raised by her aunt and uncle. It is a loveless home plus, she is abused by her uncle. However, through an anonymous benefactor, Lilly is allowed to take dance lessons. This becomes her lifeline and her saving grace. She uses her talent to escape her childhood and create and amazing life as Vegas showgirl.When I started this book I almost put it down within the first chapter. I had just finished Before We Were Yours. I did not think I could handle any more child abuse. I am glad I didn’t stop…this is an amazing and fascinating read not to be missed.I don’t think I have ever loved a more flawed character as I have Lilly or Ruby….she changes her name when she runs away to Las Vegas. She has resilience and astounding toughness. She makes some tragic mistakes but still manages to get her act together and come out on top!I enjoyed learning the behind the scenes actions of a showgirl. There is a lot more to it besides the dancing and the costumes. The high-rollers, the partying, the philandering all make up a life I did not know existed. And all the money! Geez!Lilly conquers some tragedies which most people could never overcome. She does this with a style and a strength which are above and beyond!I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.
    • 4/5
      Lily Decker is only 8 when an auto accident takes the lives of her parents and her sister. Her own survival with no injuries in nearly miraculous. She is sent to live with her aunt, who has no idea how to deal with a child or show affection, and an uncle who sexually abuses her from day one. Her only solace is dance, and a ‘mysterious benefactor’ – who she realizes right away is the man in the other car at the accident, a military pilot she refers to always as The Aviator. As soon as she turns 18, she heads off to the place her dance instructor recommends: Las Vegas. With an intent to be a troupe dancer, she is startled and disheartened to discover what dancing means in Vegas. But a new friend convinces her it’s a good way to make a living, so she bites the bullet, takes off her clothes, and it’s living the good life, and money to put in the bank. All is not good, though; her previous sex abuse has scarred her badly, there’s a lot of temptations in 1960s Vegas, and she must work her way through her problems. And while she is very lucky, there are people who will take advantage of beautiful girls- especially when they are making good money. When she literally drops into the arms of handsome and charming Javier, she thinks she’s found true love. I enjoyed the book but I wasn’t thrilled with it. Ruby is a good character, with good points and flaws, and I was really rooting for her, but somehow she never got under my skin the way truly great characters do. The other characters are a bit flat, sadly. The descriptions of Vegas in the 60s were great fun. But the book just lacked… something… to make it all come to life. Four stars out of five.
    • 4/5
      Don't expect the to be an unbiased review, simply because I came to care so much about the main character Lily, and fell in like with a man called The Aviator. Lily is only eight when she loses both her parents in a car crash, the Aviator, the driver of the other car. She will live with her aunt and uncle, her aunt unable to show love to this young girl, her uncle sexuslly sbuses her. These scenes are relatively few, and quick. The Aviator makes her life bearable, sending her books, anonymously paying for her dancing lessons. It is dance that allows her when she is eighteen to quickly leave Kansas, and head for Vegas.Wonderfully atmospheric, 1960s Vegas is shown in all its excessive splendor. Show girls with brilliant, over the top costumes, boss, g-strings, stiletto heels, and Lily makes more money than she ever thought possible. Experiences all Vegas has to offer and then some.Rubs shoulders with the entertainment icons of the day, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis, Dinah Shore. I got an absolute thrill reading much of this part of the story, done so well, can just picture what Vegas was like and in many ways still is today. I so enjoyed the exchange between The Aviator and Lily, though now known as Ruby. When she tells him about the glamour of Vegas, he sends her the book by Fritzgersld, The other side of Paradise. They talk in books, love it. She makes some wonderful friends, and makes some bad decisions, always trying to fill the hole inside herself.The Aviator will step in again, when she needs his help the most and it is in this part where she finally finds the means to forgive herself. A gorgeous book that encompasses so much, some could say too much, but I loved her journey from lows to highs, from an innocent naivesness to acknowledging her own strength, and to the realization that family comes in all sizes and shapes. Not necessarily one of blood but of love. ARC from Netgalley.
    • 4/5
      *I received this book through a GoodReads Giveaway.*I really enjoyed this tale of a Las Vegas showgirl during the late 60s and early 70s - much more than I enjoyed the author's previous novel (The Atomic Weight of Love). Starting in small town Kansas, the story of Lily Decker starts with a tragic car accident and the orphaned Lily being adopted by her aunt and uncle. Sexually abused by her uncle as a child, Lily becomes a young woman conflicted by her own sexuality. At eighteen, she escapes to Las Vegas to become a dancer and soon makes a career of being a showgirl. However, the trauma of her childhood manifests itself in an abusive relationship that she struggles to break free of. I really enjoyed this novel and I look forward to what this author's future work.