City of Girls

Vivian is such an interesting main character because she’s flawed in a very human way. She’s impulsive, selfish at times, wildly talented, and constantly searching for who she wants to be. Watching her grow from a reckless young woman into someone who understands love, regret, friendship, and freedom was honestly the best part of the book for me.

What I loved most was how unapologetically this story celebrates women who don’t fit into neat little boxes. It’s about desire, independence, mistakes, reinvention, and the complicated relationships women have with each other over a lifetime. Some parts are funny and extravagant, while others hit surprisingly hard emotionally.

The pacing dragged a little in a few sections for me, especially when the story wandered into long descriptions, but overall I was completely pulled into Vivian’s life. By the end, it felt less like I’d read a novel and more like I’d listened to someone’s unforgettable confession over cocktails late at night.

If you love historical fiction with strong female characters, theater drama, messy relationships, and stories about women choosing their own lives on their own terms, this one is definitely worth picking up.