Alice Murphy’s A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love is a ambitious debut that weaves together two love stories separated by more than a century, creating a narrative tapestry that’s both historically rich and refreshingly contemporary. Set against the backdrop of 1897 New York’s vaudeville scene and modern-day academic research, this novel tackles themes of body acceptance, societal expectations, and the courage to love authentically in ways that feel both timeless and urgently relevant.
The story operates on two interconnected levels: the historical romance between plus-sized vaudeville star Evelyn Cross and mysterious theater mogul Thomas Gallier, and the contemporary relationship between historian Phoebe Blair and billionaire Armitage Gallier as she researches his family’s hidden past. Murphy’s decision to intertwine these narratives creates a meta-fictional experience that elevates the romance beyond simple escapism into something more profound—a meditation on how history repeats itself and how we can choose to break destructive cycles.
Characters That Command the Stage
Evelyn Cross: A Star Who Refuses to Dim
Evelyn Cross emerges as one of the most compelling plus-sized heroines in historical romance. Murphy crafts her with remarkable nuance—she’s simultaneously vulnerable and fierce, scarred by her past yet unafraid to reach for her dreams. What makes Evelyn particularly memorable is how Murphy avoids the typical “confident fat girl” trope while still celebrating her body positivity. Evelyn’s confidence is hard-won, shaped by genuine struggle and bolstered by real friendships. Her journey from someone who uses sex as armor to someone willing to risk her heart feels authentic and earned.
The author skillfully portrays Evelyn’s internal conflicts without making her self-loathing the central focus. Instead, we see a woman who understands her worth but has learned to protect it fiercely in a world that constantly tries to diminish it. Her theatrical background provides perfect scaffolding for a character who knows how to perform strength even when feeling vulnerable underneath.
Thomas Gallier: The Mystery Behind the Mask
Thomas proves to be more than the typical brooding billionaire hero. His secret identity as Tom Gallagher—an Irish working-class man masquerading as English aristocracy—adds layers of complexity that drive both the external plot and internal character development. Murphy uses his dual identity to explore themes of authenticity and the cost of assimilation, making him a surprisingly political character for a romance novel.
The parallel between Thomas hiding his true self and modern-day Armitage hiding his feelings creates a compelling through-line that strengthens both timelines. Thomas’s journey from rigid control to emotional vulnerability feels genuine, particularly in how his feelings for Evelyn gradually chip away at his carefully constructed persona.
The Supporting Cast: A Chosen Family Worth Rooting For
Murphy populates both timelines with richly developed secondary characters who feel like real people rather than plot devices. The vaudeville troupe—Jules, Akio, Beatrice, and the diverse array of performers—creates a found family dynamic that adds emotional weight to the stakes. These characters represent the marginalized communities that vaudeville historically welcomed: LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, immigrants, and anyone society deemed “other.”
The modern timeline’s supporting characters, while less numerous, serve important functions in illustrating how little has changed in terms of societal pressure and family expectations. Armitage’s domineering father and the society pages that track his every move create contemporary echoes of the historical power structures that threatened Thomas and Evelyn.
Historical Authenticity Meets Modern Sensibility
Vaudeville’s Golden Age
Murphy’s research into vaudeville culture shines throughout the novel. She captures the energy and diversity of turn-of-the-century entertainment while honestly addressing the period’s social constraints. The historical detail feels lived-in rather than researched, from the mechanics of theater management to the social dynamics between performers of different backgrounds.
The author’s treatment of Billy Watson’s Beef Trust—the real-life plus-sized dance troupe that inspired the novel—demonstrates careful historical research combined with respectful fictional adaptation. Rather than simply appropriating their story, Murphy uses them as inspiration for exploring broader themes about body acceptance and artistic expression.
Social Commentary Through Historical Lens
The novel succeeds in using its historical setting to comment on contemporary issues without feeling heavy-handed. The parallels between 1897’s beauty standards (embodied by the recurring Miss Banting’s weight-loss advertisements) and modern diet culture feel natural rather than forced. Similarly, the power dynamics between wealthy men and working women transcend their historical moment to speak to ongoing struggles.
Narrative Structure: Ambitious But Sometimes Unwieldy
The Dual Timeline Challenge
Murphy’s decision to alternate between past and present creates both the novel’s greatest strength and its most significant weakness. When the timelines complement each other—as when both couples face similar relationship challenges—the structure feels brilliant. However, there are moments when the contemporary sections interrupt the historical momentum, particularly during the climactic sequences of the 1897 storyline.
The meta-fictional element, where Phoebe directly addresses readers about her research process and relationship with Armitage, adds an experimental edge that will either delight or frustrate readers depending on their tolerance for unconventional narrative techniques.
Pacing and Plot Development
The novel’s pacing varies significantly between timelines. The historical sections maintain consistent momentum through well-plotted romantic development and external conflicts. The contemporary sections, while emotionally resonant, sometimes feel less dramatically urgent. This imbalance occasionally makes the modern timeline feel like commentary on the historical story rather than an equally compelling narrative in its own right.
Themes That Resonate Across Centuries
Body Positivity and Self-Worth
Murphy handles body positivity with remarkable sophistication, avoiding both toxic positivity and self-deprecating humor. Instead, she presents characters who struggle with society’s expectations while ultimately choosing self-acceptance. The novel’s treatment of fatness as simply one aspect of identity rather than a defining characteristic feels refreshing and authentic.
The recurring theme of being “undeniable”—used by both Evelyn and Thomas to describe their desires—becomes a powerful metaphor for refusing to be diminished by others’ limited expectations.
Power, Class, and Social Expectations
Both timelines explore how social expectations constrain individual choices, particularly around romantic relationships. The pressure Thomas faces to marry “appropriately” mirrors Armitage’s struggle with family expectations about his public image. Murphy effectively shows how class differences create obstacles that transcend historical periods.
Writing Style: Theatrical and Engaging
Voice and Tone
Murphy writes with a theatrical flair that perfectly matches her subject matter. Her prose has the dramatic energy of vaudeville performance while maintaining emotional authenticity. The dialogue crackles with wit, particularly in Evelyn’s scenes, where the author’s background in screenwriting shows in the sharp, entertaining exchanges.
The contemporary narrator’s voice feels distinctly different—more casual and self-aware—which helps distinguish the timelines while maintaining overall narrative cohesion.
Emotional Authenticity
Despite the novel’s theatrical elements, the emotional core feels genuine. Murphy excels at depicting the vulnerability beneath bravado, whether in Evelyn’s defensive mechanisms or Thomas’s rigid control. The romantic development feels earned rather than manufactured, with both couples working through real obstacles rather than simply misunderstanding each other.
Areas for Improvement
Contemporary Timeline Development
While Phoebe and Armitage’s relationship provides important thematic parallels, their story sometimes feels underdeveloped compared to the richly detailed historical narrative. The modern sections would benefit from more distinct plot momentum beyond the research project framework.
Conclusion and Resolution
The novel’s ending, while emotionally satisfying, relies heavily on dramatic coincidence and last-minute revelations. The resolution feels somewhat rushed given the complex setup, particularly regarding the various historical antagonists and their modern-day consequences.
Literary Context and Comparisons
A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love joins a growing category of historical romance novels that prioritize diverse representation and body positivity. It shares DNA with works like Alyssa Cole’s An Extraordinary Union and Beverly Jenkins’s historical romances in its commitment to featuring marginalized voices in historical settings.
The dual timeline structure echoes successful examples like Kate Morton’s The House at Riverton or Beatriz Williams’s The Summer Wives, though Murphy’s approach is more intimate and character-focused than these larger historical epics.
As Murphy’s debut novel (writing under a pseudonym), it establishes her as a writer to watch in the historical romance space, particularly for readers seeking stories that center body positivity and social justice themes.
Final Verdict: A Sparkling Debut with Room to Grow
A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love succeeds admirably as both entertainment and social commentary. Murphy has created a world that celebrates the marginalized while delivering the emotional satisfaction readers expect from romance novels. The historical research is impeccable, the characters are memorable, and the themes resonate powerfully with contemporary concerns.
While the novel occasionally struggles under the weight of its ambitious structure, and the contemporary timeline doesn’t quite match the historical sections’ dramatic energy, these issues don’t significantly detract from the overall experience. This is a book that trusts its readers’ intelligence while never forgetting to entertain.
For readers who enjoy historical romance with substance, stories celebrating body positivity, or novels that experiment with narrative structure, A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love offers a genuinely fresh take on familiar themes. It’s a reminder that the best historical fiction doesn’t just transport us to the past—it helps us understand the present and imagine a better future.