A fascinating read. I live in Scotland and remember the Shows and the Circus coming to my town and the excitement they brought.
So I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about their way of life and culture and the discrimination they faced in the early 1900s.
Plenty of strong female characters in this novel and I felt I got to know them very well. They are woven together in a tale of great secrets, loyalty and love and on the other side sexual abuse.
Four women who are all running away from something join together to form a small circus and we read about their struggle to get established. Lena, Violet, Rosie and Carmen are all very believable and the author makes us feel we are travelling with them from town to town.
There is also a bit of whodunit to be solved.
So it's a book to be enjoyed at several levels.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC

I was drawn to the Show Woman by its beautiful brightly-coloured cover and description: an all-women's circus in late Edwardian Scotland was so compelling for me! From its cover, I was expecting a whirlwind of fantasy; a tale of adventure and non-stop heights. However, there are themes of sexual abuse, incest, suicide and animal cruelty (the latter of which I did expect, it being Edwardian Scotland). Whilst I was able to read it without being too uncomfortable, I think it would be accommodating to have trigger warnings for those who need them in the description and preceding the novel itself.

Despite the darker themes of the novel, I thoroughly enjoyed The Show Woman and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to read its denouement, when the mysteries that so compelled me were finally being solved. I found this part of the novel especially thrilling as I didn't see much of it coming, although there are subtle clues throughout the culmination of the book where you are able to put together the pieces yourself in tandem with the main character.

The protagonist is a young lady named Lena who was recently bereaved of her father. I was confused about how the man died; but it isn't really important to the plot. What is important, however, is how Lena can manage without him. She was raised on the road by her mother and father and has not known any other way of living. She must decide what she wants to do and how to do it following her father's demise.

Lena manages to pull together an all-female circus troupe made up of Carmen, her not-quite-sister Violet and Rosie coupled with Tommy Pony. Carmen is a beautiful, vivid, caring character whose past is wreathed in sadness, secrecy and shadow. She is protective of the troupe - especially Rosie - and teaches them self-defence. Rosie travels quite a way to audition for Lena's circus, absconding from her incomprehensively nightmarish home life. She performs her act of athletic bareback riding with Tommy Pony who she brought with her from home. I found their relationship particularly poignant and crucial to Rosie's growth because he has been her only solace in the pit of darkness that was her home before the circus. I believe that her love and relationship with him empowered her to run away from home and subsequently form relationships with new people. Whilst she learns to form relationships with the entire troupe, she particularly warms to Violet. Violet is a talented trapeze artist, 'the greatest trapeze artist that ever lived’!' in fact! She is a wild and tumultuous character who actually harbours much love in her heart for her fellow troupe members and a fervour for life. Compared to these vibrant characters, Lena feels rather milquetoast, like she is simply a plot device: the ringleader who rallies the troupe together. However, I believe her character grows significantly in the final act, where she confronts secrets and the powerful people who hold them.

I fell in love with each of these women and admired them because of how they showed their strength in the face of adversity and despair. Their comraderie was uplifting and inspiriting, which contrasted with a certain character's malevolence towards them. I believe that this character's hatred and appalling acts are meant to convey the message that women should not be unkind to each other because we get enough of that from men and, instead, we should be supportive to each other.

Overall, I found this an enthralling and mesmerising tale on sisterhood and overcoming despair whilst finding happiness when faced with it.


Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who hasn't wanted to run away to join the circus? I was enthralled by the ladies' circus of The Show Woman. I even looked up Vinegarhill, to see that it was a residence and place of business for travellers, with 190 people registered to vote there between 1928 and 1930.
Beautifully written, you can almost smell the fried onions, candyfloss, horses and sawdust.
The 4 women in the ladies circus are strong characters, ahead of their time, and consequently persecuted at times.
I found the ending a little confusing in terms of relationships and who was related to Lena.

The Show Woman offers an enthralling glimpse into the world of circuses, fairs and travellers in the Edwardian era. I loved the strong female characters who have ambition and a drive for independence despite the usual expectations of women at that time. Lena, Violet, Carmen and Rosie have all had to overcome some utterly terrible experiences in their lives and they bond together to form a sisterhood of support for each other. The pacing in the book is a bit varied but in the chapters where there are plot twists and reveals it is hard to put down. Great storytelling.

as much as i liked the writing style i just don't think i am the right audience for this story But Emma sure can write and i think this is why i was more interested in finshing this book.

I have wanted to read this book ever since I first heard about it and so was thrilled to receive an early digital copy. I'm not going to lie, I did think this was a non-fiction book beforehand, and I do kind of wish she also writes a non-fiction book based on women circus acts.

I don't like the circus as a general rule, I've never really understood the appeal, and yet I seem to keep being drawn to novels about them.

This is the very definition of female empowerment in a time where men ruled. But it's not just for tick box exercises - this is true feminism and it's done in such a great way without it sounded forced.

From the synopsis, I thought this was Violet's story, but for me it's actually Lena's. Emma has created some interesting characters that show a whole spectrum of women in the 1900s.

I don't know much about circuses and fairgrounds and whatnot, but I've learnt so much through books like this one and William Hussey's Jericho series. It's a more fascinating world than I thought it would be.

I will say that I found it a bit slow to get going. I understand you need to build the story and the characters but I did fine the first few chapters a little slow. It didn't thrill me right from the off. Not to say it wasn't good because it was, but I felt my attention going somewhere else at times. But once it hits the fan, it's very full on, and I'd have preferred if some of that had been spread out a little more through the rest of the book instead of relying on the sections towards the end.

I believe this is Emma's debut and I think it's a very promising debut. There were some pacing issues which meant the first half didn't really hold my attention as much as the second. But the characters are well created and developed, the relationships were strong, and the historical aspect seemed on-point. Very enjoyable storytelling.

The Show Woman is a beautifully written historical novel that takes you right into the heart of Edwardian Scotland’s circus world. Emma Cowing brings the atmosphere to life with rich details, you can almost hear the roar of the crowd and feel the tension before a big performance!
The best part of this book? The women. Lena, Violet, Rosie, and Carmen are all unique, strong, and determined to carve out their own place in a world that wasn’t built for them. Their bond is inspiring, and I loved seeing them challenge expectations. If you enjoy stories about resilience, friendship, and women breaking barriers, this book delivers.
Why not 5 stars? While the writing is immersive and the characters are engaging, the pacing slowed in some spots. A few moments felt a little drawn out, and I found myself wanting to get back to the action faster. That said, it’s a minor issue compared to how much I enjoyed the story overall.
If you love historical fiction with a fresh perspective, The Show Woman is definitely worth the read. It’s empowering, moving, and full of heart!

Set in Edwardian Scotland, the story is centred around the world of circuses and fairs and the traveller community.
After the disappearance of her mother and following the death of her father, Lena decides to start up an all women’s circus.
Joining her on this adventure are Violet, Rosie and Carmen. All four of them are hiding secrets and the book goes back and forth in time, where we learn about their past lives and how they now find themselves on the travelling show circuit together.
The book is about life, love and friendship and their stories are beautifully told.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this debut novel and finding out about the circus community in Scotland just before WW1. It’s hard to believe that a Ladies Circus really existed but one of the main characters is based on the author’s great aunt , so it must have! This is an impressive debut novel which is well written with convincing characters. The ending felt a bit rushed and it would have been nice to have more meat on the bones of some of the supporting cast but all-in-all this is a good read.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the front cover and I’m so glad I was.

A great historical fiction story of friendship, survival, determination and secrets.

I thought the storyline was original and full of believable characters that I cared about.

I have already recommended this book to friends.

As soon as I saw the cover and description for this book I couldn't wait to read it - and it didn't disappoint. This is a wonderful novel about friendship, family, and what it was to be a show woman in an Edwardian Circus.

A historical fiction set in Edwardian Scotland, centred around the world of circuses and fairs. The story follows circus-born Lena, whose mother mysteriously disappeared some years earlier, and father sadly dies at the book’s outset. Lena decides to sell her father’s carousel and, encouraged by Violet (aka 'the greatest trapeze artist that ever lived’), decides to set up an all-female circus act. Lena and Violet recruit performers Rosie and Carmen to complete their act, and so their journey begins….

The story that follows is enthralling, with beautifully immersive and captivating writing, that really draws the reader in to the circus era. There are some sensitive and dark themes throughout the book, including those of sexual abuse, murder and suicide, but above all else this book is one that celebrates female strength, resilience, friendship and love. A very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

#NetGalley #TheShowWoman

Thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for letting me read this book.

The story is set in Edwardian Scotland, and follows Lena, who faces personal losses with her parents' disappearance and death, leading her to join forces with Violet, a fiery trapeze artist, to create their own all-female circus act. They recruit other performers, forming a bond amidst challenges, including prejudice and violence, while striving for freedom, love, and stability. The novel captures the struggles and triumphs of women in the world of traveling fairs in the early 20th century.

This book is a fascinating mix of historical fiction, women's empowerment, and heartfelt drama. Highly recommend!

Long before the women's movement there were strong women trying to make a living without relying on men. Many had been hurt or let fown by men who were close to them, and some just long for independence.
Meet, Lena, Violet, Carmen and Rose. They all have secrets but find themselves thrown together and form The Ladies Circus. Life is tough and many they meet can't be relied upon, but united they stand against their enemies. Each one comes out of their shell and they bond together through the ups and downs of circus and fairground life. Eventually the secrets are exposed, and there is a happy ending for some.
The smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd comes to life in this debut novel from Emma Cowing. Thanks to H & S and NetGalley for a captivating read.

Female-led historical fiction
All-female circus setting
Themes of freedom, identity & ambition
Atmospheric writing
Celebration of creativity and resilience

I was completely drawn to the idea of a historical setting where women take centre stage (literally), and Emma Cowing does such a beautiful job of bringing that world to life. The atmosphere is vivid, the details transportive, and there’s something deeply romantic—not necessarily in a love story kind of way, but in the way it romanticises resilience, artistry, and the hunger to create something larger than life.

The female characters felt real and layered, especially when navigating the fine line between performance and reality. I loved how the story leaned into themes like identity, freedom, and the weight of expectations—things I think a lot of us feel in different ways today.

That said, the pacing felt a little slow at times, and I found myself wanting slightly more emotional intimacy between the characters. I wanted to feel their relationships as much as I could see them. But still, I closed the book feeling inspired, and just a little in awe of what these women created—on the page and in history.

If you love historical fiction that centres women, art, and quiet power, I think you’ll find this just as enchanting as I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Lena’s Dad, carousel owner and bare knuckle boxing champion dies, she sells the carousel and sets up her own Ladies Circus and for a golden summer travels the Showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland to growing acclaim. But will the malicious owner of Lindens Circus destroy Lena’s livelihood? And will Lena ever find her mother? Will Rosie, the runaway brilliant bareback rider and acrobat escape a violent father? Can Violet, the finest trapeze artist of her time outrun her past and find real love? And will the mysterious musical Carmen, or Rainbow Lady, ever forgive herself ? Together these four Show Women dazzle. Based on the author’s own family, this atmospheric, richly descriptive book revealed a world of the Showman families that was new to me. And championed the Show Woman.

As a child some of my favourite books were Enid Blton's Circus series - and this was reminiscent of those, IF you took off your rose tinted glasses and peered at the gritty underbelly of the beast! My level of fascination remained as high as when I was a child with the addition of secrets and intrigue and the detail of what travellers lives actually entailed.

First impressions, wow! I am brand new to this authors work and I am in love with the writing. This is a inspiring story of family and ancestry. The world building is fantastic, the way this is written really keeps you interested, I absorbed this novel in 3 hours! If you havent read this then definitely do!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Emma Cowing and Hodder & Stoughton📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

The Show Woman by Emma Cowing is a beautifully written and deeply moving story of resilience, female friendship and the fight for independence. Set in Scotland in the early 1900s, it follows Lena, who has known nothing but life in the circus. When she loses both her parents, she is left with little choice but to sell the carousel her father adored and find work elsewhere. But then Violet appears – bold, fearless and determined to carve out a future on her terms. Together, they set out to create an all-female travelling show, defying society’s expectations.

I loved the dynamic between the women, each with their struggles and past traumas, yet united by their shared determination. Lena’s journey from grief and uncertainty to strength was particularly moving, and Violet’s larger-than-life presence added energy to every scene. Rosie and Carmen’s stories were equally compelling, making this a book filled with complex, well-drawn characters.

The historical setting is immersive, and the challenges the women face feel painfully real. The prejudice, danger and hardships they encounter make their triumphs all the more powerful. There are moments of joy and love, but also heartbreak, making this a truly emotional read.

This book is thought-provoking, inspiring and, at times, deeply upsetting. It is a story of survival, sisterhood and the courage to forge your path, even when the world is against you. I was completely drawn in and highly recommend it.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The Show Woman is an accomplished historical novel, that took me back to a little known area of history - the Edwardian circus. An all-female Edwardian circus, which was even more unique. I loved the four main characters - Lena, Rosie, Violet and Carmen, all with their individual journeys and challenges. Emma Cowing's research really showed, and I learned so much about how fairs were run in the early 20th Century, and how women in particular navigated a very male-run world.