A captivating story to start 2025. This is a descriptive tale of family and friends, fairgrounds and circuses. Rich storytelling and evocative descriptions meant that I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it.

Be aware that the book includes mentions, of sexual assault, child sexual assault, and murder. None of which is gratuitous or glamourised.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.
This review is wholly my own words and opinions.

Lena's father has died and left to her the circus carousel which has seen better days and is really fit for nothing.

Then Violet arrives... sassy and brilliant and life starts to breathe again

What a glorious read this is . It is richly told and descriptive and clever and OMG I LOVED IT..

1910 and Lena is adrift after the death of her father, left with only his dilapidated carousel ride and the mystery of where her mother disappeared to years before.
Violet may be one of the best trapeze artists around, but slapping the circus owner wasn't the best idea, and she's unemployable.
The two childhood friends team up, and with the help of a nervous young trick horse rider and a Spanish acrobat, they start an all female travelling circus. But the past isn't keen to stay put.

This is an evocative romp of a story. I loved the characters and the atmosphere. I'm a fool for a circus story and this is a hell of a story.

The spotlight on the way women had to and still have to fight for space is skillfully depicted This is a book of strong female characters (which I love).

You'll love this if you have fond memories of seeing the circus as a child or ever threaten your colleagues/family with quitting and running away to join the circus.

THE SHOW WOMAN by Emma Cowing was so so good. I couldn't stop reading this book. It's so well written and the characters are fantastic.