Allison Pataki on "It Girl," fame, and scandal

Allison Pataki is known for historical fiction focused on women. Her latest novel, "It Girl," reimagines the life of perhaps the most famous woman at the turn of the 20th century. Evelyn Nesbit was discovered when she was barely a teenager. She became a celebrity, with women wanting to be her and men wanting to be with her. She soon found herself at the center of "The Crime of the Century" murder trial. Pataki says she was haunted by her research, discovering a woman exploited for her beauty who was also resilient. You can read an excerpt from "It Girl" and get the book at ClubCalvi.com Audio excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio from It Girl by Allison Pataki, read by Barrie Kreinik. © 2026 Allison Pataki, ℗ 2026 Penguin Random House, LLC. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices