What a fantastic debut!! From the diverse cast of characters to women breaking barriers, I was here for everything this book offered. Grace was such an excitable narrator. I loved her passion and independence. She fought so hard for her family, and I admired those qualities. The setting of the pre-built Empire State Building was so cool! I'm sure a lot of research went into that process, and I liked seeing that aspect of history come to life. The friendships and relationships were also so well done. I loved how Grace crossed paths with the Gagliardi's, and how the story kind of felt like found family. I couldn't stop reading; the book was quick, and I could feel my heart beating like crazy after any scene on the steel. I would absolutely read more from Gemma, and I'm excited to see what she'll do next. Thank you to Gallery Books for an ARC to read and review!

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for this eCopy to review

Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Tizzard is a captivating debut novel that transports readers to the heart of 1930s New York City, during the construction of the Empire State Building. The story follows Grace O’Connell, a daring dancer who must take her twin brother Patrick's place as a riveter on the skyscraper after he is injured. This act of bravery is driven by the need to support their family during the Great Depression.

Tizzard masterfully weaves a tale of courage, determination, and the power of family and friendship. Grace's journey is both inspiring and heart-wrenching as she navigates the male-dominated world of construction, proving herself as capable as any man. Her growing affection for her colleagues, especially the Italian immigrant Joe, adds a layer of warmth and humanity to the story.

The novel's setting is vividly depicted, bringing to life the gritty streets of New York and the breath taking heights of the Empire State Building. The camaraderie among the workers and the dangers they face are portrayed with authenticity and depth, making the reader feel every moment of tension and triumph.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its exploration of themes such as love, responsibility, and sacrifice. Grace's split-second decision during a critical moment high above the city encapsulates the essence of the novel—risking everything for the sake of others.

Overall, Grace of the Empire State is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story that will stay with me long after I turned the last page. Tizzard's debut is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring bonds of family and friendship

Set in New York 1930, “Grace of the Empire State” is written by Gemma Tizzard and as a debut novel, this book is phenomenal. As someone who has an intense fear of heights, this book did nothing to calm my nerves, though it did prove just how well the author described the death defying scenes, many floors up during the building of the Empire Sate Building. 

 

Since it was all men who worked tirelessly on the real life construction, the author wanted to write a story that incorporated a woman in an imaginative and creative way. She was certainly successful in doing that, creating a young show dancer who was not only a dedicated family member, prepared to do anything to save her poorly younger sister but a fearlessly brave and likeable character. 

 

I hadn’t heard of ‘dance marathons’ before and was astonished at what people resorted to during the Great Depression, in the hope to earn money. The rent increases, health bills and lack of jobs meant people would do any work, even if it cost them their lives. 

 

This book is an unbelievable debut novel and I even had to double check that this was the case, so well written and portrayed was the story. Every scene on the building site portrayed the danger of working at such heights, often with no safety net and with a constant fear of falling to one’s death.  The attention to detail, from how the wind affected their work, the intricate jobs that needed to be done, to even how the rivets were searing hot before being used, vividly created what must have been horrendously scary work. 

 

Each worker was courageous, tough and looked out for each other and there wasn’t a character throughout that I didn’t endear to. Grace in particular was resilient, showed empathy and genuinely worthy the title of the book. 

 

A ‘riveting’, engrossing and highly engaging novel, written with professionalism, flair and passion. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction. 

 

#GraceOfTheEmpireState - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this historical fiction, it's not a genre I tend to read, but this one fascinated me from the get go and I spent the whole time hoping it was actually based on a true story.
Grace is a twin and when her brother gets injured, she uses her previous circus skills to work on building the Empire State building.
The short chapters propelled me through the book and let me tell you, parts of this book were TENSE!
I loved Grace, I really enjoyed the story, the setting and the secondary characters and I would highly recommend picking this one up.