The It Girls

Book excerpt: “A glorious romp through the lives and loves of the scintillating Sutherland sisters!” (Hazel Gaynor, New York Times–bestselling author). One sailed the Titanic and started a fashion empire. The other overtook Hollywood and scandalized the world. Together, they were unstoppable. Elinor and Lucy Sutherland came from nearly nothing—two beautiful sisters who lived by their wits and ambition. They were at once each other’s fiercest supporters and most vicious critics. Together they seduced the world. Lucy transforms herself into Lucile, whose fashions are the talk of London. And when she marries Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon her life seems like a fairy tale. But success comes at a cost—to her marriage and to her children . . . Then, one fateful night, the Titanic strikes an iceberg . . . and scandal follows. Elinor writes as Elinor Glyn, and her novels are so shocking no one admits to reading them . . . but everybody does. And when she travels to the glittering new world of Hollywood she becomes a worldwide celebrity. But although she writes of passion, the true love she longs for eludes her. Despite quarrels and misunderstandings, distance and destiny, there is no bond stronger than that of the two sisters—confidants, friends, rivals, and the two “It Girls” of their day. “Not only is this a fabulous portrait of the time, but it is also a deftly crafted portrait of the complexity of sisterhood.” —RT Book Reviews (starred) “Fans of Kathleen Tessaro and Penny Vincenzi will enjoy the layers of intrigue and the sweeping plot. Harper’s ability to shift between raw ambition and tender compromise makes this family-focused novel a genuine delight.” —Booklist