I do love a fiction book about the circus. For me, it is pure escapism to envelop oneself in life on the road, entertaining the crowds and the pure magic within the troupe. "The Show Woman" by Emma Cowing is extra special as the author has based it on personal family stories and interwoven these into a brilliant book. 4 amazing female characters make up the all-female circus and they face many battles (rival circuses, sexism, staying above the breadline etc). Bound to be a real hit in 2025.

A wonderful debut from Emma Cowing.

1910, Scotland - we follow the lives of Lena, Violet, Rosie and Carmen as they travel the country as the first ladies circus.

There is something for everyone in this story - mystery, intrigue, love, loss, heartbreak and girl power.

I’d have loved more about the lives of each women - Rosie and Carmen’s pasts were a little glossed over - and the running of the circus from conception to success as that also felt a little rushed.

I loved the twist towards the end and the somewhat bittersweet ending.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, Emma Cowing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This debut novel from Emma Cowing is an historical novel with a difference. The era is early 20th century Scotland and the subject an all female circus. The cover of this book certainly was the first draw for me as I don't like circuses as a rule. Also the novel idea of women working alone at a time when this was nearly impossible. Lena, Rosie, Carmen and Violet however are determined to make a success of things despite repeated male interference. The story is full of passion, jealousy, determination, hardship, successes and setbacks. It is a book about women already on the edge of society fighting for a place they can call their own. The Show Woman is a well researched book obviously written from a place that means a lot to the author as this comes across on every page. A very enjoyable read that I'm happy to recommend to all lovers of good fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A slow burn which I hoped might become good, was I right? I really enjoyed this story, full of twists and turns which kept me avidly reading right to the end. It tells the story of the travelling community at the end of the 19th Century with all of the tribulations that went with that. Add to this the female only factor of the team and the intrigue gets event better. The book addresses a wide range of topics in a really clever way that will leave the reader understanding the issue but without making any judgement. The end of the story has a wonderful twist which I had not expected. Emma Cowing writes really well and fluidly and I would really recommend reading. The Show Woman.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this debut novel. I did enjoy the storyline it was intriguing and an interesting insight into the lives of Edwardian show people. However, for me, it was too wordy; there was too much description, and I just wanted to get on and find out what happened.

I liked the characters, they were very believable and gritty. There were no holes barred in this story, and you definitely saw the worst traits of the characters.

The ending was unexpected and riveting, I just wish it had got there a little quicker and with a little less embellishment.

This story (for me) got off to a slow start but I'm SO glad I stuck with it! I loved the story which has such an authentic feel. I usually avoid historical fiction as, being a historian, I often spot so many anachronisms that it spoils my enjoyment. There were a few things here, but the sheer colour and storytelling outweighed them.

Quite a different story, based around Lena, who is part of a circus community. When her father dies, she soon realises she is unable to continue the ride he used to operate so decides on a new attraction - a ladies circus. The story follows her life and that of those around her over the coming months but also explores her past and family - something she knows next to nothing about.

The book kept me guessing right up to the end - there are plenty of characters in this story so it was quite a puzzle to work out who might be related to who (if at all!) and what secrets had been hidden for years. I did guess the Epilogue though, which felt like a fitting ending.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

Wow loved this after Losing her Mum, then her Dad dies left in her own lena with her friend Violet hit the road having fihbded a female circus plus supporting members

There's lot of intrigue interesting characters that you will discover and so much more about as the tale unfolds, plenty of highs but several knocks along the road as well. As the start of the story will show. The start is very dark and as hinted this novel is filled with light and darkness but what a ride it is and I loved the whole experience it had me totally gripped. How do they go read and see it's a must read 📚 needs to be on the top of your pile of books but better in your hand being read.

This is so definitely a 5star read if ever there was one I really do highly recommend it.

Emma Cowing draws from her rich heritage to skillfully transport readers to early 20th-century Scotland. In the aftermath of her father’s death, Lena is left heartbroken and faced with the painful decision to sell the family’s cherished carousel and seek a future beyond the familiar confines of her community. Lost and adrift, Lena’s world shifts when she meets Violet—bold, outspoken, and full of ambition. Together, they hatch a daring plan to start their own travelling show.

Soon, their small group grows to include Lena, Violet, the fiery little Rosie, and Carmen, each woman carrying a past they’d rather forget, secrets they’d like to keep buried, and a desperate need to escape. But the past has a way of catching up, and the shadows of their former lives soon reappear, complicating their journey. What follows is a story laced with turmoil, but also the strength of unwavering friendship, the power of love, and a fierce sense of solidarity among women.

A stirring and poignant tale, this book is both empowering and heartbreaking—perfect for celebrating Women’s History Month.

A superb debut from an incredibly talented writer. Strong female characters who ooze resilience end empowerment. I feel like I want to run away to the circus!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the people blusher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a dazzling, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting story about four extraordinary women who defy the odds in Edwardian Scotland. At its core, it’s a celebration of resilience, found family, and the unbreakable bonds forged in the face of cruelty and hardship.

The story follows Lena, a young woman adrift after her father’s sudden death, left with nothing but a crumbling carousel and unanswered questions about her missing mother. When Violet—a fiery, fearless trapeze artist with a reputation for trouble—suggests they start their own all-female circus, Lena hesitates but soon realizes she has nothing left to lose. What unfolds is a gripping journey of survival, secrets, and the fierce loyalty that keeps them standing when the world tries to knock them down.

What makes this book so compelling is its richly drawn characters. At first, Lena seems like the least dynamic of the group—more of a narrator than a protagonist—but as the story unfolds, she steps into her own power in a way that feels earned and satisfying.

The novel doesn’t shy away from dark themes—abuse, trauma, and betrayal are woven throughout—but these moments are balanced by the warmth and humor of the women’s camaraderie. Their circus becomes a refuge, a place where they can reclaim their autonomy in a society determined to control them. There’s a particularly poignant message about the importance of women supporting women, especially when the world is stacked against them.

The final act is where the story truly shines, with twists that are both shocking and deeply satisfying. The clues are there if you’re paying attention, but the revelations still pack an emotional punch. By the end, I was completely invested, staying up late just to see how everything would unfold.

While the book could benefit from trigger warnings (for abuse, suicide, and animal cruelty), these heavier elements never feel gratuitous—they serve the story and the characters’ growth.

The Show Woman is a triumph—a story about defiance, healing, and the magic of performance, both onstage and in life. If you love historical fiction with fierce female leads, complex relationships, and a touch of circus wonder, this is a must-read.

Sometimes the greatest act of bravery isn’t a death-defying stunt—it’s choosing to keep going when everything tries to break you. And these women? They’re the bravest of them all.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!)

An amazing debut! It’s very well written and has a unique story line, along with lots of plot twists which made it hard to put down. I loved the strong female characters, and the bond the girls had through their love of performing together in the circus was very bittersweet. There were a few dark themes so I would suggest a trigger warning at the start of the book just to make readers aware of what to expect.

Overall this was a really enjoyable read about friendship, love, grief and female empowerment in Edwardian Scotland.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

The Show Woman started so strongly - an orphaned young woman establishing a successfully all-female circus show. The cast of characters in Lena, Violet, Rosie and Carmen was assembled so effectively as we learned their histories and their motivations for joining the show. I was engrossed in the world of the fair from the off.

Throughout the first act, there are hints at deeper mysteries to solve and rivalries develop but they're deftly woven into the main narrative of establishing the show. In the second act, and after a bit of a lull, these mysteries become the focus and the last 10% really throws it all at you. There's definitely plenty to keep a reader entertained but I admit I preferred the direction of the first act and feel that second half lacked a bit of depth.

Pulling threads together from an array of genres, The Show Woman works hard to weave them into a fully realised historical family drama.

I really enjoyed this book, the writing is excellent and the characters all came across well. A great story and a well described insight into the world of the travelling fair. I found the revelations towards the end slightly over the top, which is why it's a 4 rather than a 5. But I'd recommend this.

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.

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!