Grace of the Empire State: A breathtaking historical novel of courage, love and sacrifice in 1930s New York

by Gemma Tizzard

As the Great Depression bites, show dancer Grace's Irish immigrant family can't afford the rising rents, nor the medicine that her little sister urgently needs.

When her twin brother is injured and can no longer work on the construction of the half-built Empire State Building, Grace steps up - literally. She trades her dancing shoes for worker boots, braving deadly metal work hundreds of feet in the sky.

But survival isn't guaranteed. Failure could mean not only losing her job, but also her life, and the livelihood of her family and team. Sparks fly across the great metal beams, as a terrible accident and a split-second decision leaves Grace re-evaluating everything that she thought she knew about herself...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, New York, Adult Fiction

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace O’Connell always felt happy and safe until her father died, now America’s in the midst of the Great Depression and her twin brother Patrick works at the construction site of the Empire State Building and Grace is a dancer and they support their widowed mother and younger sister.

Even with both siblings working money is tight, and when Grace is laid off and Patrick is injured on the job, she has no choice but to take his place on the team and it’s made up of four men and Grace disguises herself as a man and her brother.

Grace’s first day as a “catcher” is daunting and she’s working eighteen floors up, with the support of the Seamus and the Gagliardi brothers Frank and Joe she gets through it. Grace aches all over, but as the weeks pass she gets stronger and her team members are pleased she's pulling her weight and they still worry about her identity being discovered. One side of the job she wasn’t prepared for was how dangerous it is, accidents happen and a slight error or a being in the wrong place at the wrong time and you could be injured or killed and she witnesses this firsthand.

I received a copy of Grace of the Empire State from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review and it’s the author’s debut novel.

The narrative is set in New York during the Great Depression, a time of long lines of desperate men trying to find jobs, hungry children and families struggling to pay their rent and not ending up being tossed onto the street and homeless.

I really liked the characters, especially Grace, Mary and Connie, the Gagliardi brothers, Seamus and Patrick, Bruno and Florence and the way everyone banded together and helped one and another and the overall theme of the story and the importance of family and sticking together, sacrifice and friendship, helping others and those in need, hope and affinity.

Gemma Tizzard has written an inspiring historical fiction story, a great way to start her writing career and four and a half stars from me.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ When Patrick O’Connell, the main breadwinner of his family, suffers a fall while working as a riveter on the building of the Empire State Building, his sister Grace devises a plan. With her skills as a dancer, and her almost identical appearance to him as his fraternal twin, she will take his place as a riveter to prevent the loss of their income - income they desperately need to care for their sick younger sister. Grace works to protect her identity and job security while also becoming close to the men she works with, particularly Joe, facing harrowing experiences on the job and risking her life daily.

If you are a fan of tough-as-nails FMCs who are brave even in the face of adversity, this is a must read. Grace’s loyalty to her family as they struggle to make ends meet following their father’s death and the onset of the Great Depression is staggering, as is her deep devotion to her friendships.

This book offers an interesting look into this really difficult period of time and the significance of having any employment to survive it. With her grit and perseverance, Grace is very much at the forefront of the story; however, her siblings and the men she works with add a ton of heart to the story as well, as we see them

🎧 I went back and forth between the physical book and the audio and thought both were terrific, however, Erin Bennett does a masterful job narrating quite a few different accents which added something extra special to this one.

Read if you like:
▪️Depression era history
▪️Irish-American rep
▪️strong female MCs
▪️hidden identities
▪️New York City setting


Thank you Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies!

[Sandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful debut novel, by the author living locally to me. Set in the 1930s in New York during tge depression. The writing is accessible and easy to read. Obviously, it is well researched, and it is about the building of the Empire State Building and the conditions in which they worked. Working at heights without much safety of the workers considered. The main female character is Grace. Her and her twin brother Patrick contribute to their Irish family, their mother, and their poorly younger sister following the death of their father. Grace loses her job as a dancer, whilst Patrick damages his arm in an accident and he can no longer work. She impersonatines her brother joining his team of workers, including Joe, Frank, and Samual, as if one of the team can't work, the whole team is let go. I enjoyed the characters, and I loved Grace's development. Her fierce loyalty and love of her friends and family both hers and the work crew shines throughout. It's historical fiction at its finest. I loved it.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just like Mulan except if Mulan was named Grace and;

Instead of replacing her old dad as a soldier she replaced her twin brother with a broken arm
Instead of China it is America
Instead of the year 400 it is 1930
Instead of fighting a war she is being a riveter 300 feet in the sky, building the Empire State Building.
Instead of falling for her commanding officer she falls for her Italian co-worker Joe.

Much like Mulan, Grace dresses as a man in order to save the day. It is a good and memorable story and a solid effort from a debut author. I will say it is written very simply, probably at an 8th grade level. It reminds me of the old books based on the American girl dolls.

Boy it is a good thing we have OSHA and Unions. Otherwise we would all be dead. I adore the Empire State Building and I am eternally grateful for my great grandfather who poured the steel in Pittsburgh to create it, and the riveters and connectors who put the whole thing together.

Thank you to @gallerybooks for this #gifted book #partner.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“But you are strong, Grace O’Connell, maybe more so than any of us. And you will find a way to pick up that pain and carry it with you.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Grace of the Empire State takes place in 1930 during the time of the Great Depression and Prohibition, when construction of the Empire State Building was underway. Amongst some of the construction workers is twenty-year-old Irish Patrick, one of their key riveters, who breaks his arm in an unfortunate accident. Unable to bear the thought that he won't be able to receive his weekly payment that is needed for his mother and sisters, he enlists the help of his twin sister, 'Life is for living' Grace, to take his place as himself, so that they won't lose the finances that their family desperately needs. 🥺

“I think what you’re doing is incredibly stupid and dangerous. And it is also the greatest act of love I’ve ever heard of.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The protagonist, Grace, was a very resilient and kindhearted protagonist. From her movements and her talents, her love for dancing was evident; one which did help her in her fears of impersonating her brother on a job that is quite dangerous and hazardous. 'Yesterday I was scared, but I didn’t really know what I was scared of. Now I do.' 😔 But, with desperate times comes desperate measures. And knowing that if she doesn't take his place on those high beams would hurt not only her family, but impact those of her cousin and the Gagliardis, two Italian brothers that assist her and her brother in their guise, is a heavy and taxing burden.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I was a bit upset when they did emotionally manipulate her, well, coerce her into doing the job, but she rose above that burden. I liked how she matured as the story progressed - physically and emotionally and mentally. How she proved that a woman could as easily do a man's job, if not better, with her determination and faith in herself. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ She always viewed life with a carefree spirit, but seeing her slowly accept the changes in herself was cathartic and welcoming - a healing process for her, too. She learned the job and she came to do it; even with the risks and the fear of being discovered, for a lack of a choosier word - she handled it with Grace.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The author captured her emotions on stage and on the construction site vividly in a descriptive manner that it was easy to envision. I liked the variety of the job; from making mistakes to bonding with the men, to even helping out when tragedy struck. With a believable supporting cast, the dialogue, the interactions, the nature of the hard-working men and the prevalent danger of the job was captured well. 👌🏻👌🏻 I liked that Grace wasn't perfect immediately, but slowly built her strength and improved in being a valuable fill-in for Patrick. I especially liked the climax - a moment that had both her worlds collide in a way that demanded her utmost patience and courage. It was an impactful scene that was both exhilarating and intense. 😦

“What am I meant to do?” she asked the universe...”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I also appreciated how the author touched upon the class difference between men and women and the social discrimination that prevented women who were in financial struggles to find feasible, if not beneficial opportunities to earn their keep, thus, leading to having them subject their bodies to cruel injustice with tragic results. 💔💔 'You worry for everyone all the time and you still think you should have done more?' It is unique in the way we do get two sides of the fence - marrying for money, or having family money, to those destitute and alone who have to rely on themselves to make ends meet. Her former fellow dancers were depicted in a way that shed light on how they made decisions based on necessity, in whatever capacity they sought fit.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It was heart-wrenching, but sadly quite true of the time. Grace's kindness for her friends was both her strength and her weakness; how she took it upon herself to be as gracious and helpful was heartbreaking, especially when she failed to help those she truly cared about. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 'The Lord never gives you more than you can manage.' It is that stark reminder that was mirrored in the way she felt grateful to work under the false guise of being a man that made her realize how important it was for her to find a place - for herself, as herself. 💃🏻

“The weight is your love for them that has nowhere else to go.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I liked how Grace and Joe's budding romance developed. It was nice to see how he warmed up to her and how she behaved with him on the work site - even when it drew unwarranted attention - she was posing as a guy, after all! - but still grew to respect and care for him. 🥰 "It is a difficult thing to ask of someone, to understand and to accept.' I did feel though that the Patrick perspectives affected the storyline in a negative way, with a romance that could have done without, but, oh well. I understand how it was necessary to show how his own life was impacted by his accident, but it did not hold much weight to it and drew me out of Grace's own self-growth. I also felt that there was a certain moment in the middle of the story that entered a slight lull; as in the plot seemed to be at a standstill with then suddenly an onslaught of crisis happening on top of the other. 😕

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Despite these few hindrances it was still a promising, and heartfelt debut. I do love the cover that perfectly captures the high-rise at which Grace found herself working for nearly a month, as well as how at ease she is at taking risks. 😟 She learned and grew from her experiences, thus making the ending feel that more realistic in teaching her the ways to be better and treat herself better, too. 'The mixture of her new strength and the adrenaline coursing through her made her steps effortless.' The writing had a wholesome yet informative vibe to it and a heartfelt familial feel to it that made me appreciate how Grace's story concluded.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I also felt good reading about how much care and hard work was taken into building a structure that has withstood the test of time, especially when written with this slight twist of a woman supposedly doing a man's job. The Empire State Building, 'a beacon of hope for the struggling city' has a history of its own that reminds you that it was not as easy to construct buildings as it is now to 'gift this view to the world'; dedication and craftsmanship, as well as the combined effort of hearts and souls went into it that as the author reminded should not be forgotten. 🏗️🙏🏻

*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in 1930, New York City. It focuses on the building of the Empire State Building and the O’Connell family.

Times were tough, it was the beginning of the Depression. Jobs were scarce. The O'Connell family was managing adequately because the oldest son had a job on the building site of the Empire State Building. But, he had an accident, was unable to work, unable to earn money. The decision was made to send his lookalike twin sister to work in his place, dressed in his clothes.

This premise sounds highly improbable but it works. The story flowed well, I liked the characters, particularly the strength and determination of Grace, the twin sister. The story covered many aspects from the time period: the probable horrors and dangers of working on a high rise building before safety precautions were in place, the plight of people who had no employment, the horrific dance marathons where people danced with the slim likelihood of earning money. The importance of family also played a large role. Both with the O'Connells and their friends, the Gagliardis.

There was a fair bit of exciting drama towards the end of the book. Perhaps it was a bit too much, but since I read to be entertainment, I was fine with it.

I appreciated the Author's note at the end on how she decided to write this story. It is obvious that a lot of research went into construction details. This is her debut novel and she has indicated that she has an interest in “untold women's stories”. I look forward to what comes next.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was riveting ... see what I did there? No, seriously, it was riveting. I couldn't put this book down. We all have an idea of what the Depression was like for the common folk, but no book that I've read so far has captured it so clearly. The research that went into this book was outstanding.

The story is about twins, one a man and one a woman, their mother, a younger and ill sister, and several other families. Grace, our main character, was born to be a dancer, but circumstances intervene, and she finds herself the first Rosie the Riveter on the Empire State Building. Can you imagine working on a building like that without the safety mechanisms we have in place now? There is no net, no anything as far as safety goes. But Grace did it and even saved a life while doing so.

Life is not easy for Grace's family, nor was it easy for many other people, but horrors just keep piling up on Grace's shoulders. And just when you, the reader, think things can't get any worse, they do. But never fear, life eventually becomes better and there is even romance in the air!

I highly recommend this book for those who like strong, capable women and like learning a bit about the era's history. This would be perfect for book clubs.

Bravo for this debut novel.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Gallery Books/Simon Schuster, the author, and NetGalley.

[Kinsey Breland .: avid_midnight_reader :. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads’ Giveaway.

Frank, Joe, and Seamus may have been hesitant at first about Patrick’s idea to have his twin sister take his place on their team after he broke his arm, but honestly with Grace’s circus skills, it sounded like it would work out okay. She already had the balancing skills she needed in order to work up high on the beams with her training to walk tightropes, and her juggling abilities would come in handy for when they are tossing materials around to each other. The only thing these men had to work with her on was the actual task of the job.

Reading about Grace walking out onto the arm of that crane, 35 stories up in the air, was one of the scariest things I have read in a while. I’m kind of surprised that their supervisor fired their group so fast after that though. Yes, that was a completely dangerous thing that she did, but Grace is a trained tightrope walker and was well in her element performing the task, and she saved a man’s life in the process. He didn’t even realize a woman was working for him. She was clearly capable of keeping up with the other guys, and yet he fired her because it was “no job for a woman”.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the best kinds of 5-star reads are the unexpected 5-star reads – the hidden gems, the ones that surprise you out of nowhere.

I hadn’t heard about GRACE OF THE EMPIRE STATE until Gallery Books kindly sent me a complimentary finished copy earlier this year, after it was published in late January. One of my yearly goals was to read 25 historical fiction books, so it fit perfectly with my plans. I’m so grateful that it came my way because it’s one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year.

As the title and (gorgeous) cover suggest, it’s set in 1930 during the construction of the Empire State Building. Times are tough as New Yorkers struggle to find work and provide for their families. The title character, Grace O’Connell, is the daughter of Irish immigrants. She’s a gifted dancer who ends up losing her job at a local club when it closes (Depression-era problems). Her twin brother, Patrick, works “on the steel” at the Empire State Building site – one of the most dangerous professions imaginable – and a desperate situation forces the O’Connells to switch places.

The pacing of the story is quick and gripping, there’s no shortage of action, and the chapters are short (to my delight). It’s not exactly a “found family” trope, but the side characters are compelling enough that I’d be happy to read a spin-off about each of them. It’s also not the most diverse book I’ve ever read, but it does include representation of immigrants and people with disabilities.

It’s not often that I pick up a debut, but I was so impressed with Gemma Tizzard’s breezy writing style that I am very much looking forward to whatever she writes next. Five stars from me!

[Ric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this was a debut novel because it didn’t feel like it at all. It was beautiful and entertaining at the same time, with a fantastic cast of characters. I loved Grace as the main character so much, she was so strong willed and unabashedly herself even when pretending to be her brother. I even liked Patrick’s story as the b plot with him growing throughout.

Historical fiction set in New York is one of my favorite subgenres, and setting this at one of the most famous buildings in the world was fantastic. I also liked the Prohibition era parts when they weren’t at the Empire State Building. Definitely worth the read and I’ll for sure be looking out for the author’s work in the future.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating story. It was set in New York after the Great Depression and it tells the story of a family living hand-to-mouth and the building of the Empire State Building. Without giving much away this story mainly focuses on Grace and her hand in helping the family to bring money in and putting her life on the line everyday. I really enjoyed this one and hope to read more by this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Angie Carducci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve started getting pretty stingy with my five-star ratings, awarding them only to those books that deeply moved me, that I believe I will remember long after finishing them. This is such a book, and an absolutely spectacular debut from Gemma Tizzard.

It’s the Great Depression, 1930. Grace is 21 years old, a talented dancer with circus training no less, but she’s been using her talents as a taxi dancer, dancing with men, to help keep her family of an Irish immigrant mother, twin brother and younger sister afloat. Her twin brother Patrick works on the steel, as they say, specifically building the Empire State Building. It’s dangerous work, and one day Patrick breaks his arm on the job. Rather than admit what’s happened and risk losing the position, with jobs extremely hard to come by, the twins decide that Grace, who looks almost identical to Patrick, will fill in for him until he is well. What could go wrong?

That question keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout this book. If Grace is found out, not only will she/Patrick lose the job, so will the other three people in their crew for going along with it. Will Grace be able to do this physically demanding, mentally stressful work? Will she get hurt in a job where it seems like there is an injury or a major tragedy almost constantly? What about the little sister in the family, whose fragile health is a major reason giving up is not an option?

I absolutely loved this story of the tenacity you can find within yourself to do whatever has to be done for survival and love of family. I loved the characters, from Grace to smaller scene-stealers like her onetime taxi dancer colleague Betty, who married into money and is going to use it, by God. I also must admit I have never given much thought to the conditions under which the men who built some of our most impressive landmarks worked, and will never look at many of them, particularly the Empire State, quite the same way again.

[Michelle Glogovac · Rating 5 out of 5]

A badass female heroine is what every good book needs and Grace is exactly that! We know from the cover alone that Gemma will end up on the steel, but the story of how she gets there and what she does once she makes it onto the Empire State Building is nothing short of miraculous.

Set in the 1930s during a time when most people were out of jobs, struggling to put food on their table and a roof over their heads, the O'Connell family is faced with more devastation after losing the father of the family when Grace loses her job and her twin brother, Patrick, has a mishap at his. This story looks at the love siblings have for each other and defines what empathy is when considering the struggles of those around you.

Many characters are faced with the question of how they will show up and help others when they themselves are in desperate need of help as well. This book is about family, love, dedication, friendship, loyalty and bravery.

I enjoyed this read and felt my stomach drop many times as I read about going up on the steel. Having been in the Empire State Building, I have a new appreciation for how it was built. 

[Svenja · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York, 1930: Die junge Tänzerin Grace riskiert alles, um ihre Familie zu retten. Nachdem ihr Bruder Patrick sich verletzt und nicht mehr am Empire State Building arbeiten kann, nimmt Grace heimlich seinen Platz als Stahlarbeiterin ein – in schwindelerregender Höhe. Während sie sich jeden Tag neuen Gefahren stellt, darf ihre wahre Identität nicht ans Licht kommen. Doch als sie sich in einen ihrer Kollegen verliebt, droht ihr mutiger Plan aufzufliegen.

Dieses Buch ist eine kleine literarische Entdeckung, die mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite gefesselt hat. Keine Minute kam Langeweile auf – das allein ist schon viel wert in einer Zeit, in der viele Romane sich in überladenen Handlungssträngen verlieren.

Was das Buch besonders macht, ist seine angenehme Unaufgeregtheit. Es erzählt eine historische Geschichte, die ohne übertriebenen Kitsch oder künstliche Dramatik auskommt – dafür mit viel Feingefühl und einer klaren, unaufdringlichen Sprache. Die Figuren sind sympathisch und glaubwürdig, man begleitet sie gern durch ihre Erlebnisse und fühlt sich dabei stets nah an der Geschichte.

Auch der geschichtliche Hintergrund ist dezent, aber wirkungsvoll eingewoben. Man bekommt einen schönen Eindruck der Zeit, ohne dass das Buch belehrend wirkt oder in Klischees verfällt.

Insgesamt ist "Hier oben sind wir unendlich" eine ruhige, stimmige Lektüre – perfekt für alle, die historische Romane mögen, aber keine Lust auf Kitsch und Klischees haben. Einfach schön erzählt.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

High in the sky!

All I could think of was that iconic photo of workers sitting on a steel girder way above New York as the Empire State building was being built.
It’s after the Wall Street crash and finding work is difficult. Grace O’Connell and Patrick her twin are fortunate. He’s employed on the Empire State, as part of a four man crew, placing beams and riveting them together. Grace is employed as a dancer. She’d previously trained as a tight rope walker and dancer in the circus her father had sent her to for training.
Only when Pat injures his arm , and the club Grace works at closes down, the obvious, despite Grace’s fears, happens. (The problem is the other men would lose their jobs without the full team.) Thus Grace’s dilemma. It’s a cutthroat world.
Grace takes her brother’s place, dressing as a man.
There’s danger—of being exposed, of falling, and other complications. One workman has it in for her brother and Grace bears the brunt of his aggression.
We’re introduced to a variety of characters, one being a fellow dancer Edie who tries her hand at Marathon Dancing. Needless to say in these scenes all I could think of was the movie They Shoot Horses Don't They.
A very different story with action taking place high in the sky, above the streets of New York, filled with the desperation of the times.
I was glued!

A Galley ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the cover and was intrigued by the plot.
However, I found the overall narrative to be rather implausible.
I did like all the details behind the building of the Empire State Building. I also liked the setting of 1930 because not all was dismal after the crash.
Thanks to Galley Books and NetGalley for the early copy.

[Janelle Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it!

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Nickie Cleaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good!!

[Sarah (sarahs_shelves_sc) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another absolutely incredible historical fiction! 2025 has been stacked with great reads in this genre, exploring different time periods and places and teaching me about new things.

When Grace's brother Patrick breaks his arm and is unable to continue his job as a riveter, the twins come up with an uneasy solution: Grace will dress up as her brother and go to work with his team while he heals. Of course, this is the 1930s, and working on skyscrapers is not the job for a woman, so the risks are high.

I adored Grace as a character. She is tough, bighearted, resilient, and willing to risk anything to help her family and friends. Her dancing dreams are put on hold to become the main provider, and she somehow puts her fear aside every single day to work high in the sky. Patrick's team of three other men is made up of great side characters who eventually become like family as well, and their interactions were so well done.

The story is set in 1930s NYC during the Great Depression, and exhaustion and worry hang over every moment. Families worry about having enough money for rent, for food, for medicine. Sadly this is a reality even today for many, and it was heartwrenching to see Grace's family debating about whether they afford to take a sick child to the hospital.

Erin Bennett narrated the audiobook to perfection, lending incredible accent work to the characters and keeping me hooked on the story.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly unusual book about Grace O’Connell, a would-be dancer/circus performer forced, by necessity, to replace her twin brother Patrick on the Empire State Building construction site. It is 1930, and times are tough everywhere.

As a dancer, Grace often attended “a taxi dance,” where men paid ten cents to dance with one of the girls they had just seen performing at a club across the street. Grace made a few dollars a week at her dancing. Wages on the Empire State Building site paid the lucrative salary of one dollar and ninety-two cents an hour.

Grace and Patrick’s father recently died in a workplace accident. Their younger sister is ill making it imperative to receive Patrick’s salary. So, when Patrick breaks an arm on the site, Grace must take his place.

Working to position the steel beams forming the Empire Stare Building’s inner core was extremely hazardous. (There is a famous photo by Lewis Hine of the workers sitting eating lunch on an open beam high above New York City.) For these fearless construction workers there is heart-stopping danger and death.

How Grace handles this extreme situation makes for a marvelous story…a real New York City story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace of the Empire State offered a compelling and sometimes nerve-wracking look at the construction of the Empire State Building. The historical detail, especially around the steel workers, was both fascinating and terrifying—I found myself holding my breath during those scenes, deeply aware of the danger they faced high above the city with little more than grit and balance.

As someone who gravitates toward historical fiction grounded in real events, I appreciated the setting and context, but I did feel that the day-to-day experience of being part of such a massive and historic build could have been explored more deeply. While the female main character’s story was engaging, it wasn’t based on a real figure, and that left me wanting more authenticity in the representation of those who were actually there.

The writing style leaned a bit simpler than I typically prefer, but it still carried heart, especially in the personal stories of families impacted by the Great Depression. Those moments of connection and struggle added warmth and humanity to the larger story.

Overall, a solid and moving read—especially for those curious about the people behind one of New York’s greatest architectural feats.

[Cynthia Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! What a great story!! I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but i was not entirely convinced that I would love it. That changed the further I got into the chapters. By the end, I was so wrapped up in the story, I didn't realize what was going on around me. It was nail biting, spine tingling, and ultimately a truly inspirational read.

Please do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book. I promise you will be cheering for Grace by the end.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. I will be on the lookout for more wonderful tales from Ms. Tizzard!

[Ellie (bookmadbarlow) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Linda McGrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set in 1930 New York, in the middle of the Great Depression. The central character is Grace, who along with her brother Patrick, help support their mother and invalid little sister. On the day that Grace loses her job as a dancer, Patrick is injured and unable to work. A plan is hatched, where Grace will take Patrick's place as a riveter on the Empire State Building. It's obviously very dangerous work and her team of four will all lose there jobs if anyone finds out. Interesting historical fiction, likeable characters, a little romance and a lot of drama. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Dakota Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this book! It was so well written and so enjoyable. Dispite some sadness there was hope and determination too. A bit of romance ( no sex) and some good friendships rounded it up nicely. I’m am so glad I read it.

[Rachael Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Cheryl Tabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books release date 01/27/25. Recieved ARC copy from Goodreads and publishing Co. What an amazing story set in the 1930's, during the building of the Empire State Building. Patrick O'Connell along with his cousins and friends worked the steel. His identical twin sister Gracie a dancer. Another sibbling Connie ten years old and frail and sickly. A stay at home Mom. The family suffered the loss of the husband and father in an accident. Which left Patrick to take on the roll of main bread winner of the house. Patrick got hurt on the job, but he did not let his employer's know. This job was important to all of them in the group. If Patrick could not work neither the crew. Same day Gracie looses her dancing job. They came up with a plan for Gracie to take and act as Patrick at his job till he healed and could resume his job, with no one especially the boss being the wiser. Great story of strength, resilience and faith of a family to keep it together. Beautifully written story especially set in that time frame.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written historical romance that unfolds over a few months, showcasing themes of resilience, determination, love, and power. The author’s captivating writing style drew me in almost instantly, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Despite never having been to New York, I felt as though the city came alive within the pages, transporting me straight into its vibrant streets, scents and historical backdrop - a detail I truly loved.

Grace is an incredibly likable and well-crafted protagonist. Her growth throughout the story was both believable and compelling, adding depth to the narrative. While not every character resonated with me, the vast majority were so well-developed and engaging that they made the story even more enjoyable - I found myself really caring for the characters. It's a must-read for fans of historical romance who appreciate strong character development, immersive settings and a touch of romance.

Lately, I’ve been stuck in a bit of a reading slump, but this book turned out to be the perfect story to pull me out of it. I read the final page perfectly satisfied and warm, a must read!

[Pam Mullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

I LOVED this! It was so different than anything other historical fiction I’ve read. Grace is an amazing FMC that can do anything she sets her mind to. She goes from being a dancer to an iron worker building the Empire State Building. This story was so layered and simply amazing. I have never been more proud of a character.

Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy of this book to read and review.