Elizabeth Gilbert tells the story of now 89-year-old Vivian Morris in City of Girls. The story starts in 1940, where 19-year-old Vivian was kicked out of college and sent to live with her aunt in Manhattan who owns a Midtown theatre called Lily Playhouse. The world of theatre introduces Vivian to interesting characters, showgirls, and more, and eventually leads to one of the best and worst mistakes of her whole life.