I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this book.  The author does a wonderful job of weaving together the stories of two strong New York women.
 It would make a great pool side and vacation book this summer.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was not what I expected it to be. I thought this was going to be historical fiction about the 1940's "Subway Girls" promotion by the MTA. I did not realize that the storyline would jump back and forth between the 1940's and present day. I loved the sweet story that unfolded as the book progressed. 

I will say that I was a little disappointed with some of the characters. While most of them were beautifully developed, there was one male character (I'll withhold the name so as not to spoil the book!) that I felt had a sudden change of character. I felt the change was so unexpected and extreme that it became unbelievable and actually detracted from the story. The most disappointing part was that I felt it was unnecessary. The change could have been gradual and the story would have been the same--possibly better. 

Setting that one point aside, I still enjoyed the book. It was a quick read--a good book to add to summer reading lists for sure!

Charlotte entries the Miss Subway beauty contest, makes friends with another contestant named Rose until something happens. Olivia, seventy years later, working in advertising discovers the Miss Subway contest. Two women from different generations struggling to find themselves.

The Subway Girls was such an enlightening book to read! I learned so much while reading about these characters and what their journey had to offer! It definitely gave me a new perspective on life then and how things are now!

I enjoyed Susie Orman Schnall's previous novels, so I was thrilled to see that she had a new one coming out this year. The concept sounded interesting enough, but what's inside is even better! 

Through Susie's lens, I learned something I knew nothing about...The Miss Subways contests. Seeing information about her research at the end makes me want to visit the New York Transit Museum the next time I'm out that way. 

The story is beautifully written with compelling and sympathetic lead characters who are both striving for their dreams in the advertising field. I love how their stories ran parallel to each other, but were each interesting in their own ways. They both had conflicts in the way of reaching their goals and I liked seeing how they would conquer them. 

Some aspects of this novel felt predictable, since a lot of information was revealed early on in order to tie Olivia's story to Charlotte's in some way. However, I still found myself surprised at the turns the story would take and I wasn't always sure what would happen.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Subway Girls and I hope Susie doesn't wait another three years to publish a new book. I really enjoy her writing style and I even got teary-eyed at times. If you're looking for a good escape read this summer, pick this one up!

Dream movie cast:
Olivia: Lyndsy Fonseca
Charlotte (1949): Maude Apatow
Rose (1949): Daniela Bobadilla
Sam (1949): Anthony Ingruber
Ben: William Moseley
Matt: Peter Hermann (because, hot boss!)
Thomas: Tyler Hoechlin
Mrs. Glasser: Marion Ross
Jojo (1949): Stefania LaVie Owen

The Subway Girls pulled me in from the first page! Beautifully written with a dual timeline, 1949 and present day, this is the story of Charlotte and Olivia. Charlotte is a young woman in 1949, ready to break free of the constraints put on her by her father and the times. Olivia is an ad executive trying to win a large ad campaign. I loved reading as their stories entwined. Susie Orman Schnall is a new author for me and I can't wait to read her other books!

Loved this book...I liked the dual-narrative writing with alternating chapters taking us from 1949 to current day and how it all comes together as the book progresses. Touches on how women have always been searching for a sense of independence.

The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall is a delightful story of 2 women born about 70 years apart. It is based on the monthly posters in the New York subways of pretty young women in the 1940’s and beyond. We meet Charlotte and Olivia as young ladies struggling for a career in a world of men. They are not willing to just get married, stay home and raise a family. How they interact as their stories continue is this novel. We live through their highs and lows and laugh and cry with them. Great characterization! Couldn’t wait to see how everything turns out. And then there was an unexpected twist! Put this one on your to read list!

Totally unexpected thrill ride!!  So much more than just the story of The Subway Girls, this is a great collaboration between the past and the present, how things have changed, yet are still the same.  Absolutely charming characters set in and around New York city.  This book slowly sucks you in and will not let you go until the last line!!!

We move from 1949 to 2018 and come across girls who auditioned for being a Subway Girl in 1948 to an advertising agency in 2018 that needs a new campaign to help the transit system get more ridership.

The girls in 1949 were more than happy to have their photos plastered over the subways because it might get them a job in a different industry.  The advertising agency in 2018 became interested in the Subway Girls as an ad campaign for themselves. 

Olivia who worked for the advertising agency had a brilliant idea to help the transit system and made a connection with the 1949 Subway Girls campaign for their current advertising.  She found the campaign as she was doing research, and wondered what really happened to the Subway Girls and if being a Subway Girl really changed or enhanced their lives.  Finding this information gave Olivia some hope for her agency’s winning the bid for the ad campaign.

Olivia and her assistant, Priya, hit the jackpot when they found actual posters of The Subway Girls and stories of their lives.

She uncovered more gems when a neighbor knew and had been one of the The Subway Girls.

THE SUBWAY GIRLS is a delightful read.  I enjoyed going back to 1949 and seeing how women had to really struggle to get out of the required mold of being a housewife and mother.

Ms. Orman Schnall's writing is refreshing and enjoyable. The story line is interesting and had me researching if The Subway Girls really was something that happened.

According to Wikipedia, these women were called Miss Subways, and the program lasted from 1941 to 1976.  Ms. Orman Schnall also added information in the ending pages about how she became interested in The Subway girls and gave some background information about them.

THE SUBWAY GIRLS has everything historical fiction and women's fiction fans will love.  There is love, heartbreak, secrets, and the story of how women have been trying to "break out" from their stereotypical roles since forever.

The book goes back and forth from the 1940’s to 2018.  The story line connects smoothly with each era and has genuine, lovable, and relatable characters.

It is truly a book to savor and enjoy.  5/5

I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Great potential but did not live up to it.  The true story of the Subway Girls was very interesting, but the characters in the novel were unlikeable, often downright mean.  Spoiled the story.

I couldn't really get into this one. Charlotte and Olivia's stories were just too boring me. I usually like a book that can toggle between past and present.  And the blurb sounded interesting enough. But it just didn't hold my interest. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book absolutely captivated me from page one. Dual timelines and New York City had me sold off the bat but it was Olivia and Charlotte that wowed me. I loved the history of the Miss Subways contest as well as the familial bonds here, family struggles and difficulty of relationships, all set against the glamorous background of New York, my own city. The words jumped off the pages for me as I imagined my own subway rides and how I would love to see this advertising campaign on my own commutes. Dive into these pages and find out why!

The Subway Girls is a great read. It's a flash back story, which seems to be very popular now. Olivia is struggling to make a living as an advertising agent and stumbled across an old campaign to promote the NYC subways. The flashbacks are to a woman who served as a Ms. Subway. The two stories connect many times and the transition is smooth each time. I appreciated the author's historical note ascertaining this was a real campaign from 1941-1976, revealing the changing times for women.

The Subway Girls is a dual narrative following Charlotte and Olivia - two women who live 70 years apart - as the Miss Subways competition changes their lives. I loved the concept, and for the most part, it was well-executed. The feminist theme which underscored the story was truly great, but I felt like the characters didn't do complete justice to the ideals of feminism - there was so much talk about independence and being strong and tearing down the misogynistic patriarchy, but then so many bad decisions were made which went against that talk.

I've given it 3 stars because I did enjoy the story as a whole. But there were so many predictable and convenient tropes and cliffhangers, to the point where I could've told you exactly what would have happened before I'd finished the book. It was a great idea, but could have been executed a lot better.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-copy.

“I’ve always found in my life that answers become clear at unexpected times. You have to trust that they will and then keep your eyes wide-open for the signs. Sometimes they will be subtle, but they’ll always present themselves. And you have to be brave enough to take a risk even if it seems like there are a lot of reasons not to.”

If you love A League of Their Own or Mad Men...
If you’ve ever been enchanted by New York City (or travel in general for that matter!)
If you’re drawn in by a modern love story...
If you love hearing the stories your grandparents told...
If you have ever struggled with balancing your career and personal life...
If you love beautiful, eloquent writing...then there’s no way you will not love this book!

The story unfolds via the alternating perspectives of Charlotte, a determinedly modern woman for 1949 who is struggling to find her path in a world that hasn’t quite caught up with her... and Olivia, a current-day advertising executive with a rising star and an ill-advised crush on her narcissistic boss.  Throw in a beauty pageant, an illegitimate pregnancy and a conniving coworker and somehow you have the makings of a fairy tale. 

There’s nothing I didn’t love about this incredible book. Immediately you are sucked into the worlds of two driven, empowering female characters. You will laugh with them, cry for them, and cheer them to victory. Pick up this book. You won’t put it down until you turn the final page. And even then, I dare you not to want more from Susie Orman Schnall.

***I was graciously granted an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked and enjoyed this book.   It is historical fiction that tells the story of The Subway Girls, local New York women who actually rode the subways and then were featured in posters that were displayed in the cars along the subway. 

The story of the women was fascinating, but the fictional story was a little contrived and too convenient. 

I read the book in a day because it was interesting, albeit a little fluffy.

If you are from New York, you will definitely love the book.   I am not from New York and I still loved the story of  women in the workforce post WWII.   It is a fast read.

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, and I didn't. I absolutely LOVED IT ! Such a beautiful book. And so well written.  Went back and forth from the past to present with an ease and there was no confusion. Such strong characters.  I love when a book comes full circle and you can see how the past influenced the future.  I laughed and I cried through out the whole books. Hours well spent reading this book for sure.

Amazing well-written story about the lives of women in NYC.  This shiws he hardship of trying yo break into my he professional world, the changing roles of parents and daughters, and the desire to be more.

This book absolutely captivated me from page one. Dual timelines and New York City had me sold off the bat but it was Olivia and Charlotte that wowed me. I loved the history of the Miss Subways contest as well as the familial bonds here, family struggles and difficulty of relationships, all set against the glamorous background of New York, my own city. The words jumped off the pages for me as I imagined my own subway rides and how I would love to see this advertising campaign on my own commutes. Dive into these pages and find out why!