This was a fantastic look at the microcosm of the 1939 World's Fair and the way the world, specifically the lives of women, were changing as the world marched toward war and tried to balance that with Progress. Both Vivi and Max are good stand-ins for the different paths lives can take, and their stories were interesting and unique as they became bonded in a firm friendship.

3.5 stars. I’m trying to make a “cozy” sub-genre for every major genre. This, to me, is a cozy historical.

I love historical fiction books that write about a part of history I know nothing about. I’ve also always been fascinated by world fairs, so it was really cool to read about the NYC world fair.

The only problem was that I didn’t feel a really connection to the main characters, and I didn’t quite get what connected the two of them together.

I enjoyed this story that was set during the 1939 New York World’s Fair. It was an interesting background and I wish the author explored it a bit more in the book. The late 30's and early 40's in not a time period that gets a lot of focus so I thought that was a missed. opportunity. I did however enjoy the book and I would recommend it to my friends.

I am continuing my streak of historical fiction reads and am really enjoying them, this one included. I love stories from the 1930s time period that focus on women trying to have a career, as it was not easy. Vivi and Max are trying to make it in show business and journalism respectively, and they are each given roles and positions that they do not feel they deserve. They form a friendship as they each figure out their respective paths and it was a joy to go on their journeys with them together. I loved each one’s storyline, thought this was well written, each woman had a separate struggle that was fleshed out well, and the resolution for each was satisfactory. I especially loved the tie in to the World’s Fair as that is equally fascinating to me as well.

This was so well done, and the audio for this was great too with a full cast. I am glad I got to this one and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital galley to review.

I love historical fiction, especially when it’s a topic that I’m not too familiar with. And We came here to shine for that bill. The 1939 worlds fair was not something I’d known about, even though I’m from New York, so it was a nice backdrop for me to read. Vivi is sent to NYC from Hollywood to perform as a synchronized swimmer (another topic I had no knowledge about). Maxine is a journalism major trying to prove herself in college and sent to write about the fair. It covered a lot of women’s gender challenges from that time. How women in the work place were considered not as talented as their male counterparts. It was a light read, and I enjoyed the time period.

This was an interesting historical fiction book set at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.
Vivi wants to go to Hollywood and become a movie star, but for now she has a starring role in the synchronized swimming show. Max, who wants to be a journalist, is working at the fair paper after she was turned down for a job at the New York Times. Both women experience prejudice and misogyny at work where men were in charge, and that brought them together as friends. They try to change the unfair practices they faced.
Great writing and storytelling kept me invested in this book until the end. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy
of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the background and history of the 1939 World's Fair was fascinating.

This was a different focus of historical fiction than I typically read. It was interested to see how female actresses and journalists struggled against the male-oriented mindset in that time period (early 20th century). The author does a great job of describing the synchronized swimming specifically and the World’s Fair overall. Interesting read that would appeal to those who appreciate well-researched historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Reading this story, set in Queens during the 1939 World's Fair, gave me a good taste of the scope of such a large event. The book follows the interconnecting stories of two young women. Star Vivi Holden is lent out to the Aquacade production from her movie studio in Hollywood, with the promise of a plum role upon return. Maxine Roth, a journalism student, begrudgingly accepts a summer position with the fair's daily publication, Today at the Fair. The Fair, the gossip and' the events, including visits from dignitaries, are very well described between the back and forth narrative and slices of news articles from the fair publication. The way the girls in the Aquacade chose sides and sniped at each other seemed very genuine, as did Max and her family's worries over money at the end of the Depression years. I liked Schnall's nod to her earlier book, The Subway Girls, and how she incorporates the long journey women like these have been taking toward equal workplaces and experiences.

I read this book in two days. This author is amazing at what she puts out into the world. I enjoyed learning about this historical event in New York. It made you feel like you were there enjoying ypurself. Great characters and plot.

As always, Schnall gives a story that will entice all historical fiction lovers. This book centers around the 1939 World's Fair in NYC and is a testament to women's friendship. These two main characters, Vivi and Max, are two compassionate characters made of tough stuff. The reader wants to see both succeed as they face challenges, most of which come from being women.
This is an easy and fast read. Sorry I waited so long to read it.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I loved Susie's last book, The Subway Girls, and was excited to read this. And I can't believe I waited so long...it was so good. She has such a way of transporting you right back to whatever time and place she is writing about and this book was no exception!

Oh how I wish I could have attended the New York World's Fair...it sounds as if it would have been such an amazing time and from reading this book, I feel as if I was right there. Everything comes alive on the pages - the sights and sounds. Now the next time I drive by this area, I will be able to have such a vivid picture in my mind of what happened during this time.

I loved the women in this book. Both Max and Vivi are such strong, fierce women in their own right and when their worlds collide, they just end up stronger. You can't help but end up rooting for them as you get to know both of them and find out what their true desires really are. I loved how as the book progressed, secrets came out, passions were revealed and plans were hatched. This really was such a fun, motivating book and I loved the friendship that develops between these women, though it's not without a few bumps along the way.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is such a great escape, filled with charm, history and engaging characters. And if you've read her previous book, The Subway Girls, you'll appreciate the references to that book. And now I'm off to watch YouTube videos of the Aquacade...hopefully I don't spend too much time doing this - I have other books to read!

Set during the time of the iconic 1939 World’s Fair in New York, this is a beautifully written story about friendship, persistance, and the importance of chasing your dreams.

Historic fiction is by far my favorite genre but lately it feels like it has been overrun with books on WWII so I was thrilled that We Came Here to Shine, while including subtle references to WWII, focused on a completely different and little-known topic: the 1939 World’s Fair. Like most historic fiction lately, this story revolved around two completely different women and stories that were later woven together. I immediately fell for Max and her blunt speech and determined drive, but it took me a while to warm up to Vivi and her story because she initially felt a little entitled but we later learned that was the complete opposite. I also found the stereotypes and norms of that time interesting, especially at NYU and in the newsroom. It’s funny, no matter how aware of the gender stereotypes and discrimination you are, it is still surprising reading how women were treated so differently and unfairly from men. After reading and loving this one so much, I’m going to go read Susie Orman Schnall’s others books starting with The Subway Girls.

The 1939 World’s Fair was held in New York City and what a spectacle it was! When the grand plans for two young women fall through, they both find themselves reluctantly immersed in the festivities. Max, a N.Y.U, journalism student, lost out on her dream internship and is assigned to work at the fair newspaper. Meanwhile Vivi, a budding Hollywood starlet is passed over for a leading role in a film and is sent to New York City to preform in the Aquacade production. We Came Here to Shine explores sexism in the publication and show businesses. Both women struggle to advance their careers that are being ruled by the iron fists of their male superiors.

The theme for the fair was “The World of Tomorrow”, which is the perfect fit for the theme of the novel, as both Max and Vivi were working towards their future careers and successes.

The descriptions of the exhibits, attractions and concessionaires made me wish I could have experienced the fair myself. And the Aquacade show alone sounded spectacular! The newspaper articles at the end of Max’s chapters helped to assist in the world building and describe the state of the world (America specifically) as it hovers between the Great Depression and World War II.

We Came Here to Shine hooked me immediately and I really enjoyed a behind the scenes look at the two industries. I also cheered our heroines along as they stood up for themselves. However, I found some inconsistencies in the writing tense. The individual chapters felt more strong to me than those that followed both Max and Vivi at the same time. I also felt that too much foreshadowing was used, which in turn slightly dulled those moments for me when they were revealed.

Aside from the minor points I mentioned above, We Came Here to Shine tells an important story of women’s equality and friendship. I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy the historical fiction genre.

Historical fiction is my favorite way to learn about the past and to do so through the lens of people who "experienced" it. I was excited about this book because first of all (sorry to be so shallow but), the cover just captured me! I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about the Worlds Fair of 1939 and really very little about synchronized swimming and while I enjoyed it, it somehow didn't give my curiosity the "spring-board" for doing much digging on my own. It spurred a bit of research but not nearly as much as I would have liked.

There were areas of this story that I would have liked to have seen developed more and maybe my hopes were just too high. A couple of years ago, I read about Dr. Couney and the premature babies he saved by using incubators during the early 1900s. I remember thinking at the time that it would make an amazing plot for a historical fiction story. When Max, the main character of We Came Here to Shine, visited the baby incubators, I got excited that I was going to see more of that incorporated into the story. I believe this may account for my slight disappointment with this story and bear my own responsibility for my expectations maybe not being realistic on it..

Thank you to #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this story! Overall, it was light, enjoyable, and honestly very good reading during a pandemic time. It just wasn't one that I will remember long into the future.

Susie Orman Schnall is one of my favorite go-to historical fiction authors! She has such a way with words that the narrative just flows so beautifully, you connect with all the characters immediately. The stories are just so fun and interesting, and most of all - enjoyable to read. The best part - the women she writes are fierce and fun, and they are easy to root for - you wish they were your friends!

I loved the Subway Girls so much, and was SO excited for this one. (There's a fun SG nod in this book, too - which I loved!) And it did not disappoint! The 1939 NY World's Fair was such an amazing event, and I would have loved to be around for the glitz and glamour, the curiosities, expos, and spectacular performances - it's so fun to imagine these stories of that time and Susie puts you right into the thick of it!

Meeting Max and Vivi puts us right into the marvel of it all - from the Aquacade synchronized swimming show to the fair's own newspaper production offices, we get the behind the scenes of running the show, being part of the show, and all that goes on behind the scenes of those lucky enough to have worked there. Between dating and friendships, new jobs and job loss, and quite a bit of drama - these two ladies pull us right in and lead us on a summer adventure of chasing dreams and finding yourself.

A gorgeous historical tale that is rich in details and loaded with inspiring women, the challenges and charms of both New York and Hollywood, and a beautiful story of friendship and triumph.

Another hit from Susie Orman Schnall. Loved learning more about the world fair which was something I knew next to nothing about prior to reading this novel - as always, Schnall has a delightful way of bringing her characters to life and off the pages.

We came Here to Shine by Susie Orman Schnall is the story of two women working at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City. It is a story of women making their way in a society that is very much male-dominated. This story does not introduce anything really unexpected into the storyline but at the same time does not wrap up into a "lived happily ever" package either. Overall, a light, quick, and entertaining read.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/03/we-came-here-to-shine.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I really enjoyed We Came Here to Shine. The setting, the characters, and the research completed for this historical fiction book made this an enjoyable read.

The 1939 World's Fair was an interesting time period because the Great Depression was ending and overseas, Germany’s threat had begun. These issues are way in the background with the focus on the two main characters making this a story of friendship, determination and resiliency.

Starlet Vivi Holden is about to star in a career-making movie but when it became apparent that she was wrong for the part, the studio sends her to New York City as a favor to producer Billy Rose to star with Johnny Weissmuller in his Aquacade show. She has little choice and tries to make the best of it as the studio promises her that another major starring role will await her once she returns to Los Angeles.

Maxine (Max) Roth is a top journalism student at NYU. She misses out on a summer internship working at a prestigious newspaper and is instead sent with a fellow student to work at the Fair’s daily paper. The male student is allowed to write for the paper yet Max is given less challenging tasks believed more suitable for a woman. Max’s fiery personality causes her to speak up and try to change her situation but is unsuccessful.

The lives of the two characters end up intermingling as life happens, and a true friendship ends up forming.

I would definitely recommend this book.