I picked this book up. And put it down. And picked it up. And put it down. I LOVE the idea behind it but for some reason, I could not get into it. I loved the setting (the 1930s) because I love anything from the 1920s-1960s but I just didn't feel this one. I was also excited that it was set at the World's Fair because I have always thought WF's sounded so cool and I was happy to have a break from my typical WW2/Nazi books. It was a decent reprieve but I felt there were several things left unresolved. I am very hard on female characters and I really didn't care for either of the leads in this book.

Susie Orman Schnall’s We Came Here to Shine is a fun read about two ambitious young ladies making lemonade-out-of-lemons working at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

At the beginning of the story, Vivi Holden was in Hollywood about to begin her first role as a leading lady when the studio head and her agent reassigned her to star in a synchronized swimming show at the World’s Fair in New York. Disoriented and confused, she moves across country to New York, where family secrets loom large. She must learn the routine in a matter of days, overcome the physical challenges of swimming in multiple shows a day, and deal with cast drama.

Maxine (Max) Roth is an up-and-coming student journalist who is passed over for a university-sponsored internship at the New York Times. Instead, she and a male classmate are assigned to the daily publication that covers the Fair. Max’s only responsibility is to list daily Fair activities. Despite her efforts, she cannot convince her boss to give her a shot to report on anything more serious or challenging. Meanwhile, her male counterpart becomes increasingly overwhelmed with plum assignments.

Vivi and Max’s paths cross, and they become best of friends and confidents. Together they navigate romantic interests, and plot to break free from the control that men exert over their lives.

I love the premise of We Came Here to Shine but would only rate it a 3 out of 5 stars. The setting felt more like a backdrop rather than the immersive reading experience it could have provided. World Fairs have a rich history. No matter where hosted, their mission was to showcase innovations, introduce the latest gadgets, and launch forward-thinking brands. While Schnall touched on the Fair as a platform for women’s rights activities, she did not reference other political or socio-economic factors of the era, despite the advent of WWII during the Fair. The girls put notes into the iconic Westinghouse Time Capsule, without mentioning that their missives would have been alongside the writings of Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann. I found it frustrating whenever the characters frequent food stands but never stopping to see Vermeer’s, The Milkmaid.

While my expectations may have been set by Erik Larson’s brilliant story set in the 1893 World’s Fair, Devil in the White City, I felt like Schnall missed an opportunity to provide insights as to the innovations and trends of the era, beyond gender equality. I was, however, delighted to see the references to the subject matter of Schnall’s earlier book, The Subway Girls, which was one of my favorites.

I would recommend We Came Here to Shine to readers who enjoy historical fiction featuring strong female characters. If unfamiliar with Schnall’s storytelling style, I found it like authors Fiona Davis and Beatriz Williams.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of We Came Here to Shine in exchange for an honest review.

Vivi and Max, 2 women with big dreams, find those dreams might not be achieved due to new jobs in New York at the World's Fair in 1939. A chance meeting helps them realize that each is strong in their own way. The historical portion of this book is very interesting. A good read

This was an enjoyable piece of historical fiction that centered on friendship between women and their fight for equality during the World's Fair in 1939. The detail the author provided about the setting made it easy to picture what life was like for women during this time. The courage shown by the women during this period was inspiring and the author was able to realistically convey that to through her characters. I highly recommend this one.

We Came Here to Shine is a historical fiction book revolving around two young women at New York World’s Fair. I loved the idea of the fair being the main setting for this book since this is a more unique stage for a historical fiction book.

The book follows an aspiring female journalist and actress that find themselves begrudgingly working at the World’s Fair. I wanted to connect with both women but their storylines, especially at the beginning, seemed surface level. They brought up a lot of great themes like female discrimination in the workplace, a Jewish female in the US before WWII, and of course WWII blooming in Europe. However, none of these themes were thoroughly discussed or reconciled.

The book definitely evolved with the last quarter being better than the first part. It’s an interesting book and setting but not a serious page turner.

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Second book I’ve read by this author loved this one as much as Inloved the first.Historical fiction that has you travel back in time this to the late 1930s the New York City worlds fair prices.We meet two young woman facing life facing discrimination at work we follow them through life’s issues and emotions.Inwas drawn right into this book and was sorry to read the last page.#netgalley#st.martinspress

I loved this book. Vivi and Max seem like two women completely opposite each other but become fast friends. Each helps the other stare down adversity and allow themselves to shine. Max is a journalist in a mans world who is looking to make her way. Vivi is a Hollywood actress sent to NY to perform at the iconic 1939 world fair. The details are incredible. I would have loved to seen the fair. The characters are strong, find their confidence, and believable

We Came Here to Shine follows two young girls, Max and Vivi, during the World's Fair of 1939. Max is a journalist, who much to her chagrin, has been assigned to a paper at the fair. Vivi, trying to make it in Hollywood has been relegated to a water show at the fair instead of appearing in the pictures. They meet on a chance and become instant friends as their lives become more and more entwined.
This was a fun read. The characters are well written, the writing style befits the time. The World's Fair and the drama behind it adds a fun background. It's definitely a strong novel that celebrates the beginnings of women's rights and the modern feminist movement. I really enjoyed it.

With a time and place not often written about this book captivated me the whole time. Not only did I enjoy the setting of the World's Fair I enjoyed the growth of the characters. Reading about Max and Vivi’s personal and professional struggles made me think of all women have been through striving for equality. I loved this book and now want to go read anything else written by the author.

A truly delightful story set In 1939 during the World’s Fair about two women who want to make their professional dreams come true in a “man’s world”.

I was delighted to receive a copy of Susie Orman’s new book We Came Here to Shine because I really loved her last book The Subway Girls. Susie does an incredible job of telling two parallel stories that are both so gripping and intriguing that you don’t mind going back and forth between the two. She introduces us to one character and then another, and in the middle they seamless flow together so that now their stories are intertwined. Beautiful story of two women trying to make their way in the world with the odds stacked against them, and finding friendship and themselves in the end.
Vivi Holden is about to get her big break as an actress in Hollywood. It’s the roll she’s been dreaming of and she cannot wait to get started! When Vivi is called into the office she finds out she has been let go and her role has being given to another more suitable actress. The good news is that they aren’t firing her; the bad news is that she has to move to New York and her performance will not be in a movie. Vivi will become the star of the World’s Fair Aquacade synchronized swimming show. Moving back to New York is not something she wants to do because she left there once and promised not to return. Vivi doesn’t know the first thing about synchronized swimming so how will she manage the leading role? Through sheer perseverance Vivi will put her all into this production because she has been promised a role back in Hollywood when the World’s Fair closes. Secrets from her past will find her and force her to make some difficult decisions.
Maxine Roth is a college student with a deep passion for journalism. For as long as she can remember she has always wanted to work for The New York Times. When her professor assigns each student to a different newspaper for a summer program Maxine crosses her fingers that she will get her first choice, The New York Times. Everyone knows that a summer internship can lead to a job offer if you do a good job, so Maxine is crushed to learn she’s been assigned to the pop up publication covering the World’s Fair. She is devastated she did not get placed at one of the big publications and crushed to learn she won’t even be writing articles but actually just assigned to tying up the Fairs brochures. Maxine’s new boss believes that journalism is best suited to a man and gives all the work to her fellow student. Maxine pleads with her boss to let her prove what she can do because she must submit an article with her name in the byline to be considered for a scholarship the following year. Her family is struggling finically and college may no longer be a possibility for her if she doesn’t get the scholarship.
Both women meet working at The World’s Fair and form a very tight bond that will see them through some hard times. Without ever knowing they needed someone to lean on they will quickly learn that they also don’t ever want to lose each other.

I was excited to read this book, as I loved Subway Girls by this author. I could not connect with the characters. I struggled until 50% and gave up.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley.
All opinions are my own.

Oh, my word!!! What a fun story!!!! We Came Here To Shine by Susie Orman Schnall is one of those books that you will have to read more than once. It is filled with hold your breath storylines, fantastic time period descriptions of clothing and lifestyles, plus realistic society issues that are still happening today. I just loved this book. Schnall gives each character, no matter how minor, an individual story, yet she manages to weave them together to create a book that you can't put down.
The story takes place in 1939 in New York during the World's Fair. I actually felt regret that i missed the Fair! Schnall's description of the Fair was so realistic and detailed. I appreciate the work she must have done to bring the Fair to life. The story does revolve around Vivi and Max, short for Maxine, who both work at the fair. But don't assume they are the only important people in the book. I don't think one person could be left out.
Vivi is a Hollywood starlet and Max is a journalism student. They are both driven, focused and have a plan for their future. But when plans don't go accordingly maybe each girl needs to think about a new future. Please don't miss adding this book to your reading pile. And make sure you place it at the top of that pile.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

The World’s Fair in New York City opened on April 30, 1939, and we meet two young woman a few weeks later as they start working at the Fair. Author Schnall, who gave us the inspiring story of The Subway Girls, has created another historical fiction novel that will satisfy your dreams as you visit a by gone era. I liked this book!

The World’s Fair was billed as the “Dawn of a New Day” and the “World of Tomorrow”. Yet for Hollywood ingenue actress Vivi Holden, and New York University journalism student Maxine “Max” Roth, the Fair is more of a roadblock on their routes to success. Vivi’s movie studio has lent her to star in Billy Rose’s swim spectacular Aquacade at the Fair. Vivi doesn’t see how leaving Hollywood will make her a film star. Max ends up working at the Fair as a summer intern on the daily Fair paper, a setback to her dreams of interning at The New York Times.

The third main character of the book is the World’s Fair itself. The book is filled with descriptions of the exhibits and events, big and small, from the visit of the King and Queen of England to babies in incubators! The Parachute Drop ride had me shaking my head. I hope to find an old film of this experience. The Fair adds brightness and hope to the book.

Viv and Max end up being friends and in the two months they are at the Fair, we get to know their strong points and weaknesses, as well as their secrets. Both young women are trying to find their own place in their world. And the place of women in 1939 challenges them. Their hearts tell them to be themselves, whether that is weak or confident, but they tend to rely on childish plots and pranks.

Looming over the hope and promise of the bright future that the Word Fair represents, is the coming War in Europe. I found the mix of history, stories and the Fair, and the lives of Viv and Max to be an all-around good story. I eagerly read this book and I thank Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance review copy. This is my honest review.

At the end of the Depression, Maxine Roth is striving for a scholarship to finish her education at NYU so she can fulfil her dreams of becoming a journalist at The New York Times. Vivi Holden, an exquisite beauty under contract at WorldWide Films, is about to make her debut as a leading lady in Hollywood. Yet life intervenes for both of them, and instead they are consigned to working at the 1939 World Fair in New York where Max is relegated to typing listings at Today at the Fair and Vivi is to star in the Aquacade synchronized swimming show.

At the Fair, Max and Vivi form an unlikely friendship, as they strive to make their way in a world where men make the rules. As in The Subway Girls, the story focuses on the women and their ambitions, and while love interests factor in, the novel is about what women have to overcome in the sexist world of the not-so-distant past.

Part of the magic of this novel is the thrilling backdrop of the Fair, which is described in such vivid detail that it’s easy to picture, and the exhibition becomes a character, making the novel even richer. I truly appreciated the surprising turns the story took. Fans of Beatriz Williams and Taylor Jenkins Reid will devour this book.

We Came Here to Sine by Susie Orman Schnall was a highly anticipated 2020 read for me. I love historical fiction novels that focus on relationships between women and the search for equality.

While this book had a wonderful premise, I struggled to fully connect with the characters and really wished for more details into the time and place that this book occurred. While I did learn about some of the aspects of the 1939 World's Fair I was left feeling like I needed more to really set the scene of this novel.

I appreciated the focus on strong women but did come away wishing the storyline felt more layered and nuanced. While the character development was al little lacking for me, I did enjoy this theme of female friendship and this was an easy weekend read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to net galley and st martins for an early copy of this book! 5 stars! An amazing historical fiction about the lives of two young women in the late 1930s and how poorly working women were regarded. Both characters are experiencing discrimination in their respective work places, while dealing with family drama + romances. I was hooked the entire time and really didn’t want to put this down.

I expect to love every piece of historical fiction that I read; that sets the bar high before I even read the first word. This was a good story but it was a bit too simple to rate it higher than 3 stars. There were a number of scenes that didn't feel real to me; in those cases the dialogue was stilted or unnecessarily extended. I did like the two main characters but I would have liked them to have been a bit more developed. I enjoy this author's writing and will definitely want to read her next book but if you haven't read her books yet, I'd recommend The Subway Girls over this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Cindy

We Came Here to Shine by Susie Orman Schnall is a fabulous and delightful historical fiction novel that takes place in Queens, NY the summer of 1939 during the World’s Fair.

The book alternates between two main female characters in their early 20s: Vivi and Max. I really enjoyed not only the alternating chapters and viewpoints, but also the chapters that intertwined both women. The way that the viewpoints and dialogue was set up was quite ingenious.

I loved both characters. Both women were at a point in their lives in May of 1939 were they were both a crossroads on what they thought they wanted and where they wanted to go in life, and what was actually in store for them and what they truly needed. I loved the transformation that both experienced, not only with their friendship, but also in themselves. Max and Vivi both realized that even though the cards are stacked against them as young women in the 30s, they were able to work together and with their friends and loved ones and were able to triumph and find love, acceptance, friendship, purpose, and reach their goals in the end.
I loved how realistic and flawed both women were and that they both had complicated pasts, however were able to use those barriers towards finding their paths forward. Both women complimented each other well and brought out the best in one another.

I loved the timeline chosen and also the backdrop of the World’s Fair. It was so unique and I learned so much about a huge event that I knew so very little about. It was amazing. I literally felt as if I was there from the author’s descriptions. Excellent.

I also loved the twists and turns that were scattered throughout the story, and I really, really liked the ending. Was it perfect? No. And that is ok. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any different.

Truly memorable and a wonderful read.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for this excellent ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

The New York World's Fair of 1939 comes to life for readers in Susie Orman Schnall's novel WE CAME HERE TO SHINE. I'm familiar with the iconic pavilions and graphics from this "ode to the future" but this book took me into the heart of the '39 Fair through the experiences of two young women working there.

I am drawn to stories about the limited choices available to women in the early 20th Century, but this story put us a generation forward when women WERE presented with opportunities, but they were often thwarted, stifled or undermined.

The protagonists' characters were a bit familiar---one featured strictly based on her physical attributes, and the other a bit too scrappy or feisty--. But, they were engaging and the book was a satisfying light read with friendship and "girl power" winning the day in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in return for a candid review.