We Came Here to Shine transported me back to the New York World's Fair in 1939. It was fascinating to see how much has changed in the last 80 years, and yet we still grapple with some of the same problems encountered then. The main focus was on women asserting themselves in the workplace, a theme that I keep encountering in my recent reads. It makes me realize how far we've come during my own lifetime and how much we still have to work for equality. Susie Orman Schnall was a new author to me and I will be adding her other books to my must-read list. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I found this to be an engaging story about Vivi and Max, two young women trying to start careers in 1939. It is set against the backdrop of the New York World’s Fair, something which I knew absolutely nothing about. Each woman is trying to be true to herself, to be a success in a world very much dominated by men. They strike up a chance friendship and end up helping each other navigate some tough times and become lifelong friends.

The 1939 World’s Fair has always held an outsize appeal to me because my father attended it as a youngster and told amazing tales of it. WE CAME HERE TO SHINE seemed like a novel I would love, placed squarely at that memorable World’s Fair offering detailed information about people and activities. Author Susie Orman Schnall has developed two protagonists, a budding actress and a journalism student, each facing her own career challenges. They both find themselves at the World’s Fair despite their wishes, hoping for a way up and out. The plot didn’t quite work for me because I didn’t feel as though the two stories really meshed; they just co-existed. I expected that they would somehow solve one another’s dilemmas but that isn’t really a compelling feature for me. I kept wishing for something more in this book and never found it. It is a fast book and the setting is well-explored. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was an enjoyable book, historical fiction, but a bit less intense as it wasn’t focused on war. I loved the characters and how strong and dedicated they were. It was so frustrating to see the struggles they went through being women in a man’s world. This was my first time reading this author and I would definitely read her work again. It kept my interest and she drew you into the story with just the right amount of detail. I had never read much about The World Fair so this was also interesting and a fun change. I would definitely recommend this book.

I loved this book. It is about two very different young women who find themselves in situations that are very far from where they thought they would be. Max is an aspiring journalist and Vivi is an actress from Hollywood. The setting is the New York World's Fair of 1939. The Fair is a character in the book. The sights and excitement is conveyed through the descriptions. It made me want to research more about the Fair.
It is strange that even though the world is on the brink of WWII, it doesn't seem to touch the fun and excitement of the Fair.
My only complaint is that almost all the men were unlikable. However this is looking at it with a 21st century sensibility. I guess it was pretty typical for the time.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book to get lost in.
The book is a fast read and keeps you engaged to the end.
I am really glad that our book club picked this book.

I love historical fiction and "When We Came To Shine" focuses on a subject I haven't read about before - the 1939 World's Fair - and the effect is has on two women's lives.

Vivi is an up-and-coming Hollywood starlet sent by the studio she's contracted with to perform in the Fair's Aquacade water spectacular. Maxine (aka Max) is an NYU student and aspiring journalist assigned a summer internship at the Fair's daily paper. Neither wants to be there but as was often the case for women in the 1930s, men dictated most of what happened in their lives.

I liked both the characters of Vivi and Max and the World's Fair was an interesting backdrop for the novel. Schnall's writing brought the time period and the Fair to life, and the focus on women finding their voices, fighting for equality and trying to find a balance in their lives was relatable and is applicable now, almost a century later. There were a lot of secondary characters I had a hard time keeping straight and I didn't love all of their subplots but overall this was a quick read that will entertain historical fiction fans. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, GalleyMatch, and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

(I would maybe give this 3.5 stars, but went ahead and rounded down).

We Came Here to Shine tells the story of two young women who end up working at the World's Fair in NYC in the summer of 1939. While I enjoyed both Max's and Vivi's perspectives, I found their stories to be a little slow moving at times. I definitely appreciated Max more overall, but by the novel's conclusion I felt I had a better understanding of Vivi and her situation too. All in all, this just seems to be another one of those historical fiction novels lately that just hasn't blown me out of the water. We Came Here to Shine was a fun, enjoyable read that also had its serious and heartfelt moments and touched upon the injustices meted out to working women during that time, simply for being working women. But there wasn't anything about the overarching story that really struck me or will end up sticking with me in the long run.

I think if the reader is a fan of the 1939 Worlds Fair that this a fun read and for those that have never read about the Worlds Fair, it would serve as an introduction. The characters are interesting and likeable and even Ruby, the villianess, ends up being a "good guy". The setting, which for the most part is the Worlds Fair is the best part of this novel. The fair was so fantastic, that it elevates the story. The plot is probably a little predictable--the ending ties up most of the loose ends, but for a summer beach read it is perfect.

Kudos to Susie Orman Schnall, author of "We Came Here to Shine" for writing such a memorable, captivating, intriguing, entertaining, and thought-provoking novel. The Genre for this novel is Historical Fiction. The timeline for this story is 1939, at the World's Fair in Queens, New York. I loved everything about this story. Susie Orman Schnall has such a wonderful way of vividly describing the characters, the events, the scenery and captures it all in a wonderful novel. The author describes her colorful and dramatic cast of characters as complex, and competitive. There are secrets, betrayals, inequality between men and women, and certain subjects were best kept to oneself. This is a wonderful and heartfelt story about friendship, sisterhood, family, and searching and finding what one is truly looking for. 

I have memories of my parents taking me to visit the World's Fair at the same place in 1964. Some of the buildings were the same. I was a child, but so impressed what the future might bring, I do remember the excitement and trying to remember "everything". I appreciate the hours of research the author did to describe her story.

Max, is a young, ambitious journalist, who wants to make her mark on the world. She finds that her assignement turns out to be at "The World's Fair" daily paper instead of the New York Times. More than anything, Max wants to be taken as a serious journalist. She gets to meet Vivi, a Hollywood actress that has been sent to the World's Fair to be the star in the"Acyacade" swimming, dancing, and singing program. Vivi feels that this will ruin her chances at her Hollywood career. Both women realize that their careers seem to be based on the whim of what men think is the best thing, not the right thing.  Both of them do feel that women should be treated equally and by merit.

I appreciate that the author discusses topics as equality, homosexuality, the importance of family, friendship, communicating, love, and hope. This was in the times before the "me-too" movement and just before World War Two.  The two friends realize what their priorities really should be,  and make sure that's how they follow their dreams and realities. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel. Happy Reading!

I really loved this book! Set during the 1939 World’s Fair, We Came Here to Shine follows Vivi and Max, two young women with huge ambitions. Vivi is a Hollywood actress on the brink of her big break in the movies but has her big role taken away. She gets reassigned by the studio to perform in a synchronized swimming show at the fair and is promised a major role when she returns., Max is a spitfire young journalism student disappointed to be assigned a summer position at the daily paper at the fair over her dream role at the New York Times. Both girls spend the summer at the historic World’s Fair figuring out their role in it all and how to stand up for themselves and for women who want to make a big splash. (Pun intended!) The book gave me all the Mad Men if it were set in the late 30s vibes. The girls are forced to confront some serious sexism and harassment to figure out what they really want in life and what lengths they were willing to go to to get it. The book also transports readers to the amazing fair and made me wish we still had these elaborate events today. I really enjoyed this book! My only criticism is that there was a part where the narration takes the perspective of a voice of god type thing, where the future is foreshadowed very directly and both girls are referred to in a further removed manner than the rest of the book. This only came up in one chapter and it felt random and unnecessary. Otherwise, loved this book a lot and will likely purchase a physical copy! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to figure out how to be a synchronized swimmer!

We Came Here to Shine is historical fiction set in the backdrop of the 1939 World's Fair. It follows a summer in the loves of two seemingly very different women, who become friends and realize they are in fact very similar. Vivi is a young actress swimming in the Aquacade and Max is a journalist writing for the fair's newspaper. When they meet at a women's rally, they both realize they are fighting for the same cause. We follow them as their friendship develops, along with their political beliefs and activism.
The characters are well drawn and the story is interesting. Although the subject matter is serious, it is written as more of a beach read- not too heavy. The book is enjoyable. It is an easy read that leaves you satisfied at the end.

Good book! I enjoyes it quite a bit. The book follows Max, an aspiring reporter, and Vivi, a not-so-famous actress. The backdrop is the 1939 World Fair in New York. I liked these two ladied a lot. My only complaint is, why did it take 44% of the book for them to meet up? Way too much build up. 4 stars.

I really enjoyed #wecameheretoshine and found it to be a very interesting, enjoyable read. This is set in NYC during the 1939 World’s Fair and precedes the author’s other historical fiction book, The Subway Girls, which I also enjoyed very much. This book is a bit heavier on the feminist angle but not enough to be off-putting. I felt like the Fair was one of the characters and enjoyed how the author brought the setting to life. Thanks go to #netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book during the 1939 World’s Fair and on the cusp of another World War and the Women’s movement. Vivi and Max couldn’t be more different but their world’s collide when they are working at the fair in very different capacities. What forms is a true friendship where they work to better themselves and each other.

Two women both end up at the Worlds Fair in New York City in 1939 for two very different reasons. Vivi has had those Hollywood dreams and the studio sends her to NYC to be a part of an innovative show that will take place at the Worlds Fair. Max ends up at the Worlds Fair working for their newspaper when her internship at the Times doesn't work out, but maybe this will be the right place for her to learn and grow. Each women tell their story and at a certain point their stories unite and they will impact each other.

When there are more than one main characters, I always get a little nervous that I will like one more than the other, so I was happy while reading this book that I loved both equally. Vivi had quite the journey with a deep back story that unfolded little by little. She is sent from Hollywood to fulfill a contract and is hoping for a quick return to the life she was living in Hollywood. Max has grand dreams and she knows that setting up her future is all up to herself and she will have little help from her family. She knows that lining up productive internships should set the path ahead for herself and with some bumps along the way she figures out where she really wants to be in the end.

I loved the subtle nod to her previous book The Subway Girls in the back half of this book. I really loved that book, so it was great to see her throw that easter egg in and it completely worked within this story.

I love how Susie Orman Schnall introduces me to places and time and things in history that I wasn't aware of and giving those moments so much color. I will be on the lookout for her next book and am excited to see where she will put her focus on.

Max and Vivi are both reluctant participants in the 1939 World Fair- but it turns out to be the best thing for both of them. Max is a journalism student on an internship with the daily paper put out by the Fair - she was bitterly disappointed not to get a slot at the New York Times. Add to it, the editor and publisher don't believe in "girl" reporters so she is assigned to maintain the calendar while her classmate Charlie gets to write. Vivi was about to star in a movie when POW, she finds herself shipped off to sub in as a star of the Aquacade. Yes she can swim but not swim in this fashion so she struggles not only with that but also with her cast members. She also discovers that her sister Maria banished her from NY because of Maria's husband, who she's since left. Vivi and Max meet by chance and discover that together they can make their days better. This has nice period atmospherics (well, not always given the attitudes toward women!) but it's mostly a story of female friendship. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction who are interested in people perhaps more than events.

For me, this historical fiction story of women and friendship was very strengthening and inspiring. My only regret is that it would have been a great addition for my to-be read summer book list .. but I've already read it! You will enjoy your trip back to the past and savory the memories for years to come.

This is an ideal book to read in the summer, the fair aspect was unique and I loved learning about the 1939 World's Fair. The two main characters, Max and Vivi are both working hard to move up in their careers. It seemed like there were a few too many storylines and characters for me. I would have loved more focus on the paper and the show that continued from the character development at the beginning of the book. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

“The universe had plans for Vivi and Max and this story, during a few short months at the beginning of the 1939 World’s Fair, brings it all to life. Maxine Roth aka Max, a journalism student is hell bent at working at the NY Times, too bad, man makes plans and God Laughs.

Vivi Holden has learned to “ignore the wary voice, charge forward, and deal with the consequences later.” She is bound and determined to be a Hollywood star. Did I mention that man makes plans and God Laughs?

And while God is laughing, Vivi and Max are about to collide in the most special way. These two women, manipulated by the age in which they live and the men in their lives are about to realize their worth and potential. And I am yelling on the sidelines “You go Girls!”

Great writing, great characters that you love to hate and root for in equal measure, a walk around the World’s Fair with its sights, smells and sounds all brought to life – The World of Tomorrow. Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for a copy.

The book was interesting because it was about a Worlds Fair that did not really happen. I liked the detail about the fair. Some of the plot was too predictable and wrapped up too nicely so that the characters got what they wanted in the end. It was a very easy read and I liked most of the main characters. There was nothing overwhelmingly memorable about the book except the things about the fair.