This novel is about two young women who meet at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. Both have ambitions which seem thwarted but their lives turn out for the best. Max is a budding reporter who hopes for an internship at the New York Times but is instead assigned to the daily newspaper at the World Fair. Vivi is a budding actress who instead of a featured role in a movie in Hollywood is loaned to an aquamarine exhibition at the World Fair. This is the story of their coming of age and refocusing their lives. This was an ARC through NetGalley and St. Martin Press.

Vivi Holden and Maxine (Max) Roth are two different women on very different paths in life. Little did they know that they would become best friends amidst the awe and wonder of the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.

Max is a fledgling writer trying to make her way in a man’s world. The summer internship she covets is working for the New York Times. Her reality is being assigned to write the daily newspaper for the World’s Fair by her professor at NYU. Unfortunately, she is not the only one assigned to the Fair. Charlie, a fellow classmate will be working along side of Max. Charlie is assigned all of the coveted articles only because the boss feels women are better at organizing rather than actually being good writers.

Vivi is an actress that has been sent to NY from LA to become the lead swimmer in the Aquacade production. With an impossibly short time to learn the routine and the fact that she has not been in a pool since high school, she is up a creek without a paddle. To make matters worse, the person assigned to teaching her the difficult routines has been filling the role Vivi is taking. The only reason she has agreed to the part is because her manager has promised her the lead in a film as soon as the Fair closes.

Max and Vivi meet after listening to feminist Elizabeth Dorchester’s speech at the Democracity exhibit at the Fair. They quickly bond as both are inspired by the message of equality for women. Soon they are sharing their hopes, dreams and frustrations with each other. Vivi’s manager holds her life and career in his hands and Max’s editor holds her fate as a serious reporter in his. Both women will need to struggle and claim the path in life they want and need to take. Unfortunately, most women in 1939 are at the mercy of the men that employ them. Unbeknownst to them, both girls will become part of the movement to change the mindset of men and women alike as they fight for their personal rights to be heard.

We Came Here to Shine is like stepping into the past on a guided tour with friends. The characters are realistic and interesting. I enjoy the depth of each of the girls. They are dealing with not only equality issues, but deep personal issues as well. The World’s Fair looms bigger than life for the characters as well as the readers. The innovations that are detailed in this fascinating book are fun to experience with the characters. What is now outdated or taken for granted is all brand new for Vivi and Max as well as those who attend the 1939 World’s Fair.

This is the second book I’ve read by Susie Orman Schnall. I love the nod to the other book I read, The Subway Girls, that Ms. Orman Schnall weaves seamlessly into We Come Here to Shine. Her knowledge and research paint a beautiful background for her characters in both novels. I highly recommend both of these books. Both of them have solid, interesting plots that take

the reader back in time. Actual events in history are combined with interesting fictional people creating two of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read. I highly recommend them.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright ©2020 Laura Hartman

Vivi and Maxine just want to shine, but their lights are nearly dimmed by a world that revolves around the ambitions of men. In ‘We Came Here to Shine’ author Susie Orman Schnall has written an enthralling women’s fiction set against the glitz and glamour of the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.

Vivi is an aspiring actress and at the start of the novel, she loses what would have been her break-out role to a bigger name star. To make the situation worse, her studio instead sends her to star in the World’s Fair Aquacade. Vivi is totally unprepared for the role and she faces challenges with the rest of the cast, when they are less than welcoming to her presence. The whole scenario is made worse by the fact that Vivi has a history in New York City, so she has no interest in spending the summer there.

Maxine (aka Max) is an aspiring journalist, whose dream is to write for the New York Times. She thought an opportunity to intern there would get her foot in the door. Unfortunately, she is stationed at the World’s Fair daily newspaper instead. To make matters worse, the powers that be believe a woman has no business writing articles. She is instead made to do administrative and secretarial work. Meanwhile, her heart pines for her classmate, and she has no idea whether the feelings are mutual.

Vivi and Max are two ambitious women, who just want to break free of the barriers holding them back from making progress in their respective careers. When they happen to meet at the fair, they find the opportunity to form a fast friendship, work together, and support one another towards their dreams.

We Came Here to Shine was an engaging book. It was easy to become involved with both Vivi and Maxine’s stories. Each had enough elements so that neither was particularly more interesting or weaker than the other. There was also a broad cast of supporting characters, who each had their own interesting side stories, that all seemed integral to the overall plot. With the complex, multi-layered story, I found myself quickly reading through the book, eager to see how everything would work out.

As the book reached towards its conclusion, there may have been a few too many elements. Without any spoilers, the author did include a number of different challenges for the main and secondary characters, some of which were more cliché than others. The strong feminist themes and female friendships were one of the highlights of the book, although it was a little unbelievable at times that these women had formed such close friendships in such a short amount of time. One final critique would be that a few times there was an unusual almost meta-narrative approach that seemed to break the literary fourth wall, which was different from most of the narration, and somewhat jarring.

The conclusion of the book seemed to leave some room for a sequel. If given the chance, I know I would certainly read more from this author about these characters. Needless to say, overall, I highly recommend this book, especially as a great summer read. Finally, I want to thank St. Martin’s Gallery and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance, in exchange for an honest review.

Want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for making We Came Here to Shine available to me to read and review. Susie Orman Schnall, who previously wrote The Subway Girls, has written another engrossing story about women with courage and determination.
The 1939 World’s Fair in New York is the setting.
Fighting for women’s rights is not new. Vivi, a Hollywood starlet, is forced by her contract and her agent to travel to New York to be in the Aquacades. Max (Maxine), a journalism major, dreams of a summer internship at The New York Times but ends up being sent to the fair to write the daily announcements for the fair’s newspaper. A fellow student, a male, will be the one to write the stories.
Schnall’s description of the fair and her characters are so well done.
“Its vision (referring to the fair) inspired those who visited to do something bigger, to be someone better.”
This novel is relevant to today even though the setting is from years ago.
The fight for women’s rights continue!

I have enjoyed Susie Orman Schnall's novels, but We Came Here to Shine: A Novel is definitely my favorite of all the ones she has written so far.

This was such a delightful story! It made me think of The Bold Type, if the television series had taken place in 1939. (Max also reminded me of Annie from Shrill.) Vivi and Max were both sympathetic and relatable characters. I wanted to see them both succeed and was frustrated by the setbacks they experienced, especially on Max's end. I was so worried for what would come of their situations. I loved the friendship they formed.

I really enjoyed this novel and couldn't put it down. I just had to find out what would happen. I recently saw the movie Judy during the time I was reading it and found it interesting to see what it was like for actresses in that time period, such as how men behaved around them and treated them. I liked how Susie tied in something from one of her previous novels, as well. The historical facts about and imagery of the 1939 World's Fair were fascinating!

I definitely recommend We Came Here to Shine, especially to fans of Susan Meissner's novels.

Movie casting suggestions:
Vivi: Caylee Cowan
Max: Joey King
Gabe: Peyton Meyer
Dean: Finn Wittrock
James: K.J. Apa
Charlie: Chandler Riggs
Ruby: Bella Thorne

I loved this book! I've read other books that mention the 1939 World's Fair but only go into a little bit of detail, but We Came Here To Shine really gives the reader so much detail that it's easy to imagine walking around the fair. Schnall gives so much descriptive detail about the buildings, displays, decorations, events and entertainment that the reader can really visualize being there. The fair is a backdrop for the stories of two women working at the fair and the impact it had on their lives. Such a lovely story. I highly recommend to lovers of historical fiction and women's fiction.

The World Fair of 1939 sounds a lot like Walt Disney's Epcot, the giant golf ball, the lagoon surrounded by countries such as France and Japan showcasing their cultures and the theme of looking to the future. I channeled my memories of Epcot while reading this book and a little bit of Seaworld's grand stadium for the Aquacade!
I really enjoyed the dual stories; two very different women but both with the same passion and ambition to achieve in their chosen careers. They felt slighted by their mentors, being sent to the World Fair instead of a lead role and The Times. I like their resilience and how they don't mope and grumble but chose to embrace the new reality with determination. They haven't rolled over and forgotten their goals though. A chance meeting in the Fair leads these two women into a friendship that is warm and supportive. But hovering over both is a sense of urgency and fear of the future.
It was a very well researched book and the history of the Fair was woven well into the structure of the two women's lives. The Fair felt like the third character and I wanted it to succeed as much as I wanted Max and Vivi too. There were a few twists I didn't see coming and the characters were realistic but not two dimensional.
I feel sad that we will never get to witness something so huge and aweinspiring as a World Fair again. International travel and the internet give us access to all the things the 1939 World Fair gave to New Yorkers and Americans. But at least we still have Epcot.

In this story, we follow two women who have very different lives but come to know each other face struggles and hardships together as friends. This is a remarkable novel about female friendships, the challenges women face, and how women summon their courage. It was beautifully written. I highly recommend this book.

3.5 stars

It was refreshing to read a historical fiction book that didn't revolve around a war. The idea behind this one was neat as it combined the 1939 World's Fair in New York, an actress trying to make it big under the Old Hollywood studio system, and a female college student wanting a career in the journalism field but finding out quickly women don't get the same treatment as men. At times the story veered into melodramatic territory but overall I did enjoy this one.

Vivi Holden is trying to make it as an actress in Hollywood but in 1939 under the studio system it's not easy being a woman. She is sent by the studio to New York City to perform in the Aquacade synchronized swimming show at the World's Fair. If she performs well, she might finally get the opportunity to be a leading lady on screen.

Maxine Roth is a college student studying journalism. She is assigned by her professor to work at a publication dedicated to providing World's Fair coverage. However, Maxine is having a hard time convincing her boss she is a talented writer. He won't let her publish articles as he doesn't think female writers could possible be as good as male writers.

Both Vivi and Maxine were solid characters and their stories really showcased the challenges women faced back then in the workforce. I do think there were a few minor plotlines that didn't really enhance the overall story. It almost felt like they were added to stretch the story out. It is an enjoyable read though but I would place it in the light historical fiction category. It's good for a lazy weekend read but there's not much here that's going to stick in your mind long after you finish reading it.

I would recommend this book to readers looking for historical fiction that doesn't focus on World War 2 for a change. Also, there's a few references to the Miss Subways contest in this book which I thought was a nice touch by the author given that was the focus of her previous book.

I was provided a free advance digital copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of We Came Here to Shine from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love a novel that brings obscure history to life! Susie Orman Schnall does exactly that (again). Vivi, the starlet, becomes the star of an aquatic show at the World's Fair of 1939, while Max attempts a career as a journalist. Highlighting jobs that were both expected of women and unobtainable/discouraged for them during the same time period, this author again creates very authentic characters and an easy to follow storyline. Great book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

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”.