I couldn’t help but imagine myself at the 1939 New York World’s Fair while reading this title! There’s something about Americana history and two bold, ambitious young heroines that kept me hooked on this fascinating historical fiction novel. I loved that the story wasn’t set during the war, instead allowing me to learn more about the country’s recovery from a depression, I truly felt as if I were transported to the fair grounds, becoming one with the attractions and building a friendship alongside Vivi Holden and Maxine Roth. This story has the perfect balance of friendship, feminism and flirtation, making it a dazzling 5-star summer read!

This is a wonderful historical fiction book about 2 unlikely friends! The 1939 World's Fair is the setting for the book and it is so wonderfully described, you feel like you are there. Vivi is trying to become an actress in Hollywood when she is sent to the fair to work as a synchronized swimmer. Max wants to be a journalist and finds herself writing for the fair's paper. I loved Max and Vivi's friendship. 2 strong women looking out for each other. I really enjoyed this book. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Sooo good! I absolutely love the new direction she’s going with books!! Highly recommend!! This is going to be the must read beach read of the summer!! So grab a drink relax on the beach and you won’t want to stop reading!!

Set during the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, New York, We Came Here to Shine portrays the story of two independent women, an actress whose Hollywood career gets off track, and a budding journalist who dreams of writing for the New York Times. The novel begins by introducing each woman’s life in alternating chapters, depicting the difficulties each encounters while living in a male dominated world, until their lives converge backstage at the fair. A fascinating look at the 1939 World’s Fair and its innovative attractions, with the journey of two young, independent, and ambitious women, and a side storyline featuring mystery and intrigue. You’ll find yourself swept up in the excitement of the fair and rooting for the success of these two women! Well worth the read! Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the e-galley.

The Worlds Fair before we joined the war. Two women trying to break into two different careers in a man's world. One a Hollywood starlet and the other yearning to be a journalist. They meet while working the Fair and you will be captivated by their stories.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book. This is the story of two young women who meet in 1939 at the New York World's Fair. I enjoyed it, especially the descriptions of the World's Fair. Both of the main characters were likable and seemed concerned with the issues of the day. This is a good story of the friendship of the two women and their struggles and live choices. Recommend if you like historical fiction!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

The book centers around two young women starting their careers at the New York World's Fair of 1939. Vivi is an aspiring actress, who is swimming in Billy Rose's Aquacade. Max is a journalism student at NYU who has been assigned to the daily fair newsletter. They meet accidentally and form a strong friendship that helps them cope with the challenges that women faced in that time frame.

The author paints interesting descriptions of the fairgrounds and its attractions. I was inspired to do additional research about the exhibits, particularly the Aquacade, the Trylon and Perisphere.

The slogan of the fair was "Dawn of a New Day" and its unifying theme was "The World of Tomorrow."

A major focus of the book was the treatment of women, both in personal and professional relationships.

It is now 80 years later! If we are currently living in their "World of Tomorrow," how much has changed?

This is the story of two young women trying to forge their way in 1939, with the World’s Fair as a backdrop. I enjoyed this story, but felt it didn’t live up to its promise. I never really got the true sense of either the time period or the World’s Fair itself. I found the whole telling of the story to be rather simplistic. I appreciated the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

What a fun read and a well-written book about a little-known piece of history for our current generation! I can see this being made into a really fun movie. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this. I thought the story lines flowed really smoothly, and this book prompted me to research more about the World Fair and what life was like then, right before a monumental World War.

I really enjoyed the setting of the World's Fair. So interesting and unique.


Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Just like the Parachute ride at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, this book was a delightful, refreshing, and exhilarating ride that quickly pulled the reader in and dangled the reader until the final, thrilling descent. This highly researched novel came to life through the dazzling descriptions of the fair, the vividly crafted writing, well developed storylines, and rich characters that the author created. It was a joyride which included a few twists and turns that gave the novel extra meat to its bones.

I love when I can do some research on things in a novel and was excited to view several of the rides, buildings, and a performance by the Aquacade swimmers. It really added to the reading experience.

Note for the author: I’d love to see a sequel about Max and Vivi’s promise to each other.

I was always fascinated by the World's fair from when I was a child so i really enjoyed this story! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Another great book by this author! Loved the uniqueness of reading about the 1939 New York World's Fair. Two young women who meet while working at the fair. One is an actress, in old Hollywood, and one a budding female journalist trying to work in a man's world.. Themes of women's rights in both fields during this time, show how far we have come, but we know we need to continue the changes. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review..

This was a refreshing historical fiction book that i absolutely LOVED. This book is based after the depression, around 2 characters, Vivi & Max. Vivi is a young and beautiful women looking to make it in LA as a beloved actress and Max has inspiring dreams of working for the New York Times after her schooling. These two wonderful ladies cross paths at the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York. The friendship is immediate, but the obstacles of their lives are still there. Each girl is challenged and determined to be more than what that generation still considered women to be....a cliche housewife ( for lack of better words) Highly recommend this book and because of this book i look forward to learning more about the 1939 fair in New York. I hope to find more books like this. Author did a wonderful job with this book. Will be sure to want to read again in the future!
Thank you #netgalley & St. Martin's Griffin and the author for this advanced copy for an honest review. It was truly a joy to read!

** spoiler alert ** WE CAME HERE TO SHINE
BY SUSIE ORMAN SCHNALL

I loved this author's previous book of historical fiction called, "The Subway Girls," so I was delighted to discover that she has written another work of historical fiction called, "We Came Here to Shine."
I was delighted to receive an ARC of "We Came Here to Shine" because I love the way this author writes. When I read I always hope to learn something new and Susie Orman Schnall's new novel of historical fiction about the 1939 World's Fair which took place in New York City was fascinating and so much fun. She has such an engaging voice that instantly pulled me into the story and kept me riveted to the very end. I was intrigued to research further about some of the structures mentioned and was happy to discover that they were really amazing architectural wonders that existed in real life at the fair. This made for a really exciting setting that delivered on teaching me about real life exhibits that really did take place in 1939 at the World's fair. Just like Erik Larson's popular book called, "The Devil in White City," which took place in 1879 featured inventions that were magnificent this book is similar and I felt like I was attending the fair in both novels. I wish that in this day and age that there were World Fair's that draws people from all over the globe showcasing new inventions and I wonder why they don't exist anymore. The descriptions of the events, exhibits, dining and rides were vividly brought to life so clearly by this talented author. Not only did I satisfy my desire to learn something that I hadn't heard of, the story and the character's were captivating because I learned about how women's discrimination was still very much alive in 1939. Even though in 1920 when women won the right to vote, the glaring inequalities still existed nineteen years later.

There are two interesting main character's who are trying to attain their dreams in the workforce. Max is attending university to become a journalist and there is a contest for a scholarship she needs desperately to win in order to fund the tuition for the following year. The contest is whoever writes the best article will win the scholarship and with her father's loss of employment Max is depending on winning that scholarship to pay for her tuition the following year. Max is ambitious and wants to work for the New York Times. Instead she is delegated to work for the World's Fair daily paper with her classmate Charlie. The problem is that the man in charge doesn't believe women can write articles as well as men. Her job is to organize and submit the Fair's events and exhibits and Charlie writes the articles and gets to sign his name to the articles with the information Max has gathered each day. Charlie is overwhelmed and clearly needs help and Max is bored and can easily help him by writing articles but she isn't allowed to sign her name to them much less write them. It is crucial to Max that she submits an article with her name on the byline in order to win that scholarship. The disparity between women and men is illuminated. What do you think Max can do about her quandary? What would you do if you were assigned a position that you were over qualified for but because of your gender you were denied the chance to participate? In this case its 1939 and women clearly are at a disadvantaged.

Vivi is promised a role as a leading actress in a one of the studio's biggest picture films of 1940. Her role is Academy Award material. When she and her agent are called into a meeting with the head of the studio he asks Vivi if she has heard of the Auquacade. She answers that she read about it in Life Magazine. It is a swimming and dance production in New York's World Fair. She is told by the studio head, Mr Green that he has loaned her out to his friend to swim and perform in the production at the World's Fair in New York. Vivi wonders if he is traded her because she has ignored his advances in the past. Mr. Green tells Vivi to remember while she goes back to New York that she still represents World Wide Studio's and if she performs well that in return she will get a leading role in a film that he has in mind for her when she returns in four to five months.

There is so much that happens in this very engaging historical novel. I really enjoy this author's voice . She is someone who I want to read her former books. This one is a favorite for 2020 for sure if not an all time favorite. I am going to buy the physical copy and I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction. I was sad when I finished this because I enjoyed every minute of reading it. "The Subway Girls," was also a five star read for me and memorable. I didn't put in any spoilers so my review just sets up a preface of the beginning of this fabulous novel. There are many interesting facets in this gem. I think that women would like this since it deals with the inequalities women dealt with and how they persevered. I hope anybody who reads this gives this historical novel a try. The 1939 World's Fair descriptions are priceless. You will feel like you attended it yourself.

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Thank you to Net Galley, Susie Orman Schnall and St. Martin's Publishing for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WeCameHeretoShine #SusieOrmanSchnall #St.Martin'sPublishing #NetGalley

This is an enjoyable tale with an interesting setting, the 1939 World’s Fair. Step back in time to busby Berkeley and big production numbers - this time in the water. Action revolves around the big Aquashow and it’s aspiring stars. A young journalist is also in the mix. There are strong women characters and not too much of the imposition of modern morals onto the morals of the time.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s press for an advanced reader copy of We Came Here to Shine. I absolutely loved Susie Orman Schnall’s book, Subway Girls, so I knew this was going to be good. I liked that it’s historical fiction without being about WWII. It’s the story of two women at the 1939 World’s Fair. It was a very cute, but predictable story. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

I love the historical fiction genre. I was so excited to read this because it takes place in a setting that I haven’t read before. The year is 1939 and the World’s Fair in New York is in full swing. Max is a journalism student fulfilling her summer internship at the fair’s newspaper. She is faced with the lack of responsibilities in her male dominated profession. Vivi is an aspiring actress who was up for a role that would launch her career. However her agency had other plans for her and “loaned” her to the fair to be the headliner in the Aquacade show. I found that I couldn’t put this book down. I was drawn to the trials that each of the characters went through and the ties that brought them together. I highly recommend We Came Here to Shine.

Another wonderful book that teaches while telling a fabulous story!

This story tells a little bit about the synchronized swimming movies that used to be filmed in Hollywood. I greatly enjoyed learning about them. So very interesting! We also learn about the fate of many female actresses in the late 1940's. They were not treated like equals in comparison to their male on-screen partners. Today, while women still face prejudice, we also receive many more opportunities than women did many years ago. I feel very lucky to be living in this time period, rather than years ago. While women still face their share of challenges, we certainly have come a very long way!

This plot was unique and interesting. The characters were charming and I couldn't help but want to learn more about them and the era. I felt like I was in another time period while reading this. Great book! I will definitely anticipate Shnall's next novel.

We Came Here to Shine by Susie Orman Schnall is a fascinating look into the 1939 NY World's Fair. Max is a young, aspiring journalist who is assigned to work for the small, daily newpaper that is published by the Fair. Vivi is an actress who is sent East from LA to take the lead in the water show that takes place several times a day as part of the entertainment at the Fair. Their lives and struggles against the background of the Fair provide an interesting glance into the goings on of the Fair and the role of women in the world in the late 30s.

Both women were fighting the obstacle of their gender, trying to move forward in careers that kept them back, just because they were women. Max's dream of working for the NY Times was thwarted when her professor assigned her to the Fair's paper and the editor wouldn't let her write any articles. Vivi was taken from a starring role in a movie and sent to take the place of the lead "Aquabelle" when she was injured, even though she had never been in a swimming show. The women met and became fast friends, encouraging each other in their roles, even though they weren't what they wanted. But what did they really want? That would become an important question for both of them.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as I did Ms. Schnall's previous novel, The Subway Girls.