Now this is going to be a difficult explanation of what I just read… a factionalized non fiction that spans decades and focuses on multiple POV.

With Barbie being the centre of it all.
Yes you read that right, Barbie the doll.
The brain child of Ruth and engineered by Jack.

It’s about Barbie but it’s also about society and the norms then. And the way in which business was ran (and in some ways, still).

The story begins with Ruth. And her idea to create a doll that wasn’t just a baby doll. And where the little girl was “just” a mom in training. Ruth wanted a doll that could allow a girl to dream beyond the confines of a kitchen and home.

But it becomes an obsession to get “her” just right. And to do it in secrecy so that no other toy maker accomplishes this dream before they do at Mattel.

I found pieces of this fascinating: like the proportions and sizes of Barbie. The thought process behind the clothes. And a lot of little intricate details to why Barbie was made the way she was.

And while those investigative pieces felt like non fiction, it was fictionalized in a way that I felt like it was a little Mad Men office building.

And while I enjoyed the early part of the book I was more invested in the relationships that happened. Barbara (to which Barbie is named after), being Ruth’s daughter who hated the doll. (You can imagine why). Jack’s backstory. His struggle with dyslexia and bipolar. Ruth’s struggle to be a mom with a work passion that left her with a gaping hole in her family life.

Fascinating read. Definitely read the authors note at the end where it’s explained what she fictionalized and didn’t.

“I think a doll like Barbie can unlock the imaginations of little girls. They can pretend they’re grown-up, just like their doll. And they can make their Barbie do or be anything they want…She can pave the way for young girls to explore all kinds of possibilities.”

Let’s Call Her Barbie tells the story of the controversial rise in popularity of the now pop culture icon, Barbie. From its early beginnings and its test screenings, to the fight to make Barbie a feminist fashion icon, this behind the scenes historical fiction book shows how the doll we all know and love got her start.

The story centers around a few major players at Mattel, the company that created Barbie. Ruth Handler is the powerful, no nonsense CEO who, along with her husband, Elliot would build both Barbie, and Mattel, from the ground up. Another big part of Barbie’s journey was Jack Ryan, head engineer and a crucial component of Barbie’s success. Rounding out the important players is Stevie Klein, a young designer who never thought her designer dreams would have her dressing a doll.

Spanning approximately twenty years, the story gives a very nuanced take on the creation and cultivation of the Barbie doll. I believe it’s no coincidence that Ruth Handler was the woman behind Barbie as she too was a force to be reckoned with, and a woman ahead of her time. While based on real people, real events, and the real doll, there were a few creative liberties taken with the story. For instance, Stevie was not a real designer in Barbie’s trajectory. The author also notes that this book was in the works before the popular Barbie film came out. Though the two are bound to draw comparison, they really don’t have much in common besides the doll herself. In fact, I hope they make a movie about Barbie’s real beginnings one day as I think it would make a fascinating film and prove Barbie’s long standing presence is much more than child’s play.

Quick and Dirty
-multi POV historical fiction
-1950s-1970s linear timeline
-feminist AF
-Mad Men meets Barbie

This. Was. So. Good. I devoured this book in less than 3 days, y’all! Part of that is due to Rosen’s incredible writing and masterful character creation; the other part is likely due to being in the hospital with my dad with lots of time on my hands. Either way, I’m chalking it up to the fact that Rosen has done it again. If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you likely know that her book Park Avenue Summer is a personal favorite. She has a way with words that pulls you right into the hearts and minds of her characters. And Let’s Call Her Barbie is full of memorable characters with compelling storylines. Based on the true story and real-life creators of Barbie, the fashion doll phenomenon, this book gives readers an inside glimpse into the thought process behind the development of one of the most iconic toys of all time. The Mad Men-style work environment allows for lots of tension, creative and sexual, which keeps you engaged and eager to see what happens next. Ruth, the mother of Barbie (literally and figuratively), is a force to be reckoned with, a pioneering woman in a male-dominated industry. Following her throughout the book, we get a sense of what it meant to her to bring Barbie to life and what it felt like to see it all slip away. I cannot say enough about this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fictionalized accounts of cultural phenomena.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was an unputdownable, well-researched historical fiction that blurred the lines between fact and fiction in a fascinating multi-layered story. It tells how the Barbie doll was created, how Ruth Handler originated the vision of Barbie and was the motivator behind the cultural phenomenon. It’s also the story of the Mattel Corporation, from its 1945 origins as a two-person toy developer to a multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company. And it's Ruth’s personal story, as well as the story of Jack Ryan, engineer and Barbie co-developer. And fictional designer Stevie Klein also plays a major role in rounding out the various themes of the book.

My sister and I had one of the earliest Barbies, and reading about her development was fascinating – the behind-the scenes inspiration, the mechanical manufacturing as well as the marketing, the clothes and accessories – this was riveting. As Barbie’s success grew, so did the Mattel company, and the story of the company’s development, with its ups and downs, was also engrossing.

Alongside the business aspects, author Rosen told the personal stories of Ruth, Jack and Stevie. Sometimes they were working together, sometimes in competition, but always with Mattel and Barbie’s success as motivating factors.

I found myself rooting for Ruth throughout the novel. She was a nontraditional woman of the time. I didn’t know her motivation for creating Barbie was to set a new example for young girls, to “show them a different road they can walk down, one where marriage and children could be a stop along the way rather than a foregone conclusion, and definitely not the end of their journey.”

A feminist theme runs throughout the novel as Rosen repeats Ruth’s desire for Barbie “to connect with all those little girls out there. She wanted Barbie to be their role model and show them what it meant to be feminine and strong. That if they want to get married and have children, that’s fine, but they can still have a life of their own. Barbie was supposed to deliver a new, fresh message for the next generation to grow into.”

Whether or not you had a Barbie or saw the recent movie, this is an important book that tells the story of a strong woman who is determined to follow her vision of providing more career and lifestyle options for girls and young women. I highly recommend this one!

I knew I’d enjoy this book because Renee Rosen is such a good author, but I really loved Let’s Call Her Barbie. I really love historical fiction but good books are so hard to find in this genre. I dont always want a World War 2 romance or some sweeping Regency romance. I like books like this, something that puts you squarely in a historical time without romance or war.

Essentially, this book is the story of how Barbie was born, the struggles to get her made, and Ruth’s vision for the doll kept me glued to the pages and immersed.

All the incredible success came at a cost. Ruth was not home much and her children suffered, feeling that Ruth’s priority was always Barbie. The book dives into the lives of other people at Mattel who made Barbie famous, which gives the story depth. A few of the characters from this story are based on real people. Of course, I googled them as soon as I finished reading.

The reader becomes involved in making Barbie plus creating her beautiful clothes and accessories.

As a child, I loved my glamorous Barbie doll and her car, camper, trunk of clothes, tiny shoes and purses, and my Barbie paper dolls. If you had a childhood filled with Barbie stuff, then you will probably love this book too.

Synopsis:

When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.

As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels — head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion — she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.

In the decades to come — through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions — each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll — she’s a legacy.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for sending me this book for review. Opinions are mine.
Barbie is definitely having a moment, although the author writes that she had this book “in the works long before the Barbie movie came out and Barbiemania began sweeping the universe.”
Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads. I’ve been excited about this one since it was announced and I’m happy to report that I loved it.
This historical fiction starts when Ruth Handler, co-founder with her husband of the toy company Mattel, has the idea to create a different kind of doll from what was being produced in the 1950s. This doll wouldn’t be a baby doll but a fashion doll, a grown-up doll for little girls to play with to imagine anything they could become, other than a housewife. After many years of development, and much skepticism and criticism, Barbie was born. Let’s Call Her Barbie takes the reader through this whole process from three perspectives, Ruth; Jack Ryan, Mattel’s VP of R&D; and fictional character Stevie Klein, a Barbie clothing designer.
I loved the portrayal of a Jewish woman leading a big company, and how she wanted Barbie to help little girls think about what they can do, even while many of her own employees didn’t take a women leader seriously. I also appreciated that this book delved into the fact that Barbie was blamed for eating disorders, unrealistic body image and fad diets.
The author says Let’s Call Her Barbie is “a work of fiction based on the facts as I found and interpreted them.” The novel was a fascinating way to learn about the development and creation of Barbie. The reader gets a behind-the-scenes look at things like the reasoning behind Barbie’s dimensions, clothing design, name choice, and the race to get Barbie to market.

I never had a real Barbie. I always had the Knock off versions or the cast off Barbie from my cousin after she had cut off her hair.
I read this book in one sitting. I learned so much about the Mattel company, Ruth Handler, Jack Ryan, and the entire cast of designers and crew who made a piece of plastic molt into a myriad of transformations.
Rosen does an excellent job of telling both sides of story with all of the good and the bad.
Handler had a vision and the drive to make her idea of a doll girls would play with which ultimately has turned into an empire.
One of the core messages from this story is if you believe in something long enough it can happen, but a person can always reinvent themselves, just like the multiple versions of Barbie.

When Ruth Handler pitched the idea of a new type of doll in the boardroom of a toy company, not many believe it’ll take off… but it does.

This was such an interesting story of not only the creation and evolution of Barbie, but those behind her. I was worried I’d be bored by the business details, but that ended up being my favorite part. I loved hearing about the different styles, what worked and didn’t, and how she was changed along the way. I had no idea of all the controversy as well. While a fiction read, it is based on the true history but does have some additional characters and embellishments.

“Here is a man who once sat in on highly classified meetings at the Pentagon, but now he worked for her, and she’s charging him with the task of designing a doll. A doll with tits.”

Let’s Call Her Barbie comes out 1/21.

In 1956, the toy industry was about to be revolutionized by Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel. Driven by her determination to break into the market, Handler recognized the potential for a unique doll that would empower girls to express themselves freely. This vision led to the creation of Barbie, a fashion doll designed to resemble a woman.

Three years after her conception, Barbie made her debut in 1959, coinciding with Mattel’s meteoric rise in the toy industry. In fact, company will be celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2025.

The genesis of Barbie’s design can be traced back to a German doll called Bild Lilly. Handler had purchased Bild Lilly during her European travels, sparking the idea of a fashion doll. Recognizing the need for a more diverse play option beyond baby dolls, Handler and her husband, Elliott took the concept to new heights. They didn’t just manufacture prototypes; they also hired fashion design experts to create clothes, accessories, and more.

Interestingly, while Bild Lilly served as the inspiration for Barbie, Mattel acquired the rights to the doll, effectively eliminating competition for its flagship product.

As Mattel prepared to launch its fashion dolls to the public, they faced numerous challenges. Prototypes needed to be refined, and they collaborated with a Japanese factory that encountered translation issues. Additionally, the design underwent multiple modifications, and they encountered other obstacles along the way.

Ruth’s personal and professional life was delved into, exploring her marriage and family, while at work, she also faced the challenges of misogyny. Despite these obstacles, Barbie was born and achieved the American dream, even landing on the moon four years before men did. The Barbie franchise experienced exponential growth and has since transcended the realm of fashion dolls, clothes, and accessories, encompassing video games, films, and more. Renée Rosen’s spectacular book offers a captivating exploration of the development and enduring popularity of one of the world’s most iconic toys.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I could not put this historical fiction story of how the Barbie toy came to be down!! It was absolutely fascinating look into a time period and history I knew very little about.

Learning about all that was involved in getting Barbie designed, marketed and made was so interesting. The story is also told from alternating POVs from the different higher level people involved in making Barbie and her accessories such a huge success for Mattel. From concept creator, Ruth, to product engineer, Jack to fashion designer, Stevie, we get to see how working on Barbie changed all their lives.

Spanning the late 1950s to the 1970s, the book offers insights into a pivotal period of America, from women's rights and the growing role of women in the workforce. After reading this book I've gained a newfound respect for the work, creativity and sacrifices behind Barbie.

The book also has excellent disability rep (Jack has dyslexia, or 'word blindness' as it was called back then, and bipolar disorder) - the historical context of how these conditions used to be treated was shocking. Excellent on audio as well read by sole narrator, Abigail Reno who does a great job voicing the full cast of characters!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I was endlessly fascinated by this book. Maybe it was the nostalgia of it all, or maybe it was watching a badass female successfully lead an organization and take no prisoners; either way I loved every minute.

Ruth Handler was a force to be reckoned with. She was a leader among a very male dominated industry and she backed down for no one. This story dives into the history of Mattel and all the good, bad, and ugly as they fought to become a powerhouse in the toy industry.

The relationships felt real, and I found myself both loving and hating several of the characters at various points in the story. Barbie was challenged at every milestone in her development, and the fact that she still tops the charts in toy sales even today is absolutely incredible.

Though historical fiction, Renee Rosen pulls you into the story like you are a fly on the wall for actual conversations that happened. There was enough truth to the story to make you believe every minute of it. I am dying to read more of her books now.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

A fascinating account of the vision that brought Barbie from idea to icon. Barbie has been a staple on toy shelves my entire life and this novel helped me appreciate how difficult it was to not only create a doll with a woman's body and careers, but also to find acceptance for these ideals. Most people couldn't wrap their minds around little girls pretending to be anything other than mothers.

What kind of an impact could a doll have?

I didn't know what to expect when I began this novel, but it pulled me right in. The creative process alone was enthralling add to that a company where women did more than pour coffee during this time period and I was so in. I say it all the time, but great historical fiction is eye opening and sends me down a rabbit hole of research. I had such drive to read articles regarding these events and see the photos of those mentioned throughout the story. Rosen adds notes following the novel to help understand what parts she fictionalized.

The story of Mattel and Barbie centers around Ruth Handler who is a force to be reckoned with and co-founder, Elliot Handler Ruth's husband and also a co-founder of the company, Jack Ryan brilliant, but troubled engineer, and Charlotte Johnson designer of Barbie's wardrobe and accessories. There is a fictional character, Stevie Klein, she's an upcoming designer and a well-rounded character that had a much-needed grounding effect on the book. Klein's character works great because Ruth and Jack are both intense personalities. Ruth's idea to create a doll that is a woman when all the dolls of the time period are babies is met with discord from every angle. She wanted to give girls the opportunity to envision themselves in occupations and dream beyond marriage and motherhood. We get an inside look at why Barbie's body proportions are extreme and the changes that have been implemented for better or worse over time.

The personal lives of these creative driven people were interesting and marred with struggle. I became invested in each of their stories and found myself feeling emotional more than once. Ruth's story in particular is an inspiration. I will never again look at a Barbie without remembering the challenges and successes that marked the story of the team that created her.

Loved this book! I know Renee has a unique writing style but once you get in there, I was hooked. I loved all the juicy tib bits about the characters. Especially all the history that was referenced in the atmosphere to show the timing that Barbie was created was really interesting. Loved!

Thanks for the chance to preview this novel. It was a very honest look at the beginnings of Barbie and how she came to be. I enjoyed the premise of the book, but it didn't keep me as tuned in as I would have liked.

Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

Barbie and I were born about the same time and Barbie was a big part of my young life. I played with her and all the accessories that came with her and I had an aunt that made gorgeous outfits for her that riveled the outfits that could be bought at the store. I will admit that I played with my cowboy action figure and his horse and all the accessories that came with them just as much as I played with Barbie and the two, Barbie and Johnny West, got to share my imaginary worlds. I even had the two horses from the Johnny West collection so they could ride off into the sunset together. Who needs Ken when you have Johnny West.

I had no idea about the start of Mattel or Barbie until I read this book. It starts the year I was born and it was so interesting to compare Barbie and all that came with her and after her with my experiences of owning Barbie and her friends and accessories. Other toys that I owned are mentioned, too, so it was a really journey down memory lane. When we first meet Ruth and Elliot Handler and head engineer Jack Ryan, they seem like a good fit as creative geniuses. Ruth is so driven, when it comes to her work, to her vision for Mattel and for Barbie, that her home life suffers and Elliot is the one who really seems to make sure someone is there for their two children although they still suffer from a distant mother who can't keep her mind off work even when she's at home. Jack is another story and it's not a pretty one.

As we watch the creation of Barbie and learn the meticulous details of how her body shape came about, had to be adapted through time, and why her proportions are so not reality, we also get to learn all that went into making her wardrobe. Barbie had the most talented of clothes designers and there was so much that went into creating and making her clothing that never would have entered my mind. Then there was the engineering of her accessories, her house, her furniture, and all the thought processes that went into getting things right.

This is historical fiction so liberties are taken to tell this story. The inclusion of fictional Stevie Klein brings the story down to earth for me since the real life Ruth and Jack (especially Jack) would be too wild to be true if he wasn't just as much or more wild and crazy in real life. I had no idea what a mad house I was entering when stepping into the offices of Mattel and the mind of Jack Ryan. I came for Barbie and left with my mind reeling with some of the things I learned. I went into this book mostly blind other than having played with Barbie for years as a child and did not expect the eye opening things that I learned. This is my second book by Renée Rosen and I really like the way she allows me to meet the people behind well known companies and products.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

I love Renée Rosen's historical fiction novels and appreciate that she focuses on topics outside of World War II. Her latest, Let's Call Her Barbie, will be available in late January 2025 and it is one of her best! I loved this look into the creation of Barbie and all the ups and downs that went along with her becoming the iconic doll she still is today.

Let it be known that this novel is not the same as the Barbie movie, which focused on Barbie herself. This story is the behind the scenes of the making of a legendary doll. Not only did Renée focus on Ruth Handler, but also on others who were responsible for bringing Barbie to life, both real and fictional. I loved that there were multiple perspectives and how they blended together. It was interesting to read the author's note about Renée's research to make this novel what it is. I could easily visualize people and places the entire time I was reading it, making me feel like I was right there in Mattel's office building.

You'll definitely want to add this fascinating piece of historical fiction to your TBR next month! It is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid. It also made me think of another historical fiction novel I read this past summer, One More Seat at the Round Table, which focuses on all the obstacles that were making it difficult to produce a famous musical in the 1960s. (I compared that novel to Renée Rosen's writing, as well!)

I'm no stranger to the Barbie obsession during my childhood. I even wrote about it in a column for Chick Lit Central last year. So I definitely appreciate Renée writing about how Barbie came to be and how challenging it was to make her happen!

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Ruth: Ginnifer Goodwin
Jack: Taron Egerton
Elliot: Mark Feuerstein
Stevie: Diana Silvers
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TW: Cancer, depression, eating disorders, death of a parental figure (off page)

Renee Rosen has chosen to tell the story behind that most ubiquitous of American icons—Barbie—who still seems to be everywhere, from retail shelves to movies and fashion. Rosen tells the story from Barbie’s unlikely beginnings through Ruth Handler’s struggle to convince everyone that her unconventional brainchild could actually be a winner. There’s plenty of behind the scenes intrigue here; the colorful characters involved leap off the page, making for a compelling story.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

This book was so much more than I expected. It is a fictionalized story about the creation of Barbie but rooted so heavily on fact that at times I forgot it was fiction. After watching the Barbie movie more than once, I also pictured Rhea Perlman whenever Ruth Handler was in the scene.

It was fascinating the amount of time and effort that goes into making a new toy/doll. The numerous tries to get the plastic just right was definitely not something that I would have thought about. I also really enjoyed the creative back and forth with the staff working on Barbie, it is easy to see how everything changed when more people got involved and Mattel went public.

The whole question of whether Barbie is an Icon or a danger for young girls is not a new phenomenon, and certainly not a question I cared about in the 60's when I played with my own dolls. But the struggles in the beginning and then later on were real and handled very well in the book. I think Renee Rosen did a great job showing us the good and bad about the personalities behind Barbie and how those people were able to start something new yet also lose themselves in the intervening years.

I highly recommend this book whether you were a big Barbie fan or not. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

So, I am not a Barbie fan, at least I should say I am not a fan of the Barbie movie. I didn’t quite understand it and why everyone was so enchanted. This is what people should be enchanted with. This book is amazing. It is fun, it is quirky, and it is enchanting. I had no idea about the background of making Barbie, but I would read this book again in a heartbeat. I don’t care if you like the doll the movie or any other Barbie related items. This book is just stunning. I love learning about history, more importantly the motivations behind why people do what they do. Barbie is no exception. The people who helped develop her are crazy, innovative, and just interesting people to learn about.
Thank you so very much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I loved Barbie dolls as a child so I was excited to get this ARC to learn about Ruth Handler and how Barbies came about. My mom's name is Barbara and she received the first barbie doll. I played with it as a child not realizing what is was till it was long gone. That is sad. This book starts in 1956 when Ruth sees a German doll and takes it to her husband, Elliot, and an engineer, Jack Ryan, at Mattel and says we need to make this. Elliot and Ruth started Mattel with Harold Matson. Elliot thinks it will be a big waste of money and resources. Jack Ryan likes a challenge and is all in. So Ruth and Jack spend years trying to perfect Barbie. I was always told Ruth made the doll for her daughter, Barbara, but that is not accurate. Barbara was in high school when Ruth was creating Barbie. This book goes for about twenty years. All before I was born so I did not know really anything about Mattel and Ruth Handler. Jack Ryan was an interesting character. I know people talk about what Barbie looked like but for me it was all about the clothes. I have no sense of style and I just wanted Barbie's clothes. This book talks a lot about the fashion designers that worked at Mattel. That was a big part of the doll and I liked that that was a big part of this book. The first third of this book is making Barbie and then she sells and it is all a big success. I thought, what is left to say? A lot apparently. I was hooked at that point. I enjoyed it and of course I had to google all of the people after reading the book. It was fascinating.

-Stevie decides that grown-ups need their own Barbie dream world every bit as much as children do.