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.

This is a brilliant historical fiction story about the creators of Barbie. The start was a little slow, but I'm glad I powered through because I am a true barbie lover to my core and this story was everything I was hoping for. For the lovers of the Barbie movie - this gives an inside look at the world of Barbie (not just the doll) and the female creator living in a man's world. I feel very fortunate I could read this prior to release day.

I was riveted by this story of the famous Barbie and her creators!!!!!!!¡!! This is a fascinating, entertaining story that you will devour, as I did.

I really enjoyed this fresh and entertaining take on the story of Barbie and the people who brought her to life. Renée Rosen does an excellent job blending fact and fiction, giving us an inside look at the creation of one of the world’s most iconic toys.

Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator, is at the heart of this story, and her journey as a woman in business during the 1950s is inspiring. I loved how Rosen showed Ruth’s determination to create something that would let little girls dream bigger—beyond just being moms to baby dolls. The challenges she faced, from societal expectations to backlash from the feminist movement, were fascinating and gave me a new appreciation for Barbie’s legacy.

The supporting characters, like the designers and engineers, were just as compelling. Their relationships and struggles felt real, and Rosen really brought them to life. It was interesting to see the tensions within Mattel and how credit wasn’t always given where it was due—something that added depth and drama to the story.

I also learned so much about Barbie and Mattel along the way. Even though this is a fictionalized account, it’s clear Rosen did her homework. The mix of historical detail and creative storytelling made this a fun and informative read.

If you love historical fiction or just want to know more about the story behind Barbie, I definitely recommend this book. It’s a fascinating, personal, and empowering look at how a little doll became a symbol of endless possibilities.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book drives into the creation of the making of Barbie one of the world’s most iconic dolls to date.
Could you imagine being Ruth Handler in the 1950’s standing before a board on men and pitching her Barbie doll idea to them she was the Co-founder of Mattel but that set in action the making of Barbie.
We get a behind the scenes look at the making of the Barbie Doll it’s hard to imagine just how much works goes into the process and it’s a lot.
The book also is about the legacy it created. Through the highs and lows and a lot in between
The author writing is engaging and very detailed, it makes you feel as though you are part of the creation of Barbie. I am a Barbie fan so I knew I had to read this. But if you enjoy Barbie or just want to learn the behind-the-scenes of the making of this historical doll pick this up

This was a fascinating read, and it was hard for me to put it down. I grew up loving Barbie in the 1980s and cherished my Barbies in pink business attire and purple astronaut costumes who inspired me to reach for the stars. The little-known story of the birth of Barbie in the 1950s is complicated and fraught with obstacles, but author Renee Rosen does a fantastic job showing readers how Mattel founder Ruth Handler overcomes every challenge to bring her vision to life. Life at Mattel was filled with conflict between Ruth, her family, and her lead inventor, the genius who created amazing toys despite his life-long battles with mental health challenges and substance abuse. Let's Call Her Barbie is perfect for fans of Mad Men, the Barbie movie, or anyone interested in learning more about this iconic and controversial doll. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Berkley, and the author for this librarian preview copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored this fresh and fun look at the behind the scenes making of one of the most iconic dolls targeted at little girls. As Renee Rosen states in her notes about the book, this book was already in the works when the Barbie movie was announced, so they are in no way connected, but I believe that if you have questions about Barbie's history after watching the Barbie movie (or if you are a huge fan of Barbie in general), then this book is a must read book for you! I have read a few of Renee Rosen's other historical fiction novels, but I think this one very well may be my favorite. Renee Rosen knows how to write captivating historical fiction novels, so if you are a big fan of historical fiction like I am, I highly recommend this book, and Renee Rosen's books in general!

Many thanks again to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc of this book!

What a blast from the past!! I was enthralled as I read Let's Call Her Barbie. I had no idea how much went into designing the doll I loved dearly when I was a child. It was fascinating to read about Ruth Handler and the lengthy battles she waged as she held on to her dream to get Barbie onto store shelves.

This book was very slow at first, and I had to start reading it on my phone, which didn’t really encourage me to keep picking it up. But then I got a Kindle, and that was much better! Also, at around the 40% mark, things started picking up, and I really did enjoy the Mattel universe that Rosen created/was inspired by. While this book is a novel, it felt like nonfiction sometimes. So I think people who struggle with reading nonfiction might actually really enjoy this! A story inspired by mostly real-life people. Now I want to watch the movie again (for what seems like the thousandth time already) after finishing this book.

Ruth Handler is my hero!
Ruth wasn't sitting on her butt reading about successful women who didn't take any crap (hi, that's me) - she was that woman. She shattered ceilings and created something so special and legendary.

I loved this book in every way. I loved the humor, I loved Ruth, I loved learning Barbie's story. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

An interesting view into the inner workings of Mattel Toys and the wonderful world of Barbie.

As a fan of Renee Rosen's books I was looking forward to reading Let's Call Her Barbie.

As with all of her books, the characters are vibrant, contained many emotions and help the exceptional quality of realism.

The store line was interesting and the ups and downs of creating a toy were interesting.

As with all of her books, you can tell a vast amount of research was done to complete this novel.

This book was magical! It was so fun to read about the history of Barbie and all the real-life people who made Barbie come to life.

This was a completely fascinating portrait of a woman in business and the hurdles she faced along with the changing culture of the times. After the buyers turned away from the Barbie Doll at Toy Fair, for example, citing that she was 'too sexy,' the ads on TV appealed to girls at home who begged their mothers to buy them the dolls! The rest is history.

I enjoyed this once it got going, but the start was rather slow. The very short chapters and third person present tense POV gave this a fast paced feel but also made it jumpy and less immersive. I think Jack Ryan’s story was the most compelling and sensationalist, I’d read a biography about him, but the rest was very business focussed and didn’t really dive deeply into Ruth Handler and who she was as a person.
I could see this adapted into a Netflix series though and I think it would be a great format for that as it was very episodic and cinematic. Also the descriptions of all the design elements and setting was vivid enough that it played as a tv show in my head.

This is a great read for any Barbie fans who want more history on the brand and its creators but don’t like reading non fiction.

Let’s Call Her Barbie is an entertaining and thought-provoking read, offering a fresh take on identity, societal expectations, and the pressures of perfection. The characters are vibrant and relatable, especially the protagonist, who navigates both humorous and serious moments with grace. The plot keeps readers engaged with its mix of wit and emotional depth, though at times it could feel a bit predictable. Still, the story’s themes of self-discovery and breaking free from stereotypes are handled well. Overall, it’s a smart, fun novel with just the right balance of heart and humor, making it an enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the Digital ARC.

I couldn't put this down. As a forever Mattel AND Barbie fan, a background told through narrative was so engrossing and had me hooked. Jack makes me sooooo sad, and his relationship with Ruth breaks my heart. That being said, this is one of my fav reads of the year.

So grateful to Berkley and #berkleybesties for an early digital copy of Let’s Call Her Barbie. I was thrilled to read this before its January release!

Growing up, I adored my Barbies. I had a bag or two full of them. Clothing, accessories, shoes, play sets …I also remember my mom sharing her Barbies with me. She had the original one-chevron swimsuit and all.

“Ruth Handler is Mattel.” She is also the woman that imagined and helped create THE doll that showed girls that they could aspire to be anything (and with great clothing and accessories:)) Rosen weaved together the work and personal lives of Ruth, Jack Ryan and other Barbie creators into a fascinating and nostalgic novel. 💕

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Books for letting me have an early look at this fascinating historical fiction detailing the creation of and the inspiration behind everyones most beloved doll. We get to look behind the scenes with Ruth Handler, creator of Barbie, her husband Elliott and the entire design team as they struggle to bring Ruth's vision to life. Its a compelling read that bogs down a bit in the middle but remains so fascinating due to the period detail and the compelling portrayal of Ruth Handler, a corporate executive and entrepeneur at a time when women just didn't do those things. Hearing Ruth's aspirations for Barbie and her desire to give little girls something else to aspire to aside from being a wife and mother made me admire Barbie all the more and respect her creator for overcoming so many roadblocks and prejudices. The author is not always kind to Ruth or the Barbie team. This is no whitewash of events but rather an examination of the emergence of a cultural phenomenon created by a group of flawed and dedicated individuals. It's a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed.