I very much appreciated the escapism this book had to offer. There is no question that locations of San Francisco, Hawaii, Paris and Polynesia are very appealing given my current reality. Nonetheless, this is not a purely escapist novel. This is a work of historical fiction taking place during the early 1960s. Judy and Beverly become stewardesses with Pan Am, which was much more glamorous then then it is now. Judy does so to escape an abusive marriage and Beverly to escape her life, which is certainly better than Judy's but is not what she wants.
There is glamor and I would have liked even more of the life of a stewardess in that time period. There are references to the lives of women and problems that they had, which I wish had been explored a bit more. However, the author built up great suspension around Judy's escape from her husband and the help that she got from a friend back home, a black woman, and her husband and the reader just knows that something is going to happen.
Overall, an enjoyable novel. This is my first of this author's books and I will definitely look for her other ones.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with this advanced readers copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was the perfect book to read while I was travelling from the US to the EU. It takes me one domestic flight, one over the Atlantic, and then one more within the EU. Three flights and four airports later I am safely with my new grandbaby. All those people who support getting us from one city to another by plane have my gratitude, especially the folks who have to stand out on the runways in the winter weather. I am also guessing that the stewardesses from those early days especially find it interested to see their modern counterparts.

I really appreciated the fact that Camille Di Maio purposefully kept this from being a "mattress romp." She focuses on the early 1960's when the Pan Am stewardesses were the cream of the crop and held to very high standards. Also included is the rescue work the airline did in the aftermath of Vietnam.

Judy and Beverly come from very different backgrounds, but both are captured by the sense of adventure and the opportunities to travel the world with Pan Am. They were inspired by Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" album and made a wish list of all the places they wanted to visit.
This is a bittersweet story, but the friendship between the two main characters shines like the sun. I loved visiting exotic locations like Honolulu, Hong Kong, and more along with them.

If you love travel, adventure, and fast friends in your historical fic; give this one a try! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

So well researched and written, this pulled me in right away and kept my interest. I loved Judy and Beverly and reading about their fledgling friendship and adventures.

The story was engaging and I read this over a few days, eager to learn what would happen. I didn’t love the end, it felt a little too trite. But overall, this one was a winner.

This was my second time reading Ms Di Maio’s work, and I’ve enjoyed both books that I’ve read very much. I absolutely look forward to reading more.



Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

Perfect Escapism. Even as certain elements of this book are damn near torn from the headlines of the past several weeks - for the record, *long* after Di Maio had completed writing this book, as I've had it myself for nearly four months already - this book really is pure, damn near perfect, escapism. For most people. For those in at least one sadly far too common situation - one my own grandmother experienced during the period detailed in this book - it could potentially be triggering. Yet even in this, Di Maio provides a solid set of escapism, and even in this, there is ultimately purpose in the story beyond "you can survive".

Instead, the vast majority of this tale focuses primarily on one particular lady and the situations she finds herself in during the early 1960s as she attempts a career as a Pan Am stewardess. We see in detail the exacting standards of the position and the more-intense-than-one-may-realize training they underwent. We see the (then) exotic locales that are still wildly different than what most Americans today are accustomed to - and yet those locations have also been increasingly "Americanized" and generally commercialized over the ensuing decades, to the point that this book really hits the nostalgic appeal of the locations in the eras portrayed and, as the text takes place nearly entirely in the early 1960s, largely glosses over all that they have become.

Our other primary narrator from this period is another view of the trials women went through in this period, and here Di Maio does a particularly superb job of showing that looks can indeed be deceiving, and sometimes one must actively seek out the real truth in matters.

Our final perspective - yes, this is technically multi-perspective, but there really are just the three - is a modern day person looking back on the halcyon days portrayed in the rest of the story. It is through her eyes that we see both all that was, story wise, and... even a glimpse of Di Maio herself, as she notes in the Author Note. (No, not even spoiling that here, although that particular tale sounds pretty fucking awesome. :) )

Ultimately this is one of those books that does a truly phenomenal job of providing maximal escapism through exotic travel in a long-gone era... and it is one that is going to tug your heart strings quite a bit at times, both making your heart race from a variety of situations and in making the room quite dusty indeed at points.

For those who may have worried where Di Maio was or if she was coming back at all or if she could come back and stay just as good as she once was, with her last major release being almost exactly three years to the day before the publication date of this book... I'll tell you now: I've now read over half of Di Maio's major releases, first encountering her with 2019's The Beautiful Strangers, and at least of the books I've read from her... this may well be the best one yet.

Very much recommended.

Judy and Beverly meet in Pan Am stewardess training school and even though they come from vastly different worlds, they become fast and close friends. Judy is running away from an abusive marriage and Beverly is running from an oppressive high society life with a controlling father. Through the program they learn the strict Pan Am rules, meet men and go on to live their dream of flying with Pan Am. However, the past always returns and the women have to protect each other.

This was interesting, informative and fun to read. It takes place in the 60s when Pan Am only flew internationally and only had female stewardesses. The criteria and rules were strict and only a few made it through the program. I really enjoyed learning about this interesting time in plane travel as well as getting to know each of these women and their backstory. I half and halfed this one on audiobook and thought the multiple narrators from the audiobook enhanced the experience. Since this was a story and setting I hadn't really read about before, as a historical fiction reader I appreciated it, this is definitely a good one if you are a fan of historical fiction!

Thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for the ARC to review

This amazing book tells the story of two incredible women, from very different backgrounds, as they begin their adventures as stewardesses for Pan Am airlines back in 1962, with some chapters in the present day. Both Judy and Beverly had very different reasons for seeking independence and adventure traveling the world. Camille Di Maio truly made their stories come alive as they went through the hiring process and their training. The process was daunting as only one in fifty applicants would be hired, and they would have to be willing to wear the makeup and hairstyles required, and keep their weight and figures within a set limit. I loved how strong they both were and the friendship that developed between Beverly and Judy. They loved amazing, strong, heartbreaking lives and every moment had me enthralled. I will admit that the book had me crying in a few spots, so be ready. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong, brave, empathetic characters, you definitely need to read this book!

A fun read about Beverly and Judy, two women from very different backgrounds who find their future as stewardesses for Pan Am. This has all the atmospheric feels of the 1960s - both good and bad- as well as dips into interesting locales. At its heart however this is a story about women coming into their own, finding friendship and their own future. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

This is the fourth of Di Maio’s books I’ve read, and although I haven’t read everything she’s written, I think I’m going to need to start getting into her back list, because this one… yeah, you can already tell, I just loved it. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s actually far more romance in this book than I’m usually used to, but this is one of the most squeaky-clean of romance novels you’ll ever find. Plus, while there is a bit of angst there or there, it is nicely underplayed. Okay, some people might call it a bit saccharine, but I found it more naturally sweet (good thing, since I’m allergic to artificial sweeteners). We’re talking about women in the early 1960s, and while the sexual revolution and women’s movements were already active, most adult women weren’t fully involved yet, and even at their heights, some stayed as prudish and Victorian as their mothers had prayed they would. Personally, I prefer to read books that don’t have any graphic love making, even though I grew up during the far more progressive 70s.

So, gentle romance aside, what Di Maio has given us is a truly lovely portrait of friendship. Beverly and Judy are, of course, very different types of women, and yet, we all know that when groups of people are brought together out of chance, attachments will develop. What always makes me smile is those relationships often have little or nothing to do with class, or even physical attributes, but rather personalities. When we make friends, it is because we find things in that other person that are either so different from us, or so similar to us, that we feel an automatic attraction. Di Maio builds the friendship between Beverly and Judy so carefully, and yet so swiftly, that we realize that there are enough differences between them to admire in each other, while also having enough similarities to make them practically two halves of one whole.

The only thing that I would have liked different for this book is for there to be more about the flying itself. Yes, I know, they go practically all over the world, and we do get some really lovely descriptions of some of the places where they had layovers, many of them very exotic. But the flights themselves seemed to be a bit on the sparse side. Even so, Di Maio filled this book with the two romances and the many spots where they landed, so that this became a less important niggle than I thought it would be. I was, however, fascinated at just how much these women had to learn, and the many subjects in which they required proficiency. To be honest, I have a cousin who is a flight attendant, and I well know just how smart she is, so that wasn’t a surprise, but it was very interesting to find out just how vast their knowledge needed to be, which was much more than I had imagined.

Obviously, I really enjoyed this book, and it reminded me that it’s been a while since I traveled abroad, and how much I am looking forward to my next trip. I understand from the author’s notes that Di Maio doesn’t like the flying itself, only the destinations – which is exactly like me. I swear, if I could get to places just by train or on my own steam by car, I would opt for that every time! When a book not only makes me long to do what the characters are doing, and also makes me cry, that’s what earns it a full five out of five stars from me. So, I’m very warmly recommending you come on board with this novel (despite, or maybe because of the romance).

This was a book I could not put down until I was finished, so make sure you have the time and a place where you will not get distracted. Camille has some romance, a little mystery and a unique story to tell that captures your attention from cover to cover.

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell come from two very different backgrounds, but both are trying to do the same thing, be hired as a stewardess for Pan Am Airlines and see the world in the 1960s

Judy was trying to find a way to escape her abusive husband so when she saw the ad for it, she knew it was the best option for her. This means she has to lie on her application for Pan American Airlines but she is willing to take the chance, she never imagined where it would lead her and the friends she would make along the way.

Beverly Caldwell grew up in the high society of New York and her family had expectations. She did not want anything to do with them, so becoming a Pan Am stewardess was the perfect answer. When she met Judy, Beverly knew that it was a friendship made in heaven and they would be together no matter what. Even if someone's life was at risk.

Come Fly With Me, by Camille DiMaio, is a trip back in time to the early 1960's when air travel was gaining traction. The author takes us back to those early flight attendants (known as stewardesses) who had to look like models, serve meals, fend off groping passengers, and never, ever offend anyone. I enjoyed the trip back in time to a cultural past that I barely remember. The story focuses on two young women who become friends during training and their experiences working for the airline and their romances. I really loved the cultural history, but the romantic entanglements seemed to take over the third of the book. I like romance, but it seemed to supplant the best aspects of this particular novel. I rated the book 3.5 and rounded up. Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publishers for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing for this arc.

The main focus of the book is the friendship that develops between the two as they train in the sweltering heat of Miami. Truths are not spilled immediately but each senses more behind the abbreviated stories the other tells.

Another thing the story incorporates is the beginning of women standing up for themselves and looking for something beyond getting married. Being a stewardess, and especially an envied Pan Am stewardess, added another job to the meager list that women could do then. Plus unlike being a secretary, being able to fly around the world was chic.

The attention to historical detail is appreciated and I learned a bit about what the demands of the job, and Pan Am’s attention to perfection, involved. Passengers then still viewed jet trips across the ocean as a luxury and something to be dressed up for and enjoyed rather than endured.

However, nothing except stories about Judy and Beverly in the air pushing drink carts wasn’t going to fill a book. I admit to being a bit disappointed that romances for both Beverly and Judy begin to take over the narrative by the halfway point. Plus both love interests are just a little bit too perfect. Love is grand, don’t get me wrong, but where did my independent women story go and no, using reverse lampshade to acknowledge this didn’t help.

When the present day bits began to appear, at first there was no hint about which FMC is relating them. I paid attention to details and amused myself by trying to figure out which person this is. Then a name is mentioned and details about what will happen are sprinkled in. I enjoyed the book but it is also not quite what I thought I would get. B-

Interesting historical women’s fiction about the early days of Pan Am flight attendants.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a wonderful book about friendship. Judy had to escape a marriage of abuse and Beverly escaped a life of luxury. The two girls formed a friendship that was unbreakable. Everyone should have one like they did. The life of a PanAm stew is depicted in real terms. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio took me back to 1962 when many young women were eager to become Pan Am stewardesses. The stewardesses were considered beautiful and glamorous. I could tell that the author did her research. The airlines had strict requirements for stewardesses that included their weight, behavior, hairstyle, color of lipstick, and the type of shoes they could wear while on duty. I liked the details about the training that the women had before they took to the skies. I would have liked more information about the work the women did on their flights and other details in the second half of the book. The story is told from Judy and Beverly’s point of view. The two women come from different backgrounds. Despite their differences, they become good friends. The pair grew from the choices they made and their experiences. I wanted the story to portray the ladies as strong, independent women. I was disappointed when the focus switched to romance, but it is accurate. Many women became a stewardess in order to snag a husband (hopefully, a successful one). I like how Frank Sinatra’s song “Come Fly with Me” influenced one of the women to become a stewardess and that the song was referenced throughout the story. I knew what was going to happen at the end based on hints throughout the story. It was emotional. It is based on a real life incident (read the author’s note at the end of the book). Come Fly with Me was an enjoyable story with a touching ending.

Having been intrigued by the Pan Am glamourous era in the 1960s Come Fly With Me was on my radar to read this year and did not disappoint. Two very different young women, Judy and Beverly, both desperately want to become Pan Am stewardesses, who are regarded as beautiful, smart, and the best of the best. While they have different reasons, the deep and desperate need to escape their current lives is what drives them both. Judy-a dangerous marriage. Beverly-escape her father's control and carve an independent path. Through interviews, grueling training and the first flights around the world, readers meet a strong cast of characters among the backdrop of exotic locations, peppered with the culture of the 60s. From the beginning in present day, someone is narrating a farewell (and it's not clear who is narrating for some time) that leads to alternating chapters featuring Beverly and Judy. and their Pan Am experiences. It ultimately leads up to the life-changing event for the main characters and while emotional and difficult, Camille Di Maio tells it masterfully. This is a wonderful storyline, well-researched and one that will stay with you after finishing the last chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you Lake Union Publishing and @netgalley for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
“It’s 1962, the dawn of the jet-set era. Hope takes flight for two Pan Am stewardesses navigating an adventurous new life in a novel about love, friendship, and escape.”
When I received a widget for this book on NetGalley, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I was so intrigued by a historical fiction novel about Pam Am stewardesses in the early 1960s when Pam Am epitomized the luxury and glamour of intercontinental travel, and the stewardesses were considered the most glamourous, having to fit specific physical and lifestyle requirements.
Judy and Beverly are two young stewardesses from different walks of life who become fast friends during Pan Am training. I love the different backgrounds the author gives them and how their stories stay with them throughout the novel. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Pam Am training and all the travel they got to do as stewardesses.
It’s clear from the present-day snippets that there’s something about their time as stewardesses that we don’t yet know. I love how the author builds towards it, keeping the reader in the dark for a while and dropping hints along the way.
Finally, if you think it’s just a coincidence that the title of this book is also the title of one of Frank Sinatra’s most recognizable songs, it’s not! It’s clear through the dialogue that his album helped inspire a whole generation to travel. I love this connection to the time period.
This was my first book by Camille Di Maio and I look forward to checking out her other books!
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

I have long been fascinated by the Golden Age of Air Travel and have read a few books, both fiction and nonfiction, about this era. This book was the perfect combination of the two. While I am far from an expert on aviation history or the history of flight attendants, I could tell that a lot of research went into this book and the two main characters were just different enough to get two distinct points of view regarding this era. Their friendship made the book flow effortlessly and their romantic relationships added to their character development and the story overall. One note that I caught in the audio that others might not and may not bother them but it bothered me: adobo is spelled correctly but is pronounced incorrectly several times. Otherwise, both the book and the audio were well done and I loved everything else about this.

3.5 ⭐️ the friendship of beverly and jude is what i strive for in life. being in aviation now, it’s fun to go back to its “glory” days. def slower paced and different from what i usually read

4.5⭐ rounded up

Meet two young women choosing to slip the bonds of their respective lives for very personal reasons by applying to be stewardesses for Pan Am in the early 1960s. The lure of travel and adventure captured their hearts. Di Maio does an exceptional job of not only nailing the time period, but how different the mores and choices were. Both Beverly and Judy find themselves and their lives changed through the experience and their friendship as the bedrock of the change. Wonderful characters and descriptions of lovely places.

This was an unexpected delight. I've not read anything about being a stewardess before and this was so good and so well researched. You could tell that a lot of love went into writing this novel. It was a book that will stay with me a good while.

Two women who could not be more different. Both wanting to escape their lives. Their pasts. One from an abusive tyrant of a husband. The other from her overbearing father.

Judy was married to man who loved to put his hands on her. He didn't want her to have any friends or family. Not even children. As that would take away from him. Her life was to revolve completely around him and what he wanted out of the marriage. She had to give up all of her hopes and dreams. He was a smooth talker when wooing her. He captured her heart completely and then changed after they married...

Beverly came from wealth. She never lacked for anything. Other than the love she craved from her parents. It was like she was an accessory for them rather than their child. At times her mother could be warm but for the most part she just seemed to ignore her daughter. Her father had her life all planned out. Get married to a rich man and let them combine power. Beverly had other ideas.

Both young women wanted to become Pan Am Stewardesses. Each for very different reasons. They become the very best of friends in their journey. Claiming to be sisters even though they were not related. They were both only children. Both wanted to find a better kind of life. One with happiness and real love.

This book gave me so many good feels. A little bit of tears too. Ok a lot of tears at one point. Deep love that would last a lifetime. I laughed and cried. I felt such hope for these two young women. They were the perfect match. They rooted each other on no matter what lay ahead. They complimented each other. They both found love and happiness. Then tragedy hit. One was lost...

This story is told from each ladies point of view. You get to know them well. This book was so good. So emotional in every way. I learned a lot about being a Stewardess for Pan America in the sixties. The author did a great job of researching and letting you know in her Author's Notes at the end. Don't miss that part.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, for this ARC.