Nice story and reminded me of how things used to be, but just did not hold my interest The cover was very nice as well

Come Fly With Me is a fictionalized account of two women training and then becoming Pan American stewardesses in the early 1960s. The book sets the stage for their lives beforehand, then details their training, friendships and love lives. There is also “present day” section throughout and then the main character remembers her life in the past. There are real life events and activities peppered throughout. After reading the end notes, the author interviewed a number of women who were stewardesses for Pan Am and their true accounts add a nice texture. The training they endured really sounded interesting for the time.

Never having read any thing by this author before, I found the actual dialogue between characters to be a bit stilted and amateur. The tragedy that is touched on throughout, while ultimately a real event, never really caught me and seemed unnecessary for fictional characters. However the book itself was a pleasant read.

I enjoyed this book and found the story and characters to be real and believable. I particularly liked Joe and his pragmatic approach to Judy's marriage situation and how he went to bat for her with the Pan Am officials. It was clear something was going to happen to Beverly but I felt like her demise came and went rather quickly at the end of the book - maybe it was just because I was enjoying the story and didn't want it to end but the ending felt abrupt. Overall, an interesting glimpse into the stewardess life and how the industry has changed since the '60s.

I really enjoyed this novel, both in how it explored the challenges women faced, but also how the plot twisted and turned and came together at the end. I would definitely recommend this novel.

In 1962 Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell decide to interview for stewardess positions with Pan American Airlines. They are young women coming from very different backgrounds. Judy Goodman is married and lives in Red Lion, PA. She is an abused wife and wants and needs to get away from her husband. Beverly Caldwell comes from a wealthy background and lives in New York City. She is bored and discontent with the sameness of her life and the fact that her father wants her to marry a man she is not interested in. They are interviewed and are offered positions with Pan Am. Six weeks later after intense training in Miami, they graduate and start their careers. This book is about friendship, the kind of friendship that will last a lifetime. During their careers, they are not only eager to fly around the world with the airlines, they do. While they meet many passengers they are told not to mingle with them...but that is not easy.

The book is named after the song "Come Fly With Me" that was made popular by Frank Sinatra...quite suitable for this novel. The many descriptions of the landscapes they traveled to have me getting wander lust, especially Tahiti. Never have been there, I could only wish to go! The characters were well developed; the book was an easy read and very enjoyable. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story brings together the start of the jet set era, friendship and romance.

It made me feel that I was living in the early 60's.

An easy read with great characters and a wonderful story line.

It did make me realise that women were objectified in that era and unfortunately still are.

Come Fly with me is a compelling and emotional story of two Pan Am stewardesses from different backgrounds who embark on an adventure of travel, friendship and romance. Impeccable research and a strong sense of time and place, I loved the two female protagonists, their resilience in a world that was slowly changing. One of the best historical novels I have read this year.

Do you have varicose veins? Wear glasses? Weigh more than 130 pounds? Sorry—you would have been out of the running for a coveted stewardess position with Pan Am Airlines. One of my favorite novels of the past year, this book combines a compelling story, interesting facts, and lots of fun between its pages.

It’s the 1960s and Beverly desires something new. She is tired of living life as a society girl and doing what’s expected of her. Judy is running from a horrid marriage. And, by the way, marriage—or a former marriage—disqualifies candidates too.

Both women long to slap on the required Revlon lipstick color and explore the world with Pan Am. As readers rip through this tale of friendship and love, I promise they will hear Frank Sinatra crooning in the background!

Omg this book was one of the best books I have read this year, if I could give it more stars I would. The plot was great and believable it felt like a true story, it told the story of two Pan AM cabin crew in parallel, it was funny, sad, gripping and very moving. The description of the places felt so real you experienced being there yourself. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to another great book by this amazing author. Thank you

Fabulous novel about friends, family, freedom. Judy and Beverly are both running away from something but in doing so they find something else: resilience, grit, independence, connection, and a little bit of romance. My one tiny peeve is that the "PanAm pride" got a bit grating towards the end but this does not detract from a moving story.

In "Come Fly Away with Me," you'll be intoxicated by the allure of air travel during the jet age. Pan Am wasn't just transportation – flying with them was an event dripping with glamour and possibility. The novel transports us to an era when Pan Am stewardesses embodied both sophistication and liberation, their powder-blue uniforms and perfectly coiffed hair becoming symbols of mid-century modern elegance.

Through the intertwining stories of Beverly and Judy, we witness how Pan Am's strict requirements for its stewardesses – young, single, beautiful, educated – created an elite corps of women who became the face of luxury air travel. The airline's exacting standards, while problematic by today's measures, contributed to an aura of exclusivity that made flying Pan Am feel like joining an exclusive club at 35,000 feet.

The novel weaves together the personal liberation these women sought with the broader cultural context of the 1960s. Pan Am stewardesses were among the most traveled women in the world at a time when most women rarely left their hometowns. They served cocktails in the clouds, spoke multiple languages, and navigated international customs - with ease and grace. Their sophisticated image was carefully cultivated – from their white gloves to their ability to serve a perfect omelet – the detail revealed in this book shows the high standards set by jet-age glamour.

What makes this book particularly compelling is its exploration of the paradox these women lived: they were simultaneously symbols of female empowerment and objects of male fantasy. The author doesn't shy away from showing how Pan Am's stewardesses used this duality to their advantage, leveraging their positions to gain independence, travel the world, and escape societal constraints, all while working within a system commodifying their appearance and youth.

The epistolary elements scattered throughout the narrative add mystery and depth, culminating in a revelation that grounds these glamorous heights in stark emotional reality. This literary device effectively demonstrates how beneath the perfectly maintained exterior of Pan Am's golden age lay complex personal stories of ambition, escape, and reinvention.

For anyone fascinated by the romance of air travel's golden age, this novel is a first-class ticket to an era when flying was sexy, sophisticated, and full of promise (there isn't a screaming TSA agent, X-ray machine, cramped coach seat in sight). It reminds us of a time when Pan Am's stewardesses were more than service providers – they were ambassadors of the jet age, representing American glamour and sophistication across the globe. Through its compelling narrative and rich historical detail (seriously, this is a well researched novel), "Come Fly Away with Me" celebrates the allure of that era and the remarkable women who helped define it.

SPECTACULAR!!

I read this spectacular book in less than 24 hours! You should add it to the top of your TBR List immediately! It is a fabulous story of PanAm stewardesses in the 60’s. DiMaio tells a beautiful, heartfelt tale of two women from very different worlds who meet when they first interview to be accepted into Stewardess training. Each is running from something, and they form a friendship for ages. These two make a pact to visit all the places in Frank Sinatra’s song, “Come Fly With Me,” and immediately start developing a plan. As their careers take off, so do their personal lives, and they find the happiness they never dreamed possible.

While reading this book, DiMaio’s writing impressed me. She made me think of the blessings of friendships I have and how much I cherish those relationships. I also thought of the loss of one of my dearest friends and the void I feel in my life without her. Her friendship will forever influence my life (and the lives of the thousands of others she influenced). Come Fly With Me is not to be missed!

Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley gave me a complimentary copy of this book. However, my opinions are entirely my own and uninfluenced.

Come Fly with Me was amazing! I fell in love with both of the female lead characters and was swept away to the 1960's Pan Am era! This story was hard to put down and gave me all the feels while reading. I cannot recommend this romantic, nostalgic, historical fiction enough to any reader! Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC opportunity.

Camille Di Maio at her best! It's 1962 and Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell long to spread their wings. Hailing from two different worlds, the women enlist in the Pan Am stewardess program, escaping the confines of their past. Up in the sky, the women become fast friends, sharing heartache and secrets, challenges and love.

Di Maio tells a well-crafted and expertly researched story of courage and enduring friendship. She weaves the POVs and jumps from past to present effortlessly while capturing the golden era of Pan Am. I've never read a Di Maio novel without shedding some tears knowing I've just taken a beautiful journey with characters I won't soon forget.

Make sure to read the Authors Note!

Judy had to find a way out. The emotional and physical abuse in her small town horrible marriage has pushed her over the edge. In 1962 it was nearly impossible for a woman to do anything on her own. Where would she go and how would she survive? With the help of her neighbor/friend she devises a plan. Judy applies to become a Pan American stewardess. She fits the very specific requirements, secretly sends in the application and waits. Beverly has everything a girl could ever dream of. She lives in her magnificent family home in NYC, attends teas and balls wearing only the finest ensembles and has a very fitting suitor waiting to pop the question. Although Judy and Beverly have very different reasons for desperately wanting this opportunity with Pan Am, their bags are packed and they are ready to go on this once in a lifetime journey. As only 1 in 50 applicants have a chance to wear the lipstick and tailored uniform, they do everything they can to pass the many tests given. Focusing on their hearts desire for the first time in their lives encourages the drive they need to be selected. An unlikely friendship blossoms as the two very different women travel the world and find their wings to fly. Romance, intrigue, and suspense, this novel is your ticket to a fascinating bygone era.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

In 1962, the Jet Set era, only Fashion Models and Movie Stars garnered more notoriety than a Pan Am stewardess.

Only 1 in 50 applicants would be offered the opportunity to attend training, and 30% of those young women would not last until graduation.

Those chosen could not wear contact lenses or glasses, and must be willing to cut their hair to the approved hairstyle and wear Revlon Persian Melon lipstick and a light coating of blue eyeshadow to match the coveted signature royal blue uniform with the pill box hats. Weight checks would also be conducted throughout training and the 6 month probationary period.

Since you couldn’t be married, over be over age of 35, (until that changed in the early 1970’s) the average career span was 18 months-but it was a glamorous lifestyle that many envied but few could obtain.

“Come Fly With Me” is a story named after the Frank Sinatra classic, based on the history of this ICONIC airline, which follows the story of TWO hopeful young women as they navigate the rigorous training and first year of flying-but it is also about their ENDURING friendship.

Judy Goodman was running away from an abusive marriage in a small town, so she will have to lie about being “SINGLE” when she applies for the position.

Beverly Caldwell grew up in New York society and was expected to marry a suitor from another respectable family rather than pursue a future of her own making.

The story unfolds from their alternating POV’s in the PAST, and from an unnamed narrator in the PRESENT from Mo’orea, French Polynesia.

As a career flight attendant myself, this story brought back fond memories, and some “not so fond” such as my days in training. (The author only touched on the emergency drills a flight attendant is trained on!) When I was hired in the 80’s, by another major airline, we still had to weigh in, and be willing to cut our hair and don the preferred RED lipstick 💄 of the times. And, heels 👠 are still required to this day.

Although it might help if you are interested in this career or in the airline industry, or if you enjoyed the nostalgia of the 2011 ABC TV show, Pan Am-EVERY reader will be able to relate to Judy and Beverly’s LOYAL and unwavering friendship.

The ending brought tears to my eyes!
Days later-I am still thinking about it!

DO READ the Author’s note in its entirety when you finish! Heartbreaking 💔

This title will be available on February 18, 2025.

Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

A book set in the 1960s about two newly-minted PanAm stewardesses who need a change in their lives.

One was Judy Goodman, a nice little wife from Pennsylvania with a not-so-nice husband. The other was Beverly Caldwell, a daughter of a wealthy Wall Street workaholic father and an emotionally detached mother. They both run to PanAm and it indeed changes their lives.

The info about PanAm was so fascinating, and it really was what drew me to the book. I loved imaging the ladies in their blue dresses and heels, and I loved reading about the many places they visited, especially the Asian route! Mr. Chan was probably one of my favorite characters.

I loved how this book really encapsulated how steadfast the stewardesses were. To themselves, to the people they loved, and to the airline they represented. Judy and Beverly thought of each other like sisters and it made it very heartwarming to read about their friendship.

(Light spoilers ahead)

Speaking of friendships: I loved how they were represented in this book. At every turn, the women had someone cheering them on. Early in the book, Judy had Ronelle and I loved that for her. Someone who helped her leave a life threatening situation. Later on, when Beverly met the two girls in Oahu, they immediately welcomed her in with no judgment. Even their relationships with Joe and Mark were so lovely and heartwarming.

(Heavy spoilers ahead)

The reveal that it was Judy in present day Mo'orea, and that Beverly died young was gutting. The last POV of Beverly had me sobbing. It was incredible.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Although I have slightly rounded up the score, the book's beginning and end really solidified my impressions of this book.

Di Maio's book only features a small range of characters, making it a somewhat intimate story. We have two narrators, Beverly and Judy, and one of the women at a later age (no spoiler, it's the first chapter). Years ago, I read a book about the life of a Pan Am steward that exemplified the excitement of going into the air post-war for a gold dust job. You had to be intelligent, skinny, pretty, etc.

Okay, so let's refer to this book. We have Judy, leaving behind an abusive marriage and Beverly, a 'poor little rich girl' ready to strikeout. They join a cohort and become BFFs as they traverse the world together. I wondered what type of book this would have been, but it amounts to historical fiction and is somewhat of a thriller.

I almost read this on holiday but ran out of time. This is the ideal book for a post-holiday read. I enjoyed some of the descriptions of these tropical places. I was also intrigued by the fact that where Caesar was assassinated is now a restaurant.

Its audience is women who like romance, hence why it almost went into 3-star territory, but all of the details about flying, life in '62, and the sense of friendship sing through the novel. I'd read another of her books.

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell have different reasons for putting continents and oceans between themselves and their disparate pasts, but they have the same desire—to earn a coveted position on an elite team of stewardesses for Pan American Airlines. For Judy, running away from an oppressive marriage in small-town Pennsylvania is a risk she must take. And for Beverly, leaving behind the gilded cage of New York society will allow her to pursue a future of her own making.

Embracing the culture, etiquette, and strict rules of a thrilling and unpredictable new world above the clouds, Judy and Beverly are bound for faraway destinations and opportunities that other women dare only to dream about. But as they build a deep friendship, encounter love and danger, and discover what’s truly important, Judy and Beverly must also confront the secrets that could change their lives all over again—and forever.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

Pack your bags for this Pan Am flight back to the early 1960’s where you will have a five star experience from start to finish. What a fabulous story and trip down memory lane!

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell are both young women who are trying to escape their current family situations by joining the glamorous ranks of being a Pan Am stewardess. It’s 1962 when career choices for women outside the home were limited to becoming nurses, teachers or secretaries. With the advent of The Golden Age of Air Travel, the life of a stewardess offered travel to exotic locales, an opportunity to meet eligible men and a chance to join a sisterhood of like minded women. As our two protagonists form a deep friendship, their secrets, fears, hopes and dreams for the future are revealed as they navigate the skies, travel the world and face their personal demons that set them in motion.

As a teen in the 60’s who lived six miles from Idlewild Airport (now known as JFK), the airport was our playground as we ran through the tunnels in the Pan Am and TWA terminals and laid on the ground watching planes fly overhead. With vivid images of the beautiful stewardesses, I can remember as we talked about all the faraway places these women traveled to and that we hoped to visit someday. Written with impeccable research about this time in aviation, Ms. Di Maio takes the reader on a glorious trip through the friendship and lives of these women. Be sure to read the Author Notes AFTER you’ve read the story.

Thank you, thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Camille Di Maio for providing this grateful reader with a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.