Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Set during the iconic 1939 New York World's Fair, two intrepid young women--an aspiring journalist and a down-on-her-luck actress--form an unlikely friendship as they navigate a world of endless possibility, confront adversity, and find out what they are truly made of during the glorious summer of spectacle and opportunity...
"An ode to female friendship that pulses with momentum and left me breathless." --Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls
"A remarkable novel about the challenges women face and the courage they must summon in order to lead the lives they deserve." --Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Two-Family House
Vivi Holden is closer than she's ever been to living her dream as a lead actress in sun-dappled L.A., but an unfair turn of events sends her back to New York, a place she worked so hard to escape from. She has one last chance to get back to Hollywood--by performing well as the star of the heralded Aquacade synchronized swimming spectacular at the World's Fair. Everything seems to be working against her, but her summer in New York will lead to her biggest opportunity to find her own way, on her own terms...
Maxine Roth wants nothing more than to be a serious journalist at the iconic New York Times, but her professor has other plans. Instead, he's assigned her to the pop-up publication covering the World's Fair--and even then, her big ideas are continually overlooked by her male counterparts. Max didn't work this hard to be the only--and an unheard one at that--woman in the room.
When Max and Vivi's worlds collide, they forge an enduring friendship. One that shows them to be the daring, bold women they are, and one that teaches them to never stop holding on to what matters most, in the most meaningful summer of their lives.
Synopsis
Set during the iconic 1939 New York World's Fair, Susie Orman Schnall's We Came Here to Shine features two intrepid young women--an aspiring journalist and a down-on-her-luck actress--form an unlikely friendship as they navigate a world of endless possibility, confront adversity, and find out what they are truly made of during the glorious summer of spectacle and opportunity...
"An ode to female friendship that pulses with momentum and left me breathless." --Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls
"A remarkable novel about the challenges women face and the courage they must summon in order to lead the lives they deserve." --Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Two-Family House
Vivi Holden is closer than she's ever been to living her dream as a lead actress in sun-dappled L.A., but an unfair turn of events sends her back to New York, a place she worked so hard to escape from. She has one last chance to get back to Hollywood--by performing well as the star of the heralded Aquacade synchronized swimming spectacular at the World's Fair. Everything seems to be working against her, but her summer in New York will lead to her biggest opportunity to find her own way, on her own terms...
Maxine Roth wants nothing more than to be a serious journalist at the iconic New York Times, but her professor has other plans. Instead, he's assigned her to the pop-up publication covering the World's Fair--and even then, her big ideas are continually overlooked by her male counterparts. Max didn't work this hard to be the only--and an unheard one at that--woman in the room.
When Max and Vivi's worlds collide, they forge an enduring friendship. One that shows them to be the daring, bold women they are, and one that teaches them to never stop holding on to what matters most, in the most meaningful summer of their lives.
Synopsis
At the iconic 1939 New York World's Fair, two ambitious young women--a down-on-her-luck actress and an aspiring journalist--form an unlikely friendship as they navigate a world of possibility and find out what they are truly made of during a glorious summer of spectacle and potential...
"An ode to female friendship that pulses with momentum and left me breathless." --Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls
"A remarkable novel about the challenges women face and the courage they must summon in order to lead the lives they deserve." --Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Two-Family House
Gorgeous Vivi is about to begin filming her first starring role in a Hollywood picture when the studio head ships her off to New York as a favor to a friend. She's assigned the leading role in the heralded Aquacade synchronized swimming spectacular at the World's Fair, a fate she believes will destroy her film career. If she performs well, she'll have another chance at stardom, but with everything working against her, will her summer lead to opportunity or failure?
Plucky Max dreams of becoming a serious journalist, but when her job at the New York Times doesn't pan out, she finds herself begrudgingly working for the daily paper of the World's Fair. As her ideas are continually overlooked by her male counterparts and her career prospects are put in jeopardy, Max must risk everything to change the course of her life.
When Max and Vivi's worlds collide, they forge an enduring friendship. One that teaches them to go after what matters most during the most meaningful summer of their lives.
Synopsis
Set at the iconic 1939 New York World's Fair, We Came Here to Shine is historical fiction featuring two bold and ambitious women who navigate a world of possibility and find out what they're truly made of during a glorious summer of spectacle and potential...
"An ode to female friendship that pulses with momentum and left me breathless." --Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls
"A remarkable novel about the challenges women face and the courage they must summon in order to lead the lives they deserve. --Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Two-Family House
Gorgeous Vivi is the star of the Aquacade synchronized swimming spectacular and plucky Max is a journalist for the fair's daily paper. Both are striving to make their way in a world where men try to control their actions and where secrets are closely kept. But when Vivi and Max become friends and their personal and professional prospects are put in jeopardy, they team up to help each other succeed and to realize their dreams during the most meaningful summer of their lives.
We Came Here to Shine is a story of ambition, friendship, and persistence with a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary NY World's Fair.