This book flipped between two characters and times and made the transitions well. I enjoyed the historical basis for this novel and time period.

This is the story of two girls in two different eras. In 1949, Charlotte Friedman, is trying to establish a career, in a very male oriented world. She enters The Subway Girls contest, in which a girl was chosen every month to become poster girl, publicizing the subway. This was one good way girls could catapult their careers into overdrive, which Charlotte’s life does after the contest. Seventy years later, Olive, living her dream job in advertising, seizes upon the Subway Girls contest history to pitch an advertising campaign idea to the New York Subway Authority, entwining her 2018 story with Charlotte’s 1949 story.

There are definite parallels in the two stories. Charlotte is struggling to assert herself as a woman in a world where women were expected to be content to remain stay-at-home housewives and mothers. Olive is also struggling to establish herself in a male dominated advertising career field, while attempting to make her life more than just her career. Both characters are full of good old- fashioned wit and are bold enough to use it to their advantage. I enjoyed seeing the parallel of two strong-willed women, striving to make the best of their seemingly hopeless situations. I found the story a bit predictable, but nevertheless still immensely entertaining and enjoyable. I have not read anything else by the author but will look out for her books, after reading this one. This one will appeal to a reader who enjoys a solid, strong female character who is not afraid to face the many, often seemingly unsurmountable obstacles she faces on a daily basis, as she ploughs ahead with her life. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

The title and cover of this book peaked my interest right away--I am a sucker for historical fiction and "parallel" story lines. This book did not disappoint! I loved learning about the "Miss Subways" campaign of the mid 1900s (spent some time googling it later), and one of the main characters' experience as a young, single (and Jewish) woman who wanted a career, not a family.
Without spoiling anything, I will say that this novel was fairly predictable, but had some pleasant (and unpleasant) surprised that I very much enjoyed. There are a couple of plot points that I wish were developed further, but I didn't have any burning questions left unanswered. Once I started, I had to finish this book that very day!

I really liked the intersection of the present and the past story lines as well as the similarities and differences between the challenges of the women in the present and past. This was an interesting and quick read for me.

This was a delightful, historical novel!

The book is told in 2 time lines, one in 1949 & the other in 2018. Two young women both trying to make a start in a career that is mostly male oriented. It was interesting to see the changes over the years in the advertising industry & how some things still have a long way to go.

At some point the story comes together in 2018 & over the course of the story we learn a little back story of the few of the characters.

I had never heard of the ad campaign called The Subways Girls, what an interesting part of history.

Thank you for the advanced copy from Net Galley & St Martin's Griffin....I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

What can i say.. this was a quick read. It was pleasant and full of opportunities.

This book is the story of Olivia and Charlotte living in New York decades apart but somehow their paths cross. They are both strong women who need to make decisions regarding their work, life and dreams. Even though they are in different times, their struggles are similar.

There is nothing corny or unrealistic about this story. It is a lighthearted book with a touch of history.

I am a sucker for romantic comedies but I usually prefer them in the theater. This book is an exception to that rule. It was exactly what I needed this weekend! I was interested in the story from the beginning but at first I felt the banter was a bit trite. As I kept reading though I became more and more captured by the story and the characters. Just to be clear, this is a beach read-but it’s a good one. If you like romantic comedies like You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle, I am pretty confident you’ll enjoy this book. I’m heading over to my search bar in Goodreads right now to check out this authors other books! I could use another lighthearted enjoyable read.

The lives and career ambitions of two young women — one in 1949 and one in 2018 — intersect in this timely novel that seeks to show how much and how little has changed for women over a span of almost seventy years.

From 1941 to 1976, the New York City subway system held a beauty contest called Miss Subways. Placards featuring the individual winners adorned the subway trains, each young woman getting her fleeting moment of glamor and fame for a month. For Charlotte in 1949, the contest offered an escape from her father's heavy-handed control of her future, as well as a possible break into the male world of advertising as a career. In 2018, Olivia faces cutthroat male co-workers in her New York City advertising firm as she makes a last-ditch effort to land an important contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

We follow each young woman in her own era in alternating chapters. Although there are a few surprises, I found much of it predictable and some of the coincidences a bit much. I felt like Olivia made some poor choices for a supposedly savvy businesswoman, and the conclusion was less than satisfying. Still, it is an interesting read for the historical aspects and a look at life in NYC, both post-World War II and present day.

I never took to New York like most people do (granted I was only there for two years). Despite that fact, it would be silly to refute the point that it is a very unique place and has enough colours to paint the most vivid picture in terms of stories. This book was one such engaging story. The story has one foot in the past, 1949 to be precise and another in 2018. Each tale is told by a single minded woman of the trials in her daily life and there is a small thread that connects them by chance and we can see how one reflects the other. 

Charlotte is at start of actual adulthood and is search of a job which is not just within the limited scope of what is permitted by the rules binding woman in 1949. She stumbles by chance into participating for a position as a 'Miss Subways', something which I had no idea about but was fascinated enough to read up on.In the present we have Olivia who is having her own battles to wage and is trying to find a good way to keep her head above water. There are marked similarities in what causes trouble in a young person's life in the city but at the same time showing some hope, with the future being just a bit brighter and worth fighting for. There is a bit of suspense and guessing involved, focus of chauvinism and a lot of other things that come as a part and parcel of some women's daily existence. The ups and downs of relationships are also very realistically discussed. It was a good read and I would definitely recommend it.

The Subway Girls felt like a very timely piece of literature for me. With the “me too” movement in full swing, it is refreshing to read a story about two strong, independent women (one in 1940’s and the other 2018).

Charlotte is our 1940’s woman and when reading her I’m mostly struck with her discontent. She wants to be respected for more than her looks and yet, is finding a career other than modeling difficult.

Olivia is the modern advertising executive and her storyline will have many readers nodding along as what she experiences in the workplace so many woman share.

When historical fiction is done well the reader will invariably learn something. For me, that was the notion of the Subway Girls—a glam pageant of sorts used to advertise in the subways.

Overall, I found this book charming and timely.

Thanks to netgalley and publisher for ARC in exchange for fair review.

What a wonderful story! I couldn't put it down. I know that writing in dueling time frames is very popular right now, but this story did so magnificently.

Two women in the beginning stages of the realization of the track of their lives - one a 1940s girl who, contrary to her parents wishes, begins the pursuit of what she wants her life to be and it's not the wife of a successful lawyer; the other a girl in the current day who strives for success and recognition in the workplace while forcing her personal life to the back burner.

It's the '40s, women in the workplace is not common unless it is in the typical secretary roll. Charlotte aspires to break the mold and become a great female advertiser. Her boyfriend Sam, the successful lawyer, has proposed, but she is unwilling to give up her dreams. She loves him with all of her heart, but will he wait? The Subway Girls, a marketing promotion, comes into her life as they pursue her to be a spokeswomen. It's advertising, but it's the epitome of all she stands against.

Current day, women are the workplace and hold jobs of much prestige, as is Olivia's position as an ad agent. Growing up, she had a less than ideal modeling of home life and this is cause for her to push that away as unimportant in her life and focus on her professional success. She has the occasional date with none other than her boss, but knows this is less than ideal for many reasons.

The blend of characters, both past and present, create a storyline that will capture any reader.

I like reading women’s fiction and historical fiction, I have had issues finding books that can focus on both of those genres. They are few and far between. So when I read the blurb for The Subway Girls, I almost didn’t get this book. I almost passed it over. I am glad that I didn’t because I would have missed a fantastic book that takes place in 1949 and present day.

I liked how the storylines mirrored each other. I didn’t get confused when going between the time periods because they were doing (or trying to get into) the same field of work. Even the mindset of the men (past and present) were the same. The only time the storylines stopped mirroring each other was when Charlotte was in the Miss Subways contest and Olivia was working on finding a way to keep her job. Even then, it was only for a couple of chapters. Then it was right back to mirroring each other.

I thought Charlotte was progressive for her time. She was trying to get into a field that was dominated by men (think Don Draper). She was optimistic until she got the last rejection letter. I liked how she called the guy and told him to keep her in mind. She had no real interest in doing the beauty contest, she entered on a whim. She needed the money but thought that she would at least have a job if they got back to her. I loved her reaction to being asked to do something that she was uncomfortable with. I was chanting “You go girl” the entire time.

I liked Olivia but I felt that she wasn’t as developed as Charlotte’s character was at first. Then she gained depth. She was a strong person but she also had a certain vulnerability to her. I didn’t get her being in love with her boss. I felt that the book didn’t have to go that way. I also felt that her co-worker was a little too hostile to women. Considering what happened at the end of the book, I wasn’t surprised. But still. I liked how she made time for her elderly next door neighbor and her grandson.

Rose’s betrayal set the tone for the last half of the book. Not going to get into it but Charlotte did the absolute right thing when she did what she did.

I loved how the author brought the two storylines together. How I didn’t see what I didn’t see is beyond me. The author did a great job at keeping Ben’s grandmother’s identity a secret. There were a few red herrings thrown out. Same goes for Olivia’s Subway Girls revival. I was so mad when the events happened the way they did.

I should mention that the contest was based on a contest that was run in New York City. The author had an afterward where she described how she took that contest and made it her own.

The end of the book cleared up some details that I figured out but needed to see in print. I like that it ended happily but realistically.

What I liked about The Subway Girls:

A) That it was based on a real contest.

B) Well developed characters

C) Interesting plot with plot twists that I didn’t see coming.

What I disliked about The Subway Girls:

A) Olivia’s relationship with her boss.

B) Charlotte not being taken seriously in her career choice

C) Rose’s betrayal

I would give The Subway Girls an Older Teen rating. There are sexual situations but nothing graphic. There is language. There is mild violence.

There are no trigger warnings in The Subway Girls.

I would recommend The Subway Girls to family and friends. This is a book that I could see myself rereading.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Griffin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Subway Girls.

All opinions stated in this review of The Subway Girls are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Loved the characters, the setting, and the unique storytelling. The cover was fantastic as well, and the author seems capable of genre jumping easily. Will be reading more of her work!

A page turning book, I really enjoyed this one. I've been enjoying dual POV lately so I was happy to see that structure in The Subway Girls. This book reminded me a lot of The Address by Fiona Davis in regards to the structure and also the idea of unraveling family secrets and the two POVs intersecting. Also, as someone who spent over ten years in advertising (and once worked at Y&R like Olivia), that was a fun element of the story for me. I'm surprised I've never heard of the Subway Girls prior to this book, but that's one of the reasons why I love reading historical fiction. Susie executed it so well. I will say that, at times, some of the later plot points felt a bit too convenient and Ben a little too naive, but this book overall was very good and I definitely think it's a book many, many readers will enjoy. I'll definitely be recommending it!

Subway Girls follows two storylines, past (Charlotte) and present (Olivia), which converge in Olivia’s quest to win an advertising account.

I enjoyed learning about the long-standing 1940’s advertising campaign/beauty contest featuring local young women. It was fascinating to consider the impact of sudden celebrity on the careers and lives of young women in the 1940’s, particularly given the liberties copywriters took when describing their ambitions and passions. This book piqued my interest in reading more about the real-life Subway Girls, and I was grateful for the author’s noted references.

This is no “we’ve come a long way baby” book. Themes of misogynies and career oppression are as prevalent in the modern-day, Olivia storyline, as with Charlotte’s. The female characters are strong and, while likeable, the circumstances and challenges the women faced were fairly cliched and more Mad Men-esque, then Mad Men inspired. Despite being somewhat predictable, I couldn’t put it down. An engaging and thought-provoking, quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the kind of book that's right up my alley: Historical fiction focused on women in 1940s NYC. Even better, this novel bounces back and forth between 1940s NYC to current day NYC, following two similar women whose stories are tied together in a couple ways.

First of all, having worked at a marketing agency for years, Olivia's story really resonated with me. The stress of losing clients and pitches and the excitement of putting together an awesome new pitch is something I know all too well. I also found Olivia to be am incredibly likable person and someone for whom I was rooting for throughout the book. She's having a tough time at her currently agency and gets the chance to work on a new pitch for NYC's MTA.

But I loved Charlotte even more! She's such a driven young woman, working to break the stereotypes of women in her generation and even the beliefs of her father. She desperately wants to work in marketing and though she's been dating Sam for several years, isn't interested in getting married just yet. While trying to get accepted for a role at a marketing agency, she makes it into the final round of NYC's Miss Subways Contest, for the chance to be the girl featured in images on all of NYC's subways for a month. I love that this was based on actual events and that the Miss Subways Contest was a real contest that occurred from 1941-1976.

There's a lot I didn't expect in this book and the storyline just felt like it worked really well. I did feel like a couple details were a bit too forced (including conversations Charlotte had with her mom), but overall, this is a wonderful book that I definitely recommend!

This one was not a good fit for me. I am not publishing my review.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable and they were well developed. This was a very well written book I enjoyed reading this book even though parts were very predictable. I would definitely recommend this book.

An Interesting Piece of History Lost in a Mediocre Story.

This is a historical fiction novel based on a marketing contest called Miss Subways that took place in the NYC subway system from 1941-1976. I love the idea of creating a novel based on this piece of history and for that kudos to the author. However, this story by no means possesses the depth and talent of Amy Bloom’s White Houses.

I had more difficulty with the fictional storyline, writing style, and main character traits. It is more of a fluffy novel although the serious as a heart attack themes of gender inequality, women empowerment, and life choices figure prominently in two distinct time periods, seventy years apart.

Charlotte is a twenty-one year old beauty. She is finishing up her college degree and is desperate to find a job in the typing pool of a NYC advertising agency. She dreams of working her way up to eventually becoming an ad executive. In reality, she lives in Brooklyn with her parents. When an opportunity presents herself to apply for the Miss Subways contest Charlotte, first put off by the condescension has a change of heart while thinking of ways to benefit from playing a man’s game. Charlotte is a haughty, judgmental, yet very naïve girl. She is about to learn some big life lessons whether she wants to or not.

Olivia is her modern day counterpart. She is in her early thirties and works in advertising as an account executive. She has a Jerry Maguire type situation occurring with her boss. Her main rival at work is another account executive, a male who is gunning to put Olivia in her place. She is subletting her apartment with no real plan as to where she would live if her sublet ends. She is single and seemingly unmoored in all aspects of her life. Meeting her elderly next door neighbor’s handsome grandson is about to change the course of her life with past and present colliding in very expected ways. No surprises here. This story is unfailingly predictable which is disappointing.

The female characters are written as somewhat whiny and over-entitled. This is truly disappointing. The men are entirely one-dimensional though the attempt is made to make them deeper. It just doesn’t come off. Schnall’s writing style stays on the superficial side and even though serious life circumstances are occurring for the characters, the novel still comes off as fluffy. Schnall has a habit of abruptly changing scenes with no segue or setup. I did get used to it after the first few times but it threw off the continuity and flow of reading. One minute we are in Olivia’s office and the next second she is in her apartment building’s elevator with the neighbor’s grandson.

Overall, an interesting piece of history lost in a mediocre story.

BRB Rating: Skip It.

This is a delightful summer read. I quickly read through this book over 3 nights before bed. I truly enjoyed both stories of Charlotte and Olivia. The author captured the differences between 1949 and now in little nuanced ways that seemed real and accurate.

I love how Charlotte reminds us that women before us paved the way for women now. I appreciate how Olivia reminds us that we still have a ways to go.

This book gave me a bit of a #bookhangover. I keep thinking about Olivia's future.