I’m not a huge fan of historical books but somehow this one I enjoyed. I liked the past and present intertwine. Good read!

Interesting story well told. It s.urprised me how much I enjoyed the stories in this novel. I enjoyed reading about the history of the subways girls and I thought the author represented females well in this novel.

What an incredible story! I could not put it down. The story follows two storylines - Charlotte, a young ambitious woman in the 1940's who wants to work in advertising and Olivia, modern day, who is an advertising executive. Both women are dealing with dysfunctional families, complicated relationships and work issues. Some of the storyline was predictable but there were enough unexpected plot twists to keep me reading non-stop.

I learned about the Subways Girls, who were women featured in the NY Subway promotions in the 1940s. I did additional research after having read the book and quite enjoyed this relatively unknown piece of history. I really loved this book and would recommend it to my bookclub.

Engaging & heart warming read. I really enjoyed how the author has intervened stories of two women from two different eras seamlessly, very interesting . The plight and struggle of two women to pursue their dreams in a male dominated society it wasn’t much different. It was such a fascinating read. Thank you Netgallery for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read an a advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved this book! Such a great story comparing and contrasting Charlotte and her hopes and dreams of working in the advertising business in the 1940's and Olivia, present day, who does work in the advertising business. Loved the fictionalized account of The Subway Girls campaign in the 1940's. A little slow to build on the likeablility of the characters at first, but by the midpoint of the book, I was hurrying to get back to reading it!

This is a heart warming story that sheds a light on the struggles of women. I love how the author used a piece of history to give such a touching story of Charlotte in the 1940s hoping to make a mark in the advertising industry. Years later, there's Olivia, a strong willed ambitious woman who struggles to get credit and recognition for her efforts in the advertising industry. When the two are connected by an historical event, the sparks fly.
I also loved Rose, the old lady, who happens to be exactly what Olivia needs.
This is a great read. I don't think you'll put it down once you start on it. I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and I'd say, I loved reading it.

Clever idea, although the execution was wanting. I felt the dialogue was rather stilted and didn’t seem as natural as I’d prefer. I did feel that the novel was appropriately evocative if time and place. But, both Charlotte’s and Olivia’s stories lacked resolution. Instead of ending in s satisfying way, they simply... petered out. Disappointing.
This review was based on an ARC ebook received by the publisher in return for an honest, unbiased review.

The Subway Girls is a heart-touching story, one that held me in the palm of its hand right through the end. Readers should know it's not just another historical read, but rather a story that utilizes a small piece of history in the telling of the beautiful, seductive, emotional journey of two women in their pursuit of true happiness. I love the way the author uses two women from different generations to portray and compare the plight of women pursuing their dreams and the choices they're forced to make. Charlotte & Oliva are both strong, determined women whose paths eventually cross, forever changing both their lives. The Subway Girls is their story.

In 1949, Charlotte's career avenue was limited if not nearly impossible. The idea that a woman could have a career beyond that of a typist or a wife and mother was ludicrous and those brazen enough to pursue it were often ridiculed. But, if they were pretty (and lucky enough to be chosen), they could go the modeling/beauty queen route and use their new found fame as a springboard to new opportunities. (Historical Fact: From 1941 to 1976, the New York Subways Advertising Company held Miss Subways' contests with the winning contestants featured on subway posters. The contest helped open some otherwise closed avenues to these women, affecting their lives in many different ways.) Through Charlotte's story, readers learn how it eventually changed her life.

In 2018, Olivia enjoys a women-friendly work atmosphere, but even in the here and now she faces challenges unique to women. She's living her dream job in advertising, but at what cost? Like Charlotte 70 years before her, she's facing some hard decisions while fighting the good-old-boys mentality of the corporate world. When an opportunity arises for her to pitch an advertisement campaign to the New York Subway Authority, Oliver discovers the past Subway Girls Campaign and a connection that elevates this story to another level comes to light.

The Subway Girls is a fascinating, entertaining work of historical fiction, propelled to life through the use of alternating past/present chapters until characters' paths cross, intertwine, and proceed forward together. As the fast-paced plot unfolds, it becomes clear that women of all generations still struggle with the same age-old battle of balancing love, family, and careers. At times, I found myself frustrated over the pain and indecision inner turmoil causes both women even as I recognized it as something I've dealt with myself. Schnall's descriptive abilities are evident, bringing characters and setting to vivid life - so much so that I felt I was there, struggling and fighting right along with them. The author's writing flows effortlessly from past to present, chapter to chapter, creating a story that's easy to follow and hypnotizing to watch unfold. A charming, fabulous, inspiring, burn-the-midnight-oil Must Read! I highly recommend this story to everyone!

The Subway Girls is a story based on an advertising campaign that took place in the '40's through the '70's. For this book the focus was on 1949 and current time. I have to say it took me awhile to get into the story. I finally realized there are actually two different storylines and eventually a connection is made. We follow Charlotte in 1949 and Olivia in present time. I really love stories based on fact and this book did not disappoint. Even though Charlotte and Olivia are young women in different eras the problems are just as serious. Both are trying to make it in a male dominated world and both have dreams. I really enjoyed how the author made both situations realistic and believable. I had never heard of The Subway Girls and was fascinated by their story. I highly recommend the book! Great writing and interesting twists.

Absolutely fascinating book about women's struggles in the 50's. This book was an absolute pleasure from start to finish with warm and witty characters. Couldn't put it down

A cozy novel with a split time/storyline. In 1949, Charlotte becomes Miss Subway while trying to become part of the advertising industry. In present day, Olivia, who is in the ad world, resurrects the Miss Subway and becomes engrossed in the stories of the women involved. With a heavy dose of the-more-things-change-the-more-they-stay-the-same, the timelines mirror one another. Cute, but some of the Charlotte storyline didn’t fully match up for me, and I was, initially more interested in the historical side.

I looked forward to reading this book and enjoyed it immensely. It brought back memories of Mad Men. The dual story lines from different time periods were enjoyable to read and travel back into.
While the story was somewhat generic, it was artistically written enough to keep one engrossed in the book.

I am so happy that Net Galley gave me the opportunity to preview The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall. I am already a huge fan of historical fiction. But if I wasn’t, this book would make me a fan. I loved the dual storyline. The story defined the saying “the more things change, the more they stay the same,”. This was the first book I read by Ms. Schnall but not the last. I highly recommend this book.

I wanted to love this book but in the end I only liked it. I adore historical fiction, especially anything set in the 1940’s or to do with advertising. While the premise is great— two woman struggling to make it in the male dominated world of advertising- the umph just wasn’t there. It turned into a quick read with very little meat on its bones.

Charlotte started out as a character I thought I could really like but instead she spent most of the book being meek and subservient, getting the same advice over and over from others without ever acting on it until someone else submits her photo for her. The abrupt turnaround in her mother’s attitude and later her father’s came out of left field and instead of being a heartfelt mending of fences, the change came off as stiff and predictable.

Olivia also, in the end, is fluffy and predictable. In love with an unavailable man but suddenly— and I do mean suddenly- realizes she’s in love with quiet Ben next door, about whom she knows absolutely nothing except that his grandmother turns out to have been a Miss Subways which was also mighty predictable.

The concept of reviving Miss Subways has a lot of potential but by the time I reached the end of the book, I felt like I had ultimately missed something.

Charlotte dreams of a career in advertising, but it’s 1949, and she has to put her own life on the back burner to help her father with the family business. She finds solace in the beauty pageant world, the Miss Subways, beauty contest, which would get her some fame and recognition, something she could call her own. In present day New York, Olivia is making a last-ditch effort to keep her advertising job and she decides to use the old Miss Subways campaign as a way to save her career. But she doesn’t expect to find herself drawn into the lives of those long ago contestants, or how closely related they might be to her. This was both a charming story of two women striving to make their dreams come true, but also a commentary at how, in many ways, women still have to work twice as hard as men to be thought half as good