The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall is an enthralling tale juxtaposing the lives of two unrelated women. Charlotte is a product of the 1940s. Her brother was killed in the war and her father expects her to help him in the family paint and wallpaper store in the Bronx. Although she will graduate from Hunter College this year, 1949, with her degree in business and her dreams of working in advertising, the societal norms of the day will never get her further than the typing pool.

Current day Olivia is in advertising and left a major firm to follow her boss as he opened his own struggling agency. Due to Olivia’s opening up to a stranger, the agency has the opportunity to pitch a campaign for the New York City MTA. Both Olivia and her colleague Thomas are charged with coming up with ideas for the account and the one Matt, the boss, feels is strongest will represent the firm. In her research, Olivia discovers a mid century advertising campaign called Subway Girls which was part beauty contest, part personality contest designed to feature local ladies as representatives of the system.

Charlotte had been the July 1949 subway girl. Her next door neighbor, Olivia discovers this quite by accident, but her discovery of Charlotte’s grandson is no accident at all.

In such a brief synopsis, there is no way to do this elegant story justice. The story of Charlotte, Rose, and Sam requires a book to unfold. The story of Olivia, Matt, and Ben does as well. But when the two stories are woven together, you have a beautiful multigenerational tale that is hard to put down! I very much enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!

I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley.
I really loved this book. I used to hate books that jump back and forth in time, but this one is about two different women and it was easy to keep them apart in my head despite the many similarities they face in the 1940s and 2018 society. I find it fascinating that The Subway Girls was really an advertising campaign used in the 1940s-1970s.

I used to think historical fiction was my least favorite genre. I'm being proved wrong over and over again these days, which makes me happy that I've expanded my diversity in reading. Turns out, I'm just not a fan of historical fiction that reads like a history textbook or spends too much time trying to teach me a lesson.

Luckily, the The Subway Girls, the author journeys us back to 1949 through Charlotte's eyes and then to present day 2018, through Olivia's eyes. Both women trying to find a balance between love, ambition and the hindrances that come with each. We see that throughout the decades, not much really changes when it comes to trying to strive what you want without doing it at the expense of your own self. And by that I mean, finding a balance and compromise that makes you happy. Don't we all want this ultimately?

I loved reading about Olivia and Charlotte. There's subtle Mad Men/Penny Olson vibes with the advertising agency and a woman just trying to be taken seriously. Regardless of how forward we've moved as a society (and seem to be regressing rapidly these days unfortunately), we still have issues with women being taken seriously over men in the same positions. We have made great strides though as well, which we should all take into account. Realize that our actions today may not seem like they make much of a dent but like I've learned, even the tiniest things are noticed by SOMEONE, whether you think so or not. So try and do as right as you can. I KNOW it can be difficult, and I certainly have a mouth on me, but move forward and realize, as it's noted in this novel, that are problems really aren't as big as they may seem at the time. Change the frame of what you see around you and note that the world doesn't stop for ANYONE.

Well, that certainly was a ramble. 🤣 Please also take the time to read the little history lesson that you do get at the end of the book about the real Subway Girls and the impact they made on the world.

I am pleasantly surprised at how happy all of this made me.

This book tackles the stories of two women in separate time periods whose lives end up intertwining in the present day. Charlotte is a young girl finishing up college in 1949. She wants to go into the advertising business, but women only ever make it into the typing pools and don't get to have an impact on advertising. On top of that, her father insists that she works at the family paint supply store because the business is suffering. In a moment of desperation, Charlotte enters the Miss Subways contest for July 1949 to see if she can help the store and further her own career. Decades later in 2018, Olivia works in advertising and is working on a campaign for the Manhattan transportation association where she wants to bring the past Miss Subways campaigns to everyone's attention in order to promote public transportation. She gets to know Charlotte and her grandson Ben as she learns more about the past. Follow these two brave women as they challenge norms and fight for their dreams in this intriguing account of historical fiction.
I enjoyed this book overall. It was so interesting to learn about the Miss Subways campaigns and how they might have been conducted so many years ago. I liked the split time narratives and thought they worked very well as the women's stories were presented and intertwined. My favorite account was Charlotte's, but that's because I'm a history buff and love to read about historical events, even in fiction form. The big thing that made me give four stars instead of five was the large amount of profanity in Olivia's story, which was a big turnoff for me. Other than that, it was an interesting story on a subject that has not been covered very much. I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is a wonderful book from a very talented author. I very much enjoyed it and I know that you will too. Definitely pick up this winner. Happy reading!

A dual narrative featuring two strong minded women trying to navigate the male dominated sphere of advertising in 1949/2018. I found this book really difficult to put down and so I didn't. I found the little known story of the Miss Subways contest to be very intriguing and I felt that both timelines were strong enough to not detract from the other. A great summer read!

The Subway Girls is a fictional story based on the true New York City subway advertising campaign from 1941 to 1976. This campaign selected different girls for each month to be in ads for the subway system. The novel follows the lives of two strong women: Charlotte, a former 1949 Subway Girl winner and Olivia, a present day advertising executive pitching a campaign based on the former Subway Girls. The story switches between 1949 and present day and follows as Charlotte's and Olivia's lives intersect. I really enjoyed this book - for me, it was one of those books that ropes you in and keeps you up late at night to see what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I did not know that there were actually "Subway Girls" in NYC from the 1940's to the mid 1970's so when I heard about this book, I was intrigued. The chapters alternate between Charlotte, a Subway Girl from the 1940's, and of Olivia, a current-day advertising executive. I enjoyed both of their stories immensely showing how women like Charlotte didn't always want to just marry and raise children, they struggled with the decision of having a career and a family, something that women today have an easier time with but sometimes still struggle with. The writing is beautifully done, and I loved how Charlotte's and Olivia's stories connected because of the Subway Girls pageants. I feel fans of historical fiction and contemporary fiction will enjoy this book.

I absolutely loved this book!!!

For once, the blurbs were right. This book did remind me of Fiona Davis' books. And, I thought that before I read the blurb on Goodreads.

This was a story of two strong, different generation, women. One past and one present, both dealing with women's rights issues who come together when the younger one decides to look into the Ms. Subways beauty pageants for a current ad campaign.

I flew through this book. I loved how it went back and forth between the history of one woman and the current events of another.

I am so glad that I got a chance to read this book and find yet, another new author.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall is a delightful read. It has historical significance regarding a marketing campaign that was done for years by the NYC Metropolitan Transit System. I grew up in NY and I adored reading about the “Subway Girls” campaign.

The Subways Girls is the delightful story of two strong women a generation apart, who both struggle to find a balance between love, happiness and ambition. The author uses a dual narrative featuring two strong minded women trying to navigate through the male dominated world of advertising in 1949/2018. I found the little known story of the Miss Subways contest to be very intriguing. I noticed the author’s information about her research at the end. It makes me want to visit the New York Transit Museum the next time that I head back home.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press, Susie Orman Schnall and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Susie Orman Schnall's "The Subway Girls" is the historical fiction you've been looking for this summer. Charming and inspiration, Schnall's novel breaths new life into the historic Miss Subways ad campaign of the 1940s.



I knew nothing about Miss Subways, despite having lived in Manhattan for 10 years. I must have completely missed when the contest came back in 2004. Back in the 1940s, every month, a new girl was chosen whose picture was then plastered all over the New York subways. The aim was to draw attention to other ads by pulling men's eyes to the pictures of the beautiful women featured each month.



The novel itself follows two women: Charlotte in 1949 and Olivia in 2018. Charlotte longs to work in advertising despite the limited opportunities for women during her time. Her dreams are unsupported by her family, although her fiance is supportive. Still, she struggles to find a job even in the typing pool, which was as close as most women of her time could get to the male driven advertising world. When she is invited to try out for Miss Subways, she sees an opportunity to change her lot in life.



Decades later, Olivia works for an advertising agency and has the chance to prepare an campaign for the MTA. She stumbles onto the Miss Subways campaign and is immediately fascinated. When a personal connection brings her even closer to this slice of New York history, she is more determined than ever to win the campaign.



Despite living in very different times, Charlotte and Olivia are not that different. Their dreams and aspirations are similar, as are their worries and fears. Charlotte is limited by the time in which she lives, while Olivia faces other challenges in the present time.



"The Subway Girls" was a real treat. It was filled with fascinating details about this random piece of Manhattan's history that I knew nothing about. The connections between the two main characters were a bit predictable, but also unfolded nicely as the story progressed. Both women struggle to find a balance between love and the domestic trappings that comes with and their career aspirations, struggles that do not become easier even in the modern world.



With books like this that switch back and forth from past to present, I am always more interested in the historical story, which was certainly the case here. It was fascinating to learn about Miss Subways and the process of being chosen, as well as how the contest changed the lives of so many of the contestants. Olivia's story was fine, but didn't engage me as much. There were a lot of hints about troubles with her parents and a friend named Jenna that I would have liked to know more about, but in a book with two narrators, I guess there wasn't really time to devote to that. Olivia seemed far more isolated than Charlotte whose family and friends we got to know alongside her.



"The Subway Girls" is a quick read, a charming story that pulls you in from the first pages and sticks with you long after you finish. Thank you to Ms. Schnall for this lovely novel and for launching me into reading about the Miss Subways contest after I was done the book. What an interesting topic!

This is a terrific book. It plays off of an advertising competition in present day with flashbacks to the Subway Girls competition 70 years ago. I loved the interplay between the two time periods and two voices. It was a very interesting depiction of the obstacles faced by women in the workplace and in making their life choices in the past AND in the present. At first I found switching between the voices a little difficult but as I began to see the connections I found myself reading faster to see what would be revealed in the next segment! The main female characters were engaging and very likable, but their flaws and faults weren’t downplayed. Since it was told in female voices, the male characters were a little less complex and more “typed”, but still well done. The romance was sweet and not overplayed. It was a fast read since I was so caught up in the book. I highly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Olivia is in competition to win an add campaign for NYC Transit Authority. She comes across an old add campaign called The Subway Girls. This leads her to find more than just history. It could lead her to find love!

This story rotates between the present and the past, between Charlotte and Olivia. Charlotte was an original subway girl. She has her own tale to weave. And it intersects with Olivia, very conveniently, I might add. I do not want to give anything away…just read the book!

Olivia is not one of my favorite characters. She makes some really stupid decisions and she does not fight for herself like I expect her to. She is in advertising. A very competitive profession. She does not seem to have the edge needed to be where she is.

I enjoy the flow of this book. The rotation between time periods is superbly done. There is almost a cliff hanger after every chapter and this kept me reading faster and faster. I also love the history in this tale. I actually researched more about the subways girls original add campaign. I love a book that’s has me researching!

Don’t miss this one!

I wanted to love this but the main characters were just so dumb. I found the Miss Subways stuff to be interesting though, and this was a good way to pass a day at the beach if you can get past characters saying things like “well we aren’t married yet and men have needs” when a man cheats on them.

I loved everything about The Subway Girls and was so captivated by it that I read it straight through! What wonderful, richly drawn, characters throughout, but especially notable are the strong women characters portrayed by Charlotte and Olivia.

The book, set in New York City, has two intriguing and ultimately intersecting storylines, and is told by two different women in two different time periods; Charlotte, 21, is a soon-to-be college graduate in 1949 whose dream it is to have a career in advertising, even if it means starting in the typing pool; and Olivia, a 26 year old account manager for a small advertising firm. The chapters alternate between the two women, each telling more of her story, until they, and their stories, connect in a most wonderful way.

Charlotte's father is not too happy that she went to college, thinking it a waste of time for a girl who will surely just work in his paint and wallpaper shop and eventually marry. He never acknowledges Charlotte's wish to have a career of her own, thinking it foolish. Besides, she's just a girl, and she must do as he commands. Charlotte, is having no luck finding a job as a typist at an ad agency (the only job women are permitted to have in ad agencies at the time), and is miserable contemplating her future working in her father's store. After talking with her best friend, JoJo, she decides to enter the contest to be a Subways girl, whose pictures are displayed for one month in each subway car in New York City. If she could win and mention her father's store on her poster, the business that she would bring into her father's store would bring the store out of its financial problems, her father could afford to pay for help, and she would be free to live her own life. Charlotte is convinced that if she could just get her foot in the door, the men above her would recognize her determination and initiative and she would eventually be able to work on the advertising campaigns.

Olivia works as an account manager for a small advertising agency that she and her friend Matthew started together. Matt is now her boss, and she's secretly in love with him, but she is convinced that he sees her as an equal and respects her. She strongly dislikes Thomas, the other account manager Matt brought into the agency, and finds, to her chagrin, that she still has to fight to be heard and included in meetings with the men representing the companies for which they are bidding for accounts. When Thomas steals her idea and presents it as his own for a major campaign, Olivia is floored and livid!!

The stories of these two women are very well told. Despite the number of years that had passed between their stories, they each had to fight the same misconceptions about working women and struggle harder for everything that they achieved. It's obvious that the fight to break into male-dominated careers, and to maintain a balance between home and work is nothing new and on-going. The history of the Subways girls advertising campaign by the MTA which ran from 1941 - 1976 was fascinating to read about.

With great characters and a good story told most skillfully by the author, this book is easily one of the best books I've read this summer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for allowing me to read this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This historical fiction centers around the very real marketing contest called Miss Subways that took place in the NYC subway system starting in the 1940’s. It is a dual time period novel, with the story alternating between the lives of 2 women (the 1940’s and present day). Although I thought the historical centerpiece was somewhat interesting, I found the storyline to be rather slow and predictable. Overall rating 2.5 stars.

The Subway Girls is the wonderful story of Charlotte and Olivia. Both women have dreams of advertising greatness and of finding a great love. They are just separated by about 60 something years.

Charlotte is study at Hunter College, and sending out her resume to the ad agencies of Madison Avenue. Olivia is working at a boutique agency, in danger of going under unless they land a big account.

There are tinges of Mad Men, Don Draper, Peggy Olsen and post war American. There are also tinges of social media, women working in modern society and the struggle that ranges on with being a working woman in the world.

There is a good example of friendship spanning ages. Often, older people are left alone, and we forget that everyone has a story to tell.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Great storytelling by Susie Orman Schnall. Fascinating to learn about the significant “Miss Subways” advertising success story that began in the early 1940’s by the John Roberts Powers Agency. CEO John Roberts Powers vision was to develop it for the promotion of the company’s models. Millions of people viewed these posters on the NY subway lines between 1941 through the mid-seventies. This book ties in two character perspectives related to this subject, 70 years apart.

I loved the fictional aspect of this book as much as the historical. Charlotte and Olivia are both from the advertising industry; strong women who grew up decades apart yet struggles are similar. Recognition is hard to come by despite progress on gender equality over the years. Loved their spunk and drive and the author’s imagined connections to the “Miss Subway” storyline. Well done!

This was a charming read, taking place in post war NYC and in the present day. Both Charlotte and Olivia, separated by many decades, are focused on advertising career aspirations. In 1949, Charlotte tries to juggle finishing school, losing her only brother in the war and finding a way to help her father with the family business. The Subway Girls contest seems like a godsend at a time when most of her mail was rejection letters for work. In 2018, Olivia is trying to woo the Transit commission at a boutique marketing firm and unearths the Subway Girls promotion as a way to recapture some of their past. I kept wanting more from each section of this dual narrative, it quickly changed back and forth.

This novel goes back and forth between 1949, where a young Brooklyn woman named Charlotte is trying to figure out her future while also applying to be "Miss Subways," and the present, where a woman named Olivia who works in advertising is working on a pitch to the MTA for a new subway advertising campaign. I love dual time period historical fiction, and this was a nice solid entry in the genre, with likeable main characters in both time periods, equally balanced stories, and some nice parallels about both women's struggles to figure out career and love and the struggle of how to have it all. An enjoyable and quick read. Perfect for fans of authors like Sarah Jio and Beatriz Williams.