Let’s Call Her Barbie reimagines the story of Ruth Handler and her best known invention namely Barbie doll. She was ahead of her time with an idea of a doll that wouldn’t imitate mothers but rather bold women who could be anything.

Los Angeles, 1956. Ruth Handler gathers a team of engineers and designers to create a unique doll. She’s had this idea for quite some time and almost gave up on it when she saw this kind of doll in Switzerland. Now, with an example in her hand, she presents it to the team what she wants to recreate. She strongly believes that there is a marketplace for it which is untapped.

Along the way, there are many setbacks, but Ruth’s vision is unwavering. After three years of hard work, it doesn’t get any easier at the Toy Fair in NYC. The buyers are not convinced about a doll that looks like a woman. The Barbie launch is a colossal failure, but Ruth strongly believes in TV commercial. When most would give up, despite the Fair failure, she proceeds with commercial advertisement.

Then, there is something happening behind the scenes, something that no one sees from Mattel group, (created by Ruth and her husband), until there is a flood of orders that can’t be fulfilled.

With the smashing success of Barbie comes an idea of creating a boy doll, and other products associated with the two most famous dolls.

This fascinating story brings a strong woman who took risks when no one else dare doing it, along the way exposing private tensions of Ruth’s family, and other co-workers who took part in creating Barbie doll. Behind the big success, there were many struggles and challenges which are exposed in the story; giving it dimensions and making it feel very real.

Let’s Call Her Barbie is richly imagined. This empowering novel is narrated with fun and crisp prose, turning the pages of the story quickly.

I grew up with Barbie. I loved Barbie, and when I saw this book about the fictional history of how Barbie was created I felt that this book was created for me: Historical Fiction collides with the toy that helped create some of my favourite childhood memories.

This is a story about how Barbie went from an idea to a reality for Mattel and the real and fictional people that made this happen. Ruth Handler pushes her company to create and believe in a doll that can help girls believe that they can be whoever they want to be. Jack Ryan is the toy engineer that designs Barbie, and Stevie Klein changes her own life when she accepts a job designing clothes for the toy that will create an empire.

The one thing that I really loved the most about this book is the character development. There is a near perfect balance between the perspectives of Ruth, Stevie, and Jack in this book, and I fell in love with Ruth and Stevie most of all. It was powerful.

I appreciated the historical nuances and accuracy of the time period, and how Rosen really unraveled the challenges that women faced, especially women in powerful positions like Ruth in the 1950s onwards. How society imposed a dichotomy that you can either be a wife or you can be a professional, but shame on the woman who tries to be both (especially being a business woman)…. Unfortunately this sounds eerily familiar.

I recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction or if you are looking to start…Especially if you grew up and loved Barbie too, it's nostalgic! It will be available on January 21, 2025 for you to pick up your copy.

Page & Pour Rating: 4

Thank you so much Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book to review.

I played endlessly with Barbie dolls growing up.

My favorite part about Barbie was dressing her in different outfits so this historical fiction novel that tells about all the drama of the creation of Barbie and Mattel was fascinating.

The book not only focuses on Ruth Handler, but also Mattel toy designer, Jack Ryan, and his role in Barbie’s creation.

The book is told in 4 parts and goes from Barbie’s inception in the 1950s through the 1970s. This time period doesn’t just change Barbie and everyone involved with her, but also the Mattel corporation itself.

My favorite part was the reading about Charlotte Johnson, who was Barbie’s first designer. I loved learning about the intricacies and details of the creation Barbie’s wardrobe.

If you ever played with Barbie or just enjoy books about strong women, this book will delight you.

I thought I was all Barbied out but I enjoyed Let’s Call Her Barbie, a historical fiction account of the making of Barbie and an inside look into Mattel. The author does a good job of bringing the characters to life and telling the story but the end felt a touch abrupt.

As someone who grew up playing with and loving Barbie, this book was fun. That said, I definitely think this is a book for everyone, not just those who had Barbies.

The setting of this book was mostly workplace-focused (Mattel offices), and I thought this was a great setup. I loved how each character was introduced and the big personalities they had, and how the dynamics between everyone would shift and get messy.

Aside from maybe Stevie and Elliot, most of the characters are pretty morally gray - there were moments when I felt for them, and moments where they drove me crazy. I did really admire Ruth and how hard she fought for herself and her ideas for her company. The book starts out in the 1950s, and the sexism she deals with throughout the story was so frustrating, but seeing how she pushed back was satisfying.

The many ups and downs with both the business and the characters kept me engaged the whole way through, and the ending wrapped up things nicely.

“Let’s Call Her Barbie” by Renee Rosen, is a captivating, intriguing and memorable. What woman doesn’t remember of wanting or having a Barbie Doll? My most recent recollection is a signed Bob Mackie Barbie that I received from a friend, that I treasured. Unfortunately a few years ago, some pipes broke in my house, and this and other things were ruined. After all Barbie has become a legend throughout the years, and even a movie. The genres for this novel are : Historical Fiction, Women’s Literary Fiction, Women’s Historical Fiction, Historical Pop Culture, and Fiction. In this well-written novel, Renee Rosen vividly describes how the dream and idea of “Barbie” came to be, and the difficult production and design. The exquisite dresses,costunes, and miniature sized accessories also were so important.

Ruth Handler and her husband brought to life the idea of a doll that wasn’t a baby, and one could pretend to be anything. Jack Ryan was instrumental in engineering and bringing this design to scale in precise detail. Ruth’s daughter was named Barbara, and Jack’s wife was named Barbara. “Barbie” seemed to be the perfect name. Soon a marketing agency became involved, and after investigating how young girls felt about Barbie, and how the mother’s thoughts about Barbie helped create the image.

I learned details about the scandals, lawsuits, friction, and growth of Barbie and her friends. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend for others.

In the 1950s, Mattel, a successful toy company based in Los Angeles, was on the hunt for their next major success. Ruth Handler, who managed the company along with her husband Elliot Handler, discovered the German Bild Lilli doll during a trip to Europe. The doll, which was primarily a novelty item for adults, especially men, was unlike any other dolls available for young girls, except for paper dolls. Ruth realized she was onto a significant innovation. Mattel enlisted engineer Jack Ryan to create a child-friendly version of the German doll. Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein were brought on board to design fashionable, accessorized clothing, which Ruth understood would be the real source of profit. Although success was not immediate, Ruth was confident that her doll, named Barbie, would resonate with young girls. After the first Barbie television commercial aired during the Mickey Mouse Club in 1959, the lives of everyone connected to Barbie changed forever.

Renée Rosen has written many compelling historical fiction books that have featured prominent figures such as Helen Gurley Brown, Estée Lauder, and the Gilded Age's Mrs. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Astor. At only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, Barbie may be Rosen's most iconic subject yet. Let's Call Her Barbie, which was conceived before the recent hit movie, is an engaging, nostalgic book. It offers a fictional retelling of Barbie's fascinating history, with only a few characters invented by Rosen. The essence of the story is true, packed with drama, and infused with Rosen's wit, especially in scenes about the creation of Barbie's and Ken's potentially controversial bodies. If Barbie was part of your or your children's childhood, be sure to put this book on your list.

Rated 4.25 stars.

🌟 Book Review: Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen 🌟

Wow. Just… wow. Renée Rosen has done it again, crafting a story that’s not just a history lesson but a deep, emotional journey into one of the most iconic cultural phenomena ever: Barbie. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who’s ever loved (or questioned) that little pink box on the shelf. Let’s dive in!

The Origin Story That Hooks You

The story of Barbie’s creation is as compelling as the doll herself. It’s not just about a piece of molded plastic; it’s about ambition, vision, and the societal landscape that inspired and resisted her. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, saw a gap in the toy market—girls needed something aspirational, not just baby dolls to mothers. Enter Barbie, a doll that could be anything a girl dreamed of being. Rosen dives into the real grit of what it took to bring Barbie to life, from Ruth’s relentless determination to Jack Ryan’s technical brilliance. The balance between innovation and controversy is fascinating, and Rosen weaves it all together with such tension and energy that I couldn’t put the book down.

Barbie’s Role: Then and Now

Reading this book gave me a new appreciation for Barbie as a product of her time and a symbol of change. In the 1950s, Barbie represented a daring, almost scandalous break from the norm. She wasn’t a homemaker or a caretaker—she was independent, stylish, and ambitious. Over the decades, her role has shifted; sometimes, she is celebrated for empowering young girls, and other times, she is criticized for unrealistic beauty standards. Rosen doesn’t shy away from these complexities, showing how Barbie has remained a lightning rod for cultural debates while evolving into a more inclusive, diverse figure. It’s a nuanced, thought-provoking look at how one doll has reflected and shaped society over generations.

Flawed and Fascinating Characters

Let’s talk about Ruth Handler and Jack Ryan. These two are the heart of the story, and wow, are they layered. Ruth is ambitious to the point of obsession, a visionary who pushes boundaries and isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers. But she’s also profoundly human, struggling with societal expectations, her insecurities, and the consequences of her drive. Jack Ryan, meanwhile, is a genius with a flair for the dramatic, bringing Barbie to life with his technical expertise but battling his demons along the way. Their dynamic is electric—full of admiration, tension, and messy, complicated emotions that make you feel like you know them.

Final Thoughts

Let’s Call Her Barbie is more than a historical novel—it’s a deep dive into ambition, innovation, and the human stories behind one of the most famous toys in history. Renée Rosen has created something truly special here, blending history with emotion in a way that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. If you love stories about flawed but brilliant people, cultural icons, and the messy realities of bringing big ideas to life, this one’s for you.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but once I got into it I thought it was fantastic. It was a great story about the work behind the scenes to create the first Barbie doll but it also took me down memory lane as I thought about my first Barbie doll. The first doll was sold in March, 1959. I was past playing with baby dolls but that year, my friends and I all HAD to have a Barbie doll. We spent endless hours changing her clothes, combing her hair and making up stories about her life. The Barbie picture at the end of this review is the exact version that I had.

Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toy company, walked into the board room in 1956 with a doll that she had found in Germany. She wanted to create this doll for America. At first the other members in the meeting were surprised. This wasn't a baby doll like girls were playing with all over the world - this was a woman with real life attributes. They didn't see any way that this doll would be accepted. But Ruth was a strong woman who insisted that they give it a try. She assembled a team to work on the creation of the doll - an engineer who used to work for an aerospace company, clothes designers and engineers started working on what it would take to bring Barbie to the public. This was a totally new design and they ran into a lot of roadblocks but she felt like this was what little girls needed and insisted that they continue to work on the doll. In 1959, the first year of sales, Mattel sold 300,000 Barbie dolls and it became the must-have toy for girls.

I found it so interesting to read about all of the challenges that the team at Mattel faced in bringing the doll to reality. Even after the doll entered the market, there were ups and downs over the years. During the women's movement, the Barbie doll was deemed as bad for teaching young girls the wrong way to handle their futures. Mattel countered by introducing Barbie in many different roles -- as an astronaut, a nurse, a doctor and a pilot to name a few.

Be sure to read the Author's notes at the end of the book. She did significant research on the creation of the Barbie doll at Mattel and she shares a little about the real people in the novel and which characters only existed in her mind. There are also some great pictures of some of the Barbie dolls over the years.

A historical fiction that spans three decades. The story follows the Mattel company and its owners and employees over the creation of Barbie. Intrigue, creativity, betrayal and the power of women are all topics explored. The authors note is a must read, she shares some interesting research as well as which pieces of the story are closer to the truth and which are fictionalized to serve the story. At times, the story felt disjointed jumping between the characters experiences and some of the characters were not likable. Overall a well crafted tale. Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Let's Call Her Barbie" hits the ground running and does. not. stop. I fully expected a gentle introduction to Ruth Handler and how she was led to found Mattel with her husband and eventually create one of the biggest toys in history. After reading this book, though, that method does not suit Ruth, a woman who made her way in the world loudly and unapologetically. Rosen writes Ruth as an absolute powerhouse, barely slowing down even as she gets older and is diagnosed with breast cancer. She is an incredible woman, and reading about her and her Barbie was fascinating.

My one negative for this book, however, may be the form in which Rosen writes this story. She writes from the point of view of multiple characters, mainly Ruth; her husband Elliot; their playboy engineer and business partner, Jack Ryan; and a fictional character, Stevie, that Rosen created to add another viewpoint to the first 20 years of Barbie's life. Rosen does not write in the usual format of each character getting their own chapter. Each character gets some narrative time in each chapter, and Rosen jumps back and forth between them, often narrating multiples mindsets and inner monologues in the space of a single scene. This creative choice, along with the unusual third-person present tense, makes for a jumpy, almost frenetic writing style. This may be why I finished this book in barely 2 days! And though it fits the frantic feeling of Mattel in the 1950s through the 70s, I felt like I came away from each chapter not having spent much time with these characters. I wanted to stew and spend a little more time with each character, rather than jump back and forth several times in the space of a page.

It took me a moment to get used to Rosen's writing style, but once I did, I couldn't put this book down. No matter what you think of Barbie, you can't deny that she has changed the world, and this book gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of the wild, turbulent era of her birth.

Barbie…just the name is enough to form the picture of this her in the reader’s mind. She is a doll that has both been embraced and vilified, perhaps even both at the same time for some. Now, she is so much a part of popular culture, it is difficult to remember that once there was no Barbie.

Author Renee Rosen has written a detailed, intriguing and complex story about Barbie and her creators. She has brought the historical people to life, especially Ruth and Jack (more below), Elliot and Charlotte, to name a few. She also has created fictional characters including Stevie who interacts with all of the historical figures.

I learned so much about the toy industry, how toys go from plans to reality and how this applied specifically to Barbie, in these pages. Ruth had a vision and it took her and engineer Jack much work and many years before Barbie was brought to the market. It is intriguing that Ruth saw Barbie as a source of freedom for girls. She wanted them to have a doll that offered more to them than imagining becoming a mother and wife.

It was intriguing to think of the real fashion designers who made the clothes and why Barbie has her dimensions. It was fascinating to find out how many tries it took to get Barbie just right.

Both Ruth and Jack were quite complex individuals. Readers learn that Ruth’s mother did not want to raise her. They find why work was so critical for Ruth and the ways in which this impacted her children and husband. Jack, also was complicated. Readers learn that he had some mental health issues with which to struggle.

Over the course of the novel, readers learn about both the triumphs and lows of these characters so that is there is no fairy tale. All of this is part of the characters’ life stories.

In her afterword, Rosen notes that she had wanted to write this novel before the Barbie movie was released. The movie will undoubtedly bring readers to this novel but, in my opinion, this excellent book stands very well on its own.

Highly recommended to readers of historical and women’s fiction. Of course, those who are already interested in Barbie will flock to this but, even if a reader is not a Barbie aficionado, there is much in these pages.

I was so delighted to be asked to read and review this title. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group this title. All opinions are my own.

I adored this book! It is well-written, and the author clearly did a lot of research into how the iconic Barbie came to be and the lives of those behind the doll, making for a compelling read.

Ruth Handler had the idea for Barbie after a trip to Europe, where she encountered a grown-up doll and realized dolls in the United States were only baby dolls. Inspired and wanting to fill this gap with a doll that would encourage girls' imaginations, and have them dream big, she teams up with her husband, an engineer, fashion designers, and more people to create the Barbie doll. Learning about the amount of work, imagination, ideas, prototypes, marketing, race to beat other manufacturers, etc., that brought Barbie into being was genuinely fascinating. And having it put into perspective with the social and cultural mores of the time really emphasized the level of achievement Barbie was.

Told in a multi-POV format, there is also a focus not just on Barbie but on Ruth, her husband Elliot, engineer Jack, and fashion designers Charlotte and the fictional Stevie. I did not know that Ruth and Elliot founded Mattel and that Ruth was the company's first president. She was determined and a woman ahead of her time. Ruth faces misogyny in the business world, several challenges bringing Barbie to the market and juggling work and family life. I was as engrossed in Ruth's story as in Barbie's.

I learned a lot from this book and was entertained along the way, which is one of the marks of good historical fiction for me. A must-read for any Barbie fan!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted review copy!

*4.5 rounded up

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this arc.

I wasn’t sure how close to the truth this novel would be or even, to be honest, what the truth was supposed to be. Honestly I wasn’t sure and didn’t know and had never really thought who or what went into creating one of the world’s most iconic dolls. I will say that I never once held my Barbie dolls and thought, I want to look just like this doll when I grow up so no body image issues for me from Barbie. The third person, present tense writing makes the story come alive for me, putting me in the boardroom as Ruth fights the naysayers in order to give little girls a grown up doll that might fire their imaginations and give them something other than only motherhood to dream about.

I think the book does a great job of taking readers into the heart of Mattel, the culture of the time and workplace, and the people who developed so many toys that were beloved of a certain age group.

Ruth and Elliott Handler lived the rags to riches American Dream by starting Mattel, building it up, and then watching the company skyrocket. I can understand what the novel shows of the shifts in public sentiment about Barbie from “sleazy hussy,” to “every girl wants one,” to “look at all the careers Barbie does,” to “stop sexualizing women.”

The engineering details of how the developers managed to get a doll that fit their vision and how the clothes designers had to wrangle with 1/6 specifications for Barbie’s glamorous wardrobe are fascinating. I can see how working out the bugs and overcoming the speed bumps would lead to long days, late nights, and endless frustration.

Since this is telling a true story, the downward spiral of the last fourth of the book is sad but, I guess, inevitable. It did make me think of trashy dramas from the late 60s/70s. The SEC investigations were the accessories sold separately. By this point in the story, I kind of just wanted it all to be over. So a great start but a slightly depressing ending. B

This book was a fascinating historical fictional account of how the Mattel company developed the Barbie Doll. The book looked at the real lives of Ruth and Elliot Handler and their co-creator, Jack Ryan. It specifically followed Ruth's journey and how she overcame society's misogynistic norms in the late 1950s to early 1960s to become the first female CEO of a major company.

I was engrossed in this book and found myself googling people and Barbie dolls while reading this story. I loved how the author introduced the fictional character of fashion designer Stevie to add interest to the storyline.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the historical aspect of the development of a childhood favourite toy, along with the interest in following Ruth Handler's rise to CEO while trying to balance family and health. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This isn't just for Barbie fans, but historical fiction fans (who may or may not be Barbie fans). I'll admit I wasn't ever into the Barbie craze like some were growing up, but I did have my 1 Barbie and 1 off brand Barbie. Wasn't going to jump on the movie bandwagon, but my daughter convinced me to watch and I was pleasantly surprised with what was being said with stereotypes and expectations of society in it- so I went into this book more open minded due to the movie. It's a great look at how society had unrealistic expectations or images and "roles" in society during that time period. For fans of historical fiction, but who are a bit tired of the WWII stories that the market is inundated with, this is a pleasant change in pace.

Barbie lovers will have a blast with this story! I loved the blend of fictional characters with real history to create a story that you won't be able to put down. The behind-the-scenes look at just how incredible it is that this doll ever got made is magical, especially today when it seems impossible to imagine a world with Barbie's influence.

Ruth has an idea that she knows will be a success. While the men in the room question her, and push back, Ruth is determined to make this doll. In 1956 every doll is meant to teach little girls to become mothers, but Ruth has a different idea in mind. Barbie is born. There are highs and lows along the way, but Ruth knows she has created something special.

So admittedly, I was never a fan of Barbie as a child. I was 100% a baby doll girl, which is funny because now I’m not sure I want kids. That said, I absolutely adored the Barbie movie, and this book was no different! I just loved the story of how Barbie came to be, and what a powerhouse Ruth Handler was! I loved learning more about the team behind creating Barbie, and found the business aspects of Mattel to be fascinating! I wasn’t sure how I would like this one, but I ended up loving the story so much!

Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted copy of this book!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Like many women, I adored the Barbie movie when it first came out, and enjoyed it just as much when I rewatched it on Netflix. So I was excited to hear about Let’s Call Her Barbie, even if I have a lot of issues with Renée Rosen as an author. But I ended up being pleasantly surprised with this book.
While Rosen clarifies in her notes at the end that she had plans to write a Barbie book prior to the Barbie movie coming out, the timing worked out in her favor, especially as the book focuses on the historical aspects only alluded to in the film, as well as highlighting how Barbie has been controversial and divisive from her inception, especially given that she made her debut around the same time of the second-wave feminist movement.
A habit I disliked with Rosen’s prior books was that she’d have a “hook” of an iconic historical woman, but then the story proper would center this random fictional character. She straddles the line of focusing on both the historical players of the “Barbie” story and interjecting her own fictional character here, and it turned out about as you’d expect, if you’ve read my other Rosen reviews. I loved the insight into Ruth Handler and her life as both career and family woman in the 1950s-70s, and how that ended up manifesting in Barbie and some of the other innovations. I also appreciated the insight into her complex relationships with her children and how the legacies of Barbie and Ken (and Allan) impacted her kids (and onetime son-in-law).
Another major historical character in the book, Jack Ryan, also plays a prominent role, and while the text seems to go on about his charisma and effect on women, he just grossed me out from his first appearance. From his infidelity with his first wife to his interactions with Stevie to how he basically “molded” various women he was with into Barbie with plastic surgery…ick. I can acknowledge his contributions to Mattel, and that his contributions were important to the company, and I feel for him when it comes to the mental health and addiction issues he dealt with, but other than that, he’s a slimeball.
And speaking of Stevie, she’s the fictional character who Rosen felt the need to include, and I admit, that I just did not care for her, apart from being repulsed any time she was with Jack. And it feels extra-superfluous given that there are so many players involved, including Charlotte Johnson, who Stevie is meant to assist. Rosen makes a point of stressing Charlotte’s role at Mattel, but I feel like it just makes the emphasis on Stevie feel pointless, and added more to stress what prick Jack could be and taking away from the women beyond Ruth who were involved.
I did question the use of present tense. Third person present tense can be jarring, and while the narrative flow wasn’t too bad, considering, I feel like the logic wasn’t there, given it’s a historical fiction story, and there’s no reason we need to feel a sense of immediacy or urgency.
With that in mind, it is a slower-paced story. And while I’ve sometimes expressed my issues with historical fiction that covers a long period of time, there’s a clear purpose here, covering the pivotal years of the creation and early years of Barbie.
This was an enjoyable read, and while I did, as expected, have some issues with Rosen’s choices when it came to the central cast, I still got a lot out of it. I’d recommend it to readers who love Barbie, whether it be because of the recent film or other aspects of the franchise, who are looking for an accessible way to start learning more about the brand’s history.

Now this is going to be a difficult explanation of what I just read… a factionalized non fiction that spans decades and focuses on multiple POV.

With Barbie being the centre of it all.
Yes you read that right, Barbie the doll.
The brain child of Ruth and engineered by Jack.

It’s about Barbie but it’s also about society and the norms then. And the way in which business was ran (and in some ways, still).

The story begins with Ruth. And her idea to create a doll that wasn’t just a baby doll. And where the little girl was “just” a mom in training. Ruth wanted a doll that could allow a girl to dream beyond the confines of a kitchen and home.

But it becomes an obsession to get “her” just right. And to do it in secrecy so that no other toy maker accomplishes this dream before they do at Mattel.

I found pieces of this fascinating: like the proportions and sizes of Barbie. The thought process behind the clothes. And a lot of little intricate details to why Barbie was made the way she was.

And while those investigative pieces felt like non fiction, it was fictionalized in a way that I felt like it was a little Mad Men office building.

And while I enjoyed the early part of the book I was more invested in the relationships that happened. Barbara (to which Barbie is named after), being Ruth’s daughter who hated the doll. (You can imagine why). Jack’s backstory. His struggle with dyslexia and bipolar. Ruth’s struggle to be a mom with a work passion that left her with a gaping hole in her family life.

Fascinating read. Definitely read the authors note at the end where it’s explained what she fictionalized and didn’t.