A book set in the 1960s about two newly-minted PanAm stewardesses who need a change in their lives.

One was Judy Goodman, a nice little wife from Pennsylvania with a not-so-nice husband. The other was Beverly Caldwell, a daughter of a wealthy Wall Street workaholic father and an emotionally detached mother. They both run to PanAm and it indeed changes their lives.

The info about PanAm was so fascinating, and it really was what drew me to the book. I loved imaging the ladies in their blue dresses and heels, and I loved reading about the many places they visited, especially the Asian route! Mr. Chan was probably one of my favorite characters.

I loved how this book really encapsulated how steadfast the stewardesses were. To themselves, to the people they loved, and to the airline they represented. Judy and Beverly thought of each other like sisters and it made it very heartwarming to read about their friendship.

(Light spoilers ahead)

Speaking of friendships: I loved how they were represented in this book. At every turn, the women had someone cheering them on. Early in the book, Judy had Ronelle and I loved that for her. Someone who helped her leave a life threatening situation. Later on, when Beverly met the two girls in Oahu, they immediately welcomed her in with no judgment. Even their relationships with Joe and Mark were so lovely and heartwarming.

(Heavy spoilers ahead)

The reveal that it was Judy in present day Mo'orea, and that Beverly died young was gutting. The last POV of Beverly had me sobbing. It was incredible.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Although I have slightly rounded up the score, the book's beginning and end really solidified my impressions of this book.

Di Maio's book only features a small range of characters, making it a somewhat intimate story. We have two narrators, Beverly and Judy, and one of the women at a later age (no spoiler, it's the first chapter). Years ago, I read a book about the life of a Pan Am steward that exemplified the excitement of going into the air post-war for a gold dust job. You had to be intelligent, skinny, pretty, etc.

Okay, so let's refer to this book. We have Judy, leaving behind an abusive marriage and Beverly, a 'poor little rich girl' ready to strikeout. They join a cohort and become BFFs as they traverse the world together. I wondered what type of book this would have been, but it amounts to historical fiction and is somewhat of a thriller.

I almost read this on holiday but ran out of time. This is the ideal book for a post-holiday read. I enjoyed some of the descriptions of these tropical places. I was also intrigued by the fact that where Caesar was assassinated is now a restaurant.

Its audience is women who like romance, hence why it almost went into 3-star territory, but all of the details about flying, life in '62, and the sense of friendship sing through the novel. I'd read another of her books.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

In 1962, the Jet Set era, only Fashion Models and Movie Stars garnered more notoriety than a Pan Am stewardess.

Only 1 in 50 applicants would be offered the opportunity to attend training, and 30% of those young women would not last until graduation.

Those chosen could not wear contact lenses or glasses, and must be willing to cut their hair to the approved hairstyle and wear Revlon Persian Melon lipstick and a light coating of blue eyeshadow to match the coveted signature royal blue uniform with the pill box hats. Weight checks would also be conducted throughout training and the 6 month probationary period.

Since you couldn’t be married, over be over age of 35, (until that changed in the early 1970’s) the average career span was 18 months-but it was a glamorous lifestyle that many envied but few could obtain.

“Come Fly With Me” is a story named after the Frank Sinatra classic, based on the history of this ICONIC airline, which follows the story of TWO hopeful young women as they navigate the rigorous training and first year of flying-but it is also about their ENDURING friendship.

Judy Goodman was running away from an abusive marriage in a small town, so she will have to lie about being “SINGLE” when she applies for the position.

Beverly Caldwell grew up in New York society and was expected to marry a suitor from another respectable family rather than pursue a future of her own making.

The story unfolds from their alternating POV’s in the PAST, and from an unnamed narrator in the PRESENT from Mo’orea, French Polynesia.

As a career flight attendant myself, this story brought back fond memories, and some “not so fond” such as my days in training. (The author only touched on the emergency drills a flight attendant is trained on!) When I was hired in the 80’s, by another major airline, we still had to weigh in, and be willing to cut our hair and don the preferred RED lipstick 💄 of the times. And, heels 👠 are still required to this day.

Although it might help if you are interested in this career or in the airline industry, or if you enjoyed the nostalgia of the 2011 ABC TV show, Pan Am-EVERY reader will be able to relate to Judy and Beverly’s LOYAL and unwavering friendship.

The ending brought tears to my eyes! 😥🤧

DO READ the Author’s note in its entirety when you finish! Heartbreaking 💔

This title will be available on February 18, 2025.

Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell have different reasons for putting continents and oceans between themselves and their disparate pasts, but they have the same desire—to earn a coveted position on an elite team of stewardesses for Pan American Airlines. For Judy, running away from an oppressive marriage in small-town Pennsylvania is a risk she must take. And for Beverly, leaving behind the gilded cage of New York society will allow her to pursue a future of her own making.

Embracing the culture, etiquette, and strict rules of a thrilling and unpredictable new world above the clouds, Judy and Beverly are bound for faraway destinations and opportunities that other women dare only to dream about. But as they build a deep friendship, encounter love and danger, and discover what’s truly important, Judy and Beverly must also confront the secrets that could change their lives all over again—and forever.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

Pack your bags for this Pan Am flight back to the early 1960’s where you will have a five star experience from start to finish. What a fabulous story and trip down memory lane!

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell are both young women who are trying to escape their current family situations by joining the glamorous ranks of being a Pan Am stewardess. It’s 1962 when career choices for women outside the home were limited to becoming nurses, teachers or secretaries. With the advent of The Golden Age of Air Travel, the life of a stewardess offered travel to exotic locales, an opportunity to meet eligible men and a chance to join a sisterhood of like minded women. As our two protagonists form a deep friendship, their secrets, fears, hopes and dreams for the future are revealed as they navigate the skies, travel the world and face their personal demons that set them in motion.

As a teen in the 60’s who lived six miles from Idlewild Airport (now known as JFK), the airport was our playground as we ran through the tunnels in the Pan Am and TWA terminals and laid on the ground watching planes fly overhead. With vivid images of the beautiful stewardesses, I can remember as we talked about all the faraway places these women traveled to and that we hoped to visit someday. Written with impeccable research about this time in aviation, Ms. Di Maio takes the reader on a glorious trip through the friendship and lives of these women. Be sure to read the Author Notes AFTER you’ve read the story.

Thank you, thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Camille Di Maio for providing this grateful reader with a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed reading about pan am airline. I was totally invested in the two main characters Judy and Beverly and I thought their story flowed really well and kept me interested till the end. Highly recommend if your into historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

We meet Beverly and Judy.

Both women are running from something - Judy, an abusive husband - Beverly, a life of luxury that she was tired of and wanted to make it on her own.

Both women meet at Pan Am's exclusive school for airline attendants.

What a rough ride back in the 1960's with all the rules and restrictions put on flight attendants.

Ms. Di Maio did marvelous research about Pan Am - a very classy, glamorous place to work with high standards, and she gives us two characters you will be cheering on to make it to their goals as well as sharing what the life of flight attendants is like both at work and in their personal lives.

Another heartfelt storyline and wonderful characters that are signature Camille. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed this book. I LOVE to learn about the history of women's roles at companies or jobs or history. This was so interesting to read how different air travel is compared to now. Especially how the stewardesses prepared food, lol

The book flowed very well, and the characters' relationships were natural and I felt invested.

Really like this author's books and I was happy to read this newest one. Looking forward to the next!

This is a very good book. It is the first I have read from this author but I hope it will not be the last. In the 50’s, 60’s and even into the 70’s women didn’t have much of a choice career wise. Teachers, secretaries, nursing or being a stay at home mom were our main choices. I am envious of all of the opportunities open to women today. Airline stewardess were mostly women but the jobs were not plentiful and it was hard to meet the strict requirements. This book was about Pan Am stewardess- two of them in particular. The story was interesting and the characters relatable. I will be recommending this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

I enjoyed this look back at Pan Am Airlines. I liked both of the main characters and I was rooting for them. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction!

The author conducted extensive study by speaking with former stewardesses. The 1960s were regarded as the travel industry's golden age. Employee behavior and appearance were subject to stringent regulations. Some of it was new to me, and some I was familiar with. Although the author admits that she had to twist some facts to make the tale flow naturally, the industry details are largely genuine.Despite coming from such different backgrounds, the two main characters, Judy and Beverly, had a fantastic bond. Both of them learned from their decisions. The book took an unexpected turn toward the end. Even though it was alluded to throughout, it was unexpected. Once more, it was inspired by an actual event. A good story. Fantastic cover, really nostalgic!

I was intrigued to read this historical fiction as I didn’t know much about the Pan Am airlines. Pretty early on I almost put the book down but I am glad I finished it. It’s a bit about Pan Am and the times and also a bit about family dysfunction. The first half was barely a 3 star for me but the second half pulled me in.

Thank you to Allie for providing me an early release in exchange for a fair honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy for my honest review. * Book comes out February 2025!!*

This book follows two newly appointed Pan Am stewardesses running from their current lives toward their new adventures. One is running from the constraints of an abusing marriage, and the other is running from the gilded cage of New York society and the expectations that come with it. This book is filled with love, travel, beautiful friendship and deep family relationships. I just really really loved this book.

Also thank you to the author Camille Di Maio for completely transporting me to the 1960’s! The Golden Age of travel and the iconic time of the Pan American Airline!! The research put into this book, I mean wow. So many key events during this time are mentioned and woven into the story so perfectly. I’m now wondering if this is the first historical fiction novel I’ve read that wasn’t about WW2.

Come Fly With Me, a multilayered play on words on the Frank Sinatra classic, chronicles the life changing adventures of Beverly and Judy, two newly minted PanAm stewardesses in the days when flying first class was an event not soon forgotten. Both women have left devils behind them : Judy has fled from her abusive husband and Beverly has fled the constraints of the privileged life of Park Avenue.

The story proceeds somewhat predictably but not without intrigue and romance. This book is squarely in the category of chick-lit but for that genre, it’s quite good. I would like to read more by this author.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

“Come Fly With Me” is Camille Di Maio’s newest novel and focuses on the Golden Age of travel when airline passengers were not herded like cattle, squeezed into impossible to fit in seats.

Judy and Beverly have different reasons to become Pan Am stewardesses. In fact, they’re literally “flying away” from their troubles. Judy is fleeing a marriage while Beverly flees the expectations of being part of New York society. The two become friends as their new positions lead them on paths of self-discovery.

I recently read Ann’s Hood memoir (“Fly Good”) of being a flight attendant and this novel stays true to that history with the author’s extensive research of the aviation industry in the sixties. While the female characters, especially Judy and Beverly, were exceptionally well developed, the attention to male characters were more stereotypical. That would not be such a problem but part of the novel focuses on these “strong” women falling for these men.

Overall, this is a good read for someone who wants to glimpse a time in our history when flying itself was an enjoyable experience.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this book.

Wow, this book blew me away! It was like traveling back in time. I thoroughly enjoyed Judy and Beverly’s story as Pan Am stewardesses. The historical context in the 1960s was also fascinating. Quick read that’s bound to thrill you until the very last devastating page.

Reading this book felt like stepping into a time machine bound for the glamorous 1960s, with all its optimism, turbulence, and promise of adventure.

The story centres on Judy and Beverly, two women who couldn’t be more different. Judy, a small-town woman fleeing a suffocating marriage, and Beverly, a New York socialite searching for freedom, form an unshakable bond as they navigate the life of Pan Am stewardesses. Their adventures take us around the world, but the real magic lies in the friendship they build along the way.

Their friendship is the beating heart of this novel. Judy and Beverly are so different in their personalities and backgrounds, yet they share the same fierce determination to reclaim their futures. Watching their friendship blossom through shared adversity was a joy, and honestly, it made me cry more than once.

Camille clearly has a gift for capturing the spirit of the era. You can almost hear the clinking of cocktail glasses at 35,000 feet, feel the swish of a perfectly pressed uniform, and taste the longing for something more. The jet-set life isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right, with destinations like Paris, Hawaii, and Hong Kong adding a rich sense of wanderlust.

What struck me most, though, was the depth of the storytelling. Yes, there’s glamour, but there are also bruises life leaves behind. The novel doesn’t shy away from the heartbreak, the sacrifices, or the secrets that shape Judy and Beverly.

One of my favourite quotes: “For that is what we should live for. That is what we die for. Love. And I have known it so very well.” It’s a reminder of the fragility and beauty of life, perfectly encapsulating the bittersweet tone of the story.

The ending... You might see part of it coming, but that doesn’t make it any less sad. It’s not a perfect, tied-up-with-a-bow conclusion, but then again, life rarely is. And that’s what makes this book so special.

If you love stories about the power of female friendship, the courage it takes to rewrite your story, and the magic of chasing the horizon, this is the perfect book for you. This was my first Camille Di Maio novel, but it certainly won’t be my last.

Prepare to have your heart soar, and maybe break a little too. It’s worth it.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book had me remembering my childhood, when flying in an airplane was not an everyday occurrence and being a stewardess was something to be proud of. Years ago I remember watching a TV series about Pan Am stewardesses.

This book follows two women with very diverse backgrounds. There is Judy, who is escaping a horrible marriage and Beverly, who is escaping a life she had no say in.

The book explores the growth of the two friends growing in their chosen field. This book sucked me in and I didn't want to say goodbye to either lady.

I highly recommend it. Let's go and Come Fly with Me ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up.
I love it when the writing fits the decade perfectly.
Set up the plot perfectly, and the research it must have taken for all of this information about aviation in the 60s paid off, making it feel very immersive. I enjoyed both Beverly and Judy and was rooting for them throughout the entire story. However I felt like the pace at first was a bit slow and the resolution happened so fast I think for me it could have been a bit more balanced.
I took my time reading this book because I was enjoying it but this backfired because of the pace that ended up being so slow that I could have read it at a normal pace.
Another thing that annoys me when authors of english books want to write something in french is that it always seems as though they used Google Translate to do so when it would have been so easy to do some research and correct the mistakes, that always takes away some of the joy of reading a book for some reason, I hope these will be corrected before publishing.

Fun book set in a time that is rarely portrayed: the high point of air travel as a luxury. Great characters, wonderful settings. All around good read.