This was a book I could not put down until I was finished, so make sure you have the time and a place where you will not get distracted. Camille has some romance, a little mystery and a unique story to tell that captures your attention from cover to cover.

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell come from two very different backgrounds, but both are trying to do the same thing, be hired as a stewardess for Pan Am Airlines and see the world in the 1960s

Judy was trying to find a way to escape her abusive husband so when she saw the ad for it, she knew it was the best option for her. This means she has to lie on her application for Pan American Airlines but she is willing to take the chance, she never imagined where it would lead her and the friends she would make along the way.

Beverly Caldwell grew up in the high society of New York and her family had expectations. She did not want anything to do with them, so becoming a Pan Am stewardess was the perfect answer. When she met Judy, Beverly knew that it was a friendship made in heaven and they would be together no matter what. Even if someone's life was at risk.

Come Fly With Me, by Camille DiMaio, is a trip back in time to the early 1960's when air travel was gaining traction. The author takes us back to those early flight attendants (known as stewardesses) who had to look like models, serve meals, fend off groping passengers, and never, ever offend anyone. I enjoyed the trip back in time to a cultural past that I barely remember. The story focuses on two young women who become friends during training and their experiences working for the airline and their romances. I really loved the cultural history, but the romantic entanglements seemed to take over the third of the book. I like romance, but it seemed to supplant the best aspects of this particular novel. I rated the book 3.5 and rounded up. Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publishers for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing for this arc.

The main focus of the book is the friendship that develops between the two as they train in the sweltering heat of Miami. Truths are not spilled immediately but each senses more behind the abbreviated stories the other tells.

Another thing the story incorporates is the beginning of women standing up for themselves and looking for something beyond getting married. Being a stewardess, and especially an envied Pan Am stewardess, added another job to the meager list that women could do then. Plus unlike being a secretary, being able to fly around the world was chic.

The attention to historical detail is appreciated and I learned a bit about what the demands of the job, and Pan Am’s attention to perfection, involved. Passengers then still viewed jet trips across the ocean as a luxury and something to be dressed up for and enjoyed rather than endured.

However, nothing except stories about Judy and Beverly in the air pushing drink carts wasn’t going to fill a book. I admit to being a bit disappointed that romances for both Beverly and Judy begin to take over the narrative by the halfway point. Plus both love interests are just a little bit too perfect. Love is grand, don’t get me wrong, but where did my independent women story go and no, using reverse lampshade to acknowledge this didn’t help.

When the present day bits began to appear, at first there was no hint about which FMC is relating them. I paid attention to details and amused myself by trying to figure out which person this is. Then a name is mentioned and details about what will happen are sprinkled in. I enjoyed the book but it is also not quite what I thought I would get. B-

Interesting historical women’s fiction about the early days of Pan Am flight attendants.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a wonderful book about friendship. Judy had to escape a marriage of abuse and Beverly escaped a life of luxury. The two girls formed a friendship that was unbreakable. Everyone should have one like they did. The life of a PanAm stew is depicted in real terms. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio took me back to 1962 when many young women were eager to become Pan Am stewardesses. The stewardesses were considered beautiful and glamorous. I could tell that the author did her research. The airlines had strict requirements for stewardesses that included their weight, behavior, hairstyle, color of lipstick, and the type of shoes they could wear while on duty. I liked the details about the training that the women had before they took to the skies. I would have liked more information about the work the women did on their flights and other details in the second half of the book. The story is told from Judy and Beverly’s point of view. The two women come from different backgrounds. Despite their differences, they become good friends. The pair grew from the choices they made and their experiences. I wanted the story to portray the ladies as strong, independent women. I was disappointed when the focus switched to romance, but it is accurate. Many women became a stewardess in order to snag a husband (hopefully, a successful one). I like how Frank Sinatra’s song “Come Fly with Me” influenced one of the women to become a stewardess and that the song was referenced throughout the story. I knew what was going to happen at the end based on hints throughout the story. It was emotional. It is based on a real life incident (read the author’s note at the end of the book). Come Fly with Me was an enjoyable story with a touching ending.

Having been intrigued by the Pan Am glamourous era in the 1960s Come Fly With Me was on my radar to read this year and did not disappoint. Two very different young women, Judy and Beverly, both desperately want to become Pan Am stewardesses, who are regarded as beautiful, smart, and the best of the best. While they have different reasons, the deep and desperate need to escape their current lives is what drives them both. Judy-a dangerous marriage. Beverly-escape her father's control and carve an independent path. Through interviews, grueling training and the first flights around the world, readers meet a strong cast of characters among the backdrop of exotic locations, peppered with the culture of the 60s. From the beginning in present day, someone is narrating a farewell (and it's not clear who is narrating for some time) that leads to alternating chapters featuring Beverly and Judy. and their Pan Am experiences. It ultimately leads up to the life-changing event for the main characters and while emotional and difficult, Camille Di Maio tells it masterfully. This is a wonderful storyline, well-researched and one that will stay with you after finishing the last chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you Lake Union Publishing and @netgalley for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
“It’s 1962, the dawn of the jet-set era. Hope takes flight for two Pan Am stewardesses navigating an adventurous new life in a novel about love, friendship, and escape.”
When I received a widget for this book on NetGalley, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I was so intrigued by a historical fiction novel about Pam Am stewardesses in the early 1960s when Pam Am epitomized the luxury and glamour of intercontinental travel, and the stewardesses were considered the most glamourous, having to fit specific physical and lifestyle requirements.
Judy and Beverly are two young stewardesses from different walks of life who become fast friends during Pan Am training. I love the different backgrounds the author gives them and how their stories stay with them throughout the novel. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Pam Am training and all the travel they got to do as stewardesses.
It’s clear from the present-day snippets that there’s something about their time as stewardesses that we don’t yet know. I love how the author builds towards it, keeping the reader in the dark for a while and dropping hints along the way.
Finally, if you think it’s just a coincidence that the title of this book is also the title of one of Frank Sinatra’s most recognizable songs, it’s not! It’s clear through the dialogue that his album helped inspire a whole generation to travel. I love this connection to the time period.
This was my first book by Camille Di Maio and I look forward to checking out her other books!
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

I have long been fascinated by the Golden Age of Air Travel and have read a few books, both fiction and nonfiction, about this era. This book was the perfect combination of the two. While I am far from an expert on aviation history or the history of flight attendants, I could tell that a lot of research went into this book and the two main characters were just different enough to get two distinct points of view regarding this era. Their friendship made the book flow effortlessly and their romantic relationships added to their character development and the story overall. One note that I caught in the audio that others might not and may not bother them but it bothered me: adobo is spelled correctly but is pronounced incorrectly several times. Otherwise, both the book and the audio were well done and I loved everything else about this.

3.5 ⭐️ the friendship of beverly and jude is what i strive for in life. being in aviation now, it’s fun to go back to its “glory” days. def slower paced and different from what i usually read

4.5⭐ rounded up

Meet two young women choosing to slip the bonds of their respective lives for very personal reasons by applying to be stewardesses for Pan Am in the early 1960s. The lure of travel and adventure captured their hearts. Di Maio does an exceptional job of not only nailing the time period, but how different the mores and choices were. Both Beverly and Judy find themselves and their lives changed through the experience and their friendship as the bedrock of the change. Wonderful characters and descriptions of lovely places.

This was an unexpected delight. I've not read anything about being a stewardess before and this was so good and so well researched. You could tell that a lot of love went into writing this novel. It was a book that will stay with me a good while.

Two women who could not be more different. Both wanting to escape their lives. Their pasts. One from an abusive tyrant of a husband. The other from her overbearing father.

Judy was married to man who loved to put his hands on her. He didn't want her to have any friends or family. Not even children. As that would take away from him. Her life was to revolve completely around him and what he wanted out of the marriage. She had to give up all of her hopes and dreams. He was a smooth talker when wooing her. He captured her heart completely and then changed after they married...

Beverly came from wealth. She never lacked for anything. Other than the love she craved from her parents. It was like she was an accessory for them rather than their child. At times her mother could be warm but for the most part she just seemed to ignore her daughter. Her father had her life all planned out. Get married to a rich man and let them combine power. Beverly had other ideas.

Both young women wanted to become Pan Am Stewardesses. Each for very different reasons. They become the very best of friends in their journey. Claiming to be sisters even though they were not related. They were both only children. Both wanted to find a better kind of life. One with happiness and real love.

This book gave me so many good feels. A little bit of tears too. Ok a lot of tears at one point. Deep love that would last a lifetime. I laughed and cried. I felt such hope for these two young women. They were the perfect match. They rooted each other on no matter what lay ahead. They complimented each other. They both found love and happiness. Then tragedy hit. One was lost...

This story is told from each ladies point of view. You get to know them well. This book was so good. So emotional in every way. I learned a lot about being a Stewardess for Pan America in the sixties. The author did a great job of researching and letting you know in her Author's Notes at the end. Don't miss that part.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, for this ARC.

Travel back in time to the 1960’s in this well researched novel! Two women from very different backgrounds embark on careers at Pan Am, and become fast friends during their training. One is leaving an abusive relationship, the other does not want to end up living the life path that her family has chosen for her.
The author does a great job developing the characters, their friendship, and also the flight and work experience during this period of time.
I was so excited to read another book from this author! Pre Order!

Absolutely LOVED this book and the author's writing style! She made me feel like I was right there with the stewardesses.
The author did a great job in researching the roles and lifestyles of a Pan Am steward and portrayed it perfectly. Also all of the places they traveled to and experienced was amazing.
If you enjoy historical fiction with a little truth sprinkled throughout then I definitely recommend Come Fly with Me and look forward to reading more books from the is author!

I have been a fan of Camille Di Maio's work for some time so I was excited to receive an ARC of Come Fly with Me from Netgalley and the publisher.

This is a story of friendship more than anything. The book has two timelines: present day and 1962. The story starts out with us not knowing who is speaking but the woman is reminiscing about the past and their friendship. The is foreshadowing that one of them is no longer living and that is is profound grief with that loss.

1962 in Miami is where Judy and Beverly formed an unbreakable friendship. Both flight attendants with Pan Am airlines, the two went through training together and then their post assignment. There is aspects of love but I feel like friendship is the overarching theme of this book.

I found the details that Di Maio put in the book about the Pan Am and the culture of airlines in the 1960s to be fascinating. I think we take for granted that the way things are today are how they have always been.

Possible trigger warnings: Domestic violence and sudden death

Side Note: If you ever fly in to NYC and have a chance to visit the TWA Hotel, I highly suggest it. My mom and I stayed there when our connection from London to Indianapolis was cancelled. Scrambling, we ended up there. Yes, it is a different airline but very similar in the timeline. On their mezzanine, they have a display of past uniforms for stewardesses

London, Paris, Rome, Athens! Oh, the possibilities! ✈️ I just loved this Historical Fiction story about two Pan American Airways stewardesses in 1962.

"Brains and beauty. That's what a Pan American Stewardess is, in that order."

It's a new age for flying and Pan American Airways is recruiting women of all cultures. They are striving to be a new future that is promoting permanent peace in the world. The ladies wear their uniform with pride because only the, "best of the best" are chosen.

It's 1962 and Judy needs to flee from an abusive marriage. Beverly, is leaving behind a world of privilege and longs for something more. These two women will meet during training and will form a deep friendship.

The writing is wonderful and the research is fascinating and top-notch. The book immerses you very quickly into the early 1960's. The fashions, foods, and music (yes Frank Sinatra's, "Come fly with me" has a special place in the story 🎵too!) Plus just loved hearing about the "exotic" locales.

I started this one on an airplane while I was travelling for the weekend. It was so cool as the flight attendants on the small carrier I was on have very similar uniforms to the ones depicted in the story..right down to the pill box hats! I think that only added to my enjoyment! This one is already going down as a favourite for 2025. If you enjoy a different kind of historical fiction story I urge you to pick this one up! The ending had me in tears! 😢

Publishes February 18, 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing (who never seems to disappoint) in granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I found "Come Fly With Me" by Camille Di Maio to be an addictive, interesting & well written story that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final outcome.
I enjoyed the author's writing style, how she told the story by connecting her 2 main characters through alternating chapters.
I would definitely read another book by this author.

This book was so well-written and I really enjoyed it. Following the life of two newly hired PanAm stewardesses, this book beautifully explains explores friendship, love, loss, and trauma. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book!

The 1960s brought us the golden age of flying in which Pan Am and TWA were front and center of that dream of jetting off to dreamed-of destinations – both those who delivered top-notch service and their pampered passengers. Judy and Beverly wanted to live that dream, each winning coveted spots as stewardesses for Pan Am. Judy escapes an abusive marriage to live her travel dreams, and Beverly wants much more than her limited life as a New York socialite.

With the goal of being shaped into uniform paragons of beauty and poise, the women begin their glamorous careers in a training camp in Florida. The requirements to adhere to strict rules regarding makeup, hair, dress, and comportment are all designed to lure passengers. The women are also expected to speak at least two languages and have a college degree. Training includes world geography, rigorous safety training, and much more.

The book’s details of the job’s requirements and training is fascinating, but unfortunately is all too brief, and the variety of passengers crossing the paths of the women in their travels is lacking in the novel. Instead, the novel becomes centered more on romance. Judy falls instantly in love with one of her instructors, and Beverly falls for a passenger she meets on one of her first flights. The novel switches between Judy’s and Beverly’s points of view and leaves the reader inside their heads with far too much trivial and trite inner dialogue. This book is for the romance reader, but readers who want a well-rounded picture of the airline industry in this time era would be better served reading one of the many memoirs written by stewardesses, such as Come Fly the World by Julia Cooke.

Historical Novels Review, February 2025

Come Fly With Me is a charming, light-hearted romance with just the right amount of adventure. Di Maio’s writing and the setting make it an easy and enjoyable escape.