I am a big fan of anything Mid-Century, Sinatra or 60s related in general so I was very excited to check out “Come Fly With Me” and this book did not disappoint. I loved the relationship between Beverly & Judy and it was such a good friendship for two women from very different backgrounds. I loved how being a stewardess was such a big goal for each of them but for different reasons. And even though it’s obvious from the start that one of them doesn’t survive to this trip back to French Polynesia, it was still a sad but sweet ending. The whole book had such a great feeling of the Jet Age and felt so authentic. I absolutely loved it.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review this book!!

Judy and Beverly become close friends during Pan Am stewardess training. It is the 60's and the height of Pan Am's influence. The hostesses are known for their beauty, intelligence, and coolness under pressure. Beverly is from a rich family in NYC and wants to go out on her own and see the world. Judy is escaping an abusive husband and wants to do good on her own. Both women form a found family and make careers in Pan Am.

I really liked this book, with a few small caveats. I loved the characters and relationships and obstacles that went thru. I loved reading about the Pan Am selection and training process. I didn't love the inserted diary entries that were written to someone throughout- it really took me out of the otherwise great book. I wish those had not been added. I also didn't love the ending.

If you have any interest in the history of air travel and like a different historical fiction with interesting characters, this one is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio is a phenomenal dual timeline Historical Fiction jam packed with determination, courage, secrets, friendship, family, heartache and hope. The author's gorgeous storytelling, vivid descriptions, fascinating historical information, varied characters and thought-provoking life lessons made this so easy to rate five stars.

In 1962, Judy lives in a small town in Pennsylvania and discovers the true nature of her husband. Thanks to her neighbour Ronelle, she finds to courage to leave him. She has good reason to want...and need...a coveted Pan Am Airlines stewardess job but the process is rigorous and only a percentage are successful. Beverly is from high society New York and her magnate father's life goals are wealth and status. She is restless and needs an escape from societal expectations. After a stressful interview, both girls are hired into the elite club and become dear friends. The adventures begin immediately as they train and practice, practice and train. The galley and pool stories are amongst my favourites. But the romantic stroll...sigh...

The stewardess training process in the glamorous jet set age intrigued me and caused me to think about things travelers such as myself take for granted. Travel is eye opening and life changing and I'm so glad that is captured here along with hunger of the heart, the very same hunger which which resides in me. Like Beverly, I crave the different.

Experiencing other cultures, food, traditions, architecture and climate really expands one's perspectives and the allure in the 1960s must have been particularly attractive to these young ladies. So many excellent and likeable characters but my favourites are Judy, Beverly, Ronelle, Beverly's mother (loved her growth!), Joe and Mark. But the stories aren't all roses. Loss comes in many forms.

The italicized entries between chapters tugged at my soul. The author also includes one of her own stories in the novel. Lovely touch. And I beamed at what she says at the end!

My sincere thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this enchanting novel.

I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of Pan-Am, and so I was intrigued by the logline for Camille Di Maio’s Come Fly With Me.

Come Fly with Me takes place in 1962, during the dawn of the jet-set era and follows two young women wanting more out of life. Judy Goodman is looking to leave an erratic marriage and thinks Pan-Am is her ticket out. Beverly Caldwell is a New York socialite who wants adventure…and nothing to do with her upper class Park Avenue life. During their long training at Pan-Am’s Miami training center, they form a budding friendship and during their travels, they learn what’s really important in life.

For me, this book was perfectly fine. Judy and Beverly had a beautiful friendship and I loved the stark contrast between the two ladies. I loved their love stories and their adventures. I just found myself wanting a bit more in regards to plot. This story is definitely more character driven…but I just wanted a bit more to happen. I lived for the settings though and the writing was beautiful.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolute stunner of a story! It’s 1962 and Beverley and Judy hope to join the ranks of Pan American stewardesses. Beverley is part of New York society and wealth. She longs to be free to determine who she is and not be defined by wealth and who her friends are. Judy is in an abusive marriage with no hope of escape but she manages to apply to join Pan American stewardesses. Both Judy and Beverley pass the tests and are accepted. Both became great friends and thought of each other as sisters. Through their work as stewardesses and through their friendship they find romance, friendship, and family. I just loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a wonderful book!

Taking place in the early 1960’s, it is the story of two women who signed up to become stewardesses for Pan Am airlines, and all that it entailed at the time. Travel was still a luxury, people dressed up, ate delicious meals and drinks on-board, and the stewardesses were held to very high standards. Such a contrast to today’s cattle car approach to air travel.

Beverly comes from money, but to her, it was a golden handcuff. She knows she doesn’t want to be like her mother, putting up with a distant husband. Judy is fleeing an abusive marriage, lying to the airline to get hired. These two were unlikely friends , but they forged bonds that lasted them forever and beyond.

The story is hopeful and heartbreaking, loves found, and loss. I was pulled in from the beginning and was so interested in what happens next that I read it very quickly. One of a few 5 star books for me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book but my opinions are my own.

“The Elite of the Elite.”

A Fabulous book!
Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell growing up in two very different worlds meet when they enlist in the Pan Am stewardess program. Both looking for a way to escape from their own lives. The two become loyal friends and share so much together. Being a stewardess was not all you would think. Weigh ins, buying their own uniforms, had to be single, cut their hair. Most applicants did not pass the grueling training.
The two make a pact to visit all the places in Frank Sinatra’s song, “Come Fly With Me” and they certainly fly to some amazing places.
This story tugged at my heartstrings as I started to care about what happens to the two friends as I became more invested in the story. I had tears in my eyes at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union for the opportunity to read this book.

📚 BOOK REVIEW:
5/5⭐️ to Come Fly With Me by Camille Di Maio (camilledimaio_author)

I really loved this story about found family and female friendship from Camille Di Maio!

Set in 1962, Beverly Caldwell and Judy Goodman are both running from something. Beverly, from the expectations of her wealthy family and overbearing father, and Judy, from an abusive husband and a life lived for someone else rather than herself. They both find salvation in Pan Am Airlines and jobs as stewardesses. Their job gives them both a fresh start, a chance to visit exotic places, and a chance to find themselves and each other. They become fast friends and bring out the best in one another. 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.

I loved these characters. There is so much about each of them that reminds me of myself - Judy feeling afraid to accept that she deserves a better life and taking a chance to make it happen, and Beverly leaving behind everything she’s ever known to do the hard and scary thing of making a life on her own. I loved their friendship and loved the way they mirror each other - Judy’s practicality compliments Beverly’s impulsiveness and daring.

I was also so happy for each of them that they found romance and trusted themselves to take the leap and live in the moment.

Lastly, it’s clear the author did a ton of research before writing and it made everything seem that much more real and lively.

Thank you to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of the ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Come Fly With Me comes out February 18th and I would definitely recommend it for lovers of historical fiction.

Come Fly With Me tells the story of two PanAmerican stewardess, the training, the strict rules and regulations of the day. It also tells the story of the love and excitement of travel.

It was my first book by Camille Di Maio and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you to Netgalley for this e- copy of Come Fly with Me by Camille DiMaio in exchange for a honest review . This is a wonderfully engaging historical fiction piece set in 1962 and revolves around the lives of 2 Pan Am stewardesses- Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell . Judy is a married battered wife who applies to be a stewardess even though married women are not accepted . To be successful she has to find a way to avoid her husband and his stalking while navigating a new romance . Beverly Caldwell is a beautiful , rich girl looking to escape her stuffy life in hopes of finding a career that is the opposite of her mother’s life . There is lots of drama, tragedy and love in this beautifully written love story about second chances . Highly recommend .

Come Fly With Me is the story of two Pan Am stewardesses, through application, training and flight. Judy, desperate for the job, and Beverly, who wants to change her life - both women need the opportunity the job will give them. This is a story of friendship, love and relationships, interspersed with true events.

The book was well researched and very descriptive, I felt like I was travelling with the characters. Easy to read, with great characterisation, and ending that made me cry. A truly lovely book.

I very much enjoyed this book. I thought that it was entertaining and intriguing. I liked the split perspective and reading about the women in this time period. I also enjoyed all of the female relationships and how supportive all of the women were of each other. I couldn’t put it down!

“People present a façade to conceal the wounds they are yet ready to share”

Oh, to be the elite of the elite in 1962, the most prestigious position for a woman on the cusp of independence was a Pan Am Stewardesses .
Beverly and Judy are from two different worlds both need this position, without it, their dreams, and hopes, for any kind of life will not happen.
Two women who would not have found each other, if not for Pan Am, and who certainly needed each other.

There is so much nostalgia in this book for me, and it takes me back to a different time, the time that Included TV shows, up-and-coming movie stars and singers

The author did an amazing job with her research, characters, storyline, friendship, just like she always does in each and every one of her books!

This is not just a book. This was truly a journey.

As a hobby pilot's wife, I knew I had to read this one! Loved getting a glimpse into air travel of old. The standards for a stewardess as spoken about in this book can be viewed in the lens of today's time as misogynistic and archaic; however, I appreciate the authenticity and glamourous lifestyle depiction.

Starting the story with the flash forward and then interspersing throughout felt jarring. The story would have had even more of an emotional impact if we would not have been anticipating disaster (and I cried my eyes out even though I knew!). Both love stories were beautiful; the friendships even more so.

I am grateful to have received this as an ARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was something a little different for me but nevertheless it was great to be taken back to a time when air travel was out of the reach of the vast majority of people and becoming an air stewardess and travelling the world the dream of many a little girl.........myself included. The author vividly brought to life the indignities of the 'weigh in' prior to flights and the tight controls over how the women were supposed to look and behave. To the extent that it could cost them their job if they deviated. She also very successfully depicts the strong support and friendships that develop between these women, living nomad lives despite their initial difference in background. A wonderful well researched book that anyone should find interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Author: Camille Di Maio
Started: January 4, 2025
Finished: January 6, 2025
Publication Date: February 18, 2025
Format: Digital
Genre: Historical Fiction

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell both apply to become Pan Am stewardesses for different reasons with the same theme - escape. As the women go through training and their careers together, they experience all life has to offer.

This period is not one I've read a lot about, but I enjoyed it. Being a Pan Am stewardess was a dream for many young women, and going through the process with Judy and Beverly was exciting. These two women could not have been more different, but they managed to bring out the best in each other. This will be a book I buy for my shelves when it is released.

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Come Fly With Me is an endearing story about female friendship and travel. Two women, Judy and Beverly, come from very different backgrounds and both apply to be Pan Am flight attendants to escape their lives.

I love any books set in the 60s and about travel so this was perfect for me. I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives and flash forwards and the look behind the curtain about stewardess training and how everything works. I even had a travel dream while reading the book. Definitely recommend it and want to re-watch Catch Me If You Can after reading.

Come Fly with Me swept me right into the jet-set era of the 1960s. Camille Di Maio beautifully captures the excitement and glamour of Pan Am stewardesses, while weaving a heartfelt story of friendship, love, and reinvention.

Judy and Beverly’s journeys are so different, yet their shared ambition and bond really shine. Judy’s escape from her small-town life and Beverly’s break from New York’s high society both felt authentic and deeply relatable. The vivid descriptions of their travels and the era’s cultural nuances added an extra layer of charm.

This is more than a nostalgic escape; it’s a story of resilience, adventure, and finding oneself in a world full of possibilities. If you love historical fiction with strong female characters, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this delightful book!

Come Fly with Me will have you humming along with Frank Sinatra crooning that very song as you get lost in the world for Judy and Beverly.

Both ladies have made a life choice to become a Pan Am stewardess an elite position and limited to only a few applicants.

This is their story and the story of the history of the first well known stewardesses .

Judy is hiding a big secret and Beverly has given up her life style to follow their dreams.

You will cheer for both girls, laugh with girls, admire their strength and their friendship.

You will also need a kleenex .

Camille Di Marlo has done a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and the book is well researched.

Highly recommend you spend an afternoon with your copy of Come Fly with Me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing this captivating read Come Fly with Me.

This amazing book takes the reader back in time to the early 1960’s in American History. The story is about the friendship between two stewardess’ (not flight attendants) Judy and Beverly, and their different reasons for seeking employment on the prestigious Pan American Airlines.

In Come Fly With Me, author Camille Di Maio, fills the pages with dreamy descriptions of exotic destinations experienced by Judy and Beverly. They both make a list of the cities that Pan American flies that they are determined to see. Sounds like a beautiful adventure!

With all adventures and dreams in life, it is usually preceded a need. The need to be free and independent from oppressive circumstances. Di Maio develops both Judy’s and Beverly’s reasons for wanting freedom.

As employees Pan American Airlines Judy and Beverly are considered ambassadors or representatives of America. I enjoyed the patriotism and the pursuit of excellence, and being part of a team, even a family displayed by the duo and the company.

But it was not all roses, stewardesses (their preferred titles) had to buy their own uniforms, have actual weigh ins and remain single. Training was grueling and excellence demanded. Most applicants did not pass the training. A fact that I was not aware of.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, you will love this book. Di Maio relates actual historical events with all the exotic locations, Beverly is especially interested current events. I applaud her ability to make me feel like I was in the 1960’s.

If you are expecting some kind of female empowerment because these women are among the first to be given the opportunity to be financially independent from a man, you might be disappointed. It just seemed like they were acting their age and looking for love. Personally, I find this refreshing, but others might not like it.

Will I read a book by Camille DiMaio again? Yes, I fully appreciated and enjoyed her ability to transport me to a time before I was born. I plan to read all the books. Stay tuned for more reviews by this author in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are own.