There’s something irresistible about the magic of New York City in the 1940s.
Present day, advertising executive Olivia works at a boutique agency in danger of folding if they don’t land a big account. She is in love with her boss, who does not return her affection. Olivia is determined to prove her worth and willing to sacrifice her social life and happiness in order to achieve success.
Working on the agency’s make or break pitch for the MTA, Olivia stumbles upon the old “Miss Subway” contest that ran monthly in NYC from 1941 until 1976, which was a campaign run by the MTA that each month featured a young woman from the Big Apple who rode the subway. Olivia is fascinated with the story and takes a deep dive into the history and story of the former Miss Subways.
In a parallel narrative we meet Charlotte, who is an atypical woman in 1949 New York City – she is driven and determined to have a career in advertising, unwilling to become a housewife. She’s turned down multiple proposals from her beaux in order to pursue her education and has a hunger to succeed. Charlotte ends up entered in Miss Subways by a friend and decides the contest may be a solution to all her problems.
Susie Orman Schnall ties together the narratives of Olivia and Charlotte seamlessly in a compelling page-turner that I had trouble putting down. I specifically enjoyed the play on the similarities and differences of women then verses women now. While many things are different, some things have not changed.
If you are a lover of historical fiction, this book is a must read!!!
Verdict: Read it! NOW! (5/5 stars)
Length: 320 pages
/strong>: You’re in the mood for a taste of old New York City.
Quote: “Very few things in life unfold the way we thought they would. In fact, you should be suspect when they do. Who cares when the best things in life happen? Don’t you see? You’re getting everything you wanted. The packaging is a little unexpected and not ideal, but the stuff inside, the stuff that really counts, is just right.”
Also Read: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Jenkins Reid (B2C review here).
Buy The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall