An actress and a journalist meet at the 1939 World's Fair and drum up some interesting situations.

Both women have similar life disappointments and find the common ground of playing second fiddle. Max to a man, and Vivi because she looked too innocent for the part in a Hollywood production.

Max lost her hopes of working for The New York Times for the summer to another student. Max was assigned instead to a job as coordinator at the World's Fair and not assigned to any article writing. She realized women were not considered to be as good in the journalistic field as men.

Vivi lost her Hollywood position to someone else and was sent to New York to perform at a synchronized swim event. This definitely wasn't her choice of career paths.

We learn about both women in alternating chapters as they struggle through what is going on in their lives.

Ms. Schnall did a marvelous job of researching and of putting the reader in the characters’ lives as well as the World’s Fair. I enjoyed being at the World's Fair both on the public side and the side of all those involved with making the fair happen.

If you need something to satisfy your historical fiction craving and to see how strong women made their way in 1939 in a man’s world, WE CAME HERE TO SHINE will be a lovely treat.

You will also be treated to secrets, gossip, lovely characters, a great story line, and the beauty of friendships. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.