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.

Great story set in 1960's USA during the heyday of Pan Am. Strange to think that only unmarried women could work as cabin crew and married women had to leave. A strong story.

This book is a gem. Learning about the stewardesses at Pan American airplanes back in the day was fascinating and the characters and absolute gems. Each time I put the book down, I missed the people in the story! Of course, now I feel bereft, having finished it. There was so much heart and soul in this book, I fear I won’t find one up to its. Muster for a while. Make sure to read this with tissues, as the story pulls on your heartstrings throughout. This is the best 2025 book I have read so far (and I have read many!) Thank you so much, NetGalley and the publisher for the wonderful experience of reading this book. I won’t soon forget! I plan to read more from this author in hopes of finding another gem!

I’ve anticipated this book for several years and it did not disappoint. Totally worth waiting for. I have read most, if not all of Camille Di Maio’s books, which I have found to be beautifully written, heartfelt stories, often with intriguing history as a result of her extensive research.
It is in the early 1960s, and Pan American Airlines is accepting applications for Stewardesses. Although such glamorous positions attract many young women, Judy Goodman is desperate to get far away from her abusive husband. She’s been hiding a little money each week in preparation of being able to leave. She is thrilled to actually be selected for one of the coveted positions which will enable her to get far away. Beverly Caldwell also wants an escape from her privileged, New York society life to a life of her own choosing. Although Judy and Beverly come from completely different backgrounds, they become fast friends as they embark on many exciting adventures in the friendly skies
The characters in this captivating story are strong, loveable and memorable, and as this story at times, is a bit of a wild ride, it takes you along to many interesting and often exotic destinations, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

AMAZING.
This book captures such multifaceted sides of women in the 60's. I had never read a story about Pam Am or the impact and haven it was for women; it was a breath of fresh air in the historical fiction space. The two main characters go through heart-wrenching journeys and find themselves working for Pam Am as stewardesses. LOVED THE LOVE STORIES WE RECIEVED. They were focused on just enough for them to feel deeply rooted in truth, but not too much to where it took over our main idea of the women. This is my first book by Camille Di Maio, but definitely won't be my last. Amazing storyteller.

Come Fly with Me takes readers back to the glamorous yet challenging world of 1960s air travel, following the intertwined lives of two women who forge a remarkable friendship, despite their differences.
The author captures the highs and lows of their lives, from international travel to the weight of personal struggles. Fans of historical fiction and stories of female empowerment will find Come Fly with Me a delightful and inspiring read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. This is the story of two young ladies, Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell, who became stewardesses for Pan American Airlines in 1962. I loved comparing all of the strict rules of that time compared to flying today. I also enjoyed reading about the fashions of that time as well as the descriptions of the places where they visited. I also thought the surprise ending created some suspense in the story. Highly recommend!