In Come Fly with Me, the reader gets transported back to the 1960s and Pan Am's height of popularity. Judy and Beverly come from different backgrounds and yearn for the glamour and independence that working for Pan Am offers. Judy is running away from an abusive marriage and Beverly is defying parental expectations. From training school in Miami to their first assignment in San Francisco, the girls have each other's backs. They make a shared list of places they promise to visit together. Through sporadic chapters that switch to modern day, the heartbreaking way their friendship ends is gradually revealed. It made me reflect on how powerful and long lasting the bonds of true friendship can be, the kind of bonds that time and distance cannot break or change. Though there is romance, at its heart, this is a novel of young women fulfilling their dreams at a time when girls were turning away from traditional expectations, while also finding the bonds of sisterhood established in friendship. Camille Di Maio's books are a must buy for me, and this is definitely my new favorite. Don't miss this one!

I love finding historical fiction novels about things that aren't a mainstream part in history. In Come Fly With Me, we get a glimpse of what it was like to be a new Pan Am stewardess. I was invested in both the main character's storylines and how they intertwined with each other, learning how to be strong and independent in their own ways with each other's support.

Without spoilers, I was a little saddened with the ending, but also knew it was coming.

3.5/5

Two young women in 1962 join the ranks of Pan-American stewardesses, looking for adventure and an escape from their seemingly inescapable circumstances. Along the way, they find friendship and romance as they see the world.

This is historical fiction at its best! Judy and Beverly forge an alliance that every woman dreams of having. They are both courageous and wholly likeable characters, and they felt so real to me, it was clear to me that the author did extensive research. Each location in this book was beautifully described. I would love to read more from Camille Di Maio.

Wonderful narration by all three readers chosen for the audiobook. Warm and passionate performances.

I didn’t know I needed this book. It started out a little as one thing and morphed into something surprising.

There are three narrators. Beverly and Judy in the 1960s telling how they became coveted Pan Am flight attendants. And in the present, a mystery narrator discusses their past and spreading their friend’s ashes.

It’s a beautiful story of friendship and how life was for women in the 1960s. I quickly fell in love with the two and their new glamorous life. Their travels. Their friendship. Their romances.

The descriptions of their exotic locations surrounded me. French Polynesia and Hawaii. It made me want to jump on a plane.

I loved getting to know the loves of the two. Their history. Their family. And how their new adventures changed their lives.

While not really focused on the romance, I loved that we got to know the men in their lives. Joe and Mark were both swoon worthy in their own way.

This ultimately grabbed me and was a warm hug. The golden age of flying. These woman and their larger than life experience.

Such a great read.

I’ve been off Historical Fiction, lately, as it mainly seems to come in the WW2 variety.

I love that I’m finding more books that deviate from that period.

The Matrix – 12th Century
Joan – 15th Century
The Briar Club – 1950s
Lessons in Chemistry – 1960s

This book is another excellent example.

It’s also super-niche – specifically focused on the ‘golden age’ of PanAm air travel.

I loved all the nerdy details about becoming a flight attendant – some of them haven’t aged well – and now understand why it was such a sought-after career.

My favourite part, though? The strong female characters, nurturing strong female to-the-bitter-bitter-bitter-end friendships.

I’m here for all of it.

As much as I’m not a fan of flying, I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to follow Judy and Beverly, who were hired as stewardesses for Pan American Airlines.

Flying was a big event back in the 1960s. There was etiquette and strict rules—they even had to prepare a full meal. The ladies had to learn all this and wear only one shade of lipstick! But they did get to venture to faraway destinations.

Although it is a true historical story about the glamourous jet age and the training of stewardesses (true to the time, that is what they were called), the story is also about friendship. Judy and Beverly have applied to PanAm for different reasons, trying to escape their pasts, but they soon become fast friends. Their journey is not without its challenges as they navigate the demands of their jobs, the expectations of society, and their personal struggles.


Buckle in because, with a mix of romance, adventure, risks, and even Frank Sinatra, you’ll be whisked away in 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞.


🎧 The audiobook was a great production, enriching my reading and bringing a new dimension to the characters.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @camilledimaio__author for the gifted book. Thank you @brilliancepublishing for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.

This was one of my favorite reads so far this year.

The book is set in the early 1960s. It’s told in two points of view: Beverly and Judy who are both flight attendants for PanAm.

Both women want to become part of the prestigious and competitive job of being a PanAm Stewardess but for very different reasons.

I loved both of these characters. I loved their backstories. I loved the portion of the book while they are working as stewardesses. I also loved the present time line which also tells part of the story.

This book has friendship, romance, and a look at life as an international stewardess in 1962.

Camille Di Maio takes listeners on a nostalgic and heartwarming journey in Come Fly with Me, a beautifully crafted historical novel that captures the glamour, ambition, and emotional depth of the golden age of air travel. With exquisite storytelling and immersive narration, this audiobook transports audiences to a time when adventure was just a flight away.

Set in the 1960s, the novel follows a determined young woman who dreams of seeing the world as a Pan Am stewardess. As she navigates the challenges of her new career—balancing adventure, romance, and personal sacrifice—she discovers that the journey of self-discovery is just as important as the destinations she visits. Di Maio’s evocative prose, paired with the audiobook’s engaging performance, brings the era to life, making listeners feel as though they, too, are soaring through the skies.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction and rich, character-driven narratives, Come Fly with Me is a captivating tale of love, independence, and chasing one’s dreams. With its vivid historical detail and deeply felt emotions, this audiobook is an unforgettable listening experience.

This is a pretty fluffy flight attendant book when it comes to the getting-the-job, job-training aspects, but it tackles some tough subjects (TW: DV).
Come Fly With Me follows two stewardesses in PanAm’s hayday interviewing for, training for, and starting their lives in the industry. I loved watching their friendships develop and both women gain strength throughout the novel.
The audio narration is well done. This was a fun listen on an international flight.

I loved this story. Following Beverly and Judy, both from different backgrounds, meet and become great friends at a stewardess school for Pan American Airlines. Told in three POVs from Beverly, Judy and one of them when they are older, but interestingly enough, you don’t know which one it is until later on. I loved learning about all of the requirements and how strict Pan Am was with their uniforms, weigh ins, women must not be married, etc. The characters were all wonderful. It was wonderful reading about women lifting other women up. I enjoyed this story much more than I originally thought I would.

There’s something incredibly fulfilling about reading a book that transports you to another era, and in this case, I was taken straight to the 1960s.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲 it’s a beautiful story about two women from different backgrounds and their journey as they join the Pan Am training program.
I was so engrossed in it that I read it in one sitting, and the ending left me absolutely breathless. I loved every moment of it.

Camille di Maio (favorite author) and master storyteller returns with a dazzling and beautifully written heartfelt tale of two women, best friends, back to 1962 and the glamorous Pan American Airlines with COME FLY WITH ME.

You will be transported to the Golden Age of Air Travel!

About...

Judy Goodman and Beverly Caldwell meet but do not realize how each other will impact one another's life. They both are striving for a position as stewardesses for Pan American Airlines.

Judy is running away from an abusive marriage in small-town Pennsylvania. As a stewardess, she is not allowed to be married, but she must keep this a secret to leave her husband and make an independent life for herself.

Beverly is leaving behind the New York society that will allow her to pursue a future of her own. She does not want to marry someone her dad thinks is good for business.

Enter the world of rules, adventure, etiquette, social, and culture above the clouds. The two women form a friendship and are loyal to one another. They both have secrets, sacrifice, and tragedy.

My thoughts...

"COME FLY WITH ME is enthralling! Beautifully written, meticulously researched, and richly evocative.”

Everything Camille Di Maio writes is meticulously researched and elegantly told with grace and finesse. All her books are fascinating and bring to life a piece of important history, leaving you feeling empowered, informed, and enriched.

I have read every book she has written; she is a top writer. If you have not read her books, I highly recommend them. Her prose is lyrical and vivid, and her characters are heartfelt and highly relatable. You will find a piece of yourself in Judy and Beverly. Friendships in this story are formed from shared adversity, scars of life, and shared experiences. I love books set in this period and enjoyed the friendship between these women.

The title fits the Frank Sinatra song, and the 1960s come alive on the page. You will be in awe of these courageous women who risked their lives —flexible, adventurous, organized, and fearless. Their bravery will inspire you.

Told from POV: Judy, Beverly, and Mo'orea, French Polynesia.

Audiobook...

I read the ebook and listened to the audiobook narrated by the talented Carly Robins, Dominique Salvacion, and Sherri Slater, elevating the story and making the characters come alive for an engaging listening experience.

Recs...

COME FLY WITH ME is for fans of the author and those who enjoy strong women and historical fiction.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Brilliance Audio for an advanced review and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Feb 18, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
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This was a moving, educational look at the life of Pan Am flight attendants during the 60s, with the strong female friendships, the independence and freedom and empowerment that working for themselves and flying the world provided. I loved the different characters and thought it was good on audio. Perfect for anyone who loved the ABC show or read Come fly the world by Julia Cooke. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Judy and Beverly meet in Pan Am stewardess training school and even though they come from vastly different worlds, they become fast and close friends. Judy is running away from an abusive marriage and Beverly is running from an oppressive high society life with a controlling father. Through the program they learn the strict Pan Am rules, meet men and go on to live their dream of flying with Pan Am. However, the past always returns and the women have to protect each other.

This was interesting, informative and fun to read. It takes place in the 60s when Pan Am only flew internationally and only had female stewardesses. The criteria and rules were strict and only a few made it through the program. I really enjoyed learning about this interesting time in plane travel as well as getting to know each of these women and their backstory. I half and halfed this one on audiobook and thought the multiple narrators from the audiobook enhanced the experience. Since this was a story and setting I hadn't really read about before, as a historical fiction reader I appreciated it, this is definitely a good one if you are a fan of historical fiction!

Thank you to Brilliance and NetGalley for the ALC to review

This amazing book tells the story of two incredible women, from very different backgrounds, as they begin their adventures as stewardesses for Pan Am airlines back in 1962, with some chapters in the present day. Both Judy and Beverly had very different reasons for seeking independence and adventure traveling the world. Camille Di Maio truly made their stories come alive as they went through the hiring process and their training. The process was daunting as only one in fifty applicants would be hired, and they would have to be willing to wear the makeup and hairstyles required, and keep their weight and figures within a set limit. I loved how strong they both were and the friendship that developed between Beverly and Judy. They loved amazing, strong, heartbreaking lives and every moment had me enthralled. I will admit that the book had me crying in a few spots, so be ready. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong, brave, empathetic characters, you definitely need to read this book!

Come Fly With Me provided a very interesting look at the lives of PanAm stewardesses (their preferred title at the time) in the early 1960s. While the basics of their job duties are similar today to what they were back then - there were many differences as well including mandatory weighins, not being allowed to get married, having a certain hair cut. It was all fascinating to learn about. One of my favorite parts of the book was the friendship between Judy and Beverly. They were also both such strong women who knew what they wanted and went after it.

I really enjoyed learning this little bit of history about Pan Am stewardesses. The stories about Judy and Beverly were really beautiful. They met while training together and ended up being set up in the same city. They lived together and helped each other with life things. This books shares love and loss.

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.

This novel was an unexpected delight! The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life! This is the first time I have read about stewardesses, and you can tell this novel is well researched. The book was a beautifully written peek into the 1960s Pan Am Flight Stewardess life and all it entails. Judy and Beverly gave me all the feels… ups and downs with a few tissues but highlighting a friendship…. Or rather sisterhood. It is a story of female empowerment, adventure, and self discovery. I loved this book, and I highly recommend it to the historical fiction and womens fiction readers.

You won't find an audio much better. These narrators were awesome. They will draw you in and have you hanging on for dear life. I look forward to listening to them again in other books.

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.