We Came Here to Shine

Book excerpt: In this “remarkable novel,” two young women face towering adversity amid the historic spectacle of the 1939 New York World’s Fair (Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Two-Family House). Vivi Holden is closer than ever to becoming a lead Hollywood actress—until an unfair turn of events sends her back to New York. Desperate for a chance to return to L.A., she sets out to perform at the upcoming World’s Fair. It won’t be easy, but her summer in New York will help her finally find her own way, on her own terms . . . Maxine Roth dreams of becoming a serious journalist at the iconic New York Times. But instead, she’s landed a post at the pop-up publication dedicated to covering the World’s Fair. Once again, she finds her big ideas are continually overlooked by her male counterparts. But she’s worked far too hard to sit on the sidelines. When Max and Vivi’s worlds collide, they forge an enduring friendship. One that shows them to be the daring, bold women they are. In the most meaningful summer of their lives, they will learn to never stop holding on to what matters most.