In the week before Memorial Day, I am usually planning what books will earn a place in my beach bag. This year, finding a book to hold my attention has been challenging and reading in the backyard seems more likely than at the beach. But wherever you read, these two beautiful stories whisk you away to another time and place with stories that keep you turning the pages.

This lovely historical fiction story is just what I needed right now. Set at the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, New York, the novel follows two women in alternating chapters. Vivi is a Hollywood actress employed by one of the major studios. When her first lead role is stolen from her, she’s sent to be the star of the Aquacade, a synchronized swimming show at the fair. As she tries to swim her way to success, a secret from her past forces her to decide what is truly important to her. Her path crosses with Max, a budding journalist assigned to work at the fair’s newspaper for the summer. Max struggles to thrive, bucking male chauvinism every day on the job. When the two women meet, they see characteristics they wish they possessed themselves. Max envies Vivi’s looks and soft way, while Vivi wishes she could be harder and more goal driven, like Max. As their friendships develop, they learn from each other while their lives changes in ways they never would have imagined. 

My favorite part of the book is the historical elements about the fair. I work a mile away from the fairground in Queens. While the Perisphere and trylon no longer exist, the unisphere from the 1964 fair stands as a reminder of things past. Every time I drive by, I wonder what those fairs were like and imagine how wonderful it must have been to attend. Schnall clearly did loads of research and it paid off. The little details about the exhibits, restaurants and fashion all made the scenes jump right off the page. Both Vivi and Max’s stories are well developed and interesting. I loved spending a few days hearing their stories and rooting for them to make their way in the male dominated world of 1939.

This book is a delightful read about a place I’d never heard of. Of course I’ve read books and watched movies about the Jewish resorts in the Catskills. Who hasn’t seen Dirty Dancing or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? But, I’d never known that a similar culture existed in South Haven, Michigan. I loved learning about this place through the eyes of Betty (Boop) Stern Peck. The story is told with dual timelines, one when Betty is about to head off to college at Barnhard in 1951, and the other when she is in her eighties, recently widowed and trying to figure out how to live the rest of her days.

In the current day timeline, Betty (now called Boop) invites her two oldest friends for a reunion weekend in South Haven. While “the girls” are just settling in, Boop’s granddaughter, Hannah, crashes the party to seek her grandmother’s advice. Hannah’s crisis reminds Boop of the decision she made in the summer of 1951, the one that would change her life forever.

I adore dual timeline stories and this one doesn’t disappoint. Betty (Boop) is a wonderful character, sweet, spunky and flawed, and I loved seeing her life unfold on the page. Her story is bittersweet and full of secrets, surprises and unexpected turns, a perfect beach read.