The USA Today bestseller

Let’s Call
Her Barbie

She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world.

A cinematic look back at the early days of Mattel when Ruth Handler’s vision for a new kind of doll revolutionized the toy industry while empowering young girls. Beyond the creation of an iconic doll is a business caper filled with egos, scandals, and women breaking the glass ceiling.

A RuPaul’s Book Club PickIncludes Exclusive Vintage Barbie Photos

The pink paperback of Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen, standing on an ivory stone plinth in soft window light
Author Renée Rosen wearing a blue jacket
Photograph by Julie Kaplan Photography

The author behind the stories

About Renée

Welcome and thanks for stopping by. As an author, I’m always drawn to underdogs, especially those ambitious women who defied the odds and made their mark on history. My goal is to bring these stories to you in such vivid detail that you feel transported to another time and place. I like to write scene to scene and engage all the senses to create an immersive reading experience. After you’ve turned the last page, my hope is that you’ve been entertained, surprised and even inspired by my leading ladies.

More about Renée

From authors & reviewers

In good company

Renée Rosen is my go-to for whip-smart heroines who love their work.

Kate Quinnon Park Avenue Summer

What a fresh and fun take on Barbie lore!

Shelby Van Pelton Let’s Call Her Barbie

Witty and beautifully imagined…Rosen delights with breezy dialogue and keen insights into the era. Historical fans will love this.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)on The Social Graces

Out & about

Upcoming events

All news & events

Apr 202715

An evening with Renée Rosen

McHenry County College Lucht Auditorium · Algonquin, IL

7 PM

Event details

Your privacy, your choice.

Optional website measurement helps Renée understand which pages and shared links lead to book interest and inquiries. It uses first-party identifiers and is on by default for US visitors unless previously rejected. Elsewhere, it starts only after you allow it. No advertising pixels or cross-site browsing history.

Privacy & cookies

Your preferences

Cookie settings

Website measurement defaults on for US visitors without a prior rejection. Elsewhere, or if location is unknown, it requires your permission. Necessary-only and Reject both switch it off. You can browse and contact Renée either way.

Necessary
Always active · Website security and remembering your privacy choice.
Optional website measurement
Where enabled: public-page visits, returning browsers, book-page views, retailer and newsletter clicks, and successfully received inquiries. Approximate location, device/browser, language and network categories help explain this activity. No form contents or advertising cookies.
Embedded media
Not used · Social and newsletter links open external services.

No preference saved in this browser.