LAST DANCE ON THE STARLIGHT PIER by Sarah Bird is an engaging historical fiction novel set in Galveston and Houston, Texas and briefly in Chicago during the Great Depression. At its heart, it is a story of the hardships endured during the late 1920s and early 1930s and what people did to survive. It brings to life tales of Prohibition, family-run empires of crime and corruption and the world of dance marathons that were a prevalent form of entertainment at the time. In all the stories I’ve heard about the Great Depression, this was the first I’d read about dance marathons and the grueling acts of resilience the young dancers endured just to survive. The main character, Evie Grace Devlin, grew up on the vaudeville circuit, but after the death of her beloved father, was cruelly exploited by her mother. Against all odds, Evie breaks free of her controlling mother and improbably earns a scholarship to a prominent nursing school. But her past comes back to haunt her and Evie is denied her dream of becoming a registered nurse. She ends up pulled into the world of dance marathons and is able to find love, friendship and a sense of family that has been missing from her life. I enjoyed this heart-warming and heart-wrenching story of hope and perseverance and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Bird. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

"Last Dance on the Starlight Pier" by Sarah Bird is a story that begins at the end!

Seventeen-year-old Evie Grace Devlin has aspirations of becoming a nurse. Full of hope, she travels to Galveston, TX to realize her dream. After three years of being at the top of her class in nursing school, she's expelled when pictures of her dark past surface on graduation day.

Evie eventually hooks up with a dance marathon, first as a nurse, and, as time moves on, as the partner of the star dancer, Zave. She's taken by his handsome looks and kind nature. It feels comforting being part of this dance marathon. Is this her new future? Is Zave her future, too?

The common threads in this book are the struggles of the Depression and dance marathons that take place during this time period. The best working wage in 1932 is fifty-cents a day, if you can find work. As a marathon dancer you have three meals a day, a bed to sleep on for 15 minutes intervals, and the 'dangling carrot' of a cash prize. A very appealing option when the other side is homelessness.

What I like about this story are the two main characters of Evie and Zane. They both kept me reading when, more than once, I thought of stopping. I also enjoyed the historical aspects of the story and the quirkiness of the secondary characters. The author does a great job with character development and back stories.

What I didn't like was the length of this book. At over 400 pages, it's simply too long and with additional editing it would keep the story fresher, faster and without repetition.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Bird for a free ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

Last Dance on the Starlight Pier by Sarah Bird is a story set in the Great Depression as one woman struggles to rise above her past for a better future. The story opens on July 3, 1932 as Evie Grace Devlin watches in horror as the Starlite Palace burns. She had come to Galveston to escape a dark past in the fading days of vaudeville and become a nurse. When the dream of becoming a nurse doesn’t become a reality, she finds herself in the strange world of dance marathons. There she meets individuals who have been outcasted by their families and communities to make a living in the dance marathons. Evie soon finds herself in the one place she swore to leave behind: the spotlight. In the dreaded spotlight, she finds what she has wanted the most: a family, a purpose and love. Will Evie be able to truly put her past behind her and achieve her dreams?
I was intrigued by the premise of Last Dance on the Starlight Pier. What’s not to be intrigued by the Great Depression, dance marathons and the resilience of the human spirit? I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning as Evie watched the fire burn and looked forward to discovering the events that led her there. Unfortunately, the story fell terribly flat. It was way too long and incredibly boring. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, particularly Evie. I found her to be unbelievably naïve despite her dark past. There was too much going on to be enjoyable. Was it a story of Evie and her resilience? Was it a story of the Great Depression, the mob and Prohibition? I felt the political commentary was more indicative of today’s political climate instead of being a reflection of the 1930s. There were just too many agendas trying to be in the forefront that it took away from the story. Unfortunately, I do not recommend Last Dance on Starlight Pier.

Last Dance on Starlight Pier is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

“Last Dance on the Starlight Pier” by Sarah Bird
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 4/12/22
Genre: Historical Fiction

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! My favorite historical fiction tends to be books set in the 20-30s! This one did not disappoint! I was interested from the start. I haven’t read one regarding traveling dance marathons, so I found this super interesting.

The Great Depression has hit the United States hard, but not Galveston, Texas. Evie Devlin has spent her whole life wanting to get out of Houston and away from her mother. She ends up training as a nurse at St. Mary’s, but when it’s time to get her RN Pin her past comes back to haunt her. She’s thrown out of school without her degree and is desperate to find work. Her Uncle runs a dancing marathon in Houston, so she heads that way. She ends up being an Aid for the contestants for one day until they have to pack up and head North to Chicago. She finds herself becoming the star of the show as Nurse Gravy. What she wasn’t expecting as to be swooned by fellow dancer Zave. They are all trying to survive, but the shows manager gets into serious trouble with Al Capone. Evie uses her connections in Galveston to get the show relocated. They’ll do it under one condition. Zave and Evie have to be the star of the show. They are all over the papers and the main attraction. Evie is desperate to get back to Galveston to see her best friend Sophie, but also find a way to get her Pin that she has earned. The Last Dance might be the Starlight Pier’s last chance.

very interesting story of evie , set in 1932, . enjoyed reading about the dance marathons..will look for other books by this author.

In 1932, the Depression is raging, and Evie Devlin just wants to be a nurse. Hiding her vaudeville background, she goes to nursing school in Galveston, until her 'disgraceful' past catches up with her. Fleeing to Houston and then Chicago, Evie finds her place in a common, inexpensive entertainment of the time- dance marathons. Will she find love and acceptance and get her nursing certification?

I loved the premise, settings, and time period of this book. It was a little Four Winds survival story, a little entertainment business behind the scenes, a little coming of age story, with some mobsters thrown in. It was a 5-star premise that was almost ruined for me by the main character making bad decisions time and time again and especially with one person in her life whom she wanted to change. Her insistence of changing them and pushing for their love just really rubbed me the wrong way. I know it was more consistent to that time, but the way it was drilled into the book just turned me off. I liked that the book was very original and took on many settings and I thought the dance marathons were very interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This one, unfortunately, wasn't for me. I felt like the characters were one dimensional and I struggled to get into the story. I also didn't have a good feeling about it working for me after reading the prologue. I am not a fan of character's that think they could cause someone else to die by suicide. That statement in the beginning, I feel, could be harmful for readers that have experienced losing someone to suicide.

It’s 1929 and Evie Grace Devlin hopes to leave her difficult childhood behind. She heads to Galveston, Texas with dreams of becoming a nurse and studying at the St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing. In 1932, after graduating at the head of her class, her past as a child vaudeville performer is discovered and Evie is denied her earned RN pin. This forces her to seek other means of making a living, which is very difficult given the country is in the thick of the Great Depression. Given her nursing experience, she manages to find employment in Chicago working for a promoter who puts on marathon dance competitions. She soon bonds with Zave, their lead attraction and the two become a dancing couple. The Handsome Hoofer and the Never-Naughty Nurse. The press loves them. Through friendships left behind in Galveston, Evie arranges for the group to stage a major dance event at the Starlight Palace on the historic Starlight Pier and hopes her new fame might help her gain the nursing certification kept from her. When a tragic event occurs, it could destroy all of Evie’s hopes and dreams.

Dance marathons were a huge form of entertainment during the Depression. With Americans in dire straits, these dances served as a cheap diversion for audiences. And for the dancers, the possibility of collecting the large prize money was worth the pain and agony. Author Sarah Bird does a fine job taking us back to this grim time period. Last Dance on the Starlight Pier made me think of the 1969 movie They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? which starred Jane Fonda and was my introduction to this dance phenomenon. The book also addresses the influence of organized crime, the political climate with the upcoming Presidential election and archaic medical practices during this period of time. My heart ached for Evie as I rooted for her throughout this atmospheric book.

Last Dance on the Starlight Pier by Sarah Bird
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Evie Devlin’s dream is to make it on her own and become a registered nurse. After her dream is cruelly crished she is swept into the world of dance marathons and meets someone who knew her beloved father.
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Thoughts:
Even though this book sort of has a lot of different things going on in it, it didn’t feel like too much.

I learned a lot about dance marathons. All I had previously known about them I learned from that one episode of Gilmore Girls.

This was an interesting time period to read from. It’s 1932 and a lot of people are frustrated with the current president and hoping for a new one to save them.

In addition to the everyday injustices that people faced at this time, Evie faces several injustices that I felt for her about.
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I’m glad I read this story and I think it opened my eyes more to this time period. I can’t say that I really enjoyed myself reading the story though so I think ultimately that this book wasn’t really for me.
Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this book.

LAST DANCE ON THE STARLIGHT PIER by Sarah Bird is the story of a young woman in the Depression set in Galveston, Texas. Arriving starry-eyed and ambitious in a place she has never been, Evie is drawn into the world of dance marathons through a series of unforeseeable events that leave her stunned at the very end, watching a magical, terrible world burn to the ground. This book is set in a time and place I have never lived, but now feel like I've visited in this remarkable story. Powerful characters, underhanded maneuvers, and twists and turns kept me reading to find out what happens next, with both dread and happy anticipation. I received an advance reader copy of this book and this review is my own, unbiased opinion.

3.5 stars
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier travels back and forth during the time period of 1929-1932. The last sentence in the first chapter pulled this reader into this story. Evie asks herself, “How had I become a person who would cause the man I love to kill himself?” Needless to say, I was hooked. Warning: There are a lot of characters (keep a chart) and a lot of dance marathons. I particularly enjoyed the three years that Evie spent in nursing school where Evie met her best friend Sofie. I thought there should have been more development of the director’s character for her to dismiss Evie on graduation day and not give Evie her nursing pin, Evie lived a very difficult life. Her father died early and her mother was definitely not a good role model. One section that I particularly liked was when Evie hitches a ride from Dubs to her grandmother’s home who is sick. She has dust pneumonia. While there, Dub and she get caught in a dust storm, The writing is vivid and I felt like I was there. Evie nursed her grandmother, got her to the hospital, and worked hard to pay the bill. I also liked the sweet relationship between Dubs and the grandmother. Evie travels to Chicago and meets up with Zane and other marathoners. She gets the job as the nurse to treat the marathoners. This is when the book started to slow down for me, I think it could have been shortened and that some of the problems that were faced combined. The story of Zane and Evie was good. I also thought the ending of the book was satisfying.. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

4.5 stars

In Last Dance on the Starlight Pier, Sarah Bird has penned a moving story of the Great Depression through the unique lens of dance marathons.
The central character, Evie Devlin, is a tough young woman from Vinegar Hill, a hard-scrabble section of Houston. Her beloved dad, Dandy Denny Devlin, is dead and her mother has made a profit from pushing Evie into questionable “jobs” as she has grown up. No spoilers here—the story is entrancing as the reader follows Evie’s journey while she attempts to pull herself out of her mother’s grasp and become a strong, independent, capable adult.
The characters are broadly drawn and well fleshed-out, some likeable and some sinister. The Great Depression looms over the entire tale, as the characters curse the rich parasites that are “bleeding this country dry”, and the high-hat Hoover administration. They muse: “The Depression took away jobs and money, and…often drive and hope.” For the spectators, the dance marathons were entertainment and also a metaphor for their struggles.
The history of the dance marathon, as well as Galveston, was fascinating, and it was even more interesting to see the Great Depression from another POV than the plentiful Dust Bowl sagas.
The writing is solid, and the story kept me engaged from beginning to end, cheering for Evie all the way.
I enthusiastically recommend this novel to readers who enjoy historical fiction set in 20th century America, character-driven plotting, and a strong woman protagonist.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my unbiased review.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction set during the Great Depression and thought it was a beautiful story of resilience and determination.

Evie Grace Devlin was a wonderful heroine, and I truly admired her. After having performed in a vaudeville as a child and being raised by a mother who couldn’t care less about her, Evie had aspirations of bettering her life. She escaped to Galveston to attend nursing school, but when her questionable past was revealed, she was barred from receiving her RN pin.

From there she is thrown back into a world of performance to make ends meet, but what started out as a nursing gig, quickly turned into her becoming the star of a dance marathon alongside the talented Zave. She developed a bond with the handsome dancer, but she soon discovered their connection was much deeper than she imagined.

I don’t want to go into too much detail, but this story is absolutely worth reading! It was refreshing to read about a not-so-bleak experience that took place during such a dismal era, and this amazing cast of unforgettable characters made the story that much more enjoyable. The end definitely caught me by surprise (in a good way), and it was nice to see the story come full circle, not just for Evie but the rest of the characters as well.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4640190409

Last Dance on the Starlight Pier presents a unique perspective of life during the Depression. Through the experiences of Evie Devlin, a young woman who was raised partially on the Vaudeville circuit and who wants to be a nurse, the author explores the world of the 1930s dance marathons from the insider’s point of view. The characters are complex and, while at times hard to like, are real and raw. I was immersed in the story, which was wonderfully told by a skilled author. There were a few minor historical elements that didn’t quite align, otherwise I would have given it five stars.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Netgalley, and the author for early acces to this delightful read.

I really enjoyed this novel, I found it very descriptive and felt like I could feel where everything took place. It was an interesting part of history that I had no idea existed…..set in the 1930’s as the world was entering the depression and we enter the world of the never ending dance off where those who were part of vaudeville put on these shows / competitions to provide entertainment and make a bit of money. I enjoyed the characters and the subject matter regarding the male lead which is also the start of an important part of our history( not wanting to post any spoilers). I found the first 2/3 of the book flowed a bit better and the final 1/3 felt a bit rushed …..still I am glad I picked this one to read.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
I would recommend this book to friends and my book clubs …..lots of great subject matter to chat about

This is a sweeping historical fiction book set in Depression era America that gives insight into a part of that time few people really talk about. How dances and entertainers still flourished and helped keep spirits up during an incredibly difficult time.

In this story we come to learn all about a travelling dance troupe, that went around the country putting on what were essentially shows under the guise of dance marathons. For a small admission fee people could come watch or participate in what could be days long dance offs with the last couple standing winning. Think of that episode from The Gilmore Girls but much more extreme! But along with the good, there is also a rise in criminal activity and we get a glimpse of that in this story too in a family of Gangsters living in Galveston, Texas.

What I loved about this book was the rich characterization! We get to know these characters as deeply flawed individuals just trying to survive in a world that doesn't always want them. Told from Evie Grace Devlin's perspective, a young woman escaping a dark past, who wants nothing more than to earn her Nurse's pin.

When Evie gets caught up with a travelling dance troupe she makes new friends, falls in love and has the adventure of a lifetime. I absolutely loved her relationship with the star of the show and his storyline was deeply moving. A gay man who is not able to be out openly and is even told he needs to try this new conversion treatment, "the lobotomy" in an attempt to "cure" him.

Perfect for fans of The four winds by Kristin Hannah. This is one that is going to stick with me for a long while after I finished. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copies!

This one was an interesting one about the 20s/30s and danceathons, which I knew nothing about. However the story was a bit slower than I would've liked and more repetitive than I cared for. There were a lot of side characters to keep track of. I'm glad that I read it, but unless someone is super interested in dance competitions, Galveston, or that time period, I wouldn't fully recommend this book to someone. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love “Last Dance on the Starlight Pier” by Sarah Bird, but unfortunately I found it average at best. It started off well, but, after Evie left nursing school, I had a difficult time staying invested in the story and found myself skimming much of it. It did pick up again toward the end, but much of the story just seemed to drag on and on. The book is very well researched, but the characters never came alive for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Last Dance on the Starlight Pier
by: Sarah Bird
St. Martin's Press

Set in the time period of the Great Depression, Bird's novel covers several social themes while centering around the dance marathons popular during this time. Main character Evie Grace Devlin had a harsh childhood, with aspirations of becoming a nurse.

The book delves into many social and political issues, as we follow Evie's journey to leave her past behind and make something of herself. Not only does she attend St. Mary's School of Nursing, but she also becomes immersed in the world of marathon dance competitions. The people she meets along the way are complex and diverse. She struggles with trust, acceptance, and love, as she navigates life.

Many of the occurrences in the book are harsh, grim and gritty, as is the language. Many are struggling to survive emotionally, physically, and financially. I found the topic of dance marathons to be a fascinating, if somewhat shocking, lesson into that way of life. Issues of morals, class, socio-economic levels, and sexual orientation are woven prominently into the story, along with resilience and acceptance.
The book kept my interest to the end.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press
for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#NetGalley #LastDanceOnTheStarlightPier

Last Dance On The Starlight Pier provides a look at what people did to survive during the depth of the Great Depression in 1932, by focusing on the phenomenon of dance marathons. I learned a lot about what was involved in producing and living through a multi-day dance marathon. I also enjoyed learning about Galveston, Texas. That was the good part. Unfortunately, the main character, Evie Grace, just didn’t resonate with me very much and I felt the book dragged a lot, until near the end. Evie's actions/decisions didn’t seem to mesh with how smart she was supposed to be. I also felt that her sudden epiphany which changes her attitude toward LGBTQ characters wasn’t particularly realistic for the era; it felt very anachronistic.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The narrator, Cassandra Campbell, did an excellent job with the many voices and accents.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.