DNF 54% - I really wanted to like this one - I was definitely attracted to the Hollywood Starlet/movie aspect, but when it got into the illegal activities, etc. it felt a little "Lucy and Ethel."

3.75 Stars — THE STARLETS was a cute story about two 1950s actresses who end up in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game when they uncover illegal activity on the set of their latest picture. I loved the relationship between the two leading ladies, Vivienne and Lottie, enemies who had to overcome their bad blood in order to survive. Even though some parts were over the top, I enjoyed this fun, feel-good adventure story set on the beautiful Italian coast and beyond.

The audiobook was narrated by Gail Shalan, and she did fantastic job with the large cast of characters and the many different accents. I especially enjoyed how she captured those "Old Hollywood" voices. Very entertaining! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook. Thoughts are my own.

Before I even jump into this review, let’s take a moment for this beauty of a cover. It immediately put me in the mindset for old Hollywood, and I loved it!

Set in the late 1950s, this book pulls in vintage Hollywood and McCarthyism and murder and intrigue. And aside from that, it’s a lot of fun, too.

It’s almost like if Some Like It Hot met an Agatha Christie mystery and just happened to be set against the backdrop of a Ben Hur-level cinematic production.

The audio narration of this one was so good and really brought to life that old Hollywood feeling that perfectly suited the writing.

I really liked the friendship between Lottie and Vivienne and loved how they worked together, taking on zany hi-jinks to stay alive and outsmart the goons trying to kill them.

If you enjoy historical fiction, vintage cinema or just the golden age of Hollywood, this might be one for you!

Do you like watching old movies, and, if so, what’s a favorite of yours?

A very cute period piece book that gives you all the feels of your favorite black and white movies. I listened to the audiobook which was so fun to hear all the old hollywood jargonand accents. The two FMCs gave me the vibes of if Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe were closer in age and could have starred in a movie together. An easy read with good plot development and all the fun elements of that time period with a little murder mystery sprinkled in. Theres also a lovely message of women supporting which I am always happy to see!

Thank you netgalley for letting me try out this book.

The Starlets is one of those books that pulls you in with glam and sparkle and then punches you in the teeth—in a good way. It’s billed as a noir thriller wrapped in Hollywood glitz, and while it definitely delivers on vintage aesthetics, it’s the undercurrent of rot that makes it sing. Think Valley of the Dolls meets Black Mirror, but gayer and more sinister.

We follow two It Girls—Whitney and Caroline—plucked from obscurity and molded into media darlings by their Studio. But as their fame skyrockets, so do the cracks in the machine propping them up. There’s something deeply uncanny about how curated their lives are, how easily the truth can be rewritten, and how quickly a girl can vanish when she stops playing along. Kelly and Thorne don’t spoon-feed the horror; they let it fester. It’s not jump-scare scary—it’s dread, manipulation, conspiracy. It’s a woman realizing she’s property and wondering if she ever wasn’t.

The queer undertones are a slow burn, and they feel earned. This isn’t rainbow capitalism. It’s longing, secrecy, and survival in a system that chews women up and calls it legacy. If you’re the kind of reader who’s allergic to easy answers, you’ll appreciate how the book doesn’t offer any. It plays with duality—freedom vs. control, performance vs. self—without pretending those binaries ever stay clean.

Is it a perfect book? No. There are places where the pacing falters or the prose leans too heavily into the aesthetic. But that’s also kind of the point. The Starlets wants you to feel disoriented, seduced, and a little bit complicit. And if you're into narratives that interrogate beauty, power, and the machinery behind what we call fame—this one’s worth your time.

I enjoyed the audio version of the Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne. It started quite quickly and I felt myself scrambling to catch up but once I caught up, I was hanging on every word.

I enjoyed the enemies to friends bit, the mystery and the history in the tale. Vivian and Lottie learn not only how to get along but they learn to trust each other as well.

Hollywood sets, exotic locations, and a set filled with tensions and drama. This was such a fun read.

Viv has just arrived on set and is already irritated. But when she learns she is not the leading lady but has been pushed aside for a supporting role by non-other than her arch-nemesis, Lottie. She is the starlet that stole her boyfriend and now has taken her lead role!

Lottie, our other POV, is just doing what the execs tell her to. Her relationship, her career decisions, the roles she takes - she's under contract so it never feels like she has a choice in what she does. She just feels lucky to be a part of this world of acting.

Of course, we learn pretty quickly that the stolen boyfriend and stolen role are not quite what it seems. Hollywood is never straight forward and we learn there are a lot of secrets and maneuvering. But the stand out here are the two main characters. At first fighting, they quickly learn that they are both in danger and have to lean on each other in order to keep going. Their over-the-top personalities but also the times they were forging real friendship were so good to read. Their wild adventure was fun and I liked how each actress got to show her skills and personality. It's nice when a book shows that women don't have to compete with each other - we're stronger when we raise each other up.

I did this as an audio book and the narrator was wonderful. Adventure, the twinkling lights of Hollywood, and two very fun main characters - I really enjoyed this read!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This one was a great book with a lot thrown into it. First, there is a Hollywood rivalry that has moved to the remote Italian island where A Thousand Ships is being filmed. Vivienne and Lottie are not fans of each other, but once they stumble onto the hidden secret that the production is a front for, they will be forced to work together to survive. Lots of adventure and I loved the narration on this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for a chance to listen to this one in exchange for an honest review.

The Starlets was such a captivating blend of historical fiction and mystery, right up my alley. I’ve always been drawn to stories set in old Hollywood, and this one delivered the glitz, secrets, and scandal in the best way possible. It felt like stepping back in time, but with a thrilling edge that kept me fully hooked.

As a woman who’s read her fair share of historical fiction, I really appreciated how this book didn’t just lean on atmosphere; it had substance. The characters were vivid and complex, and the mystery at the heart of the story was layered and smart. I couldn’t stop listening, and when I did, I kept thinking about what would happen next.

The narration was well done and added to the experience, making the entire story feel even more immersive. I’m giving it four stars simply because there were a few predictable moments, but overall, this was an addictive and satisfying read that I’d absolutely recommend to anyone who enjoys a little mystery with their glamour.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook copy!

This was a quick pace fun little time with lots of twists and turns. I flew through this and thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. I loved that, despite the fast pace of the story, we still got some good character development. I especially loved all the Old Hollywood namedrops.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

The Starlets is a fun, fast-paced romp through 1950s Hollywood—full of glitz, gossip, blackmail, and behind-the-scenes drama. I went in expecting a moody historical noir and ended up with something closer to I Love Lucy meets a mystery caper, and honestly? I had a blast.

Vivian and Lottie are total opposites and rivals, forced to work together on the same film set while drama brews around them—on camera and off. There’s a bit of everything here: clever banter, secrets, unexpected friendship, and just enough tension to keep you hooked. It’s not super serious historical fiction, but it plays with the era in a really entertaining way, especially around how women were viewed in the industry.

The audio narration was excellent—one narrator, but with a fantastic range of voices and accents. Definitely recommend the audiobook if you’re into that format.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The story follows two of Hollywood's leading ladies as they start production on their studio's production of the story of Helen of Troy, but from the minute Vivienne Rhodes steps on set on a remote island of the coast of Italy she realises nothing is what it seems.

Set in the late 1950's and the golden age of Hollywood epics, The author brings the glitz and glamour of the era and contrasts it with the barely disguised seediness and criminal going ons that were also of this time;, while the voice work of the narrator helped elevate my enjoyment of the story even further, feeling like I was in the midst of the action that was happening throughout.

While I generally roll my eyes at stories that have two men fighting over one man, I appreciated how the conflict of the two female leads simmers, boils over and eventually cools into a loving friendship once they both realise the truth of what has been going on around them and I thought it was ingenious to use newspaper headlines to help advance the story and keep it's rapid pace, and not allow the plot to get bogged down in too many details.

I devoured The Starlets while listening on a road trip. Don't remember much of the drive, but I adored the story, characters, and relationship between the women. I hadn't read books by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne before, but I've added them to my list. The narrator was excellent in all of the parts, captivating my experience while listening to the audio. This book has what I love in historicals: historical details, compelling characters, and great twists that hark back to details sprinkled throughout the story. A very satisfying read. Highly recommend.

I’m not the biggest conossieur of Old Hollywood but I adore the atmosphere of it - be it ‘Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ or ‘A Biltmore Christmas’ (The Hallmark movie with old Hollywood storyline).

And this book oozes this rich atmosphere, filled with details and nuances of that time. It’s a mystery that happens both on the set of the movie and all over Europe! Main heroines are two headstrong actresses who start with rivalry. You start rooting for them and I was so happy with how this book talks about friendship and has elements of found family.

This story is very engaging and audiobook is great too. I would rate it as 4.5 and rounding it as 5 stars for Goodreads!

Well, this was fun. I rate this book a 3.75, but let’s round up. The characters had so much to them, without being overwhelming. They were funny, realistic and meshed well together. I think everyone can imagine a few Hollywood personalities imbedded in the main females, in all the hilarious ways possible. I did audiobook. The narrator was listed as Gail Shalan. Great narrator with voices that absolutely matched the personalities of the characters. The regal proud tone of Vivienne was something I felt I could see. And the playful fun nature of Lottie’s voice painted a clear picture of a young but seasoned actress. Great narrator pick.

There were a few parts where it was slow and I would drift off, but the story was catchy and amusing. More than once, I had to stop and find in my brain who a character was. They had been mentioned in the beginning, and reintroduced later, but it was long enough in the story that their role was confusing. But these complaints were minor. I couldn’t wait for the story to move forward as the mystery and light suspense to play out. Fun book. Easy read.

Thanks NetGalley for the read!
https://www.goodreads.com/smashlee21

I enjoyed the setting of the glitz and glam of 1950s starlets, filming on an exotic island of Tavalli. Throw in a jilted love having to play a secondary role to her nemesis and beau stealing enemy, fireworks!

This throws in the tropes: forced proximity, enemies to friends, but it is about the friendship that developed between Vivienne and Lottie. They are forced to work together to survive after they find a dead man and evidence of shady drug deals happening on set. I loved how their relationship evolved and how they became a group of pals with the leading man, Teddie and the true love of his life, Max.

There are lots of characters and so much going on, which made it a bit challenging as an audiobook. I found myself replaying a few scenes to make sure I understood who was who.

This was one of the first audiobooks that I struggled with the accents and tone of voice used by the narrator, especially with when there were men and women in a scene. I admit I see books in my head when I read, so I picture the characters and they sound one way in my mind so that might have been the issue, but I found the accents distracting at times.

The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne is a entertaining read that harkens back to the golden age of cinema – think The Ten Commandments or Ben Hur. Anyone who likes 50’s era Hollywood and historical fiction, will enjoy this novel. The book begins with Vivienne Rhodes, famous actress, stepping off a boat in Tavalli, Italy, thinking she’s been cast as the lead in an epic film, A Thousand Ships, only to find that she has been misled. Lottie Lawrence, American ingénue, whose recently stolen her beau, has been cast as the lead, Helen of Troy, while Vivienne has been relegated to play Cassandra. Smarting over these insults, she is determined to re-write the script, steal the show, and make life miserable for Lottie. The tide turns when Vivienne and Lottie find themselves thrown together in a dangerous game of survival. They’ve found they are surrounded by drug trafficking mobsters. Enemies become allies in a mad attempt to make it to Paris to alert Interpol. A madcap jaunt through Europe ensues. There’s drama, mystery, secrets and lies, humor, snarky banter, and plenty of danger and adventure along the way. I enjoyed the book but did feel that some of the hijinks were far-fetched. Although, Gail Shalan did a nice job of narrating the audiobook, I found some of her voices annoying, particularly the male voices. I think the audiobook would have been better served to have a full cast or, at the least, one female and one male narrator. Personally, it may have been more enjoyable for me to read rather than listen to this novel. Overall, it was a 3.5 – 4 star book - very enjoyable with a satisfying end. Thank you to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved the dynamic between the starlets and kinda wished they would end up together. but the suspense part fell a little flat for me

The Starlets is a a fast paced, old Hollywood thrill ride— we get equal parts femme fatale charm, on-the-run suspense, and my favorite part, the vintage Hollywood glitz. Set in 1958 on a remote Italian isle and sweeping through Monaco, the Alps, and Rome, it blends that Old Hollywood glamor with mob infused intrigue.

Seasoned star Vivienne and rising talent Lottie start as rivals, but when they uncover a dangerous criminal operation tied to the film crew on the set of their film, they quickly realize they’ll need each other to survive. I loved watching their dynamic shift from rivals to friends.

With nods to classic films, glamorous sets, and old-school Hollywood press clippings, this story had my inner movie buff grinning. Give me all the sparkle and scandal of 1950s Hollywood—I was hooked!

While only single narration I thought that Gail did a great job and it was easy to distinguish the characters. She managed to portray the various characters with ease and keep the fast pace of the story.

Thank you so much to Lee Kelly, Jennifer Thorne & @netgalley for my free audiobook in exchange for my review. I was so glad to read this one!

As a devoted admirer of classic cinema, I found The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne to be a great listen. The authors expertly capture the fierce rivalry between two starlets, evoking the essence of the legendary feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. If you have a fondness for late 1950s Hollywood, this audiobook is sure to enchant you. I particularly enjoyed the cultural references woven throughout the story, especially the clever nods to real-life stars with whom the fictional characters interact. For anyone who shares my passion for vintage cinema, this experience was truly enjoyable. Imagine the drama surrounding the production of Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton—all the rumored chaos that unfolded—and you’ll get a sense of the atmosphere on the set of A Thousand Ships, filming on Tavalli a remote Italian island.. The narrator breathes life into the characters with her remarkable ability to create distinct voices.

The tale unfolds as Vivienne Rhodes joins the cast on location during the summer of 1958. Full of hope, Vivienne believes she has finally secured her big break, landing the coveted role of Helen of Troy in Apex Pictures’ highly anticipated film, A Thousand Ships, aimed at revitalizing the struggling studio. However, her excitement quickly turns to heartbreak when she arrives on the stunning Italian island of Tavalli, only to discover she has been relegated to the role of Cassandra—while her arch-nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Lottie Lawrence, lauded as America’s “sweetheart,” takes center stage as the leading lady.

As tension escalates on set, the atmosphere grows increasingly sinister when Vivienne and Lottie stumble upon a shocking revelation: some crew members are using the film’s production as a cover for illicit activities—and they will stop at nothing to keep their secrets under wraps. In a desperate bid for survival, the two women find themselves compelled to join forces, determined to deliver critical evidence to Interpol to safeguard their lives and careers.

Navigating a treacherous landscape filled with corrupt police and menacing mobsters, these former rivals embark on a daring escape across the seas. Their exhilarating journey whisks them through the opulence of Monaco’s casinos, past the grand palace of Grace Kelly, and on a breathtaking road trip through the majestic Alps—even landing them on another film set. Ultimately, their adventure culminates in a dramatic showdown back in Tavalli, where the fates of the entire cast and crew hang in the balance. Vivienne and Lottie finally have the chance to evolve into true heroines, capable of saving the day, the film, and perhaps even each other—but only if they can learn to share the spotlight.

This ensemble of characters evokes the grandeur of a Cecil B. DeMille production, and Gail Shalan masterfully weaves the narration, showcasing a level of skill that truly sets her apart; a less adept narrator might have found this task daunting.

A heartfelt thank you to. Harper Muse and NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.