This book was a wild ride - a wacky mashup of old-time Hollywood glam, comedy, and Mafia movie, with a murder mystery thrown in for good measure.

I was hooked on the enemies-to-best-friends trope and spent the whole time trying to figure out which classic Hollywood stars the authors were channeling. It was a light, fast read, but with a plot that was larger than life - think over-the-top drama and you're on the right track!

Definitely recommend!

🎬✨𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖✨🎬

Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 was a fantastic historical fiction adventure ride featuring two actresses who are each others nemeses, a cat and mouse chase, suspense and so much more!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

Dual POV
Mystery
Atmosphere
When two enemies come together to survive
High stakes thriller moments
1950s movie glamor

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

The audio really brought the high stakes moments to life with even more tension and emotion.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?

Alternates between steady and fast

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

This is a novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, classic adventure stories, or any reader who likes books about strong women doing daring things.

3.5*...The Starlets is a fun look at 1950s Hollywood intertwined with an action-packed mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the details of their lives as competitive actresses in a rapidly-changing business. At first glance I was thinking this might be a type of historical fiction but the plot was more of a slapstick comedy. The audiobook lent to this feel with the narrator over utilizing stereotypical old actor-type voices and elocution. I think this was accurate for the book, but at times felt annoying within the flow of the story.
The mystery worked, however, and the way the characters worked together to solve it and get to know one another better was endearing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Wonderful book! Was more of a murder mystery than I was expecting but I loved it. The two main “starlets” were great and complemented each other perfectly. Their friendship blossomed very organically. Loved all the twists and turns and the ending. Audiobook was perfectly read as well with the narrator adopting different voices and accents.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to get multiple copies of this book. I love being able to tandem read a physical or digital copy with an audio copy and I was able to switch between all three to enjoy this book.
This was a great mix of mystery and historical aspects. I liked reading about the life of movie stars back in the 50’s and what filming was like on set. This was definitely more centered around the mysterious film and Vivienne and Lottie’s attempts to contact Interpol and save themselves and their film. It was exciting reading about the girls fleeing across Europe, Monaco, an attempt in getting to Paris, the Alps, and back to Italy.

I enjoyed listening to Gail's narration. She did a wonderful job distinguishing between the different characters and giving them their own voices. The audio encouraged me to read this one quickly.

Thank you Bibliolifestyle, NetGalley and Harper Muse for my gifted copies of this book.

4.5 stars

The audiobook narration was fantastic and captured the Old Hollywood feel of the characters so well! Felt like a movie! I wish audiobooks all included the authors note form the physical copies though and this one unfortunately didn’t.

This brand new historical fiction was a delightful romp through the Golden Age of Hollywood. It follows two rival actresses who are recording a big budget film on a remote Italian island when they discover the movie has been a front for illegal activities and that they are in grave danger.

I’ve mentioned this several times before but I love when stories have themes about the power of women supporting women. In this book both of these women start out loathing each other and they are in an industry and situations that have set them up to be enemies. But when they have to rely on each other they come to realize how much they have misjudged and built walls where there shouldn’t be any. It was so satisfying to watch that process. Even though I love a good romance I was actually really glad this story wasn’t a romance because I thought the female friendship was really wonderful to see.

This story has all the glitz and glam of the Hollywood starlet vibes mixed with the cutting edge of the unexpected danger that puts them on the run and it made for a very engrossing and entertaining read! There are lots of fun little nods to movie stars and films of the past that old movie lovers will enjoy as well!

“Vivian Rhodes calling her a dumb blonde. Again.
𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒖𝒎𝒃, Lottie tells herself, even her inner voice coming out petulant. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆.”

2.5 stars rounded up! This book was like 2 books in one. It started out with a bit of drama in old Hollywood. You have cutthroat casting calls, affairs, and revenge. And if it would have stayed on this trajectory I think I would have loved it.

But then it developed into a crazy wild and kind of over the top murder mystery with these rival women being chased all over Europe. It was a bit outlandish and such a drastic pivot form the part of the story that I loved that I had a hard time staying invested.

The audiobook was really good, though. The narrator does a great job of harnessing this time in our history with her tones and accents and the way in which she adds life to the Hollywood starlets.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks, Harper Muse, and the authors for the ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harpermusebooks for 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑳𝑬𝑻𝑺 𝒃𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒆 𝑲𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒚, & 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆!

This is a really fun story that had me first thinking it was a dishy period mystery/drama until it all got quite thrilling and didn’t stop!
I enjoyed connecting with each of the “Starlets” and learning their backstories, proving once again, that you rarely know someone based on what they show. This particular aspect seemed to reflect the timelessness of assuming.
I also appreciated the reminder of what women have had to do to “succeed” in various lines of work, or rather what they have had to endure. I would like to think this has changed, but as the next leader of this country has bragged about assaulting women, I fear we still have much to do. Fortunately, like the women of this story, there is a power in coming together.

I did enjoy pairing this physical copy with the audiobook, provided by @harpercollinsfocus via @netgalley, as the voices narrated by Gail Shalan were perfectly matched to each character. The physical copy gave me the fun of seeing the printed article copies that gave the amended version of events that were given to the Hollywood reporters. I really love having both options, and can fully recommend either, or both for your reading enjoyment!
There is just something satisfying when reading about women being dismissed only to become the heroines of the story.

Book Review | "The Starlets" by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne
An Organized Crime Thriller through an Old Hollywood Movie Lens

“The Starlets” is set in the summer of 1958 on a remote island of Italy, Tavalli, where the blockbuster movie A Thousand Ships is filmed. The epic is Apex Pictures’ final thrust for survival amid the studio sinking like the Titanic.

Actress Vivienne Rhodes arrives on the island under the impression she will be playing the film’s lead, Helen of Troy, surely securing her the much sought-after Academy Award after being defeated the same year. Unfortunately, Rhodes was misinformed, discovering she has been bumped to the secondary role of Cassandra to support the new star, Lottie Lawrence, her nemesis and fiancé-stealer.

Rhodes does not have much time to exert her rage and revenge before the two are engulfed by a murder and drug trafficking plot, finding themselves in sole possession of the evidence to bring down the criminal enterprise.

Leaving their personal conflict aside, the duo narrowly escapes their pursuers, setting them on a chase through Europe in an attempt to turn over the evidence to Interpol. From Monaco to the Alps and back to Italy, Vivienne and Lottie form a friendship as they evade the criminal predators and reveal the truth of their relationship and how they’ve been pitted against one another.

Will the actresses be the real-life heroines of this story or will the patriarchy win again?

“The Starlets” opens up in a dreamy old Hollywood world in the vein of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” before emerging as an organized crime thriller, disposing of the glamour and fame facade.

The first third of the novel is wildly entertaining and intriguing, introducing the reader to an array of quirky characters, a representation of the past, present, and future of the 1950s Hollywood scene. The star-studded characters are quickly revealed to be complex but flawed humans struggling with their individual demons and histories.

As the drama unfolds via a yacht shootout and a body found in the props department, the plot thins as the movie’s female leads galavant around southern Europe. This is where the story lost me slightly. The on-the-run sequence falls victim to pacing issues with scenes vacillating between tenuous and viscous, unable to strike a healthy balance of plot points and moving the story forward.

Rather than abandoning the journey, buckle up for a bumpy ride pairing moments of slog with nuggets of bewitching scenes and character development. Although the middle detracts from the experience, the package as a whole is exciting, endearing, and enrapturing.

The heart of the novel lies in the relationship between Vivienne Rhodes and Lottie Lawrence, where they debunk what the world tells them they are and redefine how they show up for themselves and each other in the future. If to only follow this bond, the novel is completely worth it. I loved these characters and I think you will too.

And if you choose to listen to this novel, Narrator Gail Shalan knocks it out of the park, breathing life into each distinctive character. Shalan delivers an engaging and skillful performance, masterfully tackling all voices and narratives.

Authors Kelly and Thorne wrote a story with a unique, genre-merging twist, and though it falls short in places, the novel has great bones and a substantial foundation to work from. They transport you to 1950s Italy and drop you in the middle of an old Hollywood film set—and I don’t know about you but I needed to be transported this week to somewhere else.

If you feel bogged down by the current political climate and the election, “The Starlets” is a hopeful journey where women take back their power and prove they are more than the patriarchy deems them to be. I plan to fight for the Viviennes and the Lotties of the world and I hope you do too.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lottie and Vivienne are arch enemies. Now Vivienne finds out that Lottie has been cast in her movie and has been given HER PART! Vivienne is the one supposed to play Helen of Troy and she is not going to let this slide.

Not only is there a battle between these two stars…a body has been discovered and these two ladies get caught up in a drug ring.

This is a unique tale that has some unique situations. I swear, I could just picture Lottie and Vivienne in some of their escapades. And believe me…they have quite a few experiences.

This is more of a 3.5 star read…rounded up, of course. There are parts that just tend to be a bit slow. And the voice for Lottie got on my nerves a bit. That being said, the narrator, Gail Shalan, had a lot of voices to do. Each one is very distinctive.

Need an old Hollywood romp through Europe…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

Posted to Goodreads: 11/11/2024

This book brought the thrill and Hollywood feel I was hoping it would, and it did not disappoint! You have both drama, and excitement in this book that follows two rival actresses that find themselves in trouble when they realize something isn't quite right about their new movie shoot. Throughout the book, both characters grow and reveal a lot about themselves, which I thought added more depth to the story and speaks to how well the book was written. If you like old Hollywood and thrilling action this is definitely a book for you! I received a copy of the audio book through NetGalley and hope that other readers enjoy it as much as I did.

Enjoyed this book. The narrator was great. The story was good, not too much of a mystery but a good weekend read.
The 2 starlets are great and relatable and very close description of how most female stars of the 20s-60s were discovered and treated.
A good girl power, female bonding type book.


Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

What an absolutely delightful, refreshing, new take on a novel!

First off…the year is 1958! So, I love it already!

Loved the way women dressed back in the day, and the men too!

Loved the overall “feel” in the air of that era! Brings back memories of my parents when they were young. ❤️

This one starts out with a lot of heat and high tension as two leading ladies arrive on set in a small Italian town for the same part!! Apparently they FORGOT to tell one of them that they were downgraded to another part. 🫣😮😩. If that isn’t bad enough, there is a love twist involving these women as well…so we are NOT off to a good start.

But, with some schmoozing and script revisions, it’s a go again, and filming is about to begin…

Until one of the actresses stumbles into something that she was not supposed to know/see…and everything begins to change…

And soon Vivienne (the well known leading lady) and Lottie ( the newcomer) are pretty much forced to work together in order to survive! 😮😮

And we get glimpses of all the beautiful countrysides that they see 👀 as they are running….

And as time goes on, could it be?? Might they actually begin TOLERATING each other?

This was a really sweet, special kind of book that elicits all kinds of feelings while reading it! From joy to anger, from peace to anxiety, from overall acceptance to absolute DEFIANCE!! And, I loved EVERY MINUTE of it!
If you have the opportunity to read this one please do! I can’t imagine you being disappointed!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsFocus and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook which is DUE TO BE RELEASED on Tuesday!
**** Look 👀 for it on 11/12/24! ****

5+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨💫💫💫 for me!

#TheStarlets by #LeeKelly and #JenniferThorne and narrated beautifully by #GailShalan.

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

In The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne, the reader has a “front row” seat to the life of Vivienne Rhodes and Lottie Lawrence, both major movie stars. The ladies are being asked to star in Apex Pictures’ newest venture, one that is supposed to save the studio. The ladies have a history of wanting the same parts and even the same fiancé. The tension of the set is through the roof. Added to this situation is that Viv and Lottie have learned there are some illegal activities taking place on the set, and they have the proof. Now, they must run for their lives. The novel takes Viv and Lottie across the continent and through many adventures and close calls to get the proof to the authorities. These adventures are engaging and some of the interaction between Viv and Lottie is funny. As their story ends, both the stars are happy and have formed a strong friendship. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Two Hollywood actresses are booked to make a movie in Italy. They are anything but friends and there is friction on the set. However, when they inadvertently discover illegal activity has been taking place right under their noses, including a death, they decide that they must get to the authorities to report it. However, they discover it won't be as easy as they thought. Bad guys, who are loyal to the chief bad guy, are everywhere.

This starts a frantic and frenetic trek to several locations in Europe. Some of the situations they find themselves in are funny and others are quite scary. Can they get in information into the right hands? They learn a lot about each other and become allies. Each imparts information that may help them to survive.

I can easily see book being made into a movie.

I listened to the audio version of the book. The narrator had many character voices to manage, as well as multiple languages and accents. She did a tremendous job.

A moderate adventure with ample costume changes and a sweet little friendship. It gives wholesome vibes without being entirely wholesome, if that can be possible.

Women need to stick together not be competitive and jealous of one another. Two leading ladies become unlikely allies in an attempt to escape danger on a remote film set. They are far from the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, but these 1950 Starlets still shine even when running for their lives. This book was very fast paced and jam packed with action. They meet accomplices along the way, but are never sure of who they can trust when the film crew and movie studio moguls turn out to be up to no good. If you are a fan of classic movies and the history of that golden era, you will enjoy this novel.

Narration was wonderful but I just didn’t love the book. I am normally a fan of historical fiction but this just could not pique my interest. Thank you for the chance to listen.

I liked this story. It was a little tough to get into but I did like the story. It was entertaining because some of it was a little far fetched. I would recommend the audio version of this book.

This was a really fun read. I alternated between audio and ebook and truly enjoyed both. This book moved quickly and had a little of everything in it. Enemies to friends. Hollywood glamour. A scene of a movie on an Italian island. Murder. Illegal activities. The mob. And a fun mystery. I loved that the strong female characters had to put aside their dislike for one another and figure out a way to stay safe (and save the production crew!) The descriptions of the locations were incredibly well done. It was just an overall enjoyable and fun book.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader and audio copies.