I was so excited to get this ARC. I come from a long line of military and following Calla Connolly and her impact with the soldiers at Camp Greene.
Camp Greene was part of Charlotte, NC in 1918. (Definitely read the author notes) Calla finds herself touring American training camps, hoping to get to the front lines in honor of her fiancé. While at Camp Greene she gets the Spanish flu. She finds her signing talents helping soldiers. Since she is now confined to the camp, her former rival gets to continue her tour.
She finds love and is entrusted with a secret which she knows will change several lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and Calla’s journey. I am familiar with USO tours and I know how if lifted the spirits of so many in harms way for a few minutes or hours.

I love Joy Callaway books and her latest The Star of Csmp Greene is classic Joy. She can take a particular event or person in history and transform them into an amazing story. Her dialog is fun, her characters are all so well-defined and her research is impeccable!!!

Audio is amazing. Brittany Pressley is one of my favorite narrators and is perfect for this book!

Thank you netgalley and Harper Muse audio for the honor to read and review this book!,

"The Star of Camp Greene" by @JoyCallaway and my heart is full! 🥰 This historical fiction dives into a WWI training camp and the vibrant story of a young woman finding her way. Callaway brings the era to life with such rich detail – I could practically hear the marching bands! 🎶
Our main character's journey of growth and finding her purpose was so engaging. While the story took its sweet time in places, the charming characters and fascinating historical setting totally won me over. It's a heartwarming read that offers a unique glimpse into the homefront during the Great War.

First time reading this author and really enjoyed the pace and story line. During WWI, Camp Greene in Charlotte NC is not where up and coming performing star Calla Connelly wants to be. She wants to be in France, in the action, to honor her deceased fiancé. But when recovering from the Spanish flu, she overhears sensitive information and must remain at the camp. Joy Calloway has researched this book through soldier letters and we feel each uncertainty and patriotic duty. The main characters, Calla and Jesse, share sweet words and kisses but in uncertain times one never knows. Joy’s words, through the eyes of the soldiers and main characters tug at our heartstrings. The flow of the story and the twists were nice and spaced well. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author.

The Star of Camp Greene
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow This was a great book & story. Joy did it once again. You will smile & fall hard for Callie. It was fun & so uplifting! I couldn't put it down! The Audio was Fantastic!
Thank you NetGalley

I’m so grateful for this advanced listening copy for The Star of Camp Greene. Thank you Joy Callaway and Harper Muse Audiobooks.

It’s sad to say that most of what I remember of the history of WWI comes from Downton Abbey. Enter Joy Callaway.

Joy writes the fictional story of Calla Connolly visiting a training camp in Charlotte, NC. Calla is broadway star visiting training camps in hopes of making it to the front in France. She wants to bring hope, joy, and even a little peace to those forced to fight. Unfortunately, there’s a Spanish flu outbreak and during her visit to Camp Greene she becomes very sick. During her recovery she overhears an Army secret, and after that is required to stay on base and supervised at all times.

And her supervisor is Jessie the new head of the army camp. He never wanted her there, does not understand why she thinks her performances help anything related to training an army, and is extremely disgruntled by this inconvenience.

The story has many nuances surrounding how people handle thoughts of war, family, and happiness. While Calla and Jessie are the main characters, there’s an amazing cast crucial to the story that you will easily fall in love with as well.

Joy truly captures the voice of the time and Brittany Pressley does an a perfect job of narrating. I felt transported back in time. Make sure you listen to the Author’s Note (I was excited to hear Joy graduated from the same high school my kids attend!).

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks, Joy Calloway, and NetGalley for this ALC. Everything in this review is my true and honest opinion.

I absolutely adored this audiobook! To me, it was the perfect blend of historical fiction and romance. As a public health professional (who works especially in infectious diseases), I appreciated the inclusion of the Spanish influenza and how that played such a big role in the overall premise of the story. I appreciated even the little details like noting characters putting on cloth masks as needed (which was a historically accurate practice for medical and hospital wards during that time).

Being from NC, I also appreciated the story taking place at Camp Greene/in Charlotte and could tell the amount of research that went into representing the Camp and Charlotte accurately for that time period. I appreciated the times during the book where segregation was noted and how Calla felt it was wrong and didn’t understand it. It was a good balance of not just brushing it off while also acknowledging that’s accurate for how things would have been during this time period.

At first I wasn’t sure how interesting a story with a performer stuck at a military camp for so long would be but as it turns out, A LOT can happen during that time, even with the setting remaining the same!

This book did a great job, in my opinion, of portraying the anxiety of being at a military training camp during a major world war and the fears of being sent to the front not just from the soldiers but also their families/loved ones and everyone working at the camp.

Finally, the narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a great job and was easy to listen to!

As a big fan of historical romance, I was excited for the opportunity to try a new to me author with The Star of Camp Greene, a WWI novel. The setting for this book was really unique and fascinating as it took place in the US at a military training camp instead of overseas in Europe or any of the battlefield areas. That created so many opportunities to share rich historical elements occurring in the US at the time and unique pieces to move along the story.
I thought it was intriguing how Calla was a stage actress and intriguing what her motivations for being at the camp in the first place were. Her acting and Broadway background created such a neat bond with some of the soldiers and I liked how it both effected moral and the way this played out in a twist towards the end. When she is forced to remain at the camp with Jesse in charge of basically chaperoning her, I loved how this created some forced proximity moments and played into the "enemies to lovers" vibe the story had though I would say it was more of a "misunderstood to lovers" which was nice how that unfolded.
I did get worried there at the end that this book wasn't going to have a happy ending as the final chapters are quite intense and made me nervous. I was really happy, though, with how things did turn out in the end.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and thought that the narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a really good job capturing the class and socialite aspects of Calla's character as well as did a good job with the dialogue so it was easy to follow along to. I would listen to it again and recommend the audiobook version.
Content: there is a fade to black scene between a non-married couple that I was not expecting. Other than that, it contained no language and only some innuendo to other relations outside of marriage. Nothing detailed or on the page.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel from Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I recommend this book.

Joy once again draws us in with this new wonderful book about Camp Greene and many events that are well known in history. Her character development -and the deep relationships explored keep the reader hooked. I love when a book brings a smile and this one definitely does. And the narrator is fantastic too. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This has NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! Please look 👀 for it on 5/6/25!!

I. Am. Torn. Apart!
I….loved, loved, llllooooovvvved this book!
Honestly, with the title…I thought this was going to be about Hitler…and Auschwitz. And so, I had put it off a little bit, in order to be in the right frame of mind for that type of book. Well, I was happily surprised.

This instead takes place in the USA….in North Carolina… in the mid 1910’s, and revolves around a young woman who is a well known singer, who lost her fiancé in the war. However, she had PROMISED him that she would continue singing FOR THE SOLDIERS… in order to boost their morale, as they prepared for and entered war zones.

As we begin our story in Camp Greene, Calla is performing for the troops… gets lightheaded with a dry, scratchy throat… and proceeds to pass out. She wakes up much later, in the hospital, with a fragile diagnosis… one that she’s not sure she will make it through… but, with much time, care, and new friendships… she does.
Unfortunately, during this time she hears something that she was NOT privy to, and is now basically under house arrest.
SHE. IS. NOT. HAPPY!!
She wants to get out of there to continue performing, but her hands are tied. She is now STUCK there for the foreseeable future. 😫

As time goes on, with her beautiful, caring, sweet personality she meets and makes many friends, and also finds many soldiers who are musically gifted!! She is intent on getting them in the spotlight… somehow.

Although she continues to plead her case to leave so that she can entertain the troops overseas, her pleas seem to land on deaf ears…

As time goes on, her friendships become stronger and soon she is bonding to so many of the people at the camp… soldiers and townspeople alike. Until soon enough, she feels like she is one of them!

I’m going to 🛑🛑 stop it right here! 🛑🛑 There is so much more to this story, but I don’t want to give anymore away, so, if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, please look 👀 for it in a few days!
**** RELEASE DATE IS MAY 6, 2025… so a few days from now! ****

#TheStarOfCampGreene by #JoyCalloway. Narrated phenomenally by #BrittanyPressley!

ALL THE STARS FOR ME…. AND THEN SOME!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫✨✨✨✨✨🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This one had it all! Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me think…

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperMuseAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

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!! 📚⭐️

Thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgalley for ALC.

Ever since I was traumatized by Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale I try to avoid stories that are set during WWI and WWII, but this was a unique setting; in 1918 a vaudeville/broadway star entertaining the troops in a training camp in North Carolina, Camp Greene. Calla Connolly wants to gain permission to entertain the troops on the front in Europe, driven by a promise she made to her late fiancé. Due to the unfortunate event of contracting the Spanish flu and a misunderstanding with one of Camp Greene’s senior officers, she is unable to achieve her goal and is stuck on the camp. There she examines her life and relationships and finds love and friendship in the most unexpected places.

This was beautiful! The narrator Brittany Pressley really brought the story to life and I found myself looking into all the historical references, political, social and fashion related too.

I loved the e-ARC so much that I requested the audio version and swooned all over again!

As a reader with a musical background and family ties to the military, I could not have been more excited to read The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway. My goodness, I loved this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is not your typical wartime novel. In her creative way, Joy gifted us with a new spin on the historical fiction carousel and I cannot recommend this book enough for those who appreciate the genre blended with romance and southern fiction.

Readers follow Calla Connolly (a Taylor Swift-esque musician with a soft spot for bringing joy to soldiers serving their country during WWI) and her adventures, setbacks, heart breaks, scandals, and successes! Even though she is forced to remain at Camp Greene after she overhead a secret, Calla is such a light and determines to shine as she scoffs at race "rules," calms and engages the masses, and wins the hearts of everyone caught in her rays.

With the majority of the action taking place in Charlotte, NC, Joy skillfully wove in bits of the city's history throughout the novel (detailed further in the brilliant author's note.)

Joy hooks you, keeps you, breaks you, and rebuilds you in this MUST-read tale of finding/being the silver lining even in the most challenging times.

The narrator perfectly elicits every emotion Joy wove throughout the scenes of this beautiful book. Brava to all for a splendid production!

"I shut my eyes and envisioned myself in front of these men, their faces brightening--if only for a moment--with my music. My voice couldn't end a war or spare their lives, but it might give them the strength to continue on to tomorrow."

Broadway star, Calla Connolly, wants nothing more than to be "over there" in France with the troops to brighten their spirits. She feels compelled to entertain the troops, carrying out the dream she shared with her fiance who died in the war. As Calla awaits permission from General Pershing to tour France, she falls ill with the Spanish flu while performing at Camp Greene. Her hopes of touring abroad are dashed when its discovered she accidentally overheard war plans. To protect that secret, the Army restricts her to Camp Greene for the duration of the war, and this puts her at odds with Colonel Jesse Erickson, the man who inadvertently exposed her to the secret and caused her detention. As frustrated as Calla is, she is determined to make lemonade out of lemons and boost the spirits of the men of Camp Greene by entertaining them, until the secrets she keeps threaten all her dreams and friends.

I really enjoyed Calla, Jesse, and the other characters' devotion & support of each other at a time when there was a "war to end all wars", a pandemic, and lean times. Calla keeps a positive outlook and is not only humble but self-sacrificing in many ways. The enemies to friends' (closed door) romance with Jesse is tender and healing as both of them have previously had their hearts broken. In some ways, I would describe this as a character driven novel, as the author builds relationships through the day-to-day activity of the camp. You get a real sense of the morale of the soldiers and their fear of being sent to fight the Huns.      

This was such an interesting look at WWI history on the home front. The author is based in North Carolina, a state that I love to visit, and I appreciate how Joy finds nuggets of NC history for her novels. I had no idea that during WWI the city of Charlotte with a population of about 46,000 supported Camp Greene which housed 40,000 men mostly in a city of tents. After the war, Camp Greene was dismantled. I've followed Joy's books from her debut, and she never fails to leave me feeling uplifted with her books. This is another great one!

When a Broadway star touring American training camps performing for soldiers to provide them entertainment overhears classified information in a hospital while at Camp Greene in North Carolina when she contracts the Spanish flu, she is restricted from leaving and continuing her tour; Calla Connelly is an incredible heroine- I absolutely loved this beautiful story that Joy Callaway has created. Well researched and not only entertaining with a heartwarming second chance romance storyline there are twists and turns in the story that you won’t see coming. My new favorite read from Joy Callaway!

The audiobook was produced to perfection; such great entertainment. I could listen to Brittany Pressley read the phonebook she always does a fabulous narration.

I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn in right away and fell in love with Calla and her story. I love her heart for others and her heart for entertaining the soldiers and bringing some joy to them. While she was at Camp Green after surviving the Spanish Flu, she is exposed to military secrets and is ordered to stay at Camp Green. She is required to travel and be with the head Jessie. As time goes on, he grows on her. She begins putting together shows for the camp and using soldiers from camp and allowing them to showcase their talents. She has such love for them and wants to get them noticed. For their talents. Then there is a huge issue which results in her being arrested on base. Read the book to see what happens.

I loved this book!!!

I loved those reading the audiobook!