What a delight! Adele Astaire danced her way into my heart in this juicy historical fiction by Eliza Knight. As a child, I loved watching elegant and lavish old musicals featuring Fred Astaire dancing with Ginger Rogers. But I never knew about his first dance partner, his sister Adele. Since she danced before the Hollywood era of films, her beautiful work is lost forever. And though I never saw her dance, I have NO doubts it was indeed beautiful. She was considered more of a star than Fred, so I can’t imagine how dazzling she must have been.

From the Roaring ‘20s to the early 1950s, I loved learning about Adele as a person. Dipping into the Astaires' magical world of fame and fortune was sheer fun. I felt like I had a front-row seat to remarkable talent that soared from rags to riches, eventually earning elite advantages, including friendships with royalty.

The story of Adele’s relationship with Lord Charles Cavendish was romantic, frustrating, and heartbreaking. So many of her dreams and desires shattered while she stood helplessly by. No matter how successful she was, she couldn’t succeed in overcoming the poor choices of others.

The storyline about her friendship with a rising young dance star, Violet, was intriguing too. Both women are fearless and determined, willing to make serious sacrifices for what they love. Both have to weigh their priorities many times along the way and sometimes I was surprised by their choices.

Fame, friendship, sacrifices, sibling relationships, motherhood, dysfunctional relationships, sexual discrimination, and the advantages of wealth and talent all make appearances on the stage of this book. It is transporting. And you’ll want to watch an old Fred Astaire musical before you finish its pages.

Fantastic book! I was given an ARC and really enjoyed the story. The characters were well written and I felt like they were well developed. It is a time period I read often, but this was a different viewpoint. Highly recommend.

A very enjoyable fictionalized biography of Adele Astaire, Fred Astaire's sister and original dance partner. Highly recommended.

The book shifts between two narrators: Adele Astaire and Violet Wood, a fictional character who is befriended by Adele. The narratives intersect and the author achieves some tension in juxtaposing Adele Astaire's dreams of family life, even while at the pinnacle of her career, and Violet's ambition that takes her from East End poverty to theatrical success.

I have always loved Fred Astaire, probably my favorite performer of his time, and only knew that his career started in a brother sister act with Adele. Eliza Knight filled in all the blanks for me: from the early days of their success in New York, to their arrival in London and the glitz and glamour of party times with the Bright Young Things, into the more serious years of war and personal tragedy and resilience. Throughout, the author danced with her own lilac flame, always managing to sprinkle bits of hope and joy into her writing.

I had a few stylistic niggles but overall I found Starring Adele Astaire a life-affirming delight.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

This was an interesting read that I was given as an ARC by William Morrow and Netgalley. I honestly had not heard of the individuals involved before reading this novel. It was definitely good and kept my attention throughout. Beautifully written.

Thank you to @netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC. Adele "Delly" Astaire and her younger brother Fred "Freddie" Astaire has taken the world by storm with their singing and dancing, comedic routines. They have now made it big by taking their show from New York to London. There Adele meets who is to be her long time friend Violet Wood when she tries out for the latest Astaire show. This is an entertaining book of Adele's life, loss and love! Love Eliza Knight's writing! #StarringAdeleAstaire #ElizaKnight #WilliamMorrow #June2023

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC of this book. I had no real prior knowledge of Adele Astaire before reading this book. She and her husband, Charles showed up in another book that I read that was set at Chatsworth, the Cavendish family home. Adele had a wonderful relationship with her younger brother, Fred. They were quite a team and toured and performed extensively.. while performing in London, Adele befriends and mentors an aspiring dancer, Violet Wood. Violet’s roots are from the poorest part of London, and she works as a waitress to help support her mother and younger sister. Adele gives her the push and break she needs to break through and become a star. The story is told by both ladies and covers the stages of London during the reign of the bright young things where Adele is courted by the future king of England, the time during the war, where Adele spends a lots of time doing war work by entertaining the troops while her husband is literally dying from alcoholism at their home in Ireland. Violet and her younger sister work in a munitions factory in the country. Violet and Adele reason friends through it all. I felt that while there was clearly a lot of research completed and the story was compelling, it could have been more cohesive. There were a lot of loose ends and stories begun but not finished. All in all a good read by a favorite.

A truly wonderful book. I loved watching Fred Astaire growing up and this book is about him and his sister and how they got their start. It shows you that the lime life is not always what it appears to be! It gives you an up close look inside his and Adele’s life.

Thank you to William Morrow and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Even though I know quite a bit about Fred Astaire, I had never really heard of his sister, Adele Astaire. I am so glad I had the chance to enjoy this book about his sister. She led such an interesting life! It is very well written. The author did a good job connecting the fictional Violet with the real- life Astaire family. If you like to read books about old Hollywood, you will like this book. Highly recommend!

Starring Adele Astaire reimagines the story of talented dancers. At first, briefly introducing the story of Adele and her brother Fred Astaire, then intertwining the friendship between Adele and another talented dancer Violet Wood.

As Violet rises in her aspiration, Adele, who is already a star, dreams about putting down roots and having family. As any story, it involves ups and downs.

Set in 1920s New York and London, which latter is later torn by war. The story has a good flow, however, I wished for backstories of the characters. It helps me connect with them. Instead, the story mainly progresses forward.

This was a really good historical fiction novel. I thought it was very well written. I didn’t really know much about her before reading this book. Overall I enjoyed it.

Eliza Knight has written a well researched story, giving us a glimpse into the life, love, talent and friendships of Adele Astaire. Her relationship and shared talents with her brother are brought to life, as well as her guidance of Violet Wood, who becomes a lifelong friend. Lives that appear to be glamorous, are filled with many trials and tribulations. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves dancing and learning about the lives of Adele and Fred, before Ginger Rogers came along. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for sending this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a very interesting historical-Fiction biography of a very interesting woman who happened to be the sister of an American icon. Fred Astaire began his career as a partner to his sister, Adele. In fact, they started on Broadway and London’s West End theaters. The book takes us through their early career and their evolution as their lives changed. Added to their story is that of Violet Wood, another dancer who was mentored and championed by Adele.

It also describes the growing love of life in England for Adele. Ultimately, the choices she made lead her to marrying a Lord and spending the war years in England. Sadly, her personal life was very glamorous, but fraught with multiple issues.

I enjoyed being transported to Adele’s world. As a film fan, it was interesting to read about the Astaires and how Fred wound up in Hollywood.

I recommend this to readers interested in film/entertainment history. It is very written and interesting. I love reading social history, which is woven into the fabric of this book.

I thank Netgalley for this enjoyable piece of historical fiction and social history.

I enjoyed this so much! I love the history of Hollywood, and the story of Adele Astaire and her brother Freddie didn't disappoint As an old movie buff, I've seen all of Fred's movies, but knew little about Adele. This account of her life from the time she and Freddie began dancing together as kids until her later years was very informative and entertaining. The author did a great job of bringing details of Adele's life to light and how tragic much of it was. Highly recommended!

A wonderfully written historical fiction story about Adele Astaire and her life. I never heard of her so this was so much more enjoyable for me. Equally gratifying was the fictional character of Violet Wood. Well researched and historically accurate. I downgraded it one star because it was a slow start but once it found its rhythm it never looked back. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is really one of my new favorite books. I knew a little about Adele Astaire from her performing with her brother Fred but not much about her personal life. This book really made her life so real, all the ups and downs in her life. Like her first engagement to loser William to her love affair and marriage to Lord Charles. Being married to an alcoholic is tragic no matter your social status.

And all the real people who's lives she touched, like Princes David and Bertie. I especially liked the line about him NOT marrying an American. We know how that all worked out. And the Midford girls. I have read several books on, and by, them. What a family.

The character of Violet Wood was very well written. Her backstory with her mother and sister Pris was very poignant. And her twenty year plus friendship with Adele seemed so real.

All in all, I highly recommend this book. Eliza Knight is an excellent author. I have several of her books in a different genre. I have already preordered this ebook. Can't wait till June.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read the ARC of this book. This is a voluntary and honest review.

This is a fabulous story of Adele Astaire’s life beyond the stage. How her dreams take the spotlight.

This is a well-written, emotional, romantic read. Well done.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I found this an interesting read but slow and missing key details about the truly difficult elements of being a dancer. For example, there's very little reference to true rhythm dynamics for those who tap dance, and how this would fill their off stage moments, not just during performance or rehearsals. In addition there's grisly elements of dancing that an experienced dancer would know about -- that could have helped sell the challenges Adele was living with and struggling with, in trying to decide when or if she should retire. Bleeding toenails, bunions, blisters, calluses from odd places a shoe may wear against a dancer's foot/toes, bruises, muscles that never recover from strain and show as lumps beneath the skin. These types of experiences would have been common for Adele and could have sold her difficulties with keeping up with Fred and the strain on her body.

Starring Adele Astaire by Eliza Knight is a great historical fiction that sines a spotlight on the sister of Fred Astaire.

I’m going to be honest and admit that I did not know anything about Adele, and I am so glad that Ms. Knight researched and wrote this book so that all of us could learn more about this fascinating woman that was shadowed by her famous brother.

I enjoyed the pace, the alternating narratives that helped add additional historical, social, and societal contexts to her story. The author’s passion and research were well-represented within the book. It is really nice that Adele finally gets her moment to shine.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and William Morrow for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/6/23.

I loved this fictional account of the Adele Astaire. I’m not going to lie I didn’t know Fred Astaire had a sister before this book. So this book about an interesting woman in her a man shadow was a page turner. At least to this reader. And now I want to learn everything I can about Adele Astaire