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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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.

Book was a little bit of a slow start, and I was wondering if it was going to be a DNF.. The beginning establishes the two main Starlets and their rivalry between each other. Star Vivienne Rhodes' ex is now on the arm of the new, younger actress Lottie Lawrence and Lottie has the role in the movie that Vivienne thought she had. Slow beginning to get to some action. After one of the Starlets finds a dead body their escape from the bad guys sends them traveling through Europe with evidence for Interpol. They have to find a way to survive and work together.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator does a great job giving the story that old Hollywood feel.

I started to get a little tired of the Starlets a bit towards the end. Overall, this book wasn't quite my thing, but it was still an enjoyable read filled with drama, betrayal, and crazy escapades.

Thank you to NetGally and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ALC! Publication date 11/12/24.

Imagine Joan Crawford and Betty Davis on the run from the mob. The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne is a perfect blend of old Hollywood glamour and old-school suspense. The story follows Vivienne and Lottie two actresses who can't stand each other but are forced to share the screen in the same movie. Their bitter feud at the start is a delightful touch, but it's not the main focus. The real story takes off when they find themselves on a high-stakes, cross-European chase for their lives, pursued by ruthless mobsters. Along the way, they encounter a host of Hollywood legends, adding a fun, nostalgic twist to the suspense. With one tense situation after another, The Starlets is a fast-paced, thrilling read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus and Harper Muse for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What a fun twist on historical fiction. If you love The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and a little mystery then this one's for you. #leekelly and #JenniferThorne put together a great story that was delightful via audiobook!

#netgalley #arc #harpercollins

Thank you Lee Kelly, Jennifer Thorne, and Harper Muse for my #gifted copy and thank you Harper Collins Focus for my #gifted listening copy of The Starlets! #thestarlets #MyStarletMoment #LeeKelly #JenniferThorne #harpermuse #HarperCollinsFocus #GailShalan

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

This was such a fun ride! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, but I don’t read a lot set in this time period, but I am so glad I read this one! I loved the movie star rivalry in the beginning but loved how it evolved into so much more as Vivienne and Lottie had to work together to not only protect their careers, but also their lives. It was like an enemies to best friend type trope and it was perfect! One of the things that made this book stand out to me was how descriptive the scenes were. I always felt like I could so clearly picture what was happening, and I thought the authors did an amazing job really laying out each scene. I thought the newspaper articles and press releases that were scattered throughout the book were such a fun touch!

I love when two authors team up to write together. I cannot imagine writing a book by myself, let alone writing a book with someone else. Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne are the perfect writing duo and I’ve already added The Antiquity Affair to my TBR, which was also co-written by this duo!

🎧Gail Shalan was BRILLIANT. When I tell you she was dynamic, I mean she made it sound like there were more than one narrator throughout this book. She was that good! I absolutely loved my time listening to Shalan bring this story to life. It was unlike anything I’ve listened to, and it just felt so authentic. I loved it and cannot recommend this one on audio enough. Her performance was five stars!

Posted on Goodreads on November 6, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around November 12, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on November 12, 2024
**-will post on designated date

*The Starlets* by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Marie Thorne is an engaging and suspenseful novel that brings together two unlikely heroines, Vivienne Rhodes and Lottie Lawrence. These two women, who start as rivals, find themselves thrown together in a high-stakes scenario when they're unexpectedly cast in a film on a secluded, mysterious island. What begins as a professional challenge soon turns into a real-life criminal nightmare, where they must rely on their wits and strength to survive.

The novel excels in the development of the relationship between Vivienne and Lottie. As the story unfolds, their initial antagonism gives way to a deep and supportive bond, showcasing their inner strength and resilience. Each woman brings something unique to the table, and their growth throughout the book is a rewarding journey to witness.

Overall, *The Starlets* is an enjoyable and entertaining read, filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and a great mix of character development, comedy, and action. It's an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a thrilling, character-driven story.

Vivienne Rhodes has finally gotten the Hollywood break she has been waiting years to receive—a leading Oscar-worthy role. On her way to the remote island of Tavalli, where big budget A Thousand Ships is being filmed, Vivienne is ready to be the face that launches them. Only instead of being cast as Helen of Troy, she discovers they want her for the part of Cassandra. This setback might be manageable if it weren’t for her ex-stealing arch nemesis Lottie Lawrence getting the prized part. What starts out as a dramatic rivalry evolves into a reluctant friendship as the two women discover there is far more nefarious activities happening behind the scenes.

The two glamourous 1950s stars cross Europe in a game of high stakes cat and mouse. In their attempts to evade dangerous criminals they find themselves gambling in Monaco, drinking wine in the Alps, and crashing the set of rival film Ben Hur in Rome. Their fast-paced and thrilling escapes have them and their damning evidence perpetually staying one step ahead of their would-be captors.

Though the two women were interesting and well written, the plot started out a bit too slow and then went so fast as to be unbelievable. This novel lacked the depth of most historical fiction I tend to read and comes across more like a YA or beach read. If you are a fan of thrillers, this pacing will work for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, and authors Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Starlets is out on November 12th! All opinions are my own.

The Starlets offers a fascinating mix of Hollywood glamor, rivalry, and suspense, set against the backdrop of a beautiful but deadly Italian island. The premise is instantly captivating, whisking readers to a world of 1950s cinema and rival starlets thrown together in a plot filled with intrigue and danger. Vivienne’s resentment and rivalry with her nemesis Lottie—along with the layered, scandalous undercurrents of the film set—make for an engaging narrative with just the right dose of glamour and grit. The high-stakes chase across Europe, with glamorous stops from Monaco to the Alps, adds to the sense of old-Hollywood adventure.

However, the audiobook experience was disappointing. The narrator’s voice and chosen character voices felt overly exaggerated, detracting from the immersive experience that the setting and plot deserved. Vivienne and Lottie’s voices, in particular, came across as grating rather than adding distinct personalities. This exaggerated delivery distracted from the tension and, at times, pulled me out of the story.

For anyone intrigued by 1950s movie magic, fierce rivalry, and a touch of crime drama, The Starlets is worth reading for the plot and setting alone. But for audiobook listeners, the narration style may detract from what could otherwise have been an exciting, immersive listen.

I enjoyed this story of Vivienne and Lottie as actresses cast to play a part in Italy in the 1950s and they dont like each other. However they have to learn to get along and work together after they find out the crew is doing illegal things on the set. This creates an adventure through Eurpoe that was fun and entertaining. I loved the narrators voices for the characters and the bits of Italian thrown in the story. This was different historical fiction (than the usual WWII) and I liked the change up and I am glad I picked up this audiobook! Thank you to HarperCollins Focus for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. I am going to look up the narrator to listen to other books she has read!

3.5⭐

The Starlets is very much a book that falls outside my comfort zone, but I've been wanting to get more into historical novels and I'm happy I picked this one up! One thing I find with historical novels is I tend to get lost very easy but this was not the case for the Starlets. The plot was easy to follow, the characters were easy to tell apart with their personalities that I never got confused who's POV we were following even with only having the one narrator. Speaking of narrators; Gail Shalan did a great job with the book! I just loved the setting and the plot of the book, I loved the old movie sets and I always love a good murder mystery thrown in.

This is a book I will happily recommend as an intro to historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio-copy of this book. It was a fun historical mystery set in the old Hollywood era. I enjoyed listening to it but for some reason it just didn’t fully capture my attention the whole time or keep me on the edge of my seat like i had hoped. But it was still a fun listen. I enjoyed the character development and the narrator was great!

Set in Hollywood's Golden Age, 'The Starlets' follows 2 actresses who encounter industry drama, a race for their lives across Europe, and an unexpected friendship. If you enjoy reading historical women's fiction, then I recommend this book to you! Lee Kelly's and Jennifer Thorne's writing is fast-paced, and their characters are dynamic and captivating. Gail Shalan's narration engaged me in the era and countless different characters.

Special thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The glamorous life of movie stars on location is turned upside when a mobster is doubling as the studio boss and has all the dirt on cast and crew. This book starts out kind of slow with buildup of the two main Starlets and their rivalry between each other and the tension on set of their new film they are making together. Then, once the action starts, it really starts rolling to the point where it's a little ridiculous, but it was still a good time read. Old Hollywood set in Italy. One of the Starlets finds a dead body and thus starts their escapade of traveling Europe on a mission to escape some criminals with some damning evidence in tow all while learning how to work together to survive. If you like old Hollywood drama, betrayal, and crazy thrilling escapades, you will like this book. I felt the pacing wasn’t right it was to slow in parts and to rushed in others. Rated 3.5 but rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley the author and publisher for the opportunity.