A Crown of Stars

by Shana Abe

A sumptuously vivid and poignant account of the Lusitania’s fateful last days, drawn from the true story of an extraordinary young actress who survived the unthinkable—for fans of Marie Benedict, Louis Bayard, Fiona Davis, Kate Quinn, and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

In turn of the century England, the Jolivet family lives a charmed existence. Daughter of a wealthy vineyard owner and a French pianist, vivacious Marguerite, the eldest of three, loves spinning stories and entertaining her family’s well-connected friends. No one is surprised when she announces, at 18, that she intends to become an actress. Her sister, Inez, a virtuosa violinist, moves to London with her. Soon the two beauties are being celebrated in the highest social circles.

Marguerite takes the stage name Rita, and quickly draws the attention of legendary theater producer Charles Frohman. From the West End to Broadway, and then in the new medium of silent film, Rita is known for her “sultry eyes, her mystic smile,” and her star burns brighter with every role. While filming in Italy, she’s courted by a charismatic aristocrat and Rita feels on the verge of a life even better than her dreams. Inez, meanwhile, has already found love, and travels the world with her adored husband.

Yet soon, war is raging across Europe. Rita, in New York for the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Unafraid, receives word from Inez that their brother is about to enlist. Hoping to see him before he departs, Rita books a ticket on the fastest steamer the RMS Lusitania. But the ship sails under a British flag, and the German government warns that all such vessels are fair game. Few believe Germany would risk attacking a ship carrying Americans, certainly not one as swift and imposing as the Lusy.

Once aboard, Rita is delighted to discover both Charles and her brother-in-law as fellow passengers.The days pass in a haze of parties and pleasurable pursuits, and the comforts of the luxury ocean liner are almost enough to calm Rita’s ripples of unease. But as the ship nears Liverpool, every assumption will be tested, and Rita, her family, and the world, will be changed forever by the voyage’s infamous and catastrophic end . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult, Adult Fiction, World War I

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Shana Abé is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of seventeen books, including the acclaimed Drákon Series and the Sweetest Dark Series.

She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and currently resides in the mountains of Colorado with her very patient husband and a lot of pets.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRC from Edelweiss and Kensington / Kensington Publishing Corp.
Historical fiction about family, sisterly bond, and the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. Marguerite and Inez are close and have grown up with all the comforts money can buy. Marguerite wants to be an actress and Inez becomes a violinist. As they negotiate first London and then New York, they each thrive in their chosen professions. They also each find love. All falls apart when their younger brother enlists in the war and “Rita” travels back to London to see him before he leaves. Inez is already there - but her husband George is also on his way. Rita and George meet up on the ship RMS Lusitania. The rest, as they say, is history.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly absorbing WWI histfic story about the Jolivet sisters: Rita, an actress, and Inez, a violinist. When learning that their brother was soon to enlist, Rita travels on the RMS Lusitania from New York to try to see him before he departs. She was one of only 763 survivors out of nearly 2,000 on board when the ship was sunk by the Germans. Her brother-in-law died there too, leaving her sister distraught. Inez committed suicide after learning of his death. A beautifully written tale that captures the tragic event and its devastating aftermath with poignance and power. Highly recommended!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars for the first 75% which was just lots of unnecessary description of two sisters, Rita who becomes a successful play actress, and Inez is a violinist in the early 1900s. Just because there's lots of attempted lush description of a book, doesn't make it a worthwhile one.

2.5 stars for the remaining book is where the tragic fall of Lusitania actually happens. A whole lot of nothing, quite frankly. This is my second Shana Abe book, and I'm finding her historical fiction novels to be more surface level, as opposed to becoming enthralled with the story line.

“Yellow horseshoe vetch and magenta corncockles, lacy white cow parsley, and—as they got closer to the sea—pink papery clusters of thrift, clinging tenaciously to rocky ledges.”

Ok cool description, but imagine ten more pages like this on a settle setting. More plot please!

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book by this author for me. I enjoy her writing style so much. I even won this advance copy! This story will stay with me for awhile.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Crown of Stars is based on the true story of a young actress who survived catastrophic voyage on Lusitania.

Early 1900, England. Marguerite Jolivet comes from a privileged family and from an early age enjoys spinning stories and entertaining her family’s friends. At eighteen, she reveals her intention of becoming an actress.

Her younger sister, Inez, is not happy about Marguerite leaving the house as both sisters have a very close bond. But Inez has a gift of her own. She is a talented violinist. This allows her to follow her sister as they both move to London.

They quickly become celebrated in London, where Marguerite takes the stage name of Rita. Their careers take them in different geographical directions. Inez remains in Europe and Rita moves to Broadway in NYC. Despite the distance, the sisterly bond remains strong with love and support for each other.

The war in Europe makes the brother of Rita and Inez enlist, and that makes Rita rush to Europe on the fastest steamer which is attacked by Germany. The events turn tragically for many, even for some who were on land, and had hard time coping with the events.

The story mainly focuses on the lives of the sisters, with some events presented in vivid and descriptive writing, giving it a slower pace. The pace picks up with the events of Lusitania towards the end of the story.

This historical romance, eloquently written, is a great choice for those who enjoy the focus on relationships presented at leisurely pace.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kat valentine ( Katsbookcornerreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another marvelous historical romance from author Shana Abe!

The Crown of Stars is set during the glittering Gilded Age and follows two sisters from a wealthy, privileged family as they chase their very different dreams.

Marguerita “Rita” Jolivet longs to become a famous Broadway actress — and with her beauty and charm, she seems destined to take the world by storm. She lives life boldly, refusing to let any one man claim her heart.

Her quiet, shy younger sister, Inez “Leigh,” finds her own spotlight as a gifted violinist. She falls instantly in love with the powerful and debonair George Vernon — a mysterious gentleman whispered to be an actual spy.

We follow both sisters through love, ambition, fame, and heartbreak, while witnessing the beautiful bond that only sisters share. But everything changes during a fateful voyage aboard the Lusitania, a tragedy that — like the Titanic — still haunts us today. One sister is left shattered by grief, while the other finally stops running from the one thing she cannot control: love.

Shana Abe is a gifted storyteller. Her lush, atmospheric writing and richly layered characters blend romance with real historical events in a way that feels both sweeping and intimate.

This is a clean historical romance that focuses on courtship, relationships, and the enduring strength of sisterhood. It is a heartfelt, emotional read that will stay with you long after the final page.

📅 Releases February 2026 — and it is absolutely one to mark on your calendar.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington and Shana Abe for the ARC!💋😉

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Crown of Stars by Shana Abe was a solid historical fiction novel set before, during and after the sinking of the Lusitania, which took place in 1915 and was a precipitating event to the United States entering WWI. One of the most famous survivors was French actress Rita Jolivet. I didn't know much about her life, so I was caught unaware by some of the plot points. I learned more about the history of the Lusitania while enjoying a beautiful story of the bond between sisters as well as the tragic tale of a famous ship that was torpedoed and sunk by the Germans.

Most of the story takes place before the infamous sinking. In fact, my one beef with the book is that the pacing and tone are uneven: for over half of the book Rita and her sister Inez are living a charmed life with plays, concerts and famous friends. Once Rita boards the Lusitania the action quickly kicks in and leads to the dramatic conclusion. The writing was strong, and the characters fleshed out well. I appreciated the thorough author's note, which explained the history vs fiction and the author's extensive research.

I will recommend this to readers who like historical fiction with Downton Abbey-ish vibes.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Barbara Mates · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me the hallmark of good historical fiction is taking the reader out of today and to that time by recreating it through how the characters go through their days--their conversations, what they are are wearing and eating, news events. By those parameters Abe excelled in her work, A Crown of Stars set in the early 1900's. The reader can picture the characters and root for the Jolivet sisters who were each other's biggest fans. Rita became a star of the silent screen and Inez an accomplished musician and traveled in elite circles but always were there for each other. It was a fascinating time to read about and while everyone has heard about the Titanic, the horror of the Lusitania has been sorely neglected but now luckily brought to light in an accessible and highly readable format. I actually used a few of the excellent resources the author provided to learn more about the sisters and the Lusitania.
Beautifully written... an example this sage advice "Don't wait for someday. Don't wait for a dream to become real. Take a reality and make it your dream ".
Thanks to the author for writing the book, publisher for publishing and providing me with an ARC.

[Marianne Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written story of the lives of sisters, Marguerite (Rita) and Inez, as they mature into adulthood remaining close, but taking separate paths, Rita as an actress and Inez as a violinist. Their love and support for each other is strong, and their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. Their closeness and the strength of their relationship though is not enough to overcome a heartbreaking twist of events after the Lusitania massacre that affected and destroyed their lives, and the lives of friends and thousands of others.

This story captivated me and it’s one I’ll think about often. I liked the writing style, however there was one line that had me rolling my eyes, and I thought about how lame it was to the end of the story…and then I read the ‘Author’s Note and Acknowledgement’ at the end and chuckled.
The line: “…then stepped, one foot at a time, into the bath.” 🤦🏻‍♀️
My thought: Duh, how else would she get into the bath? Cannon ball it?! Dive? Vault? 🙄
Her Author’s Notes: she praises her editor for her guidance etc. especially when it comes to some precious word or phrase that she foolishly begs to keep…
I figured this must be one of those phrases. 😂

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.
I had expected this novel to be mainly about the sinking of the Lusitania with Rita Jolivet, an actress who survived the disaster, as the star of the story. While Rita is, in fact, the star here, it focuses on her life instead and, around 80% of the way through, brings in the Lusitania catastrophe, which is, of course a large part of her life.
I felt like the description of things throughout the book was sometimes a bit excessive. While I do love good description to put me in the era and location of a story, the amount in this particular one distracted me.
Rita’s life is indeed a fascinating one and I’m happy to have read about her. Shana Abe seems to have done a lot of research around Rita and her dear sister Inez to write the story and gives us a good picture of their life as they come of age and a bit beyond. I enjoyed reading the last 20% of the book more, however, as the Lusitania piece came in. I wish it played a larger part in the book because the sad story has always intrigued me.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. When I started reading it, I googled Rita Jolivet - wanting to know if she was a real person or completely fictional - and skimming her wikipedia article gave away some of the events that happened in this book. But not being surprised by it, knowing who would survive and who wouldn't, didn't hurt my reading experience at all. This is called "a novel of the Lusitania", but while it all leads up to Rita's fateful voyage on the Lusitania's final Atlantic crossing, it also details Rita and her sister Inez's lives leading up to that: from their childhood to striking out into the world together, chasing their dreams and forging their own paths. (Rita doesn't even board the Lusy until more than halfway through the book.) This was a great historical fiction novel, filled with compelling characters and rich historical detail. I'd recommend this to fans of Kate Quinn or Ariel Lawhon, and I definitely plan to read more of Shana Abe's books.

Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Publishing, for providing a review copy via NetGalley. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Lori Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an excellent read that I couldn't put it down! Wow! I loved every minute of it.
The story of the Lusitania as you've never read about her before. She held me spellbound through the whole story.
A new to me author that drew me in from the beginning until the end. Im still thinking about this book.
I loved reading about the stars who traveled on her and I felt the ships pain as she sunk along with the passengers that went down with her.
How horrible it must be to live with that. Reminds you of the Titanic doesn't it?
The cover of this book is simply beautiful! It and the subject is what made me want to read it.
This was a great read. Im not fond of WW2 stories but I really liked this one
5 stars for a well written novel. I highly recommend!
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

[gabithebookdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Kensington Publishing Corp for this ARC for my honest review (book release: February 24, 2026)

based on the real life of Marguerite “Rita” Jolivet (the great-great aunt of Finn Wolfhard who plays Mike in Stranger Things), a British actress who survived the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. The book follows Rita and her sister Inez, a talented violinist, on their respective journeys of falling in love and becoming stars in their own right.

I don’t know a lot about the actress’s real life and career but this book seems to be very well researched, and I’m a curious now to know more about Rita Jolivet. as much as I enjoyed all of the details in the character’s lives, some parts of the book felt slow while years passed from one part of the book to another.

[Lea Columbus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I have read several of Shana Abe's books and have enjoyed them all. This one is no exception. It is the story of Rita Jolivet, an actress who was on The Lusitania when it was sunk in 1915. It is the story of the sinking, and the effects on her and her family. It is also a broader tale of like in England in the early 1900's and her career as an actress. I had never heard of her before, although I had read about the Lusitania in terms of the First World War. This is a well written and researched book about the ship , its sinking and the effects of it. It is also the personal story of Rita, daughter, sister, actress, wife. I enjoyed it completely.

[Sharon Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of young actress Rita Jolivet and her relationship with her younger sister Inez. The first half of the book centers on their lives and the beginning of Rita's career. Inez also has a lesser career as a violinist. About 50% of the way through the story it starts to take off and become a little more interesting. Rita is a passenger on the doomed Lusitania. The rest of the story deals with the sinking, and how this family was affected. It started a little slow but picked up with the story of the sinking of the Lusitania. If you like stories based on real people, I recommend this book for you!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this author's two previous works of historical fiction (and The Second Mrs. Astor is a particular favorite of mine), so I was eagerly anticipating reading this book. It certainly didn't disappoint. This was more than a based-on-true-events disaster story. It was also a story of the bond between two sisters. This was an immersive experience. The author did a good job of putting you inside the mind of the characters and putting you into the setting. It made it all the more heartbreaking. Though there was more to Rita’s life after the sinking of the Lusitania, it felt like the author chose the right moment to end the story. I definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Kensington for the early read.

[Alissa Manning-Telisak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Crown of Stars is a really good historical fiction read—beautifully written, emotionally grounded, and full of well-drawn, complicated characters. Shana Abe clearly knows this period, and the world she builds during and after World War I feels rich and real. The Lusitania sections were easily the most gripping part of the book for me. They were tense and heartbreaking, but they also felt a bit rushed, which left me wanting more time with such a pivotal, life-changing event. That moment has so much weight, and I wished the story had stayed there longer. Much of the novel instead focuses on the lives and careers of the main character and her sister. Their ambitions, struggles, and evolving relationship take center stage, and while that part of the story is thoughtfully done, it didn’t pull me in as much as the historical event itself. I kept hoping the balance would tip back toward the Lusitania and its aftermath.

Still, the writing is lovely and the characters feel real.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read A Crown of Stars.

[Kaylee M · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down.

My third book by this author and I think this one was my favourite. Rita was a very developed character and thought the plot moved at a really good pace. Definitely kept my interest throughout.

My only negatives would be the 10(??) year time jump that was not fully clear, the diary entries/letters at the beginning of chapters which gave away the story and that the Lusitania part felt rushed and more like a footnote than the central plot. Which would be fine but it’s marketed as a “Lusitania novel” on the cover.

I think readers who enjoy historical fiction and strong female characters will love this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Crown of Stars is a historical fiction story of the Joliet sisters and the sinking of the Lusitania, precipitating the US involvement in WWI. I found the book interesting but overly descriptive and dragging through the middle. I enjoyed the character development and the close relationship between the sisters. I loved following the relationships between Inez and George and Rita and Giuseppe. This is a very sad, depressing story throughout the entire book. It felt, to me, that it took quite a long time to get to the actual sinking of the Lusitania and once it does, the story wraps up quickly. I think this is a good read for historical fiction lovers but didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of two sisters whose lives were shaken by the Lusitania disaster. As anyone with siblings knows, they are never the same personality. Both sisters are completely different, and yet they have a sacred bond. In real life, they were so similar to how the book portrayed them, down to their beauty and talent for the arts. I loved how it was written, with each chapter being formed by a piece of a letter from Inez to Rita. I knew the tragic end, but it still had me heartbroken by the end. I was also a big fan of the little cameos by famous individuals during the history and on the Lusitania itself.

[Destiny Chappel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crown of Stars follows two sisters Rita and Inez. They live a charming live made possible by their wealthy family. Rita is a famous actress, Inez a violinist. When learning that their brother was soon to enlist, Rita travels from New York to try to see him before he departs on a ship called Lusitania. This story is a historical fiction novel set during and after the sinking of the Lusitania, which took place in 1915 and WWI. The writing is beautifully written, the characters are complexed and fleshed out. I highly recommend

[Unsolved ☕︎ Mystery]

***Note to self***
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Review to follow.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written! I have not read much about the Lusitania before this novel. Rita and Inez's story is fascinating and heartbreaking.

With thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Kensington Books for sending this ARC.