Radio Starr

by Lisa Lehmann

A starry-eyed Midwestern DJ spins on-air personas that unravel her identity and moral fabric in the male-dominated world of 1980s radio.

All Eva LaVette wants is a great career and a perfect marriage. Can she have both?
​A '70s girl in an '80s world, Eva finds her life upended on a frigid Wisconsin night when she discovers a passion for radio. It’s a feeling that ignites her soul, but conflicts with her husband’s traditional values. Fearless and a bit naive, Eva adopts on-air facades that both mask and reveal her deepest desires. As she navigates the trials of format changes, overnight shifts, sexist vibes, and the fear of being fired, she grapples with the consequences of her choices. Radio plays both a true love and a bad boyfriend; Eva is seduced time and again.

RADIO STARR is a captivating tale of identity, ambition and self-discovery framed by the music of the times just as radio is making a transformative shift from analogue to digital. For fans of Daisy Jones & The Six, The People We Keep, The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits, Firefly Lane, and WKRP in Cincinnati, this novel is a backstage pass to the power of tuning in to one’s own frequency.

306 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 15, 2026

About the author

Lisa Lehmann is a former radio announcer and musician who now channels her creative energy into writing and photography. She studied literary writing at UW-Madison. Her first book, LAKE MICHIGAN: The Wisconsin Shore, showcases her nature photography and was a National Indy Excellence Award Finalist. Before hanging up her headphones, she worked on the air at ten radio stations, doing everything from reporting the news to copywriting, audience research, and stints as a morning show sidekick.

Lisa lives in beautiful Wisconsin with her husband, two tiny dogs and a giant cat. She spends her time reading, cooking, native plant gardening and enjoying the outdoors. RADIO STARR is her first novel.

Reviews

[Lisa Lehmann]

Dear Readers,
Winners: Congratulations to Kaitlan in Colorado, Rene in Vermont, and Michelle in Pennsylvania who won a signed copy of RADIO STARR! Thank you every who entered the giveaway.
If you like stories about:
- women's friendship
- workplace stories / coming-of-age in the workplace
- what it was like before the internet and cell phones
- complicated love relationships
- the music of the '70s, '80s and early '90s,

then I think this will be totally your thing. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work in radio, it's a peek behind the scenes at what's going on when the microphone is off. And if you were on the radio, you'll be saying OMG, that happened to me!

Thank you so much to the early reviewers for their enthusiasm and support. I'm so excited for its release and I hope you fall in love with the book, too.

[Char Pachniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio Starr a novel by Lisa Lehmann is a real page turner and I don't say that often! After working over 22 years in radio broadcasting in 3 different markets, and at 7 different stations Lisa kept me trying to prepare for what might be next and surprised me every time. She'll have you wanting to step in and be a part of this story. Whether you work in broadcasting or always wondered what happens before it hits the airwaves Radio Starr is sure to pull you into the story to discover what happens at your favorite station.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging journey into the world of radio. Eva’s story is captivating and authentic. I’d highly recommend this book

[Brittni Phelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio Starr is full of retro vibes and nostalgia, all while tackling the challenges of being a woman in a man’s world in the 1980’s. Eva, the protagonist, believes she must adopt different personas to find success in her career in radio. This novel is heartfelt and easy reading at times, but then also dives deep into moments of fear and passion. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of finding out what it means to be happy with who you are, all set to the music of my childhood.

[Buxton Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I was an ARC reviewer.

The best description of Lisa Lehmann’s debut novel, Radio Starr, can be summed up as the disc jockeys in her story might say: “It’s a hit!” The story is a flashback for the reader, back to the turbulent eighties, as Eva Lavette struggles to find both career and marital happiness.

Married, but back in college, Eva lands a gig at the campus radio station and is immediately bitten by the radio bug. Yearning to be a DJ like her fellow broadcasting students, she abandons her plans to be a teacher, much to the dismay of her husband, Artie. From here, the novel follows both her ragged career path (as she adopts various on-air personas and changes her name to match them) and her equally bumpy personal life (she flirts with callers and deals with a stalker while dealing with a sexless homelife) as she tries to find both stardom and satisfaction.

Having been in the radio industry during this decade (and having written about it myself), I can attest that “it’s all true” (especially the bad parts). Lehmann weaves the twin tales of Eva’s efforts for an on-air position with fame (and a little dignity) and love. Her playful chapter titles and the musical selections that are part of the novel add both humor and clarity. You’ll be rooting for Eva to break through and reach her goals…but does she?

Tune in tomorrow!

[Tina Prigge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The manic pace and magic of radio are revealed in this nostalgic, music-fueled, coming-of-age romp where the protagonist is often her very own antagonist. Each time I had to set the book down, I continued to think about the story until I could pick it up again. A sure sign of a good book.

[L. Maristatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun ode to '80s culture, music, and misogyny. Lehmann gives a fascinating snapshot of the times while detailing the protagonist's journey of bitterness, pain, and self-discovery. For anyone who struggled through the decade, trying to create a career in a constantly shifting cultural and moral landscape: This novel sees you.