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.

Genres: Fiction

306 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Lisa Lehmann is a former radio announcer 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 and did 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,
If you've ever wondered what it's like to work in radio, RADIO STARR offers a peek behind the scenes at what's going on when the microphone is off. And if you worked in radio, you'll be saying OMG, that happened to me!

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!

Thank you so much to the reviewers for their enthusiasm and support. 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.

[Thomas A. Swaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Radio Starr. I did a stint as a DJ on a radio station in the early 70s and I found the author’s descriptions of the ins and outs of that world accurate, informative and very entertaining! I typically don’t read during the day but I have found myself sneaking into the bedroom and reading the book. Highly recommended!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers who miss the heyday of being the ninth caller to win concert tickets from their favorite radio station, or who remember finally being able to put a voice with the face when meeting a deejay at a live event, or who simply wonder how radio stations operated in the pre-digital era will find plenty to savor in this nostalgic read. Eva LaVette is a young on-air personality with some heavy personal baggage and soaring professional aspirations. As a woman in a male-dominated and chauvinistic biz in the Seventies and Eighties, she adopts multiple on-air personas before finally realizing who she truly is. "Radio Starr" is a memorable coming-of-age tale set against the age-old and endlessly fascinating backdrop of radio. (Warning: You may experience flashbacks to episodes of "WKRP in Cincinnati.")

[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.

[Jennifer Rupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a contemporary of Radio Starr’s main character, Eva LaVette, this reader was swamped with nostalgia. The music mentioned in Radio Starr runs like the soundtrack to my younger self (all on vinyl). I adored this novel from start to finish. Lisa Lehmann’s writing is crisp and tight, and her characters deeply drawn. In particular, Eva is so recognizable in all her flawed, heroic, funny, and heartbreaking glory that it is impossible not to become emotionally attached to her. Her emotional journey is as bumpy as her career path, but the reader cheers for Eva all the way.

Radio Starr will transport readers to a time when women were finding new careers outside the home. A time when it seemed as though the world was opening up to women. And yet, Eva’s story also mirrors a time when women had to endure workplace harassment, mostly in the form of microaggressions. Like me, those readers who worked outside the home during the 80’s will remember how it was and know that, although we haven’t reached parity, it’s a whole lot better. Five stars for Radio Starr and its author, Lisa Lehmann.

[Kevin Peckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Radio Starr. The story was interesting and thought provoking, capturing the world of smaller market radio very accurately. As a former broadcaster from the same era as the Radio Starr story, the authentic descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and stress dreams of life in radio triggered lots of nostalgic memories. The details about the atmosphere of late night radio studios, the sound of bulk erasing carts, and the smell of stale coffee and recording tape made it easy to immerse myself in your story. The characters, egos, and situations are all very true to life as well.
I recommend it to anyone who has ever shared the fascination of radio as a listener or a broadcaster.

[Gail Mccray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I love it, I read fiction only once or twice a year, because that’s all I have time for. So I have to choose carefully, generally one piece over Christmas break. This year I chose Radio Starr. Very nicely done. The treatment of women was clearly shown without being preachy. I found the main character very relatable, and I liked how it ended. It made for some very pleasant afternoons. My compliments to the author.

[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.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it fascinating to follow the main character's journey while getting a behind the scenes glimpse into the radio world of the 1980's. Eva is a complex, likable character that you'll be rooting for the whole way through! So many twists and turns that kept me guessing what would be next for Eva as she navigated workplace challenges and important decisions in her personal life.