Audiobook Review: Alone with the Stars by David R.Gillham

Author: David R.Gillham
Narrator: Hillary Huber, Emily Bauer
Title: Alone with the Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Audiobook 
Published: 01-30-20
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



In the summer of 1937, Amelia Earhart is the most famous woman in the world—a record-breaking pilot, a best-selling author, and a modern woman shattering the glass ceiling in the early days of aviation. And then she vanished.

But a series of intercepted radio signals just might save her in this historical fiction audiobook from the acclaimed, New York Times best-selling author of City of Women, David R. Gillham. Award-winning narrators Emily Bauer and Hillary Huber create an account that brings light to that specific time and place.

In Tampa, Florida, 15-year-old Lizzie Friedlander spends her afternoons glued to her father’s radio, tapping into the enormity of a world she longs to travel. Lizzie can hardly believe her ears when she picks up a radio signal from a faraway source that sets her heart racing: "Amelia Earhart calling SOS!"

As Lizzie copies down the transmissions, it’s clear that the famed Amelia Earhart is not lost at sea, as the newspapers are dreading, but alive and calling for help. In a race against time, Lizzie must convince the local Coast Guard that the radio transmissions were real and that Earhart's life hangs in the balance. But will anyone believe her? 




I've always been intrigued by this mystery of Amelia Earhart. It is one of those mysteries I want a solution for! I can't wait to find out the truth one day. 

The story follows Amelia on her last voyage and 15-year-old Lizzie Friedlander who hears Amelia's SOS on the radio signal. Will anyone believe her when she tells them? 

This made me sad, because even if someone believed Lizzie...it wouldn't have mattered at all. The plane disappeared to goodness knows where. Poor Lizzie. Not only is she young, but she is a girl and no one will want to believe her. Sighs. MEN SUCK! Not Lizzie's dad though. Bless his heart. Or Amelia's hubbie or co-pilot. 

This was a quick story, but it had a lot of content in it. At first, I was totally meh about Lizzie's POVs. I didn't get the correlation between Lizzie and Amelia. I eventually did start liking Lizzie's part in the story. But it took a hot minute for me to get there.

Even though I grew to like Lizzie and her POV, I still wish we spent more time with Amelia ESPECIALLY in her last moments before she vanished. That would've made me cry for sure. BUT I do understand what the author was doing. Part of the mystery and all that. I still wanted more though!  

The ending was good. Nearly got me to tear up there. ;) 

Awwww the narrators were fun and they fit well. There were sound effects and it did boost some parts of the story. However....there were times when...well...it didn't help the story and was distracting me so I had to rewind a little bit. 

Overall, though, this was a good one and it is quick. I was at first meh, but Lizzie did grow on me. I am just biased...I wanted more about AE! She was an intriguing woman. Worth the listen! I'll give this 3 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #12 for Audiobook Challenge