I had received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley, but unfortunately, didn’t get a chance to read it before it was released. When the audiobook was available, though, I decided to listen to it. I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I thought I would.

Allison Brinkley is excited about the prospect of moving her family from the Dallas suburbs to downtown Manhatten after her husband receives a promotion. After arriving there, though, she finds out the teaching job she had lined up fell through when the teacher she was replacing decides to return. Life takes a turn, however, after she is involved in a fender bender at her son’s new school which moves her in a new direction. She ends up in a plush penthouse apartment to deliver her insurance information when she encounters spoiled, self-absorbed, hungover teenage pop star, Carter Reid (very reminiscent of Justin Beiber), who has just signed to appear in a Broadway musical. Carter doesn’t have parents or anyone in his life helping guide him, so Allison starts being a “mother” to him, making sure he has healthy meals to eat and attempting to provide needed guidance. One thing leads to another, and soon Allison is his new personal assistant.

I loved Allison’s character. She was genuine and fearless, treating Carter just like she would have her children. In addition to the main storyline with Carter, Allison is also re-assessing whether or not they made the right decision to move to Manhatten rather than a suburb outside the city. Her mother who had moved to Dallas to be near her and her family starts looking for a house outside the city. The characters and family dynamics are all realistic, and I liked the way she was able to bring her Senior daughter in to help Carter, too. Overall, I found the book to be engaging and thought Carly Robins did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Funny, witty, clever, entertaining, humorous. Love Amy's writing and quirky characters and this wonderful setting. Great story!

Fun but extremely suspension-of-disbelief story about a woman who's moved from Dallas to New York, her family's culture shock, and her accidentally becoming the personal assistant to a Bieber-like pop star who's self-destructing.

Amy's books are always so fun to read and this one is especially so!! I felt so connected to her characters and it was an absolute joy to read!!

May, the harbinger of summer, is as busy a month as June, July and August, filled with graduations, parties, gardening, lawn work and planning for summer activities. But don’t let all these events derail your reading, because there are some great May novels that you won’t want to miss. Plus, you deserve to reward yourself after sitting through 500 names being called for just that one special one.
Here are some perfect books for your well-deserved “me” time …
Limelight by Amy Poeppel
What it’s about:
In a smart and funny new novel by the author of the critically acclaimed, “big-hearted, charming” (The Washington Post) Small Admissions, a family’s move to New York City brings surprises and humor as their lives merge with the captivating world of Broadway.
Allison Brinkley—wife, mother, and former unflappable optimist—discovers that a carefully weighed decision to pack up and move her family from suburban Dallas to the glittery chaos of Manhattan may have been more complicated than she and her husband initially thought.
Allison learns that New York is unruly and bewildering, defying the notions she developed from romantic movies and a memorable childhood visit. After a humiliating call from the principal’s office and the loss of the job she was counting on, Allison begins to accept that New York may not suit her after all.
When Allison has a fender-bender, witnessed by a flock of mothers at her son’s new school, she is led to the penthouse apartment of a luxurious Central Park West building and encounters a spoiled, hungover, unsupervised teenager who looks familiar. It doesn’t take long to recognize him as Carter Reid—a famous pop star who has been cast in a new Broadway musical. Through this brush with stardom, Allison embraces a unique and unexpected opportunity that helps her find her way in the heart of Manhattan.
Why you should read this: There is no doubt — Amy Poeppel is an exceptional storyteller. Her first book, Small Admissions, was simply charming, as is this one. Allison, a former teacher and mother of three, uses her experience, intuition and training to attempt to manage bad boy Carter Reid as she also deals with helping her children adjust to the move from Texas to New York City. Poeppel’s story of domestic life is filled with humor, outrageous scenarios, genuine family relationships, while avoiding clichés. Her biggest strength is bringing the characters to life and making you care about them, so much so that you just hope that there might be a glimpse of them again in future stories.
Best Beach Ever by Wendy Wax
What it’s about:
Forced to rent out or lose their beloved Bella Flora after the loss of their renovation-turned-reality-TV show Do Over, Maddie, Nikki, Avery, Kyra, and Bitsy move into cottages at the Sunshine Hotel and Beach Club believing the worst is over. Only to discover just how uncertain their futures really are.
Maddie struggles with the challenges of dating a rock star whose career has come roaring back to life while Nikki faces the daunting realities of mothering twins at forty-seven. Avery buries herself in a tiny home build in an attempt to dodge commitment issues, and Kyra battles to protect her son from the Hollywood world she once dreamed of joining. And Bitsy is about to find out whether the rewards of seeking revenge will outweigh the risks.
Luckily, when the going gets tough, the ladies of Ten Beach Road know that their friendship—tried and tested—can chase away the darkest clouds and let the sun shine in…
Why you should read this: Don’t you just eagerly await the next installment in the Ten Beach Road Series? From the very first book, this cast of characters captured our attention. In this newest release, Kyra faces her biggest challenge, allowing her son to act in a movie, directed by his married father and his wife. The joy of the book is that we catch up with all the characters and the new challenges that they face. Wax has the talented ability to give her characters their happy ending, but still show the realistic challenges facing them as they move forward. And don’t you just love the wonderful sense of karma running throughout the book?
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
What it’s about:
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment.
In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there’s her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there’s Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won’t let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.
Why you should read this: Katherine Center writes amazing heartwarming stories. If you haven’t read her, you’ll be excited to discover that she has a backlist. While she definitely puts her characters through the wringer — this story is filled with a tragic scenario — in Center’s expert hands, it becomes more about family and less about loss. A marvelous example of acceptance and healing and a celebration of family — warts and all. (See an interview on HEA with Katherine.)
The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go by Amy E. Reichert
What it’s about:
Gina Zoberski wants to make it through one day without her fastidious mother, Lorraine, cataloguing all her faults, and her sullen teenage daughter, May, snubbing her. Too bad there’s no chance of that. Her relentlessly sunny disposition annoys them both, no matter how hard she tries. Instead, Gina finds order and comfort in obsessive list-making and her work at Grilled G’s, the gourmet grilled cheese food truck built by her late husband.
But when Lorraine suffers a sudden stroke, Gina stumbles upon a family secret Lorraine’s kept hidden for forty years. In the face of her mother’s failing health and her daughter’s rebellion, this optimist might find that piecing together the truth is the push she needs to let go…
Why you should read this: The parent-child/mother-daughter bond is one of the most complex relationships there is. And when a parent has rigid expectations, the child either gives in or rebels. Amy E. Reichert wonderfully explores multigeneration mother-daughter relationships in her latest book. Lorraine, the distant, disapproving mother, is difficult to like, but Reichert brilliantly peels back the layers to show that she, too, had to deal with parental interference. Not only will you be entertained, but also in the end have a better sense of the limited options that women had in the past and a new appreciation for challenges that they faced. (See an excerpt on HEA from The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go.)
Happy reading!
Leigh Davis is a former contributor to Heroes and Heartbreakers. When she is not reading, she’s usually outside throwing balls to her insatiable dogs. She loves hearing and talking about great books. You can connect with her on Twitter and Goodreads.
MORE ON HEA: See more posts by Leigh
Amy E. Reichert, Amy Poeppel, Katherine Center, Wendy Wax, women's fiction, Recommended reads, Top stories

I loved the premise of LIMELIGHT and was glad that it didn't disappoint. The author has a particular gift for dialogue, which felt so real. I read the book quick and appreciated the lighter read after reading a few darker stories right before this one.

An truly enjoyable read! I thought the characters were authentic and well flushed out, and the story was paced just right for me. I loved this realistic look into 'city life', along with becoming really invested in the characters of this novel!

I have to start by saying that I am drawn to books about NYC. Mix in other elements such as parenting, a behind the scenes look at a Broadway production, and a surly, rude, bratty teenage pop star and I’m even more interested. This book has all that and so much more. I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Allison and her husband, Michael, have relocated their three children and themselves from a Dallas suburb to a small Manhattan apartment. Let’s just say this adjustment hasn’t gone as planned. While Michael thrives with his new job and the lure and vitality of NYC the rest of the family flounders. The children adjust poorly to school and their new surroundings. Allison’s teaching job gets cancelled and to make her life even more stressful she has a minor traffic accident picking her son up from school. While trying to make amends to the other driver she finds herself meeting Carter Reid, a famous teenage pop star. To say that Carter is lacking in social graces as well as any idea of how the real world works is an understatement. Allison ends up taking a job as his personal assistant and is tasked to getting him cleaned up, sober, out of the tabloids, and ready for his debut on Broadway. This is definitely not a simple job as he fights her the whole way. Allison is committed to getting Carter to see his own self worth and potential and to have him feel loved. The characters in this book are interesting - from Allison’s children to the Broadway movers and shakers. I enjoyed everything about this book. It is well written and well paced and had me entertained from the first page

Allison Brinkley and her husband thought that moving their kids from Dallas to Manhattan was going to be a fun adventure. Allison didn't expect to be living in an apartment a fraction of the size of home they were used to living in. She wasn't expecting that finding the right schools would be so difficult. She didn't expect her oldest daughter to become so combative and hateful with the move. And she didn't expect to have such a hard time finding and keeping a job as a teacher. Allison was really starting to question their decision when she gets into a minor fender bender with a black BMW. Her efforts to do the right thing leads her to the penthouse of a Central Park West building. It is there that she finds a beaten and battered teen superstar. Carter Reid is known for his musical ability and his hard-partying ways. But Allison doesn't see a music star with a penchant for partying. She sees a child who is alone and in need of help. Allison comes back to check on him daily and soon finds herself with a job as his Personal Assistant. In charge of preparing him for a role on Broadway, Allison has her work cut out for her. But she is not one to give up on a job or on a person. Soon her whole family is involved with getting Carter ready for the stage and a village it does take. Will Carter be able to show his critics that he is worthy of the role?

Typically I reserve the "Best of Designation" for those books that evoke such strong emotion from me, whether it be laughing or crying. Limelight is getting a "Best of" label because I don't think that I have ever cheered for a fictional character as much as I cheered for Carter Reid. Allison Brinkley is a mom first and foremost and that is true with every word in this book. She is utterly devoted to her children and when she comes across Carter Reid all she can think about is how alone he is. She was a little unsure of herself in the beginning, the star power can be intimidating, but her confidence grew as Carter's confidence grew. In my head, I compared Carter to a younger version of Justin Beiber. And it was easy to see him as a "little-lost boy", he drew out my own maternal instincts. I loved how Allison didn't let him get away with anything. She held him accountable and made him honor his commitments. It was refreshing. It was also refreshing to see how the Brinkley family was so "normal". No marital issues between Allison and Michael. Normal kid stuff with their three children. The normalcy is why I think Carter turned out to be so good to them. I did get a little teary in the end, but the author set it up for more books featuring Allison and the rest of the Brinkley family. And I think that even includes Carter Reid.

Bottom line - I admit it, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Limelight. Limelight was fun and fresh with a surprising amount of depth to the characters. Besides, who doesn't love a good "behind the scenes" kind of story and Limelight takes you behind the scenes of a Broadway play.

Details:

Limelight by Amy Poeppel
On Facebook and Instagram
Pages: 416
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: 5/1/2018
Buy it Here!

Allison Brinkley and her family take on Manhattan when they relocate from Dallas with a job change. They soon realize that the Big Apple is not the glitz & glam they imagined. Tiny apartment, strange new schools, and no friends make the adjustment rough on Allison and her children. A random accident causes Allison to meet Carter Reid, a spoiled bratty teen pop star with a bad reputation. Her mother's instinct kicks in and she becomes his personal assistant, helping him take on a role in a brand new Broadway show. Limelight is a funny, touching, compulsive read, great beach book.

This book was delightful! It is the perfect summer read, a good story with interesting characters. It has a nice dose of humor along with a very human family dynamic. The storyline is what fairy tales are made of, but the warmth and realistic relationships make you believe that anything is possible.

I was a huge fan of Small Admissions, so when I saw Poeppel had another novel coming out, I was very excited. Limelight was entertaining and fun from start to finish and Poeppel's writing style did not disappoint. Poepple's characters were smart, fresh, and genuinely made me want to a part of their family. The story line was a lot of fun and kept me turning pages late into the night.

The main character Allison is by far my favorite part of the novel. She is a wonderful mom who puts her kids first and she even transfers her mom skills to kids who aren't her own. She was smart, funny, tough, and didn't take crap from anyone. I loved her personality and I think she really made the book for me. There were so many great characters in this novel, so I can't comment on all of them, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each character.

Limelight is a fun and entertaining novel and I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoyed Poeppel's earlier Small Admissions. Her light and fresh writing style is even better in Limelight! I loved the small glimpse into the Broadway life, and I look forward to more novels from Poeppel in the future. Thank you Atria and NetGalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

Amy Poeppel's second book rises above the high bar she set with Small Admissions. Limelight provides humor and sensibility that gives the reader a ride that she/he desires and believes. Poeppel just gets better!

Allison Brinkley’s family has just relocated from Dallas to Manhattan, a huge change for all, especially her three kids. The reality of life in the city doesn’t quite match Allison’s glamorous expectations, and she’s left questioning the wisdom of this decision. Frustrated by their small apartment, her kids’ struggles with school and relationships, and her job woes, Allison is ready to give up on NYC.

When a fender-bender in front of her son’s school suddenly puts her in the orbit of pop star Carter Reid, she finds a purpose. Carter is a walking disaster: an unruly teenage partier with too much money and not enough supervision or support. Allison finds herself employed as Carter’s personal assistant, getting him ready for a job he doesn’t even want: starring in Broadway’s newest hit musical.

Can Allison juggle her responsibilities as a wife and mom with the new demands Carter’s complicated life has brought? Will she end up just another suburban mom that New York has chewed up and spit out? And will her children and family survive this move intact?

Limelight was a fun, wish-fulfillment read. Light and frothy, it’s a perfect beach read. What it lacks in substance, it makes up for in intelligent, witty fun. Allison is a smart, funny protagonist with a lot of heart. She pulls people into her orbit and genuinely cares about them. The secondary characters in this novel are lively and colorful.

The character of Carter Reid, however, is surprisingly flat. I wanted to know more about him and his pre-fame life. He seemed very troubled, and although the source of his pain is explained, we never confront it head-on. We see charming glimpses of Carter’s real personality, but he remains closed off and aloof. And maybe that was Poeppel’s aim.

Allison’s problems following her family’s move are numerous, but few present real stumbling blocks for her and all are resolved without much drama. For this reason, the plot seems to have little momentum. Some conflicts are raised and resolved without very little fanfare: for example, an incident of bullying with one of her daughters that goes away after one short conversation and never reappears.

For that reason, I found most of the plot to be unrealistic. But still, Limelight is charming and fun to read. For fans of Broadway, or anyone looking for a light escape from reality, this book is for you.

This book is basically chick lit in its tone, but about a married mom in her 40s. After her family relocates to NYC from Texas, she sort of accidentally falls into becoming the assistant of a bad boy pop star preparing for his Broadway debut (think a Justin Bieber type). Kind of silly, but also a fun and fast read. 3.5 stars.

this book made me smile. it made me laugh. loved the real characters and the story line. this was my first read by Poeppel and for sure will not be my last. Light hearted and deserves a place in every beach bag this summer

This was fun - part moving to NYC, part being an assistant to a celebrity. Definitely a fun, fast read. I really like the characters - the first part felt a bit tedious with all the adjustments and everything falling apart but it ended up working. I think all of the characters were well-written, well-developed and felt very intuitive. I am definitely excited for more from this author because I've really liked both of her books that she's released so far.

Limelight comes out next week on May 1, 2018 and you can purchase HERE. You can read my review of Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel HERE, which came out last year and which I also really liked! As an aside, I really love the cover of this one and her last, too.

"Yeah, so I'm calling for the asshole who smashed into my BMW. Call back or even better just get your insurance information over here, so I can deal with it. Fifteen Central Park West. ASAP, got it?"

Limelight is funny, laugh-out-loud story about a family who just moved to New York City to live amongst the stars, nightlife, and fancy restaurants. Allison Brinkley, a mom who wanted to be perfect, stumbles across a spoiled, "misunderstood" teenage superstar, Carter Reid, who seems to feel total entitlement to anything he pleases. Her attention, family, and job slowly became occupied with Carter's wellbeing. His outrageous antics and selfish behavior kept Allison's entire family busy by the end of the plot.

Limelight was the perfect novel for a quick, entertaining read.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All Opinions are my Own.

A perfect beach read! Limelight is another winner from Amy Poeppel. In her newest work, Poeppel explores themes of teenage celebrity and what it means to start over. Allison Brinkley stumbles into a whole new scene (and profession) when she becomes the accidental handler for a teenage pop star who is the definition of OOC (out of control). While helping him find his way back, she finds her way forward.

Ahhh I loved this book SO much, it seriously surprised me by just how much I enjoyed it and I don’t even know why. I’ve had Small Admissions sitting on my bookshelf for over a year and now I’m so frustrated with myself for not reading it sooner. Amy Poeppel nailed every single aspect of this book, and I wholeheartedly did not want it to end!


Allison is my new fictional BFF, I could not get enough of her from the moment I read the first chapter. She’s gutsy, witty, caring and a little crazy but she’s real. She has three kids and they were so honestly depicted as well, I mean what teenager today doesn’t curse inappropriately at the worst possible time? Or what young boy doesn’t develop a fascination with the female anatomy at some point? #Truth Carter is the mega pop star that Allison finds herself working for and though they’re an unlikely duo, I loved Allison’s tactics in dealing with him. He’s a pompous, self absorbed jerk, a womanizing party animal, (Think Justin Bieber, maybe even worse) and she treated him no differently than one of her own kids, and this made for some hilarious moments and fantastic scenes.

I love reading books about celebrities (real or fictional) and Poeppel gave me the best of both worlds by including both. The behind the scenes look at Broadway was everything, admittedly I know absolutely nothing about the backstage life of a play but everything she created rang true, it was super authentic and believable to me. So much so in fact that I had to stop myself from checking to see how much tickets are to see Limelight.

I can’t say enough good things about this book, it really had it all for me. I wondered if I would be disappointed by the ending but Poeppel kept things real and there wasn’t some unrealistic, happy ever after conclusion, which was awesome because that wouldn’t have worked well here and the way she handled things was perfection.

Limelight in three words: Savvy,

Modern and Sparkling.