Allison decides that her husband should accept job promotion because it would be wonderful for her family (two teenager daughters and a son) to move to NYC - the most wonderful place in the world to live. She soon finds out that living in NYC is full of problems - her daughters had to leave friends and boyfriends and blame her for the move, she doesn't know anyone and can't find a job, her apartment is so much smaller than her house and life is full of lots of new problems. And then to top it all off, she has a fender bender in front of her son's school with all of the unfriendly mom's looking on. As she realizes that this move may have been a big mistake, something happens that may turn out to be her way into New York society - it will either make life better or she will fail miserably and be ready to return to Texas.

This is a fun read, full of humor as Allison tries to adjust to life in New York plus sullen children who are not happy with the move. I laughed constantly and some of the situations that she got herself into as she was trying to find her way to a normal life for her family.

This is a light fun book and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I loved Amy Poeppel’s Small Admissions so I was so excited when I saw Limelight on Netgalley! Amy’s books are always fun with meaning!
Limelight is about a family’s transition to their new life in New York City. I loved that this story takes place in the city! Amy fills the pages with everything amazing about the city! I always love to get a glimpse into the life of the famous, spoiled rich kids of the world! A girl can dream of that privilege lol.

Allison and her family move to New York City from Dallas for her husband, Michael's, job. At first, Allison is excited--ready for the glitz and glamour of the city. Instead, she finds herself and her family (including her three children) living in a cramped small apartment within a high-rise building. She has no friends and no one to confide in and shortly after moving, she loses her job. Things go from bad to worse when she hits an empty parked car outside her son Jack's school--right in front of the judgemental eyes of all the other mothers. The note Allison leaves leads her to a fancy penthouse, which she finds occupied by young pop star, Carter Reid. Allison doesn't see Carter as a pop star, however: she sees an abandoned kid, friendless, without parents, and about to ruin his career by backing out of the Broadway musical in which he agreed to star. Somehow, Allison becomes involved in Carter's life and as she does, she finally finds a reason to embrace New York.

This was such a fun book and such an engaging read. Now, at first, Allison is adrift in New York and in the beginning of the novel, I was so frustrated with the abuse she took from Carter that I was annoyed with the novel. But Poeppel gets you past that pretty quick. The entire book is humorous, as it's filled with funny moments with Allison, her family, and the cast of supporting characters. Howard, a security guard Allison helps tutor, particularly shines, as does Owen, Carter's butler. Poeppel is very adept at capturing the individual voice of each of her characters. I loved Allison's kids, too. I fell for her eldest daughter, Charlotte, because I could have been her 20 years ago (geez I'm old), but teenage Megan and funny, quirky Jack were awesome too. The characters truly become like family.

Even if Allison frustrated me at times, with her coddling of Carter, I certainly found her relatable. The fact that she wasn't a morning person, her love for her children yet inability to always know what was happening in their lives, and her closeness with her mom. She comes across as a real person, and I was incredibly impressed at how well she handled Carter and the celebrity world. The theme of family runs across the book--not just Allison's family, but how the disparate characters in the novel become their own family, and you really find yourself rooting for Carter because of it.

And, indeed, the magic of the book is how it transforms Carter. In the beginning, I couldn't believe anyone would like this kid, but as you read on... well, let's just say you will be rooting for Carter Reid. Poeppel captures Carter so precisely--his mannerisms, his dialect, his voice--it's amazing. It's easy to picture him, and he grows on you, for sure. By the end of the novel, you may feel a little misty. Sure, it's sometimes easy to see where things may be going, but that's OK, because it is such a rather enjoyable ride to be on. Plus, you never know exactly what wrench Carter is going to throw in Allison's carefully laid plans.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It started off a little slow, and I was initially frustrated with Carter's behavior (and Allison's acceptance of it). However, the book then takes off, and I was quickly immersed in the well-written characters and the arc of the story. It's such a fun book in so many ways--and touching too--plus there's a celebrity aspect that gives it an enjoyable twist, and you often feel like you're in NYC on a Broadway set. Definitely an enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed reading Limelight by Amy Poeppel. A fun book, with unexpected turn of events, and an inside peek into the life of a spoiled, young, rich celebrity. A family's life transformed as they move to NYC, with its new realities. Lively and current story of a mom, a family and a celebrity. Against all odds, infiltrating the culture and expectations of Broadway, and changing images along the way. A fast read, this novel was a thrilling ride, and I found it very difficult to put down! Thank you NetGalley, Ninja's the author and publisher for the early reader edition. All opinions are my own.

This book was a blast to read!

I admit to have imagined the Bieb’s in the role of Carter Reid.

I totally identified with Allison and how she became Carter’s PA or in this case, his caretaker. And as a mother, how hard it would be to not try and help him become the promise of who he could be.

I loved the relationships of Allison’s family—how she and her husband had a totally supportive and trusting relationship, how her kids were intrigued by Carter Reid, but not jealous of the time she spent with him, and how her oldest daughter was able to finally get past Reid’s walls in a totally non-sexual way.

Honestly, I hope Amy Poeppel, can find another story for Allison and her family so I can spend time with them again.

I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh! How does a story about a Mom and a horrible bratty teenaged boy leave me a blubbery mess at the end of it?

This book -by far the best book I’ve read this year- is just quite simply fabulous. From the first moments in Allison’s new apartment in New York, to the days she spends helping Carter navigate the play Limelight, to the tender conclusion, I was deeply invested in these characters and this story.

Allison was so perfectly real to me. I felt her struggle to find her place in her new world and her triumphs and sorrows as the book progressed.

Carter was every bad word he’d probably use and you’d want to use to describe an out of control teenage boy. But he brought me to tears repeatedly as he brought back memories of raising my own teenagers. Those are some hard years and yet some of the most tender and rewarding ones. Carter just embodied those years for me. He was a perfect creation!

Every once in awhile you come upon a book that just feels special and that is what Limelight was for me. It was just truly special and I absolutely enjoyed every moment I spent reading it, even if I wanted to ground Carter and wash his mouth out with soap.

I highly recommend this book. Read it. You’ll never regret it and you’ll always remember it. I know I will.

Amy Poeppel has written a delightful, humorous book! I would love to read a second book and find out what happens in Allison’s life and career!

What a thoroughly enjoyable, utterly engrossing book! Once I started, I could not stop. I needed to know how everything would turn out, and I definitely enjoyed spending my day with these characters. The underlying conceit for the story--based on the crazy idea that someone like our main character, Allison, could just fall into this kind of fantastical world of wealth and celebrity--is clearly rather contrived. I needed to suspend my disbelief, but I was enjoying myself so much, why not?. It helped that the characters and their relationships were developed in a very realistic way. There are no pat "villains" versus "good guys;" people change and grow throughout the book, which I appreciated. I particularly enjoyed Allison's relationship with her husband and her mom, and I liked watching how daughter Charlotte matured during the book On the other hand, I personally would have walked away from the obnoxious Carter pretty early on.

This book is not going to change the world, but it definitely was a fun read. :)

Limelight is an interesting look at life in the fast lane and glitter as opposed to average family living. Carter Reid is a teen heartthrob and has been signed to act, sing and dance in a Broadway play. Alison and her family husband, Michael and children Charlotte, Megan and Jack have just moved to NYC from Dallas; a house to a small apartment. Alison and the children are having trouble adjusting while Michael is thriving. Alison is involved in an accident as she sideswipe an unoccupied vehicle while picking Jack up from school. This event turns her life upside down and she finds herself working with Carter, known for bad boy behaviors and partying. Will she be the one to get him on track or will his life continue its downhill slide?
I enjoyed this book and parts of it are laugh out loud funny. Carter, being true to character, has a very foul mouth and multiple sexual encounters so be forewarned if this bothers you. Normally it would bother me but in this case I could see its need as part of the character and there is much more to the story. The author does a great job of describing each character so that you understand their feelings and motivations in different situations. Alison's debates whether the move was a mistake and if they should move again; you see both sides of the discussion from the viewpoint of each one. Carter is obnoxious but is that all the depth there is to him? We learn some of the reasons he is the way he is and I believe it makes him more likeable. Alison struggles with her roles as wife, mother, teacher and uncertainty of what her role is where Carter is concerned. The story line is unique with some surprise twists and turns along the way to a logical conclusion.

This book was exactly what I needed on rainy dreary Sunday afternoon. It was laugh out loud hysterically funny! I loved the setting of New York City and Broadway. I really liked the characters and Allison was my favorite. Allison's relationship with Carter is one of a mom and a child and I truly felt sorry for Carter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I loved the ending. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Atria Books. All opinions are my own.

This book was an absolute, unexpected delight! It’s engaging, funny, warm-hearted story about family and unconditional love...and what happens when those things are lacking in someone’s life. Limelight gives the reader an honest, contemporary, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a talented young man caught up in a world of success, fame, money, bad press and bad behavior....and the woman and her family who show him what he’s truly worth.

LIMELIGHT by Amy Poeppel is a entertaining and fast-paced read that will keep you engrossed from the moment Carter and Allison meet or possibly page 1. The writing is witty with a lot of good humor moments. The characters are well-developed and, reading this as a mom, I really liked Allison’s character. I think everyone will be able to think of current celebrities that fit the molds of these characters and Poeppel does a wonderful job capturing angsty teens and Broadway. There is a LOT of swearing in this novel which was sometimes overwhelming – that’s why it got 4 stars instead of 5. I read it in two sessions so it definitely sucked me in and I cheerleaded for everyone in the end!

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

“Welcome to Gotham, babe.”

Amy Poeppel is a star, and since I loved her debut novel, Small Admissions in 2016, requesting the galley of her second novel was a no-brainer for me. Thank you, thank you Net Galley and Atria Books. This book will be available to the public May 1, 2018.

Allison Brinkley is excited when her husband receives a promotion that takes them from suburban Dallas, Texas to New York City. The excitement! The opportunities! She can hardly wait.

Once they arrive, however, reality sets in. There’s no room for anybody’s stuff, and the bedrooms are tiny. Her eldest child is sulking, and the youngest gets in trouble at school. The mothers at the prestigious private school where the children are enrolled snub Allison as if she were the new girl at middle school. She loses her teaching position, and then she loses her tutoring job too. She wants to be a good family organizer, provider, and cheerleader; and yet.

On top of everything, she bangs into another vehicle right in front of the school; when she goes to settle up with her insurance details, she instead finds herself in the apartment of a badly behaved teenager that turns out to be a famous teen heartthrob. Allison is mesmerized, but not in the manner to which Carter Reid is accustomed; she wants to know how his apartment and his lifestyle has spun out of control so badly. Where is the boy’s mother?

Before she knows it, Allison is swept into the official Carter Reid entourage. He’s sick in bed, and half of his people have up and quit because he’s so insufferable. But Allison deals with adolescents for a living, both as a teacher and as a mother. She knows how to talk to kids, and she knows how to get them to take their medicine and show up to appointments.

But Carter has another problem nobody knows about. It’s not a problem to be proud of, and it’s getting in the way of his career.

Nobody writes like Amy Poeppel. The beginnings of her novels are bizarre and disorienting because the protagonist’s normal is not most people’s normal. My first impression is that one of us—Poeppel or me—must be crazy. But once I am properly hooked on the story, she pulls me in and lets me know what’s up with that. Before the halfway mark is reached, I want to be the gal pal that drops in on Allison, asks questions, maybe drags her into the kitchen for a conversation. I wonder, how much more of her own money is she going to spend on this wealthy brat before she asks for compensation? Has she forgotten she has kids of her own at home? Has she completely taken leave of her senses?

I make one prediction after another, anticipating well-worn fictional formulas, but Poeppel doesn’t do formulas, she creates surprises. At the end I find myself walking with my head up and a spring to my step. I will bet you a dollar, reader, that you need some of that too.

Frosting on the cake is that rarest of all things, a positive abortion reference tucked in quietly toward the end. It makes my feminist heart sing. I can’t wait to see what this writer brings to her next novel; will she bring Allison back with a sequel, or will she start from scratch? Whatever it is, I have to read it. Limelight is sharp, funny, and wicked smart. You have to get this book and read it.

Limelight is the story of Allison Brinkley, her husband, Michael, and three kids, Charlotte, Megan and Jack. When Michael is offered a promotion, it means a move from their spacious home in Dallas to a smallish three-bedroom apartment in New York City. The first several weeks don’t go so well for Allison with some hilarious mishaps along the way. The biggest mishap leading her to spoiled, out-of-control teen pop sensation, Carter Reid. How will this relationship with Carter change the way Allison feels about New York City? Limelight is the funny, yet heartwarming story of being there for another person even if they don’t realize they need someone.

Once this story gets to the point, it is enjoyable, but it took way too long for the plot to develop.

The Story

When the Brinkley family left Dallas for Manhattan, Allison had stars in her eyes, dreaming of the excitement and romance of living in the city.

Reality soon set in: their apartment was cramped, the kids had adjustment problems, and finding work as a teacher proved problematic. Even her fashion sense is out of sync.

While her husband Michael appears on Humans of New York, Allison struggles with one problem after another. The moms gathering at the school shut her out. Her one NYC friend from college days is her opposite: single, childless, fierce, self-confident, inappropriate, and brass. But she also knows what it takes to survive in the city.

"But here we were, barely over a week in, and so far, life in Manhattan was making one kid a pervert, one a depressive, and the other an asshole."

Then, an accident brings Allison crashing into the life of spoiled, teenage pop star Carter Reid and her motherly instincts take over. Allison finds her Teacher-Mom inner superhero.

Can good parenting, discipline, tough love, and a support system turn around the alcohol- and drug-addled, promiscuous, angry boy? Carter is under contract to perform in a new musical based on Charles Chaplin's movie Limelight, but he is on track to crash and burn.

"All I knew...was that there was a badly injured, wildly famous teenager who was completely unsupervised and alone...What I wanted to know was why wasn't anyone looking after him."

My Reaction

Poepple has written a very funny novel, with some hilarious scenes and character insights. "The subway smelled like pee," Allison thinks, and I was transported back to my mass transit days. I could smell those subway steps.

The further into the novel I got, the more addicted I was. I loved the characters along the way, such as the 'butler' Owen, pronounced 'Wen, and Allison's adult student Howard who doesn't understand poetry. Daughter Charlotte plays a major role as a teenager unimpressed by Carter's fame but who can speak his language.

Along the way, she extols the virtues of family, positive support, educating for content, and understanding the teenage mind by looking past the behavior to discover the conflict beneath.

Getting Personal

Moving, well, as much as I hate using the word, moving sucks. I know. I moved as a child, then twelve times as an adult, plus I saw our son's adjustment to a move. Relocation involves starting over in a foreign territory, creating a new support system of friends by breaking into concrete-set cliques.

The Brinkley family's experience rings true. Was it a good idea? What happened to my kid's grades, why the behavior problems? Why don't my skills and experience translate into the new work culture? In my experience, it takes two years to adjust. The Brinkley's did it in one.

I did not know any of the pop music quotes at the chapter beginnings. But I am very familiar with Charles Chaplin's 1952 movie Limelight.

Mom had a 45 record of an orchestral presentation of The Song From Limelight, the Terry Theme 'Eternally.' I loved it, the wistful and hopeful rise of the music, the violin's plaintive voice just before the end. As a young adult, I had the chance to see the film on the large screen at a West Philadelphia repertoire movie theater near the University of Pennsylvania.

Calvero: That's all any of us are: amateurs. We don't live long enough to be anything else. from Limelight
Fame, celebrity, and show business are at the heart of Limelight. An aging thespian, played by Chaplin, discovers Terry, played by Claire Bloom, a wannabe ballerina, who has tried to kill herself because she could no longer walk. He nurses her back into health and mental wholeness. She believes she loves him. Chaplin has a chance at a comeback but finds the role is an act of charity. Meanwhile, he learns that Terry had helped a struggling musician, played by Sidney Chaplin, who loves her.

Carter Reid was hired to play the romantic, young musician, who he considers a loser.

"Life can be wonderful if you aren't afraid of it." Calvero in Limelight

Claire Bloom and Charles Chaplin in Limelight
https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2012/04/24/charles-chaplins-limelight/

Chaplin's movie has its comic moments, beginning with Calvero's drunken walk home, an act Chaplin had perfected as a youngster in the Music Halls. But the overall impression is serious and personal, a look into the soul of the actor.

"Time is the great author. It always writes the perfect ending," a character in Poepple's novel quotes from Limelight.

And Poepple's Limelight has a perfect ending, too.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley.

I have the author's previous novel Small Admissions on my Kindle and now I can't wait to read it!

This book is so fun! I loved all of the different characters and how they all interacted. The story is humorous and well-written. There is nothing bad I could say about Limelight!

Thanks to the publisher for the copy!

My Review of “Limelight” by Amy Poeppel

“Limelight” by Amy Poeppel is such an enjoyable, amusing, delightful and entertaining novel!! I had such fun reading this and had difficulty putting the book down. The genres for this Novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction.

Can you imagine uprooting your family from Dallas Texas to New York City? If that isn’t a shock, how about accidentally bumping your car into a BMW that you find out belongs to a young celebrity?

I love the way Amy Poeppel describes her colorful cast of characters. I found that the characters, even while doing inappropriate things are likable. Allison Brinkley and her family move to New York City. Her husband has a terrific job opportunity, and Allison has a wonderful teaching job, for the moment. Allison’s daughter is a senior in high school, and her other two children have adjustments to make as well. Allison loses her teaching job, when the person she is replacing wants her job back. Allison finds another position to tutor, for the moment. That doesn’t work out either. Oh, don’t worry about Allison.

It seems that the young celebrity demands that Allison come to his apartment after he finds the note she left when she hit his car. The Celebrity reminds me little of Justin Bieber. Carter Reid, the celebrity is supposed to be in a Broadway show. Notice I mention supposed to be. Somehow, Allison finds herself in charge of a stubborn, unpredictable juvenile celebrity. How is Allison going to get Carter Reid to act like a professional?

Allison is going to Broadway, and her family may never be the same again. I highly recommend this charming, delicious and witty novel for those readers who appreciate Women’ s Fiction. I received an ARC for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I think this story shines a big light on how immature kids are, especially when they're being thrust into the spotlight. It also shows how deep a mother's love runs, even for a child that isn't their own.

It seemed like I knew the characters in the book on an almost personal level, and this really helped me speed through it. I needed to know what was going to happen to these people--were they going to be successful? Happy? Was Carter going to make this play a big hit or was he going to a big bust? So much was up in the air through most of the book but it kept me turning the pages quickly!!

Carter's relationship with Alison was frustrating at times, and, quite frankly, I wanted to slap both of them throughout most of the book, but I admire her dedication to a job that she fell in to.

I received an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Have you ever wanted to slap someone ridiculously hard, but then also wanted to hug them so tightly they can feel how much you care? Yea, that’s how I felt about Carter Reid in Amy Poepple’s Limelight. That kid is an Asshole with a capital A. He might be a douchecanoe too (my personal favorite insult), but I guess he does have room for improvement.

Allison, mom to 3, wife to one, decides it would be a fantastic idea for the family to uproot themselves from Dallas and relocate to New York City for her husband’s job. Personally, I would never make this decision before my kid’s senior year (I’d fear for my life), but hey- to each their own.

When they get to the Big Apple, it isn’t at all what Allison dreamed of. NYC friends have left the city, her teenage daughters are angry as hell, the apartment is seriously tiny and her son might be a pervert. On top of all this, the teaching job she secured is over almost before it began and she has a little fender bender with a car. An expensive car. In front of the mom clique. Can this get any worse?

Wanting to right a wrong, Allison heads to the address she’s given and finds a maid on her way out the door and the most belligerent, ill-mannered, foul-mouthed jerkface she’s ever met. He’s young, spoiled, and she soon comes to realize- the infamous Carter Reid. THE Carter Reid. Young pop star turned troublemaker turned soon to be Broadway star. What can go wrong?

Limelight is a surprisingly heart-warming tale, and while I would not put up with Carter’s attitude quite like Allison, I was rooting for her the whole way. And for him. I know, I was surprised too.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.