In a smart and funny 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. Allison Brinkley–wife, mother, and former unflappable optimist–discovers that her decision to pack up and move her family from suburban Dallas to the glittery chaos of Manhattan may have been more … Manhattan may have been more complicated than she and her husband initially thought. New York is more unruly and bewildering than she expected, 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 she 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.
“A tribute to Broadway, teen celebrity life, and a mother who has now seen it all, this work is tough love at its finest and a great read for those wanting a ride on the wild side” (Booklist, starred review).
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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!
Moving from Dallas, TX to NYC is a huge leap. Especially when you’re moving a family of five. Allison Brinkley believes that they may have made a terrible mistake. Her husband has a good job, and her kids have gotten into decent schools, but the job she was relying on fell through. To make matters worse, one of the first things she did was get in a fender-bender with the car of a famous pop star. Can Allison find a way to fit into her new life? u2063
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I’m not sure where to begin with this explanation. This book is full of so much more than I would have imagined. Moving from the south myself to NYC, I feel sympathy for Allison and her family having a tough time figuring out just how to fit in. This book has everything from love, Broadway, spoiled rich kids, southern charm, and friendship. I highly recommend this book.
Limelight captures how it feels to be a mom, the absurdity of Manhattan life, and the sizzle of Broadway.
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.
“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.
All of Amy Poeppel’s main characters will relate to the modern woman who’s seen enough of the world to admit she’s not “all that.” Limelight takes the reader and an unsuspecting mom, on a ride through New York’s Broadway district for a ride neither anticipates. Original and satisfying!
This delightful book was just what I needed right now. When Allison Brinkley and her family move from Dallas to Manhattan, their whole world is thrown into chaos. Allison promptly loses her teaching job and falls into a position as a personal assistant to wayward teen pop star, Carter Reid. When Allison convinces Carter to keep his commitment to start in a Broadway show, she, Carter and all of the other people in their world learn something about follow through, stick-to-itiveness and taking on a challenge.
This book is full of wit, heart and humor. All of the characters are great, but I have a soft spot for Jack, Allison’s elementary school son, and Owen, the snooty butler. I don’t often laugh out loud when reading, but this one had me rolling. I especially loved the dirty haikus Jack wrote for class and the casting of a hypothetical musical version of the Breakfast Club.
This was a funny and charming novel about one mother’s successful transition to New York City and, more importantly, to seeing her eldest child off to college. Allison is an unexpectedly real character who redirects much of her mothering expertise toward a teen heart throb who is desperate need of supervision. What’s more, the novel is a fun insiders view at Broadway and the events leading up to a big show opening. I listened to the audio book which was fantastic and kept me occupied and happy over several long car rides.
The Brinkley family of five has just relocated to New York City from Dallas, Texas. Allison’s husband was offered a promotion and the whole family was excited to try something new. Their new home in a small cramped apartment seems a small sacrifice for this golden opportunity. Collectively, they anticipate a few stumbles after leaving behind lifelong friends and a comfortable home.
Things do not go as planned for Allison when her teaching job falls through. Her children begin to have problems adjusting socially leaving her two daughters unhappy and her son getting disciplined at school. Her optimistic view of city life wanes further when she hits a parked car in front of school moms. Her attempt to pass on insurance details becomes the start of better times. She meets a foul-mouthed, hungover, teenager and realizes he is a famous pop star. He is living alone and Allison becomes concerned for his well being. She becomes the parent he never had while providing the managerial talent to get his career back on track.
This is the second novel written by Amy Poeppel and I am a fan of both of her books. Limelight provides a view of life through the lens of a mom juggling the demands of a family in the diverse and chaotic city of New York.
I loved Amy Poeppel’s first novel, SMALL ADMISSIONS, but I really loved this gem of a book about a Texas mother newly moved to Manhattan, who ends up unwittingly becoming a secondary mother of a sort to a crazy famous, self-absorbed pop star. It’s a charming, fun and hilariously funny story that had me staying up late to find out how Allison manages the ridiculous antics of Carter Reid, who stars opposite Kevin Kline in a Broadway play. LIMELIGHT is a happy diversion from the cares of the rest of the world and a must read for the top of your book pile. I can’t wait for Poeppel’s next book!
Loved this book!!!
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
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.