Limelight

by Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Fame meets Rent in this powerful YA debut about a boy who must reconcile with his identity and insecurity as he steps into the spotlight, from Broadway star Andrew Keenan-Bolger.

The only thing standing between Danny and his dreams is…everything.

For fifteen years, Danny Victorio has kept his head down, kept his mouth shut, and kept everyone out. But an audition for Manhattan’s most prestigious arts school offers him a chance to escape Staten Island—and his crumbling family—for good.

If he doesn’t screw everything up.

At LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, Danny is thrust into a world of fierce talent and even fiercer ambition. As he navigates overwhelming expectations, the ghosts of his past, and, for the first time, real friendship, Danny can’t shake the Where do I belong…if I belong at all?

Set against the gritty, vibrant backdrop of 1996 New York City—where peep-show palaces were giving way to Disney stores, “Club Kids” ruled the nightlife scene, and a new musical called Rent was driving teens to sleep on the seediest sidewalks of Times Square in hopes of a ticket—Limelight is a story about discovering your voice, finding your family, and figuring out who, and where, you’re really meant to be.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Fiction, Theatre

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 24, 2026

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw "Fame meets Rent" in the synopsis of Limelight, I thought to myself, "Well THAT'S a tall claim to live up to."

And yet, there could not be a more perfect description as that is EXACTLY what Limelight was.

Reading like a love letter to the New York City of 1996, Limelight follows Danny, hailing from Staten Island, as he discovers his talents, his found family, and himself, at a performing arts high school in the City. (Capital C).

I seriously just wanted to wrap this entire book and all of its characters in a giant I <3 NY shirt. The pulse of the City beat through every page, a character in its own right. As a RENT-head myself, the correlations and sprinkles of the musical covered the story with a "thousand sweet kisses." Andrew Keenan-Bolger beautifully crafted every moment in such a way that those of us who could relate to that world would immediately recognize the familiar, and those who are a few generations on could immerse themselves in a moment in time they never got to experience. It works wonderfully as a period piece.

The characters were full and fully realized. A snapshot of found family, teen life, and the challenges of friendship and identity. Though taking place in the '90s, Keenan-Bolger did an excellent job of illustrating the universal, showcasing that though the scenes might change, the struggles of growing up are the same through the decades.

There were a few magical realism elements that I didn't really think were needed, as the story was strong enough on its own. They seemed a little out of place, but did offer a bit of metaphor in a story that is otherwise pretty On the Street. (That's another Rent reference btw.)

The central relationship of Danny and Christian was nicely-paced, and there was solid representation throughout that never felt forced or put on.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Limelight and this is one I'll definitely be picking up when it's released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin/Penguin Workshop for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

4.5 stars

[Kellie Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eArC in exchange for my honest review. What a whirlwind this was. To experience life as a “lost” teenager in the mid-90s in NYC was a mixed bag of feelings. Danny just wanted to be happy and while his life didn’t make that easier he was also working against himself. His ragtag group of friends was a breath of fresh air. This story doesn’t sugar coat the reality many queer folks experienced then, or even now for that matter. I truly appreciate that the ending didn’t necessarily tie everything up neatly either.

[rachel x]

"Fame meets Rent in this powerful YA debut about a boy who must reconcile with his identity and insecurity as he steps into the spotlight"

[snazzy pen ✰]

Thank you Penguin Teen for the physical ARC :) The cover is stunning!

For some reason, I thought this would have more magical realism, but the few elements that were present seemed to be more metaphorical rather than events that actually happened.

I thought this was a solid debut and a heartfelt story of self-discovery. I especially loved how the book depicted the magic of musical theatre, and as a non-New Yorker, I liked getting to explore the city with Danny and his new friends. I will say that there are some heavier topics covered, and offensive language is used due to the time period, so be sure to read the author's note.

Danny was both an endearing and frustrating character; I felt for him as he tried to find his place at Laguardia while coming from a difficult upbringing, but some of his actions were awful and hurtful to the new friends who took him in. Honestly, I thought Christian (especially) deserved a way bigger apology! That was my main issue with the romance, because otherwise, I thought their connection developed quite naturally.

Overall, this was a relatively fast-paced read, and I would definitely be interested in reading future books by Andrew Keenan-Bolger!

[Ally Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Workshop for this ARC!

Limelight by Andrew Keenan-Bolger totally lived up to its “Fame meets Rent” description, which honestly sounded like a big promise at first. But wow, it delivers. This book feels like a love letter to 1990s New York City, full of music, ambition, and messy, beautiful self-discovery.

The story follows Danny Victorio, a quiet Staten Island kid who’s been trying to keep his head down while dealing with a lot at home. When he gets a chance to audition for LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, it feels like his shot to finally escape and start fresh. Once he’s there, though, he’s thrown into a whirlwind of intense competition, big personalities, and all the ups and downs of trying to figure out who you are when you’ve spent most of your life hiding.

The setting is wonderful, set in 1996 New York, when Rent was changing everything, Times Square still had an edge, and the city pulsed with this mix of grit and hope. AKB captures that era so perfectly that you can almost hear the city buzzing in the background. As a huge Rent fan myself, I loved all the little nods to it throughout the story. It never felt forced, just natural and heartfelt.

The characters are what make this book shine. Danny’s journey feels real, awkward, inspiring, sometimes heartbreaking which was unbelievably relatable and made me love him even more. The people around him, especially his new friends and Christian, his love interest, all feel fully alive. Their connection grows slowly and naturally, and it’s written with a lot of warmth and care. I also really appreciated how the book handles identity and representation, it’s inclusive without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard.

There are a few touches of magical realism that I adored and added some emotional weight and metaphor to the story as well.

Overall, Limelight is full of heart. It’s about finding your voice, your people, and your place in the world, all while chasing your dreams and surviving the chaos of growing up. It’s nostalgic, emotional, and hopeful all at once.

Definitely one I’ll be recommending and rereading, and i’m very excited to pick up a copy on release day. 5 stars.

[Evita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Thank you PRH International for the free eARC of this book.

Limelight is the story about Danny, a boy with a head full of acting dreams, who escapes his Catholic high school on Staten Island to go to Manhattan to start at LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts. He’s good at keeping people out, but now he has to navigate a new school, competitive students, unfamiliar rules, and his very first friendships (and potential crush).

Danny was at the same time a frustrating and sweet character. He was learning so much from his new friends and getting out of his comfort zone at school. His upbringing was Catholic and his parents had very strong beliefs about what was acceptable. This made him extremely hard on himself and judgmental towards others. He did try to break out of these beliefs, but it was definitely a struggle throughout the book. His behaviour definitely pissed me off at times.

The plot was pretty fast-paced. I liked meeting Danny’s new friends and seeing all the adventures they dragged him along on. Christian, Astoria, Nina and Orion were the ultimate weird and wholesome friend group who adopted a clueless tough guy into their midst. There were some parts of the plot that dragged a bit for me.

This story is set in New York in the 90s so be prepared for some homophobic comments and outdated expressions being used throughout the novel. There are also depictions of DV and bullying. Be aware of that before going in.

If you love musical theatre, queer awakenings, and people figuring out where they belong and who they are, this one might be for you. Also, it made me want to watch Rent because, holy crap, so many references!

Limelight is out February 24th, 2026. Give it a pre-order if it sounds like something you’d enjoy.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

I've been a fan of Andrew Keenan-Bolger for ages now, from Newsies to Tuck Everlasting to Dracula, his work has been a favorite of mine for a while. So I was, of course, ecstatic to see a queer YA novel he's releasing with the description of Fame meets Rent. And it delivered, easily. I just fell in love with every aspect of this novel. I've been to New York a total of one (1) time, to see Be More Chill on Broadway, but it felt like I was growing up there with Danny and everyone. The various parts of New York, more than what is seen on TV. Shoutout to Newsies for helping me understand where some of the areas were.

Danny's journey was heartwrenching but rewarding, in the end. I loved watching him grow from what he knew to what he was experiencing. It was so, so lovely to see.

This is a very minor spoiler, but I just adored Danny's love interest being the comedic, silly queer best friend. I feel like so many queer stories have a best friend character who would, fundamentally, be perfect for the mc, but is instead written as a joke. I'm just obsessed that, this time, he wasn't a joke. He was who Danny, in the end, wanted.

I really loved this. This is the kind of book that will change a young kid's view on the world, on their world, specifically.

[Cate Beau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok wow. Limelight was a FIVE STAR read for me, no question. I knew Keenan-Bolger as a performer, so I was honestly surprised by what a strong writer he is. There’s some real poetry in here. Not in a try-hard way either, just these lines and images that sneak up on you and suddenly you’re sitting there with tears streaming down your face.

And I have to talk about the magical realism. It threw me at first, I wasn’t expecting it and I was like, huh, is this where we’re going? But it totally sticks the landing. It ends up feeling essential, not decorative, and it deepens everything the book is doing about memory and survival. It felt very effecitive having the idea of queer ancestors carrying you, especially in that 1996 time period when so many were lost. It’s comforting and heartbreaking at the same time, and it gave the story this extra layer of meaning that lingered with me after I finished.

NYC in 1996 is so vivid and alive, Danny felt painfully real, the theater world feels authentic, and the found family stuff absolutely got me. I flew through it and then legit just stared at the wall for a minute. Highly recommend if you love coming-of-age stories with big feelings and a big heart.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me ACHE.

Limelight is a love letter to Broadway and all the gay kids out there. It’s about discovering first love, and finding parts of yourself it may take awhile to embrace fully.

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, from first-time audition anxiety to the joy of finding a new family. I think it will help a lot of kids in Danny’s position (or maybe even inspire some to follow Christian’s path).

Although Limelight was euphoric, it didn’t shy away from heavier topics. Danny has an abusive father, deeply-ingrained biases, and difficulty connecting with people because of it, which causes several of his relationships to explode. This does seem to fall into a classic trope in LGBT+ fiction: that being gay requires suffering, and you will have to leave behind everything you loved because of it. HOWEVER, this isn’t the message of Keenan-Bolger’s YA debut. Instead, he explores the powerfully moving idea that, although it may hurt at first, there is more to come once you step into the light of your full, honest self.

Even though I was a bit leery of the magical elements in this story at first - I didn’t see how they fit, and thought they felt out of place in an otherwise contemporary and grounded piece - I grew to like them. I think both the wings and the unseen ghost of Richie support the overarching metaphor of Danny having a community behind him, despite his newness to it all.

This was an incredible read and a very strong intro to YA writing for Keenan-Bolger.

(And I saw that Newsies reference in chapter six. As someone who found AKG through Crutchie, it made me laugh.)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Review Copy.

I first listened to the Rent Broadway Cast Recording in 1999. As a young queer theater kid in suburbia about as far from New York and the life these characters lead, it was transformative, and like Danny in this book, my headphones were stuck to my ears as I listened to it over and over, seeking something inside of me that echoed in the lyrics.

Limelight is a great representation of what life was like thirty years ago now in a time where being queer was associated with AIDS, where the young were fighting a persistent war against fear, where expressing yourself as different was a radical statement every day.

Danny makes an incredible journey of self discovery, one that will speak to anyone who feels they can't be themselves when they're at home.

I highly recommend this book for theater kids (former and present), queer people learning about themselves, and anyone who has been entranced by the show Rent and the life it represents.

Excellent and quick read. Recommended wholeheartedly.

[Krystin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the mom to a probable future theater kid, a lover of the 90s, and a sucker for YA, I had to read this. I wasn't disappointed, but neither was I overly enthralled. All in all, this is a cute, mostly heartwarming story with Heartstopper vibes.

I enjoyed the story but would have loved a little more...something. I think I was hoping for a grittier 90s NYC, or more about the club scene, or just a *little* more plot. It moved slowly at times, and then a lot happened all at once, right before an ending that left some follow-up desired. I'm also unsure about the magical realism elements — I still don't know if they were "real" or not, and either way I don't think they were necessary.

That said, it's a fun read, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy (thanks, NetGalley & the publisher).

[RStanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this arc for my honest review.
5 of 5 stars(1st person pov – Danny)
YA LGBT in 1996 New York
When I saw the tagline Fame meets Rent, I had to read this book. I’m a huge theatre person so I wanted to follow Danny on his journey into the theatre world.
Limelight follows Danny, a kid from Staten Island as he discovers his talents at a new performing arts high school. Danny is thrusted into a theatre world full of talent and competition. Danny questions himself if he truly knows where he belongs.
It has found family, self discovery, and finding your voice.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Andrew Keenan-Bolger since listening to the Newsies, so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Between a Broadway performer turned author, a story about a teenager who loves Broadway and it being set in the 90s, this book was definitely for me. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, and definitely got emotional at a few times as I rooted for the main character to find and accept himself.

Some people who are good at one thing (like acting or singing) aren't always as good at something else, (like writing), but Andrew is not one of those people, he's good at all of it!

[Anna Gergerich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was gritty, emotional, fun, brutally honest, and sometimes infuriating to read with an adult brain. However, that’s how YA works sometimes, and I’m always honored to be a guest in that space as new queer nostalgic stories make their foray into shaping the next generation of readers. Limelight is a touching story that serves as a beautiful love letter to 1990’s New York City’s musical theatre youth culture. It’s also a very dark story at times, so please check trigger warnings and take care of yourself before, during, and after reading.

As a Fansie and follower of Andrew Keenan-Bolger, I’m thankful to Penguin Young Readers Group for providing the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts.

[Eve McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this sensational book!