I always love it when I get to read something that I know the author has poured their heart and soul into, and that is the case with Limelight, the debut novel from Andrew Keenan-Bolger. Andrew had a long and acclaimed career on Broadway, and you can tell he drew a lot of inspiration from growing up in the theater, as he penned the novel.
The book, set in New York in the 1990’s, tells the story of Staten Island teen Danny Victorio as he attempts to escape the only world he ever knew and become the performer he always dreamed of. He successfully auditions for and is accepted by the acclaimed LaGuardia High School of the Arts. There, he starts off as a fish out of water, but unlike his old school, he quickly finds a group of people with whom he feels at home. Through his friendships and the opportunities granted him by the school, he learns a lot about himself, both good and bad. And none more so than his relationship with Christian, the first person he meets who goes to LaGuardia. With Christian, he encounters a person who makes him rethink everything he thought he knew about love.
The book is charmingly told, with so many details of 90’s New York that you feel like you are right there. (To be honest, there was a bit too much focus on getting the environment right, but I also skipped whole pages in Tolkien when he starts describing one of the many Middle-earth landmarks.) So your mileage may vary.) The other thing you should probably know going in is that the book focuses a lot on Rent and its impact on the musical theater scene. I personally have a warm spot in my heart for the play due to the music and the place I was in my journey when I saw it, but I know others in the community have a more complicated relationship with it.
At the end of the day, I think this is the perfect pick-up for anybody who likes queer YA stories. It comes out in all the usual places on February 24, 2026.
Paper Phoenix ink 