Limelight by Gun Brooke is a contemporary sapphic romance that takes place on the set of a singing competition show. It begins with a coach being recruited and ends on the last day of the competition.
Palmer Elliston was one of the hottest music producers around until the aftermath of a DUI pushed her into a reclusive lifestyle. That’s about to change, though, because her good friends Helena Forsythe and Noelle Laurent (IYKYK) have an offer she can’t refuse — mentoring a small group of singers on the audition-based singing competition reality show Limelight. After all, Palmer always did thrive on finding and nurturing the next big talent.
Liberty “Libby” Bell is a wild card entry to Limelight, with the producers bringing her in to spice up the competition. None of the coaches chose her in the audition episodes and she doesn’t know any of the other contestants, so everyone is shocked by Libby’s talent the first time she steps on the stage. Libby wants a real shot at a singing career, because she loves to sing more than anything else in the world.
After a decade of estrangement from her family, Libby doesn’t trust anyone easily. Shy and reserved, she’s less than thrilled to have the prickly Palmer as a coach, initially preferring the much warmer Helena or Noelle. Palmer isn’t happy either, when she realizes she’s attracted to Libby, going against her rule of the last seven years to keep her heart off limits.
Little by little, Palmer and Libby have special moments where they each let the other in, and even the audience starts to speculate if something’s happening between them. If only the timing were better, since a coach/mentee relationship is strictly against the show’s rules. Can they open up enough for a real relationship that can happen at the right time?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I’ve never read this story before and yet, reading it felt like putting on a comfy sweater that I forgot I loved. In many ways, it felt like Limelight was written for me.
First, I adore reality show romances, especially if they’re set in competitive reality shows. They’re a perfect setting for driving tension without requiring a couple to break up, because I want to know if the contestant we’re following is going to win. Limelight was no exception in this regard, because I was rooting for Libby all the way, both in how she performs on the show and the emotional journey she experiences during the competition.
I also enjoy seeing ice queens/beasts/grumps open up to someone as they’re falling in love. Palmer is a total beast, pushing people away with her caustic words when she feels uncomfortable. Libby isn’t much better, after her asshole parents taught her not to trust anyone, so she sometimes lashes back at Palmer. And yet, as they get to know each other and start to reveal their vulnerable sides, they both soften in ways I appreciated, even if they don’t have the chance to fully open up before the story ends.
And finally, I always appreciate it when an author brings characters back from a previous story that I loved. I was overjoyed to see Helena and Noelle as side characters in Limelight and that they get quite a bit of page time. Their novel, Fierce Overture, was one of my favourite early lesfic reads, so it was delightful to see how settled they are in their marriage and how closely they get to work together today. In fact, I enjoyed seeing them again so much that I immediately reread Fierce Overture, fell in love with it all over again, and was equally delighted to see Annelie and Carolyn from Course of Action in it, because I forgot their cameos. (No, I haven’t reread Course of Action yet. Yes, I might reread it soon. 😂)
On HFNs vs HEAs
In the romance community, sometimes we talk about whether a story has a “happy for now” (HFN) or a “happily ever after” (HEA) ending. As long as a story has one or the other, it qualifies as a romance, because romances as a genre require optimistic endings for their leading characters.
I went into Limelight expecting a HEA, because that’s what we typically get, especially for sapphic romances. Around the 60% mark, however, I started to get thrown off by the story’s pacing because it has the slowest burn I’ve ever read. I wondered if there would be no sex or if the door would be closed on a sex scene, because it didn’t seem to be on the horizon until Libby and Palmer finally sleep together at the 95% mark. That timing also felt puzzling, given the way romances are typically structured. I craved an epilogue when I got to the last page, even though it has one, because the epilogue reads like another chapter, very closely following the events of the rest of the book.
Everything made way more sense when I reached the end and realized Limelight better fits the structure of a HFN, even though an “I love you” is said. Libby and Palmer have only known each other for seven weeks at that point and they still have a lot of emotional work to do so they can become the kinds of partners they want to be while also thriving in their newly boosted careers.
Given all of what I’ve just said, I hope that Libby and Palmer show up in another book someday. I want to see the next stage of their relationship, when they’ve healed from fighting some of their internal and external demons. Perhaps Libby and Noelle can collaborate on an album that Palmer produces? (A reviewer can dream…)
Cons And Heads Up
If toxic family is a trigger for you, you might want to skip this story. Libby’s father and stepmother kicked her out of their family a decade prior to the events of the story because they’re homophobes — especially the stepmother. They resurface in Libby’s life because they want to capitalize on her fame and are all kinds of awful. They can kick rocks for eternity.
The Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed Limelight as a HFN romance. Libby and Palmer’s story was compelling and I was so happy to see Noelle and Helena again. If you enjoy competition reality show romances, age gap romances, or stories where emotionally guarded people slowly let their walls down, Limelight is the book for you.
Excerpt from Limelight by Gun Brooke
“It’s time for Libby to find out who her coach is,” Helena said. “Palmer, say hello to your third and final contestant. I must say I envy you. You’ll have fun mentoring Libby, that’s for sure.”
Palmer had already known she would be the one mentoring Libby, but nothing could have prepared her for this woman, and that voice. In her mind, audition shows mostly led to a fast-and-loose sort of fame, with few notable exceptions, which very rarely produced something lasting. Either she was wrong, or Libby possessed a once-in-a-decade talent.
Looking back at Libby now, Palmer returned to reality with a thump, when she saw barely concealed hesitation, even disappointment, on Libby’s face. No doubt she had hoped for the much more exuberant and famous Noelle. Palmer’s blood cooled, which made her shudder. “I look forward to collaborating with you, Libby,” Palmer said, forcing herself to sound polite, but she realized too late that she might be coming off as indifferent. “Your voice is unique, which I hope will be enough to keep you in the competition.”
The expression in Libby’s eyes grew opaque, and her smile didn’t show in her light-gray irises. Instead, they seemed deep like water until she switched her gaze over to Noelle and Helena.
Huh. Of course. Palmer shifted her hands until they were out of view under the glossy white desk and then clenched them hard. Surprisingly, Libby had exceeded any expectations she might have had of the contenders. Plus, she had stirred something in Palmer that had been dormant for the last seven years. Yet it was clear that Libby was surprised to get the coach she wanted the least. Hardly remarkable. So much for the new beginnings that Helena and Noelle had sold Palmer on.
And how ironic.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-1636791920
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
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