Review: Reel by Kennedy Ryan
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Book: Reel
One moment in the spotlight...
For months I stood by, an understudy waiting in the wings, preparing for my time to shine.
I never imagined he would watch in the audience that night.
Canon Holt.
Famous film director. Fascinating. Talented. Fine
Before I could catch my breath, everything changed. I went from backstage Broadway to center stage Hollywood.
From being unknown, to my name, Neevah Saint, on everyone's lips.
Canon casts me in a star-studded Harlem Renaissance biopic, catapulting me into another stratosphere.
But stars shine brightest in the dead of night.
Forbidden attraction, scandal and circumstances beyond my control jeopardize my dream.
Could this one shot — the role of a lifetime, the love of a lifetime — cost me everything?
Hello fellow reader!
I have decided that none of my reviews of Kennedy Ryan's work will ever do it justice. It’s a little past 9pm and I just finished Reel. My thoughts are still swirling, but I wanted to write this review before going to bed — while I'm still enveloped in the haze of this book's aftermath.
How am I supposed to read something else after this 🥹? I miss the characters so much already.
I organized my initial thoughts into bullets:
Reel is a combination of my favorite things: reading romance and the art of filmmaking and storytelling.
It is deliciously long. You know a book is good when you don't even notice its length until you're done.
This is the kind of book that reminds me (not that I needed the reminder) that powerful storytelling can be done within the romance genre because it is a top-tier literary genre.
Our central story (and the story being told/filmed by the characters) is so unapologetically Black and magical and theatrical, handled with so much respect and awareness of its significance.
The characters are fantastic. I fell in love with the side characters and cannot wait to see more of them in other books. I fell in love with Neevah and Canon and yearned for them as they yearned for each other.
The worthwhile slow burn - OMG! I think with an already apparent power dynamic, this relationship couldn't have happened instantly without giving readers the creeps. The author thoughtfully paced the development of the relationship in a way that’ll keep readers focused on the rich narrative and character arcs without worrying about what (or if any) lines are being crossed.
The stakes. Sometimes in romance novels, it is stated that the stakes are high, but you don't always feel it as you read—my guess is because we're typically promised a HEA, we’re not too worried about the characters making or not making it through. But I was actually worried for ~30% of this book, as Canon and Neevah's relationship grew, because their careers, reputations, Neevah's health, and a whole film's production were on the line. I enjoyed it so much because it got me emotionally invested. It was clear that choosing to be together—at the time when they decided—was a choice that had to be made intentionally. I also loved how respectful they were of each other and how supportive Canon was.
Not to be an aggressive trope-pusher, but this book is such an effortless mesh of all the goodies. You’ll get a lovable female protagonist that you're rooting for right off the bat, a confident and brooding MMC with a heart of gold—all setting the stage for the perfect grumpy/sunshine pair. There's forbidden romance that keeps you engaged, with drama, passion, and music. It hit all the right notes!
Kennedy Ryan is a truly amazing storyteller. She writes with exceptional skill, honesty, heart, and passion. I am truly grateful for her work. What sets her work apart is how she weaves interpersonal and powerful social commentary into compelling love stories, creating narratives that both entertain and illuminate important issues with themes that consistently explore the transformative power of love and community in all its forms - romantic, familial, and communal.
Reading Reel was a great experience for me—the kind of good that will either send you right into a reading slump or get you out of one. SO SATISFYING, and I am better for having read it!
I need a day 😮💨!
I 💯 recommend it!
Happy reading!!!
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P.S. This past holiday season, I unexpectedly read more than usual. Despite being busy with Vlogmas on YouTube and my day job, I dove deep into books. In December alone, I finished five: Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake, Reel by Kennedy Ryan, The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter, A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli, and My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.
Most of the reviews are on the blog, and you can click here to read them.
All my love 🫶🏾