Reel (Hollywood Renaissance #1) by Kennedy Ryan

I’ve been saving this Kennedy Ryan for a few years so therefore it was the perfect book for this particular prompt!

I loved everything about this to be honest, it was a beautiful love story with lots of yearning and with the yearning came a good deal of character development, especially in Canon’s case. Usually when it comes to reasons for characters not getting together I can see ways around it, like honest conversations, coming clean to people early on, etc. In this case though, even though the chemistry between Canon and Neevah was off the charts, I totally got why Canon didn’t want to pursue a relationship with Neevah. Here she is, a complete unknown, landing the role of a lifetime and the guy who discovers her just so happens to be the guy with all the power? I mean the very idea is messy and I’d usually not enjoy the power imbalance but Kennedy Ryan did such a good job of building on that initial attraction that by the time they gave into each other I was salivating for them to get together!

My biggest fear after they were ‘spotted’ in Santa Barbara was that Canon was going to freak out and behave like a total dick, but shockingly he not only didn’t behave like a dick, he actually got out in front of the story and publicly acknowledged his relationship with Neevah. At no time did I question the strength of Canon and Neevah’s relationship. It was just this immovable force and it was so beautiful.

That’s not to say that their HEA isn’t hard won, in this case it was the result of very scary circumstances that had to do with Neevah’s health. Kennedy Ryan often gives us stories that contain themes that can be difficult to read, but it often makes the story feel more real, and along with the representation those stories give to people, it’s also always very educational. In this case it was learning more about Lupus. Most of what I know about lupus is because of Selena Gomez (big OMITB fan here) so I had an idea about how destructive it can be, what I didn’t know was there are different types and they aren’t all the VERY scary kind. Neevah has discoid lupus which mostly effects her skin and hair, unfortunately that diagnosis is expanded to systemic lupus as the story progresses and shit got really real. I appreciated learning more about this chronic disease, I don’t think you can ever know enough about these things. And as we can see with Selena Gomez, and Neevah, lupus isn’t a death sentence and those with it can often get a well deserved HEA!

One of the other things I really loved about this story was the blending of timelines between present day, and the 1950’s, with Dessi’s story, by using the movie being shot. This was so clever and added such depth to the overall story, and highlighted the many stories about amazing Black Women that have been lost to history. It also did a great job at calling out the systemic racism prevalent at that time, systemic racism that sadly seems to be becoming more prevalent once again, as seen in the USA, and indeed other parts of the world. All happening because of the rise in right wing politics, and fascism as a whole.

Kennedy Ryan just never disappoints, she will put you through the emotional wringer, but the payoff is always worth the pain. That said, as much as I have been looking forward to Hendrix story in Can’t Get Enough (Skyland #3), I know that it deals with a disease that scares the absolute shit out of me as it’s something that runs in my family. I will absolutely read it but I need to build myself up to it.

Synopsis:

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?