Reel

Written by Kennedy Ryan

Narrated by Eboni Flower, Jakobi Diem and Nicole Small

A Broadway actress has a chance at stardom when cast by a major Hollywood director, but the role of her dreams may cost her the love of a lifetime in this epic novel from "one of the finest romance writers of our age." (Entertainment Weekly)

For months I stood in the wings, an understudy waiting for my time to shine. I never imagined he would be in the audience that night. Canon Holt. Famous film director. 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 when Canon casts me in a star-studded Harlem Renaissance biopic. 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 and love of a lifetime—cost me everything?

This beautiful new edition includes a never-before-published bonus epilogue!   

   ·Entertainment Weekly Best Romances of the Year
   ·Washington Post Best Romances of the Year
   ·BookBub's Highest Rated Books of the Year
   ·LA Times 50 Best Hollywood Books of All Time

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9781668644287

Kennedy Ryan

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. An EBONY Power 100 Honoree, Kennedy and her writings have been featured in NPR, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Glamour, Cosmo, TIME, and many others. Kennedy is an executive producer for her Skyland series, which is currently in development for television at Peacock. The co-founder of LiFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, Kennedy has a passion for raising Autism awareness. She is a wife to her “lifetime lover” and mother to an extraordinary son.

Reviews for Reel

[ayesha0884 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kennedy Ryan is an amazing author, Reel was a heartfelt story and I absolutely enjoyed it. Thank you for always delivering?

[msfondad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG!!!! One of the best books I’ve heard! Great job

[narshkite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am going to round up to 5 here because I loved reading it, and because not everyone knows Bessie Smith's and Ma Rainey's story, so the parts of the book I really did not like, Dessie's story, told those stories to readers who were unfamiliar, and I celebrate that. Also, and this is personal, the book goes deep into the devastating impact of Lupus, the disease that killed my mother, and Ryan was thorough and scrupulous in telling that story.

The majority of the book follows Canon and Neevah. He is a hot director coming off of a problematic last film and preparing to make a film that is deeply important to him. He sees Neevah perform as the understudy in her first Broadway lead and knows she is the person who needs to star in the movie. The studio is not happy to have an unknown lead a big-budget feature, but Canon prevails. The film is a biopic about a Black performer from the 40's which Kennedy says in the author's note (and which is clear to anyone who knows these women) is based upon a composite of Smith, Rainey and a smattering of other performers, including Billie Holiday. We get interludes of Dessie's story, and while I admire the intent behind this, I don't think that part was nearly as well written as Canon and Neevah's story. That story, while occasionally overwrought, is beautiful and touching. I don't want to tell more of the story, I was happy going in blind, but it is loving, intimate, compelling, and sexy. I have liked all of Ryan's books I have read, and she did not let me down here. I can't imagine anyone who likes romance won't like this.

I listened to this, and the narrators who told Canon and Neevah's story were very good, but I did not like the person who read Dessie. They got the southern Alabama accent right, but there was some significant overacting going on. Also, she sang a lot, and her voice was good but the songs were pieces I had heard singers like Billie Holiday sing, and it is kind of hard to measure up to that.

[arlenadean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Title: Reel: A Forbidden Hollywood Romance
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Publisher: Scribechick Media, LLC
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Reel: A Forbidden Hollywood Romance" by Kennedy Ryan

My Opinion:

"Reel" was a good read...somewhat long but still a good read that featured Canon and Neevah's story along with a few others. One could probably say this was one story with a story that was beautifully written. Canon had beautiful memories with his mother, Neevah wanting the love of her mother, especially after what had happened with her sister, Canan and Neevah meeting at the Broadway Play and falling in love and his devotion to her through all that went on with her...the Lupus, and the story of the pain of Dessi, and Tilda with Cal loving Dessi the best way her could. The characters in the story were off the chart well-developed, with some being layered and complex, giving the reader one good read. To see how it all comes together, you will have to pick up "Reel: A Forbidden Hollywood Romance" to know how this story all comes together so well for the reader. Be ready for some natural flashback scenes that add richness to the level that makes the story come alive and keeps the reader turning the pages to see what was coming next and was left wanting more. I am still looking forward to the epilogue, Takira's novella, and Monk and Verity's story.