You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I know I’m late to the Reel party, but I’m so glad I came. Kennedy Ryan did it again. Another romance with people dealing with real life issues, but this one hit even closer to home.
As someone managing autoimmune issues, this book touched me more deeply than I expected. Neevah’s experience - the fatigue, the unpredictability, the quiet grief of living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate - was achingly familiar. This book gave language to things I’ve never been able to say out loud.
The way that Canon loves Neevah through her illness, not just around it, was a revelation. Neevah called it a transformative love, and that’s exactly what this story is. More than a romance, it’s a love story in the deepest sense. A story about being truly seen.
Layered through it all is the story of Dessie Blue, a fictional Black actress and jazz singer from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her legacy adds even more depth to this novel because the fight to be seen, loved, and remembered is nothing new. Y’all know the historical fiction element was just icing on the cake for me!
I’ve lived with pain for the overwhelming majority of my life. There’s rarely a day when something doesn’t hurt. Sometimes you wonder if how you move (guarded, tired, hurting) makes people pull away. Not out of cruelty, but maybe discomfort. Maybe they just don’t know how to be close. And when you give your best but feel like an afterthought or unconsidered, it’s hard not to wonder: Is it me? Or is it all that comes with me?
So you learn to expect less. You learn to protect your peace. You learn to explore on your own. You learn to be your own best friend.
Which is why stories like Reel matter. Because sometimes fiction reminds us we’re not as alone as we feel. It’s not the life you chose but it’s the one you’re learning to live with grace.
As someone managing autoimmune issues, this book touched me more deeply than I expected. Neevah’s experience - the fatigue, the unpredictability, the quiet grief of living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate - was achingly familiar. This book gave language to things I’ve never been able to say out loud.
The way that Canon loves Neevah through her illness, not just around it, was a revelation. Neevah called it a transformative love, and that’s exactly what this story is. More than a romance, it’s a love story in the deepest sense. A story about being truly seen.
Layered through it all is the story of Dessie Blue, a fictional Black actress and jazz singer from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her legacy adds even more depth to this novel because the fight to be seen, loved, and remembered is nothing new. Y’all know the historical fiction element was just icing on the cake for me!
I’ve lived with pain for the overwhelming majority of my life. There’s rarely a day when something doesn’t hurt. Sometimes you wonder if how you move (guarded, tired, hurting) makes people pull away. Not out of cruelty, but maybe discomfort. Maybe they just don’t know how to be close. And when you give your best but feel like an afterthought or unconsidered, it’s hard not to wonder: Is it me? Or is it all that comes with me?
So you learn to expect less. You learn to protect your peace. You learn to explore on your own. You learn to be your own best friend.
Which is why stories like Reel matter. Because sometimes fiction reminds us we’re not as alone as we feel. It’s not the life you chose but it’s the one you’re learning to live with grace.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
