A review by talknerdybookblog
Reel by Kennedy Ryan

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Representation: Black Heroine with Lupus, Black Hero, Black Supporting Characters, Black Side Characters, Venezuelan-American Side Character (the biopic the MCs are creating in the book centres Dessi, a historical figure in the book, a bisexual Black woman who was a jazz singer in the 1930s.)

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OM drama
• Does have OW drama
– The Hero's vengeful ex-girlfriend tries to get back at him by dragging his (and the Heroine's) name through the mud (by suggesting the Heroine only got the role because she was sleeping with the Hero).
• Does have both the Hero and Heroine pushing each other away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine: there are a few months separation from when the MC's first met and when they meet again to film their movie, there's no discussion of either getting with other people.


Possible Triggers: Yes

• Vomit
• Descriptive scenes of Lupus symptoms (losing hair, skin rashes and blisters, kidney failure)
• Blackface (the movie recreates a scene where the movie's main character, Dessi, a lighter skin Black jazz musician, was forced to perform in skin-darkening make-up – this happened in real life to Billie Holiday)
• Hero's mom died from MS
• Infidelity (the Heroine's ex-fiancé cheated on her with her older sister, Terry. She found out when they told her Terry was pregnant with his kid.)


Ending:
HFN
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