Reel

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were some of the most memorable scenes or moments in the novel for you?

2. What would you say is the novel’s over-arching argument or message? What leads you to this conclusion?

3. Kennedy Ryan is known for her themes of found family, healing the past, and female empowerment, which also appear in the Skyland trilogy, comprised of Before I Let Go (2022), This Could Be Us (2024), and Can’t Get Enough (2025). What are some of the similarities and differences between these texts and Reel?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Neevah feels a strong connection to her performances. Do you have any experience with artistic, literary, theatrical, or other performance that helped you relate to the ambitions of the characters in the novel?

2. Do you or anyone you know live with a chronic illness? Compare your experience or observations with Neevah’s experience in the book.

3. What were your responses to Neevah’s and Canon’s decision to get sexually and emotionally involved while they were working together on the movie? What do you think about workplace romances?

4. Did the novel expose you to any new artists or creators, past or present? What did you learn?

5. Do you share any favorite books, movies, songs, or TV shows with Neevah and Canon? What are your feelings more generally about having lots of pop-culture references in novels? Do you think these references work in Reel?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Discuss how the book refers to and draws on the cultural movements taking place during the Harlem Renaissance. What does this add to the book?

2. Examine how the book treats the artistic and creative endeavors of performers of color inside the entertainment industry. What statement do you see Ryan making about barriers or obstacles that still exist?

3. Discuss how the novel represents the realities of living with a chronic illness like lupus. You may want to compare Neevah’s journey with the protagonists of other romances like Get a Life, Chloe Brown (2019) by Talia Hibbert or Always Only You by Chloe Liese (2020), in which the female romantic leads who have chronic illnesses also fall passionately in love. How do novels like Reel raise awareness and/or contribute to broader discussions around illness and disability?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Discuss what the excerpts from Dessi Blue add to the thematic and narrative structure of the novel. How do they parallel the present-day plot or illuminate some of the text’s key themes and ideas?

2. Discuss how Terry, Takira, and Camille contribute to Neevah’s character arc. How are they characterized? What does each of these supporting characters teach her?

3. Explore the novel’s attitude toward make-believe and the sense that Canon and Neevah briefly feel, when their relationship is secret, of occupying a world of their own. What larger statement might the novel be making about romance or creativity in reference to these make-believe worlds?

4. Discuss the ways that Neevah and Canon demonstrate that they are a romantic match for one another. How does Reel conform to, or diverge from, common tropes of the romance genre in its depiction of their relationship?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Write another scene from the screenplay of Dessi Blue, or write another chapter for the novel from Dessi’s point of view. What does your scene/chapter add to Dessi’s story or reveal about her?

2. Write a second bonus epilogue that shows Neevah and Canon taking on their next creative project after the documentary on Neevah’s lupus. What do you imagine as their next project? Why does it appeal to them?

3. Write the lyrics (and, if you wish, music) for one of Monk’s compositions for Dessi Blue. Share with your group what aspect of Reel, or of Dessi Blue, you were trying to recapture.