Reel

Reel (2021) is a contemporary romance by Kennedy Ryan and the first in the Hollywood Renaissance series. The novel follows young actress Neevah Saint, who is offered her breakout role by admired director Canon Holt when he picks her to portray Dessi Blue, a talented but now- overlooked Black performer who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. As the movie demands Neevah’s all, she begins a sizzling affair with Canon that could harm her career and reputation. Once word of their attachment gets out, however, Neevah finds herself facing a more serious challenge in the health problems associated with her lupus diagnosis and issues with her estranged family. The novel delves into The Importance of Recognizing and Celebrating Black Artists of the past and present, The Challenges of Preserving Personal and Artistic Integrity, and The Benefits of Healing and Reconciliation.

Ryan is known for her Skyland series, which includes Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us. While she is known for addressing sensitive topics in her romances, Reel is her first novel to examine the nature of living with chronic illness and the challenges it presents for her ambitious heroine.

This guide refers to the paperback edition released by Forever in 2024.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of illness, death, racism, ableism, antigay bias, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

The novel begins with two Prologues. One depicts Canon Holt, age 20, filming his mother, a photographer who is nearing the end of her life with multiple sclerosis. Canon goes on to make a documentary about his mother called The Magic Hour, which launches his career as an esteemed Hollywood director.

The second Prologue shows Neevah Mathis, age 18 and finishing high school, facing her sister, Terry, and boyfriend, Brandon, who confess that they’ve been sleeping together and that Terry is pregnant. Hurt and furious, Neevah leaves her North Carolina home and attends college for drama. She then moves to New York City to pursue an acting career.

When the present-day story opens, Canon has been searching for months for the right actress to play Dessi Blue, the lead in his movie celebrating the life of a little-known performer who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. His friend Monk, the composer for the movie, encourages Canon to come see a Broadway play where Neevah (who now goes by Neevah Saint), the understudy, is taking over the lead role for a week. Struck by her performance, Canon is certain that he’s found his Dessi.

Neevah finds Canon aloof though attractive, and she agrees to audition. When she is offered the role, Neevah is thrilled to have this opportunity to advance her career. She contracts to have her best friend and hair stylist, Takira, come with her to Los Angeles for filming. Takira is aware that Neevah has a diagnosis of discoid lupus, and they work together to care for Neevah’s hair and skin.

Neevah is determined to suppress her attraction to Canon, preferring to remain professional. However, she finds herself intensely drawn to him when they travel to Alabama together to meet Dessi’s daughter. Neevah discovers an unknown fact about Dessi’s life: Before she married trumpet player Cal Hampton, Dessi was in love with Tilda Hargrove, her New York roommate. Canon and Neevah are both thrilled to add this relationship to Dessi’s story.

While most chapters of the novel alternate between telling the story through Canon’s or Neevah’s first-person point of view, occasional chapters share excerpts from the screenplay for Dessi Blue. Early scenes show Dessi meeting and falling in love with Tilda, taking a job at the Savoy Ballroom, and meeting Cal, who coaxes her to sing on stage and thus launches her career.

As filming begins, Canon is also determined not to give in to his attraction to Neevah. His friends and production partner won’t let him forget a previous experience when he slept with Camille, the lead actress on his film. When their relationship ended, Camille had Canon fired from the movie. The attraction between him and Neevah is strong, however, and Canon is drawn by the light that Neevah projects and the generosity and commitment she brings to her role. Neevah, in turn, is struck by Canon’s seriousness, talent, and focus on the movie. When the cinematographer sets them both up with reservations at the same restaurant over Thanksgiving, the two acknowledge their attraction. They kiss, but Canon suggests that they wait to have sex until after filming is done so that no one will question that Neevah earned this role on talent alone.

A trip home to visit her family over Christmas is difficult for Neevah when she has a run-in with Terry. During their quarrel, Neevah’s niece, Quianna, overhears Neevah accuse Terry of betraying her with Brandon. Neevah admits to her mother that the distance between them hurts, as she feels like she lost her mother and sister at the same time. Her mother apologizes, and Neevah wonders if she’ll be able to repair the relationship with her sister.

Canon finds his attraction to Neevah too intense to deny and invites her to a getaway to Santa Barbara over New Year’s. They begin a passionate sexual relationship but are spotted by someone who knows Camille. Shortly thereafter, Camille speaks publicly about Neevah and Canon’s involvement. Canon admits to the cast and crew that he and Neevah are together.

As filming progresses, Neevah finds herself increasingly tired and experiencing symptoms of a lupus flareup. When she faints on set, Canon rushes her to the hospital. Neevah learns that her symptoms indicate systemic lupus, which has harmed her kidneys to the extent that she needs a transplant. Neevah feels guilty that filming has to wait until she’s better and worries about the burden that her illness places on her relationship with Canon. Canon, however, while acknowledging the difficulty of losing his mother, rises to the task of being Neevah’s emotional support. He flies Neevah’s mother and sister to Los Angeles for her. Neevah and Terry begin the difficult task of reconciling while Terry goes through the tests to become a kidney donor for Neevah. Canon realizes that his priorities have profoundly changed: Whereas before, he was willing to sacrifice everything for his movie, he’s now willing to sacrifice his movie for Neevah.

The kidney transplant is successful, and Neevah finds her relationship with her family restored, while her relationship with Canon enters a phase of deeper commitment and trust. An Epilogue to the story shows Dessi Blue, at the end of her life, reflecting on her many accomplishments: a career spent touring and performing in Europe and then returning to Alabama to be with her mother, raise her daughter, and take part in the civil rights movement. Dessi is pleased to witness the establishment of a roadside sign describing her life; it’s this sign that will inspire Canon to make a movie of her life. A second Epilogue shows Neevah and Canon at the premiere of Dessi Blue, followed by Canon’s proposal of marriage, which Neevah gladly accepts.