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You never forget your first love. Isn't that what they say? Verity Hill knows this truth intimately. She didn't simply miss Wright "Monk" Bellamy when they parted ways in college. She's haunted by his touch. Every kiss, any lover since—it's a shadow of what they had.
Time heals all wounds. Isn't that what they say? Monk doesn't believe that for a second. He wasn't simply betrayed when he and Verity split. He was devastated, with parts of him left behind in the ruins of all that was destroyed.
More than a decade after their disastrous breakup, Verity and Monk must work together on the set of an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic. With Monk, now a world-class musician, creating the score, and Verity, an award-winning screenwriter, penning the script, there's Oscar buzz before shooting even begins. This once-in-a-lifetime project could catapult them both to new heights, but can they can put the past behind them for the sake of the film…for the sake of something more?
Time heals all wounds. Isn't that what they say? Monk doesn't believe that for a second. He wasn't simply betrayed when he and Verity split. He was devastated, with parts of him left behind in the ruins of all that was destroyed.
More than a decade after their disastrous breakup, Verity and Monk must work together on the set of an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic. With Monk, now a world-class musician, creating the score, and Verity, an award-winning screenwriter, penning the script, there's Oscar buzz before shooting even begins. This once-in-a-lifetime project could catapult them both to new heights, but can they can put the past behind them for the sake of the film…for the sake of something more?
448 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Kennedy Ryan
68 books37.6k followersNEWSLETTER:
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KENNEDY RYAN BOOKS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/68160...
I write contemporary romance and women's fiction. I always give my characters their happily ever after, but I love to make them work for it! It's a long road to love, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
I am wife to the love of my life, mom to a special, beautiful son, and a friend to those living with autism through my charitable foundation.
bit.ly/KRList
BOOKBUB: bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan
AMAZON:
http://amzn.to/2EX7pgg
FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor/
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1/
KENNEDY RYAN BOOKS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/68160...
I write contemporary romance and women's fiction. I always give my characters their happily ever after, but I love to make them work for it! It's a long road to love, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
I am wife to the love of my life, mom to a special, beautiful son, and a friend to those living with autism through my charitable foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 1,530 reviews
May 22, 2026
wow. just wow. this is not just a romance. this was, it is, a deeply human experience that i feel so privileged to have read, to have lived in, to feel as though i have witnessed. this book is about love, but more than that, it is a story about relationships. lovers, friends, family, passions…even the relationships the characters have with their own selves, and the ones that they have with their own minds — it’s all here. this is a story about acceptance, ache, regrets, forgiveness, second chances, resilience. it’s an ode to black artistry and creatives, it’s a history lesson, it’s a celebration. it is art. plain and simple.
when kennedy ryan kennedy ryans in a way that is so deeply kennedy ryan-coded, something magical happens. how she manages to weave so many important topics and discourse into her books in such a cohesive and organic way, how she makes her characters feel so real, and how she manages to deliver such a poignant piece of work, all told around such a beautiful and sexy love story, will rarely leave me unmoved. score is trying to wrangle my previously favourite KR book off the top of the podium — i am in a state of panic and distress! i don’t even know how to review this book because i feel so many things right now, but i will make my best attempt 🥺.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ premise
score follows the lives and love of eventual screenwriter verity hill, and eventual critically acclaimed musical prodigy wright “monk” bellamy, who first meet and fall in love in college, all before the painful dissolution of their first chance. over a decade later, they find themselves facing each other again and having to work together on a career-defining biopic about black performers from the harlem renaissance era, who were often erased in favour of their white counterparts despite being just as, if not more talented and worthy of recognition. an important story to tell, verity and monk have to put their differences aside to give their best to this movie — having both been recruited by the director of the film to do the script and the score respectively — all while navigating past hurts. we also have a story within a story, much like in reel (as the present timeline of this book coincides with the making of the dessi blue biopic in that book). this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as what the story goes on to entail…
ˋ°•*⁀➷ our characters
— verity 🖋️💚🎬
oh, my darling verity. now THIS is what i mean when i say i want complex, multi-dimensional female main characters. verity was so very real to me. in-the-flesh, empathy-inducing, resilient, a fighter but also not infallible. she’s not just one thing, she’s everything. she makes mistakes, she stumbles and struggles, but she rises above and her triumph is true 🥺. something i love about KR books is that often there’s a big arc around the fmc coming to love and accept and to heal herself in a way that doesn’t make the romance feel like it was the antidote, but more so the cherry on top. verity’s story is raw. we get to experience her mental health battles with her, the highs and lows and inbetweens in the story, but like the line in the author’s note (read: love letter) at the top of the book says, “i never write the hurt without the healing. you can always trust your heart with me.” , and kennedy absolutely kept her promise. i think many people will feel seen through her character or be hard-pressed not to be able to connect with her.
“i’m bipolar. well, more accurately, bipolar is my diagnosis, not my identity. i am a writer, a friend, a niece, an activist, but i have bipolar disorder. i tell very few people, not because i’m ashamed of it. i’m ashamed of some of the things i’ve done during an episode, but i make a distinction.”
verity is more than her diagnosis, even when it feels like she’s in the undertow of it. the research that must have gone into her characterization was so evident and her portrayal was done with so much care. on top of this, the intersectionality between her being black, bisexual and bipolar was so powerful. triple “b” threat. i loved it, and i loved her.
— monk 🎹💚🎼
lawwwd have mercy. his tall, dark, handsome, brown sugar fine ass. URGH. 😩😩😩 anyways. to return to coherency…
monk was a loverboy through and through 😭. the way this man pined for verity and felt things deeply was so well-written. ”can someone be your soulmate if you’re not theirs?…she was it for me.” oh, my poor heart and weak disposition couldn’t handle how down bad he was 😭. his quiet but confident aura (definition still-waters-run-deep kinda man), his humour, but most of all his heart, were my favourite things about him. his passion for and relationship with music, that was a huge part of his characterization, was exceptionally well-done and genuinely so captivating. the way he loved verity, even when he couldn’t help it, was consuming. pulled me right in. he also had a really compelling arc over the course of the story, and it was so rewarding to see his growth from start to end. i loved that he wasn’t unrealistically perfect either. his jealousy and possessiveness, sometimes stubbornness in his beliefs, but also his care were all just right. seeing him find love was just as rewarding as watching verity reconnect with him, and when i’m invested in both characters finding their person, it makes the love story hit that much harder.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ the writing
the prose is beautiful. just beautiful. no one can tell me miss ryan here is not a modern day poet. it’s lyrical but never pretentious. her choices always feel so intentional. she balances poignancy with levity and humour in a way that just feels so authentic — from her, but also for and from the characters. it’s an absolute pleasure to read. her work is always so well researched, seeped with history and never short on nuance. that was on full display here. i loved that this book was divided into “movements” — just another thoughtful touch, given how important music is to the story and how this all nods back to the title of the book.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ romance, relationships, representation
verity and monk’s love is one for the ages. i was a little worried in the beginning with how fast things started between them in their college years (maybe a little thrown by the events of chapter two, as hot as it was), questioning how the pace was going to work…but i trusted the process. it just worked. their soul-ties were so evident as the story went on. how completely woven into each other’s fabric they were, how they were able to connect, how they were able to still affect one another even when they didn’t want to be.
the way desire was written in this book had me about ready to combust!!! they were so sexy 😩. the spice was so good. their chemistry was so palpable and genuinely made the text feel so alive and electric. when they were at odds, the friction was tantalizing and it made for some fantastic tension that made the burn of their romance absolutely incinerate.
there’s a bit of miscommunication (or rather non-disclosure), but it’s understandable in its context, so it never bothered me. the shame and fear of judgment that comes from making certain admissions to people can feel insurmountable, and the story made the circumstances feel realistic.
a good second chance romance (as critical as i can be of this trope) will convince me that now is the right time, when back then was not. that the passage of time does not equate to character development, but that the characters have experienced actual growth and change by the time the reconciliation happens, to be able to present their best selves to the prospect of reunion. not a perfect self or one who’s done growing, but that the characters are exactly where they need to be to be able to meet each other in the middle, where previously it was just not (for good reason) possible. this was monk and verity to a tee.
”the moment is so transparent i feel like i can see every one of her fears, her dreams, her worries, and i, in turn, want to show her all mine. it’s something old that is new again, but it’s also something we’ve never had before. matured. seasoned. steady.”
when all was said and done, there’s an overwhelming sense of peace that their love carries. the trust, the forgiveness, the letting go, the acceptance?
”love doesn’t keep score.” 🥹
i adored how this book went beyond just the central romance, because there were so many examples of various relationships that shape verity and monk’s in important ways. this made the read feel so layered. the side characters in this book were not ornamental, but rather, had true purpose. there are three specific elements that really stood out to me:
— the depiction of sapphic relationships
verity’s bisexuality, the queer aunts who raised her and even the queer love story in the dessi blue 1930s biopic, really showcased love and relationship between women, black women, in different ways and in different time eras. this was such a rich, thoughtful and well-connected thread throughout the story. verity is proud and has never had to hide this aspect of her identity when so many women that came before her did not have the same privilege, and it was beautiful to see this representation.
— parental relationships
verity and monk both carry things from what they observed between their own respective sets of parents. it shapes how they, in turn, approach love and relationships. something i feel quite passionate about but don’t see addressed in nearly as many books as i could, is how generational trauma can impact our own attempts at relationships and our own ideas of love. monk is deeply affected by his father’s infidelity, and verity her parents’ passionate but tumultuous and ultimately tragic relationship given her dad’s undiagnosed mental illness — and it affects how they move in the world, their idea of family, of being eventual parents, of how to be with someone. i loved how this was explored so thoroughly.
— verity’s friendships with her adult best friends
one lives with bipolar disorder as well, and one does not. these friendships were so impactful. to see how the three interacted with one another and supported one another carried weight. verity has the unique experience of being a worrier (for her friend who’s like her) but also one who’s worried about (by the friend who’s not). it gives her much-needed perspective when she herself may be agitated by too much oversight, but also can feel similarly about her friend who struggles too. mental illness impacts the one who bears it but also those who hold them down, and we get to see both sides explored in the book. it’s always a balancing act to treat others with dignity, respect their autonomy but also care about them enough to intervene in respectful ways when you suspect that something is off. these friendships were one really great way to showcase this, outside of the romance.
god, this story had so many themes and i think i’ve touched on some key ones but it’s certainly not exhaustive. even the untangling of unconscious bias rooted in homophobia during a spicy moment between verity and monk was so thoughtful. maybe one last thing i found particularly meaningful was the little nods to spirituality, specifically for monk’s character. he’s not religious and has a complicated relationship with the idea of church because of his pastor father who caused a rift in their family with his past infidelity. seeing monk heal from that and find the will to believe in something again, navigate his relationship with his dad and even getting to see some glimpses into his mom’s moving on, was another wonderful and moving touch to the story.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ wrapping up with gratitude
one of my biggest takeaways here is how healing is not linear, how it’s ongoing. while we may stumble, feel like not enough or too much, we are all deserving of love. it seems saccharine to say, but this story truly showed it in a beautiful and delicate and deeply emotional way. it takes courage to accept help, even when it’s offered freely and without prejudice. we should do it anyway. perhaps the last thing i leave with is how amplifying black stories within a black love story (same for reel) was such a clever way to comment on the importance of that, and the craft and communion around storytelling by black folks…because who else will do it when theburden, no, the blessing lies with other black voices? it feels kinda meta, and i really liked that.
i am so deeply stirred by this book. irrecoverably so. kennedy ryan will always have a fan in me. this was a tour de force. all the stars.
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
when kennedy ryan kennedy ryans in a way that is so deeply kennedy ryan-coded, something magical happens. how she manages to weave so many important topics and discourse into her books in such a cohesive and organic way, how she makes her characters feel so real, and how she manages to deliver such a poignant piece of work, all told around such a beautiful and sexy love story, will rarely leave me unmoved. score is trying to wrangle my previously favourite KR book off the top of the podium — i am in a state of panic and distress! i don’t even know how to review this book because i feel so many things right now, but i will make my best attempt 🥺.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ premise
score follows the lives and love of eventual screenwriter verity hill, and eventual critically acclaimed musical prodigy wright “monk” bellamy, who first meet and fall in love in college, all before the painful dissolution of their first chance. over a decade later, they find themselves facing each other again and having to work together on a career-defining biopic about black performers from the harlem renaissance era, who were often erased in favour of their white counterparts despite being just as, if not more talented and worthy of recognition. an important story to tell, verity and monk have to put their differences aside to give their best to this movie — having both been recruited by the director of the film to do the script and the score respectively — all while navigating past hurts. we also have a story within a story, much like in reel (as the present timeline of this book coincides with the making of the dessi blue biopic in that book). this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as what the story goes on to entail…
ˋ°•*⁀➷ our characters
— verity 🖋️💚🎬
oh, my darling verity. now THIS is what i mean when i say i want complex, multi-dimensional female main characters. verity was so very real to me. in-the-flesh, empathy-inducing, resilient, a fighter but also not infallible. she’s not just one thing, she’s everything. she makes mistakes, she stumbles and struggles, but she rises above and her triumph is true 🥺. something i love about KR books is that often there’s a big arc around the fmc coming to love and accept and to heal herself in a way that doesn’t make the romance feel like it was the antidote, but more so the cherry on top. verity’s story is raw. we get to experience her mental health battles with her, the highs and lows and inbetweens in the story, but like the line in the author’s note (read: love letter) at the top of the book says, “i never write the hurt without the healing. you can always trust your heart with me.” , and kennedy absolutely kept her promise. i think many people will feel seen through her character or be hard-pressed not to be able to connect with her.
“i’m bipolar. well, more accurately, bipolar is my diagnosis, not my identity. i am a writer, a friend, a niece, an activist, but i have bipolar disorder. i tell very few people, not because i’m ashamed of it. i’m ashamed of some of the things i’ve done during an episode, but i make a distinction.”
verity is more than her diagnosis, even when it feels like she’s in the undertow of it. the research that must have gone into her characterization was so evident and her portrayal was done with so much care. on top of this, the intersectionality between her being black, bisexual and bipolar was so powerful. triple “b” threat. i loved it, and i loved her.
— monk 🎹💚🎼
lawwwd have mercy. his tall, dark, handsome, brown sugar fine ass. URGH. 😩😩😩 anyways. to return to coherency…
monk was a loverboy through and through 😭. the way this man pined for verity and felt things deeply was so well-written. ”can someone be your soulmate if you’re not theirs?…she was it for me.” oh, my poor heart and weak disposition couldn’t handle how down bad he was 😭. his quiet but confident aura (definition still-waters-run-deep kinda man), his humour, but most of all his heart, were my favourite things about him. his passion for and relationship with music, that was a huge part of his characterization, was exceptionally well-done and genuinely so captivating. the way he loved verity, even when he couldn’t help it, was consuming. pulled me right in. he also had a really compelling arc over the course of the story, and it was so rewarding to see his growth from start to end. i loved that he wasn’t unrealistically perfect either. his jealousy and possessiveness, sometimes stubbornness in his beliefs, but also his care were all just right. seeing him find love was just as rewarding as watching verity reconnect with him, and when i’m invested in both characters finding their person, it makes the love story hit that much harder.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ the writing
the prose is beautiful. just beautiful. no one can tell me miss ryan here is not a modern day poet. it’s lyrical but never pretentious. her choices always feel so intentional. she balances poignancy with levity and humour in a way that just feels so authentic — from her, but also for and from the characters. it’s an absolute pleasure to read. her work is always so well researched, seeped with history and never short on nuance. that was on full display here. i loved that this book was divided into “movements” — just another thoughtful touch, given how important music is to the story and how this all nods back to the title of the book.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ romance, relationships, representation
verity and monk’s love is one for the ages. i was a little worried in the beginning with how fast things started between them in their college years (maybe a little thrown by the events of chapter two, as hot as it was), questioning how the pace was going to work…but i trusted the process. it just worked. their soul-ties were so evident as the story went on. how completely woven into each other’s fabric they were, how they were able to connect, how they were able to still affect one another even when they didn’t want to be.
the way desire was written in this book had me about ready to combust!!! they were so sexy 😩. the spice was so good. their chemistry was so palpable and genuinely made the text feel so alive and electric. when they were at odds, the friction was tantalizing and it made for some fantastic tension that made the burn of their romance absolutely incinerate.
there’s a bit of miscommunication (or rather non-disclosure), but it’s understandable in its context, so it never bothered me. the shame and fear of judgment that comes from making certain admissions to people can feel insurmountable, and the story made the circumstances feel realistic.
a good second chance romance (as critical as i can be of this trope) will convince me that now is the right time, when back then was not. that the passage of time does not equate to character development, but that the characters have experienced actual growth and change by the time the reconciliation happens, to be able to present their best selves to the prospect of reunion. not a perfect self or one who’s done growing, but that the characters are exactly where they need to be to be able to meet each other in the middle, where previously it was just not (for good reason) possible. this was monk and verity to a tee.
”the moment is so transparent i feel like i can see every one of her fears, her dreams, her worries, and i, in turn, want to show her all mine. it’s something old that is new again, but it’s also something we’ve never had before. matured. seasoned. steady.”
when all was said and done, there’s an overwhelming sense of peace that their love carries. the trust, the forgiveness, the letting go, the acceptance?
”love doesn’t keep score.” 🥹
i adored how this book went beyond just the central romance, because there were so many examples of various relationships that shape verity and monk’s in important ways. this made the read feel so layered. the side characters in this book were not ornamental, but rather, had true purpose. there are three specific elements that really stood out to me:
— the depiction of sapphic relationships
verity’s bisexuality, the queer aunts who raised her and even the queer love story in the dessi blue 1930s biopic, really showcased love and relationship between women, black women, in different ways and in different time eras. this was such a rich, thoughtful and well-connected thread throughout the story. verity is proud and has never had to hide this aspect of her identity when so many women that came before her did not have the same privilege, and it was beautiful to see this representation.
— parental relationships
verity and monk both carry things from what they observed between their own respective sets of parents. it shapes how they, in turn, approach love and relationships. something i feel quite passionate about but don’t see addressed in nearly as many books as i could, is how generational trauma can impact our own attempts at relationships and our own ideas of love. monk is deeply affected by his father’s infidelity, and verity her parents’ passionate but tumultuous and ultimately tragic relationship given her dad’s undiagnosed mental illness — and it affects how they move in the world, their idea of family, of being eventual parents, of how to be with someone. i loved how this was explored so thoroughly.
— verity’s friendships with her adult best friends
one lives with bipolar disorder as well, and one does not. these friendships were so impactful. to see how the three interacted with one another and supported one another carried weight. verity has the unique experience of being a worrier (for her friend who’s like her) but also one who’s worried about (by the friend who’s not). it gives her much-needed perspective when she herself may be agitated by too much oversight, but also can feel similarly about her friend who struggles too. mental illness impacts the one who bears it but also those who hold them down, and we get to see both sides explored in the book. it’s always a balancing act to treat others with dignity, respect their autonomy but also care about them enough to intervene in respectful ways when you suspect that something is off. these friendships were one really great way to showcase this, outside of the romance.
god, this story had so many themes and i think i’ve touched on some key ones but it’s certainly not exhaustive. even the untangling of unconscious bias rooted in homophobia during a spicy moment between verity and monk was so thoughtful. maybe one last thing i found particularly meaningful was the little nods to spirituality, specifically for monk’s character. he’s not religious and has a complicated relationship with the idea of church because of his pastor father who caused a rift in their family with his past infidelity. seeing monk heal from that and find the will to believe in something again, navigate his relationship with his dad and even getting to see some glimpses into his mom’s moving on, was another wonderful and moving touch to the story.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ wrapping up with gratitude
one of my biggest takeaways here is how healing is not linear, how it’s ongoing. while we may stumble, feel like not enough or too much, we are all deserving of love. it seems saccharine to say, but this story truly showed it in a beautiful and delicate and deeply emotional way. it takes courage to accept help, even when it’s offered freely and without prejudice. we should do it anyway. perhaps the last thing i leave with is how amplifying black stories within a black love story (same for reel) was such a clever way to comment on the importance of that, and the craft and communion around storytelling by black folks…because who else will do it when the
i am so deeply stirred by this book. irrecoverably so. kennedy ryan will always have a fan in me. this was a tour de force. all the stars.
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
January 29, 2026
I had the honor to read Score early…. And to say it surpasses everything I thought it would be is an understatement. If you read Reel, then you know the tension between Monk and Verity literally crawled off of the pages. The way Kennedy takes us back in time to the very beginning showing us the good, the great, and THE UGLY was simply beautiful. The mental illness rep was done in great taste, as usual. This book is going to make you laugh, UGLY CRY, and want to throw the book.
May 25, 2026
Every book Kennedy Ryan writes is so deeply human. There’s no denying how much love and care she puts into her stories and characters. Love
June 29, 2026
Whenever Kennedy Ryan writes a book, it never feels like just a romance. It’s as if she waves her pen and transforms it into something magical and meaningful. She’s both a poet and a storyteller of the highest kind. Her writing is always beautiful, poetic, and poignant—but most importantly, she writes with her heart. You can tell how much research she pours into her stories—how intentionally she weaves in history, pays homage to her roots, and gives voice to characters that matter.
In this book, she tackles so much: bipolar disorder, second chances, infidelity, trust, family, friendship, hope, resilience, and forgiveness. Yet somehow, it never feels overwhelming. Everything is handled with such grace and depth.
Verity Hill is, as expected, a complex and multi-dimensional heroine. I loved witnessing her healing journey—her courage, her vulnerability, and her growth. From the trauma of losing her parents to the strong woman she becomes, her story felt raw and deeply human. The highs and lows of her journey were written with such authenticity that it was impossible not to feel alongside her.
And then there’s Wright Thelonious Bellamy. Jesus, what a man. Kennedy Ryan truly has a gift for creating unforgettable MMCs, each one so distinct. Monk was devoted in a way that felt rare and unwavering—pining for Verity for over a decade, standing by her side, and willing to sacrifice his own dreams without hesitation. His love was steady, patient, and all-consuming in the best way. Protective and possessive in just the right measure, he was the kind of character that lingers long after the story ends.
What stayed with me most were the countless life lessons woven so beautifully into the story—reminders that we are all deserving of love, that love isn’t meant to keep score, and that forgiveness shouldn’t come too late. This wasn’t just a book I read; it was something I felt deeply. Kennedy Ryan has truly earned a lifelong fan in me.
In this book, she tackles so much: bipolar disorder, second chances, infidelity, trust, family, friendship, hope, resilience, and forgiveness. Yet somehow, it never feels overwhelming. Everything is handled with such grace and depth.
Verity Hill is, as expected, a complex and multi-dimensional heroine. I loved witnessing her healing journey—her courage, her vulnerability, and her growth. From the trauma of losing her parents to the strong woman she becomes, her story felt raw and deeply human. The highs and lows of her journey were written with such authenticity that it was impossible not to feel alongside her.
And then there’s Wright Thelonious Bellamy. Jesus, what a man. Kennedy Ryan truly has a gift for creating unforgettable MMCs, each one so distinct. Monk was devoted in a way that felt rare and unwavering—pining for Verity for over a decade, standing by her side, and willing to sacrifice his own dreams without hesitation. His love was steady, patient, and all-consuming in the best way. Protective and possessive in just the right measure, he was the kind of character that lingers long after the story ends.
What stayed with me most were the countless life lessons woven so beautifully into the story—reminders that we are all deserving of love, that love isn’t meant to keep score, and that forgiveness shouldn’t come too late. This wasn’t just a book I read; it was something I felt deeply. Kennedy Ryan has truly earned a lifelong fan in me.
Want to Read
May 22, 2026i need a kennedy ryan romance in my life
May 29, 2026
I really did not understand what was so special about their relationship that these two would still be pining for each other 11, 12 + years later. I mean they're in their 30s now and they haven't met anyone else who gave them that feeling again??? They never trusted anyone else ever again?? I kind of understood why they both would be hung up around the reason why they broke up, but I never saw the
great
love between them both in the past and the present that you're supposed to in a second chance romance. I just don't understand what was so special about their relationship... I think these two's (in the past) relationship was built off of lust and shared trauma honestly.
I will say though, I did appreciate the mental health rep, very realistic, especially just how "pessimistic" it can make you sometimes, especially in regards to (romantic) relationships. But I did not love how the mmc handled that when he first found out about her diagnosis, and later on. He seemed to think that reassuring her a couple times would completely remove all of her fears. It's like he expected her to be all in and if she wasn't [due to he would kind of imply that she was being flaky or just not all in. Even when .....
This book is long so it's funny to say that these two really could've used a slower burn type of relationship. They really would've benefited from taking things slow. It's funny because the FMC was indeed asking him to take things slower but he was not hearing it.He just kept implying that she was being flaky every time. Maybe give him the chance to show her that he really is in it with her, and that he won't leave, but expecting someone to believe you when you say you won't leave without ever having the chance to show it is flawed thinking. From their initial breakup, to the rest of the book, that man lacked some serious communication skills. oh my goodness. He really just doesn't listen to her. She's saying one thing and he is hearing another. He finally realized that she will need time to trust not only herself, but him as well, in the final chapters of the book. Which is exactly what she had been saying all along...
This is a connection that is based on sex and the fact that one (or both) of them feels comfortable talking about their traumas. But those two things alone aren't convincing me of this great romance that's supposedly happening here.
The bisexual rep was not my favorite and some parts really made me cringe. I wouldn't recommend this book for the rep. But I did like the shorttt conversation about homophobia, masculinity, and the black community.
‧₊˚♪𝄞࿐₊˚⊹
I will say though, I did appreciate the mental health rep, very realistic, especially just how "pessimistic" it can make you sometimes, especially in regards to (romantic) relationships. But I did not love how the mmc handled that when he first found out about her diagnosis, and later on. He seemed to think that reassuring her a couple times would completely remove all of her fears. It's like he expected her to be all in and if she wasn't [due to he would kind of imply that she was being flaky or just not all in. Even when .....
This book is long so it's funny to say that these two really could've used a slower burn type of relationship. They really would've benefited from taking things slow. It's funny because the FMC was indeed asking him to take things slower but he was not hearing it.
This is a connection that is based on sex and the fact that one (or both) of them feels comfortable talking about their traumas. But those two things alone aren't convincing me of this great romance that's supposedly happening here.
The bisexual rep was not my favorite and some parts really made me cringe. I wouldn't recommend this book for the rep. But I did like the shorttt conversation about homophobia, masculinity, and the black community.
‧₊˚♪𝄞࿐₊˚⊹
May 20, 2026
Not my favorite
I love, love Kennedy Ryan! This book wasn’t my favorite though. I didn’t like either of the main characters AND the central conflict is essentially miscommunication/lack of communication. Kennedy usually does a fantastic job of making the stakes and conflicts so real but I just didn’t love this one. Reel, Book 1, was really good so I had high hopes for this one! Nevertheless, I’ll still check our whatever Kennedy writes next.
I love, love Kennedy Ryan! This book wasn’t my favorite though. I didn’t like either of the main characters AND the central conflict is essentially miscommunication/lack of communication. Kennedy usually does a fantastic job of making the stakes and conflicts so real but I just didn’t love this one. Reel, Book 1, was really good so I had high hopes for this one! Nevertheless, I’ll still check our whatever Kennedy writes next.
July 5, 2026
oh kennedy ryan... you are a treasure !
a second chance romance involving the writers of the script and the score, one movie set, one bad semester at a college years ago, and thus we have a superior book!! its been so long since reel was released, not long at all but the years pass slowly, that i lowkey forgot we were getting monk and verity's story. thank god miss kennedy was not as forgetful as me because this book was so amazing! on top of the romance being great, and verity + monk just being the best, we also got to reenter the world of dessi blue and i couldn't have been more grateful to see my old friends, canon, neevah, jill, evan, and linh.... there were many more familiar faces but this is family!!
the tension between monk and verity in reel is so upfront and in your face, they cannot hide their past because they are both still living in it. what happened between them holds so much weight because there is just so much love between the two and it was wonderful to watch the fall back into life together. *spoiler* verity struggles with bipolar disorder, everything that comes with that but also getting diagnosed and confronting her past connection to this disorder. she is so deserving of love and even though its understandable why this could cause her to step back from commitment or certain relationships, it was so sweet to see her be open with monk and have the two of them work on building a future for themselves!!
i really loved the emphasis on their careers, i know this book wasn't as much on the movie set as reel was but i feel like you fully understood why verity wanted to be a writer and monk may have some arrogance about his talent but for good reason, i only wish i could watch their shows and listen to their music!! i do feel like i felt more connected to the characters rather than the actual story, obviously i had a great time reading, and maybe i was slightly burnout out because i reread reel right before this, but i just didn't get that five star feeling.
at the end i did almost cry tears of joy because i daw the announcement of the third book in this series which should be coming in summer 2027. if this is evan and linh's book i will actually sob, i will read anything kennedy ryan writes but i am especially excited for the next installment in this series !!
a second chance romance involving the writers of the script and the score, one movie set, one bad semester at a college years ago, and thus we have a superior book!! its been so long since reel was released, not long at all but the years pass slowly, that i lowkey forgot we were getting monk and verity's story. thank god miss kennedy was not as forgetful as me because this book was so amazing! on top of the romance being great, and verity + monk just being the best, we also got to reenter the world of dessi blue and i couldn't have been more grateful to see my old friends, canon, neevah, jill, evan, and linh.... there were many more familiar faces but this is family!!
the tension between monk and verity in reel is so upfront and in your face, they cannot hide their past because they are both still living in it. what happened between them holds so much weight because there is just so much love between the two and it was wonderful to watch the fall back into life together. *spoiler* verity struggles with bipolar disorder, everything that comes with that but also getting diagnosed and confronting her past connection to this disorder. she is so deserving of love and even though its understandable why this could cause her to step back from commitment or certain relationships, it was so sweet to see her be open with monk and have the two of them work on building a future for themselves!!
i really loved the emphasis on their careers, i know this book wasn't as much on the movie set as reel was but i feel like you fully understood why verity wanted to be a writer and monk may have some arrogance about his talent but for good reason, i only wish i could watch their shows and listen to their music!! i do feel like i felt more connected to the characters rather than the actual story, obviously i had a great time reading, and maybe i was slightly burnout out because i reread reel right before this, but i just didn't get that five star feeling.
at the end i did almost cry tears of joy because i daw the announcement of the third book in this series which should be coming in summer 2027. if this is evan and linh's book i will actually sob, i will read anything kennedy ryan writes but i am especially excited for the next installment in this series !!
Want to Read
June 13, 2021MONK AND VERITY YESSS PLEASE!!!!
June 11, 2026
Ryan’s writing is sizzling and sensual, even in scenes that don’t contain romance.
This is a second-chance romance about an award-winning Black, bisexual screenwriter, and a world-class musician reunited a decade later after a devastating college breakup to collaborate on an Oscar-buzzworthy Harlem Renaissance biopic.
I adored how Verity’s bisexuality was portrayed. She is full of passion and there is no shame. It was very refreshing.
I also think it is very important to read Ryan’s author’s note at the start which prefaces Verity’s bipolar disorder. Some might think it’s a spoiler as the tension leads from this secret. However, I appreciated knowing the stakes before the characters did.
This is by far the spiciest book I have read from Ryan. It starts hot and only gets hotter. I do wish we got more time seeing the characters time talking, as we are told they are insanely compatible and connected, yet have to rely on references and brief glimpses.
Like all of her characters, our protagonists had real depth, but I do think the side characters were slightly lacking.
The miscommunication definitely irked me, but overall, this book was enticing and that’s a SCORE in my book.
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This is a second-chance romance about an award-winning Black, bisexual screenwriter, and a world-class musician reunited a decade later after a devastating college breakup to collaborate on an Oscar-buzzworthy Harlem Renaissance biopic.
I adored how Verity’s bisexuality was portrayed. She is full of passion and there is no shame. It was very refreshing.
I also think it is very important to read Ryan’s author’s note at the start which prefaces Verity’s bipolar disorder. Some might think it’s a spoiler as the tension leads from this secret. However, I appreciated knowing the stakes before the characters did.
This is by far the spiciest book I have read from Ryan. It starts hot and only gets hotter. I do wish we got more time seeing the characters time talking, as we are told they are insanely compatible and connected, yet have to rely on references and brief glimpses.
Like all of her characters, our protagonists had real depth, but I do think the side characters were slightly lacking.
The miscommunication definitely irked me, but overall, this book was enticing and that’s a SCORE in my book.
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May 20, 2026
6 ⭐️
i am truly in awe of this book. i decided last minute to do an immersive read because i knew i really loved the narrators chosen for this book and i couldnt be happier of that decision!! i started it yesterday morning and binge listened to the entire book all day, i was hooked on verity and monk had me in such a chokehold and i for the life of me could not stop listening.
score will for sure be a top read for me this year. this book was so raw and the writing so visceral i felt like i could physically feel every single emotion that monk and verity went through through out. the bipolar representation through out this book was SO good, i love that you could feel that kennedy was handling bipolar disorder with such care but she never shied away from showing the harder sides to the disorder and really dug in the point that it did not define who verity was as a person and following verity on her journey realizing this and that she can in fact have everything she wants in life and more, that she is still able to love and be loved no matter what was extremely moving. i also want to shout out verity’s narrator and just how good kennedys writing is that you were immediately able to tell when verity was slipping into mania, both of these things combined kind of made me feel like i was right there with her, euphoria rushing through my veins just like it was for her, the highs of her breakthroughs and of course the crash of reality soon after. i dont know if any of this even makes sense but it was just SO GOOD, it made me feel everything all at once especially the manic episode towards the end, it felt like a train wreck you were watching happen in person and bracing for impact.
the chemistry between monk and verity is UNREAL. i have not felt chemistry this palpable in i dont even know how long. im not an insta love kind of gal but with these two i couldnt help but be obsessed with it and even though it was fast it felt SO natural that love at first sight just made sense for them. i think this is honestly the first book ive read that a first act break up felt like i was being stabbed in the heart because i had found myself invested and caring about them that much already but at the same time it just made me all the more excited and locked in for their eventual reunion and my god the YEARNING that came from that 12 year stretch… 😮💨🫠 (also, their fucking HOT. this book caused severe bi panic especially during the spicier scenes, holy fuck.)
i also really loved the underlying plot of the dessi blue movie and im really looking forward to listening to reel once it comes in on libby because i am just dying to know more about it and get to see the tension of verity and monk from a new perspective!! i truly cannot believe i didnt realize this was a book 2 but thankfully it read like a standalone and i didnt feel like i was confused or missing any pertinent info!!
theres honestly so much more that i want to gush about this book but i just can’t articulate just how phenomenal this book was. kennedys writing is so captivating i live to be hurt and put back together by her. words cannot express how good this book is.
i am truly in awe of this book. i decided last minute to do an immersive read because i knew i really loved the narrators chosen for this book and i couldnt be happier of that decision!! i started it yesterday morning and binge listened to the entire book all day, i was hooked on verity and monk had me in such a chokehold and i for the life of me could not stop listening.
score will for sure be a top read for me this year. this book was so raw and the writing so visceral i felt like i could physically feel every single emotion that monk and verity went through through out. the bipolar representation through out this book was SO good, i love that you could feel that kennedy was handling bipolar disorder with such care but she never shied away from showing the harder sides to the disorder and really dug in the point that it did not define who verity was as a person and following verity on her journey realizing this and that she can in fact have everything she wants in life and more, that she is still able to love and be loved no matter what was extremely moving. i also want to shout out verity’s narrator and just how good kennedys writing is that you were immediately able to tell when verity was slipping into mania, both of these things combined kind of made me feel like i was right there with her, euphoria rushing through my veins just like it was for her, the highs of her breakthroughs and of course the crash of reality soon after. i dont know if any of this even makes sense but it was just SO GOOD, it made me feel everything all at once especially the manic episode towards the end, it felt like a train wreck you were watching happen in person and bracing for impact.
the chemistry between monk and verity is UNREAL. i have not felt chemistry this palpable in i dont even know how long. im not an insta love kind of gal but with these two i couldnt help but be obsessed with it and even though it was fast it felt SO natural that love at first sight just made sense for them. i think this is honestly the first book ive read that a first act break up felt like i was being stabbed in the heart because i had found myself invested and caring about them that much already but at the same time it just made me all the more excited and locked in for their eventual reunion and my god the YEARNING that came from that 12 year stretch… 😮💨🫠 (also, their fucking HOT. this book caused severe bi panic especially during the spicier scenes, holy fuck.)
i also really loved the underlying plot of the dessi blue movie and im really looking forward to listening to reel once it comes in on libby because i am just dying to know more about it and get to see the tension of verity and monk from a new perspective!! i truly cannot believe i didnt realize this was a book 2 but thankfully it read like a standalone and i didnt feel like i was confused or missing any pertinent info!!
theres honestly so much more that i want to gush about this book but i just can’t articulate just how phenomenal this book was. kennedys writing is so captivating i live to be hurt and put back together by her. words cannot express how good this book is.
May 22, 2026
A solid four stars.
Score is a retread of the making of the movie Dessi Blue, which is the main focus in the prequel Reel.
While this book is grounded in the heavy dynamics and history between Wright "Monk" Bellamy and Verity Hill (who lives with bipolar disorder) as they reunite after a tumultuous past, it is truly about the Black actors and artists who were marginalized by extreme racism during the Harlem Renaissance.
However, I found that neither the nuances of the Harlem Renaissance nor Verity's bipolar disorder received enough page time. Instead, the narrative frequently shifts to heavy, spicy scenes to keep the reader engaged. I wish the book had focused more deeply on its historical and psychological themes, especially since Kennedy Ryan excels at creating definitive, impactful drama.
That being said, I really love how seamlessly Ryan connects characters across her universe. I am anticipating another sequel in this Hollywood Renaissance series, but I hope it takes place after the movie Dessi Blue is released so we aren't rehashing the exact same behind the scenes setup.
Regardless, I love the depth Ryan has and will be reading whatever she does next!
Score is a retread of the making of the movie Dessi Blue, which is the main focus in the prequel Reel.
While this book is grounded in the heavy dynamics and history between Wright "Monk" Bellamy and Verity Hill (who lives with bipolar disorder) as they reunite after a tumultuous past, it is truly about the Black actors and artists who were marginalized by extreme racism during the Harlem Renaissance.
However, I found that neither the nuances of the Harlem Renaissance nor Verity's bipolar disorder received enough page time. Instead, the narrative frequently shifts to heavy, spicy scenes to keep the reader engaged. I wish the book had focused more deeply on its historical and psychological themes, especially since Kennedy Ryan excels at creating definitive, impactful drama.
That being said, I really love how seamlessly Ryan connects characters across her universe. I am anticipating another sequel in this Hollywood Renaissance series, but I hope it takes place after the movie Dessi Blue is released so we aren't rehashing the exact same behind the scenes setup.
Regardless, I love the depth Ryan has and will be reading whatever she does next!
June 7, 2026
Kennedy Ryan's novel titled Score is about second chances, and it advocates an inclusive society.
The descriptions are visual and frequently include graphic details. (Would the pharse 'blow by blow' be appropriate?) If that's what you're looking for; have at it. If you don't want that; consider yourself forewarned. Personally, I enjoy graphic details, especially when they're uplifting, inspire positive thoughts, and move the plot forward.
Some folks might find this novel too long. Others might conclude it's just long enough. I'll let you judge, although I lean towards the former.
Note: Score has a Reddit spice rating of 4 out of 5 chili peppers, and a Goodreads average rating of 4.63.
The descriptions are visual and frequently include graphic details. (Would the pharse 'blow by blow' be appropriate?) If that's what you're looking for; have at it. If you don't want that; consider yourself forewarned. Personally, I enjoy graphic details, especially when they're uplifting, inspire positive thoughts, and move the plot forward.
Some folks might find this novel too long. Others might conclude it's just long enough. I'll let you judge, although I lean towards the former.
Note: Score has a Reddit spice rating of 4 out of 5 chili peppers, and a Goodreads average rating of 4.63.
Want to Read
August 25, 2021EEEEEEP THE NEW HOLLYWOOD RENAISSANCE BOOK FROM KR!
June 30, 2026
4.25 stars
I feel like I’ve been waiting years to get ‘Score’, and it was worth the wait! Kennedy Ryan’s writing is always poignant, and she handles difficult topics with such care. Monk was amazing, and so was Verity. I loved their second-chance romance!
I feel like I’ve been waiting years to get ‘Score’, and it was worth the wait! Kennedy Ryan’s writing is always poignant, and she handles difficult topics with such care. Monk was amazing, and so was Verity. I loved their second-chance romance!
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4.25 stars
Narrators: Wesley Siobhan, Winston James & Nicole Small
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 14h 25m
April 7, 2026
I have been waiting for Score since 2022 when I finished Reel, and I’ve gotta say this was absolutely worth the wait!
Verity and Monk gave me everything. Their spark was almost instantaneous and their connection was intense.
Both Verity and Monk stood on their own as interesting characters. I really loved both, but Verity was definitely my favorite. I was so happy when they were together, but I loved the build up and the journey to get them back together. They had to endure some pain in the process, but I really loved the healing they experienced in the end.
And I can’t write this review without applauding the way Kennedy Ryan clearly takes the time and care to write about sensitive subjects. In this case the big topic was Verity’s diagnosis and how she moves through life with it. I thought Kennedy did a great job of presenting in a way that still humanized Verity. She struggles and had some low moments, but she was also able to still live her life the best she could and be successful with a ton of support. I think Kennedy Ryan handled it with great care!
Thank you Forever for the ARC!
Verity and Monk gave me everything. Their spark was almost instantaneous and their connection was intense.
Both Verity and Monk stood on their own as interesting characters. I really loved both, but Verity was definitely my favorite. I was so happy when they were together, but I loved the build up and the journey to get them back together. They had to endure some pain in the process, but I really loved the healing they experienced in the end.
And I can’t write this review without applauding the way Kennedy Ryan clearly takes the time and care to write about sensitive subjects. In this case the big topic was Verity’s diagnosis and how she moves through life with it. I thought Kennedy did a great job of presenting in a way that still humanized Verity. She struggles and had some low moments, but she was also able to still live her life the best she could and be successful with a ton of support. I think Kennedy Ryan handled it with great care!
Thank you Forever for the ARC!
May 1, 2026
Kennedy Ryan has become a headline Black romance author synonymous with Black excellence in the romance genre. Legacy is a lofty word, but what Ryan continues to build is shattering out-dated goalposts and continues to move a genre forward, pulling romance to new levels and heights.
As a lover of movies, especially movie scores (I'm the gal listening orchestral pieces and have Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson, and Alexandre Desplat on repeat). But the timing of Score is key. The success of Sinners by Ryan Coogler matches the wave of success Kennedy has achieved. This is her epicentre, a romance tackling the stigma of mental health, the vulnerability of sharing a diagnosis, and the toll it not only takes on one person but on caregivers.
Mental health in communities of colour is handled differently, it's heavily misdiagnosed often not treated. There's internal community struggles with how it's handled. 'Madness, mania, delusions' these are words we freely say now, but their weight is different. This love story? Shifts perspectives and hearts. Monk and Verity will absolutely hold you tight and you simply must sit with this story and listen.
Thank you so much Kennedy, HBG Canada, and Forever for the early copy. I'm still in shock I read this book early, and that Kennedy has extended kindness my way.
As a lover of movies, especially movie scores (I'm the gal listening orchestral pieces and have Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson, and Alexandre Desplat on repeat). But the timing of Score is key. The success of Sinners by Ryan Coogler matches the wave of success Kennedy has achieved. This is her epicentre, a romance tackling the stigma of mental health, the vulnerability of sharing a diagnosis, and the toll it not only takes on one person but on caregivers.
Mental health in communities of colour is handled differently, it's heavily misdiagnosed often not treated. There's internal community struggles with how it's handled. 'Madness, mania, delusions' these are words we freely say now, but their weight is different. This love story? Shifts perspectives and hearts. Monk and Verity will absolutely hold you tight and you simply must sit with this story and listen.
Thank you so much Kennedy, HBG Canada, and Forever for the early copy. I'm still in shock I read this book early, and that Kennedy has extended kindness my way.
June 7, 2026
PERFECTION!!! 💚💚💚
Kennedy Ryan, once again, delivers unforgettable characters, emotional depth and a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.
I went into this book with high expectations, and somehow it still managed to exceed them.
I intentionally read this book slowwww, because I didn't want the story to end. When they say books are meant to be savored, this is exactly the kind of book they're talking about.
I'm not going say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but WOW!
Dare I say...this book MIGHT be my favorite KR book yet - and that's saying a lot because her cataloge is packed with absolute bangers!!
Kennedy Ryan, once again, delivers unforgettable characters, emotional depth and a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.
I went into this book with high expectations, and somehow it still managed to exceed them.
I intentionally read this book slowwww, because I didn't want the story to end. When they say books are meant to be savored, this is exactly the kind of book they're talking about.
I'm not going say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but WOW!
Dare I say...this book MIGHT be my favorite KR book yet - and that's saying a lot because her cataloge is packed with absolute bangers!!
May 28, 2026
I don’t even have the words to describe how much I loved this book.
June 6, 2026
4.5⭐️
I loved this story and I enjoyed the mental health representation the most. Kennedy Ryan has a beautiful way of portraying flawed characters. But why did Monk have to be so "perfect"?
I might be the odd one out but I didn't love Billie's story 🫣 I get its importance to the culture but for me I had trouble connecting it to the main story being told.
Overall this was a great book. An insta love full of trauma 🤣 perfect when you need a HEA but also a good cry.
I loved this story and I enjoyed the mental health representation the most. Kennedy Ryan has a beautiful way of portraying flawed characters. But why did Monk have to be so "perfect"?
I might be the odd one out but I didn't love Billie's story 🫣 I get its importance to the culture but for me I had trouble connecting it to the main story being told.
Overall this was a great book. An insta love full of trauma 🤣 perfect when you need a HEA but also a good cry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 30, 2026I’m so blown away!!! KR does her big one every single time. But this right here!?!?! Is something else entirely. Dare I say best romance of 2026 😫💗📚 Score quite literally broke me apart in a million pieces just to put me back together in the most profound way. Truly life changing and the second chance of my dreams 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Verity and Monk were absolute end game. Their connection was palpable through every page and I couldn’t get enough. Watching them fall madly in love as college kids, to imploding in the worst way and going no contact for 12 years, just to have them working together on the same movie was so tea!!! All that angst, repressed feelings, raw yearning, and attraction all mixed together made for the best scenes ngl. Their romance was top tier.
I also loved the mental health representation! Like more than I ever thought I would. KR did such a fantastic job of exploring this condition that so many people live with every day. You can really understand the depth through Verity’s experiences in the past and present. I thought it was very eye opening. All the trauma she went through all alone made me feel so much.
Lastly I truly loved the sexual freedom KR took with this. 🤭 I appreciated it so much bc you don’t see it often in black romance. This was so nasty in the best way. Verity and Monk’s relationship was seriously piping hot within their first 24 hours. I just know I’m gonna be thinking about them for a cool minute 🙂↕️👌🏽
Verity and Monk were absolute end game. Their connection was palpable through every page and I couldn’t get enough. Watching them fall madly in love as college kids, to imploding in the worst way and going no contact for 12 years, just to have them working together on the same movie was so tea!!! All that angst, repressed feelings, raw yearning, and attraction all mixed together made for the best scenes ngl. Their romance was top tier.
I also loved the mental health representation! Like more than I ever thought I would. KR did such a fantastic job of exploring this condition that so many people live with every day. You can really understand the depth through Verity’s experiences in the past and present. I thought it was very eye opening. All the trauma she went through all alone made me feel so much.
Lastly I truly loved the sexual freedom KR took with this. 🤭 I appreciated it so much bc you don’t see it often in black romance. This was so nasty in the best way. Verity and Monk’s relationship was seriously piping hot within their first 24 hours. I just know I’m gonna be thinking about them for a cool minute 🙂↕️👌🏽
May 31, 2026
Kennedy Ryan i will follow you wherever you go, truly a generational writer
May 30, 2026
3.5 stars. as much as it pains me to say this... this was a bit of a letdown. i loved almost every aspect of it EXCEPT the romance. the way sexuality, mental health, loss, and other heavy topics are handled is one of the book's greatest strengths. i think kennedy ryan always takes great care with subjects like these in her writing, and i've always appreciated that.
the romance, however, lacked the necessary buildup and foundation. beyond verity and monk's attraction and lust for each other, i struggled to find much else connecting them.
the romance, however, lacked the necessary buildup and foundation. beyond verity and monk's attraction and lust for each other, i struggled to find much else connecting them.
July 4, 2026
Score is the long-awaited sequel in the Hollywood Renaissance series. I’ve loved Kennedy Ryan books for years and this was another amazing one! Verity and Monk’s story is so beautiful, hard-earned, raw, and real. While their journey definitely hurt and they went through so much, it was everything too!
This is a second chance, contemporary romance with mental health and bipolar rep. In present day, Verity is meeting Cannon for his Harlem Renaissance biopic project (he’s the director of the movie and the hero of book 1, Reel, which does take place during some of the same time as this book). He offers her the screenwriter job to write the script and that’s when she finds out that Monk is composing the score for the film…and they have a complex past from back during their college days.
We then jump back to an over a decade prior. Monk and Verity meet at university, they both felt pulled to one another immediately. She was in an open relationship at the time so they actually end up having a threesome with her girlfriend at the time. They go their separate ways and run into one another again a few weeks later, she’s now single and he wastes no time in telling her he wants more. Sure they started off hot-and-heavy, but he wants something more, something real with her as he feels like she could be the one. They start dating, things are going so well, he’s falling fast, and then life gets complicated. At the time, Verity has undiagnosed bipolar disorder and we see how that all comes to a head in her life, her relationship, her school. It’s heartbreaking to see how it all plays out, but it just makes their journey and HEA that much more hard-earned.
Highly recommend the audiobook, fantastic narration and we get sung snippets of the music as well throughout. I love all the characters in this series and seeing how much apart of one another’s lives they are. Even the snippets of the film they’re working on about a fictionalized Harlem Renaissance singer, but really paying homage to many real-life Harlem Renaissance greats (loved the Hazel Scott and Cafe Society moments after having read a historical fiction book about that earlier this year). Kennedy’s books are just ones I’ll always recommend, love, learn, and look forward to.
This is a second chance, contemporary romance with mental health and bipolar rep. In present day, Verity is meeting Cannon for his Harlem Renaissance biopic project (he’s the director of the movie and the hero of book 1, Reel, which does take place during some of the same time as this book). He offers her the screenwriter job to write the script and that’s when she finds out that Monk is composing the score for the film…and they have a complex past from back during their college days.
We then jump back to an over a decade prior. Monk and Verity meet at university, they both felt pulled to one another immediately. She was in an open relationship at the time so they actually end up having a threesome with her girlfriend at the time. They go their separate ways and run into one another again a few weeks later, she’s now single and he wastes no time in telling her he wants more. Sure they started off hot-and-heavy, but he wants something more, something real with her as he feels like she could be the one. They start dating, things are going so well, he’s falling fast, and then life gets complicated. At the time, Verity has undiagnosed bipolar disorder and we see how that all comes to a head in her life, her relationship, her school. It’s heartbreaking to see how it all plays out, but it just makes their journey and HEA that much more hard-earned.
Highly recommend the audiobook, fantastic narration and we get sung snippets of the music as well throughout. I love all the characters in this series and seeing how much apart of one another’s lives they are. Even the snippets of the film they’re working on about a fictionalized Harlem Renaissance singer, but really paying homage to many real-life Harlem Renaissance greats (loved the Hazel Scott and Cafe Society moments after having read a historical fiction book about that earlier this year). Kennedy’s books are just ones I’ll always recommend, love, learn, and look forward to.
May 22, 2026
need to hack into Kennedy Ryan’s computer so I can read all the books she has written and yet not released because holy fuck this woman can write🤩🤩
May 25, 2026
Wow this was beautiful. The amount of research Kennedy put into building Verity character and her struggle with bipolar amazing. Loved this second chance at love.
May 24, 2026
A great follow up to Reel. This series was one of my favorites from Mrs. Ryan.
May 21, 2026
I love a lot of things about KR writing but my favorite thing is that you can tell that she did her research on every subject she writes about!
I literally have no idea what to say this book left me speechless. As much as I liked the SKYLAND series I’m so happy to be back in this world<3 this was so romantic, ANGSTY!!!! and full of emotions the heroine has bipolar disorder and imo it was handled so well in this book it was real and raw I found myself tearing up multiple times. And the audiobook was fantastic!!!
I love this series so much and I CAN NOT wait for Evan’s book👀
I literally have no idea what to say this book left me speechless. As much as I liked the SKYLAND series I’m so happy to be back in this world<3 this was so romantic, ANGSTY!!!! and full of emotions the heroine has bipolar disorder and imo it was handled so well in this book it was real and raw I found myself tearing up multiple times. And the audiobook was fantastic!!!
I love this series so much and I CAN NOT wait for Evan’s book👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
⋆˙⟡ ── ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ 5⭐️
I read this in one day, and it’s by far my favorite Kennedy Ryan book. It is a love story spanning over the course of 10+ years about forgiveness, patience, and trust…and they go THROUGH it.
This is definitely an exception to my ratings, but I couldn’t give it anything less than 5★. The subject matter was difficult (mental health), Verity was complex (and a little frustrating), and it has one of my least favorite tropes..but it was such an honest story. While you don’t NEED to read Reel first, you probably should. Their stories run concurrent, and it’s just more rewarding and enjoyable to get the full picture.
I read this in one day, and it’s by far my favorite Kennedy Ryan book. It is a love story spanning over the course of 10+ years about forgiveness, patience, and trust…and they go THROUGH it.
This is definitely an exception to my ratings, but I couldn’t give it anything less than 5★. The subject matter was difficult (mental health), Verity was complex (and a little frustrating), and it has one of my least favorite tropes..but it was such an honest story. While you don’t NEED to read Reel first, you probably should. Their stories run concurrent, and it’s just more rewarding and enjoyable to get the full picture.
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