Sizzle Reel by Carlyn Greenwald
Published: April 18, 2023
Vintage
Genre: Romance
Pages: 327
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Carlyn Greenwald is a YA and Adult romance and thriller author and screenwriter hailing from Manhattan Beach, California. She graduated from USC in 2018 with a degree in English and Film as well as minors in Screenwriting and Forensics and Criminality. When not writing, she’s scouring theme park YouTube, playing video games, and hanging with her dogs.
When she meets twenty-eight-year-old A-list actress Valeria Sullivan around the office, Luna thinks she’s found her solution. She’ll use Valeria’s interest in her cinematography to get a PA job on the set of Valeria’s directorial debut—and if Valeria is as gay as Luna suspects, and she happens to be Luna’s route to losing her virginity, too . . . well, that’s just an added bonus. Enlisting Romy’s help, Luna starts the juggling act of her life—impress Valeria’s DP to get another job after this one, get as close to Valeria as possible, and help Romy with her own career moves.
But when Valeria begins to reciprocate romantic interest in Luna, the act begins to crumble—straining her relationship with Romy and leaving her job prospects precarious. Now Luna has to figure out if she can she fulfill her dreams as a filmmaker, keep her best friend, and get the girl. . . or if she’s destined to end up on the cutting room floor.
“This’ll be fine.”
Luna is passionate about making films. It’s her dream, and she has been working toward the next step for two years. She also realized she was bi. And now, she has to navigate how that changes her life while trying to balance work and friends.
This was a charming, relatable book. Luna is a character many people will relate to, and her journey will resonate with many “baby gays.”
I loved Romy. She had a very cool, confident, loyal element to her character, and I enjoyed her development throughout the book. Val was also great; I think she is another relatable character.
I liked how this story mixed humor with the serious aspects. It made the experience feel authentic. Most people who identify as not straight will find this story endearing and relatable.
The fear, insecurity, and questions are endless when you’re trying to figure yourself out, and I found that so well represented. This was an easy read, with a storyline that flowed smoothly. I was engaged and had a hard time putting the book down.