This book was just okay. I feel like it had a lot of potential but didn't quite meet it. The main character, though 24, honestly read more like a teenager than an adult. It was very repetitive at times and I have to agree with another reviewer about the last half of the book wrapping up like a 90s teen romance movie. It was fast and cookie cutter and could be seen coming a mile away. Also, the word 'sapphic' is way overused to the point that it became annoying. Overall, it wasn't terrible but I wouldn't read it again.

I know that I am not the intended audience for this book - it read very juvenile and poorly written to me. I know that is because it is a young adult novel, but it was hard for me to read so it was a DNF pretty early on.

"Sizzle Reel" is definitely a fun ride with a lot of laughs along the way. Carlyn Greenwald has a knack for creating characters who are a complete mess in the most relatable way. It's refreshing to see characters who don't have it all figured out, making their journey feel genuine and authentic. However, the book hits a few bumps when it dives into gender and sexuality. While the effort to be inclusive is clear and appreciated, some parts feel a bit off, especially with a major nonbinary character in the mix. At times, it seems the story might be skewing too much towards a cisgender perspective, which made me pause and question a few things.

That said, there are plenty of moments where the story flows beautifully without these hiccups. Greenwald's style is honest and hilarious, and when the story isn't tangled in the details of identity politics, it really takes off. I liked "Sizzle Reel" for its humor and heart. It's a book many will enjoy for its fun vibe and real-talk about life's messiness.

DNF at 25%

I’m sorry to say, but this book was a total disaster.
I tried my best to give it a fair chance, but the more I read the more disappointed I was.
It’s a book about adult people, but it felt absolutely juvenile.
The way main character acted reminded me a teenage girl who has a celebrity crush.
The repetitiveness of the plot was annoying to say the least. I don’t know how many times it was said, that our protagonist us a virgin, even though she wasn’t. And that is the other issue- the inconsistency of the story.
The idea of the book is great, but it was underdeveloped.

Ugh. This book had a good idea, and potential, and flubbed it. It could have been great - instead it was "hmm. I'm bi. BEWBS." Like...no? I don't know. It could have been great, it wasn't, the end.

What I appreciated:
- everyone’s relationship with their sexuality is different
- the main character’s insecurities regarding her sexuality
- There are some good discussions regarding boundaries, consent, and preferences
- the MCs friends are really supportive

What I didn’t like:
- the main character figured out she’s bi and within a few days is acting like a sex crazed teenager that just saw boobs for the first time.
- the main character’s quest to lose her virginity to feel valid in her sexuality
- miscommunication and the MC is really self involved.

This queer romance novel navigates familiar territory with a heartfelt portrayal of love within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. While the characters are authentic and the emotional journey resonates, the plot may lean on conventional tropes. The author skillfully explores the challenges of queer relationships, offering insights that add depth to the narrative. The prose is engaging, fostering a connection with the characters, yet it occasionally lacks the spark to elevate the story. Despite its reliance on established romance norms, the novel earns three stars for its sincere representation of queer love, making it a satisfactory addition to the genre.

I'm probably not the intended audience for this novel but if I was in my teens or early 20s I would eat it up.

I know that I am not the intended audience for this book - it read very juvenile and poorly written to me. I know that is because it is a young adult novel, but it was hard for me to read so it was a DNF pretty early on.

I was excited to get the chance to read this book as someone who went to film school and who had not gotten the chance to come out at a younger age. I think I had a lot of personal investment in this, that just did not match up to my hope.

Sizzle Reel is about a 24 year old Luna who is trying to make a name for herself and maneuver her way through understanding what bisexuality is. There are many diverse characters, but unfortunately, they just did not seem to hit. There was nothing I found authentic or true. Though I know this is a fiction book, all the characters seemed made up. There was nothing solid/grounding to them. What I did like about the book and found to be really great writing, was how the author was able to incorporate film making, cinematography and more into the writing! It really made me nerd out!

I had really high hopes for this book, but in the end I was not impressed. I felt like there was so much of a focus on having gay sex that it took over the story, the characters, and ultimately ruined any chance of true character development. I think that bi representation is very important, but it is not always done well and this is an unfortunate representation of what happens when bi representation is done incorrectly.

I really wanted to like this, and there are aspects I did, but Luna felt kind of predatory when it came to her crush on Valeria. It felt unrealistic and I could tell who was going to endgame from the get go. Valeria is amazing and I want her to have her own book, but wasn't loving Luna's story.

For aspiring cinematographer Luna Roth, coming out as bisexual at twenty-four is proving more difficult than she anticipated. When she meets twenty-eight-year-old A-list actress Valeria Sullivan around the office, Luna thinks she's found her solution. But when Valeria begins to reciprocate romantic interest in Luna, the act begins to crumble--straining her relationship with her best friend 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.

I love that this coming-of-age love story is set in the entertainment, a world that is so familiar to me. I appreciated the rep in this story and the journey that the main character goes through to find her HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was drawn to Sizzle Reel for its gorgeous cover and while it didn't completely blow me away, I was really impressed by how relatable Luna's coming out journey was. Yes, she was a bit chaotic, but that is a huge milestone in any Queer persons life and I feel like Carlyn Greenwald did a phenomenal job with that aspect. I love a coming of age story and this one gave me exactly what I needed.

This may be a wrong-timing thing, but I am not feeling this lead character. She's anxiety personified and it's making me nervous just reading her! I'm stopping for my sanity, but if a nervous mess of a person doesn't stress you out to read, this is probably a great book in every other way!

**Thank you NetGallley and Vintage for the eARC**

This was a DNF for me and I am so sad. First of all the cover is beautiful. That was what initially had me wanting to pick this one up. Also, the synopsis of Luna coming out as bisexual at 24. I couldn’t wait to read it. I just can’t get over the fixation of the virginity of the main character. Even though she wasn’t a virgin really. Also who cares?! Why is this such a big deal. I overlooked that bit. However, the character goes on a journey to try and have “gay sex.” And also so much biphobia and just overall not good. Nope.

I had very high expectations from all the hype, but I will be honest it missed the mark for me. While the story is like every other rom-com, I felt like the banter and spark just was not there for me. Such a bummer..

A great coming of age set in Hollywood. This book explores who you truly are, sexuality and relationships with others. If offers a unique perspective with Hollywood as the backdrop.
Thank you #vintage and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I really enjoyed my time reading this book! Thanks to the author for the copy. I really liked and related to the FMC and of course liked he queer rep