great memoir! it tells Kennedy's story really well and the plotting is awesome. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This book was enjoyable to read. I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

What a good read! Jayne is very open about a lot of what has gone on in her storied life. She achieved a lot of firsts. She was the first Black woman to win Miss Ohio and likely the second Black woman to win a state beauty contest. She was one of the first women and definitely the first Black woman to co-host a dedicated network sports show. And she was one of the first people to create an exercise video, that was a national success.

Jayne was and is very intelligent and ambitious, which has served her well, although, considering her beauty and many talents, should’ve provided her with even more opportunities than she has received. For more than a few years, she represented the ultimate beauty in the Black community. I can remember being enamored with her back in the day. Her combination of great looks, intelligence, and down to earth personality made her truly one of a kind.

I really appreciate how much she discussed her family, particularly her father and mother, as well as her daughters, throughout the book. It’s heartwarming how much she praises them, along with her siblings, husband, and other family members.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the wonderful tribute she gave to all of the wonderful black actresses, past and present. It prompted me to research them individually to learn more about their respective careers.

I love how she describes helping her daughters navigate their college education and overall development as young women. Although her path didn’t necessarily allow her to pursue a college degree, she no doubt would’ve achieved a high level of education, considering how much she’d accomplished academically prior to her meteoric rise in show business.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the intimate details of Jayne’s life, as well as how influential she has been both culturally and professionally.

This review is based on the advance reader’s edition of Plain Jayne. This memoir was a fascinating look at the career of a woman whose versatility allowed her to work as an actress, model, dancer, sportscaster, and fitness video host. At several points in her career, Jayne Kennedy was one of the firsts among black women in the entertainment spaces that she worked in, including being a part of the CBS NFL Today crew and being featured on The Dean Martin Show. She would go on to win an Emmy for her hosting work, as well as an NAACP Image Award for her acting. Her versatility was fostered in her childhood, where she participated in a variety of activities, including sports, and the Girls State program, events that would prepare for a life working in entertainment.

Ms. Kennedy was able to look back through writing her memoir to see how big her imprint has been, and how she has inspired women who seek to have a career in hosting, sportscasting, or acting.

It was a pleasure to read about such an accomplished woman.

Jayne Kennedy is sort of an icon for football fans, especially those that remember her time on NFL Today. Black folk were so mesmerized and indeed proud to see her holding her own. Besides being good to look like, she was knowledgeable about football and didn’t come off as some bimbo beauty.

Surprisingly, she states she never viewed herself as beautiful, and accepted being stared at early in her life, often due to her being the tallest person in her classes and mostly any room she entered. I didn’t know, that she was Miss Ohio back in the day. I didn’t know about her struggle to break through in Hollywood.

She tells her story honestly and in fascinating detail. Naming names along the way. She describes the breakdown of her marriage to Leon Isaac Kennedy and the aftermath of the infamous “intimate encounter” tape that effectively pushed her into the darkness for a number of years. She acknowledges that her disappearance was mainly due to her own shame and she didn’t want to face the world.

So, I feel like she really came to this memoir to air it all out and her journey is an amazing one filled with resilience, heartbreak and joy. A great read that may once again put her in the national spotlight. Just think had she come along 20 years later. Her sex tape would have made her a global superstar!

However, she doesn’t express any regrets and seems to be living her best life right now. Thank you Jayne Kennedy for sharing your story. And special thanks to Netgalley and Andscape books for an advanced DRC. Book drops in September 2025.