Score by Kennedy Ryan
Some books entertain. Some books leave a mark. Score does both.
Kennedy Ryan has always had a gift for writing stories that feel larger than a romance, and Score may be one of her most emotionally layered novels yet. At its heart, this is a second-chance love story between Verity Hill, a talented screenwriter navigating life with bipolar disorder, and Wright “Monk” Bellamy, a celebrated composer whose first love never truly left him. But to call this book simply a romance would be underselling what Ryan accomplishes here.
When Verity and Monk are reunited years after a painful breakup, they’re forced to work together on a film project celebrating Black performers from the Harlem Renaissance. The professional collaboration reignites old feelings, unresolved hurts, and a connection that never completely disappeared. What unfolds is a story about timing, healing, forgiveness, and learning how to love someone again after you’ve both become different people.
What impressed me most was how authentic these characters felt. Verity is wonderfully complex. She is brilliant, flawed, resilient, vulnerable, and deeply human. Her journey with mental health is handled with care and nuance, never becoming her entire identity while still remaining an important part of her story. Monk is equally compelling. Beneath his confidence is a man carrying old wounds and lingering regrets, and watching him confront both his past and his future was incredibly rewarding.
The romance itself is stunning. Kennedy Ryan takes the time to convince readers that this isn’t simply two people rekindling an old flame. This is a story about growth. About becoming the people they needed to be before finding their way back to each other. Their chemistry is electric, their emotional connection runs deep, and every interaction feels charged with years of history and longing.
What elevates Score even further is everything surrounding the romance. Ryan explores family dynamics, generational trauma, friendship, mental health, identity, artistry, and the importance of preserving Black stories and history. The supporting characters are just as thoughtfully developed as the leads, adding richness and depth to an already powerful narrative.
The writing is, as always, exceptional. Kennedy Ryan’s prose is lyrical without ever feeling overly ornate. Every chapter feels intentional, every emotional beat earned. She manages to tackle difficult subjects while still delivering hope, joy, passion, and one of the most satisfying love stories I’ve read this year.
Score is a beautiful reminder that healing isn’t linear, that love alone doesn’t fix everything, and that sometimes the greatest romances are the ones where two people learn to choose each other again. This was an easy five-star read for me and another powerful example of why Kennedy Ryan remains one of the most impactful voices in romance today.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes & Themes: Second Chance Romance, Black Love, Creative Professionals, Mental Health Representation, Soulmates, Forced Proximity, Emotional Healing, Found Family, Friends & Family Dynamics, Harlem Renaissance History, Slow Burn Romance.
