I was never a "Katy Keen" fan before the CW television show. I knew she was an Archie comics character, and I knew that she was involved with the fashion world - but that was literally all I knew about her. I was never into romance comics, so "fashion" comics held very little interest for me. And after watching just the first episode of Riverdale (the CW show based on the Archie characters), I never watched another episode of that show. So, for reasons still unknown to me today, I did watch the first episode of Katy Keene on the CW back in February 2020 just to see what it was like. And you know what? I loved it! So much so, that I watched that entire first season and was totally disappointed when it did not get picked up for a second season. However, I did pick up the prequel novel written by Stephanie Kate Strohm when it was published in 2020 - and I just know finally got around to reading it. I'm so glad that I saved it, because it was a thrill to re-enter the world of Katy Keene, even if it was for only this one book...
Restless Hearts was the only CW tie-in novel written in connection with the TV show, and it is a prequel novel that gives some background on the four main characters leading up to that first episode. Strohm provides readers with alternating points of view, the chapters rotating between the four characters - Katy, Jorge, Pepper, and Josie; then back to Katie again for the rotation to repeat. Had I not gotten so used to these rotating points of view with the Hardy Boys books over the past decade (has it really been that long?), it might have bothered me here. As it is, I was able to enjoy it for what it was and not let the changes in points-of-view bother me so much. Besides, it allowed Strohm to really delve into some of the characterization that the TV show did not have sufficient time to reveal.
Jorge, meanwhile, is dreaming of making it on Broadway! He's been faithfully taking dance classes, and when an open casting call for a new show comes up, he waits in the long line of hopefuls to get his chance at stardom. In that line, he meets up with Kevin Keller (Archie cameo number two!), who is also hoping to land a spot in the show. Jorge's chances seem to get better when he gets called back not just once, but twice! The only problem is, in order to clinch his place in the show, he will have to man-up and be something that he's not. Just how much is Jorge willing to give up for his chance to be on Broadway?
Pepper's tale is about her arrival into New York City. While Katy and Jorge are already friends, Pepper has not yet come into their lives. Instead, her arrival is met with pomp and circumstance by all of the social media glitz, as everyone seems to want to know what is next for this shining social media celebrity's life. But Pepper herself is not seven sure of that, as she goes from fling to fling, idea to idea, hoping to find something that will put her on the right course...
Finally, Josie is on the road with her father, singing alongside him for the experience of what it is like to be a traveling musician. But his rules are strict, his criticism harsh, and his over protectiveness smothering. When she meets a country singer who is on his own tour, and she gets the chance to sing away from her father, Josie finds that perhaps she really can make it on her own, away from her father, and be the star she always knew she could be.
Needless to say, KO is in the book, always supporting Katy (when he's not at the gym boxing alongside Jinx - Archie cameo number three!); Jorge's parents are in the book, trying to find their place in his life now that he is back home after being kicked out when he came out; Molly's Crisis is the bar to be for Katy and Jorge to sort out their problems; and Gloria Grandbilt makes her appearance before the story is over, ready to offer Katy the chance she has been waiting for. Strohm provides readers with the perfect introduction to these characters, while giving fans a beautiful way to remember the cast from the show. As I was reading the book, I could not only see each of the actors in their roles once again, but I could literally hear their voices speak each line and picture the settings of each spot - from Jorge's apartment to KO's gym to Lacy's store to Molly's Crisis. It was almost like being transported right back onto the CW show once again!
Before I sign off for this post, I do have to give Strohm double kudos for managing to sneak in a Nancy Drew reference on page 90 when Jorge is talking to his mother about the way she sneaks him audition notices so his father won't see: "You leave me secret audition notices like we're in some kind of Nancy Drew mystery..." Gotta give props to any author who manages to put a reference to my favorite female detective! Just a shame that this is my last time I'll get to enjoy the CW cast of Katy Keene...
RATING: 10 squashed bouquets of roses out of 10 for giving me one final chance to enjoy some time with Katy and her friends as they were brought to life so perfectly by the CW!
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