Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett

11 reviews

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Biphobia, Classism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Vomit, and Alcohol

booksawyer's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Off The Record is Camryn Garrett’s sophomore novel, which captivated me from the first chapter. The story follows Josie, a black, plus size teen who aspires to be a journalist. Her talent leads her to win a prestigious writing contest, and her prize is the opportunity to write a profile on an up-and-coming movie star for her favorite magazine. 

As Josie starts her journey, she also discovers the horrific, yet unspoken, issue of sexual abuse in Hollywood. When faced with these injustices, Josie is asked to write a piece exposing a serial abuser in the industry, putting her journalism career at risk as it is just beginning.

Off The Record is the kind of book you will never get bored of reading. There are so many things going on in the story: the profile, the sexual abuse story, a romance, complicated family relationships, body insecurity, discussions of race, and more. This story is rich with details and conflict, and I felt truly captivated the whole time. 

As a plus size reviewer, I loved seeing a book about a plus size heroine that was evenly balanced between conversations of her size and her just living her life. Yes, Josie deals with her own insecurity and faces scrutiny from others, but she is also given a fully-fleshed out story where she has talents and struggles that are beyond her size.

This book contains so much great representation, and not just for plus size individuals and survivors of SA. There is so much BIPOC representation and two major characters (including the MC) are bisexual. It is so amazing to see a book with such a diverse set of characters! 

I didn’t expect this book to have a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised that it did! Honestly, the romance was one of my favorite elements of the story. The chemistry between the couple made me swoon and I couldn’t contain my anticipation for them to finally get to together! 

I really can’t say enough good things about Off The Record. I highly recommend this book to everyone! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Body shaming

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, and Homophobia

I also want to include a moderate trigger warning for toxic diet culture and a minor trigger warning for conversion therapy.

asiantomato's review

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Bullying, Fatphobia, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Homophobia

Moderate: Eating disorder and Self harm

abookandaspotoftea's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Body shaming

_ava_summer_reads's review

funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thought this book was really good! I finished it in about four days. It was a really good moving story that reminded me of the #metoo movement and Harvey Weinstein. I loved how much the main character loved her job and it inspired me to start blogging again. Plus the bond between her and the other characters especially Marius was adorable. I also liked how she pointed out the nuances in acting while Black and how that adds another element. I also liked how even though she loved her body she was still insecure sometimes, I think that was really relatable as someone who doesn’t have the typical “bikini body” myself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Bullying

mme_carton's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Moderate: Self harm, Sexism, Biphobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Eating disorder

Minor: Pregnancy

longlost's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

wow. wow wow wow. with this book camryn garrett has solidified her place as one of my favourite authors. her writing style is ENTRANCING and her character craftsmen-ship is incredible. josie is so strong and reading her story,

seeing her succeed in the thing she loved, succeed in uplifting the voices of other women,

was so fucking powerful. i swear by the time

savannah called to tell her she'd found the NDA they needed

i was on the verge of tears. this book might be about a heavy subject but it is so so important

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, Rape, and Body shaming

Minor: Alcohol and Cursing

liaandersson's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

I really don't know what to say. I adore this book with every fibre of my being. It was extremely well executed and respectful of all subjects that were brought up. I am in awe of these characters. The amount of joy I felt when we put him in his place and he couldn't come up with excuses anymore. This is a story about brave people using their voices for the greater good and preventing other people from having to go through the same trauma. I relate so much to the characters and I love how the side-plots were so well incorporated with the rest without taking over, yet still getting their time to be acknowledged. Josie is the fucking BOMB who got to post in The Times at 17 years old, I'm so proud. I was so truly happy when I finished the book because what it stands for is so important and it was so well represented in this book, even if Hollywood is a far off dream for many of us. What can I say except READ IT, but be aware of the topics discussed to make sure one is in the right mindset and prepared to avoid any traumatic triggers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Eating disorder and Biphobia

melaniereadsbooks's review

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an arc of this book.

Josie has always had anxiety, but she doesn't let that stop her from pursuing her dream of becoming a journalist.  When she wins a competition for Deep Focus magazine, she is sent on a 2 week long publicity tour with the cast and crew of a new movie to write a profile on the lead actor.  What she doesn't expect is a more important story comes to light while talking to the cast of the movie, and she knows that she will have to do everything in her power to make sure it gets told.

I loved this book! I feel like this is such an important story to tell, and it is absolutely relevant to our society. I definitely got really angry at what was going on at times and frustrated because it is so similar to things that have happened in real life.

 I also really loved Josie. I majorly identified with her right from the beginning, and got caught up in her journey and character growth! I loved that she didn't have it all together, but she was working on it and determined to succeed. I also really liked the supporting cast, her sister, her new friends and her mentor.  They all were very interesting characters that did a lot for the story.

Pub Date: May 18, 2021

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Fatphobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, and Mental illness

Minor: Bullying, Body shaming, and Self harm

dhwani's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Pedophilia, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Police brutality, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Vomit