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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
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!
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.allymsm215's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racism, and Rape
The SA is not described in a triggering way, but it is good to know that it is comingasiantomato's review
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Bullying, Fatphobia, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Homophobia
Moderate: Eating disorder and Self harm
legalplanner's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Holy crap did this one take me by surprise. I knew going in what the heavy/triggering topics were going to be. I was not prepared for how they were handled in this novel.
Josie is our anxious narrator in this novel, we meet her in her senior year of high school. She’s working on getting into her dream school, winning a journalist competition, and surviving the holidays. Once she wins the contest she meets the teen actor and realizes journalism isn’t always objective.
The writing of this was great. I liked that Josie didn’t feel like having anxiety was just a “thing” to have. We literally saw her having panic attacks and anxiety attacks because she was overwhelmed. This was not just a throwaway illness. I liked that she was constantly trying to over come it and deal with her own body issues.
I knew the majority of the action was in the second half. But wowzers I was not prepared for the last 25%. I stayed up far too late in the evening to finish this because I had to know what happened.
The way sexual assault and harassment was handled was very well done. It was interesting that even when we’ve been assaulted we try to reframe it in our own mind, rather than admit assault. I also think that we forget that sometimes what’s right for one survivor is not right for all. People in positions of power should not be able to take advantage of individuals like in this novel.
I’m left feeling some tears in my eyes, a bit of hurt in my heart for all survivors who have experienced something like the characters in this book, and a desire to share this with anyone who will listen. 5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
TW: rape, sexual assault, fat phobia, anxiety, ptsd, harassmentcranedphoenix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
the fact that josie doesnt believe what happened to her was assault is extremely important because a lot of survivors and such in general tend to think that what happened to them wasnt as bad as what happened to others.
its interesting when they introduce julia morrison and how everyone thought she was a crazy person very similar to britney spears and how a lot of people i grew up with were told she was just crazy.
i like how the book brings up separating artists from their work because i truly do not think you can do that because how they are and what they do is often in their work when theyre movie directors or writers etc etc. and i truly think trying to separate them is a cop out excuse to enjoy things you ised to mostly because of nostalgia.
theres difference between cheating which is shitty and being full on racist anti semitic rapist pedo etc etc.
i also absolutely hate how the main character says shell never have "good hair", being grown i know she meant straight hair but black hair IS good hair and that teed me off.
its like yeah ive felt down about some of those things as a kid cuz other people made me feel down about them and the line was supposed to be relatable which im sure it is/was but dang i got mad.
pennys line about waiting to see how they are when they arent nice is so important because thats when true colors start showing, anyone can pretend to be nice its not hard.
chapter 33 just rubs me wrong, i just dont like the josie marius side story like thats not what i picked the book for also the "ill just get crushed" joke is old and tiring its like when people tell buff women to step on them its gross.
next chapter was interesting how they made marius one of the victims and they touched on biphobia when marius said people would think he wanted it since he was bi.
josie and savannahs interaction when she gets the random calls is also annoying like how tf are you going to groan and push her when her life is practically being threatened
It was overall a semi good read but I feel like the two stories clashed more than fully went together
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Biphobia
adannaisiodu's review
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, Rape, and Body shaming
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
inejraybearer_1104's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Rape
Minor: Fatphobia