I was skeptical that I'd enjoy this. On the one hand, I love a good journalism story. On the other, I for some reason decided that Marius was going to be the villain of this story (I think I misread the teaser, going back and looking again). I was pleased that did not end up being the case; however, the old guy in me definitely recognized some Almost Famous vibes as Josie began to become closer and closer to her subjects - and was surprised that as a journalist movie buff, it wasn't mentioned! That's the most minor of quibbles, though. In the end, the novel felt fresh and current, and empowered some traditionally underprivileged people.

There are just not enough words that can describe this book honestly. I am not only awe inspired, but in a trance after reading this book. And, well, I am not saying awe inspiring just coz of the way it is written or how well developed the characters are or how dynamic and real the whole book is. This feeling of finally being seen is just too much to bear honestly. I am not gonna lie, I ADORE Josie’s character and oh my she is just so inspiring and amazing and all the big woowwiee adjectives that have vanished from my mind. While reading I had my google open and I was constantly looking for things that I want to do and it gave me so much more clarity in soo many aspects, I cannot even begin to spill them all. Okay, here are my 15 reactions for this book which prolly won’t be enough:

Starstruck because Josie is so enigmatic, it was hard to not have my jaw dropped down. Like, excuse me, she is 17 and she is doing such an amazing job as a freelancer and writing… it is hard to not be starstruck trust me.
I was truly fascinated because the plot setting is unlike I have read before which made it feel really special to me.
I don’t know how to describe this reaction but I was feeling – pleased? – that I got a chance to read a book which talked depths about the hypocrisy of the film industry or people in general. Not to mention it can also come across as a light read during the starting of the book which makes it even more special.
The initial interactions between Marius and Josie were so cute I was fangirling pretty hard.
I was amazed at the writing style and how well it suits for young adults. I swear that is something which doesn’t happen always.
I was trying to soak it all in and not get too head over heels with the book because it synced with me in a variety of ways. Which means while reading I would close my book every minute or two for like five secs to get myself together.
Even though I know it is a work of fiction, I was very impressed how the #metoo movement along with the struggles of sexual assault and abuse are present in the book. If someone hasn’t read the blurb before diving into the book, they wouldn’t even see the discussion coming up which honestly makes it all the more real.
As I said, I was impressed but more than that I was a bit shaken because of the narratives and the reality. Even though I have read tons about this in form of articles or other books, it doesn’t make it any more easier.
Another thing that had me going about this book was the character development of Josie. I was genuinely teary eyed at the end. *sniffling* Don’t mind me she is just ❤
As a person who isn’t diagnosed with Anxiety, I cannot genuinely speak for the representation here. But one thing is for sure – the rep wasn’t romanticized in any way for which I am glad.
And okay, in certain ways I felt like the book was written for me (and I swear many readers would feel like that) because it was extremely ‘calling?’ to see how Josie was working towards her passion without once doubting her talent. Now that is a sort of confidence that definitely gives readers confidence.
So, I can say one of the reactions while reading was a burst of self-confidence in me. In a variety of ways, especially because I started to sort out through my passion and wanting.
Okay and I developed a crush on Josie and Marius – so I was practically a heart eyes shaped bunny when reading this book.
I cannot say this enough but the LGBT+ representation, had me all gooey inside. It feels SO good to be represented ❤
And lastly, I was trying to not let my eyes bulge out so much because of this book. It was just so amazing to read this book that it was becoming difficult to maintain my cool lol.

"From the author of Full Disclosure, this is a moving testament to the #MeToo movement, and all the ways women stand up for each other."

Camryn Garrett is going to steal your breath and break your heart a bit in their sophomore novel, OFF THE RECORD.

Josie, our budding and hella talented journalist has won the experience and opportunity of a lifetime: she will go on a press tour for a new film and write the cover article for her most favorite magazine. Knowing this is her chance to launch her career, Josie convinces her parents to let her go, provided her older sister Alice attends as a chaperone.

What happens throughout the rest of the narrative can best be described as heartbreaking, sweet, alarming, comforting, and so, so, necessary as the tide of #metoo continues to ebb and flow out of the collective's minds.

Josie is Black. Josie is fat. Josie is a writer. Josie is bisexual. Josie suffers and moderates her at times, crippling anxiety. Josie is miraculous.

From the jump, readers will find some facet of Josie's personality to latch on to; it's not difficult at all to emotionally connect with our protagonist. She is dealing with an overwhelming multitude of serious issues and while some readers might find her plight unbelievable, I find it entirely realistic. We are all struggling under the intersectionalities of our identities and Josie, unfortunately, does not have the luxury to minimize any of her struggles. Her Blackness, her fatness, her anxiety...it's all there for the world to see and nitpick, as her family and friends often do.

Readers will be deeply entrenched and invested in Josie's well-being from chapter 1, And the slow, but so lovely and charming evolution of Josie's love interest is exactly that: charming.

But tread carefully and check your headspace before diving into this one, because the topics covered are incredibly sensitive and can be triggering if you are not expecting them.
The topics of sexual assault, m/m sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape, fatphobia, and anxiety disorders are handled with expert care and sensitivity, and nothing in this novel is done for shock value. It is, however, an appropriate and much-needed discourse on all of the aforementioned subjects, and kudos to Garrett for weaving them together so masterfully.
OFF THE RECORD is a certifiable powerhouse and I'm super appreciative of Netgalley and Random House for the advanced reader's copy.

5/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

This book blew me away. I was surprised by how raw, emotional, and hard-hitting this book is. Our main character Josie is incredibly relatable in so many aspects that it made it hard to not connect to her as a character. I have absolutely no bad words for this book. The writing was easy to read and kept me invested in the story. The plot was heartbreaking, intense, and realistic. The characters felt real and easy to connect with. I loved reading this and absolutely recommend this book. ( I will advise that this book has triggers for anxiety and sexual assult)

When Josie, a teen journalist who dreams of life after high school, wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine (think Rolling Stone), her only concern is that her parents insist she bring her sister as a chaperone. But as Josie joins the cast on a multi-city tour and gets to know the subject of her profile, Marius, she senses that something is off. It's not long before she learns that a celebrated director has been harassing girls on set and apparently getting away with it for a long time. Josie is reluctant to speak up--she's not sure this is her story to tell. What if she lets down the women who have entrusted her with their stories? What if her big break ends up being the end of her journalistic career? There are so many reasons not to go ahead, but if Josie doesn't step up, who will?

Aspiring teen journalist Josie is ecstatic when she wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for a big magazine. Soon, she's on a multi-city tour to write a story about up-and-coming young actor Marius Canet. As she gets to know Marius, she’s drawn to him—and she’s starting to think Marius feels the same way.⁣
⁣
Catching feelings for a celebrity quickly becomes the least of Josie's worries. A young actress confides in Josie about her experiences of sexual abuse in Hollywood, and Jose quickly learns of more women who've been through similar situations. She desperately wants to expose the man responsible, but as she digs deeper, she worries about letting down the survivors who’ve trusted her to tell their stories.⁣
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I loved this story about a teen journalist trying to expose sexual abuse in Hollywood while worrying that she's not the right person to tell this story. It really showcases how powerful teens can be, how they can be advocates, and create change. Josie was so passionate about storytelling and I loved following along as she comes into her own as an investigative journalist. ⁣
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Josie is a fat, Black, bi teen girl who struggles with anxiety and learning that she deserves to take up space. Her love interest Marius is a Black bi boy, and there were many other supporting/background characters who were Black, Latinx, and Asian. Josie's older sister is also accompanying her on the tour, and I love the way sisterhood is explored.⁣
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Off the Record is truly such a compelling, page turner YA contemporary about sexual abuse in Hollywood, journalism, falling in love, and learning to be an advocate.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Off The Record

Author: Camryn Garrett

Book Series: Standalone

Diversity: main character is black, bi, and fat and has anxiety. Love interest is bisexual.

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, me too, journalism

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publication Date: May 18, 2021

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 320

Recommended Age: (Racism, Anxiety rep, Fat rep, Sexual abuse TW, Rape TW, Sexual harassment TW, romance, language)


Synopsis: Ever since seventeen-year-old Josie Wright can remember, writing has been her identity, the thing that grounds her when everything else is a garbage fire. So when she wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine, she’s equal parts excited and scared, but also ready. She’s got this.

Soon Josie is jetting off on a multi-city tour, rubbing elbows with sparkly celebrities, frenetic handlers, stone-faced producers, and eccentric stylists. She even finds herself catching feelings for the subject of her profile, dazzling young newcomer Marius Canet. Josie’s world is expanding so rapidly, she doesn’t know whether she’s flying or falling. But when a young actress lets her in on a terrible secret, the answer is clear: she’s in over her head.

One woman’s account leads to another and another. Josie wants to expose the man responsible, but she’s reluctant to speak up, unsure if this is her story to tell. What if she lets down the women who have entrusted her with their stories? What if this ends her writing career before it even begins? There are so many reasons not to go ahead, but if Josie doesn’t step up, who will?

From the author of Full Disclosure, this is a moving testament to the #MeToo movement, and all the ways women stand up for each other.

Review: I absolutely loved this book! I loved the focus of MeToo and the message of standing up for what was right even against powerful people. I also loved how well written the book was. The subject is a really difficult one and I thought the author handled the book very well. The book also discussed sexual abuse and harassment on male and non binary people and I thought it did well to include that side. Not a lot of male people will state abuse that's happened to them, so I hope the book opens a discussion about that in the future. The book also had a well developed world and the character development was amazingly well done. The main character (Josie) was amazingly well written. I loved how she had anxiety and how it reflected my same struggles. I also related to her fatness, as I'm fat and the same conversations she has with herself about that are the ones I have about myself. The romance in this book is also queer (both are bisexual) and I loved how adorable the romance was written. The book was also evenly paced and the plot kept you hooked from beginning to end.

The only issues I had with the book is that it just kind of ends and I don't feel like the love interest got a good resolution in the book. I wanted to see him get some closure, like all of them did with the publication of the article. I also thought that NDAs were null and void if a crime had been committed, which is why the Olympics didn't sue when the female gymnasts didn't break their NDA with the sleaze ball who assaulted them. I would have to see the research on that because I'm pretty sure NDAs don't extend to crimes, but I'm also new to law so maybe it's true, but it bugged me that a crime was being protected because of an NDA in the book.

Verdict: A well done book! Highly recommend.

4/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this e-arc!

It was a fun quick, yet slow, read! Not too attached but I wouldn't mind reading more from the editors and authors similar to the original, or perhaps themselv.es

Josie is a rising senior with some serious writing talent. She wins a writing competition sponsored by Deep Focus and as such gets to go on a press tour to write a piece on up-and-coming new star, Marius. She is chaperoned by her older sister and struggles to overcome her anxiety to find her voice in interviews and in the process.
Josie finds herself connecting with Marius and finding new friends in Penny (another cast member). She is soon lured into a second story line relating to a powerful Hollywood producer and his abusive behavior. Josie finds her voice in a big way as she is asked to write an expose as a second, off-the-books piece.
This book brings up so many relevant issues in society today and my only complaint is that everything seemed a little thin as so many issues were addressed. This works in a YA work however and I do recommend checking this one out.

Wow! This book addresses so many issues. It kinda becomes overwhelming. Despite that, Josie is still a relatable character and precious Marius balances her well. The ending is slightly abrupt and left me wanting to know more of “the other side of the story” (no spoilers here, folks).

Thanks to Knopf Books through Netgalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

*slight spoiler warning*

Josephine Wright is a talented writer and journalist, but often feels like her older sisters are favored over her, and like she doesn't have anyone to talk about her passions with. So when she wins a magazine's contest to write a professional profile on breakout star Marius Canet, she's excited to spend several weeks traveling and immersed in the world of journalism.
But what's supposed to be a fun experience is quickly derailed when Marius's co-star, Penny, reveals the abusive behavior of famous director Roy Lennox. Soon, Penny is arranging for Josie to hear the stories of several other actresses and assistants who have worked with Lennox, and most of them want Josie to publish an exposé about it, but not everyone is comfortable with their names being attached to it.

This was a really original story and I don't often see the subjects of it talked about in YA books (similar to this author's first book) so it's definitely five stars. And starting every chapter with one of Josie's tweets-- best detail.
My favorite line in this book was "I feel like there’s a difference between problematic faves and faves who ruin other people’s lives, but whatever." I've had to convince myself of this point several different times, especially with the "activists" on social media who act like sexual abuse and an out-of-context joke are on the same level of "problematic." Josie, Penny, Charlotte, Julia and Savannah's decision to come forward about Lennox, a widely celebrated director with decades of this behavior kept hidden, is not portrayed as "cancel culture" but as honesty and revealing who he truly is behind closed doors.


The only thing I didn't like was how the reveal of Marius also being a victim of Lennox was used as a reason for the stereotypical "fight once and break up" scene in the romantic plot. I liked that the reveal was included, because it was supposed to show how Josie shouldn't've been so quick to judge Marius for working with Lennox (and I hope it helps people realize that when they harass someone for working with an abusive person, they're failing to consider that they could be a victim as well), but with all the conflict surrounding the safety of the characters, was it really necessary to have a romantic conflict scene? If anything, it should've been the kind of scene where they start by fighting, but end by resolving it and they don't "break up" after all. Also, it wasn't resolved until the last chapter, and that's something I really don't like to read. I needed an epilogue for them.

As a journalism major and ex-school newspaper writer, this book was right up my alley! I loved Full Disclosure and was so excited to add another Camryn Garrett book to my shelf. This book was a continuation of everything I loved about Garrett's debut - earnest, strong characters, teens that feel like real, fleshed out teens, sweet relationships, and important topics tackled in a loving, sensitive way.

Because of everything this book tackled, I sometimes found myself wishing for more time spent with Josie, or more focus on one topic. It felt like as soon as we were introduced to one conflict, another issue popped up. That feels very typical for high school (everything is high stakes all the time!) but as a reader I wanted more time to live with the characters in those moments, because I LOVED the characters. They were wonderful, flawed, funny, and fleshed out.

The synopsis of this story is exactly the type of book that I can see myself falling into and devouring immediately, unfortunately, something about this book just didn't click with me. The pacing felt a little slow and I couldn't connect with the characters. I DNF at 50%. Just because it's not for me, doesn't mean it might not be for many other people. For that reason, 3/5 Stars. Maybe this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Off the Record follows 17 year old journalist Josie Wright. Her dreams have seemingly came true when she is chosen to write a profile of up and coming actor Marius for her favorite magazine. As she travels around the country, Josie learns about much more than just Marius. Suddenly thrown into the center of a famous director’s history of sexual harassment and assault, Josie must make difficult choices that could change the direction of her entire life.

I want to start out by saying I love Camryn Garrett’s writing. Now that I’ve read both her novels, I am sure she has a long future of writing in front of her. She could easily write a future favorite book of mine someday. She writes about topics that other authors avoid. I’ve read some reviews criticizing this novel because they feel as though it tried to take on too much at once, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Nobody is ever struggling with just one thing. By writing about all these topics, the story feels more real.

I thought the relationship between Marius and Josie was adorable. For awhile I was unsure whether their friendship was going to turn romantic, but I am so glad that it did. Both characters were so likable, and work well together. I would have liked even more scenes with them together.

One part of the novel that felt a little incomplete for me was the family relationships. I wanted more of a confrontation between Josie and her parents in the end. It seemed as though they only accepted Josie’s journalism once she made it big, and I would have liked that to be discussed more. That being said, I loved Josie’s relationship with her sister Alice. Most people with a sister can relate to it easily.

I highly recommend that everyone pick this up, especially young readers.

As soon as I saw that Camryn Garrett was writing another novel, I wanted to read it, didn’t even care what it was about. I absolutely loved her debut, Full Disclosure. She has this amazing way of educating you about a serious topic without preaching in any way. I want to be friends with her characters (and let’s be real, with her, too).

Off the Record is a story about using your voice and believing in yourself. Josie Wright is a high school student who wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine. This opportunity takes her on a 2 week press tour across the country. While she is interviewing and working on her profile of Marius Canet, she gets close with another cast member, Penny, who drops a bomb of a secret about a famous movie director.

I highly recommend Off the Record. It was ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 for me. And go ahead and pick up Full Disclosure while you’re at it!!

*Thanks to @netgalley for the eARC 😊

I thought that race was going to play a larger role in this book than it actually did. We get nods to racism and sexism but the predatory nature of the film industry really takes center stage about halfway through the plot. Frankly, there's almost too much going on in this novel for any of it to get enough attention.

Our heroin, Josie,, is young, black, and fat, and exactly the YA protagonist we need. Off the Record is a sweet, if at times unrealistic ya romance between a teen prodigy writer and a teen prodigy movie star. 17 year old Josie lands a gig on a Hollywood press tour, and quickly finds herself in over her head, as stars begin telling her their secrets.

I think my only issue with Off the Record is that it was trying to accomplish too many things.

A love story, sister rivalry, the ‘me too’ movement, body issues, ageism, white feminism… and more.

And while all of these sectors are fascinating and Garett discusses each SO well - I almost wish fewer were discussed…so that we could delve into the topic deeper. I felt as though these topics took away from who Josie is as a character. And I really just wanted to know more about who she is, what she thinks about, etc.

Without giving away any spoilers, I became truly invested by the end - around 80% when we find out Marius’ secret. I found this reveal to be BRILLIANT & very representative of our society…

Thank you Knopf Books for Young Readers & NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Josie is an aspiring journalist for whom writing is a means of escape from her own anxiety and problems. She starts as a writer on her blog, but when she wins the contest for Deep Focus Magazine, a very famous magazine she has always wanted to write for, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her.

After convincing her parents, she sets out to travel cities with her elder sister Alice to explore the whole new world out there and what it has in store for her. She is assigned to write a profile on Marius Canet, the boy who takes the living breath out of Josie. He’s everything you find attractive in a person – charming, understanding and a friendly person and regardless of her guard up and the strict no-falling-for-Marius Canet rule, Josie finds herself falling for him. Though her journey as a journalist starts very smoothly, when she tries to manage her anxiety about it all, a sudden revelation to her changes the path in front of her entirely.

Women open up to Josie about the sexual assault they face from a famous director, and that’s when Josie has to make a choice – support these women and fight for them or to not risk her career and let the cycle continue.

This story was so well crafted I was in awe the entire time I read it. Like I always say, I love characters with depth and this story had exactly that. It didn’t let me down even for a moment! The tweets from Josie’s profile were displayed with every new chapter and I really liked that idea. (Also Read: JOSIE IS AN AMAZING PERSON BY DHWANI)

One argument that everyone brings up when people center their conversations around sexual assault is that it happens irrespective of genders. The author mentioned this in the book and highlighted that it does not make the trauma any lesser. All experiences are valid even if they don’t come in the spotlight.

Ah but jokes apart, Josie is such a sweet character I LOVED HER!!!!! I appreciate the fat and anxiety rep BUT THE WAY JOSIE DID IT ALL? IMMACULATE. I liked how the author kept reminding me that none of it was easy to her, and that her emotions were valid. The struggles a fat person has to face were accurately depicted in the book too! Sometimes the emotions were so strong I wanted to dive right into the book and hug Josie. I’m going to protect this warrior all my life!,

Off the Record covers a lot in just over 300 pages and tells an incredibly important story. The #metoo movement is something incredibly relevant in current news and Garrett approaches it in an incredibly digestible way for younger readers. Not only does this book explore sexual harassment and assault within the entertainment industry, but it also voices critical commentary on the idea that there is no threshold for assault, and the trauma involved, to be valid. Additionally, the narration on the representation of a fat POC main character was fantastic and natural - they don't solely define the character but still plays a role in many of her feelings and behaviours.

Beyond these points, this was a little slower-paced than contemporaries that I personally enjoy. And while I loved the friendship depiction between Josie and Penny and the tumultuous sibling dynamic with Josie's sister the romance element felt forced and unnecessary.

Garrett has woven a stunning and incredibly vital story for today's younger generation.