DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

As a debut novel, Off the Air presents an intriguing premise, delving into the fast-paced world of journalism through the eyes of Jolene Garcia, a TV reporter in Phoenix. The insider’s perspective offers authenticity, likely drawn from the author’s own experience in the field. 

However, the narrative is frequently interrupted by extensive explanations of journalism terminology and processes. While informative, these sections can feel overdone and may slow down the pacing for readers already familiar with the industry.

Additionally, the frequent references to real-life politicians and current political events, though aiming to ground the story in reality, sometimes come across as forced. These elements may date the novel to a specific timeframe, potentially making it less relatable to future readers.

It’s evident that the transition from journalist to novelist is a work in progress for Estes. The foundation is solid, and there’s clear potential for compelling storytelling in future works. While this particular story didn’t fully resonate with me, I look forward to seeing how the author’s narrative style evolves in subsequent novels.

I have tried countless times to get through this book and I just cannot finish. Despite multiple attempts, I have not connected with even the main character. There is no depth to this book.

I started this and really liked it. I wanted to read it but ran out of time. So it kind of fell out of my brain. I'm eager to read it at some point though.

Well…I was really not a fan of this one. I’m always determined to keep my reviews honest, but I also like to highlight as many good qualities as I can. So I’ll start with the things I enjoyed.

I really enjoyed the overall plot of the story. There’s a homicide case, and a reporter tries to discover the truth behind it all and be the first to uncover it. The case is especially interesting because the victim is not a likeable person.

I also thought it was cool to see into the world of reporting and journalism. It’s a job I could never do, and this book only confirmed that for me.😅 It’s an intense career.

Unfortunately, I felt the author presented way too many details about the journalism aspect. There were many moments where it almost seemed like a memoir or something. The details didn’t add anything to the story and actually ended up significantly taking away from it. I also really didn’t like the MC, and I felt there was nothing to keep me invested in this read.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

Thank you for an early edition of Off the Air. This was an interesting book with a unique point of view.

I thought this book was going to be a cozy kind of mystery, but I didn't get the vibe I wanted from it.

Jolene is a reporter who is trying to make a name for herself. When a radio personality is discovered dead, she jumps on the story, trying to track down all the details she can in order to break things first. The book follows as she pieces together what happened.

I ended up DNFing shortly after the halfway point. Jolene was reckless and single-minded in a way that didn't really work for me, and the mystery aspect of the story didn't keep me interested enough to keep going. I found myself thinking that I didn't care about the characters or the development of the story.

This one wasn't for me.

I don't have much to say about this one. Love a good murder mystery, but this one was a no.
It included too many facts about journalism (IRL) that it took me out of the story. I found myself skimming a lot. I also don't want a book to include a lot of politics, and this one did. I want a story that reels me in and keeps me hooked, and this one had too many things that made me remember I was reading (and that it was kind of a chore) so this wasn't my cup of tea.

Off the Air is a debut novel by Christina Estes. It begins with Jolene Garcia, Phoenix TV reporter tasks primarily with local breaking news, but prefers in-depth investigative pieces. When a provocative talk show host turns up dead right after she interviews him, Jolene is determined to get to the bottom of his death and break the story.

The author’s own experience as a reporter herself gives her the ability to paint a vivid picture of a TV Newsroom. It gives readers a fun peek behind the scenes while working out the mystery.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Off the Air from Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book, it was not my style SORRRY :(
Interesting premise but not my cup of tea :(

Review for Off The Air by Christina Estes ”

1. Plot Uniqueness : 3/5
2. Pacing and Coherence :” 3/5
3. Emotional and intellectual Engagement : 3/5
4. Twists and turns : 2.5/5
5. Protagonists Character Development : 3/5
6. support character development : 3/5
7. Setting and atmosphere : 3.5/5
8. Chapter Organization : 3.5/5
9. Conclusion and tied loose ends : 3.5/5
10. Overall rating of book : 3/5

This book was a bit all over the place. I felt the author spent far too much time on the history and trivia of the Phoenix metropolitan area and the troubles of modern journalism and social media than they did on the murder mystery. This made the pace feel very slow and inhibited my ability to become invested in the story. By the time we got to the whodunnit (which, by the way, was revealed so easily), I didn't care anymore.

This was so boring. The reporter was so snobby and only thought about herself. The murder mystery quickly turned into a competition of who could report the story first. And she kept saying “not to be rude” but hi, that’s all she was.

Thanks for the opportunity to read a wonderful book
This book was a good page turner I think I finished in half a day. It's funny, thoughtful and a great read. I can't wait for the next book!

"I force a smile, recalling one of the most valuable lessons I picked up waiting tables in college: never piss off the people who handle your food."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for giving me an ARC of Off the Air in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts that follow are my own.

Off the Air follows Jolene Garcia, a news reporter for a local station in Phoenix, Arizona, who is chasing the biggest story of her career: the unexpected death of talk show host, Larry Lemmon. Jolene conducted the final interview with Larry, giving her station an advantage. But not for very long. The news breaks and rival reporters swarm the scene. As Jolene digs deeper into the story and suspicious circumstances Larry died under, she might end up getting a little more than she bargained for.

This book surprised me on so many levels, from the characters to the plotline and everything in between. I enjoyed how the author made me both like and hate Jolene throughout the story because as we all know, sometimes reporters can get relentless and a little heartless. However, Jolene came back from these traits and ended up being fairly likeable by the end of the book. I also enjoyed her relationships with Nate, her photographer, as well as Jim Miranda, the commander of the Special Investigations Unit. Both Nate and Jim helped to drag Jolene back down to Earth when she started to make bad decisions. You could also tell that the author had experience in journalism (even if there wasn't a note at the beginning of the story) which helped to keep me engaged.

The one thing I didn't like about the book was the amount of politics in it. Yes, politics did serve a point in the story however I do think that the author dwelled too much on it at certain times through the story.

Overall, the book was thrilling, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, I would give this book a solid 4 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery!

In reading the synopsis of this book, I was looking forward to getting lost in the story. However, I was sorely disappointed. The characters were not that well developed and the story line just did not pull me in and keep me invested. And, to be honest, having just survived the latest presidential election, there was too much political focus for my taste.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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This book just wasn't for me. I thought the main character was horrible. She had no regard for anyone's feelings around her. I just couldn't. If you like journalism this book is for you.

Off the Air was a little entertaining and a little slow for my taste. Story of a local reporter looking to get the inside story first to further her career, after the death of a big radio personality. I found the main character to be likable and easy to vibe with.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub Date: 28 March 2024

This book has been on my shelf for an embarrassingly long time, but not from lack of trying. I tried to get into it on multiple occasions but it just never held my attention. Finding myself at an airport with a delayed flight seemed like the right time to give it another shot. I read it and finished it but there was very little that I liked about this book.

The characters, one and all, were so unlikable. They whined, they needed, they pleaded, they plotted, they abused, and those were the lesser of the evil types. The relationships between the journalists and just about everyone was despicable and disgusting and it was always about getting the scoop. Journalists got the short end of every personality trait and I will have a hard time unseeing and unthinking all the negative aspects attributed to them. About the idea that we all tune into the media outlets to hear the newsmakers express their opinions - count me out - I am so not interested in what the faces think - just read me the news - what actually happened - and leave me to decide the import.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy.

Unfortunately, after several attempts, this one is just not working for me. I’m not clicking with the characters or the vibes at all.