Off the Record (ARC Book Review)

With this astounding sophomore novel, Camryn Garrett solidifies herself as one of the voices of today’s teens and an author I have no doubt will soon be counted amongst bestsellers like Nic Stone and Elizabeth Acevedo. 

A heatfeltly poignant story, Off the Record is about a talented young writer named Josie who wins a contest and gets the opportunity to create a portfolio on an up-and-coming movie star for her dream publication. But when she stumbles onto a story that’s way out of her league, Josie faces an overwhelming choice: try to publish an impossible piece or turn her back on something terrible that she can’t stomach to ignore. But with her anxiety always lurking around the corner and threatening to get the best of her, the choice only becomes harder and harder to make. 

This novel shows obvious growth from Garret’s previous novel, Full Disclosure, which is saying something when considering all the debut’s strengths. Not unlike Disclosure, Off the Record takes on a host of tough topics, from body image and anxiety to panic attacks, racism, sexual assault, and many others, but with the interesting twist of a romance thrown in to lighten the otherwise hard-hitting novel. Busting at the seams with commentary, it seems impossible that so much can be said in so little time. Yet the complexities make the story even richer and more realistic and were well-handled if a bit too quickly.

At the center of it all, Garrett creates a wonderful young protagonist who will no doubt pull at readers’ heartstrings, especially those like myself. As someone who gave up pursuing a degree in journalism largely because of anxiety, Josie is a character after my own heart and one I desperately wish had been there for me to read about during my college years. She will surely be an inspiration to so many young girls. 

However, as the pessimist I am, I’ll admit that I found the story at times to be a bit too fairytale. Things worked out too well or were too easy for Josie. And people established relationships and trusted in each other a little too easily, especially considering the circumstances. But, overall, these made sense for the scope of the story and the direction of the narrative. Also, considering that we rarely get to see a queer, fat black main character, let alone one that ends up happy, along with the story’s main focus which so rarely works out in the real world, I’m more than down with having an optimistic ending for this one.

I rated Off the Record 4.5 out of 5. Hand this one immediately to the young aspiring writers in your life (being wary of the trigger warnings). 

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

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