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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I never rate books I haven't finished; instead I put them down and chalk it up to "not for me" or "maybe another time," but oh my god this is SO BAD!!
At first it was just boring and poorly edited, then it became ridiculous and wildly unrealistic (not in a fun romcom way but in a stupid way. Seriously, why would a major national news network spend a month on some reality show wedding for a random associate producer who's only been working there for 2-3 years, and his nobody girlfriend. There's no way that would go viral or even be considered after like 2012.). Also, I'm 70% of the way in and the "romance" is just now starting to appear. I'm fine with slow burns and developing characters and relationships, but the author hasn't even been doing that! She's been spending all this time on a side couple and Abby's friends. And they're not evening compelling or funny or memorable!
This has been a gigantic waste of time. Easily the worst book I've read in recent memory. And I read a lot of mediocre and silly books.
At first it was just boring and poorly edited, then it became ridiculous and wildly unrealistic (not in a fun romcom way but in a stupid way. Seriously, why would a major national news network spend a month on some reality show wedding for a random associate producer who's only been working there for 2-3 years, and his nobody girlfriend. There's no way that would go viral or even be considered after like 2012.). Also, I'm 70% of the way in and the "romance" is just now starting to appear. I'm fine with slow burns and developing characters and relationships, but the author hasn't even been doing that! She's been spending all this time on a side couple and Abby's friends. And they're not evening compelling or funny or memorable!
This has been a gigantic waste of time. Easily the worst book I've read in recent memory. And I read a lot of mediocre and silly books.
"Keep This Off The Record" by Arden Joy is a delightful LGBTQIA+ romance novel, with a fun cast of supporting characters that keeps the reader and engaged even if the two main characters are less than lovable all the time.
Joy explores the complexities of love and attraction in the face of intense rivalry through the eyes of Abby and Freya, two women who have despised each other for a decade, but that now are finding themselves falling in love. This sets the stage for a classic "enemies-to-lovers" plot, as their friends attempt to play matchmakers and uncover the underlying passion that may be hidden beneath their rivalry.
Their encounters are filled with sharp-witted barbs making for an entertaining and tension-filled read. Joy's writing keeps the story fresh and engaging, with alternating points of view providing insight into the emotional worlds of the main characters. The book maintains an excellent pace, ensuring that you'll be hooked from start to finish.
Thank you NetGalley, Arden Joy and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Joy explores the complexities of love and attraction in the face of intense rivalry through the eyes of Abby and Freya, two women who have despised each other for a decade, but that now are finding themselves falling in love. This sets the stage for a classic "enemies-to-lovers" plot, as their friends attempt to play matchmakers and uncover the underlying passion that may be hidden beneath their rivalry.
Their encounters are filled with sharp-witted barbs making for an entertaining and tension-filled read. Joy's writing keeps the story fresh and engaging, with alternating points of view providing insight into the emotional worlds of the main characters. The book maintains an excellent pace, ensuring that you'll be hooked from start to finish.
Thank you NetGalley, Arden Joy and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Great:
I loved the supporting characters in this and the banter in Abby's friend group. Riley and Becca in particular are those hilarious chaotic gremlins in your friend group that you love and are exasperated by. Often in romance books, the friend group dialogue doesn't feel organic and natural (or the jokes funny, to be honest) but this book is the clear exception. Would read more books by the author if they all contain these kinds of supporting cast members (or as Becca and Riley would call themselves, the real main characters of the story).
The Not Great:
The main romance is meant to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but for more than half of the book, not much happens to progress their relationship or the romance. The time is well spent being entertained by the friend group banter but if you go in expecting a focus on the primary pairing, you may be a bit disappointed at how little there is of it for most of the book. Even when they get together, there is a distinct lack of fleshing out of feelings changing or actual interactions between them, relying instead of off-stage development, which doesn't get me invested in that pairing.
Overall:
In summary, laugh out loud hilarious for most of the book and the marketing it as primarily a romance can lead to some disappointment, I feel, but as long as you're prepared for it, it's a delightful ride.
I loved the supporting characters in this and the banter in Abby's friend group. Riley and Becca in particular are those hilarious chaotic gremlins in your friend group that you love and are exasperated by. Often in romance books, the friend group dialogue doesn't feel organic and natural (or the jokes funny, to be honest) but this book is the clear exception. Would read more books by the author if they all contain these kinds of supporting cast members (or as Becca and Riley would call themselves, the real main characters of the story).
The Not Great:
The main romance is meant to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but for more than half of the book, not much happens to progress their relationship or the romance. The time is well spent being entertained by the friend group banter but if you go in expecting a focus on the primary pairing, you may be a bit disappointed at how little there is of it for most of the book. Even when they get together, there is a distinct lack of fleshing out of feelings changing or actual interactions between them, relying instead of off-stage development, which doesn't get me invested in that pairing.
Overall:
In summary, laugh out loud hilarious for most of the book and the marketing it as primarily a romance can lead to some disappointment, I feel, but as long as you're prepared for it, it's a delightful ride.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Stalking
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
KEEP THIS OFF THE RECORD
π°ππππ πΉππ’
January 30, 2024
πππππ’ππππππ:
Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson canβt stand one another.
But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?β¨β¨From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each otherβs throats. Fifteen years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesnβt take more than a few minutes to begin anew.β¨β¨And now Naomi, Abbyβs best friend, is falling for Freyaβs producer and close pal, Will. Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship β except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise β¦ and they canβt seem to avoid seeing one another.β¨β¨Keep This Off The Record is a fun and fresh LGBTQIA+ story about the freedom to be who you are, even if that means falling for the person you hate.
π©΅ ππππππππ:
I adore retelling/adaptations/reimaginings so when I heard this was an adaption of Much Ado About Nothing, one of the most fun Shakespeare plays, I was intrigued. Add to that an enemies to lovers β , sapphic β story with Jewish and non-binary rep as well! β β β
I really enjoyed the banter and wittiness. The found family is really the heart of this story. The friendship and the side characters were quite funny.
There is some sexting and closed door with mentions of sex. Mild levels of spice.
πππΈππ»:
Shakespeare adaptations
LGBTQ rep
Jewish rep
enemies to lovers
HEA
Thank you @booksforwardpr @risingaction @ardenjoy for my review copy.
These thoughts are my own.
π°ππππ πΉππ’
January 30, 2024
πππππ’ππππππ:
Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson canβt stand one another.
But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?β¨β¨From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each otherβs throats. Fifteen years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesnβt take more than a few minutes to begin anew.β¨β¨And now Naomi, Abbyβs best friend, is falling for Freyaβs producer and close pal, Will. Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship β except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise β¦ and they canβt seem to avoid seeing one another.β¨β¨Keep This Off The Record is a fun and fresh LGBTQIA+ story about the freedom to be who you are, even if that means falling for the person you hate.
π©΅ ππππππππ:
I adore retelling/adaptations/reimaginings so when I heard this was an adaption of Much Ado About Nothing, one of the most fun Shakespeare plays, I was intrigued. Add to that an enemies to lovers β , sapphic β story with Jewish and non-binary rep as well! β β β
I really enjoyed the banter and wittiness. The found family is really the heart of this story. The friendship and the side characters were quite funny.
There is some sexting and closed door with mentions of sex. Mild levels of spice.
πππΈππ»:
Shakespeare adaptations
LGBTQ rep
Jewish rep
enemies to lovers
HEA
Thank you @booksforwardpr @risingaction @ardenjoy for my review copy.
These thoughts are my own.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Such a fun read. Great characters, some jokes but also some serious issues that make this book feel real. Love the writing style, very easy to read and yet witty.
I didn't feel the romance between the main characters AT ALL. The supposed subplot (Will and Naomi's love story) has more impact. In fact, it felt like it's their story, not Freya and Abby's. I didn't feel the enemies-to-lovers bit either which I think was supposed to be the main trope of the story.
Besides that, I do find Arden's style of writing quite engaging. It really helped me reach up to the end of the book. I just wished that the problem with Freya wanting to keep her sexuality a secret was expressed even more because that was her big secret but it felt like it was just glossed over and moved on to the next problem and then suddenly everything is okay.
The middle part of the story felt stagnant too. It was hard to read and somehow I found myself skimming through some parts because it was that uninteresting.
π Thank you Netgalley and author for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Besides that, I do find Arden's style of writing quite engaging. It really helped me reach up to the end of the book. I just wished that the problem with Freya wanting to keep her sexuality a secret was expressed even more because that was her big secret but it felt like it was just glossed over and moved on to the next problem and then suddenly everything is okay.
The middle part of the story felt stagnant too. It was hard to read and somehow I found myself skimming through some parts because it was that uninteresting.
π Thank you Netgalley and author for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No