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A review by inkdrinkers
Scandalized by Ivy Owens
emotional
funny
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
This book was obscenely amazing.
Gigi is about to make her biggest career move yet as a journalist - breaking an assault story wide open about one of London's biggest clubs, but when an airplane mishap lands her in a hotel, desperate to find a room for the night, she happens to run into an old friend. Alec Kim knew Gigi when she was his little sister's best friend, but he's a high profile actor now and is shocked to learn that Gigi doesn't actually recognize him for his work, only from their past.
This book grabbed me by the collar and just drug me along for the ride. I don't know what else to say about Scandalized except it hit every single marker I have that makes a book perfect for me. Gigi as a main character was one of my favorite things, she's scrappy, she has teeth, and she's a damn good journalist. The journalistic thread through the plot of this novel... I don't think I've read another book that does it genuinely as good as this one does. I felt at home in the words, the nuances that Owens threaded through the plot made me stop and question if she had a journalistic background because the insights are only things journalists would know. Regardless, it merged the open and outward facing press industry with the private - crafting a story that not only made fantastic commentary on the male-run press world, but one that stood on two legs and called it out for how dog-eat-dog social media has made the career and field.
I have to talk about the fact this is a brother's best friend / celebrity romance. I adore a good celebrity romance, key word being good. Celebrity romances fall into two categories for me, the first is some feel like they've been ripped straight from the "real person fic" tag on AO3 and the second, being, the celebrity romances that actually take time to craft the celebrity as a real character with emotions, desires, and a purpose. Owens absolutely nailed the second one, making Alec a wonderfully faceted character with a lot of love for his job as an actor, but very self-aware at how quickly it can all crash and burn. Again, she had some amazing commentary on how dumpster-fire social media can get with anyone, but especially celebrities that blip in and out of being loved or hated.
When I reached the 80% mark, I just didn't want this book to end. I saw where the story was going and I couldn't look away. Without giving spoilers, everything felt so devastatingly accurate, but still wrapped up with such a satisfying ending that I can't even crave more from these two characters. They're easily one of my favorite book couples I've read about in a really long time and I just hope and pray and beg that Ivy Owens continues to write passion projects like this one - because they're incredible, and I'm selfish and I want more.
I laughed, I got choked up, I had to fan myself a little bit - Scandalized had it all and I adored every, damn, second.
Content warnings are listed below: sexual content, mentions but no description of sexual assault / rape
Gigi is about to make her biggest career move yet as a journalist - breaking an assault story wide open about one of London's biggest clubs, but when an airplane mishap lands her in a hotel, desperate to find a room for the night, she happens to run into an old friend. Alec Kim knew Gigi when she was his little sister's best friend, but he's a high profile actor now and is shocked to learn that Gigi doesn't actually recognize him for his work, only from their past.
This book grabbed me by the collar and just drug me along for the ride. I don't know what else to say about Scandalized except it hit every single marker I have that makes a book perfect for me. Gigi as a main character was one of my favorite things, she's scrappy, she has teeth, and she's a damn good journalist. The journalistic thread through the plot of this novel... I don't think I've read another book that does it genuinely as good as this one does. I felt at home in the words, the nuances that Owens threaded through the plot made me stop and question if she had a journalistic background because the insights are only things journalists would know. Regardless, it merged the open and outward facing press industry with the private - crafting a story that not only made fantastic commentary on the male-run press world, but one that stood on two legs and called it out for how dog-eat-dog social media has made the career and field.
I have to talk about the fact this is a brother's best friend / celebrity romance. I adore a good celebrity romance, key word being good. Celebrity romances fall into two categories for me, the first is some feel like they've been ripped straight from the "real person fic" tag on AO3 and the second, being, the celebrity romances that actually take time to craft the celebrity as a real character with emotions, desires, and a purpose. Owens absolutely nailed the second one, making Alec a wonderfully faceted character with a lot of love for his job as an actor, but very self-aware at how quickly it can all crash and burn. Again, she had some amazing commentary on how dumpster-fire social media can get with anyone, but especially celebrities that blip in and out of being loved or hated.
When I reached the 80% mark, I just didn't want this book to end. I saw where the story was going and I couldn't look away. Without giving spoilers, everything felt so devastatingly accurate, but still wrapped up with such a satisfying ending that I can't even crave more from these two characters. They're easily one of my favorite book couples I've read about in a really long time and I just hope and pray and beg that Ivy Owens continues to write passion projects like this one - because they're incredible, and I'm selfish and I want more.
I laughed, I got choked up, I had to fan myself a little bit - Scandalized had it all and I adored every, damn, second.
Content warnings are listed below: sexual content, mentions but no description of sexual assault / rape
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Content: A large portion of this book focuses on the main character, Gigi, as she breaks a news story revolving around sexual assault in one of London's largest clubs. She discusses the assaults with her colleague. A side character comes forward as a survivor.
Alex and Gigi have consensual sex multiple times in the book and it's described in detail.