Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

[Thanks to NetGalley & the author for providing me with this ARC]

I have very mixed feelings about this because I wanted to like the book so much. The summary sounded great but the book sadly didn’t deliver all that it promised.
Although the banter was funny and made me laugh from time to time, the characters mostly behaved like immature high school students instead of adults in their late twenties. And not in a quirky way, just plain childish and annoying. Their tension never fully developed past the banter and at about 60% I was a little restless to get to the end because it didn’t feel like we were learning anything new about the characters.
Reading the book didn’t feel like I wasted my time but it’s definitely a read once and never again book.

Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity

Queer love ❤️

1.25

Despite being marketed as an enemies to lovers sapphic romance, the relationship between Abby and Freya honestly felt like more of a side plot to the relationship between Naomi and Will. I also really struggled believing that these two were actual adults because their antics felt very immature, and honestly I didn't buy into the relationship at all. Like they only start questioning their "hate" because their friends lie to them both by saying the other is in love with them, and then they continue to antagonize.

I firmly believe that every book has it's audience, I just was not the audience for this particular book.

I thought this would be a fun enemies-to-lovers sapphic rom-com with some Jewish representation, but it just didn’t work for me. The main characters are in their late 20s but they talked and acted like high schoolers. Their behavior was just too juvenile to keep my interest, starting with the opening scene of Abby throwing a drink at Freya at their high school reunion, and followed by Abby’s decision to spy on Naomi while on her first date with Will. After 27%, I decided to DNF this one. “Too many books, too little time.”

The publisher’s blurb does not include this information, but I’ve seen other reviewers mention that this is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Collective for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

It's fitting that the author of Keep This Off the Record has the last name Joy because this book is full of joy! This was a fun enemies-to-lovers story, with LGBTQ+ and Jewish representation. I read it for The Jewish Joy Book Club (in the Jewish Women Talk About Romance Books group) and it was such a great choice! There was even a fun discussion with the author.

This novel was inspired by Much Ado About Nothing, which I know nothing about, so it was full of surprises for me. There was a level of playfulness throughout, which I enjoyed. She also touches on a serious topic involving one of the supporting characters and I'm glad that was explored and given some weight. (Trigger warning below.)

I really liked all the supporting characters in this novel. Their interactions with the main characters and their own parts in the story were so entertaining. I'm glad to know that one of the supporting characters will be featured in Arden's next novel.

My only concern is that the romance between the main characters felt a bit rushed compared to everything else that was going on. There wasn't as much time to explore it while focusing on the drama that was happening.

I look forward to reading more by Arden Joy in the near future!

Movie casting suggestions:
Abigail: Alison Brie
Freya: Ali Liebert
Naomi: Kat Dennings
Becca: Hanna Stein
Will: Ben Feldman
Riley: Ruby Rose
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TW: Domestic abuse (happened to a supporting character in the past, but the perpetrator is still around)

bigqueerbookclubpod
Title: Keep This Off The Record
Author: Arden Joy @ardenjoy
Summary: Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson can’t stand one another. But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?
From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each other’s throats. Ten years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesn’t take more than a few minutes to begin anew.
And now Naomi, Abby’s best friend, is falling for Freya’s producer and close pal, Will. Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship—except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise … and they can’t seem to avoid seeing one another.
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.

Copy provided by @netgalley in exchange for honest review.
Likes: An adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing! Love the Jewish representation. Side characters are a big part of the story.
Dislikes: Lacking character development and not much background on their high school history which is the root of their dislike for each other.
#keepthisofftherecord #wlw #NetGalley #LGBT #LGBTQ #lesfic #FF #books #queerbookstagram #lesbianromance #lesbianfiction #enemiestolovers #romance

I honestly hated everyone in this book and wanted to throw my Kindle across the room while I was reading it.

Great story and loved the banter between the characters, lots of funny parts all through out. I think it also covered some important topics that happen right now in our world.

This would have been one of my very favourite books of the year if the blurb had said it's a contemporary retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. I wish I'd known before I read it, because while this story doesn't deliver the sapphic romance promised by the blurb, it's a masterpiece in reinterpreting a classic story and even improves on the original story. Shakespeare nerds, get on it.

The book starts off slow but does pick up. It's about 3/4 of the way through the book before you figure out who the story is about. I love how the cast of friends is diverse and makes a point to use the correct pronouns. Sometimes you need loose the love of your life to understand what is really important. All in all, this was a cute book about finding love.

An enemies to lovers romance. Freya Jonsson and Abby Meyer were archnemesis in high school. They met again at a reunion and things didn’t go too well. But now, they are forced to interact frequently as Abby’s friend (Naomi) is dating Freya’s associate producer (Will).

This is my favourite trope. However, I found this book quite hard to get into initially. It was a rather slow in the beginning in trying to see why the 2 main characters would eventually like each other. The later half of the book picked up and was a lot better. The romance (when it eventually happened) between Freya and Abby was great but a long time coming. The 2MCs are easy to like people.

And what I also liked is that this book is about friendships. It gives us glimpses of Freya and Will’s friendship as well as Abby and Naomi’s (and Riley’s and Becca’s) friendship. I also enjoyed the romance between Naomi and Will. And the book was also funny…there were a few laugh out loud moments.

So if you are picking up this book, hang in there, it gets better. It is a rather sweet read. Love the ending!

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐

This was a good read. It was quick and easy to read, with laughable characters and an alright storyline.

The premise of the book really was about the wedding, and how relevant social media is these days, and how friends can make people change their minds about a person when they over hear lies.

The only time it had made heart beat go up was the bit at the end that Naomi and Abby found in the apartment, but besides from that it was an ok sapphic read.

Queer rep was good with lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, non binary, sex positive but no spicy scenes.

Thanks to netgalley and Rising Action Publishing Co for a copy of the ebook.

This book is hilarious and witty. There is great banter and colorful side characters. For me Abby and Freya’s love story was a bit underdeveloped, didn’t really feel like we got enough of them interacting as adults and being “enemies” before jumping into the lovers part. It felt like the side characters got more time than the love story did. But if you don’t mind more of a romantic subplot with a friendship focus for the main plot this is a great book.

This was a dnf unfortunately. I got to 50% and more development was happening with the side characters than with the two main characters. The "romance plot" has barely been touched, and the reason these two hate each other all comes down to stupid high school drama and jealousy. I won't be finishing this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book but I felt that there was little chemistry between the two main characters. However this was a fast pace romance that really helped me get out of my reading slump and is a good easy read.

- If you love a fast-paced romcom, I’d like to recommend KEEP THIS OFF THE RECORD. This book is witty and drama-filled and has a little bit of a whodunit element to it as well. It’s plot heavy, which balances out the slow burn closed door romance.
- Abby and Freya are a good example of romance characters who throw out biting comments at each other, but are still willing to consider they might have misjudged the other.
- The secondary characters unfortunately felt a bit one note to me, though it was still a lovely found family group and I’m sure I would enjoy books centered around them.

On the lookout for a new author/easy read, the book cover and blurb looked good so I took a chance.
You know, high school rivalry, high school reunion, best friends, ultimate happiness, etc. - Abigail/Abby and Freya reconnecting at the Reunion - it all looked promising. Then things started to bog down as I read. The back and forth, meddling friends became too much. I wanted more of the lead characters, the background, what made them tick. I got lots of friends stuff and it's a pity the hate to love was so speedy. No build-up. This is MHO but I'm sure the book may appeal to other readers.
Ultimately this is 2.5 stars upgraded to 3 stars to encourage the author.

KEEP THIS OFF THE RECORD
𝙰𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚢
January 30, 2024

🙄👀😘𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜:
Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson can’t stand one another.
But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?

From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each other’s throats. Fifteen years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesn’t take more than a few minutes to begin anew.

And now Naomi, Abby’s best friend, is falling for Freya’s producer and close pal, Will. Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship – except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise … and they can’t seem to avoid seeing one another.

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.

🩵 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
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 ✅, sapphic ✅ story with Jewish and non-binary rep as well! ✅✅✅
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.

💜𝚁𝙸𝚈𝙻:
Shakespeare adaptations
LGBTQ rep
Jewish rep
enemies to lovers
HEA


Thank you @booksforwardpr @risingaction @ardenjoy for my review copy.
These thoughts are my own.

3 stars. This was a fun quick read about a F/F enemies to lovers romance.

- Enjoyable witty banter between the characters
- Good queer representation
- An adorable side character love story
- Stalker trigger warning
- Verrrry mild on the spice

Naomi and Will’s romance though cute, tended to overshadow the one between Freya and Abby for me. It drew much of the focus, which was a little disappointing. I would have liked to see the romance and connection between the two main characters develop a little more. I also typically prefer a little more spice in my romances, but I still enjoyed this one, cute read.