Off The Record

by S.L. Gray

Ruby Scott paints murals. Devan Graves lives and breathes music. They should be living in two different worlds—but when a chance encounter brings them together, Devan decides he wants one her. Too bad Ruby thinks musicians are trouble.

Devan’s determined to prove her wrong, and he’s willing to play the long game. Invites to shows, late-night texts, and stolen moments make it hard for Ruby to resist. She has to decide if falling for him is worth the risk. Because with Devan? There’s no backing out.

Perfect for fans of contemporary slow burn, he falls first, and opposites attract romance!

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

I’m S.L. Gray, an indie author from the pacific northwest. I write books for readers who love smut, vibes, and just enough trouble to keep things interesting.You can find me on Instagram + Threads @authorslgray

Reviews

[MorallyDarkReadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ 1/5

Off The Record was such a sweet surprise for me. I usually live in my dark romance cave but this book grabbed me right away and would not let go. It felt warm and easy and honestly just made me smile like an idiot. Ruby and Devan were adorable and I loved how their connection grew without either of them losing who they were. It felt supportive and real and just… soft.

The story was fun and cute and kept my attention the whole time. I loved watching Ruby shine in her art and Devan cheering her on like her biggest fan. And that music video moment had me actually kicking my feet because it was so precious. He saw her talent and wanted the world to see it too. That man was gone for her.

Spice wise this is super mild so do not go in expecting heat. It’s very sweet and romance centered and honestly that works so well for this story.

If you want something light and lovely that makes your heart feel full, this is such a good pick. I would absolutely read more from S.L. Gray after this. My dark romance heart even melted a little.

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual style or tropes at all but I enjoy the author social media and decided to give it a try

The playlist suggestion was awesome so we were already off to a great start. I love that both the MMC and FMC were encouraged to follow their own passions and grow as their own humans not just absorbed into each other. He was truly proud of her potential and encouraged her to follow her passions.

Plus while I am a bit of a grinch seeing a HEA that didn’t immediately result in marriage and babies was excellent. This is such a huge point for me. A woman’s HEA isn’t always about that traditional ending, Rubys art is flourishing she only takes a month off to tour instead of dropping her whole life. Brava

The characters are certainly young adults but you got a good view into some of the back story not as much for Ruby but you still felt very connected to her.

Normally I like much darker stories but this was very cute and well done.

[Richel Short · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Off The Record not my normal read (dark romance) this was a breath of fresh air! I think this is a very cute and funny read. The characters were fabulous. I love how Devan was always so passionate about Rubys art and even kept encouraging her to make them her own even more so with her signature. How he wrote a song and then wanted her art in the music video😭 that was so sweet and I would literally die if someone did that to me! That man loved her from the second he laid eyes on her! I still cannot get over Devan and Rubys banter. They remind me a lot of me and my husband, always telling each other we hate them and to shut up but never meaning it.

[Emily Fallow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved the authentic speech from Devan - though I am old and it took me a few minutes to figure out some slang lol. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, and the way they didn't just fall in love from the get go. While there was a few parts where the dialogue was a bit repetitive, overall it didn't take away from the book. The spice was perfect.

Definitely a recommended read!

[Morgan Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the books premise, and both of the characters. I think that they were both extremely relatable was the rapping sometimes a little cringe? yes, but that made me love the book even more because it was real, and there wasn’t an immediate happily ever after.

Ruby‘s character has a lot of depth and I wish we would’ve gotten a little bit more into her backstory of why she acts the way she does but overall it was so cute and I loved it!

[H. Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED! Off The Record grabbed my attention with the first page. It was not my typical read, but S.L Gray has outdone herself with this one. The characters were flawless, the storyline was amazing, and I will be buying this in paperback! If you're looking for a book that will keep you turning the pages and begging for more, READ THIS! I recommend anything written by S.L Gray.

[Karin Voges · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book. Read it in 24 ish hours. Loved the flow of the story and how down bad he is for the girl from that first moment. Kinda interested in seeing the rest of group have there moments

[Jasmyne Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every world and I can’t wait for book 2!!!