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Off the Record
Jane Marlow is a true-blue good plain, predictable, and perfectly responsible. But when her brother catches an episode of Music One's "Off the Record," he discovers that former pop sensation Teddy Rock is actually their childhood neighbor Theodore Brockford, and that his one-hit wonder twelve years earlier wasn't just a catchy tune that took the charts by storm-it was a song about Jane Marlow! Now Jane has a chance to live life off the record, but is she ready for the changes it brings? And even if she's willing to take the risk, is she willing to face the music?
248 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2005
3 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer O'Connell
20 books36 followersPublished teen fiction under the name Jenny O'Connell.
Although she's written about a reality dating show, a prescient pastry chef, and a woman who inspired an 80's rock hit, Jennifer has not spent hours dissecting The Bachelor, she can barely follow the directions on the back of a Betty Crocker box, and she can only dream of a long-haired, guitar-thrashing rocker even giving her a second glance.
While she cringes at the thought of being called Jenny again after all these years, her first teen book PLAN B, was published under Jenny O'Connell by MTV Books (March 2006). Jenny's second teen book, THE BOOK OF LUKE, arrived in April 2007, and her Martha’s Vineyard Novels, LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS, were published in June 2008.
Her days as a high school senior may be long behind her, but Jennifer did receive her B.A. from Smith College and her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
You can e-mail Jennifer at jennifer@jenniferoconnell.com.
Although she's written about a reality dating show, a prescient pastry chef, and a woman who inspired an 80's rock hit, Jennifer has not spent hours dissecting The Bachelor, she can barely follow the directions on the back of a Betty Crocker box, and she can only dream of a long-haired, guitar-thrashing rocker even giving her a second glance.
While she cringes at the thought of being called Jenny again after all these years, her first teen book PLAN B, was published under Jenny O'Connell by MTV Books (March 2006). Jenny's second teen book, THE BOOK OF LUKE, arrived in April 2007, and her Martha’s Vineyard Novels, LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS, were published in June 2008.
Her days as a high school senior may be long behind her, but Jennifer did receive her B.A. from Smith College and her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
You can e-mail Jennifer at jennifer@jenniferoconnell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 22, 2011
Book One of the Heather, Stephanie, Jodie bi-monthly 2011 bookclub!!
I was not sure if I was going to like this one or not, but it was a good, quick read. It is a great chic lit read. Just the right amount of funny with equal parts sarcasm and reality. I like the format and the character development. An enjoyable read.
I was not sure if I was going to like this one or not, but it was a good, quick read. It is a great chic lit read. Just the right amount of funny with equal parts sarcasm and reality. I like the format and the character development. An enjoyable read.
July 21, 2024
Off The Record by Jennifer O’Connell has been on my shelves for quite a long time. It was published in 2005, but I bought it used sometime later.
I would say this book is more women’s fiction or chick lit. The story focuses mostly on a woman reexamining her life and deciding to possibly take a different path.
Jane Marlow is an estates/trusts attorney who is working hard to make partner at a Chicago law firm. She’s a serious person who stepped in as a teen when her father unexpectedly died to make sure her family didn’t fall apart. Since then, her mother has remarried but her younger brother is still the goofball he’s always been, working at a bar owned by an old friend of their father’s. One of Jane’s biggest clients, an older woman who runs her family’s lucrative foundation, is being sued by her granddaughter for mismanagement of their money. As a result a hotshot trial attorney, who used to work in their Chicago offices, is called in from New York City. Jane is immediately wary of what this means for her partnership as any slip-up in her legal oversight might mean she won’t make partner.
In the meantime, Jane’s irresponsible brother contacts Jane after watching a TV show called, Off the Record, which features updates and “where are they now” stories on pop and rock stars. Growing up, a kid that lived in their neighborhood became a big rockstar thirteen years previously, with a breakout hit called, Janey 245. No one has ever been able to figure out who the song is based on. However, the fact that Jane and Andy knew this kid - now named Teddy Rock - and that they lived at 245 on the same street, Jane’s brother, Andy, thinks the girl Teddy based the song on is her, despite the fact that they were mere tweens at the time, and the song is quite sexy.
Initially, Jane thinks Andy’s supposition is preposterous, although the thought becomes more and more appealing to her in contrast to her buttoned-up lifestyle. Unbeknownst to her, Andy reaches out to a local radio station about his sister, especially since the bar he works at is losing money and needs a boost. He proposes that they come to the bar and feature Janey on their broadcast. Andy tricks Jane into coming to the bar and being on the radio, and soon fans of Teddy’s as well as Teddy’s new PR Agent is focused on how this revelation might benefit him and reinvigorate his flagging career.
Just reviewing this plot makes my head spin. Jane was right to think it silly that she was the subject of Teddy’s song. Since she’s allegedly a smart, level-headed lawyer, you would’ve thought she would’ve quickly dispensed with the whole thing. But, that would make this story very short indeed. Instead, she lets herself fantasize about it and goes along with Teddy and Teddy’s agent’s promo plans. The book also follows Jane’s interactions with Drew, the New York attorney, who seems interested in her. The reader might be expecting a story where Jane chooses between the two men, but nothing much happens romantically with either of them through most of the book, other then some dates. This story is more about how Jane sees herself and the person she’s become. Although Drew is the more appealing option for her, Teddy stays in the mix for quite a while despite his motives and intentions being suspect. I think I would’ve given this a higher grade if Jane had been more skeptical all along. Instead, things drag out and only at the very end do we see her finally confronting Teddy and making the changes in her life she clearly wanted all along. Loose ends were tied up very quickly. I would give this a B-.
I would say this book is more women’s fiction or chick lit. The story focuses mostly on a woman reexamining her life and deciding to possibly take a different path.
Jane Marlow is an estates/trusts attorney who is working hard to make partner at a Chicago law firm. She’s a serious person who stepped in as a teen when her father unexpectedly died to make sure her family didn’t fall apart. Since then, her mother has remarried but her younger brother is still the goofball he’s always been, working at a bar owned by an old friend of their father’s. One of Jane’s biggest clients, an older woman who runs her family’s lucrative foundation, is being sued by her granddaughter for mismanagement of their money. As a result a hotshot trial attorney, who used to work in their Chicago offices, is called in from New York City. Jane is immediately wary of what this means for her partnership as any slip-up in her legal oversight might mean she won’t make partner.
In the meantime, Jane’s irresponsible brother contacts Jane after watching a TV show called, Off the Record, which features updates and “where are they now” stories on pop and rock stars. Growing up, a kid that lived in their neighborhood became a big rockstar thirteen years previously, with a breakout hit called, Janey 245. No one has ever been able to figure out who the song is based on. However, the fact that Jane and Andy knew this kid - now named Teddy Rock - and that they lived at 245 on the same street, Jane’s brother, Andy, thinks the girl Teddy based the song on is her, despite the fact that they were mere tweens at the time, and the song is quite sexy.
Initially, Jane thinks Andy’s supposition is preposterous, although the thought becomes more and more appealing to her in contrast to her buttoned-up lifestyle. Unbeknownst to her, Andy reaches out to a local radio station about his sister, especially since the bar he works at is losing money and needs a boost. He proposes that they come to the bar and feature Janey on their broadcast. Andy tricks Jane into coming to the bar and being on the radio, and soon fans of Teddy’s as well as Teddy’s new PR Agent is focused on how this revelation might benefit him and reinvigorate his flagging career.
Just reviewing this plot makes my head spin. Jane was right to think it silly that she was the subject of Teddy’s song. Since she’s allegedly a smart, level-headed lawyer, you would’ve thought she would’ve quickly dispensed with the whole thing. But, that would make this story very short indeed. Instead, she lets herself fantasize about it and goes along with Teddy and Teddy’s agent’s promo plans. The book also follows Jane’s interactions with Drew, the New York attorney, who seems interested in her. The reader might be expecting a story where Jane chooses between the two men, but nothing much happens romantically with either of them through most of the book, other then some dates. This story is more about how Jane sees herself and the person she’s become. Although Drew is the more appealing option for her, Teddy stays in the mix for quite a while despite his motives and intentions being suspect. I think I would’ve given this a higher grade if Jane had been more skeptical all along. Instead, things drag out and only at the very end do we see her finally confronting Teddy and making the changes in her life she clearly wanted all along. Loose ends were tied up very quickly. I would give this a B-.
June 17, 2024
Funny, poignant, and filled with interesting characters. Jane still feels mixed grief and anger toward her deceased father who left his family in poor financial shape, but that hasn't stopped her from following in his footsteps and earning a law degree. She's very close to becoming a partner at the firm where she works when her irresponsible older brother throws her a curve. Back when they were kids, there was a nerdy, loner boy who lived nearby. He went on to have a brief but spectacular music career as Teddy Rock with a hit song called 'Janey 245'. Brother Andy is convinced the song was written about Jane, in part because their house number was 245 back then.
Jane doesn't believe it. She lives a very controlled life that has no room for romance, rock stars, or fun. Andy blows all that out of the water in a spectacular way that not only has Jane secretly thinking of herself as Janie 245, but beginning to realize her tightly scripted life is pretty pathetic. Add in another attorney at the firm who starts getting under her skin, two best friends who know she needs a kick in the pants, a reunion of sorts with Teddy Rock, and you have quite the fun read.
Jane doesn't believe it. She lives a very controlled life that has no room for romance, rock stars, or fun. Andy blows all that out of the water in a spectacular way that not only has Jane secretly thinking of herself as Janie 245, but beginning to realize her tightly scripted life is pretty pathetic. Add in another attorney at the firm who starts getting under her skin, two best friends who know she needs a kick in the pants, a reunion of sorts with Teddy Rock, and you have quite the fun read.
Read
April 16, 2020A buttoned up lawyer hears that she was the inspiration for a massively popular one hit wonder song, and begins to reconsider her whole life, and starts playing around with the rock star image. Pretty fun book.
July 10, 2011
If I were 7-10 years younger I probably would have given this five stars. The fact is, it's not that bad of a book. I found some typos in the copy I read which irks me to no end; I remember a time when books would not even get published if they were anything less than grammatically perfect, but I guess that's what happens when you let the uneducated masses out into the world employed as adults in jobs that come with big decision-making. Such as, whether or not to release a book because it's got a few typos. So that brought my review down as well. The first novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series was riddled with typos; luckily, the story was exciting and alluring and otherwise well-written. I couldn't help noticing though. And I'm not even one of those who is snobby about spelling and grammar. But a novel should never be published - ever - with anything less than perfection. Conversation, emails, and text messages are another story entirely.
Alright, enough of the rant, on to the review. Short version: it was a good book, although I was rather put off by some of the more adolescent details of the writing, but like I said, 7-10 years ago those details would have seemed much more relevant and important to me. There were times I laughed out loud, or found myself cheering for the main character, Jane Marlow. The twist towards the end of the book did not come a moment too soon. I'm still on the fence about the ending. It wasn't too terrible when I read it, but now that I've slept on it it seems kind of lame to me.
Some of the details had me scratching my head, like, is this really what a lawyer would do? I wonder. I don't know any lawyers, but I suppose they're human too. Somehow I don't think they are as given to adolescent conventions as the lawyer in this book, but I can't be sure.
Either way, it was an enjoyable read, it definitely was a page-turner albeit not the earth-shattering experience I've had with other page-turners. The story fed my curiosity for wanting to know what Jane/"Janey" would do next. I could have done without some of the vulgarity, but that's just me. I'm not a fan of vulgarity and I believe most people who would read this book probably wouldn't notice or wouldn't mind the way I did.
Final thought: you won't miss out on anything if you don't read this book, but it is enjoyable and I liked the plot twist toward the end. I did not see it coming at all, and for that alone it's worth reading, but there are many enjoyable moments throughout.
Alright, enough of the rant, on to the review. Short version: it was a good book, although I was rather put off by some of the more adolescent details of the writing, but like I said, 7-10 years ago those details would have seemed much more relevant and important to me. There were times I laughed out loud, or found myself cheering for the main character, Jane Marlow. The twist towards the end of the book did not come a moment too soon. I'm still on the fence about the ending. It wasn't too terrible when I read it, but now that I've slept on it it seems kind of lame to me.
Some of the details had me scratching my head, like, is this really what a lawyer would do? I wonder. I don't know any lawyers, but I suppose they're human too. Somehow I don't think they are as given to adolescent conventions as the lawyer in this book, but I can't be sure.
Either way, it was an enjoyable read, it definitely was a page-turner albeit not the earth-shattering experience I've had with other page-turners. The story fed my curiosity for wanting to know what Jane/"Janey" would do next. I could have done without some of the vulgarity, but that's just me. I'm not a fan of vulgarity and I believe most people who would read this book probably wouldn't notice or wouldn't mind the way I did.
Final thought: you won't miss out on anything if you don't read this book, but it is enjoyable and I liked the plot twist toward the end. I did not see it coming at all, and for that alone it's worth reading, but there are many enjoyable moments throughout.
April 23, 2010
Jane Marlow is a buttoned-up Chicago attorney up for partnership’s evaluation at her law firm. In her effort to get ahead she has neglected all the other areas of her life: family, friends and especially romance.
Differently from other reviews I read I don’t think this book focuses on corporate culture or pop culture. The book opens with a swedish proverb “Those who wish to sing always find a song“, truer words were never spoken, Off The Record is about finding your inner voice and give yourself a chance for happiness.
I could fully relate to Jane, plain, efficient, hard working, problem solver, high-achieving, obsessive:
“you believe there actually is a right way to hang toilet paper and take it upon yourself to remove and rearrange any non-complying rolls, and that bartender brother of yours who’s still in bed at two in the afternoon probably wonders how his conscientious sister even shares the same gene pool.”
and I found her character amusing, well developed and delightful: her boss looks at her and what he sees is an accessorized van (you push the right bottom and the job gets done) and Drew, a firm’s partner who is temporarily in Chicago to help her on a case, doesn’t even attempt casual conversation (and he has quite a reputation with ladies) .
Jane is fully conscious of the way people see her and more and more she finds herself challenging herself and surprising Drew in the process. Needless to say Drew is adorable, I actually doubt that there are those kinds of executives out there.
Each chapter opens with an article about rocker Teddy Rock (aka Theodore Brockford, an old neighbor) and his 1989 hit song Janey 245, a Janey that Jane’s brother Andy finally realizes is about her.
Teddy sings about wanton thighs and ruby lips, that’s not exactly Jane today, but will Jane give herself permission to be Janey?
I like the way Jennifer doesn’t describe characters (very little physical details and no expressions such as “dark, broad and sexy”) she builds them through the story , I got really fond of them and their interactions.
I would surely recommend this book, it’s very light but really entertaining, smart and full of witty observations. The fact that the storyline is predictable didn’t bother me at all as this is a very engaging read.
From the start this book is a keeper, and the ending was absolutely perfect.
Differently from other reviews I read I don’t think this book focuses on corporate culture or pop culture. The book opens with a swedish proverb “Those who wish to sing always find a song“, truer words were never spoken, Off The Record is about finding your inner voice and give yourself a chance for happiness.
I could fully relate to Jane, plain, efficient, hard working, problem solver, high-achieving, obsessive:
“you believe there actually is a right way to hang toilet paper and take it upon yourself to remove and rearrange any non-complying rolls, and that bartender brother of yours who’s still in bed at two in the afternoon probably wonders how his conscientious sister even shares the same gene pool.”
and I found her character amusing, well developed and delightful: her boss looks at her and what he sees is an accessorized van (you push the right bottom and the job gets done) and Drew, a firm’s partner who is temporarily in Chicago to help her on a case, doesn’t even attempt casual conversation (and he has quite a reputation with ladies) .
Jane is fully conscious of the way people see her and more and more she finds herself challenging herself and surprising Drew in the process. Needless to say Drew is adorable, I actually doubt that there are those kinds of executives out there.
Each chapter opens with an article about rocker Teddy Rock (aka Theodore Brockford, an old neighbor) and his 1989 hit song Janey 245, a Janey that Jane’s brother Andy finally realizes is about her.
Teddy sings about wanton thighs and ruby lips, that’s not exactly Jane today, but will Jane give herself permission to be Janey?
I like the way Jennifer doesn’t describe characters (very little physical details and no expressions such as “dark, broad and sexy”) she builds them through the story , I got really fond of them and their interactions.
I would surely recommend this book, it’s very light but really entertaining, smart and full of witty observations. The fact that the storyline is predictable didn’t bother me at all as this is a very engaging read.
From the start this book is a keeper, and the ending was absolutely perfect.
March 29, 2010
Chick-lit isn't really my genre, so I didn't know what to really expect going into Off the Record. A romcom plot, apparently, minus the comedy part.
A novel about straight-laced lawyer finding out she was the inspiration for a one-hit-wonder's crooning about her 'wanton thighs' could have used a suffusion of good humor or at least a sense of delightful absurdity. Instead it seemed to suffer the same stick-in-the-mud mentality of its heroine, Jane. I suppose it is a little absurd in its attempts to portray Jane as a unhappy personality shaped by the death of her father.
And yet it doesn't even seem to commit to portraying a this-is-your-life, transformative event. There seems an almost underlying cynicism to the plot motions all the characters go through. It's hidden under a barrage of pop culture references (and believe me, the book namechecks everything under the sun: Elmo, Prada, Wrigley Field, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doritos... to a point it seems the author mistakes then for character definition). But under all that, it's almost noncommittal to its own storyline, especially visible in how detached the characters are from showing real emotional affect.
Off the Record is a quick enough read if you go in with small expectations. I found it altogether inoffensive- 'merely' suffering from very low ambitions. Rating: 1.5 stars
A novel about straight-laced lawyer finding out she was the inspiration for a one-hit-wonder's crooning about her 'wanton thighs' could have used a suffusion of good humor or at least a sense of delightful absurdity. Instead it seemed to suffer the same stick-in-the-mud mentality of its heroine, Jane. I suppose it is a little absurd in its attempts to portray Jane as a unhappy personality shaped by the death of her father.
And yet it doesn't even seem to commit to portraying a this-is-your-life, transformative event. There seems an almost underlying cynicism to the plot motions all the characters go through. It's hidden under a barrage of pop culture references (and believe me, the book namechecks everything under the sun: Elmo, Prada, Wrigley Field, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doritos... to a point it seems the author mistakes then for character definition). But under all that, it's almost noncommittal to its own storyline, especially visible in how detached the characters are from showing real emotional affect.
Off the Record is a quick enough read if you go in with small expectations. I found it altogether inoffensive- 'merely' suffering from very low ambitions. Rating: 1.5 stars
March 28, 2012
On the surface, an enjoyable chick-lit story about a staid, dependable woman discovering her wild side. Beneath the surface—not much else. But this is an enjoyable romp and a light-hearted read about finding out how much fun it can be to kick off the traces every now and then. We, too, can live vicariously through this fun-filled ride as Jane Marlow, aka Janey 245, learns how to balance being a party girl with being the responsible one in the family.
If there was one thing that irked me, it was how Jane seemed inordinately eager to please and impress those around her. Whether it was the reputed office bad boy, a has-been rocker desperate for a comeback or two little boys who threw salt in each other’s hair, she wanted to confound their bad opinions of her and show that she’s not so plain. Rather sad, that. She finally pulls herself together in the last couple of chapters and the ending wasn’t what I expected. But it’s a day-late-and-a-dollar-short as far as I’m concerned.
Even if it’s not a powerful defense of how important hard-working women can be, it’s an easy read all the same.
If there was one thing that irked me, it was how Jane seemed inordinately eager to please and impress those around her. Whether it was the reputed office bad boy, a has-been rocker desperate for a comeback or two little boys who threw salt in each other’s hair, she wanted to confound their bad opinions of her and show that she’s not so plain. Rather sad, that. She finally pulls herself together in the last couple of chapters and the ending wasn’t what I expected. But it’s a day-late-and-a-dollar-short as far as I’m concerned.
Even if it’s not a powerful defense of how important hard-working women can be, it’s an easy read all the same.
April 18, 2008
The book was made up of several phrases repeated over and over again. I wanted to stop reading the train wreck, but for some obscure reason kept on. A no nonsense trust lawyer comes to believe she is the woman in a very famous song, written by her former neighbor (one she barely knew then).
It follows as she relives her past and tries to change her future. "Janey" awakening to her crap life is too predictable, the plot is pounded into the ground, and I knew the outcome after a couple pages. I'm annoyed that the author merely repeated herself for 248 pages, and I wasted my time reading it.
It follows as she relives her past and tries to change her future. "Janey" awakening to her crap life is too predictable, the plot is pounded into the ground, and I knew the outcome after a couple pages. I'm annoyed that the author merely repeated herself for 248 pages, and I wasted my time reading it.
November 5, 2011
3.75 stars
Super cute story. Like in all of the other books I have read by O'Connell, this was no different. She has a way with words that sucks you into the lives of her characters whether is is a young adult fiction or adult fiction like Off the Record. You find yourself cheering for the main characters and wanting them to get the most out of life. Although I had a feeling where this was going from the beginning it thrilled me to read it all the way to the end. Jane was a lost lovable soul that just needed to add some spice o her life. She needed to stop being so predictable and live life and O'Connell did just that with her amazing way with words. Excellent story.
Super cute story. Like in all of the other books I have read by O'Connell, this was no different. She has a way with words that sucks you into the lives of her characters whether is is a young adult fiction or adult fiction like Off the Record. You find yourself cheering for the main characters and wanting them to get the most out of life. Although I had a feeling where this was going from the beginning it thrilled me to read it all the way to the end. Jane was a lost lovable soul that just needed to add some spice o her life. She needed to stop being so predictable and live life and O'Connell did just that with her amazing way with words. Excellent story.
April 5, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick, entertaining read. The main character was extremely likeable and someone I could identify with. It was fairly predictable, but I am completely ok with that. This is the second book I have read that was written by Jennifer O'Connell and I have yet to be disappointed. The only drawback was that the editing left something to be desired at times. The proofreader in me had a hard time with some of it.
November 22, 2008
This story sounded more fun than it actually was. When Janie was young, she lived near the young boy Teddy, who grew up to be a rock star with a one-hit. As he attempts a comeback, he admits that the song is about Janie and she is thrusted into the limelight and they begin a romance. I could see exactly where the story was headed from page one and therefore, I read it quickly and apathetically.
March 26, 2008
I wrote a more indepth review here:
http://scrink.com/blog/bookclub/2008/...
But I did like the book. I would have given it 3.5 stars if I could. The only reason I didn't rate it higher was because of poor editing and predictability. Otherwise it was a very entertaining piece of chic lit.
http://scrink.com/blog/bookclub/2008/...
But I did like the book. I would have given it 3.5 stars if I could. The only reason I didn't rate it higher was because of poor editing and predictability. Otherwise it was a very entertaining piece of chic lit.
March 5, 2009
Cute book about a straight-laced girl who discovers that she appears to be the inspiration for a rock song which seems to be about a much looser person than she is, and what she discovers about herself. I really enjoyed it, thought it had some insight into popular culture and what it means to sell an image and what is behind the image that is sold.
August 10, 2016
"Underneath our respectable pin-striped suits, we're all rock stars at heart."
what a fun read!
this light-hearted story illustrates the saying "the best laid plans ..."
(I do agree that the few typos and grammatical mistakes were annoying but they did not distract from the characters and story ... it does beg the question of what do editors actually do?)
what a fun read!
this light-hearted story illustrates the saying "the best laid plans ..."
(I do agree that the few typos and grammatical mistakes were annoying but they did not distract from the characters and story ... it does beg the question of what do editors actually do?)
August 28, 2008
Cute, easy read... good summer reading
November 7, 2010
I didn't expect to like this book but I did. I needed some chick lit and this did the trick.
November 15, 2010
This was totally silly and very predictable but still entertaining!
September 13, 2011
At first I seriously considered not finishing it, which is rare for me, but once I was a third of the way into it I was interested. Fun, quick, light read.
January 14, 2016
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews