I was happy to see that bit of #MeToo in the book. Emma is reluctant to speak about it at first, but then she realises how important it is for her to use her influence and position to help make it better for others. On the one hand, they seem to be superficial and aloof, but little by little we get to know their real personalities.Īs I said, this book also deals with sexual assault and abuse of minors.

I especially liked how the characters seem to have two sides, kind of what we would expect from real celebrities. Also, her relationships with other characters -boyfriend, brother, etc.- add some depth to the story and make it more compelling. Emma's character grows and develops throughout the book and it soon becomes a much different person. While in the first part of the book she might seem spoiled or bratty, it soon gets better. 'Off Script' deals with the dark side of the entertainment industry.Įmma, the main character, is a young actress who has been raised in the industry. However, there is more to it than romance between pretty people. This book is set in the glamourous life of attractive, well-off actors and actresses. I did not feel the need to know what happened in the previous books while I was reading this novel, however, I think some things would have made more sense if I did. 'Off Script' is part of a book series, something that I found out later. While this installment can be read independently, most teens will be able to follow the enormous cast of characters better if they’ve read the two previous books, Seeking Mansfield and Shoot the Moon.I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Readers who follow celebrity Twitter feuds will enjoy this third book in the “Mansfield” series. It takes a #MeToo moment for Emma to be shocked out of her matchmaking attempts and overwhelming self-absorption to focus on the bigger picture, and to recognize and confront the many toxic people who surround her. Meanwhile, Emma’s own love life is rocky as she flirts with the son of a good friend but not-so-secretly falls for handsome Liam, a professional soccer player. But Emma needs a new assistant to help her as she devotes all her time to bulking up for a new action role-and who better than pretty, young, naive Brittany? Emma and Brittany spend hours scheduling social media updates as Emma schools Brittany in all things trending, while also helping Brittany with romance and even walk-on spots in a soap opera. She and her brother Harlan are TV and movie stars who share an apartment and are both preparing for the roles of a lifetime. Gr 8 Up–Just like the protagonist of Jane Austen’s Emma, this young Emma is a misguided matchmaker, but she lives in present-day Manhattan instead of 1800s England.

Off Script by Kate Watson