You know those books you gobble up in an afternoon and you’re left feeling all these emotions with no idea what to do with them? That was me with The Intern. I was flying to Tasmania and remembered I had an e-book of The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer on my phone and I’m so glad I did.
It’s addictive and hilarious, no matter how many times the protagonist, Josie, embarrasses herself. Gabrielle Tozer cleverly writes humour, conflict, loveable characters, and the behind-the- scenes of a glam magazine where the cutthroat nature of journalism is seen; and this is all through the eyes of a university student who is just trying to be the one of the best writers out there.
Here are my thoughts on The Intern, a book that sits between Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries, making it the ultimate chick-flick read.
Josie is a relatable and sometimes awkward character.Our protagonist Josie Browning is honestly a magnet for awkward situations and reading these gave me a huge case of second-hand embarrassment, mostly because the way she reacts to things is probably how I would react.
“I’d already slapped one person this week, and if I didn’t leave the cafe in the next five seconds, I was about to boost that to two.”
I related to her on such a spiritual level; she’s determined yet soft, she’s an over-achiever, loves praise, and feels dejected when she’s not the best. Tozer accurately captures the struggles of being an over-achiever and the devastation of failure that comes with it, something I feel like a few young adults will be able to relate to.
The focus on family is brilliant.I love it when YA has a focus on family and the complexities within the relationships. I feel like Tozer did a fantastic job at writing the dynamics within Josie’s family: Her sister, Kat, is headstrong and hot-tempered, which is a stark contrast to her mum, a kind and soft-natured woman who demonstrates the same determination as her daughters. Their interactions are authentic and the struggles they endure are heart-breaking and warming.
The romance is so cute, but a little rushed.“Step away from the camembert.”
The naivety in Josie in romance is so genuine, it threw me through a time loop to when I had this insane crush on someone. Tozer captured those tingles and butterfly sensations that come with being smitten perfectly. While I wish I was more attached to James as character, I like that Josie is more focused on her personal life such as the internship and family than the romance.
The story feels like it scratches the surface of deeper issues.There are mentions and explorations of mental health, body image, financial difficulties and broken families within this novel, and because our protagonist is only eighteen, I feel like The Intern is just giving us a taste of what Josie is coming to terms with, but not actually dealing with. There was so much I wanted to know, but I only got a glimpse of it and I wanted it to dig deeper.
Overall, The Intern is quirky, engaging and an enjoyable read. It’s easy to devour and filled with moments of hilarity and drama that will keep you satisfied till the very end.
Rating
/5
Josie Browning dreams of having it all.
A stellar academic record, an amazing career in journalism – and for her current crush to realise she actually exists. The only problem? Josie can’t get through twenty-four hours
without embarrassing her sister Kat or her best friend Angel, let alone herself.
Josie’s luck changes though when she lands an internship at the glossy fashion magazine Sash. A coveted columnist job is up for grabs, but Josie’s got some tough competition in the form of two other interns. Battle lines are drawn and Josie quickly learns that the magazine industry is far from easy, especially under the reign of powerful editor, Rae Swanson.
From the lows of coffee-fetching and working 10-hour days, to the highs of mingling with celebrities, scoring endless free beauty products (plus falling for her cousin’s seriously gorgeous flatmate James) this is one year Josie will never forget.
{Goodreads}
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