Review & Author Interview: The Intern

The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer
Published by HarperCollns Publishers Australia
Format Reviewed: Paperback
Publication Date: February 1st 2014
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 336
Reviewed by: Eugenia
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Buy it

Josie Browning dreams of having it all. A stellar academic record, an amazing career in journalism - and for her current crush to realise that 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 git 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 infer the reign of the powerful editor Rae Swanson.

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

You can usually tell a book is good if you were so addicted that you finished it in one day. This is exactly what happened with me when I read The Intern. I loved the witty writing style with some great fun moments and the insight the novel offered into what it might be like to work in one of the top women's magazines. Apart from that though, there were some more serious moments, showcasing that this book has some real heart and substance at its centre.

From the very first pages of this book, I could tell that it was going to be a fun read. I wasn't disappointed. Gabrielle Tozer has written a novel that will make you laugh-out-loud and put a cheesy grin on your face. It is definitely reminiscent of 'The Devil Wears Prada', but portrays the story as something more relatable to an Australian audience and something that teens will enjoy. I loved the magazine internship aspect, and it illustrates just how cut-throat the industry can be. As with any job, there are both friendly and mean colleagues, and your boss might be really tough too. Navigating the career world isn't easy, and the author managed to capture that in a fun way.

Apart from this aspect, there were also many sub-plots relating to Josie's family life and her relationship with her best friend Angel. It's good to see that there was more to this story, and all these other things going on in Jolie's life made the book really interesting to read. It is shown that there may be more to a situation that you may at first think. Even at a glossy magazine it's not all fun and games. It was great to see the other side of working in the media industry and the lengths that people working at magazines have to go through to get an issue produced on time that has some top stories.

I also really liked how Josie developed as a character. At the beginning she was a shy, slightly nerdy girl who wasn't totally confident in what she could achieve. As the story progressed however, she gained more life experience and gave the novel its 'coming of age' element. By the end she knew what she wanted, and realised the talent that she had. Even after going through the highs and lows of working in such a stressful environment she never lost her integrity. There was even some romance at the end of the tunnel, and even greater avenues to pursue. Gabrielle Tozer also invested in the other side characters and their perks, such as Josie's sister Kate and her best friend Angela.

CONCLUSION

The Intern was fun to read, with laugh-out-loud moments and a different perspective on what it's really like to be an intern at a magazine. I loved this and will be recommending it to my friends!

Author Interview

Today we have the wonderfully talented Gabrielle Tozer on the blog for an interview!

What was your inspiration for writing ‘The Intern’?

I’ve always wanted to write a funny, awkward and relatable female protagonist for my first YA novel – the kind of girl who I’d want to be friends with (and eat Hawaiian pizza with!). I was determined to create the kind of girl I’d cringe along with, and feel for, and gossip with, and that’s how Josie ‘Brown Pants’ Browning was born. As for the setting in magazines, while there are a number of other adult books in the market that tackle the topic of magazines and high-powered editors, I wanted to show a fresh – and younger – side and figured I’d write what I know!

How much of your own experiences working in the media industry come through in the story?

THE INTERN is mostly fiction (or really, really exaggerated truth), but there are a few similarities between me and Josie that were fun to explore in the novel Josie (hint: we both own terrible shoes). I’ve also done my fair share of writing for free, work experience and interning over the years, starting with work experience when I was 15 years old at the local television station in Wagga Wagga. I’ve never been caught up in a social media scandal with a celebrity at work, though – phew!

Without giving too much away, what is your favourite quote/moment in the book?

Such a tough call. The first paragraph of chapter one always makes me chuckle (and it was a late edition to the manuscript, too). I also love the tension, drama and awkwardness in a number of the scenes between Josie and James – I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I especially had fun writing the final chapter… don’t peek though!

What was your favourite part of writing the novel?

I’ve had a few favourite moments. Getting the first draft printed at Officeworks was pretty damn amazing – it was so cool to have tangible evidence of all my hard work. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my book-baby on the shelf in a store either. Cut to: me having all the feelings!

What genre do you like to read most and why?

My tastes are eclectic, but I mostly read fiction (both young adult and adult), everything from The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and The Fault In Our Stars, to The Book Thief, Last Summer and The Kite Runner. For me, fiction is a marvellous way to escape into another world without having to leave the comfort of my snuggly bed. My to-read list is currently teetering in a pile on my bedside table, threatening to topple over at any moment.

Is there any advice you would give to other aspiring authors?

Get writing, starting now. Also, be gentle with yourself because writing and editing a novel is hard – about 1001 times harder than I ever imagined it could be, but it’s a truly wonderful experience and something I hope to do again and again for the rest of my life. Most of all, I encourage aspiring authors to find their own groove. Experiment with writing routines, voice and processes (or no processes at all) until you find what suits you and your lifestyle. There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to becoming an author (if only it were that easy!).

What else should readers be looking forward to after reading this impressive debut?

Why thank you. I am editing the sequel to THE INTERN at the moment and it is due for an early 2015 release, so I’m already excited to share Josie Browning’s next adventure with everyone. I also have a few other YA book ideas simmering away in my mind, so stay tuned via gabrielletozer.com, facebook.com/hellogabrielletozer and twitter.com/gabrielletozer for updates. 

*You can use the twitter hashtag #theinternau to discuss the book and share your reading experience

Gabrielle Tozer is an author, journalist and copywriter from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Since moving to Sydney almost a decade ago, she has worked as a managing editor, deputy editor, chief subeditor, senior features writer and freelance for publications including DOLLY, Girlfriend, Cosmopolitan, Bride to Be, DisneyGiRL, Disney Adventures, The Canberra Times and Mamamia.

Competition

PRIZE DETAILS

Fact: 20 limited edition red covers have been sprinkled through bookshops around Australia! 

- 1 major prize winner will score amazing loot, including ELF cosmetics, Diva jewellery, an Apple iPod nano, a Kate Spade bag and a HarperCollins book pack.*

- 19 other lucky runners-up will nab ELF cosmetics, Diva jewellery and a HarperCollins book pack

HOW TO ENTER

1. From Jan 20, 2014 search every bookshop you can to track down one of these red-covered beauties. (Sheesh, they’re so pretty. I want one so bad.) Keep searching until you…

2. FIND ONE! When you do - because you’re that awesome – celebrate in the book shop’s aisles with an interpretive dance. (I kid, I kid.)

3. Okay, this bit’s important: purchase your Red Intern and retain proof of purchase/the receipt.

4. Snap a photo of yourself holding the red-covered copy of The Intern.

5. Post the photo on Instagram before 11.59pm AEDT on March 31, 2014 and include #TheInternAU #Divaaccessories #officialelfcosmetics and #GirlfriendMAG

PS: Now, just for fun (it’s not part of the comp), shoot me a tweet or note via Instagram (@gabrielletozer) Twitter, Facebook or Goodreads (or all four!) telling me what you thought of THE INTERN – I’d love to hear from you!

For further information and terms and conditions, please click here.