Jess is a brand new "journalist" at The Globe, which is nothing more than a tabloid using any means necessary to get a story that will sell papers. Stella, a deputy editor, is known to be ruthless and will do anything to become the future boss. When Max, their actual boss and the editor in chief, asks Jess to let him know of anything unsavory going on at The Globe she agrees, but it becomes hard to know who to trust.

The writing in this book was engaging and the story had potential - it definitely drew me in from the beginning and I liked the premise of it all. I love a book where you never know who to trust. Despite all of that, somehow I never felt drawn to this book and was kind of annoyed for a lot of it - perhaps because I didn't like any of the characters. How was Jess so dumb and naïve? Stop trusting these people who have done nothing but wave red flags in your face! She would honestly make a terrible journalist and I was so sick of her by the end. I do like how I initially thought Stella was the worst woman on the planet but her unravelling made her seem slightly more human. The men in this book though? Atrocious, all of them. It scares me that people like this exist in the world. I really wanted to love this one but sadly I think the unlikeable characters made that hard for me.

This book had so much potential but the execution just didn't do it for me. I would read future books from this author because I've liked previous books of hers, but sadly this one wasn't it.

DNF at 23%

Didn’t like any of the characters and I couldn’t get through a single chapter without almost falling asleep.

I had high hopes for this one. A former newspaper reporter myself, I was eager for a newsroom setting.

This didn’t work for me. I didn’t like any of the characters. The plot was dull at first, briefly got intriguing, and then took a turn into ridiculous territory.

I wouldn’t recommend this to others. Probably a 2.5 rounded to a 3.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book started off slow for me, but when I was invested, I could not put it down.

It highlights the negative impact journalism can have. And how far some will go to get the story. And definitely to NOT believe everything you see in the media.

I felt it showed a side of the media that needs to be show, and also the added MeToo movement storyline was a bonus. There were some strong women in this one!

I would say this is more suspense than thriller, but a good read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

SYNOPSIS:
- The Globe is a top-selling tabloid newspaper in the UK.
- Stella is the deputy editor at the Globe, and she is seasoned, hardened professional. She has made a reputation for herself in using ruthless methods to always get the story. Max is the editor in chief, but Stella has her eyes set on his job.
- Jess is a naive, newly minted reporter at The Globe. She is astonished to find the tactics used to get a story. She believes in truth in journalism & she is the moral compass of the story

MY THOUGHTS
- A newsroom or media suspense /contemporary fiction
- Loved the juxtaposition of Jess & Stella
- UK setting
- Multiple POVs; alternating chapters between Stella and Jess. Stella’s chapters are 3rd person, and Jess tells in first person
- Excellent character development
- Unique premise; haven’t read this plot before
- Examines dark side of media, the devious & duplicitous means used to get a story, & the existence of gross, powerful men even in a post-Me Too world
- Superb pacing & skillfully plotted
- Kept me guessing
- Finished in a day. Engaging read, well-written, and satisfying ending.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Newsroom suspense/contemporary fiction. Unique premise. Finished in a day. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It will be published on August 15, 2023.

Really disappointed in this one. I like Jones’ other books so this felt like a let down. It was just meh. Felt way too drawn out with nothing buzzy or new about it. Skimmed the last few chapters. I would skip.

The Trade Off is about Stella and Jess who work together at The Globe. They will do anything to get a story….whatever it takes legally or illegally.
With a slow start, the book does pick up about half way into the story.
A mystery with lots of intrigue and twists.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Trade Off is a timely read focused on the media, corruption and the Me Too movement. It took me a bit to get into the story as I didn’t initially like any of the characters. After the first meeting with Max I thought I understood him but was really just fooled by his act. It quickly became apparent that the prospect of Jess going to work for The Globe or them wanting her as a journalist seemed unlikely given her morals, values, and lack of experience.

As the story progressed, I found myself more invested. Overall, it was a solid read.

The Trade Off is a slow burn, workplace thriller set in a tabloid office. Told via multiple POV, I couldn’t put it down until I finished the book, it was addicting. The drama, backstabbing, conniving and shadiness made this such a page turner. I enjoyed the focus on #metoo, it was handled well.

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Book is set to be released on 8/15/2023.

I was very excited about this book but I found it slow and the characters unlikeable. I super do not like to finish a book but I had to put this one down and move on.

Jess has made it, she will be working at The Globe, a tabloid paper. She can’t wait to bring her investigative reporting as well as her integrity to this paper that plays all the tricks to get the scoop. Stella, the deputy editor is one of those reporters that gets down and dirty to get the story that will sell papers. When a celebrity pays the ultimate price for one of the paper’s sleazy stories, Jess knows she has got to do something even if that means going against Stella and bringing down The Globe. Jess must watch her back though as some will kill to bury a story.

Sandie Jones is one of those authors for me that is an automatic read. I have read all her books and enjoyed them all. This book is told from dual POVs from Jess and Stella. I loved the behind the curtain look into tabloid journalism and the play of #metoo into the story. A great end of summer vacation read that keeps you entertained throughout.

I have enjoyed previous books by this author, but I am sad to say that this one just didn't keep my attention. I found the characters to be unlikable and uninteresting and the slow pacing of the plot did not do anything to make me want to read it.

A great drama! The story is told mostly from the point of view of the two female characters. Jess is a young new character at the Globe. Tessa is a hardened and seasoned reporter willing to do almost anything to get the story. The plot has a lot going on that the readers will have to figure out. As things are revealed the reader will have to consider who they can trust. This will make a great summer read that will be fun to discuss with friends.

The Trade Off by Sandie Jones shows the dog-eat-dog world of journalism and asks the question: “How far would you go to get the story?” She ties it all together by adding a touch of the relevant #metoo movement. The Trade Off was full of great writing but I didn’t enjoy it as much as her other books that I have previously read. I feel like this book was less thriller and more fiction with suspense. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I wouldn’t have gone into it expecting a thriller.

The beginning really took off and it got me but then it got repetitive and while I liked the dual POV I'm not sure if it was needed. Overall, it was an okay read!

Eh....it was fine. A little too on the nose with dirty journalism and doing whatever it takes to get a story. The tie in with the #MeToo movement was current and added some intrigue to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity.

Jones takes on tabloid journalism in this twisty novel of ambition, secrets, lies, and revenge. Stella will do pretty much anything to get a story for the Globe but she's lost perspective, Jess, a young reporter, is initially thrilled to get a job there but is horrified when someone who has been hounded by the paper commits suicide, There's something neither one of them knows- and I'm not going to spoil the twist, This starts slowly but then picks up so keep with it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read,

I love this authors previous books but this one fell short for me. It just wasn't her usual and in my opinion it was a slow burn that never picked up. It was very informative about journalism and scandalous behavior that journalists go to in order to get the story.

For Stella, deputy editor of The Globe, the choice has always been clear. It doesn’t matter how low she has to stoop—getting the best story is what she’s built her reputation on. For Jess, The Globe’s rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids will be hard to overturn. When a celebrity is literally hounded to death, Jess wants to prove to the world how terrible the tabloid press is. But can she stay alive because someone is willing to kill to keep the truth hidden.

🌟🌟🌟💫
How low will you go? That’s the question we all ask of tabloid journalists!

Let’s meet Stella. The star editor for The Globe who’s motto is “do whatever it takes to make the story.” A motto she takes quite literally.

Then there’s Jess. The newest reporter for The Globe, she’s quickly wondering what she signed up for. Specifically, being required to check her ethics and moral compass at the door each morning in order to succeed in this business.

But Jess can make a change. Maybe she can make the newspaper respectable! Oh, poor naïve Jess. Good luck with that.

I think if you enjoy tabloid “news” and want to get the latest dirty laundry on celebrities, this will be a fun and exciting read!

Since I have no desire whatsoever to follow Hollywood's elite (or the fictional stars portrayed in this book) it was impossible for me to connect with the storyline.

While this wasn’t a good fit for me, I’ve enjoyed this author’s works in the past. So I’ll just chalk it up to it’s me…not the book!🙋🏻‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press