The Trade Off by Sandie Jones is a look behind the scenes of the tawdry industry of celebrity reporting and how far some reporters will go for a story.

"Stella is the deputy editor for The Globe and she will do what ever she has to do to land a story. Jess is The Globe's rookie reporter and is only interested in the truth but realizes the dirty tricks of the tabloids are hard to avoid, When a celebrity hounded by the globe is found dead, Jess wonders just how much The Globe is responsible. Jess is determined to uncover the truth but some are willing to kill to keep it hidden."

This story is told through dual POVs. It switches between Stella and Jess which is an interesting contrast because the characters are so different - not quite opposites but close. Stella is the reporter hardened by experience and willing to bend the rules for her career aspirations. Jess just wants to move on from her local gazette and write for a big paper. At times both characters veer close to over-the-top stereotypes but Jones seems to keep a balance.

This is more drama than a thriller. There is a little twist but you'll see it coming. There is a pivot near the end that made the story more interesting. Personally, I don't follow celebrity news but since Jones focuses more on the ethics it was okay. Read her comments in the acknowledgements.

Fans of contemporary drama should enjoy this read from Sandie Jones.

Uneven Trade Offs and Tragedies

Most of us probably know the center focus of this chilling book. We would not be surprised that women are used (and abused) in the tabloids for sensational outcomes. Jess Townsend, the new hire, has some journalistic experience, and another woman, Stella is the deputy editor of The Globe, a fairly trashy tabloid. She is a pro at setting up stings to catch celebrities in compromising positions and situations.

The author does not hold back. Talk about fake news, this book “reported” the ugly media as ruthless and mean, with their eye on money and more money. It’s worse than I thought, honestly. I hoped the targets would have more protection. Sandie Jones is telling us, although the book is fiction, that the media will do anything to exploit celebrities or politicians (they probably are equal). Most working women do whatever their male bosses tell them to do, no matter who is a victim – for money and more money.

I’m not sure about this industry. It’s a sad commentary. I thought the powerful men could no longer push their female employees to do whatever they want.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Minotaur for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The tabloid setting of this new release from Sandie Jones made me want to take shower. Why four stars? Here are four reasons:
🌟 Jess, the new hire, and her boss, Stella, show the two sides if a slippery slope. Is it too late for Stella?
🌟 There is quite a cat and mouse game going on in many ways. But the identities of our players flip and change.
🌟 Girl power
🌟 The examination of what makes a story news. How many stories we see in real life have been engineered by "journalists" to get the eyes and the clicks and ultimately the $$$?
This one definitely made me think about how I as a consumer could be contributing to the problem. Very well done on audio.

Happy pub week! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Would you tell a story, if you knew it was a lie? Or tell the truth and sleep at night?

This was an interesting take on the newspaper industry and the me too movement. The dual POVs worked really well for this story, and I liked how Stella and Jess’s characters played against each other at first, but built a relationship on a mutual need to make things right in print media. Both of these women were strong in their own way, and I could appreciate both of their characters drive and determination.

There were definitely some twists in this story. Some were predictable while others I didn’t see coming. There weren’t necessarily any big wow moments, but I enjoyed the surprises along the way. I did find some parts of the book took away from the overall story as they were just filler rather than plot points. The short chapters were great, and the timing really worked for this story. This is definitely my new favorite book by Jones.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

A look into tabloid journalism at its ugliest. The story is told from the dual points of view of two journalists. Stella, a seasoned rather jaded deputy editor who is driven to get the story regardless of what it takes and Jess, an idealistic young journalist who is excited to have landed her dream job. When a news story leads to tragedy, each woman must decide how much of themselves they’re willing to sacrifice for the job. The characters and storyline are realistic. The book started out a bit slow but the pace picks up around the halfway mark and comes to a dramatic conclusion.

✨The Trade Off by Sandie Jones✨

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 304
Out now!

📚 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.

And when a celebrity is hounded by The Globe and pays the ultimate price, Jess wonders just how much Stella and the paper are responsible.

Determined to show the world what the tabloid is capable of, Jess will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth, but she needs to watch her back, because someone else is prepared to kill to bury it.

📝An insider view into the tabloid industry and the deceptive tactics it uses to get (or make) a story.

This was a dual POV told by our leading MCs: Jess and Stella. The first half was a little too slow for my liking but the pace definitely picks up later on.

💫Thank you @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my copy💫

3⭐
Publication date ~ August 15, 2023
Page Count ~ 300
Audio length ~ 9 hours 56 minutes
Narrators ~ Nathalie Buscombe, Sofia Engstrand
POV ~ single 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ tabloid reporters, suicide, se*ual assault, #metoo

Stella is a seasoned powerhouse of a reporter for The Globe and Jess is the rookie who wants to make a difference. They both have very different ways they go about their jobs.

I've been a reader of Sandie's for years and this one is coming in as my least favorite. It just didn't grab me at all and my ears were a drifting. I don't know if it was the slow pace or the plot, but I just wasn't feeling it. I didn't like how that poor lady was pushed to take her own life, however I do feel like this is something that probably happens more often than we realize, which gives it a realistic feel. Happy the chapters were short. The cover is vibrant.

I was lucky enough to have a kindle and an audio copy. I mostly listened, but either was as fine as it could be.
Narration notes:
I thought they both did a good job. They expressed proper emotion when necessary.

𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦!

Another fantastic story by Sandie Jones and this one was a wild ride. Full of deception, lies, suspense and an addictive plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for this gifted copy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳 by Sandie Jones releases today August 15, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx

The Trade Off by Sandie Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A big thank you to @netgalley, @minotaur_books, and the author for the eARC. Pub day is today! 🎉

Get a big bowl and some butter ready for this popcorn thriller. This book was jam packed with all kinds of dichotomies: right v. wrong, truth v. lies, reveal v. secret, reporting v. orchestrating. I enjoyed the dilemmas presented in the world of media reporting, and I most definitely was appalled at how people’s lives were played with. There was some real social commentary in here about the media and its treatment of people.

I enjoyed the alternating POVs and how that built tension. I wish more character development happened because I didn’t really understand the motivations other than on a surface level. The pace started out slow but picked up, and the ending was absolutely WILD. I personally felt like it was too much, but I did enjoy the dramatics.

If you’re looking for a fun thriller with a unique setting, check this one out!

This was an interesting look into the world of tabloid journalism and how far certain reporters will go to fabricate stories to generate sales. But it also showed the good it can do, especially in the wake of Me Too.

The story is told from the POVs of Stella, a veteran reporter, who comes off as pretty despicable and Jess, a rookie, who realizes her dream job is not what she imagined. It starts off a little slow, but hits its stride around the halfway point, when Jess starts investigating the manipulative tactics of her coworkers and uncovering their secrets. While I guessed some of the twists at the end, I still felt it had a satisfying conclusion.

Did The Globe, a tabloid always determined to get the story, go to far? Just about every line is crossed - a realistic portrayal of tabloid journalism. A young idealistic hire struggles with her ethics and morals - what line is she willing to cross?

This was the first book I have read by Sandie Jones. I say this all the time with thrillers but the beginnings always feel slow to me. The second half of the book is definitely more interesting, with a faster pace, more mystery, twists, backstabbing moves, and intrigues. This would be a perfect beach read. I would recommend this book.


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Sandie Jones and wonderfully narrated by Nathalie Buscombe, Sandie Jones, and Sofia Engstrand - 4 stars!

Stella is deputy editor of The Globe, who has her sights set on becoming the editor. That means that nothing is sacred when it comes to getting the story, even the truth. Jess is The Globe's new rookie reporter who is all about the truth. But those lines keep getting blurred, and someone is now dead. But who can Jess trust to help her uncover the truth?

This is somewhat of a slow burn, but an interesting look behind the covers of tabloid magazines and newspapers. where the headlines are more important than the truth. The story unfolds between the two POV of Stella and Jess and becomes a twisty cat-and-mouse game. It was an entertaining ride!

I really enjoyed Sandie Jones' THE OTHER WOMAN so I was excited to receive an early copy of this book. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for my early reading and listen copy!

I loved the concept of this novel It reminded me a bit of the HBO show "The Newsroom" (best show ever), but the tabloid-version. I have zero-interest in celebrity gossip, but I was still super fascinated by the premise of seeking the juicy story at all costs. I was enthralled to learn about the tactics journalist use to get THE story and I'm glad Jones highlighted the effects tabloid reporting has on the exposed. Honestly, I was a bit shocked at how interesting I found the premise considering I generally have less than zero interest in the personal lives of famous people.

I hybrid read this book and I really enjoyed the narrators, but I am so glad I had the ebook to reference. There were some weird jumps in the timeline and setting that made the listen and read a little confusing. Once I was used to the writing style and the characters though, I actually preferred the audiobook and hearing the emotions both main characters carried.

I think I would have liked the book better if it just stuck to exposing the ugly journalism tactics instead of adding in the whole cover-up and twist. I found it to be a bit done and not well-wrapped up in the end, but overall I found this to be a solid average read.

THE TRADE OFF
Sandie Jones

Are you looking for a thriller that goes behind the headlines?
I’ve got a book for you.

In THE TRADE OFF we are following Stella and Jess. Stella is the deputy editor of The Globe and knows what it takes to build a good story. Jess, a rookie reporter newly hired at The Globe, has a lot to learn about what it takes to do what she’s always wanted to do, be a top reporter.

Does Jess have what it takes to get the juicy gossip, the big headline, and the byline she’s always aspired for? And will Stella be there to show her the ropes and exactly what it takes to get what she wants? It was fun to find out.

As always, I appreciated the sharpness found in the writing. I always know exactly where I stand with Jones.

The dynamic between Stella and Jess was very Interesting. I liked following along as Stella shows her truth and Jess has a choice as to how to respond. I loved being there to see how it all played out.

There were a few things I felt could’ve been different that would have contributed to my reading experience.

THE TRADE OFF read like it had training wheels on. It didn’t really trust me to hear the real story. It felt written for newbies and crossovers from other genres. So instead of the scintillating, captivating, and salacious novel, it could have been the reading experience felt tepid and lacking elements of intrigue, tension, and surprise.

I didn’t feel connected to the characters as much as I would’ve liked. Considering the trajectory of the story and what was at stake, I had a problem connecting to the characters and feeling emotional about what they were going through.

THE TRADE OFF felt like a mix of SUCCESSION (not as intense) and THE MORNING SHOW. If you like either of those two, I recommend you pick this up!

Overall, I felt THE TRADE OFF is a solid thriller that could’ve been more. I liked it, didn’t love it. But look forward to what Jones has next.

THE TRADE OFF is out now where books are sold. Let me know if you pick this one up.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the advanced copies!

THE TRADE OFF…⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tense chilling a true page turner. A look at tabloid journalism at what is truth what’s a lie& how far you will go to get a story.Well written will be recommending.#netgalley #st.Martins

Unfortunately this one just wasn't for me. I found the storylines confusing and didn't get much depth from the characters.

Buckle up book friends! If you had any thoughts that certain sectors of the news media may use unscrupulous, highly unethical methods to get a story, The Trade Off by Sandie Jones is not going to disabuse you of those ideas. An exploration of tabloid-esque news through the eyes of an idealistic reporter who thinks she can be the change, make a dent in the system. I experienced this in my favorite way to read through dual ebook/audiobook thanks to my friends Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio via Netgalley. The Trade Off is available today, 8/15/23.

Jess is thrilled to be The Globe’s newest editor. She begins to understand not just how people are coerced into giving interviews, but are set up into situations to create news stories to report. With support from higher up she is determined to begin to shift how things are done. The deeper Jess gets, the more she realizes she has no idea where anyone’s loyalty stands, and where her own safety lies.

Sandie Jones serves up a dishy tale with unlikeable players, a main character who is principled but flawed, and a boys club full of misogyny and privilege. I’m here for every naughty bit of it! I loved seeing Jess’s journey, her stumbles and triumphs. Keep an eye on Stella, she’s far more interesting than I’d anticipated!

The audiobook is narrated by Nathalie Buscombe, Sandie Jones, and Sofia Engstrand. These narrators did a fantastic job and adding a layer to the story that really worked. I highly recommend the dual book/audiobook reading experience that allows you to carry your story along when you’re walking, driving, or folding laundry. It truly maximizes reading time.

You’re going to want The Trade Off on your priority TBR for mystery thriller and suspense reading.

I loved the notion of this book. I was very excited to start it, but for me, this was not really a fast and action packed read, as promised. It centers around 2 tabloid reporters, the rookie reporter Jess and hardened veteran Stella. Stella will do whatever it takes to get the bestselling story and to get to the top. While Jess wants to bring back what it means to get the real story and a little morality into the world of celebrity reporting.

Stella is somewhat likable for a character with that much determination and doing what she does, though sometimes her actions didn’t necessarily match the type of person I was led to believe she was. The book does cause you to need to suspend your disbelief. I don’t consider this to be a “thriller” for me, I felt it’s definitely more of a dramatic fiction. It’s an overall fun read , and the ending is satisfying.

Overall for me, this was a light and enjoyable read. This book may not have the punch of a standard thriller, but I think it’s a perfect beach read.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, The Author, Sadie Jones as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Trade Off.

This look at tabloid journalism (set in the UK, known for their viciousness) was fast paced and did a great job pairing the perspectives of a seasoned, ruthless journalist with that of a young, still idealistic new journalist with a strong sense of right and wrong. There are some nice surprises throughout the story, though some of the plot points are more heartbreaking. Sandie Jones is a really consistent author, and this is a nice addition to her list.