The Trade Off by Sandie Jones is a fast-paced, exciting read. I was expecting a soapy, dramatic read and although this was that, it also had much deeper layers and gave a fascinating look into the tabloid world.

5/10 - This book took me a long time to finish. It didn’t draw me in like I would have hoped. I did, however, think it was an interesting take on the media industry and enjoyed the different perspectives of the characters. Overall, I don’t think I would recommend.

Trigger warning: this book contains suicide and violence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've read many books by this author in the past and loved them. Sadly, this one missed the mark for me. It's labeled as a thriller, but I didn't feel that was the case. I didn't find the twists that shocking, and the characters were unlikeable (and not in a "love to hate" way). The pace was slower than I'd expect for the genre. If you're a tabloid/gossip lover, then you may feel differently about this book.

TW: some dark, unexpected themes, including sexual assault and suicide


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Be careful what you wish for…when Jess gets the chance of a lifetime to be a rookie writer at The Globe, the country’s best selling paper, she thinks she’s made it. The only problem is she just doesn’t play be the same rules as the others. Her morals won’t allow it. Stella, deputy editor, along with the Editor, Max, will get the story by any means, even if the story isn’t exactly true. Lives are ruined and there are some that are out for revenge. The dirty tricks Jess sees makes her want to quash the stories and soon she’s ready to walk away. That is until a story goes south and causes utter devastation. The Globe and its practices are called to attention and Stella is left trying to dig herself out from the debris. Is there any hope for Jess to turn things around or is it way too late to change hearts and minds? Jones has written another compelling book that takes us behind the scenes of tabloid journalism. This was a dual read/listen and I really enjoyed the voices on the audio. They added a whole new dimension and helped bring this story to life. Thank you to Minotaur books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

The Trade Off by Sandie Jones tells the story of two journalists working at one of London’s largest tabloids. When Jess starts at The Globe, she quickly discovers that her deputy editor, Stella, will do anything to get the story.

I enjoyed the pace of this book and the way the perspectives of the main two characters overlapped. I also loved the shorter chapters.

Unfortunately, some of the content matter was a bit unnerving and could be quite bothersome to some readers. While I understand that it helped to convey the severity of the problem, it felt a tad extreme at times.

Although this wasn’t my favorite book by Sandie Jones, it was well written and I will definitely check out her future books!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There was something predictable about the plot. I expected bigger surprises yet I wanted to keep reading. I would say the book was a pleasant read but not a real thriller. I am curious to tray another book by this author.

Thank you so much @Minotaur_Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 15 August 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Stella is a seasoned journalist who will do whatever it takes to get the best story whereas Jess is newer to the industry & is struggling with the seemingly lack of ethical boundaries in place. When a celebrity takes her own life after a particularly scathing story is released, Jess is sent to investigate what actually happened.

WHAT I LIKED:
- discussing how scandalous & salacious the media world truly is

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I really struggled to get invested in any aspect of the story
- a very slow start with the first 50% mainly focusing on setting up the characters (who were all unlikeable)
- the storyline, characters & pacing didn't come together for me
- I wasn't convinced that someone's entire opinion would change because of something that almost happened to them

A green reporter and her coldblooded editor go after a big, misogynistic fish in Jones’s #MeToo–era thriller.

I picked up this book because it promised to show the merciless, competitive, dog-eat-dog universe of tabloid journalism and the lengths (lies) journalists go to to get the scoop. The choice to tell the story in dual POVs with an older, seasoned journalist and the green newbie worked well.

Unfortunately, this book didn't hit the mark for me. The slow pace made it hard to stay engaged, and I found myself losing interest throughout. The predictable stereotypes, unrealistic plot twists, and underdeveloped characters disappointed me. This author may not be my cup of tea.

Thank you, @sandiejones_author @minotaurbooks @stmartinspress and @netgalley 🙏🏻

What a smart, engrossing, good solid suspense thriller 👍🏻👍🏻 I’m not particularly interested in tabloid journalism but this book had me hooked and I was enlightened by the corruption that could very well be true.

“She is Melanie Tooley. Known as #MeToo to her friends.”
Yes. Bringing in the corruption that is still happening. And it will until the consequences fit the crime 💯

Jess is a beginning journalist who is hired by The Globe, often known for their sensationalism and unethical tactics for “the story”. From her first interview, and throughout the dealings that she’s not ready for, Jess’s moral compass steers her on the innate sense of justice. Ultimately redemptive, this is an excellent portrayal of the unscrupulous, cut throat world of getting the scoop.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thought it would be fun to read the backroom antics of a tabloid like The Globe. It got to be a lot for me. I found myself having to skimread some stuff just to make myself finish it. That being said, it wasn’t a bad book. I just don’t think I am built to enjoy the level of it all here. I can see others enjoying it way more than I did.

We open the book with a novice reporter interviewing for the notorious British Press…..she has scruples and appears to impress her future boss.

When things start to go sideways at the publication, she begins to see how she would like to take down the “kingpins” responsible for creating sensational news.

But who exactly are the kingpins and what forces are really at play?

Great story full of twists and turns. This will have you unsure if you’re rooting for heroes or villains and plotting the downfall of many….

I read 30% of the book, but it took me way too long to get there. I could not relate to or care about any of these sneaky and conniving characters. Jess seems willing to throw anyone under the bus to get what she wants and Stella is a deceitful b-word.

I just really did not enjoy anything about this world of “journalism.”

I did not finish, so I will not be reviewing on Goodreads or Instagram.

Thank you for the early copy. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. 😞

Thank you @netgalley and @minotaurbooks for my ebook! This one came out Aug 15!
3.5/5 stars

➡️THOUGHTS:
In this book, we learn what goes on behind the scenes of popular newspapers and tabloids. The lies, deceit, cunningness of the reporters. The manipulative nature they use to get stories and share the “facts” about celebrities. I found the extremely interesting! This one was just ok for me though, I definitely enjoyed the last 20% of the book the most when the action really picked up and people got what they deserved!

Intricate, crafty, and suspenseful!

The Trade Off is an engrossing, ominous tale that transports you into the lives of two main characters, Stella, the deputy editor of The Globe who will do whatever it takes to get the story, and Jess, the new rookie reporter who believes that the only story that should be printed is the truth, especially when that story can lead to devastating consequences.

The prose is tight and tense. The characters are secretive, ruthless, and driven. And the plot unravels quickly into a gripping tale full of twists, turns, lies, deception, power, abuse, corruption, greed, indulgence, revelations, ambition, and violence.

Overall, The Trade Off is a sinister, entertaining, intense thriller by Jones that explores the ethical and moral fine line between right and wrong. And even though it isn’t my favourite novel by this author, it does do a wonderful job of combining the morally questionable, somewhat sleazy atmosphere of tabloid journalism with unsavoury characters, poor choices, and eerie motivations.

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔, 𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕, 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆’𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 - 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕.”

I’ve heard many good things about Sandie Jones’ work, especially as The Other Woman was a Reese’s Book Club Pick, so I was excited to receive a copy of her newest.

Jones takes the reader on a journey of ethics and moral dilemmas, having you wonder how far journalists go for a story, especially in the world of tabloid journalism - just how many stories have been engineered by journalists to get clicks, readership and money up? While the story focuses on Jess, a new journalist for The Globe, and Stella, her seasoned boss, Jones creates a cat-and-mouse-game where the stakes keep getting higher and higher, and involve more and more people. None of the characters are that likeable - Stella and Max push for whatever they want, no matter the cost, and although Jess has a moral compass, she comes across as naive at times. I liked the inclusion of the Me Too exposé plot; it is timely and fits in well with the power struggle that many of the characters are involved in. I found the story quick to read, and although slow paced in spots, once the momentum builds (especially in the last third), it is easy to keep the pages turning.

The Trade Off is a story of loyalty, ethics, tenacity, retribution and duplicity. Less thriller and more of a suspenseful drama, it explores the idea of the ‘truth’ and the harm the media can do. Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for the ARC!

The trade off is tabloid hour journalism at its finest (or worst)! These characters did some horrible things to get a story, which led to some exciting moments. I didn’t really like any of the characters. Stella was too devious and cold hearted and Jess was too naive and clueless for me.
The story started strong, but started lagging in the middle. It got a little muddled with so many different events taking place. The end picked up and added some more spark to the book, but I figured out the twist before it happened.
Overall, an ok beach read, but not my favorite Sandie Jones book. 3.5 stars

In "The Trade Off" by Sandie Jones, readers are plunged into a world of suspense, deception, and moral dilemmas that will leave them questioning the boundaries between truth and lies. With her signature storytelling prowess, Jones crafts an electrifying narrative that explores the complex choices faced by two women caught in the whirlwind of tabloid journalism.

Stella, the deputy editor of The Globe, is unapologetically driven by ambition and an unyielding pursuit of the juiciest stories, no matter the cost. Her reputation has been built on her willingness to stoop to any level to secure a headline, and she stands firm in her belief that the ends justify the means.

Contrasting Stella's approach is Jess, the rookie reporter at The Globe. For Jess, the story's credibility is paramount, and her ethical stance draws a clear line between fact and fiction. However, she quickly realizes that navigating the treacherous world of tabloid journalism is not as straightforward as it seems.

When a celebrity falls victim to the relentless pursuit of The Globe and pays the ultimate price, Jess is propelled into a quest for truth and justice. As she digs deeper into the secrets behind the headlines, she becomes increasingly convinced that Stella and the paper are complicit in the tragedy. Determined to expose the tabloid's dark underbelly, Jess must tread carefully, as the consequences of her investigation could be deadly.

Jones expertly weaves a narrative that explores the themes of morality, responsibility, and the high stakes of seeking the truth in a world driven by sensationalism. The tension escalates as Jess's pursuit of justice collides with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about the choices individuals make when faced with the dilemma of whether to prioritize personal gain or uphold principles of integrity.

"RISK or REWARD. JUSTICE or REVENGE. INNOCENCE or GUILT." These dichotomies form the core of the novel's exploration of human nature and the consequences of our decisions. Jones skillfully navigates the grey areas between right and wrong, leaving readers questioning the motivations and actions of the characters.

An interesting look at tabloid journalism. How far would you go to get the scoop? As far as manufacturing the story you want to write? I'm not sure exactly how realistic this is but it shows a sleazy side of journalism. It also takes on the #MeToo movement. I had a hard time getting invested in any of the particular characters - they all pretty much seemed like horrible people, except Jess - the one reporter who seemingly had morals. However, things weren't exactly what I thought and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending.

If you can't get the story, you just push until you get it.
The Globe is a fictional British tabloid in this psychological thriller. The story is told from 2 POV's - Stella, a seasoned journalist working at The Globe striving to be the editor; and Jess, a newbie. As Jess soon discover, Stella will go to any means necessary to get the story she wants, even if it means bending the truth a little. There were parts of this story that were entertaining, but then there were other parts that weren't necessary to the story and slowed down the pacing. It definitely shows you the dark side of media - they want readers, ratings, and money. There is a lot more action / suspense at the very end of the book, but it was also a little OTT for me.

If you have any dreams of becoming a journalist, this book will definitely squash them!

The story pits two reporters, Stella, a high-powered assistant editor, against the new and idealistic Jess. Jess thinks she's been recruited because of her high morals, but is that really the case? Once Jess finds out what is involved in tabloid reporting, she's ready to go full-blown whistleblower! The problem is, she needs to go to some pretty sketchy places to get proof.

In the background are the two men who control it all, Pete, the owner of the conglomerate, and Max, the editor of the Globe. As the story strays into "Me Too" territory I was worried it was going to stay strongly rooted in women's fiction, but there are some action-packed dramatic scenes. The writing was vivid enough that I can absolutely see this becoming a made-for-tv movie.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an advance reader's copy.

#TheTradeOff, #SandieJones, and #MinotaurInfluencers