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

I flew through this one! It isn't exactly a tell-all of the British (and other) tabloids, but it has a lot of similarities. Celebrities are treated as gossip-fodder, and it's so sad the power that tabloids have over our lives. I liked the small twists throughout, and was pleased with the ending.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I was pleased with the amount of drama and high stakes that this story pulls you into relatively immediately. What I was missing, though, was a bit more time on the characters. There was virtually no explanation of why Max did what he did, other than some throw-away sentences at the very end, no real dive into Stella's character evolution. It would have been vastly more interesting to explore Max a bit more - his motivations and internal conflicts (if any), as well as Stella's and Jess's. It was a short book, so recognize not a lot of words spared beyond moving the plot along, but would've appreciated that character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and Monotaur books for my ARC! I would have to say this one started off a bit slow for me, but somewhere in the middle I was hooked! Just what I love about all sandie Jones reads there was suspense, twists, turns and a somewhat unexpected ending. Not a standard thriller but a perfect beach read!

The Trade Off delves into the disturbing and dark side of journalism and media and touches on the #metoo movement. Stella is a “devil wears Prada” powerhouse and Jess is a charming character you can easily bond with. I loved their relationship and work dynamic.

The Trade Off is modern and thought-provoking, definitely a favourite and one of the reasons why Sandie JONES is an auto buy for me!

I just finished The Trade off by Sandie Jones and here are my musings.


Jess had no idea what to expect when she was hired to work at the Globe. She is greener than they come and her moral compass points straighter than an arrow. Not normally what one would expect from a tabloid but she was hired for her trustworthiness.

Stella on the other hand, does whatever it takes to get that byline and she sleeps like a baby at night.

Jess cannot believe Stella's attitude when a celebrity is hounded by the press and Jess feels the paper is to blame for what happened to her. Jess is ready to make the newspaper conglomerate pay for every single person they have hurt for a story but can she uncover the truth before someone kills her to silence her?

What a book! I really enjoyed the slow burn suspense that this book dished out in spades! I really had a mad hate on for Stella. People like her are what is wrong with the world. Ruining people's lives…. GROSS!! Jess, for me, picked a weird business to be in with her morals. Neither fit the mold for me but for some reason, it worked really well.

Loved the concept of the newspaper and celebrity stories! I wouldn’t really call it a thriller but more a suspense novel. It was really well written and I loved every single moment of it. I didn’t see the big twist coming at the end either so that was a huge plus for me. The book was told both from Jess and Stella’s POV so it helped to understand where both of the women were coming from and rounded out the story really nicely.

I loved the ending, so well done.

4.5 stars for me!

Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaurbooks for my gifted copy

Stella Thorne is a seasoned deputy editor who will stop at nothing to get a good story, and she's dedicated her life to The Globe. When rookie reporter Jess Townsend joins the newsroom, Stella takes an instant disliking to her and her naivete. The two clash over the ethics of journalism and how far they'll each go to tell a story - or tell the truth.

This book was a bit slow to start. I felt like the real action didn't start until around 55-60% in. I did enjoy how this book really explored the dark side of tabloid journalism and exposed how these papers go to such lengths to create the narratives they want out there, even if it isn't the truth. I admired Jess' tenacity, but did roll my eyes a bit at how trusting she was of Max. Overall, a middle of the pack thriller!

What is your go to source for news?
I check CNN and MSNBC a few times a day and obviously I get info from TikTok because I like to pretend that I am 23 years old.

The Trade Off is a thriller about two women working for a tabloid newspaper in London that thrives off of the most scandalous stories possible. One woman is a seasoned editor with no scruples and the other is a newbie, horrified by how the news stories are obtained and they get entangled in a messy situation. It raises the question of how far will you go to get the best big story. This book was intense with many twists and it just completely went off the rails in the end when things went absolutely bonkers.

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.