Book Review: The Trade Off by Sadie Jones

 Title: The Trade Off

Author: Sadie Jones

Pages:304

Pub Date: August 15, 2023

Source: NetGalley

GoodReads Description: From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club Pick The Other Woman comes The Trade Off, an electrifying new novel of suspense that begs the question: Would you tell a story, if you knew it was a lie? Or tell the truth and sleep at night?

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.

RISK or REWARD. JUSTICE or REVENGE. INNOCENCE or GUILT.

My Review: 

The Trade Off is a newsroom thriller. It is apparent that the author, Sandie Jones, was a journalist and is familiar with the ins and outs of a newspaper. So it was fun to dive in to that world.

There were two perspectives: Jess the rookie reporter and Stella the seasoned pro, perhaps soon-to-be editor. Jess is altruistic and optimistic if not a little naive and Stella is tough, no-nonsense, and will do whatever she has to to get the story and get the job done. Both perspectives were interesting - not sure what it says about me that I liked Stella better. Anyways, shady journalistic practices end up with serious consequences and ultimately uncover something even more sinister.

This was a fast-paced read, the details felt authentic since the author was a journalist herself, and I also loved the heart of the story.

Soundtrack suggestion: Taylor Swift's "The Man"