Off the Record - by Sara Goodman Confino (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An aspiring newspaper reporter comes across a mystery that threatens to turn the Cold War hot in a funny, thrilling, and strictly undercover romantic comedy by the bestselling author of Don't Forget to Write.

In 1962, opportunities are typically few for nice Jewish girls clacking away at ninety words per minute in a newspaper typing pool. Except Judy Greenberg isn't typical. An aspiring reporter in DC, she's aiming for journalistic greatness--not finding a husband. Just don't tell her mother.

Then one day she answers her boss's private line. The message is curiously cryptic. It's also delivered in a Russian accent. Judy is certain she has stumbled upon a scoop. Charming reporter Jack Fields isn't one to dismiss Judy's instincts. Perfect. A seasoned ally she can trust, not to mention pass off as a pretend boyfriend around her relieved parents. Together, they're following the leads--from a clandestine hotel bar to the dressing room of a slinky Cuban nightclub singer to an exhilarating underground of secrets and spies stretching from Moscow to Havana to Texas.

Now Judy must choose between the safe life expected of her or one hell of a dangerous story that could make her career. She might even fall in love for real. If her ambitions don't get her killed.

Review Quotes

"One of the joys of reading is starting a book and being hooked from the first page. With Off the Record, Sara Goodman Confino accomplishes that and more...This combination of spy thriller, historical fiction, rom-com, and family drama is extremely fun to read. If you are looking for a clever, humorous, and engaging summer read, look no further." --Bookreporter

"A constant page-turner...Confino has crafted a story that is equal parts inspiring and entertaining, making Off the Record a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction with heart." --Jewish Book Council

"Aspiring journalist Judy Greenberg is not in pursuit of an MRS degree. Smart, savvy, and unapologetically ambitious, Judy is a young woman ahead of her time with big dreams and even bigger obstacles in Sara Goodman Confino's captivating new novel Off the Record. It's 1962, and women aren't considered 'real reporters.' Instead, they are sidelined to the typing pool. But that won't stop Judy from chasing the story behind the story. As she inches closer to a dangerous scoop, sparks fly with newsroom charmer Jack Fields, and the stakes climb fast. When Judy uncovers a headline-making story, she's forced to choose between safety and ambition, love and leads, silence and the truth. Buckle up: Off the Record is hot off the press, packed with romance, intrigue, and suspense--and is Confino's best yet." --Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of The Goddess of Warsaw

"Reading a book by Sara Goodman Confino feels like settling in for a girls' night full of laughter and juicy storytelling--and Off the Record might be my new favorite. Judith is the kind of heroine I adore: determined, sharp, and unwilling to accept the limits others place on her. When she stumbles across a story no one else has uncovered--one with the power to upend everything--she dives in headfirst, and I was right there with her. Smart, spirited, and utterly captivating." --Jenni L. Walsh, USA Today bestselling author of Death Was Not on the Guest List

"By now fans of Sara Goodman Confino know to expect feminist stories chock-full of humor, Jewish joy, and family dynamics that are as familiar as our own living rooms, only more entertaining. With Off the Record, Confino takes it up a notch with mystery and danger that had me on tenterhooks. Lovable protagonist Judy Greenberg has enough chutzpah to fight an army of overpowering Jewish mothers, and flirtatious and sweet Jack is her perfect match whether she likes it or not. As for me, I didn't like it; I loved it!" --Meredith Schorr, USA Today bestselling author of Roommating

"There is nothing not to love about Off the Record, Sara Goodman Confino's latest gem. It has everything readers have come to expect from this expert storyteller: humor, heart, wit, romance, and a plucky heroine who isn't afraid to chase her dreams. Add Washington politics and Cold War intrigue, and you have a madcap adventure that just might be Confino's best yet!" --Samantha Greene Woodruff, bestselling author of The Trade Off and The Lobotomist's Wife

"It's 1962, and all the 'good girls' are clamoring for their MRS degree--all except for one, that is: aspiring journalist Judy Greenberg. Smart and determined, Judy knows that she has what it takes to make it as an investigative journalist, and one handsome reporter in particular certainly agrees. So when Judy intercepts a suspicious phone message meant for her boss, she and Jack Fields embark on a mission where the stakes couldn't be higher--and soon discover that it's what happens off the record that changes everything on it. Fans of Sara Goodman Confino will delight in this scintillating story where secrets, danger, and matters of the heart collide." --Heidi Shertok, author of Unorthodox Love and Match Me If You Can

"A sharp, spirited, entertaining tribute to investigative journalism--and the women who refused to stay on the sidelines. Confino captures the thrill of chasing a story in this girl-power page-turner." --Alexandra Robbins, New York Times bestselling author of The Teachers