THE TRADE OFF
"Samantha Woodruff’s new novel, THE TRADE OFF possesses all the literary goodies that historical fiction lovers will devour: rags-to-riches, love, loss, redemption, and my personal fave—Girl Power--during a time when women had none. Readers will fall deeply in love with the fiery, brilliant Bea, a young immigrant who believes in her own abilities against all odds.”
- Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of Woman On Fire
Inspired by the true story of a pioneering investment legend, The Trade Off is a powerful novel about identity, sacrifice, family loyalties, and the complex morality of money.
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A brilliant and ambitious young woman strives to find her place amid the promise and tumult of 1920s Wall Street in a captivating historical novel by the author of The Lobotomist’s Wife.
Bea Abramovitz has a gift for math and numbers. With her father, she studies the burgeoning Wall Street market’s stocks and patterns in the financial pages. After college she’s determined to parlay her talent for the prediction game into personal and professional success. But in the 1920s, in a Lower East Side tenement, opportunities for women don’t just come knocking. Bea will have to create them.
It’s easier for her golden-boy twin brother, Jake, who longs to reclaim all their parents lost after fleeing the pogroms in Russia to come to America. Well intentioned but undisciplined, Jake has a charm that can carry him only so far on Wall Street. So Bea devises a plan. They’ll be a secret team, and she’ll be the brains behind the broker. As Jake’s reputation, his heedless ego, and the family fortune soar, Bea foresees catastrophe: an impending crash that could destroy everything if she doesn’t finally take control.
Inspired by the true story of a pioneering investment legend, The Trade Off is a powerful novel about identity, sacrifice, family loyalties, and the complex morality of money.
What people are saying about The Trade Off
"Bea Abramowitz is my kind of heroine: undaunted, full of grit and savvy, with the temerity to stare down a barrier and then work her hardest until she's found a way to break through it.”
- Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Margaret Fuller
“Readers of Beatriz Williams and Fiona Davis will devour this original and inspiring story of female empowerment, vividly set against the looming shadow of The Great Depression.”
-Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Sapphire
“Bea is the kind of well-drawn female character that you will root for from the very start, and the novel is an absolutely captivating read about one woman’s trailblazing pursuit of the American Dream for herself and her family.”
- Jane Healey, bestselling author of Goodnight from Paris
“A breathtaking look at one of the most dramatic moments in American history, The Tradeoff is not to be missed!"
- Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today bestselling author of He Gets That From Me
“Utterly satisfying and immensely enjoyable, with a nail-biting race to the conclusion, The Trade Off proves that Woodruff is an absolute powerhouse of historical fiction.”
-Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don't Forget to Write
“This richly nuanced story, its fast pace, and Bea’s Fiery character make The Trade-Off an exciting read. It includes an outstanding author’s note and discussion questions.”
-Jinny Webber, Historical Novel Society
About
Sam is the author of two Amazon bestselling historical fiction novels, The Lobotomist’s Wife (2022) and The Trade Off (2024).
After studying in the continuing education program at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, Woodruff completed her first novel, The Lobotomist’s Wife, which was an Amazon First Reads pick. The Trade Off was a Zibby Award winner in three categories, including Best Book for the History Lover, the Jewish Book Council’s January 2025 book club pick for fiction, and a finalist for She Reads Best Historical Fiction of 2024.
