Member Reviews

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i really wanted to love this but it seemed repetitive and maybe it would make a better movie because of all the visuals. i love that beverly is a take charge, take no shit kind of woman and i liked where her story was going. if they could stop with the quips and the oh my goodness situations, it would be a lot better.

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This was such a great book! I loved the story line, the characters, the sub plots-everything!! Bev was awesome and her mother is my new fictional hero! I want to read more about Michael and Stewart-I want to know everything about them!

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I loved this book, the characters, time period and most of all the humor. Beverly is shocked to walk into her husbandโ€™s office to find him cheating on her. Once she kicks him out, she decides to look for a job. As a stay at home Mom, her skills were limited except for the fact she grew up the daughter of a political family with a congressman father. Joining a campaign was also a way to stick it to her husband, since he was the campaign manager for a competitor. Although there was much to laugh about, the setting of the early 1960โ€™s told a lot about the obstacles women faced in finding jobs and getting ahead. Beverly is a great character, and her interactions with her mother really enhanced the story. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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I devoured Sara Goodman Confinoโ€™s ๐—•๐—˜๐—›๐—œ๐—ก๐—— ๐—˜๐—ฉ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—ฌ ๐—š๐—ข๐—ข๐—— ๐— ๐—”๐—ก in a day! But Iโ€™ve been struggling to write this review because everything I want to say I know I already did in my post about her last book. So rather than try to reinvent the wheel, Iโ€™m sharing the same thoughts because they sum why Sara is at the top of my auto-buy list.

โ€œNo one writes realistic and entertaining stories about women figuring out who they are quite like she does. With wonderful Jewish rep, characters you wonโ€™t want to leave behind and dialogue that will both crack you up and tug at your heartstrings, this book, like her others, is an absolute delight.โ€

Trust me when I tell you to add this book to your TBRs. If you took ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜”๐˜ณ๐˜ด. ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ and added a bit of ๐˜‘๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ, youโ€™d get this fabulously fun read thatโ€™s perfect for the beach. I loved the cameos from her ๐˜‹๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜›๐˜ฐ ๐˜ž๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฆ characters, the special thanks to all of us in @pelotonmomsbookclub where weโ€™ve been lucky to get to know and support Sara, and how the story leaves you hopeful about politics which I think we can all use a little more of.

4.5 stars

Huge thanks to the author and Get Red PR for the copy to review.

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The year is 1962, and Beverly Diamond strives to be the perfect wife and mother, always making sure all her husband Larryโ€™s needs are met, despite what her own needs may be. But when she catches Larry at the office in a compromising position with his secretary, she decides sheโ€™s had enough. Sheโ€™s the daughter of the former Speaker of the House, so she knows her way around D.C. And what better way to get back at her husband - whoโ€™s running the campaign for the incumbent Senator - than to volunteer to run the campaign for his opponent?

What starts out as revenge ends up with a push for being recognized for who is she and what she - and all women - can bring to the table, if men would only let them. Add to the mix is her mother - who moves in with her to help with the children while she works, and the book provides is quite funny too. Although the story is set in 1962, there are similarities to whatโ€™s going on now, and with the election a few months away, this is a timely read. Out now - I highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book; all opinions are my own.

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Thank you @getredprbooks @saraconfino for a gifted copy!

โœจ ๐™ˆ๐™ฎ ๐™๐™๐™ค๐™ช๐™œ๐™๐™ฉ๐™จ โœจ
Itโ€™s the 1960s and Beverly Diamond catches her husband Larry in a compromising position with his secretary, and she asks for a divorce. When her husband threatens to take away the house, she decides to get even by getting a job on the political campaign against the one her husband is running!

Beverly grew up with her dad in politics and rubbing elbows with the political elite, so she brings a lot of wit and determination to the table. Immediately, she has doubts from another man she works with, but her boss and political candidate Michael believes in her. As she continues working, she finds some purpose in herself and gains confidence along the way. Bev is a dynamic and driven woman who showcases what someone can accomplish even if the odds are against them.

This novel was a fun one to read about during this time period in history. There was a lot of fun banter and cheekiness from the characters in this one, and I enjoyed Bev figuring out her place as a newly single mom. She had supportive females surrounding her, and how they stepped in to help their friend in need was amazing! I also liked her relationship with her mother and seeing her family dynamics with her father.

Pick this one up for a fun look at 1960s politics with family drama, humor, and many strong willed women!

โœจ ๐™”๐™ค๐™ช ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™ก๐™ž๐™ ๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™—๐™ค๐™ค๐™  ๐™ž๐™› ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช ๐™ก๐™ž๐™ ๐™š:
๐Ÿ”น Historical Fiction
๐Ÿ”น 1960s Politics
๐Ÿ”น Womenโ€™s Rights
๐Ÿ”น Strong FMC
๐Ÿ”น Jewish Rep
๐Ÿ”น Romantic Subplot

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This is a historical read set in a time when women were treated differently. This book was funny and classy. It's a love story that keeps you hooked til the end. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

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When I picked this book up I wasnโ€™t really in the mood for it. I figured I would give it a shot because this author always has reliable books so I was hoping it would pull me out of a slump. It definitely did and barely a few chapters in I was rooting for the MC, Beverly, to figure out how she would support herself and her kids. I liked seeing Beverly come into her own and prove her skills. It was empowering and inspiring even though the end is sorta obvious. I enjoyed the ride. Check this book out if you like reading about a woman picking herself up and moving forward or if you like books centered around politics.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

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Great book. Great strong female character. Loved the consistency with the language of the era. Thanks for the copy.

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4.5 stars rounded up. I previously read and loved Don't Forget to Write earlier this year, so I jumped at the chance to read Sara Goodman Confino's latest work, and she did not disappoint!

Beverly grew up in a political family in the Washington, DC suburbs. As is typical of women of her generation, she married young and devoted her time to being a dedicated wife and mother. The novel starts in 1962, when Beverly discovers that her husband, who also works in politics as a campaign manager for a senator, is cheating on her with his secretary. Not only is she blindsided and devastated by her husband's indiscretion, she is reeling with figuring out how she is going to support herself as a single mother. On a whim and to get revenge on her ex, Beverly offers to work for the opponent to Larry's boss, a younger and idealistic man named Michael who is running for Senate.

This was the best of what I appreciate about historical fiction - giving us the perspective of our predecessors, especially women of the past, and making it relevant to what is going on in today's world. In this book, the focus is on political corruption, voting rights, racism, and the continued attack of women's rights. . . Sound familiar? While there was also an element of forbidden office romance, the focus of the story was on Beverly blossoming into an independent and confident woman.

I also loved the Marilyn and Ada (from Don't Forget to Write) "Easter eggs" scattered throughout the book. Sara Goodman Confino will now be an auto-buy author for me and I look forward to going back and reading her first two novels! Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an e-book arc to read in exchange for my opinion.

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After a second 5 star book from Confino, she will now be an auto-read for me! I loved Behind Every Good Man and was not ready for it to end. I fell in love with the characters and was rooting for Beverly and Michael's success. Hopefully Confino will continue to write novels in this universe and we will get to see more of them. Highly recommend this one and will continue supporting Confino's future novels!

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Thank you to NetGalley for helping me confirm that if I could invite ten celebrities to dinner. Sara Goodman Confino would be eating matzoh ball soup with me as soon as possible.

Behind Every Good Man is the story of Beverly, a dutiful wife until she walks in to her husband's office and finds Larry in a very compromising position with his secretary. She immediately decides that she and her children will be far better off without him, and she resolves to build herself a new life. This includes becoming the secretary/ junior campaign manager for Michael Landau, who is running for state Senator against Larry's employer. Beverly originally takes the job as as an act of revenge but she quickly sees that she can help make a difference in the world of.women's rights with Michael in her corner.

This book is filled with adorable children, an overbearing and extremely lovable mom, despicable politicians versus honest and well-intentioned ones, and a cast of characters that are utterly unforgettable.

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Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Sara Goodman Confino for access to the ARC!

I LOVE SARA! She is tied as my top favorite author these past couple years and I devoured this book. Now that it's been released for all, I'm re-reading it! Her characters are so well-developed and absolutely delightful and I love the time period the books are set. It was this book that made me realize my own grandmother would have been around my age when this book was set. She was quite the socialite I know from stories she's told and newspaper articles I've discovered through genealogy research (social columns!). The mention of Tupperware parties in this book also made me smile as I could picture the color schemes my Granny and Mom had through the decades.

We find Beverly Gelman Diamond in 1962 when less than half of North American women were in the workforce. Beverly catches her husband with his secretary and she suddenly needs a job and a divorce lawyer. She also has to deal with her mother who moves in to help with the children and is horrified at the thought of her daughter working outside the home. I also appreciated that Beverly empowered an acquaintance to leave her job knowing she would be fired for being Jewish. Not only did Beverly give Francine the courage to leave her job, but she also empathized with Francine realizing their familial situations were not all that different. Sara nailed the time period once again!

Beverly seeks revenge on her ass of a husband by trying to beat him at his own game. He is a campaign manager for a politician and she gets a job managing the rival's campaign. She is determined to show Larry what he lost while proving that women are important to this election and want to have a voice in politics. I'm certain it's not irony that this book was published during an election season!

Don't sleep on this one! You won't regret snagging a copy and losing yourself in Behind Every Good Man. It's a fast read sure to delight fans of hilarious, strong women who aren't afraid to ruffle some feathers. I had Mrs Maisel vibes as I read this and also appreciated a well-timed cameo of a favorite
character in another Sara Goodman Confino book.

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What I liked: 1960โ€™s historical fiction focusing on the power of women voters, when a scorned homemaker becomes a campaign manager as revenge to her philandering husband. Great characters, humor, romance, and Jewish representation.

What I disliked: Highly disappointed that the Clark County Library District has no books by this author in neither their physical nor e-book collections.

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Behind Every Good Man is an incredible read that takes place in 1962. It combines women's fiction and historical fiction.

The book focuses on a Maryland senatorial campaign. And it features amazing Jewish rep.

The main character is 27 year old Beverly Diamond. She is a wife and mother. Honestly I would not have thought that I would have loved a book taking place in this time period and focusing on politics. But somehow I could not put this book down. I loved absolutely everything about this book. It was just amazing.

The characters were so great. I was obsessed with Bev. But I also adored all of the supporting characters, especially Michael Landau (running for senator), Stuart (running his campaign), Nancy (Bev's best friend) and Mildred (Bev's mother).

The book has quick short chapters. And amazing cameos from some favorite characters from Don't Forget To Write. There is also some romance, which was perfection.

Overall, I just loved getting to see Beverly thrive. This was such a good book! I highly recommend it!

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absolutely adore Sara Confino Goodmanโ€™s books! They are filled with humor, resiliency, and heart. Behind Every Good Man blends historical fiction, womenโ€™s fiction, and a little bit of romance into a wonderful five-star read!

What I loved:
โœจWashington, D.C. 1962: politics, power of the womenโ€™s vote, women fighting for independence from societal norms
โœจOur Jewish FMC - Beverly & her parents: Beverly is quick-thinking, resourceful, and fearless in the face of failure. What a terrific role model and inspiration for women today! She firmly takes hold of her own future and does so with the support of her family. Her mother is a hoot; her fatherโ€™s encouraging. I just love this family!!
โœจSmall easter eggs from her previous book! I love all the crossover from Donโ€™t Forget to Write. Don't worry if you haven't read it; youโ€™ll still love this book.

Other highlights: short chapters, funny dialogue, great side characters

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Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
I have loved all of Sara Goodman Confino"s books so far; but this one tops all of them. It's definitely the best one yet.....and I thought that of each one so far. I loved the protagonist and the story line was just perfect. The history was educational and that's one of the reasons I love this author's books, the time period covered is always so interesting and so relatable with the characters in the book.
It is a 5 ๐ŸŒŸ read for me.

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So much love to Sara Goodman Confino on the release of Behind Every Good Man which comes out today! This was such a wonderful 5-star book!

I loved this 1960s DC area book about Beverly who catches her husband cheating so she decides to get him back at his own game. She grew up in the political area with her dad being a Representative and her husband running the campaign for the incumbent Senator from Maryland so she decides to visit the underdog opponent and offers to help him win. In the way that Sara does best, we see Beverly manage her mom and children, winning this divorce and trying to win this Senatorial race.

I love the charm and wit in Beverly. She's a force to be reckoned with and she had me laughing so many times. I loved the 1960s suburban Maryland setting and seeing what women were up against and how Beverly (and her mom) both knew that they were part of the reason for the success of their husbands. I loved her mom and dad too!

Full of great characters and I love that we got cameos of Marilyn and hearing about being sent to Great Aunt Ada's for the summer which was fun because I loved Don't Forget to Write. I can't wait for more to read Sara's book and a huge thanks to Lake Union Press for an advanced copy.

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This book was such a fantastic great read for me. Bev goes through something terrible. She can just choose to crumble and be miserableโ€ฆ. She is such a strong FMC that I was just in awww of her. I had all the feels in her story. Especially at the end! I did shed a tear or two, just have beautiful the story was. Loved,how,this Author written this story!

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When Beverly Diamond catches her husband cheating, sheโ€™s determined to get revenge. As her future ex focuses on running a senatorial campaign, she harnesses her political skills to bolster his opponent, Michael Landau whoโ€™s shaping up to be the perfect candidate.

Beverly was such a fiery force! Her determination to get revenge was admirable ๐Ÿ˜‚ She wasn't afraid to use what she had on hand to get ahead even when grumpy Stuart, Michael's campaign manager, wasn't too happy she was around.

The sparring going on between her and Stuart was comedy gold ๐Ÿ˜‚ If I hadn't known Michael was the potential love interest I'd have gone for Stuart since they had the enemies thing down pat ๐Ÿคญ

I loved how Michael trusted her to steer the campaign in the right direction. The chemistry brewing between them was amazing and I could feel the frustration and pining.

I'm not a fan of politics but this book had me turning the pages just to see what happened next. It was interesting to see how US politics was back in the 1960s. It was also exciting to see how they handled curveballs to come out on top.

I also loved Bev's relationship with her father. He didn't dismiss her as a woman but actually encouraged her in her path. You also couldn't ask for a more feisty best friend than Nancy. She was a treat! I loved how it all worked out in the end ๐Ÿ˜„

This is definitely a favourite of the year. Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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