I’ve been looking for my next 5-star read, and… drumroll please, here it is! This book is remarkable, and I don’t even like politics - it shows what a master storyteller Sara Goodman Confino is.

I couldn’t decide if I loved Beverly or her mother more, but both of these women had me laughing. I was so thankful Beverly did not stand by her man when she caught her husband with his secretary. Instead, she decides to go to work for a political opponent, and it’s election season.

Set in the 1960s, Beverly is up against many sexist barriers and societal judgments. She’s been a housewife and a mother; that’s all anyone has seen her as. But now she’s about to show Michael, her candidate, how to win the women’s vote.

I can’t praise this book enough. It has brilliant characters, snappy dialogue with witty humor, and even a touch of romance. It showcases how women still had to be wives, mothers, and domestic caretakers while trying to get a foothold in their careers. Added in are some great Jewish representation and even a few respectable men, making the narrative feel well-rounded and balanced.

I loved that this was about women supporting women and showing that women can be an unstoppable force. Sara, I cannot wait to read what you write next!

Thank you @getredprbooks and @saraconfino for the gifted book.

Thank you @brilliancepublishing for the gifted audiobook. Helen Laser’s narration was fabulous!

I adored Beverly and this book! I was drawn in by the description and the cover art, and this book did not disappoint. It was great to listen to the story of a strong woman form the 60's taking control of her own life after finding out about her husband's cheating after she has been the "perfect" wife in supporting him. The narrator was fantastic and I enjoyed all the snippets of local DC life with the defunct department stores that I grew up with. I will recommend this book highly! Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the early listen in exchange for my honest opinion.

Hysterical. Uplifting. Cheer worthy! Another 5⭐️ read by Confino.

Behind Every Good Man is a revenge story set in the 1960’s when good and upstanding still meant something and when women were coming into their power.

Confino’s last 2 books solidified her as a must-read author for me. She consistently writes immersive, bingeworthy storylines that entertain and inspire.

But more than that, I am forever endeared to the rich cast of characters she crafts. Always tenacious. Always bold.
Jenna, Evelyn, Marilyn, Ada... and now Bev and Millie.

All firecracker female characters full of sass and wisdom. Characters that remind me of myself. Characters that I want to be friends with. Characters that motivate me to leave a legacy worth emulating.

OH... the way I rooted for Bev!!!! More than revenge, this is a story about resiliency and hope. Bev could’ve caved to her circumstances, as would most women in that time. Rather, she tapped into her inner strength and fought to overcome. Quick witted and full of verve, Bev is the embodiment of a powerhouse woman.

Though the book is set in the 60’s the themes of women belonging in all the places... especially politics... felt very timely. I loved the focus on the power of voting and the role that women play within the electoral process.

And the Easter eggs!!! I actually squealed out loud. Don’t Forget to Write is one of my very favorite books, and I adored seeing how these characters connected.

I closed the last pages of this book feeling inspired and full of hope. Just when I thought Confino had reached her pinnacle (Don’t Forget to Write), she proved that she’s only just getting started. Sara... I can’t WAIT to see what’s next!

🎧 The audiobook narrated by Helen Laser was exceptionally well executed. Laser's full bodied depiction of Bev was engaging and easy to listen to. I found myself hanging on for "one more chapter" over and over again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this book. This was a surprisingly delightful audiobook about a 1960s housewife who catches her husband in a compromising position, and uses her brains to exact revenge on him professionally. All the characters are fully drawn, and interesting in their own right, especially the mother and the best friend. Highly recommend.

Listening to this book on audio format brings another layer to this story. I really enjoyed listening to this story. Helen Laser did a wonderful job of voicing all of the various characters. Each character did have a distinct voice to them...Women and Men. Listening to this audiobook as voiced by Helen, I was able to stay in the moment and play attention to the story playing.

Another amazing book from Sara. Once I started reading, I was drawn into the story and could not stop reading. Behind Every Good Man is not to be missed! I am calling it, but this book will be a best seller and one that every book club will be talking about.

Bev is the type of woman that you envision when you think about woman empowerment! Instead of allowing her estranged husband's affair to define her, she paved her own path of independence. I love how supportive Bev's mother was and Michael. He did not downgrade Bev's intelligence but together they shined. If I had been in that time period, I would have voted for Michael.

Sara Goodman Confino does it again with another masterpiece! I was a little concerned before starting this book that it might be too political, but I was wrong to be concerned. It was the perfect blend of heart and humor, and I adored every minute of it.

Beverly was such a spunky character, and I loved her determination and drive. She was so strong even when dealing with adversity and being a woman in a man’s world. I enjoyed her relationship with Michael, the candidate for Maryland Senator that she is campaigning for, and I liked that their relationship wasn’t the main focus of the book.

I listened to the audiobook, and I highly recommend reading this format if you can. Helen Laser’s performance was superb and she truly brought Beverly and this story to life.

I have loved every book that I’ve read by Sara Goodman Confino, and Behind Every Good Man was no exception. This will definitely be on my top books of 2024 list!

Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced listener’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

What's better than reading Sara Goodman Confino's newest book, Behind Every Good Man, for the third time?!? Getting to listen to the audiobook, as well!!

This powerful, heartwarming, and hilarious read already packs a punch with Sara's incredible storytelling and writing, but the indomitable Helen Laser adds even more grit, gumption, and determination to main character Beverly Gelman Diamond, making this firecracker and force of a main character truly sparkle!

Sara, I adore you and I"m so grateful for this book! It's truly what we all need in this political season, and I can't wait to see what you have in store next! First woman president?!? I think if anyone could write her, it would be you!

Love you so!

Thank you @GetRedPRBooks and @SaraGoodmanConfine for the #gifted ARC and thank you Brilliance Publishing for the #gifitd ALC of Behind Every Good Man! #BehindEveryGoodMan #saragoodmanconfino #getredprbooks #BrillianceAudio #BrilliancePublishing

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐨
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!

★★★★★ (ALL THE STARS)

This book will be right up there as one of my top books of the year. Sara Goodman Confino is one of my absolute favorite authors. I was so happy to have discovered her last year and have devoured her books since learning about her. Behind Every Good Man is a must read! If this is your first Sara Good Confino Book, I promise you will be running out to read all of her books after you read this one!

After finding her husband, the campaign manager for the Maryland incumbent senator, in a compromising position with his secretary, Beverly Diamond does what any soon-to-be ex-wife in the 1960s would do: she signs up to help run Michael Landau’s senatorial campaign. All Beverly has to do is convince Michael to focus on women’s issues, go more modern, and learn how to properly dress himself, and he might actually have a chance at winning, while at the same time making her own dreams coming true.

🗳️Set in the 1960s
🗳️A Lovable & Determined Main Character
🗳️A Feisty Mother
🗳️Laugh Out Loud Humor
🗳️A Hint of Romance
🗳️Voting Rights
🗳️Historical & Women’s Fiction
🗳️Jewish Representation
🗳️“Don’t Forget To Write” References

🎧I read this book in June and loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to listen to the audiobook because I had to experience this book again. Helen Laser was brilliant, as always. She is truly dynamic and I thought she was the perfect choice to narrate this audiobook. You are truly in for a real treat with Laser as the narrator, and I cannot recommend this audiobook enough!

This is such a good story! I am not one who reads a lot of historical fiction, but I devoured this book!

It's 1962 and Beverly Diamond catches her husband in a compromising situation with his secretary. He's the campaign manager for the incumbent senator. He got where he is with the help of her last name, though. So, what does she do? Beat him in the race. She joins the campaign for Michael Landau, the current underdog, as his co-campaign manager.

Beverly is a strong and powerful woman, way ahead of her time. She was also a wonderful mother, though her own mother was a hoot. The focus on woman in politics at the time was so interesting and how Beverly focused a lot of Michael's campaign towards women.

I had heard that the audiobook was wonderful, so I requested it. And it is. Helen Laser is the narrator, and she is just fantastic.

Thank you to Get Red PR and the author for a signed copy of the book. Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listeners copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Beverly Diamond catches her husband in a compromising situation with his secretary, she kicks him to the curb. When he threatens to take away the home she shares with their kids, she decides to get even - by helping the senate candidate her husband is leading a campaign against. As these two new rivals go toe-to-toe, sparks between her and her new employer begin to fly as well.

I enjoyed every minute of this really unique genre mashup. With elements of historical fiction, women’s fiction, romance, and politics, there is something here for literally everyone.

From the moment Beverly catches her husband Larry cheating on her, I knew the fireworks were coming. She is an incredibly strong FMC and watching her step up and take control of her own destiny was what made this story so powerful. While it isn’t specifically a romance, I loved watching the relationship between our MCs begin to take form and shape. Their arc flowed so effortlessly off of the overall storyline.

And one of my favorite aspects - getting a behind the scenes tour of what it is like to run such an important campaign. And while this is set in the 1960’s, it still feels so timely.

Read if you like:
• strong FMCs
• politics in the 60s
• great characters
• jewish rep
• romance subplot
• Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Thank you Lake Union, Get Red PR and Brilliance Audio for the gifted copies.

There are way too many books on my TBR to read the same book again when I could be reading a new book. But…. I read an ARC of Behind Every Good Man as soon as I could get my hands on it back in March because I loved the other books written by Sara Goodman Confino so much (especially Don’t Forget to Write). Unsurprisingly, her new book is as good, if not better than her previous ones. So, when I got the chance to listen to the ARC I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity and a crazy thing happened - the audiobook made me love it even more! The narrator, Helen Laser really brought the story to life. I especially enjoyed her portrayal of the main character’s mother. So, now I have to go look up all of the books she narrates to add them to my audio TBR. While I wait for Confino's next book to come out, maybe I'll go back and listen to her others.

This novel offers a profound and moving portrayal of a fictional female character who rises to prominence in the political sphere. The story delves into her experiences and struggles, highlighting her strength and resilience as she navigates the complexities of her role.

The protagonist’s journey is marked by her determination to overcome significant personal and societal challenges. Rather than focusing on political rivalries, the book explores her battles with societal expectations, gender biases, and the emotional toll of her position. Her story is an inspiring testament to the inner strength required to lead in a male-dominated world.

The author skillfully portrays the character’s personal growth and the ways in which she adapts to the demands of leadership while staying true to her principles. Her relationships with family, colleagues, and mentors are depicted with nuance, providing insight into how these dynamics influence her political decisions and personal life.

This novel is a compelling and insightful exploration of a strong female leader’s journey. It offers a rich, character-driven narrative that highlights the unique challenges faced by women in politics and the profound impact of personal resilience. Readers will find the book both inspiring and thought-provoking, making it a valuable addition to the genre.

I am officially obsessed with Sara Goodman Confino's books after finishing Behind Every Good Man - with strong, Jewish female characters and storylines that grab you from the get-go, her books have become must-reads for me. Beverly's story of finding her own footing, not just at home but in the world of politics is one I found captivating and page-turning. I can't wait to read more from Confino in the future - and I absolutely adored the small nods to her last book, Don't Forget to Write!

What a beautiful story full of character growth, heart, and love. Behind Every Good Man will grab you and pull you into politics, 50s in DC and a world of dynamic female characters who go against the norms of a controlling society and gave me Marvelous Mrs. Maisel vibes.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?

This book absolutely had all the emotions. I was laughing, scolding characters, cheering, wanting to strangle characters and I could not get enough…Especially when it came to Bev’s character. She was the life blood of the story and a total bad ass!

I really appreciated how this book addressed the prejudices and controlling mindset of a very male dominated world during the 50s and yet there was a new generation of women standing up and pushing back so they could be their own independent person.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:

Strong Women
Supportive Family
Women in politics
The 50s
Humor

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

Helen Laser truly brought this story to life with her narration.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?

I absolutely binged this fast paced story. The fun banter between several characters also had me fully engaged and giggling during every chapter.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

This was a wonderful and rich story full of heart and life lessons, and a story I recommend!

Thank you, GetRed and Amazon Publishing, for this gifted copy.

Interesting female coming of age story at the pinnacle of modern American history. Educational, sassy, and sweet. While the book is a slow burn, by the second half I found myself very invested in the characters and their intersecting stories. I'm normally not a slow burn reader, I historically don't enjoy them—but this one really engaged me as it unfolded. There is far more under the surface than meets the eye initially. Definitely recommend.

Wow. This book is phenomenal. I was blown away by the reminders of everything women have fought for so valiantly to make the lives of future generations better and how far we still have to go. Small victories add up to big wins and the wheels of time turn slowly, but they do turn. I loved Beverly and her relationship with her mother. You could really see the generational differences in some of the things they fought about, but also the love of a mother and the many sacrifices mothers will make for their children. I adored the camaraderie Bev found in her job despite a rough start and the way she just kept going for what she wanted. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the amazing Helen Laser, and it is a fantastic way to read this incredible story.

Sara's books get better with each other. I didn't think she could told her others, but she did with Behind Every Good Man.

I love Beverly. She is one of my favorite FMC I've read. She finds her husband cheating on her and instead of letting it break her, she decides to do what she can to stick it to him. She is hilarious, strong, brave, determined, a good mother, a good friend, a good daughter and a hard worker. She took care of everyone but herself through the book which is relatable to most wives and mothers. She's everything I want to be when I grow up, and I'm older than she was in the book.

Michael was just an upstanding man. He's what every woman wants. He was a good hearted man trying to make a difference in his state and country. I just loved Michael and how he was one of the only people to really listen to Beverly and take her advice. He was the sweetest.

And of course, Sara always kills it with her side characters. Mille, I really enjoyed her and her one liners, advice and at the end but I won't spoil that for you! Nancy, she's the best friend you'd want on your side always! I loved her and her attitude. She reminded me of Ada and Evelyn!

This book was just so good, Sara's best yet and I cannot wait for more!

Make sure you either read or listen to it when it releases on 8/6! 🇺🇸

I was approved for this audio and listened to it the same evening because I am obsessed with all things Sara Goodman Confino. Helen Laser does a phenomenal job with the various character voices, the depth of emotions and the humorous zingers. Brilliant!

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the gifted ALC.

Behind Every Good Man
Sara Goodman Confino
Pub: 8/6
4.5☆

Behind Every Good Man is an even better Woman!

Another winner from SGC! Nobody writes independent, firecracker female characters the way she does and Beverly was another gleaming example. She was so lovable and strong, you couldn’t help but root for her. I love a good revenge story and this one did not disappoint.

I truly adore everything about this book. It was hilarious, rich in history, and such a powerful ode to women.

I had the pleasure of taking part in a Jewish author zoom chat and Sara was not only fascinating to listen to as she told her origin story, she was also really funny! That same sense of humor absolutely shines through in her writing. There were so many times throughout the story I burst out laughing.

What I loved;
✨ Women’s/Historical Fiction
✨ Jewish Rep
✨ 1960’s DC
✨ Female Empowerment
✨ Connected Characters
✨ LOL Humor

I wasn’t 💯 sure about this one with the heavy politics premise, but do not let that sway you! Add this one to your TBR.

A huge thank you to SGC for the gifted ALC! Helen Laser’s narration was absolutely fantastic and so much fun to listen to. Her voice was the perfect match to your words.

ARC review.
Behind Every Good Man
This is my honest to goodness review on this book, despite being an ARC reviewer. 🩵
I love Sara. I have read and loved every single one of her books, but this one is my favorite. I have been STALKING her insta since she announced this book.
Bev is such a strong and loveable FMC.
Her mother though. 😂 Sara not only writes the best main characters, but by far my favorite side characters. I loved Millie.
I loved the mention of the characters from Don't Forget to Write. I love that Millie spent a summer with Ada.
I'm not big on politics, but I loved this book.
Women empowerment.
I laughed out loud with this book.
As for side characters, Stuart. I even loved that grouch. 😂
The Peter Pan scene with Michael. My hearttttt. 💗
This book isn't even out yet and I'm already ready for more from Sara Goodman Confino.
Pub date: August 6.
Make sure you read it. 🫶🏻