Jennifer Close

"Laced with sly humor and insider detail, Jennifer Close's new novel tells the story of a young wife who follows her husband and his political dreams to DC, a city of idealism, ambition and complicated friendships among young Washington's aspiring elite"--

The Hopefuls

Marcy Pursell 

I picked this book up from a little library a few years ago. The cover caught my eye, and reading the blurb on the inside cover intrigued me enough to take it home. The blurb mentions the main character and her move to DC, where I live, and I thought, this will be relatable. I cannot tell you what genre this book is other than fiction, though I would have liked it better if it were a non-fiction memoir of the author's experience. It kept going on and on, and I thought...when will the plot pick up? What is the plot? Is something going to happen? And eventually something did happen, but it was 30 pages before the book ended, and all I could think was...that's it? Needless to say, I didn't love this book. The only parts I liked were the relatable bits, the mentions of different spots around DC. That said, the book was an easy enough read, but felt like a slog at times because I was bored.

Caroline

I wouldn't recommend this but I wouldn't not recommend it either. Light and fluffy to read but nothing particularly interesting to spend book time on. The romance, the deterioration of it and then renewal of it was lacklustre although the setting in Washington DC/Texas was a bit different so I guess that was good.

Gisela Ayala 

Another book that got kind of bad reviews here on Goodreads, but I actually enjoyed. Maybe because I just took it for what it is - a story about a young couple that gets caught up in the hoopla that is politics and Washington D.C. 

The main characters (Beth, Matt, Ash, and Jimmy) were depicted really honestly. I feel like they were real people that I would probably run into or people that I went to college with. Each had their different version of what success looked like. It was these differences that brought on all their troubles and grievances with each other. They just didn't know how to cope, and I think that happens to many of us. We start of all idealistic and optimistic, but then the reality sets in and you realize that maybe that new job wasn't as great as you thought, or those friends weren't as sincere as you had originally hoped. 

I really enjoyed the fact that this book takes place during recent history - the historic 2008 campaign when Obama won and the years that followed. Looking back I think everyone became so involved with the message of hope and change that it was easy to become disillusioned and believe everything would be better overnight. But the reality is much grittier than that - it actually takes a lot of work, which is something our main character and narrator Beth has to realize. 

You aren't going to find extreme scandals or a lot of action in this book, but if you are willing to be patient, I think Beth's honest and sincere voice and thoughts will make you, as a reader rethink what trust, politics, relationships, and above all hope require.

Amanda Autumn Berrey

It wasn’t a terrible book, but it was very slow. I found myself searching for inspiration to finish it. It took me forever to finish it, but it was pretty decent. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it though.

Lauren Attaway

I really enjoyed this book, and seeing a different take on D.C. then what is typically portrayed in the media. Funny and sarcastic at times, but interesting throughout.

Allyson Marrs

I'm going to start by saying at many times, it felt like this book had no plot. It actually felt like the author was just continually describing the characters in different ways. But, for some weird reason, it was intriguing. I guess it's because it was like a deep-dive into the people who are attracted to DC - what motivates them, and their stubborn ambition affects everyone around them. Maybe I just enjoyed it because I wanted to think about the political scene where Obama still has 8 promising years ahead of him, and daydream that in 2017, the world wouldn't implode. Sigh.

The book did eventually develop a purpose, and flowed nicely from there, in Close's typical detached nature. She writes with a realty that keeps my attention. Life isn't full of plot twists and crazy adventures. It's about those boring, everyday moments, and finding a way to trudge through. And doing so in a language that's refreshingly relatable.

b.andherbooks

Beth and her husband Matt move to Washington DC, hoping to launch Matt into the high-stakes political world of the new Obama presidency. Feeling like an outsider, Beth struggles to deal with Matt's growing fervor as he struggles to ascend the political pyramid. After befriending a charismatic couple from Texas, Matt and Beth become enmeshed in their political campaign as Jimmy runs for Rail Road commissioner back home.

A frank and illuminating look into the intricacies of political life in Washington DC and around the country. I appreciated how Close kept her characters at the middling level which made the story all the more real. I also enjoyed how the story showcased the sheer amount of work and desperation that goes into every political campaign, regardless of how small or successful.

Megan Gardner

Allison Dempsey

Lindsey B

Alexandra Sklar

Caitlyn

Christina Rae Lu

Bee 

Suzy Dean

Courtney Sutton

Julie Gibson

Tracey O’Rourke

Sahi K

A brilliantly funny novel about ambition and marriage from the best-selling author of Girls in White Dresses, The Hopefuls tells the story of a young wife who follows her husband and his political dreams to Washington, D.C., a city of idealism, gossip, and complicated friendships among the young aspiring elite. When Beth arrives in D.C., she hates everything about it: the confusing traffic circles, the ubiquitous Ann Taylor suits, the humidity that descends each summer. At dinner parties, guests compare their security clearance levels. They leave their BlackBerrys on the table. They speak in acronyms. And once they realize Beth doesn't work in politics, they smile blandly and turn away. Soon Beth and her husband, Matt, meet a charismatic White House staffer named Jimmy, and his wife, Ashleigh, and the four become inseparable, coordinating brunches, birthdays, and long weekends away. But as Jimmy’s star rises higher and higher, the couples’ friendship—and Beth’s relationship with Matt—is threatened by jealousy, competition, and rumors. A glorious send-up of young D.C. and a blazingly honest portrait of a marriage, this is the finest work yet by one of our most beloved writers.

The Hopefuls

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