Reviews

From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein

valmeac's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny fast-paced

4.5

Gossipy, entertaining, fun peek into white house life. Good writing, a little trashy

apocalypso's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

surejan's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative medium-paced

2.0

It was like listening to a friend talk about the same problems with their boyfriend over and over. There are more than two men in the world, girl! Also, the fawning over President Obama after every time she cheated on her boyfriend was an interesting choice. 

ohgeeitschrissy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

4.0

readwithval's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

mollywetta's review against another edition

Go to review page

I mean this was fun, and I am totally the target audience, but even I was embarrassed for the author in a lot of ways, which oddly seemed like it was the point? I would have thought there would be more politics, too. The only issue the author really seems to care about is gun control. And she references her own writing so much, rather than just letting it speak for itself. But the hot mess is so endearing I easily overlooked the train wreck element. I think this would have been more successful as fiction in the vein of Devil Wears Prada, rather than sold as memoir.

mfdunnigan's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

2.5

caitgriff's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

I’ve enjoyed different takes on staffers’ time at the Obama White House, but that didn’t fully seem like what this was. The story centered on the author’s dysfunctional and toxic relationships. Maybe you can commend her on her honesty, but she honestly comes across as the antagonist of her own story, repeatedly cheating on her boyfriend, breaking the trust of her friends, etc. She seems thoughtless in how her actions affect others.

It’s also annoying how frequently she takes the opportunity to boast about how great of a writer and a runner she is. It goes beyond serving the narrative and into the territory of “look at how much these important people praise me!”

Would not recommend to anyone looking for anything actually centering around a White House experience as plot, and not just as a backdrop.

laurrecommends's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

4.5

aspittel's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I loved this book. Brought me back to my campaign-staffer days of chasing candidates across the country. Plus the mystery of who the characters were in real life.