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sarahpreno's review against another edition
3.0
Probably would have been 2 stars if I hadn't really enjoyed all the commentary about D.C. since I live in the area. I'm not sure how working in politics really is but it seemed like a pretty accurate portrayal too.
trin's review against another edition
3.0
As a portrait of young political operatives in D.C. during the (*sob*) Obama administration, this was really interesting and engaging. As a portrait of a marriage, it was less effective for me.
Spoiler
Matt seemed pretty damn toxic -- so angry, selfish, and careless! -- and I was not at all sold on him and Beth getting back together. Dump that tool and move back to New York, girl!jennrid's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
baoluong's review against another edition
4.0
When I ask for a character study and I get what I asked for, I can't begin to describe how happy I feel. Despite a lack of a driven plot, I prefer the meandering thoughts of a protagonist who notices the most interesting things about humanity. I found that Beth's narrative sold the authenticity of the characters and just like real humans, life is more complicated than lurid affairs or scandalous rivalry.
There's a constant pressure to act as if you are able to handle the pressure and anything less is unsightly. Perhaps, that's why Beth refuses to admit that she's unhappy. It's not fair to demand anyone to make a decision to uproot their life as if their effort up until then meant nothing. The future is uncertain and a false sense of security is enough motivation to make compromises instead. I thought that this book dealt with nuanced emotions within the setting of white liberalism. Super fun read if you don't care that a story has to have a 'point'. A story can just peek into the lives of others and curate experiences that you would not readily have access.
Cover Review:
Lovely illustration showing the dualism of a monogamous marriage. The font is appropriate albeit static due to it being centered. I can imagine another background color such as olive green to really enhance an emotional response (jealousy, nausea). Otherwise, it does mimic many adult contemporary reads with its neutral tones and can result in losing individuality among look alike covers.
There's a constant pressure to act as if you are able to handle the pressure and anything less is unsightly. Perhaps, that's why Beth refuses to admit that she's unhappy. It's not fair to demand anyone to make a decision to uproot their life as if their effort up until then meant nothing. The future is uncertain and a false sense of security is enough motivation to make compromises instead. I thought that this book dealt with nuanced emotions within the setting of white liberalism. Super fun read if you don't care that a story has to have a 'point'. A story can just peek into the lives of others and curate experiences that you would not readily have access.
Cover Review:
Lovely illustration showing the dualism of a monogamous marriage. The font is appropriate albeit static due to it being centered. I can imagine another background color such as olive green to really enhance an emotional response (jealousy, nausea). Otherwise, it does mimic many adult contemporary reads with its neutral tones and can result in losing individuality among look alike covers.
chrystalo's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why Jennifer Close's books always seem to hit me right in the feels. It's like I find them at the right time for my personal journey. Also, this book is so very DC...
bmb3md's review
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tl;dr The Hopefuls paints a compelling but mildly depressing picture of people in DC politics with great character work, but the plot drags at times
The Hopefuls is a pretty bleak look into DC, political careers, the people who gravitate toward them, and how it impacts both them and their relationships. Close conveys this message through her archetypical DC resident characters - charismatic Jimmy, who seems to stumble into success due to his charm and family connections; ambitious Matt, who wants to make a difference and is smart enough to do so, but feels constantly passed over; trophy wife Ashleigh, who adapts to Jimmy's life with a painted on smile; and Beth, a midwest/NY transplant who doesn't buy into the rat race of politics but finds herself begrudgingly dragged along. The foursome really do sum up the DC political scene, and if you've lived in DC for any amount of time, you can probably relate each of these characters, and a host of the side characters like Colleen and Alan, to people you've met in your time there (personally every time Alan was in a scene, I was almost triggered thinking about people EXACTLY like him I've had to deal with).
I've read a few reviews indicating that the lack of character growth in Beth and the cast being generally unlikable decreased their rating of the book, however I think that those were intentional choices made by Close to convey the strain political careers put on them all, how they deal with that strain, and what types of people succeed and continue in this environment. Jimmy and Ash portray the 'ideal' DC political couple, but we see as the novel progresses how its mostly a facade covering disappointments and secrets. Beth and Matt are different in that Matt constantly battles feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and jealousy through internalizing them and lashing out, but by the end Beth really feels more like Ash than the self she presents in the first half of the book, and that's the point - to make her marriage work in this environment, she has to basically put her career, goals, and often pride and emotions to the side for the sake of Matt. Like Ash turns a blind eye to Jimmy's cheating, Beth accepts and moves on from Matt's mistreatment of her for the sake of making it work.
From a story perspective, it feels like two different books. part one is witty and compelling, while the Texas storylines get a bit bogged down in everyone's emotions and loses some of the zing that made me enjoy the novel. Beth feels like a different person, and while I get it's part of her and Matt's marital struggles, I lost all understanding of why they fell in love in the first place. The pacing in Texas also feels a bit off, and felt like a lot of the same.
Overall, I enjoyed this, and would recommend to those who are okay with unlikeable characters and not having an HEA.
The Hopefuls is a pretty bleak look into DC, political careers, the people who gravitate toward them, and how it impacts both them and their relationships. Close conveys this message through her archetypical DC resident characters - charismatic Jimmy, who seems to stumble into success due to his charm and family connections; ambitious Matt, who wants to make a difference and is smart enough to do so, but feels constantly passed over; trophy wife Ashleigh, who adapts to Jimmy's life with a painted on smile; and Beth, a midwest/NY transplant who doesn't buy into the rat race of politics but finds herself begrudgingly dragged along. The foursome really do sum up the DC political scene, and if you've lived in DC for any amount of time, you can probably relate each of these characters, and a host of the side characters like Colleen and Alan, to people you've met in your time there (personally every time Alan was in a scene, I was almost triggered thinking about people EXACTLY like him I've had to deal with).
I've read a few reviews indicating that the lack of character growth in Beth and the cast being generally unlikable decreased their rating of the book, however I think that those were intentional choices made by Close to convey the strain political careers put on them all, how they deal with that strain, and what types of people succeed and continue in this environment. Jimmy and Ash portray the 'ideal' DC political couple, but we see as the novel progresses how its mostly a facade covering disappointments and secrets. Beth and Matt are different in that Matt constantly battles feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and jealousy through internalizing them and lashing out, but by the end Beth really feels more like Ash than the self she presents in the first half of the book, and that's the point - to make her marriage work in this environment, she has to basically put her career, goals, and often pride and emotions to the side for the sake of Matt. Like Ash turns a blind eye to Jimmy's cheating, Beth accepts and moves on from Matt's mistreatment of her for the sake of making it work.
From a story perspective, it feels like two different books. part one is witty and compelling, while the Texas storylines get a bit bogged down in everyone's emotions and loses some of the zing that made me enjoy the novel. Beth feels like a different person, and while I get it's part of her and Matt's marital struggles, I lost all understanding of why they fell in love in the first place. The pacing in Texas also feels a bit off, and felt like a lot of the same.
Overall, I enjoyed this, and would recommend to those who are okay with unlikeable characters and not having an HEA.
janewhitehurst's review against another edition
4.0
I like Jennifer Close's writing. I find her books to be the perfect balance between readable fiction and a tiny bit of chick-lit thrown in. I never feel guilty for liking them, though. The Hopefuls was no exception. Telling the story of Beth and her husband, Matt, who move to Washington DC after the Obama campaign so Matt can pursue political interests. The story perfectly captures the time after Obama's first win, in which everything was so charged and the world was poised for change. Then after his second, where there was still joy, but much more realistic expectations. Beth and Matt meet friends in DC and eventually travel to Texas to work on another campaign. At all stops, their marriage is tested and their real goals in life start to become clear. I will say that Close's characters are ALWAYS waspy white women, who sometimes cause me to roll my eyes, but I still enjoyed this one.