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amandabethslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
A fellow bookstagrammer recently highlighted problematic elements of this storyline, and upon reflection I completely agree. I feel guilty for not speaking out about these issues in my original review, but that’s part of the learning process! A white woman writing Black and brown main characters is wrong, and this also caused other issues such as a lack of focus on the trauma of trans-racial adoption. I love politics so much that I think I got caught up in that part of the storyline and didn’t use my critical eye while reading.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I love politics, so the subtle political themes throughout this book kept me hooked. I enjoyed learning about each of the four friends and seeing them grow throughout the novel, especially as they wrestled with important questions about their identity, family and future. It was also interesting to know before starting it that one of the girls would be President one day (it says it on the back cover AND there’s an intro about it)—it was a good reminder that our country’s highest-level leaders are just regular people too! There were also several twists, which made me enjoy it even more. I’m only giving three stars though because this book felt a littleeee elementary at some points, as if it was written for a much younger audience (granted it is a YA novel, and the main characters are in high school, but still). Additionally, the book was hard to follow for a while at first. While it doesn’t switch perspectives since it’s in third person, its descriptions of each of the four characters were hard to keep straight until 100 pages in or so. *Not to mention the recent issues brought to light by another bookstagrammer mentioned above.*
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I love politics, so the subtle political themes throughout this book kept me hooked. I enjoyed learning about each of the four friends and seeing them grow throughout the novel, especially as they wrestled with important questions about their identity, family and future. It was also interesting to know before starting it that one of the girls would be President one day (it says it on the back cover AND there’s an intro about it)—it was a good reminder that our country’s highest-level leaders are just regular people too! There were also several twists, which made me enjoy it even more. I’m only giving three stars though because this book felt a littleeee elementary at some points, as if it was written for a much younger audience (granted it is a YA novel, and the main characters are in high school, but still). Additionally, the book was hard to follow for a while at first. While it doesn’t switch perspectives since it’s in third person, its descriptions of each of the four characters were hard to keep straight until 100 pages in or so. *Not to mention the recent issues brought to light by another bookstagrammer mentioned above.*
let_therebebooks's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
This book had me sucked in from the very first page and definitely took me out of the reading slump I was beginning to find myself falling into. The entire mystery surrounding which main character becomes President in 2049 had me on the edge of my seat. The best part? I thought I had it figured out until the last couple chapters when a twist was revealed and I found out that I had been wrong the entire time (which I love because it makes a book unpredictable).
The story of friendship between these four girls with different backgrounds was special. I also enjoyed how the author implemented themes such as disability, adoption, sexuality and mental illness. I liked every single character, even Scott who was kind of a prick.
And to find out that there is a second installment coming?! I am very interested to see where it takes place and what new story lines are explored with our main characters as adults.
Definitely one of my favorite books of this year! Shout out to my impulse buying behaviors at Barnes and Noble because otherwise, I don't think I would have found this on my own!
This book had me sucked in from the very first page and definitely took me out of the reading slump I was beginning to find myself falling into. The entire mystery surrounding which main character becomes President in 2049 had me on the edge of my seat. The best part? I thought I had it figured out until the last couple chapters when a twist was revealed and I found out that I had been wrong the entire time (which I love because it makes a book unpredictable).
The story of friendship between these four girls with different backgrounds was special. I also enjoyed how the author implemented themes such as disability, adoption, sexuality and mental illness. I liked every single character, even Scott who was kind of a prick.
And to find out that there is a second installment coming?! I am very interested to see where it takes place and what new story lines are explored with our main characters as adults.
Definitely one of my favorite books of this year! Shout out to my impulse buying behaviors at Barnes and Noble because otherwise, I don't think I would have found this on my own!
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
5.0
O M G. I LOVED this book!!!!
Four best friends: Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha. Which one has made her way to the Oval Office? I definitely thought I had this book figured out......... until that twist at the end when my jaw literally dropped. I’m not really sure what the author will do for book two, but I’m excited for it.
Four best friends: Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha. Which one has made her way to the Oval Office? I definitely thought I had this book figured out......... until that twist at the end when my jaw literally dropped. I’m not really sure what the author will do for book two, but I’m excited for it.
bookishlypleasant's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This was only okay for me. The second half was better than the first. In theory, there was a diverse cast of characters, but they weren't fleshed out well and seemed all the same at the core. I would often forget who was who. In the second half, they suddenly seemed to get personalities and identity, but then it was over before we really got to know them. I did like the ending, but as a fan of The Bold Type, I must admit that I was disappointed.
whatusernameisntalreadytaken's review against another edition
Not just a DNF - I didn't make it past the second chapter. I was really excited about this book, but I was just getting a major "this is actually all about a cute boy" vibe from the get-go. The first chapter is in the future, when she's just been elected president, and the author makes a big deal about her last name, and her husband and how they met in high school (because even when a woman is president, it's all about her man). So you know whichever girl ends up with this guy is the one who's going to be president. Flash back to high school and the girls are meeting under the bleachers and cute boy is back, getting ogled at track practice. That's when I gave up. I was looking forward to a book about four smart, interesting friends with an intriguing twist, not yet another book about which girl is gonna end up with cute boy and all the drama that ensues.
katharine_m's review against another edition
4.0
This was sweet. Good twist, and I loved the characters. Not much happened, but it wasn’t about that.
jenennap29's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely, unequivocally, loved everything about this book! So many amazing storylines that were all beautifully intertwined. I really loved how even though it was realistic fiction there was an element of mystery because up until the end I really had no idea who would be the President!
I just... ugh I love everything about this book!
I just... ugh I love everything about this book!
stardomined's review against another edition
3.75
Redeemed itself from a 3.5 to a 3.75 because of the plot twist. Great to see so much diversity but parts just felt a little off. Didn't really like the plot with Logan and it felt a bit overdone with all the girls having *moments* with him. The Jordan plotline was kinda weird but i understand the point it was trying to make. Still a good book though