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surejan's review against another edition
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.
readwithval's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
mollywetta's review against another edition
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.
caitgriff's review against another edition
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.
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
aspittel's review against another edition
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.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars
I thought this would be a memoir about the Obama administration and working in the White House. I suppose it is, but most of the memoir is about her boyfriend drama, including an affair the author has with a senior White House staffer nicknamed "Jason." This certainly wouldn't pass the Bechdel test because she can't go more than a few paragraphs without talking about a guy. It seems like her whole self-worth is hung up in what man she's attached to. She's obsessed with Jason through most of the memoir.
This is what makes me disappointed in memoirs written by people in their 30s. It feels like they would have approached the project differently had they waited longer to write their memoir.
I thought this would be a memoir about the Obama administration and working in the White House. I suppose it is, but most of the memoir is about her boyfriend drama, including an affair the author has with a senior White House staffer nicknamed "Jason." This certainly wouldn't pass the Bechdel test because she can't go more than a few paragraphs without talking about a guy. It seems like her whole self-worth is hung up in what man she's attached to. She's obsessed with Jason through most of the memoir.
This is what makes me disappointed in memoirs written by people in their 30s. It feels like they would have approached the project differently had they waited longer to write their memoir.