A review by ello_mehry
Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House by Lauren Oyler, Alyssa Mastromonaco

3.0

Probably more of a 3.5 than a 3. I became aware of this book after listening to Terry Gross' interview with Alyssa Mastromonaco on NPR; she is entertaining and engaging. I really enjoyed it when I started, but sadly, it didn't sustain. I'm just over her target demographic and I related to her experiences and observations on a professional level, though her career trajectory was very different from my own. But those feelings of being unsure and that everyone thinks you are a kid are very real. Unfortunately, she lost me a little about halfway through when the stories and prose got a little tired. Since I've felt many of the same doubts and relate to her need to couch all her thoughts into an agreeably digestible nugget, it's less appealing when I just want her to go for it (perhaps where I want her to go for it, she chose a different path). However, in many ways, this book is a word vomit of how I expect thousands of women in important positions feel as they navigate the professional world. I felt a bit like she was keeping it too snappy and casual in the prose; it's how I would think and reflect, but not necessarily how I would choose to memoir. Wouldn't recommend to someone over about 35, but happily, this was an easy read and there were enough reminders and observations pertinent to my own life that I'm glad I finally had a chance to read it.