A brilliantly funny novel about ambition and marriage from the best selling author of Girls in White Dresses, The Hopefuls tells the story of a young wife who follows her husband and his political dreams to D.C., a city of idealism, gossip, and complicated friendships among young Washington's aspiring elite.
When Beth arrives in Washington, D.C., she hates everything about it: the confusing traffic circles, the ubiquitous Ann Taylor suits, the humidity that descends each summer. At dinner parties, guests compare their security clearance levels. They leave their BlackBerrys on the table. They speak in acronyms. And once they realize Beth doesn't work in politics, they smile blandly and turn away. Soon Beth and her husband, Matt, meet a charismatic White House staffer named Jimmy and his wife, Ashleigh, and the four become inseparable, coordinating brunch, birthdays, and long weekends away. But as Jimmy's star rises higher and higher, their friendship--and Beth's relationship with Matt--is threatened by jealousy, competition and rumors. A glorious send-up of young D.C. and a blazingly honest portrait of a marriage, this is the finest work yet by one of our most beloved writers.
When Beth arrives in Washington, D.C., she hates everything about it: the confusing traffic circles, the ubiquitous Ann Taylor suits, the humidity that descends each summer. At dinner parties, guests compare their security clearance levels. They leave their BlackBerrys on the table. They speak in acronyms. And once they realize Beth doesn't work in politics, they smile blandly and turn away. Soon Beth and her husband, Matt, meet a charismatic White House staffer named Jimmy and his wife, Ashleigh, and the four become inseparable, coordinating brunch, birthdays, and long weekends away. But as Jimmy's star rises higher and higher, their friendship--and Beth's relationship with Matt--is threatened by jealousy, competition and rumors. A glorious send-up of young D.C. and a blazingly honest portrait of a marriage, this is the finest work yet by one of our most beloved writers.
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Publisher:
Toronto : Bond Street Books/Doubleday Canada, ©2016.
ISBN:
9780385685146
Characteristics:
303 pages ;,25 cm.
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Add a Commentfun read for anyone who is into politics (or The West Wing - even though the author did make an error when referencing West Wing characters). I enjoyed reading this book, and thought it was an interesting examination of relationships (both romantic and friendships).
What a book to read during election time! I think that those who felt that it was light-weight may have missed some of the more intriguing pieces. That whole Texas experience was both funny and sad.
A light-ish "beach read" that is basically an examination of a young couple's own relationship and their ultimately toxic friendship with another couple. All of this comes with a side of American politics. While I found many of the character's choices and behaviours to be frustrating, I didn't want to stop reading and finished the book in just a couple of days. I especially liked it when the book was set in Washington DC as I have spent a lot of time there and recognized many of the places mentioned.
the hopefuls is about Beth and Matt who move to DC so Matt can pursue his political career.
while there, they meet and become friends with Jimmy and Ash.
what follows is a look at the relationships between these two couples as both Matt and Jimmy try to make a name for themselves in DC and what happens when their lives become intertwined.
i was a bit disappointed in this book. throughout the whole book, you're waiting for something to happen, there's this gradual buildup, but it's kind of anti-climatic, in my opinion.
also, Beth's character is really hard to like. she seems pretty immature and judgmental throughout the whole book, that it's hard to feel bad for her.
it was boring in parts, but overall it was an ok read.