The Hopefuls
A novel
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3.8 • 140 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
A blazingly honest portrait of ambition and marriage, and a brilliantly funny send-up of young D.C., from the bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses.
“Hilarious.... A pleasure to read.”—The Washington Post
A New York newlywed, Beth was supportive when her husband, Matt, decided to follow his political dreams all the way to Washington. Yet soon after they move to D.C., Beth realizes that she hates everything about it: the traffic circles, the ubiquitous Ann Taylor suits, the humidity that descends each summer, and, most of all, the lonely dinner parties where anyone who doesn’t work in politics is politely ignored. Things start to change when the couple meets a charismatic White House staffer named Jimmy and his wife, Ashleigh. The four become inseparable, coordinating brunches, birthdays, and long weekends away. But as Jimmy’s star rises higher and higher, the couples’ friendship—and Beth’s relationship with Matt—is threatened by jealousy, competition, and rumors.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Giant egos! Cocktail parties! Endless acronyms! If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a high-stakes political contest, Jennifer Close’s irresistible third novel is a must-read. Part romantic comedy, part cautionary tale, The Hopefuls is a fast-paced and sharp-shooting look at the inner circle of a young, charismatic candidate and the relationships formed—and destroyed—during his fateful run for office. We loved this book so much we’d vote for it twice.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Close's (Girls in White Dresses) uneven fourth novel, writer Beth Kelly reluctantly leaves New York City to move to Washington, D.C., due to her husband, Matt, and his promising job in politics. He hopes to run for office one day, having been groomed for glory since childhood by his overbearing mother, Babs. Unfortunately, though he has the drive, Matt lacks the charm and charisma that his handsome friend Jimmy Dillon has in excess. With jealousy and admiration, Matt watches Jimmy fulfill his ambitions with ease. In the meantime, cosmopolitan Beth forges an unlikely friendship with Jimmy's unrefined but sweet wife, Ash. Though Close's novel is initially snappy and engaging, it becomes a slog once Beth follows Matt to Texas, where he begins work on Jimmy's local campaign. Unemployed Beth endures endless days of monotony and repetitive election talk, growing apart from Matt and Ash as Ash turns maliciously gossipy and Matt irritably begins to shut her out. The formerly tight foursome begin to get on one another's nerves, although Beth starts to think of Jimmy as more than a pal. The novel's strengths lie in documenting how stress changes people, the work that marriage requires, and the importance of having a passion of one's own. A welcome tension returns to the story as an inevitably fruitless election night looms, but not enough to recover the lost momentum of the book's tedious middle pages.
Customer Reviews
Insightful
Complex characters. Really captures what it is looking me to move in the political circle of D.C., especially how all-consuming it is. Insightful look into that complicated world and the people closest to it.
I was hopeful this book would end sooner than it did.
This story is boring , too long and needs better editing! This will appeal to the young women who attend college and join a sorority, in hopes of meeting the right guy and get their M.R.S. degree, move to "the big east coast city" , pretending they are something they are not , and end up in a suburb of Maryland playing "bunco". If this movie were to take place twenty years ago, it would star Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaghey. Opening weekend romantic comedy. Two months later, Lifetime television for women. Could this story have been anymore vanilla? - Tracy Smith
The plot line is so thin it is almost embarrassing.
Not sure if this is self published but it certainly reads like it. I finished it only because I was on a train with no wi-if. I was certain it had to improve - it didn't.