The Hopefuls

A Novel

De: Jennifer Close

Narrado por: Jorjeana Marie

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 Washington, DC, a city of idealism, gossip, and complicated friendships among the young aspiring elite.

When Beth arrives in DC, 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 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.

A glorious send-up of young DC and a blazingly honest portrait of a marriage, this is the finest work yet by one of our most beloved writers.

©2016 Jennifer Close (P)2016 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A fascinating drama about relationships, loyalty, the price of aspirations and success, The Hopefuls will surely ensnare you into this world from page one - and hold you there, tightly, until the final word." ( Refinery29)

"The author of Girls in White Dresses delivers her latest novel about a couple navigating the political ladder in DC. Inspired by Close's own experiences moving to Washington for her husband's work on the Obama campaign, The Hopefuls is blisteringly honest about the circus of American politics and Washington's exhausting culture of competition - one that that renders people outside of political circles virtually invisible." (Meredith Turits, Elle)

"Narrator Jorjeana Marie's lively performance and perfect pacing make this audiobook a compulsive listen.... Marie's subtle yet effective accents and tonal modulations highlight the characters' personalities, strengthening listeners' connection to the story. With its vivid details of life in D.C., this is a must-listen for an election year." ( AudioFile)

a fun and cute story

loved the story - a little of an unexpected ending. I will probably read again.

Meh

This book feels like a whole lot of nothing until the final few chapters. The main character, Beth, is negative, judgemental, and passive, making it difficult to like her or really care about what happens. She seems determined to dislike everything about DC, and though she resents her husbands career motivations, she doesn't seem to have any herself. Rather, she's one of those people who seems to just let things happen to her, and complains the whole time. Beth and her husband befriend a charming Texas couple, but even then I'm not clear why they're friends.

Honestly, there isn't much plot to speak of for about the first two thirds of the book, and I almost gave up on it. When the drama finally did happen, it was interesting enough to listen through. I'm just not convinced that it made up for how boring the book was before!

The narrator speaks very slowly, but did a good job with the voices and handled the emotional parts well.

Im sure there are people who would like this book - probably if you're from around DC or into politics, but I wasn't a fan.

Slow predictable story

This turned out to be a relatively plain, vanilla story. Glad when it ended. Predictable.

Accurate depiction of DC

pretty accurate description of DC. I have lived here so long that I had forgotten all of the nuances of being a young professional in the nation's capital.

Predictable storyline. Narrators voice awful.

If the reader had a cold, they should have delayed production until she was well.

Is this real?

The book was above average. A lot of the details seem too real, which makes me think it might be. Or the author did excellent research and interviewed White House staff about what running a campaign entailed. Overall, I give the book a solid B rating.

Supporting your 'Blue' spouse in a "Red" state

great narrator, telling what it's like running for an elected office. Based on her experience in Washington, DC, and then again in Texas. Both hopeful and exhausting. A quick read! This'd be perfect for a book discussion group this Fall.

Very, very dissspointed

I'm pretty disappointed in this book. I kept waiting for the main character Beth to finally stand up for herself and grow up, and it just never happened. The end absolutely baffled me and left me with such a bad taste in my mouth. I don't know why the author would choose to take this route with the ending, especially in this day in age where independent women and the whole "I don't need a man to make me happy" are so prominent in the media. If you want to read a story about an emotionally abusive husband and a very sad pathetic women, then by all means The Hopefuls is for you...

As for the narrator, she did a great job with the accents but I just couldn't get over how nasally she sounded through the whole thing...

Good view inside of campaign life

I enjoyed this easy, quick listen. If I have one complaint, the narrator doesn't say Ls which drives me crazy. Shouder not shoulder, Oder not older... It is distracting.

Fun glimpse into life in DC

This was a light read - great for escaping into a world of friendships, famil dynamics, romance, politics and the pursuit of success.