I randomly picked up the audiobook The Hopefuls as I was finishing my shift on the circulation desk. I started listening to audiobooks a few years ago when my commute time nearly doubled, when I was at my previous job, and now I find it hard to be in the car without listening to a book.

You may be familiar with the author, Jennifer Close, who has also written The Smart One and Girls in White Dresses. I must admit this was the first time I had heard of her, but am glad I decided to take a chance with The Hopefuls. 

Little did I know that my timing of listening to this book was especially appropriate given the upcoming presidential election. The book centers around a young wife, Beth, who follows her husband, Matt, to Washington D.C. to pursue his dream of entering the world of politics. However, unlike Matt, it takes Beth awhile to adjust and change her mind about hating everything about D.C. It doesn’t help that she is usually ignored by most people at political events once they realize she isn’t involved in their political world. Life in D.C. does get a little more tolerable for Beth when she meets Ashleigh, who is married to magnetic White House staffer, Jimmy. While D.C. and politics does set the stage, the plot takes a turn and really becomes about Beth and Matt’s marriage surviving. As the story unravels, Matt’s aspirations to advance his political career take precedent over Beth, as does navigating their borderline unhealthy relationship with Jimmy and Ashleigh.

The overall story is entertaining and as I listened I found myself becoming attached to the characters and caring about whether Beth and Matt’s relationship would make it. In fact, I enjoyed the book so much that I am now listening to one of her previous published books, The Smart One, which so far has not disappointed.

If you prefer a print book over the audio format, then you’re in luck because we also have a print copy of the book available.