charmedonex's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this one and the book's overall message. I'm glad I didn't read the reviews prior to listening to this (and the Audible is highly recommended because .. Julia Whelan!)
hkendall70's review
3.0
As the Amazon description says........Cleo McDougal is a born politician. From congresswoman to senator, the magnetic, ambitious single mother now has her eye on the White House—always looking forward, never back. Until an estranged childhood friend shreds her in an op-ed hit piece gone viral.
With seven words—“Cleo McDougal is not a good person”—the presidential hopeful has gone from in control to damage control, and not just in Washington but in life.
Enter Cleo’s “regrets list” of 233 and counting. Her chief of staff has a brilliant idea: pick the top ten, make amends during a media blitz, and repair her reputation. But there are regrets, and there are regrets: like her broken relationship with her sister, her affair with a law school professor…and the regret too big to even say out loud.
But with risk comes reward, and as Cleo makes both peace and amends with her past, she becomes more empowered than ever to tackle her career, confront the hypocrites out to destroy her, and open her heart to what matters most—one regret at a time.
My review: I would rate this book 3.5 stars. I listened to the audio book and at 1.4 speed and it was a good narration speed for me so the book. I highly recommend chaning the speed of narration for most books but this was a bit faster than the 1.25 to 1.3 I normally listen at.
If the first half of the book was not so drawn out and repetitive I would have gien it more stars. Yes, I get it --Cleo McDougal dwells on her regrets. It is not healthly but that is what she does....all 233 of them to be exact as you hear over and over and over and over and over. Only after hearing that (233 regrets) until you want to scream in frustation (and she adds 1 regret) does the story really get interesting.
I was reading this for a book club and may have abandoned it if I didn't have that motivation to press on but honestly, stick with it. Cleo is not a likeable character/ The story really develops in the last 25-30% of the book. It develops so much that I would likely read a 2nd book with her run for the presidency. I am more interested in the relationships she has with her son and the potential love interest and how she goes forward in light of her lessened regrets. Her new relationship with her sister and "friends" she may now have now that she has learned she can depend on other people.
With seven words—“Cleo McDougal is not a good person”—the presidential hopeful has gone from in control to damage control, and not just in Washington but in life.
Enter Cleo’s “regrets list” of 233 and counting. Her chief of staff has a brilliant idea: pick the top ten, make amends during a media blitz, and repair her reputation. But there are regrets, and there are regrets: like her broken relationship with her sister, her affair with a law school professor…and the regret too big to even say out loud.
But with risk comes reward, and as Cleo makes both peace and amends with her past, she becomes more empowered than ever to tackle her career, confront the hypocrites out to destroy her, and open her heart to what matters most—one regret at a time.
My review: I would rate this book 3.5 stars. I listened to the audio book and at 1.4 speed and it was a good narration speed for me so the book. I highly recommend chaning the speed of narration for most books but this was a bit faster than the 1.25 to 1.3 I normally listen at.
If the first half of the book was not so drawn out and repetitive I would have gien it more stars. Yes, I get it --Cleo McDougal dwells on her regrets. It is not healthly but that is what she does....all 233 of them to be exact as you hear over and over and over and over and over. Only after hearing that (233 regrets) until you want to scream in frustation (and she adds 1 regret) does the story really get interesting.
I was reading this for a book club and may have abandoned it if I didn't have that motivation to press on but honestly, stick with it. Cleo is not a likeable character/ The story really develops in the last 25-30% of the book. It develops so much that I would likely read a 2nd book with her run for the presidency. I am more interested in the relationships she has with her son and the potential love interest and how she goes forward in light of her lessened regrets. Her new relationship with her sister and "friends" she may now have now that she has learned she can depend on other people.
readingismyhappyplace's review
5.0
Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union, and Allison Winn Scotch for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I just binge read/listened to Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing and I only regret that there isn't more Cleo. This book is not getting enough attention on bookstagram!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Cleo, a young senator who is planning a presidential run. She is a single mom of a teenage boy named Lucas. Cleo's kept a list of regrets since she was a young age and when a former friend airs some grievances about Cleo in the media, Cleo and her chief of staff, Gabby, plan to use the regrets to humanize Cleo for her upcoming campaign.
This book is very relevant for the current political climate and the new announcement of our potentially first female Vice-President. There were lots of me-too elements. Cleo is a feminist and all about strong women and not apologizing. Cleo was so real to me. She did not always make what seemed like the best or safest decisions, but she is such a strong kick-ass woman. If she was real, I would totally vote for her. I loved how the book wrapped up and I'd love more of Cleo's story. She was already a strong woman but she learned about herself so much throughout the book. As always the narration by Julia Whelan was amazing!
courtney_reads_stories's review
2.0
Cleo McDougal is not a nice person, nor is she particularly likable. She is closed off and somewhat self absorbed while being rather self-unaware. Cleo McDougal is flawed, but aren't we all?
I cannot say I particularly enjoyed this book, but nor did I dislike it. It just is what it is. A semi-biographical novel of many an early middle-agged woman in today's America. There were parts that were completely relatable, parts that felt totally contrived, and a large portion that was just there to fill the pages and somehow propel the story forward. The characters, yes even the titular Cleo didn't feel particularly full or well rounded, but still felt relatable and like people you may encounter in your life. There was a considerable amount of "adult language" which sometimes did feel gratuitous and like the author simply needed to remind us that she could use these words because she herself is a strong woman who does whatever she pleases.
Am I glad to have crossed this off my read list, sure. Would I read it again, no. Am I likely to recommend it to a friend looking for their next great read, probably not.
I cannot say I particularly enjoyed this book, but nor did I dislike it. It just is what it is. A semi-biographical novel of many an early middle-agged woman in today's America. There were parts that were completely relatable, parts that felt totally contrived, and a large portion that was just there to fill the pages and somehow propel the story forward. The characters, yes even the titular Cleo didn't feel particularly full or well rounded, but still felt relatable and like people you may encounter in your life. There was a considerable amount of "adult language" which sometimes did feel gratuitous and like the author simply needed to remind us that she could use these words because she herself is a strong woman who does whatever she pleases.
Am I glad to have crossed this off my read list, sure. Would I read it again, no. Am I likely to recommend it to a friend looking for their next great read, probably not.
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