bookaddictpnw's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jtys's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kathy5307's review against another edition
3.0
This one was a little better than her first but still too much fluff. I think she missed an opportunity to bring to light the hypocrisy of mental health. We see some of the struggles but maybe I just wanted more. Take a chance to make a difference.
mrssloan's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really enjoying this series as a summer read. This one was definitely an improvement in plot and writing style from the first, and I am really excited for the third. These are perfect books for the summer--light, quick, intriguing.
kzbyzenski's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
magsnificentmils's review
4.0
Sometimes the writing style in this one can be a bit distracting (I remember one character being described as having 'eyes the color of a teal blue crayon'), but the characters are compelling and the plot is convincing, suspenseful, and captivating. This is the kind of political stories I look for; not just an updated version of palace intrigue tales, but a story about real people running a believably modern state. Most of the characters in this aren't just power-grabbing Machiavellis, but sympathetic people who made decisions that seemed best for themselves, their families, and most of all their country. Characters on both sides of the political spectrum feel grounded and real, and I cannot articulate how fully I appreciate that.
jeana_f's review
2.0
This wasn't as good as the first novel. The plot wasn't my favorite but I loved the Washington speak. Nicole does a great job conveying the realities of politics.
papadickerson's review against another edition
5.0
Another great read from Nicolle Wallace in her Eighteen Acres series. Enjoyed every minute of this book. We all know that the vice president's character is written for Sarah Palin which makes it all the more interesting. Looking forward to reading the final chapter in the series, Madame President, very soon.
arisbookcorner's review against another edition
2.0
IT's CLASSIFIED is breezy DC reading for anyone whose obsessed with politics and the inner working of the White House. The strength of this series is the details which is undoubtedly due to how much access Wallace had in her previous role, there are so many small details here that many readers (including myself) didn't know about how the White House runs and the day-to-day of a presidential administration. Those details are both fun and fascinating. I'm skeptical about this being a thinly veiled takedown of Sarah Palin. Maybe she's the initial inspiration but I had far more sympathy for Tara than I would ever have for Palin. I also think in the case of Palin it wasn't stress and mental illness that resulted in her being a poor choice for VP, it was her not being very bright. That being said Wallace handles Tara's anxiety and stress convincingly, allowing the reader to feel empathy for both Tara and Charlotte as they hurtle towards a mess of Tara's own making. But the author also treats Tara cruelly, taking great care to describe Tara's fat and portraying her kind heart as a weakness as opposed to praising Tara for being one of the few politicians left in DC whose able to feel things. There's also a very odd (but on brand for a book written by a Republican woman I guess) lack of sexism and discussion surrounding the challenges of being a woman in power when those moments would have fit naturally within the novel and provided a much needed bit of inspiration. Overall this book was ok, I wouldn't read it again and barely remember much from it except that there were too many plot points and all the previously mentioned points about character and narration bothered me immensely. The timing of this was interesting for me personally since I didn't realize Kramer would get impeached and I ended up reading it around the same time as our own impeachment debacle so that was somewhat enlightening.