abbiecarn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
avglauren's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Plot hooks were confusing
smrankin5's review against another edition
2.0
So hard to get into. To much ‘in her mind thoughts during every interaction between the characters. It was exhausting. I just couldn’t wade through the morass anymore.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I finished our FHC book club book, and I can’t wait for the discussion. It had so much potential, but left me wanting more character development in all the surrounding characters. But, that might have been a structural choice that Scotch created because of Cleo’s (the senator’s) solitude. I could identify with her desire to do it alone to maintain control of the anxiety surrounding a potential hot mess express. I loved some the media aspects as well in relation with public service and being pulled in so many directions. So probably more of a 3.5, because I think it will spark a great book club discussion.
afshawn's review against another edition
3.0
This book was…fine. I found the current action interesting but would space out during the long passages ruminating about the past.
I didn’t really like any of the characters, not even Cleo, who was frustrating in her thought process sometimes - though in many ways, I liked that Cleo wasn’t likable. The politician aspect was different, and thankfully it wasn’t too much politics in a world full of politics.
I didn’t really like any of the characters, not even Cleo, who was frustrating in her thought process sometimes - though in many ways, I liked that Cleo wasn’t likable. The politician aspect was different, and thankfully it wasn’t too much politics in a world full of politics.
tafuentes21's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
avewalsh's review against another edition
2.0
I really couldn’t stand Cleo’s personality and it made the book difficult to read.
zhelana's review against another edition
4.0
Cleo McDougal is an entertaining book if you like fluffy escapism. It was kind of weird in that almost nothing went wrong for her. I mean, at first her friend refused to forgive her and tried to sink her political career, and then her son had a medical emergency, but really, things just kept going her way over and over again. Every time I started to think "ok this is where the story goes wrong and gets serious" it didn't happen. I have to admit this is not a book I was expecting, because I'm so used to things going poorly and characters eventually having a dark moment of the soul where everything seems to be going wrong for them and they have to change and grow as people. Cleo never really has this, and the story really just goes from point A to B to C without ever steering off course. Anyway, because nothing really went wrong for her, I didn't really care that much about her. Like, I start to empathize with characters when things go wrong for them. Anyway, I was looking for mindless escapism for a summer read, and that's what I got, but in the end I didn't love what I got because I didn't really care and wasn't really surprised by anything. But if you're going to the beach or something, check out Cleo McDougal.
cjdawn236's review against another edition
4.0
This novel was a quick read, but one more women should definitely make time for. There were so many great themes in this book, not the least of which being how differently women are treated, and are expected to behave in politics. While this story was fiction, Cleo represented a truth in our society that cannot be ignored. This book was light and fun, but did a great job shining a light on gender roles. It also showed that vulnerability is not a weakness in women - it's a strength. And it highlighted the competition between women that sometimes comes naturally, when we really should be building each other up. I really appreciated the message in this novel so much.