Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win by Jo Piazza Book Review

Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win by Jo Piazza Book Review

The lowdown from Goodreads

Publication Date July 24, 2018

Charlotte Walsh is running for Senate in the most important race in the country during a midterm election that will decide the balance of power in Congress. Still reeling from a presidential election that shocked and divided the country and inspired by the chance to make a difference, she’s left behind her high-powered job in Silicon Valley and returned, with her husband Max and their three young daughters, to her downtrodden Pennsylvania hometown to run in the Rust Belt state.

Once the campaign gets underway, Charlotte is blindsided by just how dirty her opponent is willing to fight, how harshly she is judged by the press and her peers, and how exhausting it becomes to navigate a marriage with an increasingly ambivalent and often resentful husband. When the opposition uncovers a secret that could threaten not just her campaign but everything Charlotte holds dear, she has to decide just how badly she wants to win and at what cost.

A searing, suspenseful story of political ambition, marriage, class, sexual politics, and infidelity, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is an insightful portrait of what it takes for a woman to run for national office in America today. In a dramatic political moment like no other with more women running for office than ever before, Jo Piazza’s novel is timely, engrossing, and perfect for readers on both sides of the aisle.

Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win by Jo Piazza Book Review

I am a huge fan of The Knockoff & Fitness Junkie which are both co-authored by Jo Piazza. When I heard she had a stand-alone book coming out this summer, I rushed at the chance to read it. I will say this is a book anyone can enjoy, regardless of your own political ideology.

A Timely Political Novel That Resonates With All Women

The timeline for Charlotte Walsh is right now. Jo Piazza accurately captures our political climate at this very moment. There’s the writer from Teen Vogue asking insightful & meaningful questions, Twitter trolls, Instagram experts, a run in with a guy who has a Swastika tattoo on his neck & pundits criticizing Charlotte’s choice of shoes.

As Charlotte returns to her roots in Pennsylvania, it’s a bit reminiscent of Hillbilly Elegy. Jo writes about the opioid crisis, failing schools, the high cost of healthcare & the lost factory jobs in the Rust Belt. Readers learn more about Charlotte. She comes from humble beginnings yet fought her way to an Ivy League education. We also meet her brother Paul & the juxtaposition between Paul & Charlotte couldn’t be more clear.

Run Like a Mother

Charlotte Walsh is a powerful female; no doubt about it. Charlotte Walsh is also a woman with secrets. Let’s be honest; our country is not set up for mothers who work outside of the home. If you so wish, feel free to argue with me directly on this statement. Jo Piazza delves into how challenging this political race is for Charlotte. There are missed dinners at home, long drives in the minivan, uprooting her children & judgment for running in this race. Charlotte’s spouse changes his job & schedule to accomodate her run. Instead of being met with praise & understanding, the media ridicules him.

I connected with Charlotte. Our ideals closely match & l like that Charlotte is flawed. Aren’t we all? There are some pretty heavy & salacious secrets that come out during the campaign. Readers see Charlotte’s marriage struggle to survive, old friendships breakdown & yet, Charlotte persists.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! Charlotte is someone I can & will root for in every sense of the word. This book left me feeling inspired, strong & proud to continue to fight for what I believe in. I want to vote for Charlotte & I can’t wait to get a chance to vote for my state, county, city, country’s version of her!

Special thanks to Jo Piazza, Simon & Schuster & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JO PIAZZA

Jo Piazza is a bestselling author, award-winning journalist and digital strategist.

She is the author of seven critically acclaimed books, both fiction and non-fiction which have been translated into more than ten languages.

A former editor and columnist with Yahoo, Current TV and the New York Daily News, her work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, New York magazine, Glamour, Elle, Time, Marie Claire, the Daily Beast, and Slate. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in journalism from Columbia University, and a master’s in religious studies from New York University.

She lives in California with her husband, son and giant dog.

Her latest novel, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win will be released in the summer of 2018 by Simon and Schuster.