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Whips
'It's so believable... This is the perfect summer book' Lorraine Kelly, on ITV
'50 Shades of Grey meets Prime Minister's Questions' Anita Rani on Woman's Hour, Radio 4
Westminster in the 2020s, where the business of governing is the last thing on the agenda for anyone worth their salt. In the SW1 bubble, politics moves fast, schemes are hatched and foiled - through both accident and conspiracy - within hours, and sex and power preside.
When Bobby Cliveden decides to campaign against the closure of her local mental health unit, she scarcely thought it would take her straight to the heart of the UK's bustling political centre. She heads to London to work for her local MP, the ambitious Simon Daly, and moves in with her two old university friends, Jess, a new lobby journalist, and Eva, a junior Downing Street adviser. The three of them quickly become wrapped up in the political circus of glamorous parties, insufferable bosses and demanding workloads - and the desire to win. Beneath the headline-grabbing battle of a male-dominated leadership contest, they discover the secret, soft-skilled machinery behind so much political change at the very highest level of women.
Riotous and all too believable, Whips is a timely satire on politics and Party people. Watson takes us behind the doors of Number 10 and delivers a gripping tale of modern government, filled with intrigue and scandal and written with insight and verve. Whips delivers on every promise.
'50 Shades of Grey meets Prime Minister's Questions' Anita Rani on Woman's Hour, Radio 4
Westminster in the 2020s, where the business of governing is the last thing on the agenda for anyone worth their salt. In the SW1 bubble, politics moves fast, schemes are hatched and foiled - through both accident and conspiracy - within hours, and sex and power preside.
When Bobby Cliveden decides to campaign against the closure of her local mental health unit, she scarcely thought it would take her straight to the heart of the UK's bustling political centre. She heads to London to work for her local MP, the ambitious Simon Daly, and moves in with her two old university friends, Jess, a new lobby journalist, and Eva, a junior Downing Street adviser. The three of them quickly become wrapped up in the political circus of glamorous parties, insufferable bosses and demanding workloads - and the desire to win. Beneath the headline-grabbing battle of a male-dominated leadership contest, they discover the secret, soft-skilled machinery behind so much political change at the very highest level of women.
Riotous and all too believable, Whips is a timely satire on politics and Party people. Watson takes us behind the doors of Number 10 and delivers a gripping tale of modern government, filled with intrigue and scandal and written with insight and verve. Whips delivers on every promise.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
79 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 25, 2024
'Whips' in this case, despite the implied content depicted by the book cover, refers to those in Parliament that have to 'whip' Members votes to vote a specific way. Sort of outwardly packaged as a politics-with-sex-comedy, this is the 2020s story of three ambitious women friend working in the political arena getting caught up with the doings, comings and goings at No. 10 Downing Street the centre of UK governance. With almost zero erotic content; pretty conventional comedy with almost all humour targeted at fragile masculinity, the only thing that made this readable was the insight into UK politics, and especially in this case a UK Conservative (= US Republican) leadership race. So a book I chose for a look at a modern take on the sex-comedy ends up being insightful on what happens behind closed doors in the political arena! A 5 out of 12, Two Stars from me.
2024 read
2024 read
March 24, 2024
Do you ever read a book and then ask yourself what the f*** you just read? This was one such book. University friends Eva, Jess and Bobby somehow happen to find themselves in the middle of the political circus that is the House of Commons in London: Eva as a junior SpAd to Prime Minister Madeleine Ford, Jess as a junior reporter at The Sentinel and Bobby as a junior staffer for a smarmy Tory MP. They see how far people are willing to throw a friend under a bus to further their own agenda.
This was written by former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson, Cleo Watson. You'll have great fun trying to guess who is who.
What I will say is that the story has promise. But it ultimately falls flat and is ruined by the unnecessary and frankly stomach churning sex scenes. This has been packaged up as a "bodice ripper", a sort of political thriller slash Jilly Cooper novel but you'll skip over the nauseating erotica in order to get back into the politicking and plotting.
There's a rush to the end and there's legislation passed in a way it never would be online.
For me though, as someone who's very much on the opposite side of the political spectrum to the Tories, I just found it so self aggrandising and devoid of any actual politics. I think though that is probably closer to the reality than what we average punters might like to think. There's an interesting observation made early on in the novel by Clarissa Courtenay that she is surprised by how little MPs actually care about politics. They just want to feel important. I think that's probably right.
I also found the story just a little boring and anti climactic. I suppose there's only so much excitement politics can provide.
Every single one of the characters was contemptible. None of them really had any redeeming qualities apart from Bobby, who was probably the most distinct character. But everyone else was really just the same.
Definitely read this book before the general election as a reminder why you shouldn't vote for this absolute shower. In fact Labour should be sending out copies to every household in Britain.
This was written by former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson, Cleo Watson. You'll have great fun trying to guess who is who.
What I will say is that the story has promise. But it ultimately falls flat and is ruined by the unnecessary and frankly stomach churning sex scenes. This has been packaged up as a "bodice ripper", a sort of political thriller slash Jilly Cooper novel but you'll skip over the nauseating erotica in order to get back into the politicking and plotting.
There's a rush to the end and there's legislation passed in a way it never would be online.
For me though, as someone who's very much on the opposite side of the political spectrum to the Tories, I just found it so self aggrandising and devoid of any actual politics. I think though that is probably closer to the reality than what we average punters might like to think. There's an interesting observation made early on in the novel by Clarissa Courtenay that she is surprised by how little MPs actually care about politics. They just want to feel important. I think that's probably right.
I also found the story just a little boring and anti climactic. I suppose there's only so much excitement politics can provide.
Every single one of the characters was contemptible. None of them really had any redeeming qualities apart from Bobby, who was probably the most distinct character. But everyone else was really just the same.
Definitely read this book before the general election as a reminder why you shouldn't vote for this absolute shower. In fact Labour should be sending out copies to every household in Britain.
September 13, 2023
The book starts with this message from the author
“There has been a fair amount of speculation in the run-up to the publication of this book about whether any of my characters are based on real people. I would like to state–emphatically–that this is a novel. The fictional men, women, media outlets and businesses I’ve written about have not been drawn from flesh and blood MPs or journalists etc. In the great universe of political and media misadventure a lot of crazy stuff has happened, far crazier than any fiction I’m capable of dreaming up, but I’d like to reassure the reader that any seeming “seeming inspiration from real events or people is inadvertent. Honestly, not everything’s about you.”
After reading this book I shall make no comment on that 😎
And now the book, well as you know any book that features my ex work is going to have my immediate interest and this is a no holds barred look at Parliament ( The House of Lords does feature but predominately it’s the Commons/Mp’s ), the author has done her research well and it was like being back there, the descriptions of the building and what workers do there, the atmosphere etc are superbly captured
The story is great, scandalous, gossipy, traitorous and the rest, lots of characters at times got muddled with them all but tbh didn’t care that much as soon realised who we were back to talking about and what they were doing!
Now there is sex in the book, probably not as much as the title and cover pic would have you believe and although some of it is blatant in its want to shock it’s actually all quite amusingly written and isen’t page after page, more the odd paragraph here and there that without doubt raises an eye in it’s audacity….
I think the best thing to say is there will be no middle ground, if you like this book you will love this book but if you don’t then it will be a big don’t
For me it was a non perfect perfect read ( if that makes sense ) 🤗
“There has been a fair amount of speculation in the run-up to the publication of this book about whether any of my characters are based on real people. I would like to state–emphatically–that this is a novel. The fictional men, women, media outlets and businesses I’ve written about have not been drawn from flesh and blood MPs or journalists etc. In the great universe of political and media misadventure a lot of crazy stuff has happened, far crazier than any fiction I’m capable of dreaming up, but I’d like to reassure the reader that any seeming “seeming inspiration from real events or people is inadvertent. Honestly, not everything’s about you.”
After reading this book I shall make no comment on that 😎
And now the book, well as you know any book that features my ex work is going to have my immediate interest and this is a no holds barred look at Parliament ( The House of Lords does feature but predominately it’s the Commons/Mp’s ), the author has done her research well and it was like being back there, the descriptions of the building and what workers do there, the atmosphere etc are superbly captured
The story is great, scandalous, gossipy, traitorous and the rest, lots of characters at times got muddled with them all but tbh didn’t care that much as soon realised who we were back to talking about and what they were doing!
Now there is sex in the book, probably not as much as the title and cover pic would have you believe and although some of it is blatant in its want to shock it’s actually all quite amusingly written and isen’t page after page, more the odd paragraph here and there that without doubt raises an eye in it’s audacity….
I think the best thing to say is there will be no middle ground, if you like this book you will love this book but if you don’t then it will be a big don’t
For me it was a non perfect perfect read ( if that makes sense ) 🤗
March 29, 2024
I did finish the book though it was a struggle….so many characters and none particularly well-defined so I was constantly having to refer to the Cast of Characters list at the start of the book. I didn’t like a single character, save maybe for Bobbie who did have some redeeming features. The rest were an absolutely ghastly bunch and I couldn’t be bothered with any of them.
September 22, 2023
Silly and fun, but not quite as silly and fun as I was expecting. I learned quite a bit about the day to day workings of government, I’m off to watch The Thick of It now.
April 19, 2024
Utter tripe!!
November 15, 2023
Faintly amusing Parliament romp. How the other half live eh?!
Cleo Watson's former day job as Boris Johnson's Deputy Chief of Staff gives this book an air of truth (although if recent real-life revelations are to be believed then Watson's definitely soft-pedalled some aspects eg drug taking and fellatio in the office). Reading this was like reading Heat magazine but with MPs. I lost count of the stuffed shirts in the male roles but the women fell into the familiar roles of ingenue with a cause, princess, wronged wife, ugly old boot, unprincipled slapper and Lady Macbeth.
Generally enjoyable, it ticked along although a Tory leadership race is nothing to get excited about in my opinion. I liked the glamping scenes the best and found Percy surprisingly likeable. The politics was depressing as everyone was out for themselves and just in it for the good times, the cash and the shagging. The British public are screwed - and not in a good way - if this sorry shower of bastards get in again.
Cleo Watson's former day job as Boris Johnson's Deputy Chief of Staff gives this book an air of truth (although if recent real-life revelations are to be believed then Watson's definitely soft-pedalled some aspects eg drug taking and fellatio in the office). Reading this was like reading Heat magazine but with MPs. I lost count of the stuffed shirts in the male roles but the women fell into the familiar roles of ingenue with a cause, princess, wronged wife, ugly old boot, unprincipled slapper and Lady Macbeth.
Generally enjoyable, it ticked along although a Tory leadership race is nothing to get excited about in my opinion. I liked the glamping scenes the best and found Percy surprisingly likeable. The politics was depressing as everyone was out for themselves and just in it for the good times, the cash and the shagging. The British public are screwed - and not in a good way - if this sorry shower of bastards get in again.
June 11, 2024
Incredibly well written book and impressive debut novel! The author manages to make UK politics interesting and funny. Thoroughly enjoyed and bought the sequel as soon as it came out!
September 17, 2023
2.75 stars
hmm. written by former political aide to boris johnson, this book was interesting in premise to understand the inner workings of parliament and what really goes on behind the scenes (think the thick of it, but much less funny). however it was:
1. trying way too hard to be smutty
2. unrealistic that 3 besties would all just happen to end up working in parliament together, also incredibly unrealistic, lah di dah ending
3. very stilted in parts
4. kind of inconsistent, in that none of the current MPs are real people, but there were references to real life MPs like gordon brown, john major etc. also doesn’t mention brexit or covid at all despite being set in all other senses in 2020s UK.
5. giving tory heavily
the blurb had this down as a satirical look at
british politics - i had such high hopes - but it just didn’t really feel like satire and more just glorification of the total corruption of government.
hmm. written by former political aide to boris johnson, this book was interesting in premise to understand the inner workings of parliament and what really goes on behind the scenes (think the thick of it, but much less funny). however it was:
1. trying way too hard to be smutty
2. unrealistic that 3 besties would all just happen to end up working in parliament together, also incredibly unrealistic, lah di dah ending
3. very stilted in parts
4. kind of inconsistent, in that none of the current MPs are real people, but there were references to real life MPs like gordon brown, john major etc. also doesn’t mention brexit or covid at all despite being set in all other senses in 2020s UK.
5. giving tory heavily
the blurb had this down as a satirical look at
british politics - i had such high hopes - but it just didn’t really feel like satire and more just glorification of the total corruption of government.
June 26, 2023
Good on political skullduggery and detail, funny in places, you could see the Jilly Cooper influences, but MPs simply aren't thoroughbreds.
August 6, 2023
The insights into Westminster politics are very interesting. But characters, plot and ending less so.
March 19, 2024
Can I swear on here? Because I want to. Absolutely awful. Amateur. Tacky. Awful, awful, awful.
January 17, 2025
Highly enjoyable political saga with insider knowledge and a lot of back office shenanigans.
A random find, this sounded different and from a source who knows something of the topic - Watson worked on both Obama's 2012 campaign and in advisory/chief of staff roles to May and Johnson in the UK. So whatever political views she takes, she lambasts everything here in an often erotic, sleazy, greasy-pole climbing behind-the-scenes take on power in Parliament and the people out front trying to use it, sometimes for their own ends, sometimes for the betterment of everyone.
It was great fun! A group of three friends are at the heart of it - Jess, Eva and Bobby. One a journalist being sent to London from her regional paper. One already part of the political world as an advisor. The last trying to take the system on to stop her dad's local mental health hospital from closing, and seeing getting her foot in the door as a possible way to it.
These three are caught up with a whole array of other political figures, MPs, advisers, journalists as we watch political plots unfold with the potential toppling of a Prime Minister and the inevitable rush into the power vacuum.
It was naughty. It was cheeky. It got a bit complicated now and then (couldn't keep up with the names!) but I muddled through and loved the murky swamp of UK politics and the three young women showing us inside.
Don't expect lofty idealism or Churchill-esque speeches. It's sleazy headlines, sleazier affairs and a backstage pass to it all.
A random find, this sounded different and from a source who knows something of the topic - Watson worked on both Obama's 2012 campaign and in advisory/chief of staff roles to May and Johnson in the UK. So whatever political views she takes, she lambasts everything here in an often erotic, sleazy, greasy-pole climbing behind-the-scenes take on power in Parliament and the people out front trying to use it, sometimes for their own ends, sometimes for the betterment of everyone.
It was great fun! A group of three friends are at the heart of it - Jess, Eva and Bobby. One a journalist being sent to London from her regional paper. One already part of the political world as an advisor. The last trying to take the system on to stop her dad's local mental health hospital from closing, and seeing getting her foot in the door as a possible way to it.
These three are caught up with a whole array of other political figures, MPs, advisers, journalists as we watch political plots unfold with the potential toppling of a Prime Minister and the inevitable rush into the power vacuum.
It was naughty. It was cheeky. It got a bit complicated now and then (couldn't keep up with the names!) but I muddled through and loved the murky swamp of UK politics and the three young women showing us inside.
Don't expect lofty idealism or Churchill-esque speeches. It's sleazy headlines, sleazier affairs and a backstage pass to it all.
June 15, 2023
This is a very funny (and extremely explicit) romp through the world of political intrigue following the machinations within a Conservative government in Westminster that is starting to fall apart owing to internal wrangling and dissension, with scandals (political and sexual) emerging on all sides. Well, I suppose that if I try very hard, I might just about be able to imagine such a scenario!
Cleo Watson has a strong political pedigree after having worked on President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 20912 and then served as a senior aide to two British Prime Ministers (Theresa May and Boris Johnson). I am inclined to suggest that the highly scurrilous nature of the book may be rooted more in the latter than the former of those two spells in No. 10.
The various storylines are so sinuous and intertwined that it is difficult to provide a coherent synopsis without straying quite heavily into spoiler territory. As someone who visits parliament a few times each week, I recognised Ms Watson’s descriptions of the locations, if not necessarily the behaviour, very clearly, which added to my enjoyment of the story.
Despite the explicit and uproarious content, this is a well written book, and the characters are developed clearly and strongly.
Cleo Watson has a strong political pedigree after having worked on President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 20912 and then served as a senior aide to two British Prime Ministers (Theresa May and Boris Johnson). I am inclined to suggest that the highly scurrilous nature of the book may be rooted more in the latter than the former of those two spells in No. 10.
The various storylines are so sinuous and intertwined that it is difficult to provide a coherent synopsis without straying quite heavily into spoiler territory. As someone who visits parliament a few times each week, I recognised Ms Watson’s descriptions of the locations, if not necessarily the behaviour, very clearly, which added to my enjoyment of the story.
Despite the explicit and uproarious content, this is a well written book, and the characters are developed clearly and strongly.
May 14, 2024
As someone who takes an interest in politics and previously studied it, I was really excited to see what this book was about! My interest was particularly piqued when I found out the author herself worked in politics, notably for May & Johnson, and so I was looking forward to see her insights and experiences woven into fiction. Initially from the book title I was expecting to see drama, bad behaviour and scandal. For context a MP who belongs to a party is subject to a whip - they tell them what to do, which way to vote and can even kick them out of the party after bad behaviour. Hence my expectations …
This book was a great insight into the inner workings of Westminster, highlighting the corruption and bargaining that has become synonymous with politics.
This book was a great insight into the inner workings of Westminster, highlighting the corruption and bargaining that has become synonymous with politics.
June 6, 2024
Enjoyable read. Written by someone who's worked closely with Theresa May and Borris Johnson, this book is a light-hearted way to learn about the ins and outs of politics. The book, depicting the corruption of a Tory government (insert sly side eye) and detailing the ongoings of a UK election, kind of made me want to work in politics. We need more femal MPs!
Not as smutty as implied on the cover. LOTS of characters, but easy to follow as it was obvious who was who based on their agenda. I kept thinking that this would make a good film or TV show.
Not as smutty as implied on the cover. LOTS of characters, but easy to follow as it was obvious who was who based on their agenda. I kept thinking that this would make a good film or TV show.
November 12, 2023
A fast-paced loathsome excuse for a ‘sexy’ [warped] political thriller based on UK political mores. It fairly drips with venom for its characters who fail at empathy and succeed at self-congratulatory narcissism and meanness. One hopes this first time novelist fails to unload a sophomore [sophomoric?] novel. There is even willful animal abuse in the intentional, unregretted running over of an elderly dog. How base can one get? There are better things to read. Spend time elsewhere.
August 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this. When I got into it this was a book that I didn't want to put down. I liked the alternating viewpoints of three characters and as a politics fanatic I loved that aspect of it. The smutty element was not done as well as I have seen it in other books (Jilly Cooper I am looking at you) but it certainly made a pleasant departure from that type of smut as seen in the likes of 'Riders' and 'Rivals'.
July 1, 2023
Great fun. Definitely see this as a TV show if made a little less explicit. The author it would appear knows all about what political shenanigans go on behind the scenes. It is all too believeable. Cover reminiscent of a Jilly Cooper book and though I haven't read one of those I suspect it has the same vibe. Satisfying ending too.
October 30, 2023
A fun romp through the corridors of parliament and number 10. It’s an easy going fun read, and picks up pace towards the end. Love that the new young women in government bring about the older sleazy men’s downfalls. Could’ve done with a list of characters to keep across who is who. An entertaining, not too serious, fun read.
July 25, 2023
This was a strange book. The author has inside knowledge of working as a special advisor but the novel is all over the place. It tries to combine to many stories and to be a modern Jilly Cooper.
Wont be reading any more of her books
Wont be reading any more of her books
February 14, 2024
This book was only OK. It was a fun romp behind the scenes at parliament but there were too many characters (a Jilly Cooper-style cast list would’ve helped) and I just didn’t really care about any of them.
August 4, 2024
I can only think listening to the author promote this book on the radio made it seem like it might be an interesting read. How wrong. Started it today, tried to persevere with it, but gave up in the end.
January 7, 2025
Hot girls in their 20s running around London and causing chaos in the parliamentary world - what’s not to like?
I could imagine all of the locations and the stories unfolding (having friends who work in parliament) which made it fun. However it was deffo unrealistic with way too many characters/story lines. I couldn’t really relate to the characters and they lacked depth.
I could imagine all of the locations and the stories unfolding (having friends who work in parliament) which made it fun. However it was deffo unrealistic with way too many characters/story lines. I couldn’t really relate to the characters and they lacked depth.
June 11, 2025
Took a bit of time to get going — the first 30% focused heavily on character building and introductions. But once the story picked up, I found myself more invested and really started to enjoy it. The ending was satisfying and tied things up well.
June 2, 2023
Utterly trashy political bonkbuster. Excellent mindless holiday reading.
June 24, 2023
This is a good fun, easy going book about a some people working in UK politics. Fairly light and easy going.
July 5, 2023
Not a literary.masterpiece but a fun romp.through the halls of government..probably tooscarily like real life !
July 18, 2023
Jilly Cooper meets The Thick of It (minus the irony). Oddly compelling, despite very thin plot. 3.5 stars
November 9, 2023
This was a fun read. Will definitely read the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews