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Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win
An exciting, insightful novel about what happens when a woman wants it all—political power, a happy marriage, and happiness—but isn’t sure just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it.
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 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.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2018
398 people are currently reading
8086 people want to read
About the author
Jo Piazza
13 books1,517 followersI write books about strong women defying the odds. I love an adventure and a book that both sweeps you away and starts a conversation with your friends.
Book club visits are one of my favorite things to do and I zoomed into hundreds of them for my Good Morning America Book Club pick You Were Always Mine. I'm a former travel editor who has gotten to visit 47 countries and I met my husband Nick in the Galapagos islands on a reporting trip. After living in NYC and San Francisco I have settled into Philadelphia (the greatest city on Earth) to raise my three feral children.)
Book club visits are one of my favorite things to do and I zoomed into hundreds of them for my Good Morning America Book Club pick You Were Always Mine. I'm a former travel editor who has gotten to visit 47 countries and I met my husband Nick in the Galapagos islands on a reporting trip. After living in NYC and San Francisco I have settled into Philadelphia (the greatest city on Earth) to raise my three feral children.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 767 reviews
September 1, 2018
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
"Only let the world see half of your ambition. Half of the world can't handle seeing it all."
That was a piece of advice given to Charlotte Walsh by her mentor, a former governor, U.S. Senator, and Ambassador to the United Nations, when she encouraged Charlotte to run for the U.S. Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania.
It doesn't matter that Charlotte got out of her hometown—and away from the East Coast—as quickly as she could, and that she hasn't been home for years. Charlotte and her mentor believe she has what it takes to make a difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians, not to mention shake up politics as usual in the Keystone State.
So Charlotte, who in the meantime had become a high-powered Silicon Valley executive, moves back to her downtrodden hometown with her husband Max (who graduated from high school a few years before her) and their three young daughters. It's quite a shift for all of them—it reopens old family wounds and causes some strain in Charlotte and Max's marriage, as he has to put his own career ambitions on hold in order to become the girls' primary caregiver. But it will all be worth it once Charlotte is elected to the Senate.
Charlotte has great ideas, and truly desires to make a difference in the lives of her fellow Pennsylvanians, especially women, who have been particularly mistreated and disillusioned following the last presidential election. The Democrats rarely even run anyone against Charlotte's challenger, a long-time incumbent who represents the type of dirty, old-school politics that she doesn't want to get mired in.
"Charlotte was sick to death of being told to feel sorry for the working-class white man. Being a mediocre white guy doesn't mean you deserve to be crowned a king, get a job, or get laid. The cavalry is not coming for you. Of course, she could never utter these thoughts out loud to anyone."
It doesn't take long for her to realize the challenges a female political candidate faces, even in this day and age, especially when she is running against a man. Charlotte has to get accustomed to her clothing and shoe choices to be documented, has to remember to come across as strong but not threatening, forceful but not angry. Although she vowed to run an honest, clean campaign, she finds herself having to tailor her message to whatever group she is speaking, even if that strikes her as pandering and opportunistic.
When she is given information about a secret involving her opponent's family, one which might allow her to take a comfortable lead, she has to decide whether her principles are more important than potential victory. And when her opponent's campaign uncovers a secret which has potential not only to affect the race but her marriage, Charlotte has to remember why she decided to run for the Senate in the first place, and how much she is willing to sacrifice.
Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win couldn't be any more timely for the world we're living in right now. Even after the 2016 election, Charlotte had to lose her idealism relative to politics, particularly female political candidates, and the inequities they face versus their male counterparts. Why is it okay for her opponent to have been married multiple times but her marriage has to be perfect? Why does it matter what shoes she wears to a campaign appearance, or even just a trip to the grocery store? These are questions which may seem all too familiar for some.
I thought this was a terrific, utterly compelling book. It's not necessarily surprising, especially if you pay attention to the political world, but it doesn't matter, because Jo Piazza is a great storyteller. The characters and the scenarios they find themselves in may seem familiar, but Piazza adds her own twists and turns, and she makes you wonder exactly what will happen come Election Day. (This is a question many in the U.S. are asking themselves about now.)
While Charlotte's character is a Democrat, the story is more about her campaign and her life as it is affected by the campaign, and it doesn't spend a ton of time getting too political. So if you've been trying to avoid that subject for a while, this is still a fun book you won't be able to put down.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
"Only let the world see half of your ambition. Half of the world can't handle seeing it all."
That was a piece of advice given to Charlotte Walsh by her mentor, a former governor, U.S. Senator, and Ambassador to the United Nations, when she encouraged Charlotte to run for the U.S. Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania.
It doesn't matter that Charlotte got out of her hometown—and away from the East Coast—as quickly as she could, and that she hasn't been home for years. Charlotte and her mentor believe she has what it takes to make a difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians, not to mention shake up politics as usual in the Keystone State.
So Charlotte, who in the meantime had become a high-powered Silicon Valley executive, moves back to her downtrodden hometown with her husband Max (who graduated from high school a few years before her) and their three young daughters. It's quite a shift for all of them—it reopens old family wounds and causes some strain in Charlotte and Max's marriage, as he has to put his own career ambitions on hold in order to become the girls' primary caregiver. But it will all be worth it once Charlotte is elected to the Senate.
Charlotte has great ideas, and truly desires to make a difference in the lives of her fellow Pennsylvanians, especially women, who have been particularly mistreated and disillusioned following the last presidential election. The Democrats rarely even run anyone against Charlotte's challenger, a long-time incumbent who represents the type of dirty, old-school politics that she doesn't want to get mired in.
"Charlotte was sick to death of being told to feel sorry for the working-class white man. Being a mediocre white guy doesn't mean you deserve to be crowned a king, get a job, or get laid. The cavalry is not coming for you. Of course, she could never utter these thoughts out loud to anyone."
It doesn't take long for her to realize the challenges a female political candidate faces, even in this day and age, especially when she is running against a man. Charlotte has to get accustomed to her clothing and shoe choices to be documented, has to remember to come across as strong but not threatening, forceful but not angry. Although she vowed to run an honest, clean campaign, she finds herself having to tailor her message to whatever group she is speaking, even if that strikes her as pandering and opportunistic.
When she is given information about a secret involving her opponent's family, one which might allow her to take a comfortable lead, she has to decide whether her principles are more important than potential victory. And when her opponent's campaign uncovers a secret which has potential not only to affect the race but her marriage, Charlotte has to remember why she decided to run for the Senate in the first place, and how much she is willing to sacrifice.
Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win couldn't be any more timely for the world we're living in right now. Even after the 2016 election, Charlotte had to lose her idealism relative to politics, particularly female political candidates, and the inequities they face versus their male counterparts. Why is it okay for her opponent to have been married multiple times but her marriage has to be perfect? Why does it matter what shoes she wears to a campaign appearance, or even just a trip to the grocery store? These are questions which may seem all too familiar for some.
I thought this was a terrific, utterly compelling book. It's not necessarily surprising, especially if you pay attention to the political world, but it doesn't matter, because Jo Piazza is a great storyteller. The characters and the scenarios they find themselves in may seem familiar, but Piazza adds her own twists and turns, and she makes you wonder exactly what will happen come Election Day. (This is a question many in the U.S. are asking themselves about now.)
While Charlotte's character is a Democrat, the story is more about her campaign and her life as it is affected by the campaign, and it doesn't spend a ton of time getting too political. So if you've been trying to avoid that subject for a while, this is still a fun book you won't be able to put down.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
July 26, 2018
4 brave stars to Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I noticed this book when a blogger friend, Rachel at In Between Book Pages, was reading it. Her thoughts on Charlotte’s story enticed me to pick it up.
Winning? Is it something we all love, at least at one time or another? What messages do we receive about having it all and winning at life? Are we told that we can’t have it all?
There is much to admire about Charlotte Walsh. She is a go-getter who wants and believes she can absolutely have it all, including a political position, a loving marriage, three young daughters, and total happiness.
Charlotte is running for office in a most important Senate race, one that will determine which party controls Congress. She is determined to win and inspired to make change happen, so she leaves her high-powered job and returns to her hometown in Pennsylvania to run for office.
Charlotte is quickly shocked by the treatment she receives from her political opponent, the press, and even her peers. Her personal life also becomes overbearing because she is so focused on work, she does not see her husband’s growing resentment.
Next comes a scandal that puts Charlotte in the crosshairs threatening to not only lose her campaign, but her marriage and family, too.
The suspense builds as Charlotte is on the trail to victory, and important issues including political ambition, specifically related to women, as well as the differentiated treatment of women and men in politics, and the sacrifices a wife and mother has to make to truly have it all.
Overall, I found Charlotte’s story to be consuming, timely, and provocative. While it is a fictionalized account, I left this book with a deeper understanding of what it potentially requires for a woman to take on the challenge of running for office.
Thank you to Simon Schuster for the complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is available now!
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
I noticed this book when a blogger friend, Rachel at In Between Book Pages, was reading it. Her thoughts on Charlotte’s story enticed me to pick it up.
Winning? Is it something we all love, at least at one time or another? What messages do we receive about having it all and winning at life? Are we told that we can’t have it all?
There is much to admire about Charlotte Walsh. She is a go-getter who wants and believes she can absolutely have it all, including a political position, a loving marriage, three young daughters, and total happiness.
Charlotte is running for office in a most important Senate race, one that will determine which party controls Congress. She is determined to win and inspired to make change happen, so she leaves her high-powered job and returns to her hometown in Pennsylvania to run for office.
Charlotte is quickly shocked by the treatment she receives from her political opponent, the press, and even her peers. Her personal life also becomes overbearing because she is so focused on work, she does not see her husband’s growing resentment.
Next comes a scandal that puts Charlotte in the crosshairs threatening to not only lose her campaign, but her marriage and family, too.
The suspense builds as Charlotte is on the trail to victory, and important issues including political ambition, specifically related to women, as well as the differentiated treatment of women and men in politics, and the sacrifices a wife and mother has to make to truly have it all.
Overall, I found Charlotte’s story to be consuming, timely, and provocative. While it is a fictionalized account, I left this book with a deeper understanding of what it potentially requires for a woman to take on the challenge of running for office.
Thank you to Simon Schuster for the complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is available now!
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
June 2, 2019
Charlotte Walsh is a successful Silicon Valley executive, who, like many smart, ambitious women, aspires to have it all. Not only does Charlotte have a powerful career, but she also has a handsome husband, Max, and 3 young daughters. She feels the pull to politics, wanting more, and believing she can make a difference and effect change. Charlotte and her family return to her childhood home in Pennsylvania, where she begins her campaign for Senate.
In addition to her family, Charlotte is joined by Josh, her blunt Campaign Manager, Leila, her loyal Chief of Staff, and Roz, her former boss and mentor, as she takes on incumbent Ted Slaughter. Everyone has secrets, even those who have the best intentions. In her political pursuit, Charlotte faces many tough decisions, forcing her to decide what has to be done in order to best support and protect her family.
Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win is a timely, realistic story about a woman’s quest and the sacrifices and compromises that must be made along the way. There is always a tradeoff somewhere, which is, of course, not strictly limited to the political realm.
I enjoyed this book - It’s a current portrayal of working women and the U.S. political landscape, as well as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that life isn’t always perfect. That said, I was somewhat annoyed by the ending, which, to me, felt more lazy rather than open to interpretation. Even though I wasn’t crazy about it, it wasn’t enough to detract from my overall enjoyment. I could also see Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win making a great movie or limited TV series.
In addition to her family, Charlotte is joined by Josh, her blunt Campaign Manager, Leila, her loyal Chief of Staff, and Roz, her former boss and mentor, as she takes on incumbent Ted Slaughter. Everyone has secrets, even those who have the best intentions. In her political pursuit, Charlotte faces many tough decisions, forcing her to decide what has to be done in order to best support and protect her family.
Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win is a timely, realistic story about a woman’s quest and the sacrifices and compromises that must be made along the way. There is always a tradeoff somewhere, which is, of course, not strictly limited to the political realm.
I enjoyed this book - It’s a current portrayal of working women and the U.S. political landscape, as well as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that life isn’t always perfect. That said, I was somewhat annoyed by the ending, which, to me, felt more lazy rather than open to interpretation. Even though I wasn’t crazy about it, it wasn’t enough to detract from my overall enjoyment. I could also see Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win making a great movie or limited TV series.
November 3, 2018
Charlotte Walsh is a high-powered tech executive living in San Francisco, married and the mother of 5-year old twins, Ella & Rose, and 2-year old Annie. Following the historic 2016 election, she decides to run for the US Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania where she still has family and property. She moves her family there while she puts together her team and begins her campaign.
What this story is NOT is whether Charlotte wins. It’s about the realities for women running for political office in today’s toxic environment and whether Charlotte WANTS to win, is she willing to do what’s necessary to win. The stakes are incredibly high, both the potential rewards and the toll taken on family, friends and relationships. While I thought I knew what the challenges would possibly be, my imagination wasn’t quite broad enough to encompass the realities. Charlotte brings everything that’s made her successful in business to the campaign, as well as those insecurities unique to our gender...things men are never forced to consider or manage. Though her husband now stays home full time, expectations are different for working mothers.
I really liked Charlotte, even when she wasn’t likable as she’s a wonderfully designed character. She’s far from perfect but her exceptional skills, keen mind and humanity distinguishes her. This story is well written and kept me off balance from the onset. The author adeptly captures the insanity of our current politics, offering us relevant insights into what it takes for a woman to run today for any political office, especially a high profile one. The narrator consumed Charlotte, fitting into her skin and creating a vivid image of her in my mind while effectively portraying the other characters. The ending is provocative, perfectly fitting for the story. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
What this story is NOT is whether Charlotte wins. It’s about the realities for women running for political office in today’s toxic environment and whether Charlotte WANTS to win, is she willing to do what’s necessary to win. The stakes are incredibly high, both the potential rewards and the toll taken on family, friends and relationships. While I thought I knew what the challenges would possibly be, my imagination wasn’t quite broad enough to encompass the realities. Charlotte brings everything that’s made her successful in business to the campaign, as well as those insecurities unique to our gender...things men are never forced to consider or manage. Though her husband now stays home full time, expectations are different for working mothers.
I really liked Charlotte, even when she wasn’t likable as she’s a wonderfully designed character. She’s far from perfect but her exceptional skills, keen mind and humanity distinguishes her. This story is well written and kept me off balance from the onset. The author adeptly captures the insanity of our current politics, offering us relevant insights into what it takes for a woman to run today for any political office, especially a high profile one. The narrator consumed Charlotte, fitting into her skin and creating a vivid image of her in my mind while effectively portraying the other characters. The ending is provocative, perfectly fitting for the story. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
September 6, 2018
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster for providing my free copy of CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN by Jo Piazza - all opinions are my own.
I love reading books based on politics but I’m mighty picky so I was elated when I able to devour this one in less than a day! There are so many current, relevant topics touched on in this story that my brain kept connecting the dots to events that have happened over the past year in our current political climate. But it’s so much more than politics as it also covers marriage, motherhood, and of course, women in the workforce. Charlotte Walsh worked in an elite job in California, but decided to move her family of five back to their hometown of Elk Hollow, Pennsylvania to run as the first female for senate. And as you’d expect, this is not an easy task for Charlotte or her family, but she is strong and determined.
What I love most about this book is the intelligent way it was written, the attention to detail, and the unflinching courage of a smart female character in a male dominant field. The construction of the novel is perfect for the plot. For example, the countdown to Election Day at the head of each chapter, fragments of text messages, Twitter threads, the unfounded criticism and backlash, and a news interview transcript, all contribute to the realism. I especially enjoyed the parts that examined marriage as Charlotte’s husband had to become the mainstay to her career. This is an incredibly fast paced book and there are a few secrets and reveals towards the end that make it interesting, so needless to say, I HEART THIS BOOK.
I love reading books based on politics but I’m mighty picky so I was elated when I able to devour this one in less than a day! There are so many current, relevant topics touched on in this story that my brain kept connecting the dots to events that have happened over the past year in our current political climate. But it’s so much more than politics as it also covers marriage, motherhood, and of course, women in the workforce. Charlotte Walsh worked in an elite job in California, but decided to move her family of five back to their hometown of Elk Hollow, Pennsylvania to run as the first female for senate. And as you’d expect, this is not an easy task for Charlotte or her family, but she is strong and determined.
What I love most about this book is the intelligent way it was written, the attention to detail, and the unflinching courage of a smart female character in a male dominant field. The construction of the novel is perfect for the plot. For example, the countdown to Election Day at the head of each chapter, fragments of text messages, Twitter threads, the unfounded criticism and backlash, and a news interview transcript, all contribute to the realism. I especially enjoyed the parts that examined marriage as Charlotte’s husband had to become the mainstay to her career. This is an incredibly fast paced book and there are a few secrets and reveals towards the end that make it interesting, so needless to say, I HEART THIS BOOK.
December 13, 2017
I had the absolute pleasure of reading a VERY early manuscript of this book on request of the author. And OH MY GOODNESS!!! What an honor! It is fierce, feminist and completely nails my feelings on politics, marriage and parenting. Especially marriage. This may be a political book (and GO JO for writing such a timely and unflinching narrative of today's political climate), but it's so so much more than that. Anyone who has been in a long-lasting marriage will appreciate this, as will anyone who is fed up with the way women are treated in business, politics and the world in general.
I am THRILLED that this book will be out in the world in July 2018 just in time for mid-terms!
I am THRILLED that this book will be out in the world in July 2018 just in time for mid-terms!
August 21, 2018
The author got tired and she decided she wasn't going to write an ending. She even added a lame note at the end with some pretty far-fetched BS about after writing 6 endings she didn't like any so she left if open. And the choice of not giving the book an end is not political as she tries to explain!!! It's just that either result would be complicated for different reasons either Charlotte marriage or her ambition and the author didn't know how to get out of the ditch she'd written herself in so she just decided to let the reader come up with their own ending.
What a waste of pages...
What a waste of pages...
May 16, 2018
In an undisclosed but post-Trump election cycle, Charlotte Walsh has moved from Silicon Valley to Pennsylvania to run for Senate. Will her struggling marriage, addict brother, or suitcase of emotional baggage ruin her chances of winning?
After enjoying Fitness Junkie last summer, I was looking forward to this read but found it very disappointing. It was long winded and limped along with the promise of revealing a big secret....which turned out to be kinda meh. The only reason I finished is to find out what happens in the end, and guess what?? The author leaves it purposefully ambiguous.
The only reason I gave it 2 stars rather than 1 is because of the portrayal of women running for office, and how the campaign process can change your life overnight. Piazza also plants a few good life lessons, usually from the Roz and Leila characters.
That being said, a lot of the character relationships were underdeveloped, and I feel this book might have been rushed to be released for the 2018 midterms.
If you are interested in this topic, read Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin instead.
**I received a galley if this book in exchange for my honest opinion**
After enjoying Fitness Junkie last summer, I was looking forward to this read but found it very disappointing. It was long winded and limped along with the promise of revealing a big secret....which turned out to be kinda meh. The only reason I finished is to find out what happens in the end, and guess what?? The author leaves it purposefully ambiguous.
The only reason I gave it 2 stars rather than 1 is because of the portrayal of women running for office, and how the campaign process can change your life overnight. Piazza also plants a few good life lessons, usually from the Roz and Leila characters.
That being said, a lot of the character relationships were underdeveloped, and I feel this book might have been rushed to be released for the 2018 midterms.
If you are interested in this topic, read Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin instead.
**I received a galley if this book in exchange for my honest opinion**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2018
I never thought a political focused book (even a fictional one) could be this enjoyable given the tumultuous political climate in the US right now. However, because I’ve enjoyed so much of Jo Piazza’s work, I had to check it out. Charlotte is a high powered Silicon Valley exec who gives it up and moves her family (with her now stay at home husband and three young daughters) to her hometown in Pennsylvania where she wants to run for Senate and make a difference! As the campaign heats up, Charlottes values and relationships are tested over and over again. This is definitely one to add to your list!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
April 21, 2018
I tore through this one in two days. It’s a timely and insightful glance into the world of politics, and one woman’s rise to the top, for better or worse. An extremely entertaining read!
August 23, 2024
I enjoyed this one, though it's very didactic, so if you're not into that...
Full review:
I found a digital copy of CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN by Jo Piazza on Libby. Read by Tavia Gilbert. All views are mine.
"Tell people one true thing before you tell them a lie. It will be easier for them to believe the lie." (1:00)
I follow Jo Piazza's Instagram account and I like her because she's a funny outspoken feminist. I find her takes-downs of patriarchal organizational structures endlessly entertaining.
Piazza wrote this book back in 2018, during the height of the Me Too movement, when feminist women were really in their power. I actually loved this book, but I experienced the story as being farfetched. Idealized. And I'm a feminist woman. Because nothing felt real to me in this world, all the events felt hollow.
Though I couldn't connect to the plot, I definitely loved the characters in this one. Charlotte and Max are a married couple on the edge, but with a deep well of rich history that the narrative returns to again and again, whenever it seems like all might be hopeless. I love redemption character arcs and we get a double scoop of it here.
While the entirely political plot wiggles for its meatlessness, I found this to be an exciting read. I finished it in one day in fact! I would recommend this to left-leaning political readers, and fans of redemption stories, character driven novels, and fast paced women's fiction.
She didn't want to do this with someone new. To start from day one. She wanted the life she had already worked so hard to build. (59.47)
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I really adore casts of characters that are by and large all unbearable. For one thing, if the plot allows for it, the reader can then relate to any aspect of the story, instead of being drawn automatically to one "good guy" character's interests or another. Also, I like stories that acknowledge the facts that to some extent every human is a butt. For me, butt characters with honest hearts are most realistic and most entertaining.
2. Really good tension and conflict keeps the story moving forward despite a skeletal plot.
3. I really enjoyed the ending. This kind of ending doesn't work for every story, but it works well here.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Whether or not a reader enjoys this book will depend almost entirely on the reader's political leanings.
Rating: 🫏🐘🫏🐘 /5 political animals
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Aug 11 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
👧🏽 Feminist stories
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
🌤 redemption stories
🪨 rocky marriage stories
🇺🇲 political divide stories
Full review:
I found a digital copy of CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN by Jo Piazza on Libby. Read by Tavia Gilbert. All views are mine.
"Tell people one true thing before you tell them a lie. It will be easier for them to believe the lie." (1:00)
I follow Jo Piazza's Instagram account and I like her because she's a funny outspoken feminist. I find her takes-downs of patriarchal organizational structures endlessly entertaining.
Piazza wrote this book back in 2018, during the height of the Me Too movement, when feminist women were really in their power. I actually loved this book, but I experienced the story as being farfetched. Idealized. And I'm a feminist woman. Because nothing felt real to me in this world, all the events felt hollow.
Though I couldn't connect to the plot, I definitely loved the characters in this one. Charlotte and Max are a married couple on the edge, but with a deep well of rich history that the narrative returns to again and again, whenever it seems like all might be hopeless. I love redemption character arcs and we get a double scoop of it here.
While the entirely political plot wiggles for its meatlessness, I found this to be an exciting read. I finished it in one day in fact! I would recommend this to left-leaning political readers, and fans of redemption stories, character driven novels, and fast paced women's fiction.
She didn't want to do this with someone new. To start from day one. She wanted the life she had already worked so hard to build. (59.47)
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I really adore casts of characters that are by and large all unbearable. For one thing, if the plot allows for it, the reader can then relate to any aspect of the story, instead of being drawn automatically to one "good guy" character's interests or another. Also, I like stories that acknowledge the facts that to some extent every human is a butt. For me, butt characters with honest hearts are most realistic and most entertaining.
2. Really good tension and conflict keeps the story moving forward despite a skeletal plot.
3. I really enjoyed the ending. This kind of ending doesn't work for every story, but it works well here.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Whether or not a reader enjoys this book will depend almost entirely on the reader's political leanings.
Rating: 🫏🐘🫏🐘 /5 political animals
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Aug 11 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
👧🏽 Feminist stories
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
🌤 redemption stories
🪨 rocky marriage stories
🇺🇲 political divide stories
January 21, 2019
I've written this review for Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
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.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
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.
July 10, 2018
*4 - 4.5 stars*
Charlotte Walsh is an intelligent, strong woman and CEO of Humanity a large corporation, who is running for Congress. I really enjoyed this book and it was a fast paced enjoyable read for me. I really liked Charlotte as a character and I felt that I could really relate to her. As a female, recently moving overseas and living abroad and starting a new job, Charlotte gave me strength and I was rooting for her throughout. She struggles to maintain her relationship with his husband, raise 3 girls, run for Congress, and deal with the media. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I will be looking up more books written by her. I highly recommend this book!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *
Charlotte Walsh is an intelligent, strong woman and CEO of Humanity a large corporation, who is running for Congress. I really enjoyed this book and it was a fast paced enjoyable read for me. I really liked Charlotte as a character and I felt that I could really relate to her. As a female, recently moving overseas and living abroad and starting a new job, Charlotte gave me strength and I was rooting for her throughout. She struggles to maintain her relationship with his husband, raise 3 girls, run for Congress, and deal with the media. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I will be looking up more books written by her. I highly recommend this book!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *
July 24, 2018
THIS is the book I wished I had in my hands the morning after the 2016 election, friends.
I inhaled this book in just over 36 hours and GAH. I’ve read one Jo Piazza before (Fitness Junkie), and thought this was nothing like it– in the best way possible. Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win is a fierce & insightful look into women in politics in our day and age– from all angles. And Charlotte herself is the perfect example of a character that I root for without necessarily finding her a likeable character (because I don’t). Without giving spoilers, I kind of loved the ending– Piazza’s author’s note at the end said it perfectly– this book is about the campaign, a moment in time, nothing more or less.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the chance to read an advanced copy!
I inhaled this book in just over 36 hours and GAH. I’ve read one Jo Piazza before (Fitness Junkie), and thought this was nothing like it– in the best way possible. Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win is a fierce & insightful look into women in politics in our day and age– from all angles. And Charlotte herself is the perfect example of a character that I root for without necessarily finding her a likeable character (because I don’t). Without giving spoilers, I kind of loved the ending– Piazza’s author’s note at the end said it perfectly– this book is about the campaign, a moment in time, nothing more or less.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the chance to read an advanced copy!
June 5, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Eh, I can't really recommend this book. The twist at the ending (Charlotte's big secret) was pretty boring. And, honestly, I didn't find Charlotte to be an especially interesting or likeable character. I struggled through the book to find out the ending. I was quite frustrated when I hit 100% read to find that the ending was left ambiguous and open-ended.
Eh, I can't really recommend this book. The twist at the ending (Charlotte's big secret) was pretty boring. And, honestly, I didn't find Charlotte to be an especially interesting or likeable character. I struggled through the book to find out the ending. I was quite frustrated when I hit 100% read to find that the ending was left ambiguous and open-ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2020
This is totally not my kind of book. I enjoyed reading it and it moved easily and had a lot to say about women and politics and sexism etc. It’s a good book, but it didn’t thrill me in any way. I think that’s mostly on me and my taste though, not the book.
October 8, 2019
1.3 stars
Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win follows Charlotte Walsh, a highly successful titan in the Silicon Valley tech industry and her run for Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania. The novel follows her as she and her campaign team, her husband, and her three daughters deal with the many trials and tribulations that come with running for political office as a woman.
I did think the book was an easy read and there are definitely lines in there that were very astute and interesting and say a lot about the treatment of women, in general and especially in politics.
BUT. This whole book felt very like... feminism 101 to me? And for a book that’s supposed to follow a highly competent woman in a post-Trump election world, it didn’t make any particularly interesting or unique points. We know the media and people unfairly fixate on female candidates’ families and clothing and appearances — we lived through it in 2016 and we are living through it now, we’ve been living through it for decades. But what does the author have to add to this conversation? In one pretty cringy scene, reporters fixate on Walsh’s decision to wear flats when announcing her candidacy. Walsh asks if any of the reporters have questioned her male candidate’s footwear or fixated on his clothing choices and it’s meant to be this *GIRL POWER* moment. And I get it, clothing choice is one of the meaningless ways in which the media targets women and it’s reminiscent of the whole “Hilary and her pantsuits” thing, but it’s also one of the ways in which this book merely skims the surface of already pretty shallow waters.
It’s not even entirely clear what the main character’s overall motivations are. Despite following her for the entirety of the novel, we still don’t know a lot about this character and her greater motivations except for the fact that she comes from a working class family and “wants to win.” She’s not a very sympathetic character (I’m not saying she needs to be likable AT ALL but I also don’t feel like she’s a fully fleshed out character) and most of her storyline feels very meh.
The ending.... is open ended. So the election results are in but you don’t find out whether she won. You know it’s a close race and the two candidates were tied in the polls at this point. The author follows this up with an authors note stating that she didn’t want to make a definitive statement by giving it a concrete ending. But .... then what was the point? I’m not arguing against open ended books — when done right I think they’re incredibly thought provoking and pretty beautiful but in this case, it just feels like a cop out. There’s nothing to think about here - she either won the election or she didn’t. I think the author could have easily revealed the election results but kept the reader interested and curious about the fate of her marriage or how her family learns to cope and grow from the cracks brought on by this campaign. Ultimately, you don’t find out if she won, but on the bright side, you never really cared anyway.
Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win follows Charlotte Walsh, a highly successful titan in the Silicon Valley tech industry and her run for Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania. The novel follows her as she and her campaign team, her husband, and her three daughters deal with the many trials and tribulations that come with running for political office as a woman.
I did think the book was an easy read and there are definitely lines in there that were very astute and interesting and say a lot about the treatment of women, in general and especially in politics.
BUT. This whole book felt very like... feminism 101 to me? And for a book that’s supposed to follow a highly competent woman in a post-Trump election world, it didn’t make any particularly interesting or unique points. We know the media and people unfairly fixate on female candidates’ families and clothing and appearances — we lived through it in 2016 and we are living through it now, we’ve been living through it for decades. But what does the author have to add to this conversation? In one pretty cringy scene, reporters fixate on Walsh’s decision to wear flats when announcing her candidacy. Walsh asks if any of the reporters have questioned her male candidate’s footwear or fixated on his clothing choices and it’s meant to be this *GIRL POWER* moment. And I get it, clothing choice is one of the meaningless ways in which the media targets women and it’s reminiscent of the whole “Hilary and her pantsuits” thing, but it’s also one of the ways in which this book merely skims the surface of already pretty shallow waters.
It’s not even entirely clear what the main character’s overall motivations are. Despite following her for the entirety of the novel, we still don’t know a lot about this character and her greater motivations except for the fact that she comes from a working class family and “wants to win.” She’s not a very sympathetic character (I’m not saying she needs to be likable AT ALL but I also don’t feel like she’s a fully fleshed out character) and most of her storyline feels very meh.
The ending.... is open ended. So the election results are in but you don’t find out whether she won. You know it’s a close race and the two candidates were tied in the polls at this point. The author follows this up with an authors note stating that she didn’t want to make a definitive statement by giving it a concrete ending. But .... then what was the point? I’m not arguing against open ended books — when done right I think they’re incredibly thought provoking and pretty beautiful but in this case, it just feels like a cop out. There’s nothing to think about here - she either won the election or she didn’t. I think the author could have easily revealed the election results but kept the reader interested and curious about the fate of her marriage or how her family learns to cope and grow from the cracks brought on by this campaign. Ultimately, you don’t find out if she won, but on the bright side, you never really cared anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
4.5⭐️— Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win by Jo Piazza
•
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
•
Charlotte Walsh is running for political office in her home state of Pennsylvania. To do this she uproots her husband and three daughters from Cali to Pennsylvania. Between this, her husband becoming Mr. Mom, and the stress of a campaign, Charlotte’s already fragile marriage trembled under the pressure. Can Charlotte win? Can woman have it all?
•
I have previously read Fitness Junkie and The Knockoff coauthored by Piazza (and Lucy Sykes) and enjoyed them both. This book was much different in a good way. It took me longer to get through, a mixture of busy nights and work stress made me not want to read a serious topic, but I really enjoyed this book. I gave it a 4.5 Bc I think some of the pacing could have been faster, but it wasn’t so slow that I lost interest. And when Charlotte’s secret comes out, it’s a doozy. And the ending! Ahhh that ending. Piazza left me shrieking and messaging a fellow bookstagrammer to make sure I wasn’t crazy!
•
With likable characters and a topic that is hot in our political climate and life in general, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is a must read!
•
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
•
Charlotte Walsh is running for political office in her home state of Pennsylvania. To do this she uproots her husband and three daughters from Cali to Pennsylvania. Between this, her husband becoming Mr. Mom, and the stress of a campaign, Charlotte’s already fragile marriage trembled under the pressure. Can Charlotte win? Can woman have it all?
•
I have previously read Fitness Junkie and The Knockoff coauthored by Piazza (and Lucy Sykes) and enjoyed them both. This book was much different in a good way. It took me longer to get through, a mixture of busy nights and work stress made me not want to read a serious topic, but I really enjoyed this book. I gave it a 4.5 Bc I think some of the pacing could have been faster, but it wasn’t so slow that I lost interest. And when Charlotte’s secret comes out, it’s a doozy. And the ending! Ahhh that ending. Piazza left me shrieking and messaging a fellow bookstagrammer to make sure I wasn’t crazy!
•
With likable characters and a topic that is hot in our political climate and life in general, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is a must read!
December 30, 2018
WORST ENDING EVER
June 29, 2019
I didn't know a lot about Jo Piazza, but I knew of her other titles like The Knockoff and Fitness Junkie I thought she wrote very frivolous fiction a la Sophia Kinsella or Jane Green. But for whatever reason, this novel has interested me since it came out last summer. THEN, when I started reading it, I checked out her books again and realized she wrote a little-known non-fiction book I loooooved called If Nuns Ruled the World: Ten Sisters on a Mission, so was happy to go into the book thinking she may be more substantive than I thought!
I feel like in every review from now on I have to say if I listened to it or read it because I realize more and more as a late convert to audiobooks how much some books work better as one or the other. So, I listened to this one and although of course I can't compare it to reading it physically, it was great on audio. There are twists and surprises in the plot and lots of dialogue, so it was very engaging as a listening experience.
There are a lot of books out that center around women's work life/balance and having it all, and this was one of the better ones I've read. This just needs a stamp of TIMELY on it. I often hate when an author tries to cram too many of-the-moment issues into a book (I'm looking at you Jodi Piccoult) but for whatever reason, this time it worked for me. I felt like we were really peeking into the life of someone like Kirsten Gillibrand, Hillary Clinton, or Elizabeth Warren (not the specifics, but the general balance of trying to be everything to everyone as a politician while also dealing with how much worse it is for women). I loved the constant pull of issues women have, and not just women in politics...The feeling of "I have no close friends anymore" fighting with "well, when I DO have time alone, I'm exhausted and/or have other responsibilities" The feeling of "I want to look nice so I feel confident" vs "who gives a f*** what I'm wearing?" The list goes on and on, from gender roles in marriage to how to handle internet trolls, to parenting responsibilities. I can't imagine most women wouldn't find one or two moments to relate to.
And what I love most is that Piazza lets Charlotte be really shitty and awful sometimes, at one big moment specifically. Characters doing bad things, especially female ones, are a hard sell even in more literary fiction. So I was pleasantly shocked to see her go there in a big way! As she says at one point (and I'm paraphrasing), "this is what women have put up with from men for decades." She felt like such a real person to me; I felt that I knew all of her strengths and weaknesses like a friend would.
I feel like in every review from now on I have to say if I listened to it or read it because I realize more and more as a late convert to audiobooks how much some books work better as one or the other. So, I listened to this one and although of course I can't compare it to reading it physically, it was great on audio. There are twists and surprises in the plot and lots of dialogue, so it was very engaging as a listening experience.
There are a lot of books out that center around women's work life/balance and having it all, and this was one of the better ones I've read. This just needs a stamp of TIMELY on it. I often hate when an author tries to cram too many of-the-moment issues into a book (I'm looking at you Jodi Piccoult) but for whatever reason, this time it worked for me. I felt like we were really peeking into the life of someone like Kirsten Gillibrand, Hillary Clinton, or Elizabeth Warren (not the specifics, but the general balance of trying to be everything to everyone as a politician while also dealing with how much worse it is for women). I loved the constant pull of issues women have, and not just women in politics...The feeling of "I have no close friends anymore" fighting with "well, when I DO have time alone, I'm exhausted and/or have other responsibilities" The feeling of "I want to look nice so I feel confident" vs "who gives a f*** what I'm wearing?" The list goes on and on, from gender roles in marriage to how to handle internet trolls, to parenting responsibilities. I can't imagine most women wouldn't find one or two moments to relate to.
And what I love most is that Piazza lets Charlotte be really shitty and awful sometimes, at one big moment specifically. Characters doing bad things, especially female ones, are a hard sell even in more literary fiction. So I was pleasantly shocked to see her go there in a big way! As she says at one point (and I'm paraphrasing), "this is what women have put up with from men for decades." She felt like such a real person to me; I felt that I knew all of her strengths and weaknesses like a friend would.
November 19, 2020
I read Fitness Junkie back in the day and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to get to Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win. And in true Jo Piazza fashion, she made this book relatable, fun, and serious all at the same time. This was the perfect book to read during an election year and even though I'm sad I didn't read it sooner, I'm also kind of glad I waited until 2020. Charlotte and other characters could be related to people in the real world, and I found her opponent sounding a lot like a certain someone whom I won't name. I liked the book as soon as I started it, and I really liked Tavia Gilbert's narration for the audio. She is a little weird with some of the side characters, but I loved the way she read Charlotte and a couple of others specifically. I also thought this was a page turner, and I found myself not wanting to stop listening.
Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win felt really quick, and even though our main character is running for senate, this book never felt overly political and definitely not preachy. I thought it was a very smart and compelling novel, and if you like Piazza's writing style I think you will like this book. Even though it is 2020 and this book came out in 2018, it still seems like an accurate portrayal of politics, and especially women in politics. This author is such a great writer, and I just loved how much I connected to the book and the characters. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win felt really quick, and even though our main character is running for senate, this book never felt overly political and definitely not preachy. I thought it was a very smart and compelling novel, and if you like Piazza's writing style I think you will like this book. Even though it is 2020 and this book came out in 2018, it still seems like an accurate portrayal of politics, and especially women in politics. This author is such a great writer, and I just loved how much I connected to the book and the characters. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
May 14, 2019
3.75 stars for Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win!
This was a surprise delight! I picked this book up because I heard it was being turned into a Movie, and of course I would need to read it before seeing it. I was unsure about the concept of a political family drama, but I do love a good family drama, so I gave it a go.
Charlotte Walsh is running for Senate in Pennsylvania after leaving her Silicon Valley job, hoping that she will make a difference in the nation. She’s married with three young daughters to a man named Max, but leave it to the campaign to reveal their less than perfect marriage.
I loved the comedy that was woven throughout the storyline of this very true to life political fiction. I thought that Charlotte did a great job of embodying the American woman. Marriage, Motherhood, and trying to juggle it all while also holding your head high and working hard.
This was a surprise delight! I picked this book up because I heard it was being turned into a Movie, and of course I would need to read it before seeing it. I was unsure about the concept of a political family drama, but I do love a good family drama, so I gave it a go.
Charlotte Walsh is running for Senate in Pennsylvania after leaving her Silicon Valley job, hoping that she will make a difference in the nation. She’s married with three young daughters to a man named Max, but leave it to the campaign to reveal their less than perfect marriage.
I loved the comedy that was woven throughout the storyline of this very true to life political fiction. I thought that Charlotte did a great job of embodying the American woman. Marriage, Motherhood, and trying to juggle it all while also holding your head high and working hard.
April 26, 2019
Charlotte Walsh is an utterly believable, utterly human candidate for the US Senate from Pennsylvania. She has all of the baggage you would expect of a Silicon Valley Exec, born in PA daughter, sister, wife and mom. Charlotte believes that she can do a better job in government than the aging man who currently holds the seat, and it is impossible to think that she is wrong.
Piazza’s novel, dragged from today’s headlines, was a solid 3.5* read for me. I would have given it a 4* up until the end. Argue with me if you want, but I want my authors to take a stand!
Piazza’s novel, dragged from today’s headlines, was a solid 3.5* read for me. I would have given it a 4* up until the end. Argue with me if you want, but I want my authors to take a stand!
August 7, 2018
{My Thoughts}
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/charlotte-wal...
What Worked For Me
An Author’s Courageous Timeline – Before anything else, I have to applaud Jo Piazza for setting her story right NOW in the middle of one of the most hotly contested set of mid-term elections that we’ve ever experienced. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win begins in mid-2017 and ends with the November 2018 elections. You can’t get timelier than that. When you think about the time to write a book, submit it, do all the editing, and then go through the entire publication process, it’s truly amazing that Piazza was able to pull this book off. I’d love to know when she started writing it. I suspect it was shortly after the 2016 elections. Piazza’s amazing foresight proves her to be a very wise woman!
An Insider’s Glimpse of Running for Office – Charlotte Walsh wants to be Pennsylvania’s next senator for all the right reasons. The man she hopes to replace has been in office for over 30 years and has done little for the state. She’s appalled at the direction the country has taken. And, she has terrific qualifications as a woman who has successfully run a cutting edge-company, written a book about empowering women, and has been called by many to run for office. Charlotte knows to hire a tough, experienced campaign manager. She knows to surround herself with powerful advisors and she makes sure her family is on board. But none of that is enough.
The rigors of running are overwhelming, for anyone, but as a woman Charlotte has to also endure the indignity of being scrutinized for her hairstyle, her clothing, her shoes, and her mothering. Things no one even considers for a man. And then there’s the dirt, real and fabricated, on both sides. Time after time it nearly breaks Charlotte.
Two voices competed in Charlotte’s head, “The work you will do in office once you win this race will be more important than the humiliation you feel in this moment.” The other said, “Quit now! This will only get worse.”
Charlotte’s Personal Life – Throughout the book Charlotte struggled to maintain a family life with her husband, Max, and her three young daughters. Occasionally she had success, but mostly she didn’t because in reality running for office is a nasty, nasty business. It put everyone she loved under a microscope. Still, I enjoyed Charlotte’s family and her complicated loved story with Max. Of course, they all suffered, they all sacrificed to help Charlotte succeed, as all family’s must when one member chooses to run for office.
A Balance of Funny and Sad – Piazza’s book was not a light summer read and it was not a gloomy tragedy. Instead it was a perfect balance between the two. You had to laugh about Charlotte’s daily shoe choices getting their own Instagram account, just as you felt her frustration that her shoes were getting more press coverage than her message.
Narration – Tavia Gilbert did a marvelous job reading Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win. She really brought Charlotte to life and both her pacing and inflections were great. Gilbert is one of those readers who makes you want to get right back to listening!
What Didn’t
Unnecessary Parts – There were a few short parts of the story that I felt were unneeded or out of character for Charlotte. For example, just days before the election after some bad news, she goes to a bar and has a few drinks. It just didn’t seem like something Charlotte would have done with so much on the line. The story needed no distractors.
{The Final Assessment}
I really enjoyed this timely novel and admire Jo Piazza for taking it on. The ending of Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win didn’t surprise me, and I liked it a lot. Be sure to read Piazza’s explanation of why she chose to end the book the way she did. That was VERY impressive! In addition to the pleasure I got from this book, it left me with one big question: Why would anyone ever WANT to run for office? It’s so awful, no matter how clean you are. So, for all the brave folks who take on the task, the least the rest of us can do is stay informed and vote! Grade: B+
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/charlotte-wal...
What Worked For Me
An Author’s Courageous Timeline – Before anything else, I have to applaud Jo Piazza for setting her story right NOW in the middle of one of the most hotly contested set of mid-term elections that we’ve ever experienced. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win begins in mid-2017 and ends with the November 2018 elections. You can’t get timelier than that. When you think about the time to write a book, submit it, do all the editing, and then go through the entire publication process, it’s truly amazing that Piazza was able to pull this book off. I’d love to know when she started writing it. I suspect it was shortly after the 2016 elections. Piazza’s amazing foresight proves her to be a very wise woman!
An Insider’s Glimpse of Running for Office – Charlotte Walsh wants to be Pennsylvania’s next senator for all the right reasons. The man she hopes to replace has been in office for over 30 years and has done little for the state. She’s appalled at the direction the country has taken. And, she has terrific qualifications as a woman who has successfully run a cutting edge-company, written a book about empowering women, and has been called by many to run for office. Charlotte knows to hire a tough, experienced campaign manager. She knows to surround herself with powerful advisors and she makes sure her family is on board. But none of that is enough.
The rigors of running are overwhelming, for anyone, but as a woman Charlotte has to also endure the indignity of being scrutinized for her hairstyle, her clothing, her shoes, and her mothering. Things no one even considers for a man. And then there’s the dirt, real and fabricated, on both sides. Time after time it nearly breaks Charlotte.
Two voices competed in Charlotte’s head, “The work you will do in office once you win this race will be more important than the humiliation you feel in this moment.” The other said, “Quit now! This will only get worse.”
Charlotte’s Personal Life – Throughout the book Charlotte struggled to maintain a family life with her husband, Max, and her three young daughters. Occasionally she had success, but mostly she didn’t because in reality running for office is a nasty, nasty business. It put everyone she loved under a microscope. Still, I enjoyed Charlotte’s family and her complicated loved story with Max. Of course, they all suffered, they all sacrificed to help Charlotte succeed, as all family’s must when one member chooses to run for office.
A Balance of Funny and Sad – Piazza’s book was not a light summer read and it was not a gloomy tragedy. Instead it was a perfect balance between the two. You had to laugh about Charlotte’s daily shoe choices getting their own Instagram account, just as you felt her frustration that her shoes were getting more press coverage than her message.
Narration – Tavia Gilbert did a marvelous job reading Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win. She really brought Charlotte to life and both her pacing and inflections were great. Gilbert is one of those readers who makes you want to get right back to listening!
What Didn’t
Unnecessary Parts – There were a few short parts of the story that I felt were unneeded or out of character for Charlotte. For example, just days before the election after some bad news, she goes to a bar and has a few drinks. It just didn’t seem like something Charlotte would have done with so much on the line. The story needed no distractors.
{The Final Assessment}
I really enjoyed this timely novel and admire Jo Piazza for taking it on. The ending of Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win didn’t surprise me, and I liked it a lot. Be sure to read Piazza’s explanation of why she chose to end the book the way she did. That was VERY impressive! In addition to the pleasure I got from this book, it left me with one big question: Why would anyone ever WANT to run for office? It’s so awful, no matter how clean you are. So, for all the brave folks who take on the task, the least the rest of us can do is stay informed and vote! Grade: B+
August 6, 2018
“‘Never stop smiling,’ Josh had warned. ‘Smile until you feel like your lips will fall off. A woman who doesn’t smile is an angry woman. You cannot be an angry woman, even for a second.’”
I’ve always been a fan of Jo Piazza, but CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN is definitely a stand out. A very timely story about the experience of a female candidate running for political office and the challenges she endures that are never experienced by her male counterparts.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, fantastic characters and thought provoking statements; most of all, I think the author has done a remarkable job of illuminating this topic in a very accessible way. I felt like I was cheering Charlotte on throughout the entire book! Highly recommend!
I’ve always been a fan of Jo Piazza, but CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN is definitely a stand out. A very timely story about the experience of a female candidate running for political office and the challenges she endures that are never experienced by her male counterparts.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, fantastic characters and thought provoking statements; most of all, I think the author has done a remarkable job of illuminating this topic in a very accessible way. I felt like I was cheering Charlotte on throughout the entire book! Highly recommend!
November 23, 2018
Warning: There is one mild spoiler in the last paragraph of this review.
Charlotte Walsh rose from a troubled, working-class childhood to become COO of a big California tech company. As this novel opens, she has taken a leave from work and returned to her home state of Pennsylvania to run for Senate. She’s smart, attractive, and driven. She is also running in a toxic political environment that is especially brutal to women. And she has a secret.
I liked Charlotte. She’s very relatable. Although she came so far in life and is an effective and seemingly assured tech executive, she has her insecurities. As a manager in the business world myself, I could definitely identify with that. She and her husband had their 3 daughters late in life, and struggle to balance their family life with the demands of a nasty political campaign. No matter how much of a big shot you are, mothering is the same for all of us: a combination of passionate love, light-hearted joy, monotony, aggravation, and sheer terror that you are completely ruining your children. Charlotte also has marital problems: her husband has been unfaithful in the past, and she has reason to suspect that he may be again.
When I discovered her secret, it did make me like her less. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s pretty shocking.
The political climate of my home state of Pennsylvania is well-portrayed. Piazza ends her book in the moment before Charlotte finds out whether or not she has won her race. As a Pennsylvanian, I can tell you that she would not win. Pennsylvania is fairly sophisticated and liberal in Pittsburgh, Philly and their surrounding suburbs. But the majority of the state is rural and conservative. I don’t think we’ll be electing a female senator with Charlotte’s kind of baggage any time soon.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistress: https://www.bing.com/search?q=amazon....
Charlotte Walsh rose from a troubled, working-class childhood to become COO of a big California tech company. As this novel opens, she has taken a leave from work and returned to her home state of Pennsylvania to run for Senate. She’s smart, attractive, and driven. She is also running in a toxic political environment that is especially brutal to women. And she has a secret.
I liked Charlotte. She’s very relatable. Although she came so far in life and is an effective and seemingly assured tech executive, she has her insecurities. As a manager in the business world myself, I could definitely identify with that. She and her husband had their 3 daughters late in life, and struggle to balance their family life with the demands of a nasty political campaign. No matter how much of a big shot you are, mothering is the same for all of us: a combination of passionate love, light-hearted joy, monotony, aggravation, and sheer terror that you are completely ruining your children. Charlotte also has marital problems: her husband has been unfaithful in the past, and she has reason to suspect that he may be again.
When I discovered her secret, it did make me like her less. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s pretty shocking.
The political climate of my home state of Pennsylvania is well-portrayed. Piazza ends her book in the moment before Charlotte finds out whether or not she has won her race. As a Pennsylvanian, I can tell you that she would not win. Pennsylvania is fairly sophisticated and liberal in Pittsburgh, Philly and their surrounding suburbs. But the majority of the state is rural and conservative. I don’t think we’ll be electing a female senator with Charlotte’s kind of baggage any time soon.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistress: https://www.bing.com/search?q=amazon....
July 24, 2018
Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win is about a female candidate running for office. This book is Women's Fiction.
The narrator is 47 year old Charlotte Walsh (3rd person POV).
Charlotte has left a very successful job in Silicon Valley to run for the Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania. She wants to win. But she also wants to balance her ambition with her family (husband and 3 young daughters).
The start of this book was just okay for me. It was interesting to see a woman running for Senate. But I just wanted more. And the 3rd person POV made it even more difficult for me to connect with Charlotte.
There was nothing really wrong with this book. But not that much happened until the end. The book definitely felt timely and the campaign felt very real. But the very end did not feel right to me. There were a few interesting revelations, but overall this book was just okay.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this book.
The narrator is 47 year old Charlotte Walsh (3rd person POV).
Charlotte has left a very successful job in Silicon Valley to run for the Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania. She wants to win. But she also wants to balance her ambition with her family (husband and 3 young daughters).
The start of this book was just okay for me. It was interesting to see a woman running for Senate. But I just wanted more. And the 3rd person POV made it even more difficult for me to connect with Charlotte.
There was nothing really wrong with this book. But not that much happened until the end. The book definitely felt timely and the campaign felt very real. But the very end did not feel right to me. There were a few interesting revelations, but overall this book was just okay.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this book.
August 1, 2018
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book to me for review. Smart, timely, and well-written - I LOVED this one! I felt like the author handled the topic of women in politics with grace, but without flinching away from the ugly side of it. Not only dealing with women in the political arena, however, this novel is a great exploration of marriage, motherhood, and women in the work force. Highly recommended!
August 3, 2018
This book is the female driven book we’ve been waiting for. Charlotte is all of us except she’s running for Senate in her home state of PA. She’s driven to change the world but first she has to survive being a candidate and her marriage. Charlotte isn’t perfect, her marriage is in tatters but this is what she’s determined to do.
I loved Ms. Piazza’s portrayal of someone who could be anyone of us and that’s what will hook you. You will see yourself in her and all of your close female friends/relatives.
Ms. Piazza has quickly become an author I look forward to reading and Charlotte Walsh is her best yet.
I loved Ms. Piazza’s portrayal of someone who could be anyone of us and that’s what will hook you. You will see yourself in her and all of your close female friends/relatives.
Ms. Piazza has quickly become an author I look forward to reading and Charlotte Walsh is her best yet.
August 9, 2018
Oh how I loved this book about a woman running for senate. The author brilliantly displays the push-pull of marriage and career and family life while giving an inside view of politics. The kids definitely get second (or third, or fourth) billing but I think that's sort of the point. It's the age old adage of you can't have it all, but wrapped up in an engaging tale and not the least bit judgmental or preachy. I loved the cynical campaign advisor and, given the author's journalistic background, I have to think that much of his tactics are true. I will say that I gasped at the end, and my first reaction was "1 star!" but after thinking about it for 30 seconds, the ending was perfect. Love, love, loved this.
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