The Hopefuls

May 23, 2016
In Close’s (Girls in White Dresses) uneven fourth novel, writer Beth Kelly reluctantly leaves New York City to move to Washington, D.C., due to her husband, Matt, and his promising job in politics. He hopes to run for office one day, having been groomed for glory since childhood by his overbearing mother, Babs. Unfortunately, though he has the drive, Matt lacks the charm and charisma that his handsome friend Jimmy Dillon has in excess. With jealousy and admiration, Matt watches Jimmy fulfill his ambitions with ease. In the meantime, cosmopolitan Beth forges an unlikely friendship with Jimmy’s unrefined but sweet wife, Ash. Though Close’s novel is initially snappy and engaging, it becomes a slog once Beth follows Matt to Texas, where he begins work on Jimmy’s local campaign. Unemployed Beth endures endless days of monotony and repetitive election talk, growing apart from Matt and Ash as Ash turns maliciously gossipy and Matt irritably begins to shut her out. The formerly tight foursome begin to get on one another’s nerves, although Beth starts to think of Jimmy as more than a pal. The novel’s strengths lie in documenting how stress changes people, the work that marriage requires, and the importance of having a passion of one’s own. A welcome tension returns to the story as an inevitably fruitless election night looms, but not enough to recover the lost momentum of the book’s tedious middle pages.

Narrator Jorjeana Marie's lively performance and perfect pacing make this audiobook a compulsive listen. The story features an up-and-coming couple and their involvement with Washington, D.C., society and the underbelly of political ambition. Beth is reluctantly swept up in a campaign season as her husband puts aside his own dreams to manage their best friend's race for office. Listeners easily pick up on Beth's conflicted feelings, arising from her astute observations of the sometimes fragile facades that Washingtonians erect to bolster their political and social images. In addition, Marie's subtle yet effective accents and tonal modulations highlight the characters' personalities, strengthening listeners' connection to the story. With its vivid details of life in D.C., this is a must-listen for an election year. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine