I loved this book!! Charlotte Walsh is painted as so multidimensional and it's impossible to not root for her throughout the story. This was such an interesting inside look at the world of politics and felt topical as more women are beginning to run for government. I enjoyed the political aspects as well as the various relationship dynamics at play. Overall, this book is an excellent pick for anyone. It was the perfect weight for a summer read: light enough to be a good beach read but heavy enough to make a lasting impression.

Thank you to Netgalley + Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of this book.

This is my third Jo Piazza book; I loved How to be Married and Marriage Vacation and must go back to read her other ones. This book is very timely given the political climate the US is currently in and it was very enjoyable.
Charlotte, a high powered Silicon Valley exec decides to move back to her home state of Pennsylvnia to run for Senate. Fired up from the 2016 election she thinks she can make real change but at what cost. I loved how this book explored relationship themes within a marriage, a family, a mentorship and how it pulled you in because you want to know if she pulls it off and wins!

I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are interested in strong female leads and relationship drama.

I loved this book! It had me at every page! It was a wonderful choice for my break. I loved getting back to the book and seeing human emotions unravel. The author has done a spectacular job of showing human emotion and dynamics without compromising human flaw (and without overdoing it). I loved how the book ends and I love how it's all done! I'm all praises for the book. GO GET IT.

This book was just superb. It may end up being one of my favorites of the year. I don’t think Piazza could have nailed any better what it is like to be a female political candidate in this era: it almost read like a memoir at some points. The political consultant, the chief of staff, the husband and kids, the opposing candidate, the Silicon Valley types....just couldn’t have done any better at making them just shy enough of caricature to know they’re realistic in this over-the-top age. Living in the DC area with political friends who have worked on campaigns, I’ve heard the stories, and it just felt so incredibly real. In fact, if I were a political candidate, Charlotte Walsh would be my role model. The ending was brilliant, and maybe we’ll get a sequel? I sure hope so, as I wasn’t ready for Charlotte’s campaign to be over.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win by Jo Piazza. Women candidates for office are under much more scrutiny than men. Seems unfair though. Charlotte had a very good self image most of the time in the story. The press invents stories.

Charlotte Walsh moves from her lovely house in Silicon Valley to her childhood home Northeastern Pennsylvania to run for Senate against a vile, misogynistic, anti-abortion incumbent. This novel is very conscious to frame itself in our current political moment—references to She Should Run, Emily’s List, Teen Vogue, and a recently elected male president (not mentioned by name in the book, but his wealth, rhetoric, and lack of qualifications are obviously recognizable) are peppered throughout. When I began reading, I worried that this novel might be a bit difficult to enjoy given how closely it parallels the real world. But this is, thankfully, just distinct enough from reality in it’s almost-gossipy, insider-intel tone to be a fun, hopeful read. We learn early on that Charlotte’s marriage isn’t exactly as happy as she’d like her potential constituents to believe. As Election Day nears, Charlotte’s secrets start to seep out. This was a fun read, and it should have a lot of appeal for progressive women in particular.

Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win was an interesting novel about being a woman, mother and wife in politics in current America and what it takes to have it all. The book started off pretty slowly for me, it had too much scene setting and background before getting to the actual story, but once there it was a fascinating read. Not too heavy and not too light, this was a great rainy day summer read. This book took me 4 hours to read. 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance readers copy.

I feel like I need to have a disclaimer before I write this review... I don't like politics and they make me feel extremely uncomfortable. So, with that being said... this book was pretty uncomfortable for me. I love Jo Piazza's writing and I've read and enjoyed all of her books, but this topic just wasn't my favorite. I also happen to know that some people love the drama that comes with politics and they would eat up a book about it, so to all of you people, this one is for you.

Now that we got that part out of the way, lets talk about the parts I enjoyed in this novel. As always, Piazza's ability to create amazing characters comes through once again with the character of Charlotte Walsh. I loved her ambition, her spunk, and her ability to be a good mom and a power house of a business woman. She is the type of hard working woman that so many women aspire to be. Another notable character for me was Roz. She had a take-no-shit attitude and I loved it!

All in all, this novel was entertaining, and it was filled to the brim with secrets, lies, and betrayal. This wasn't my favorite novel by Jo Piazza because my issue with reading about politics, but I really think it is going to be a popular title this summer. If you love dramatic reads full of politics and secrets, this novel is for you! Thank you Simon and Shuster and Netgalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 3/5

There are quite a few books that take a reader behind the scenes of Hollywood, but I think there are less that take a reader behind the scenes of politics. I know there are some out there, but I think there are less. This book really felt like a real peek behind the curtain and I loved it.

Charlotte Walsh is heading not only back to her home state but small hometown and is going to run for state Senate in Pennsylvania. In this book and in real life there had been no females elected into the Senate for Pennsylvania and I did an extensive google search homing to prove the book wrong and sadly it was true until this last election. So back to the book, Charlotte is running and she is heading back to her small hometown to center her campaign there. She left a small town in Pennsylvania and not in the best circumstances and has become a COO of a Silicon Valley corporation and published a book, she made me think of Cheryl Sandberg. I loved following her through the ups and downs of returning home and then the crazy battle of politics.

My favorite moment is when there was a shoe fiasco and she point blank calls out the media on the gender bias and asks them to ask her male counterpoint to ask him what shoes he is wearing and if he is wearing heels! It was most interesting that there was media both female and male involved in shoe gate and it really made me think about how we evaluate candidates.

I won't spoil a thing, but OH THE ENDING! If there is no sequel after this, I at least want a novella or something to wrap up some of the loose ends!

I really hope Jo Piazza writes more like this. I loved how she really examined a "woman's place" and would love to see more from her.

Given today’s political climate, this book was very interesting to read. Loved Charlotte’s values but was saddened by the way she had to adjust them at times to appeal to the group she was talking to. I think it was a very real glimpse of the toll politics takes on a family and a marriage. Many thanks to Jo Piazza, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this engrossing read published today.

This was almost painful to read - not because it was poorly written (it wasn't) but because it was so real. Being a campaign is infuriating, exhausting and soul destroying. Sometimes the good and big moments seem to make up for the bad parts but definitely not always. This book goes behind the scenes of just such a campaign - a woman running for the Senate in Pennsylvania against a hypocritical misogynist. Plus, of course, she's got all sorts of family secrets she's protecting and life as an executive, wife and mother to juggle at the same time. I think this was a very realistic portrayal of such an election but it was still so hard to read because of its realistic portray. Definitely my favorite thing I've read from Jo Piazza so far!

Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win comes out TODAY on July 24, 2018, and you can purchase HERE.

"I need to show you something." Josh opened his laptop to reveal four quadrants of Excel spreadsheets filled with percentages. "You're ahead in the latest polls. You're doing great with both college-educated women and non-college-educated women. White men are still a problem"

"That should be on a T-shirt or, better yet, a hat," Leila interjected. " 'White Men Are Still a Problem.' "

I don’t normally read politically-focused novels, not because I don’t care but hearing about it on the news is enough for me. But the summary of this book just intrigued me and it was a ‘read now’ on NetGalley so I decided to give it a try.

And, goodness, did it deliver the goods.

Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win tackles the costs of being a woman in the limelight, specifically one running for office. At the heart of this novel is Charlotte Walsh, a big shot Silicon Valley exec who decides to return to her home state of Pennsylvania to be its first-ever female senatorial candidate. She starts on her campaign not fully realizing just how much of herself would be exposed to a public who is all too glad to pick apart her every word and action. Assisted by her savvy campaign manager Josh Pratt, her fiercely loyal executive assistant Leila Kelly, and her team, Charlotte weathers on, but as election day nears a secret she’s been keeping threatens to ruin her bid for office and her marriage.

From the plot to its pace to the writing and down to its characters, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is a solid book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the writing. Jo Piazza’s humorous and witty spin on otherwise serious matters such as class, gender, healthcare and skills re-training made this page-turner all the more engaging and relatable. I think people will find themselves agreeing with the points she opened up in this story.

That said, what I loved the most about this book are its characters. They are flawed, nuanced but still likable. Every character in this book is fleshed out and I’m sure readers will feel like they know the whole cast well after they finished reading.

Of course, Charlotte was the one who resonated to me the most. She is ambitious, idealistic, resourceful, smart, and confident and insecure at the time. The stuff she had to put up to – double standards that you’d think no longer exist in this day age – disgusted and angered me in equal measures. There was this couple of lines in the first chapter that, I think, perfectly capture this. These lines are from Josh during his and Charlie’s interview just before the start of the campaign.

As a woman, you bear the burden of having to appear to be charismatic, smart, well-groomed, nice, but not too nice. If you’re married, you need to look happily married. If you have kids, you should be the mother of the year.

The expectations foisted upon her were unrealistically high, something that, sadly, a lot of women the world over still deal with. Both the press and the people she wants to serve dissect her every move so much that even her choice became an issue.

But that’s just one part of Charlotte’s story.

As important as the political side of her story is, the part that interested me the most was Charlotte’s and Max’s relationship. There was just something raw and real in their exchanges, a sort of power struggle in their dynamic. I was invested in them, wanted them to survive both the campaign and election, and Charlie’s big secret. I think this is why several days after finishing I’m still not sure how and what to think about the way this book ended.

That aside, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is a timely, funny and honest read. Sneak this in on your beach read list. You’d definitely won’t regret it.

This book is rooted in so many real-life issues, making it incredibly timely, but it also is a really great story about the ups and downs of entering the world of politics- especially as a woman. Charlotte Walsh is passionate, imperfect, smart. This book really doesn't glamorize politics- it's got the mean, the dirty, the exhaustion, the toll on families, etc. But Charlotte is a character that you root for. Charlotte Walsh likes to win, but as a reader I really WANTED her to win as well. I actually teared up a couple of times while reading, feeling so inspired by and impassioned about this fictional candidate. This was a book I didn't know I needed, and now I can't wait to spread the word.

Charlotte Walsh likes to win...but does she? This is something you wouldn’t know if you read this book. What I assumed this book to be and what it is are two very different things. One would assume if a woman is running for office that she would be a strong woman, yet Charlotte lets her campaign manager Josh and her brother Paul walk all over her. She has internal monologue of what she’d say to them, I guess if she had the nerve, but instead she just grins and bows down like a coward.

At one point, the book moved so slow that I skipped 30% of it and didn’t miss anything! I picked up and kept reading and there was enough in the writing to fill in the blanks, which tells me there is a lot of repetition.

I’ve enjoyed others by this author, but this one missed the mark for me.

Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win by Jo Piazza follows the title character as she uproots her shaky marriage and her three young children and relocates to her home state of Pennsylvania to run for Senate.

This book was really the best of both worlds for me. It was light and fun enough that it would make an excellent beach read, but it also tackled important topics and was timely and insightful in all the right ways. There was even a bit of a suspense facet to this read as you frantically flip pages to find out what would become of the marriage of the main characters. 
I loathe politics and avoid discussing it whenever possible. So I didn't exactly go into this read excited about the premise. Although the plot was certainly politically focused, there was SO much more to it. There were several points where I found myself nodding emphatically as I was reading and thinking "hell yes!". Topics like toxic masculinity, gender politics, marriage, female ambition, and the changing political climate were addressed without the book turning into a giant bummer. Which is no easy feat!

That being said, I was a little emotionally devastated by the ending. It was totally (purposefully) open-ended and I was really looking for a little more closure. 

One small thing that probably didn't bother most readers...the main characters father is named Marty Walsh. Marty Walsh is the current mayor of Boston. Maybe I only know this because I lived in/near Boston for many years but it drove me batty every time she mentioned her father. 

I give it a solid 4 stars and my undying gratitude to Jo Piazza for bringing a much-needed perspective to the market. We need it now more than ever. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Will be available tomorrow, July 24th!

I just finished Krysten Ritter's BONFIRE the other day and remarked how much I love a "main character returns to the small town they grew up in" story and this one definitely delivered. After deciding to run for Senate, Charlotte Walsh leaves her high-powered Silicon Valley job and returns to her small town Pennsylvania home with her husband, 3 young children and her campaign team. Unaware of how difficult the campaign would be, Charlotte must learn to juggle her marriage, children, and the need to win at whatever the cost.

This book is a great, easy, breezy end of summer read. The story isn't too complicated, there's a few nice surprise moments and the story definitely hammers home the idea of what do women have to sacrifice in order to "have it all" ("This is what having it all looks like. it's not easy. It's messy and flawed and imperfect"). I thought Charlotte was a deeply flawed character but Piazza did a great job expressing her struggles and imperfections and making her a character you were still able to root for.

The book definitely isn't perfect: I thought the male characters were written extremely unlikable (even the husband character, who Charlotte believes is cheating on her most of the book). Additionally, while I was frustrated that the politics seemed to get brushed over and take a backseat to the rest of the story, I ended up appreciating the focus on real, well-written adult characters dealing with real, relatable adult issues.

My thanks to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and Jo Piazza for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


Josh, her campaign manager, asks “Charlotte?…Are you still in this race? I can end it now. You can end it now. It still won’t be pretty, but I promise it will be easier.”…Charlotte made her voice equally low. “I want to stay in.”

Charlotte Walsh likes to win. Even when her whole life is crumbling around her, she still needs to win. Why did she decide to do this? Why run for Senate in a state that has never elected a woman. Why give up her high paying, successful career at a Silicon Valley job to join the campaign trail that is full of fast food, driving across the state in a minivan and eighteen hour days smiling and shaking hands? Why did she think with three young children and a strained marriage that this was a great next move. Most importantly, why did she decide to do this when she knew that her secret was pretty much guaranteed to come out and ruin not only her chances, but also her family.

Charlotte’s struggle is real. Her marriage has suffered an affair but was it really built on a strong foundation? During one of their fights her husband, Max, tells her that he only married her because he felt sorry for her. In her heart, Charlotte always believed it to be true. When a woman is smart, driven and successful, it seems to have a direct effect onto a man’s ego. Max gets a huge boost of respect and admiration for giving up his career to stay at home and look after their three children. Charlotte takes an enormous amount of heat for abandoning her family to pursue her selfish goal. It is still a crime in this country for a woman to want things for herself. I mean if you want to run a marathon or sell home made crafts on Etsy, you should be fine, but you are not allowed to want the same things men want. Charlotte notes that she still gets the kids ready in the morning while Max goes on a run and she looks after them in the evenings when she gets home at dinner time. This is an age old problem. You can work, but you are still responsible for everything pertaining to home life. I felt that issues women face were made relevant in this book without becoming preachy. It wasn’t thrown in your face, you just got to see what Charlotte was going through and as a character, I not only liked her, but I felt for her. All the characters were flushed out, real, complex and multi dimensional which I appreciated.

Politics is a rough game and worse if you are a woman. She gets asked what colour of nail polish she is wearing, wearing flats is making a statement, and everything from her femininity to her parenting skills are called into question. You are simultaneously a “little lady” who can’t get anything done and the biggest current threat to democracy. I guess it could be called timely considering the political climate these days, but I feel like this could have been written any time. That’s what I loved. Politics was the perfect back drop for this story.

This was a great read. Exciting, fast paced and an authentic story told in a very real, complex and thoughtful way. It was multi layered, I was involved in the journey and I enjoyed the characters. Once again, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was in the book and I was unprepared for and really shocked when the ending came. It is really abrupt so be forewarned. It doesn’t mean I didn’t like the ending, just not what I expected. I think a lot of people will respond to this book and was a really great read.

It's nice to read a story about a female politician who doesn't fit neatly into a female stereotype. Charlotte Walsh is a dot com millionaire who decides to return to her home town to run for Senate while her husband sidelines his career to stay home with their young children. I love the way Piazza creates her characters. I found the ending unsatisfying. This was fun summer read.

I received an advanced reviewer copy from the Publisher (Simon & Schuster) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Charlotte Walsh is a Silicon Valley executive who is well known for fixing things and has even written a book about how to fix it. After Trump's election, Charlotte becomes one of the many women who feel a call to duty. She uproots her family (husband and three young daughters) to run for the senate seat in Pennsylvania. But things aren't as perfect as they appear and the campaign is not the place to workout marital problems or keep secrets.

What I loved: I loved the description of raising three young girls and explaining to them the messy world of politics. I loved the portions that were set on the campaign and I loved seeing a book that tells the story of a woman who wants to make a difference in politics after the election of Donald Trump, as there are now more women running than ever, it is time for this story. I also like the descriptions of Pennsylvania and the challenges that face the working class people and their frustration with the system, for the most part I think the book did an excellent job covering this, as well as the unfortunate prevalence of the alt-right and racism that has seeped into politics. I also loved the supporting characters like Roz, Josh, and Lulu.

What I didn’t like so much: I found the character of Max (Charlotte's husband) to be annoying, this could be because the book was written in Charlotte's perspective, but even when the main character made excuses for him, it just made me annoyed. The big twist made me angry (I saw it coming but I won't spoil it), as well as the ending.

Who Should Read It: People who love a good family story and political story. People who want a (fairly) light story that is a fun read and set on the campaign. People with liberal leanings who fit those statements.

General Summary: A woman thinks she can fix the government and runs for senate in her hometown state facing the impacts of her family life, while also facing the new reality of politics we live in. A fun read.

What a woman has to face when she launches a political campaign?

Charlotte Welsh is an ambitious woman, who wants to win the next elections and become the first female senator in Pennsylvania. Before she decided to run for office she worked as a Silicon Valley executive and was very successful at her job. She succeeded against all odds. As a child she was poor and lacked any prospects. At the beginning of the novel, she is married with three beautiful daughters and from the outside her family seems perfect.

*MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*
Charlotte’s decision to start a political career forces her family members to change their lives. They move to Pennsylvania where her husband stays at home and takes care of the kids. Charlotte herself is too busy with her political career to spend much time with them. She is focused, dedicated and determined to win. But she is not prepared for the total lack of privacy that her whole family experiences. The press is looking for her hidden weaknesses and secrets like a pack of hunting dogs.

No one is really interested in her political program. Both the public and the press prefer to discuss her clothes and married life. As a result she is forced to lie, lie and lie again about her past, political plans, opinions and family members. In spite of her good intentions she is unable to shield her family from it all. She is hated, she is insulted, while she honestly wants to help people and make their lives better. But the people doesn’t seem to deserve a new senator genuinely concerned with their well-being. They prefer a candidate like Ted Slaughter, a hypocrite, whose favourite pastime is spreading lies and hatred.

Soon the polls start to matter too much for Charlotte and define her life and success. Her family ties disintegrate, her husband boils with resentment. And her political campaign become an empty performance. Her speeches are choreographed and her message simplified.

What I liked best is that the novel reveals layers of Charlotte’s motivation behind her decision to become a senator. The author showed with great empathy what a nightmarish thing a political campaign can be (the reality, I am sure, is much worse). Charlotte Welsh is not a perfect person, but she means well. I can’t agree with most of her decisions, but she is entitled to make her own choices.

So, what the future holds for Charlotte Welsh and her family?

It is uncertain. But, I think that at some point she realises that she doesn’t need to win anymore. She is well loved by her family. She is a flawed person, but she means well and she deserves happiness.

I received "Charlotte Walsh Likes To Win" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.