I loved how this book challenges the assumption that fate drives our lives and that there's only one outcome possible. The butterfly effect of Hillary and Bill not staying together affects so much more than just their marriage and the book has some fun illustrating how life might have been different over the course of the last few decades, even though the players are largely the same on the political scene.

That being said, reading a work of fiction that features real people and makes no secret about its goal to reimagine the outcome of events feels quite strange. In my excitement to read this book, I don't think I even realized how strange it was going to be until I started to wonder what was based on fact and what parts of the plot were simply liberties on the part of Sittenfeld.

As soon as I stopped taking the book too seriously and looked at it as a work of pure fiction that follows the journey of a smart, driven and politically-savvy woman who can't stop running into her ex, I really enjoyed it!

** spoiler alert ** What if Hillary and Bill Clinton had never married? In this fictionalized account of her life post-Bill (they date in law school and break up due to his infidelity and satyromania), Hillary Rodham becomes a senator representing Illinois, runs against Bill Clinton (a politician-turned-tech god?) for President of the United States in 2016, and wins with the endorsement of Donald J. Trump. What?!

I was really looking forward to the premise of this book, but the structure crumbled as I struggled to finish it. I hoped it would provide readers with a more nuanced look into Hillary's life, which the media failed to give her during her 2016 presidential campaign. But in Rodham, she remains flat and two-dimensional, blatantly (white) feminist to the point of yawning.

I also struggled with the sexual nature of this book, and felt uncomfortable and disrespectful when reading about the sexual relations between Hillary and Bill during their five-year (post-)law school romance. The author paints Bill as a sex addict and never lets you forget it. That's all fine, but as Bill and Hillary are still alive and married, I wonder what Hillary would think if she read these passages.

In fact, that thought stuck with me through the entirety of this novel. Does Hillary know it's out there? Did the author ask Hillary permission of any kind? What if her family reads it? Perhaps it feels too soon for such a personal, fan-fiction account of Hillary's relationships and what we lost in November of 2016.

I'm confident that the author is a Hillary fan and most likely supported her. I write all of this at the risk of sounding prudish, but this book did not hit home in the way I desperately wanted a Hillary Rodham (Clinton) novel to.

What if Hillary never married Bill Clinton? What would her life have looked like? Would she still take part in politics?

In 1971, Hillary Rodham meets Bill Clinton while they both are attending Yale Law School. Hillary has never met someone more intelligent, attractive, and interesting. Real-world Hillary follows Bill to Arkansas after graduating from law school in which Bill asks Hillary to marry him several times before she eventually says yes. But in this story, Hillary says no, and she goes on to lead a path for herself that causes her to cross paths with Bill again and again but in a different way.

THIS BOOK. WOW. I am a big fan of Curtis Sittenfeld’s previous novels, and this one may be the best yet. Sittenfeld beautifully crafts Hillary’s “what if” future if she hadn’t married Bill, and explores what might have been if Hillary's life was never attached to the Clinton name. It was heartbreaking for me to read about this *almost* perfect man that ultimately could have been Hillary's soul mate (who she still thought about consistently over the course of her life) but realistically, at least in this book, deserved better.

While on the surface this book may seem like fanfic, it’s far from it. Sittenfeld has Hillary grapple with larger issues like privilege, female empowerment, and the consequences of poor decisions. As a woman, Hillary often feels like her poor choices imprison her, whereas men are more easily forgiven for their mistakes. Throughout the novel, Hillary questions her ability to strive for what she wants, and if being a woman is the one thing that is holding her back from achieving greatness. In a politically-charged climate with an upcoming presidential election, this book is bound to make you think “what if?”.

Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, suicide, sexual content

Curtis Sittenfeld did it again! This fictionalized story of Hillary Clinton's life if she didn't marry Bill, was fascinating! Now I am left wondering what is real and what is fiction?

What if she was never Hillary Clinton? What if she hadn’t married Bill and had stayed Hillary Rodham? How would things be different, how would they be the same?

Oh man. This was one of my most anticipated reads this spring and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Well, let me pause that thought for a second, it only disappointed in that this is not what actually happened. This fictional book was so amazingly done, and at times I had to remind myself that it was not a memoir, but fiction. I found myself so wrapped up in the story, all the while wishing that this is the turn Hillary’s life had taken instead. While I could have done without seeing the name Donald Trump in this book at all, it definitely added a crazy aspect to the story, and overall, I think it was necessary he be included. I really enjoyed this read and I highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy when it’s released on May 19!

Thank you to Random House for my gifted copy of this book!

I loved this fictional autobiography of Hillary Rodham, in which she does not marry Bill Clinton. The first part of the novel, set in the early 70’s, shows the romance between the two (and feels actually true) but ends with Hillary deciding she can’t live with his congenital infidelity so leaves him: “The margin between staying and leaving was so thin; really, it could have gone either way.”

From there we are into speculative fiction. Hillary stands for the Senate (in Illinois) in 1991 and then in the final section, set in 2015, she is running for President. I have to confess that my knowledge of late 20th century American politics is a bit then (we didn’t move to the US till 1997), so I had to spend some time on Wikipedia determining what was fact and what was fiction in the fluid melange that Ms Sittenfeld has cooked up for us.

Hillary herself comes across much as I think she would in real life: ultra smart, thoughtful, kind, ambitious, and self aware (though often only in retrospect) but there is always a hint of distance, a few degrees less warmth than you might like.

The repercussions of Hillary’s crucial decision are cleverly played out, always feeling possible, if at times troublingly weird. The author brilliantly subverts actual people and events, and places them in a different context in her fictional world.

Does it end with the result you want? No spoilers here!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the digital ARC.

I'm something of a stranger to alternate histories, it is possible that this is a typical example: I was so entranced by the idea of Hillary without Bill - imagine my disappointment when instead I got a Hillary who happens to have handled Bill differently...and that's it, these interactions were the only parts of her entire life worth writing about.

Thank you so much to @randomhouse via @netgalley for a copy of this book. I was ecstatic to receive the Advanced Reader’s Copy. The book will be out May 19, 2020.

I have read several books by #curtissittenfeld and one that I really loved was #AmericanWife and how it was based upon the life of Laura Bush. So when I heard about this book...I knew I had to read it. First, the writing is impeccable...truly excellent in every way so that it was effortless to immerse yourself into the story. This is a fictionalized account of Hillary Rodham’s life if she had never married Bill Clinton. I was intrigued how in “American Wife” the main character is not named Laura Bush but in this one she uses real names. I would love to know more about why she choose to do that instead of just using a fictional name too. Anyway, I loved this book and thought it was so well done. I really like the idea of how women’s lives are viewed differently when compared to men’s lives. I also enjoyed the deep and thoughtful dialogue between characters that showcased a woman’s intelligence. I think being smart should have such higher priority in what makes a person seem more attractive or strong in today’s society. This book has a lot of politics so if that is not your cup of tea...you may not enjoy this from that aspect. For some reason, I love a politically heavy novel so this was my jam! Also it covers a big chunk of time from the 70s to present day which always gives that background and closure I crave in a novel. This book would make the perfect book club book or buddy read as I feel like it is meant to be discussed. So pre-order it, read it, and then come back to me so I can talk in depth with you about it! This will definitely make one of my favorites of the year. Review posted on Instagram @carolinehoppereads and Goodreads.

What an interesting premise this book explores--what if Hillary Rodham hadn't married Bill Clinton? What might her life and career been like?

I hadn't read the books description prior to reading this book. I actually thought it going to be truly about Hillary's life, and it started out so realistically I was really sucked into the story. Imagine my surprise when events in the book began conflicting with real-life events! Sittenfeld wove reality with fiction so seamlessly, that the fiction really crept up on me. This was a thoroughly engaging, well-written story. I enjoyed every bit of it.

I was expecting more politics in this book but got a whole lot more romance than I thought was necessary for an alternate history about such a interesting political figure. Rodham's politics were always overshadowed by her lingering romantic feelings for Bill or frustration over her lack of dating life. I really wanted to enjoy this book and learn more about Hillary and her political life but I think my expectations for what the book aimed to be was different from what the author intended.

I received this ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What if Hillary Rodham didn't marry Bill Clinton? When I first saw that line and the cover of this book I knew I had to read it. Some other reviews have classified this as a sort of FanFiction, and I would agree with that but it's also very well written and researched and though I am unsure if Hillary's life would have unfolded like Curtis Sittenfeld has written, it's definitely one of the courses her life could have taken. A great read for lovers of Hillary (maybe not so much Bill Clinton) that will keep you engaged until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed Curtis Sittenfield's "American Wife" and couldn't wait to read this book. It's right up my alley since I'm a political reporter in Washington, DC. I was on the convention floor when Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination in 2016 and have met her a couple of times. Since I was a kid, I've watched Hillary and seen her held up as a standard - or a punching bag - for women in the spotlight. Perhaps because I had such high expectations for this book, I just could not get into it. The first-person voice is an odd choice since we already have memoirs from Clinton herself. I appreciate that Sittenfeld wants us to be immersed in the way Hillary thinks but the oddly detached tone - while representative of Clinton herself - kept me at arm's length from the story. That's a shame because Sittenfeld has constructed a fascinating and thought-provoking alternate history that is certain to get book clubs talking. She theorizes that Hillary's support of her husband in that famous 60 Minutes interview made the difference in getting Bill Clinton elected. She also poses the question of what is worth settling for in a marriage - is being married to your best friend worth enough to watch them cheat on you for decades? Ultimately, the most interesting idea posed in the book is that Hillary Rodham Clinton gave up her chance at being true to herself and winning the presidency by staying loyal to Bill and betraying the women who accused him of sexual assault. In this alternative history, Hillary Rodham stays true to her feminist principles at the expense of a great love but is ultimately rewarded by becoming the first female president.

What if Hillary stuck with her original answer to Bill and said no? What if she wasn’t the First Lady? How much power would her grit and brains get her? Agree with Hillary politically or not, she is a woman who uses her voice and speaks her mind. Curtis Sittenfeld delves into a hybrid of historical fiction and fan fiction and let’s us imagine how history would have been different if Hillary rodham Clinton just stayed Hillary Rodham. I enjoyed this book like the author’s others. To me, like THE AMERICAN WIFE, did for Laura Bush RODHAM pulls away the layers of politics covering the Woman and allows a glimpse inside. Love her or hate her this is a good read. Love him or hate him without her he would be different. This was a thought provoking and fun read. Coming May 19. During this emotionally charged political allow yourself to suspend reality and re-evaluate who and what you thought you knew. This was a well researched novel and a creative way to look further into the woman who ran for President. Curtis Sittenfeld is smart and creative.
I liked reading Hillary’s reactions to bill’s infidelity as she was involved and then watching from afar. I also loved the complete TWIST on the 2016 election! I don’t know much about HRC but her relationship with Chelsea has always seemed strong. In this alternative universe Chelsea is not there. I would have liked to hear more about this or maybe explored her as a single mother. But all in all this brought up a lot of questions and for humanized Hillary. No matter your political affiliation I recommend this novel. Really enjoyed it

When a politician is as simultaneously admired and vilified as Hillary Rodham Clinton, it becomes very tantalizing to consider the “what ifs.” What if Hillary had said “no” to Bill Clinton’s third marriage proposal and they had gone their separate ways? Could Bill Clinton reach the pinnacle of his ambition were it not for Hillary? Indeed, could Hillary herself reach it? Would either of them have ascended to the presidency? Would George W. Bush, Obama or Trump prevail had the Clinton dynamics markedly shifted?

In re-imaging Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life, Curtis Sittenfeld often makes inspired plot choices. It would spoil the fun for me to reveal any of them but suffice to say that Bill surrenders to some of his basest instincts and Trump is, forevermore, just who you’d suspect he is.

This novel definitely has a feminist undertone. Hillary’s fierce intelligence and the obstacles she (and other women politicians) must confront regularly are definitely highlighted. Expect to find the “staying home and baking cookies” fiasco in another context and the old tired trope of Hillary-as-lesbian or Hillary-as-frigid-woman as well as a revisionist “lock her up” tactic.

Part of the puzzle that Ms. Sittenfeld does not address is: how specific are all the attacks to Hillary herself? Ms. Sittenfeld does recognize that part of the problem is a rigidity in Hillary’s approach. There is a particularly strong scene where Hillary goes off script and speaks authentically and this reader particularly yearned for such an outcome in real life.

Thank you to Net Galley, Randomhouse and Curtis Sittenfeld for the ARC of Rodham. I have enjoyed all of Sittenfeld's works and this one is no different in regard to writing style. This was a fast paced read for me and I thought it was very well written. I had a hard time with the alternate history, particularly since this history is still so very close to being "the present", and is still so fresh. A story well told, but not necessarily for me. I think many will be intrigued by this. The premise was certainly interesting.

I know this book is going to be controversial, and probably passionately discussed and debated. Here are my thoughts....

Without giving away too much, Rodham: a Novel is the story of how Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham met in law school, and what would have been had they not married.

📚What I Appreciated About this Book: I found this book to be brilliantly written, full of so much research and care. Hillary comes across as a pro-women, passionate about her career, and a human. I loved how Sittenfeld illustrated what Rodham's life looked like as a normal post-college-aged women. She had wants, desires, feelings. For most of this section, I forgot that "Hillary" was Hillary Rodham, and not just another young woman falling in love. I also loved the first-hand view into what running for president, or a high level position, feels like from their perspective. I was fascinated by the details, and the maneuvers that the candidate must make.

📚What Did Not Work For Me: The only part of the book that lagged for me was about midway through the book before Hillary decides to pursue a campaign. There was a small section that was a bit slow there for me. Overall, this book blew me away. I honestly haven't felt this way about a book in so long; I couldn't stop thinking about this book, dreaming about it, talking about, laughing in my head about passages. It covers a huge range of Hillary's life, and I loved experiencing first love with her, careers highs, and the realities of becoming older as a woman in this society. I could go on and on...

A blazing hot 5 stars.

I went into this book hoping that it was similar to Sittenfeld's prior book, AMERICAN WIFE, which i enjoyed immensely. I was disappointed. But, I hasten to add, that it wasn't because the book was bad or otherwise lacking. My expectations for the book were unclear. I was interested to see what Sittenfeld did with an alternate Hillary Clinton story and I was very interested in the avenue she chose to pursue.

That I didn't enjoy it as much as American Wife may have much more to do with my own politics than the books themselves. I felt weird reading a book with an alternate universe for people who are real and still alive. I had a hard time setting that aside even as I read the book with gusto. I found the beginning not as engaging as the part that reimagines history. All in all I would recommend this book without saying whether I truly liked it. I think feeling it deserves a recommendation is enough and each reader can make up her mind.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3246410629

I received this title as an ARC thru Net Galley and this is my unbiased review. I am also a huge Rodham fan but this still my honest take on this work.

Although this is an alternate take on the events of Hilary Rodham's life I think this work goes further than just addressing the happenings of one woman's life. Throughout the novel Sittenfeld addresses the inequities that confront women when they do anything that is not considered the "normal" paradigm. Women are judged by whether or not they marry, have children and if they have a successful ambitious career. The first two are considered acceptable the third not so much. So as much as this book is about one woman, Rodham, it is about the challenges that all women face.

It is confounding that many other successful industrialized nations have had a woman as a leader yet the United States fails to have sworn in a woman as President. Notice I didn't say elected but I will leave my politics out of this review.

Additionally, this book also speaks about the 24 hour news cycle and the effect of social media on how we perceive what is important. Rodham, in real life, as a Senator had the ability to develop consensus, work across the aisle and represent her constituents along with women and families. Did any of that make the news cycle or did perseverating on her cookie comments or appearance (how many times was her weight and appearance discussed) but not her policies or plans. Not only a Rodham problem but a problem for all women.

Yes I would recommend this book not because of the Rodham lens (although good) that is used to tell a story of the injustice and unfairness that women face everyday. It makes me both sad and angry.

I felt this book had real potential, but unfortunately it left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

The first third of this book was strong and set my expectations pretty high. I thought the characterization of Hillary, Bill, and their initial relationship was engaging and well-developed. However, once their relationship ends and the story diverges from actual history, the story takes a turn for the worse.

First of all, I was confused by the chapter divides. I understand that the most important and grounded points in the story are the 1970s, 1991, and 2015, but I feel like there are other significant moments between those periods which are crucial to Hillary's personal and career development that are only briefly addressed or skipped over entirely.

One would assume that a book that banks itself on "What if Hillary DIDN'T marry Bill?" would have Bill Clinton as a minor character. But no, he's unfortunately a constant presence throughout the book. Of course, he was an important person in Hillary's life, but after their relationship ends, he's just a consistent and unnecessary thorn in her side. Sure, that means there's always conflict, but I think conflict could've been developed in other, less groan-worthy ways.

While I think Hillary is well-developed in the first third of the book, she later on becomes more two-dimensional. She's more strategic and career focused, while being sort of ignorant and foolish when it comes to love and personal relationships. The story makes a point to say that when it comes to career vs. family, Hillary has clearly chosen her career and sees no way to find love or make it work (no matter how much she might want to). I found that to be reductive and limiting in terms of her character's potential. Why can't she have both, or at least try to have both?

There's an uncomfortable undertone of racism in this story. There are times when Hillary, as a white woman, recognizes her ignorance on such issues, but she also actively uses her privilege to advance her career, even though it severely damages an important friendship. Additionally, while it is not outright said, it is implied that Hillary believes women's rights and empowerment are more important to her than racial equality and empowerment, which is disturbing to say the least.

The ending is wish fulfillment at its finest. While I had assumed such an ending was inevitable even before starting the book, that doesn't mean I thought it was fitting. It felt unearned and rushed, just an excuse to end on a positive, pro-women, pro-feminism, etc. note.

** spoiler alert ** Apologies in advance, but I just don't think I can review this books without a few spoilers...so stop reading my review and pre-order this book!

I guess I requested an ARC of this book not because I am a fan of Hillary Clinton (I don't dislike her, just don't really know much about her or her politics for that matter), but rather because I am a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld.

And although I loved the second half of the book -- the development of Hillary's alternate reality and the theme of fate versus destiny -- the first part of the book that re-imagines her relationship with Bill Clinton just really creeped me out. I just kept cringing and wishing she would have walked away from that train wreck sooner!

That said, the book is so well written (and the fact that Sittenfeld dishes up some karma for Bill in the end) I give the book 4 stars even though I'm feeling 3 while still trying to recover from the Hillary/Bill sex parts. I am still a huge of Sittenfeld, I just know I would have liked this story better if it wasn't based on the real-life Clinton's.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.