Small town politics, small town lives. The characters are very real in that they are slightly boring and never quite come to life in a vibrant way. Each character has a cloud of melancholy from their choices or past, never building to full drama, but a slow simmer of sadness. This wasn't what I expected of this title at all, and while I liked it, I would have preferred a story with more vibrancy and fuller story lines.

Tracy Flick is a hardworking and ambitious assistant principal at a public high school in New Jersey. She is excited when she finds out that the longtime principal, Jack Weede is retiring. Tracy throws herself wholeheartedly into the application process, determined to get that promotion, while also managing her personal life—a ten-year-old daughter & a needy doctor boyfriend. But nothing ever comes easily to Tracy Flick, no matter how diligent or qualified she happens to be. One of the many responsibilities to come up is to serve on the Selection Committee for the brand new Green Meadow High School Hall of Fame. Her male colleagues’ determination to honor Vito Falcone—a star quarterback of dubious character, who had a brief, undistinguished career in the NFL—triggers bad memories for Tracy, & leads her to reflect about the trajectory of her own life. As she broods on the past, Tracy becomes aware of storm clouds brewing in the present. Is she really a shoo-in for the Principal job? Is the Superintendent plotting against her? Why is the School Board President’s wife trying so hard to be her friend? And why can’t she ever get what she deserves?

I always enjoy this author's books. This wasn't my favorite of his, but it was still enoyable. I didn't realize this was a sequel to his book "Election". i thought I had read all of his books but somehow missed that one. I think you would be fine not reading that one first since it was about Tracy in high school, and she talks about the infamous election so frequently in this book. This book is told in alternating chapters between all of the different characters' POV's, so you get a well-rounded view. I always enjoy a book that is written in that manner. I did feel like a lot of the characters didn't seem to have a lot of depth to them. I don't want you to think this wasn't a good book though, because it was. There were definitely some parts that made me laugh, and Mr Perrotta does know how to tell a good story. He is a very soothing storyteller - the kind of story you would want to read if you just want to sit back and chill. So add it to your TBR pile so it will be there for just that perfect moment - you will be glad you did.

Tracy Flick is back in high school as an assistant principal and is lamenting the fact that life hasn't gone the way she had imagined it back when she won the election for student body president. Now she is in the running to be principal and she wants it more than anything; running the show is where Tracy thrives. Fans of Election will be eager to see what Tracy is up to, but it was a bit harder to care about some of the other minor players in the book, all of whom are given their own chapters to narrate. While the ending felt a bit abrupt, it was a twist I did not see coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Full disclosure, I’m a huge Perotta writing style fan. His ability to craft characters that are so real and buck likability expectations and the inner life that he manages to craft make me swoon as a reader. I was excited in this time of nostalgia to revisit one of my favorite complex characters of yesteryear, Tracy Flick. And the title is a dead giveaway that yet again, our heroine is not doing well, despite her type A overachieving. This modern take on climbing the ladder reminds me so much of the dark comedy Vice Principals with less humor, but it makes for a wild ride nonetheless.

Interesting and entertaining sequel to Election. I was hoping for more about the other characters but should have guessed the focus based on title. Also, the ending is really abrupt and kind of comes out of nowhere. Still, an entertaining read.

This was fine. Perrotta's prose is as readable and full of humorous and accurate hits of contemporary life as ever. This book would not be nearly as enjoyable as a standalone - Tracy is such a memorable and important character that this will find a larger readership than it would merit without Election.

I found the ending a bit of a letdown.

Oh, Tracy - how I’ve missed you so & didn’t even realize it until Tom brought you back! I had actually just rewatch the movie version of her first escapade when I learned of her new adventures so really need to retread
Thank you for the opportunity for the ARC and I look forward to more of her adventures!

I believe no one captures the suburbs as well as Tom Perrotta. "Tracy Flick Can't Win" features Perrotta weighing in on where America stands in 2022. This is one of those rare sequels that doesn't strike one as a money grab, but instead was writing because events have demanded a reexamining.

In the wake of #MeToo, Tracy (and Perrotta...and the reader) need to revisit the affair she had with a married teacher when she was 15. It's fascinating to see Tracy reevaluate how she was treated in light of the strides culture has made since that incident took place.

In addition to Tracy's story, Perrotta provides us with a gallery of interesting, new characters. If you are a fan of his work, this is another excellent book. I absolutely loved reading it and never found myself looking at the page # because the story was losing me.

Netgalley provided me with a free ARC in return for this review.

Tom Perrotta can do no wrong, and tho Tracy Flick Can't Win was enjoyable, I think readers need to read the first Tracy Flick.

Tracy Flick is back!!

It was nice to revisit one of my favorite teen protagonists now that she's an adult, and it was really wonderful that Tom Perrotta was able to maintain her voice and characterization even though it's been a few decades (and many novels) since Election was first published.

<spoiler> I initially thought this book was going to be a revision of Tracy's "affair" with her teacher, and while it was discussed and visited, this book is so much more than that and I'm very thankful that the author didn't get bogged down in philosophical discussions about abuse & trauma.</spoiler>

Tracy is the sum of her experiences, including what happened to her in Election, and she's just as driven now as she was when she was a teen-ager. It's refreshing to see her as a mid-40s woman reflecting on the events that got her to where she is at the start of this novel, and continuing to follow her dreams and ambitions in spite of all the hurdles she's faced.

Thank you so much to the author, Scribner & Netgalley for the ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I hope everyone who loved Election will pick this up when it's released this summer!

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this because I just read Election recently and watched the movie. I struggled to finish this one. I really wanted to like it but didn’t. Thanks for the review copy, though.

A book by this author is a new experience for me. The description caught my attention with having many family members in the school system. I love the way the author gets the reader involved in the personal lives of all the characters in the story including the updates on their lives at the end of the book. The story was an interesting quick read with both amusing incidents and also character reflection. I will definitely be checking out the movie Election to see how Tracy Flick evolved from a student into an administrative position. #TracyFlickCan’tWin #TomPerrotta #NetGalley

Although I didn’t just love these characters, they were developed enough that I did care what happened to them. It was a quick, enjoyable read. I will always read Tom Perrotta’s books.

As a fan of Tom Perrotta, to say I've been waiting years for an update on Tracy Enid Flick's life is a massive understatement. Flick, the titular main character, was first introduced in Perrotta's Election. Her growth through the author's eyes in his latest is about what i expected: Flick is still as driven and hyperfocused on running high school as she was when her character was in HS in Election.

She is the only Election alum who makes it into the sequel, but no worries: Perrotta's new characters compliment Flick well (and give her a little PTSD along the way). Def recommended to those who enjoyed either the novel or movie adaptation of Election. Would love to see Reese Witherspoon revise this role.

While the reader doesn't have to have viewed Election with Reese Witherspoon as high-schooler Tracy Flick, you might want to rent the movie just to feel the magic before reading Tracy Flick Can't Win.

Tracy is the all grown-up assistant principal of Green Meadows High School and things are looking good for her to be named principal with Jack's imminent retirement. However, a series of incidents may keep this from happening.

The return of the school's star quarterback from years gone by, Vito Falcone, could prove problematic. He is returning to be honored at the first Wall of Fame induction ceremony at the high school. Complications arise with the president of the school board that make Tracy question her future in administration.

Another very subtle yet ultimately explosive incident brings this book to a thoughtful and redemptive conclusion.

You don't have to work in the education system to live alongside Tracy Flick in Tom Perrotta's continuation of Tracy's story.

Tracy Flick is back! I loved reconnecting with Tracy. I was both surprised and not so surprised to find her as an assistant principal and single mom.

One of fiction's most memorable characters, Tracy Flick, is back ini Tom Perrotta's wonderful sequel to Education. Tracy is an assistant principal trying to move up to principal, but nothing ever comes easily to her, no matter how hard she works. Green Meadow High School is planning to honor two alums in its new Hall of Fame. A variety of characters involved narrate the story in a succession of chapters as it winds towards its dramatic climax. This sequel more than lives up to the first book. I couldn't put it down!

This was a fun look into the post-high school life of Tracy Flick (of Election fame). Tracy is now a vice-principal at a high school and a single mom. There are enough flashbacks to help you refresh your memory of what happened to Tracy back in high school so there's no need to re-read Election first. This book has a fairly big cast of characters so it isn't as focused on Tracy as Election was. Tracy's life is far from perfect but is it finally her chance to not come in second when the current principal announces he's retiring? This isn't ground-breaking literature but anyone who enjoyed reading or watching Election back in the 1990's will appreciate this book.

Perrotta revisits the character Tracy Flick from his 1998 book “Election.” The ambitious Flick, now middle aged and working as a school administrator, has experienced some of life’s disappointments but hopes to rekindle her winning ways by finally becoming head principal. Exploring the differences between youth and experience, Perrotta uses Flick’s voice as well as a variety of other characters’ viewpoints. These multiple perspectives propel the narrative at a breakneck pace. The characters (if not always likable) are interesting and understandable. This novel’s pacing, length, and themes make it an excellent book club choice.

Tom Perrotta is always a reliably great novel and he continues that streak with Tracy Flick Can't Win. It was a pleasure revisiting Tracy Flick and her Type A personality. Highly recommended