First published 2008
Alice Blackwell sits in the White House on what may prove a pivotal day in her husband's presidency. She traces the unlikely journey that brought her here, from her quiet childhood in 1940s Wisconsin to this seat of power she never wanted. A teenage tragedy shattered Alice's sense of security and shaped her cautious worldview. Years later, the serious librarian and Democrat met Charlie Blackwell, a joke-cracking Republican heir whose boisterous charm initially left her cold. Against all logic, Alice fell for him. She navigated the rituals of his wealthy family's country clubs and estates, always uncomfortable with their privilege. When Charlie became President, Alice found herself wielding influence she hadn't sought. Now, during his controversial second term, she faces an impossible contradiction. She loves her husband but disagrees with his policies. She questions her own role in the choices that led here. Alice must decide what to do when her private convictions clash with her public position.
Genres: romance, american-fiction, historical-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: United States, Wisconsin, White House
Period: 1940s, 20th-century, 21st-century
555 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness