The GQ Candidate: A Novel [Paperback]

Keli Goff (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 29, 2012

The West Wing meets Entourage when “one of the most provocative political bloggers in the country” (The Philadelphia Tribune) exposes the stunning implications a historical bid for the presidency has on the candidate’s inner circle.

Michigan governor Luke Cooper, one of the few black and—by virtue of adoption—Jewish elected officials, stuns his tight-knit friends with his decision to run for president. But could their efforts to help ultimately be his political downfall? Scandal and gossip surrounding his supporters rock his campaign, and even Luke’s wife grows wary of the spotlight when a surprise from their past inconveniently resurfaces. . . .

Selected for the Los Angeles Times’s summer reading list and as one of More magazine’s “Beach Reads You’ll Love,” Keli Goff ’s clever and entertaining debut novel is a spot-on golden ticket into the secret heart of the political circus.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In recent years, and especially in the election of 2008, Keli Goff brought skill and grace to the rough-and-tumble arena of political commentary. Now, in time for 2012, she has aimed those same talents at fiction, and the result is a witty novel that reminds us that all politics is personal." - Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group.

"Goff's intellectually pulsating and fresh political page-turner is penned with undeniable heat and heart-racing soul...each character's inside portrait, vividly threaded making you invest deeper. If you love government affairs laced with swaggering scandal and an intense competitive race to the finish line, The GQ Candidate is a must-read." - Victoria Rowell

"From its humorous inside peek at the world of politics to its honest portrayal of the vicissitudes of a loving marriage, Keli Goff's book is the ideal escape for the thinking person. Hers is a bold and bright voice for a new, "post-racial” generation." Susan Fales-Hill, author of One Flight Up.

“Keli Goff takes us on the entertaining behind-the-scenes ride of a handsome, young, charismatic African-American presidential candidate. Think you know how it ends? Think again.” --Trey Ellis, Platitudes, Right Here, Right Now

"Keli Goff's 'Candidate' is very well-informed" --USA Today.

"If you're the type that's always stirring up the water cooler discussion on the latest political scandal then Keli Goff's literary debut is a must read." --JET Magazine

About the Author

Keli Goff is an author, blogger and political analyst whose commentary on politics and pop culture appears regularly in national television, print and online publications. She is a frequent guest on news programs on the networks CNN, FOX, MSNBC and NPR, and is a regular contributor to TheLoop21.com and the Huffington Post. She is the author of the book PARTY CRASHING: How the Hip-Hop Generation Declared Political Independence. This is her first novel.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; Reprint edition (May 29, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439158738
• ISBN-13: 978-1439158739
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1.1 x 8.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,805,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great political fiction July 9, 2011

By Caitie F

Format:Hardcover

First, this is a book that is about a politician without being about politics. So no matter what you political views are, you can still enjoy this book. Yes, the candidate is a Democrat, but there are not any Democratic talking points, so even Republicans can enjoy this book!

The great thing is that the issues in the book aren't tough political issues, they are the tough issues like faith and race. Luke was adopted when he was two and was raised incredibly well by a white Jewish family and practices the Jewish faith himself. When running for President, it become an issue for some voters. Reading about how he and his campaign deal with Luke being a black man other black people cannot relate to, and a Jewish man who Jewish people can't relate to was one of my favorite parts of the book. More than how he dealt with it was how his family stepped in to help him every step of the way.

The book is about all of his friends and family though, which is what made it such a pleasure to read. Running for president changes everyone's life and this is an in-depth look at those changes. Friendships are tested and some fall. Marriages struggle to stay alive (and not just the candidate).

And Luke's wife, Laura, is probably my favorite character in the entire book. She believes in her husband 100%. She knows that he will be good for the country, but she has a tough time dealing with his staff, who are always trying to tell her what to do. Her troubles dont' end there. She is suddenly feeling like a single parent, and has to face some rather nasty rumors about herself and her family. She takes it all in stride though, and fights for herself and her husband

I also wanted to mention that the book is quite funny. Luke tries to find humor in most situations and I often found myself laughing out loud.

This book was great and I suggest anyone who is interested in politics, or would like to see what it could be like to be thrown into a campaign, to read this book.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Wait for More July 7, 2011

By Kim

Format:Hardcover

This book was excellent. I bought it on a Sunday and figured I would read it over the course of a couple of weeks. I started reading it on a Monday and couldn't put it down. The author has done an amazing job of painting a picture of a candidate and his family and their lives on the campaign trail. It also illustrates the impact politics and the media have on the lives of EVERYONE associated with that person. I have recommended this book to all my friends and their book clubs as well as every politician I know. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next... What will he decide?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Autumn Read! October 3, 2011

By MusicMogul

Format:Hardcover

I gave this book a 4/5! It was a page turner and was very good. The only reason I didn't give it a full blown 5 is because I felt the character development could have been a little more in depth. It did seem to jump from one character to another without fully developing their stories but other then that it was a very good book. It leaves you wanting to find out if Luke becomes president or not and I do have to say, Laura (Luke's wife) steals the show. You do not mess with this woman but at the same time she is VERY professional! This book also gives you a glimpse of the other side of politics and Keli Goff's chronologic format is amazing! Great autumn read!