Cute premise, interesting characters, but I had a hard time connecting with them or the writing. Not bad, but not for me.

I liked this book a lot. It is a lovely story involving politics and beautifully written characters! After picking up this book, I would for sure like to read book written by this author!

I think what this book chose to explore was incredibly important and I think that Jensen writes incredibly well to keep us on the side of certain characters. I would be interested in reading more of her work at some point without a doubt.

As someone who grew up in a deeply religious family and has fought tooth and nail to open my parents' eyes to the narrowness of their beliefs, I was ready to hate Shelley, but dang if she was not y favorite of the two main characters!

Jensen's plot was ambitious and when I read the book's synopsis it seemed as if these two characters had a lot ground to cover before they could meet in the middle. However, Jensen made it work!

Sadly, I did not have time to read this book before it was archived, however, I still believe it is a worthwhile read!

Thank you #netgalley and Bold Strokes Book Inc for this e-Arc in return for my honest review.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I’m sure I’m in the minority in this opinion, however I did not click with the writing. The pacing was too slow and it did not hold my attention.

I love this book! Shelly and Rand are seriously memorable characters and I was hoping for them to come together throughout the whole story. I think many people are going to assume that they would like Rand best, as she is the liberal activist, but Shelly's story is surprising and more likable. Then there is Jamie and Rachael- I hope they get their own story some day! Rand reminds me so much of Rachael Maddow and I couldn't stop imagining her as that character. The story is so engaging. You go in thinking that you will know how it's going to go but it's doesn't at all happen that way. Thats one of the things that I love about Jensen's writing is that its real, and its honest, and it doesn't follow any normal formula. Those are the stories that I like to read. I can't wait for more of Jen Jensen's work!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read a free advance copy of this book. Unfortunately I hadn't found time during the year to read this book, and so I will be picking up a paid copy in 2021 to support the author instead as an apology.

I thought the concept of this book was great however a little too much in the politic side for me. I suppose that was the point but I wanted more of the love story instead. I did think it was more telling than showing as well which I’m not a fan of. Not a bad book, I still enjoyed it.

I received this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the writing in this and the relationship between the main characters felt real. There was a lot of politics talk, a lot, and as someone from the UK, it all went over my head a little.

I was intrigued by this book and the concept of love between women with politics so diverse. I wondered how Ms Jensen would make me care about someone who is right wing and Republican but somehow she did! The characters are very well developed and three dimensional, and their twoing and froing is captured in such a way that you follow their frustrations and victories and want to race to the end. I was satisfied that the denouement flowed from the developing narrative and I enjoyed how both main characters grew through the story.

I will look out for this author again.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I wanted a book about a love between politics so i requested this, I got accepted and I didn't like it, it was something I didn't get at all, and I didn't enjoyed

I loved this book. Rand a psychotherapist and a Democrat was a lovely character who had some issues which stemmed from a previous relationship. What a loyal woman she was. Shelley on the other hand was a very successful attorney and a republican with very a very strong background whose parents were evangelical. It was a lovely story and I was captivated to the end. Brilliantly written and a memorable story.

I really liked the concept for this book. Considering how polarised US politics are at these days, it's a very believable storyline. I also really liked the characters, especially Shelley's journey from closeted-lesbian who is following in her evangelical father's footsteps. My only gripe with this story is the narrative itself. It's a little lacklustre at times, perhaps trading some swoony romantic moments for believability. A nice read if it sounds like your kind of book.

I had high high hopes for this book, but overall I wish we “saw” more of the characters vs just “telling” how the characters thought and felt. I wanted more details about Shelley’s background. What invalidating thoughts about LGBTQ people and other social issues did Shelley grow up believing and hearing? I felt like I knew very little about Rand’s upbringing and her marriage with Kim, besides the lawsuit. I enjoyed the actual book, I just wish there were less things happening in the book and more character development.

Being 100% honest, I don't entirely understand US politics other than thinking it's about presenting old rich guys. Depending on which media outlet you follow, one is good, one is bad. This is a really tough topic, particularly trying to tread a romance into it from two opposing sides.

Jensen manages to deliver an educational story, where a more balanced position of both sides of politics is offered and that love can crossover. If only it were that simple though, as both key characters have underlying issues which separate them even further.

I enjoyed the start of the book more than any other part of it. The initial connection between Rand and Shelley seems genuine and engaging, but thereafter I felt the book was trying to add too many things and in my mind, didn't quite deliver enough.

I'm giving this one 3 stars.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the actual romance between the two main characters because I felt something was there, it just never fully developed for me to actually think they were madly in love. I liked the the opposites attract reference though, Shelley is a lawyer from an evangelical republican background and Rand is a therapist and trans right activist. The two could not be more different. Rand is open and unapologetic about who she is while Shelley is discreet and anxious. The two both have issues they're working on, their political views for sure as well as personal issues which somehow influences their decisions. I felt Shelley and Rand spent way too much time apart to really connect as a couple. A good read overall, just wished there was a little more love than actual politics.

I was intrigued by the idea of "love across the political divide", and it's a topic in a lot of books that are getting published these days, for obvious reasons. But in this one, the character representing the 'wrong' side of the political divide instantly changes her entire set of beliefs upon meeting her love interest right before they have a debate on live TV.

I'm sorry, this was just too unbelievable. Maybe if it had taken longer than 3 pages for the 'wrong' character to start changing her life-long beliefs, the story might have worked.

I could not finish this book. I felt as though the "disclaimer" at the beginning may have made everything worse in terms of the characters' relationship. The pacing felt very off, and at the beginning of several chapters I thought that I had missed something in between. The style overall was very confusing. Even besides that, I really did not enjoy the ending. I don't feel as though becoming an Independent is a solution to this issue and it felt overall pretty contrived.

I’m gonna try to be as honest as possible. I thought that I was going to love this book, I thought that was going to be similar to Red, white, and royal blue de McQuiston. I’m gonna divide my opinion in the love part and the politics part. As a non-USA reader, I have to say that the political part was complex and confusing because I don’t know enough to keep up with it. But I admit that some ideas were well address and were very interesting. The love part and construction of sexual identity were a little disappointing. Shelly, who’s trying to discover and accept her sexuality, falls in love with …. in the first pages. And she knows it!

I think that the problem with this novel is that the author tried to address too many subjects and, of course, it’s impossible to accomplish in such a small novel. All the lines of this novel are interesting but I think that it should be longer so all the subjects can be well developed.