Scan barcode
kpjt_books's review against another edition
3.0
I'd love to give it 3.5 stars. Great fun, similar to the 1st in the series. I totally appreciate this fanfiction romp into the Biden/Obama bromance outside of the Whitehouse.
teachinsci's review
3.0
I was REALLY looking forward to this book steer reading the last one. The Biden and Obama solving a crime was a ton of fun in the first book. While the camaraderie was there again, the story itself really wasn't. I worry that my overblown anticipation was part of the problem.
The story is set, this time, in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day and plays to the tropes of Chicago politics as corrupt, everyone as dirty, and the citizenry as drunk. The mystery this time involves a kid (teenager) Joe met at an event Obama invited him to and Barak's missing cell phone. Through many twists and turns (and much deliberation about if Joe should run for president), the story unfolds. There are some funny jokes and probably the best analogy for confusion I have ever read that do make the book worth a read.
The problem, for me, is that there was not a lot of story there. Some of the pieces Biden puts together aren't implied or stated (no evidence in a mystery book?) and the characters have little more than cardboard personalities. I would like to have seen a bit more time spent with important characters and, frankly, more than a 10 hour window for the mystery to be solved (since the timeline was not well adhered to anyway).
If you liked the first book and can go into this one with a willingness to laugh, you will enjoy this book as well.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
The story is set, this time, in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day and plays to the tropes of Chicago politics as corrupt, everyone as dirty, and the citizenry as drunk. The mystery this time involves a kid (teenager) Joe met at an event Obama invited him to and Barak's missing cell phone. Through many twists and turns (and much deliberation about if Joe should run for president), the story unfolds. There are some funny jokes and probably the best analogy for confusion I have ever read that do make the book worth a read.
The problem, for me, is that there was not a lot of story there. Some of the pieces Biden puts together aren't implied or stated (no evidence in a mystery book?) and the characters have little more than cardboard personalities. I would like to have seen a bit more time spent with important characters and, frankly, more than a 10 hour window for the mystery to be solved (since the timeline was not well adhered to anyway).
If you liked the first book and can go into this one with a willingness to laugh, you will enjoy this book as well.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
teachinsci's review against another edition
3.0
I was REALLY looking forward to this book steer reading the last one. The Biden and Obama solving a crime was a ton of fun in the first book. While the camaraderie was there again, the story itself really wasn't. I worry that my overblown anticipation was part of the problem.
The story is set, this time, in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day and plays to the tropes of Chicago politics as corrupt, everyone as dirty, and the citizenry as drunk. The mystery this time involves a kid (teenager) Joe met at an event Obama invited him to and Barak's missing cell phone. Through many twists and turns (and much deliberation about if Joe should run for president), the story unfolds. There are some funny jokes and probably the best analogy for confusion I have ever read that do make the book worth a read.
The problem, for me, is that there was not a lot of story there. Some of the pieces Biden puts together aren't implied or stated (no evidence in a mystery book?) and the characters have little more than cardboard personalities. I would like to have seen a bit more time spent with important characters and, frankly, more than a 10 hour window for the mystery to be solved (since the timeline was not well adhered to anyway).
If you liked the first book and can go into this one with a willingness to laugh, you will enjoy this book as well.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
The story is set, this time, in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day and plays to the tropes of Chicago politics as corrupt, everyone as dirty, and the citizenry as drunk. The mystery this time involves a kid (teenager) Joe met at an event Obama invited him to and Barak's missing cell phone. Through many twists and turns (and much deliberation about if Joe should run for president), the story unfolds. There are some funny jokes and probably the best analogy for confusion I have ever read that do make the book worth a read.
The problem, for me, is that there was not a lot of story there. Some of the pieces Biden puts together aren't implied or stated (no evidence in a mystery book?) and the characters have little more than cardboard personalities. I would like to have seen a bit more time spent with important characters and, frankly, more than a 10 hour window for the mystery to be solved (since the timeline was not well adhered to anyway).
If you liked the first book and can go into this one with a willingness to laugh, you will enjoy this book as well.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
rkiladitis's review
5.0
The second Obama-Biden mystery is even more fun than the first! In a deliciously meta beginning, Joe Biden starts his hard-boiled narration with a vent on the novel that's come out, on Biden's search for the murderer who killed his favorite Amtrak conductor, noting that it's all a "bunch of malarkey". Biden heads to Chicago to see Obama, who wants to introduce him to a wealthy potential backer for a Presidential run that Biden still isn't sure he's going to undertake. While in Chicago, a teen Biden takes a shine to is shot, and Uncle Joe and Obama find themselves on the beat once more.
There's so much to enjoy with Hope Rides Again: the renewed bromance between Obama and Biden; the seedy Chicago not-so underworld the two navigate together, and having more Michelle Obama are just three of the best things. Andrew Shaffer has hilariously captured Biden's voice - you won't NOT hear him as you read this - and puts true friendship at the heart of the story this time. Noir with a heart of gold, and I loved spending every second with this book.
So, when's the next one coming out?
There's so much to enjoy with Hope Rides Again: the renewed bromance between Obama and Biden; the seedy Chicago not-so underworld the two navigate together, and having more Michelle Obama are just three of the best things. Andrew Shaffer has hilariously captured Biden's voice - you won't NOT hear him as you read this - and puts true friendship at the heart of the story this time. Noir with a heart of gold, and I loved spending every second with this book.
So, when's the next one coming out?
katreniah's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the first book in the series and was really looking forward to the second installment, and it didn't disappoint. Michelle Obama actually makes some appearances in this one. We get to see some friends from the first book and meet some others who may or may not be our friends.
This story takes place in Chicago. I've never been there, and I do wonder how people who live in Chicago and grew up there would feel about how their city has been depicted. Not a judgement; just a curiosity.
I'm definitely hoping for a book 3.
This story takes place in Chicago. I've never been there, and I do wonder how people who live in Chicago and grew up there would feel about how their city has been depicted. Not a judgement; just a curiosity.
I'm definitely hoping for a book 3.
jgilge's review against another edition
4.0
Just as good as the last one. Loved the chaos and absolute ridiculousness of this book, but still worth the read.
bookguyinva2022's review against another edition
5.0
These books are just fantastic. The whole concept is just so outrageous and fun.
hidekisohma's review
3.0
So after really liking the first biden mystery i decided to try out the second one. Gotta say...the first one was better. Don't get me wrong, i still enjoyed the tongue in cheek humor of this one, but it didn't hold my attention as well as the first one.
I actually found myself zoning out a bit while reading this one, and when the final twist came i was like "oh right. THAT person."
The story in itself was fine, and Biden/Obama gave me several laughs, but it wasn't as amazing as the first one. it's hard to pinpoint why, maybe it was just because the first one was funny with how original it was and the second was just more of the same?
I remember every major beat of the story but everything else that happened in the middle is kind of a blur to be honest and i don't remember a lot of the finer details.
This book is a solid definition of a 3/5. Not great, not bad, readable, but i don't think i'd ever read it again. 3 out of 5.
I actually found myself zoning out a bit while reading this one, and when the final twist came i was like "oh right. THAT person."
The story in itself was fine, and Biden/Obama gave me several laughs, but it wasn't as amazing as the first one. it's hard to pinpoint why, maybe it was just because the first one was funny with how original it was and the second was just more of the same?
I remember every major beat of the story but everything else that happened in the middle is kind of a blur to be honest and i don't remember a lot of the finer details.
This book is a solid definition of a 3/5. Not great, not bad, readable, but i don't think i'd ever read it again. 3 out of 5.
bookness's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0