Having heard mixed reviews about Rodham, I did go into it with a bit of trepidation but I do like to make up my own mind about novels so was determined to keep it firmly open as I embarked on a buddy read with the lovely @emmasbookishcorner What a wild ride this book was! I was absolutely gripped throughout and delighted in every moment as I got to know Hilary Rodham in a “what if” situation where she doesn’t marry Bill Clinton. Hilary is already riding high in her respected career before she meets Clinton but when she eventually does, they form such an intense emotional and physical connection and she falls head over heals for his charismatic presence, likeability when interacting with others and intelligence. We then follow the break down of their relationship as she refuses Clinton’s marriage proposals and forges her own powerful future, including her struggles being an intelligent, forthright (and single, which seems important 🙄) woman in politics at that time in history. I’ve followed Hilary Clinton’s journey remotely and very much from a distance from the time she was America’s First Lady to the Lewinsky scandal and her own determination to become President of the USA. After reading Rodham, I found myself filled with even more admiration for her, even though the reader is aware that this is a fictional Sliding Doors narrative from Sittenfeld. Rodham was such an interesting insight into a very fascinating woman and at times, it felt very much like I was a fly on the wall, admitted to every personal and intimate little detail of Hilary’s relationship with Bill. Perhaps too intimate? Maybe. There are several cringe-worthy incidents including one memorable instance with a saxophone - if you know, you know 😂 However, I feel that knowing the public faces of both Hilary and Bill as an outsider is part of the reason why those more private moments add to the power of the novel in general. And Bill the lion….🦁 I have images in my head that I’m not sure I needed but it was certainly brilliance on the part of the author. Five perfect stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #buddyreadlove #buddyreadswithemma #rodham https://www.instagram.com/p/CkobUjkLZ55/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=