The Hopefuls, a novel by Jennifer Close, follows a married couple, Matt and Beth Kelly, and their best friends, Jimmy and Ash Dillon, through five years of their lives. As young politicians, Matt's and Jimmy's careers are on different trajectories; Matt's career is flagging while Jimmy's star is on the rise. As the story details the strain that threatens the couples' relationships, both within their marriages and with each other, a portrait of marriage, friendship, and the world of American politics emerges. No one comes out unscathed. It's early 2009. Beth has lived in Washington, DC, for only a week, but she's already sure that she hates it. Fresh off President Barack Obama's campaign, Matt recently started working at the White House counsel's office. It's the first step in what he hopes will be a long career in politics, a goal he has dreamed about since he was a child... . Summary of the Book . Important People . Character Analysis . Analysis of the Themes and Author's Style With Instaread, you can get the key takeaways, summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience. Visit our website at instaread.co.