book data
480 ratings, 3.45 average rating, 120 reviews
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published
July 3rd 2007
(first published 2008)
by Hyperion
binding
Hardcover, 400 pages
isbn
1401302645
(isbn13: 9781401302641)
description
The heroine of Kristin Gore's bestselling inside-the-beltway romp Sammy's Hill returns, and this time the laughs are richer and the stakes are higher -- at home and in the house (the White House, that is) ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 693)
Read in August, 2008
I love Kristin Gore's writing. I really, really do. And frankly, Sammy Joyce is one of the most lovable, quirky characters I've encountered in years. She's multi-dimensional, real and endearingly flawed.
I couldn't really give a rip about the plot, though I'll allow that the ending was a little fast and forced, because for me, the books are essentially character study, and wonderfully enjoyable ones at that.
The one part of the book that sticks in my craw is Sammy's Potomac River-plunge a...more
I couldn't really give a rip about the plot, though I'll allow that the ending was a little fast and forced, because for me, the books are essentially character study, and wonderfully enjoyable ones at that.
The one part of the book that sticks in my craw is Sammy's Potomac River-plunge a...more
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Read in September, 2008
I just love Sammy! She's very relatable and a whole lotta fun!
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Read in March, 2008
I liked the first one better. This one dragged a little. And wasn't as hysterically funny as the first. (Maybe my expectations were higher.) The main thing that I didn’t like about this book is the author’s blatant and almost borderline-comical bias toward the Democratic party. She never calls them by name in the book, but it’s obvious. A couple times when I was reading, I felt like saying, "OK! I GET IT!!! You hate all Republicans, and judge all people you encounter by what party la...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of the West Wing, anyone looking for a laugh
Written by Kristen Gore, television comedy writer and daughter of Al Gore, "Sammy's House" is full of funny observations and lots of quirky personality.
The story moves along between Sammy's hectic job in the Office of the Vice President and her relationship with her suddenly long-distance boyfriend. Pages are heavily peppered with Gore's very visual humor. Gore may be best at bringing out the inner weirdness in her characters than developing relatable traits.
Despite all of ...more
The story moves along between Sammy's hectic job in the Office of the Vice President and her relationship with her suddenly long-distance boyfriend. Pages are heavily peppered with Gore's very visual humor. Gore may be best at bringing out the inner weirdness in her characters than developing relatable traits.
Despite all of ...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
sweethearted political activists
Who doesn't like the occasional romantic political comedy? No one I know. This book is definitely better than Legally Blonde 2 (few things aren't). It's also better than all of the Harlequin novels I've ever read (which, for your information is 4 and I was 13).
So knowing what it's better than, I suppose you might want to know what is better than this book. Simply speaking, a lot of things are better. Not just bacon and cheese. I think I could easily compile an entire hot dog cart filled with ...more
So knowing what it's better than, I suppose you might want to know what is better than this book. Simply speaking, a lot of things are better. Not just bacon and cheese. I think I could easily compile an entire hot dog cart filled with ...more
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Read in June, 2008
Sammy Joyce is back and her adventures have taken a new and more high-profile turn now that she's working in the White House. We rejoin Sammy a year and a half into the new administration and things are getting compicated. She's living with her best friend, but her dreamy, perfect boyfriend, Charlie, has just been promoted. To New York. Important info is leaking from the inner workings of the White House and nobody knows who the informant is. Then there's that pesky thing with the President--wha...more
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Read in November, 2008
I thought that this novel was much better than Kristin Gore's first, Sammy's Hill. Now that she has one novel under her belt, her second attempt is much more polished and thus more enjoyable.
Granted, the book was not much more than fluff. I didn't expect it to be. After all, this book falls squarely in the chick lit genre. But it was funny, and it sufficiently entertained me through several metro rides to and from work.
I wonder if she'll do a third in the series.
Granted, the book was not much more than fluff. I didn't expect it to be. After all, this book falls squarely in the chick lit genre. But it was funny, and it sufficiently entertained me through several metro rides to and from work.
I wonder if she'll do a third in the series.
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Read in September, 2007
The excitement I held about this sequel dwindled around page 100 or so when I realized that a) it was nearly 400 pages and b) the elements used to enhance the plot/create tension were rather predictable (however, that just may say more about me and my crazy self than it does about Gore's writing techniques).
It was still a pleasurable read because of Gore's comedic writing skills -- the way you're sucked into Sammy's quirky internal conversations and the way she observes and characterizes th...more
It was still a pleasurable read because of Gore's comedic writing skills -- the way you're sucked into Sammy's quirky internal conversations and the way she observes and characterizes th...more
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Read in August, 2007
Ok, so I was dubious about reading this book. The first one was cute but not super-impressive, and there's the whole Gore-daughter-turned novelist thing, but my brother bought it for me for my birthday, so I decided to give it a try. And I really liked it. It's definitely a beach read (or perhaps a me kind of beach read), but the main character was really well, and neurotically, drawn; the relationship was engrossing; and the plot was intriguing. I'll admit I spent a little time trying to fi...more
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Read in February, 2008
Kristen Gore is a great comedic writer; this book just pulled me in with all its amusing commentary about life in Washington. I enjoyed it more than Sammy's Hill (same hypochondriac, neurotic protagonist but the development of the character is less forced in this second book) and being a politico, enjoyed the parallel activity of trying to discern exactly what could be construed as a direct quote from Al Gore. She's picked an alternate addiction (alcohol) for her President and set the tale up ...more
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Read in January, 2008
This is a great, light read. The sequel to Sammy's Hill, this one is just as laugh-out-loud funny. I especially loved the scene when Sammy is hit on by a senator, with an unexpected twist. And author Gore, as the former VP's daughter, gets in some hilarious digs at the current administration & doesn't even really bother to try to veil them. It's also pretty obvious she has modeled the VP in the book after her own father in many ways. Sammy, as usual, gets herself in some funny situation...more
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Read in March, 2008
Not a bad follow up to Gore's first novel that introduced the slightly neurotic Sammy as she tries to fight the good fight in D.C. It's peppered with knowledge of the inner workings of the White House and interesting national policies, but it's an easy light read. I often found myself expecting huge clichés to wrap up major plot twists and discoveries, but like the first book, Gore would often tease you with material that usually preceded one and then veer towards a less soap opera-style even...more
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Read in October, 2007
so disappointed in this book. I got through far more complex books than this right beforehand but simply could not finish this one. I think I am mostly mad at it because it stunted my momentum.
This book is the sequel to "Sammy's Hill" which I adored because it had a nice blend of chick lit and Washington Politics. This book just seemed like an obligatory sequel when none was necessary and I ended up not liking characters I liked the first time around.
Anyway--one star. Ma...more
This book is the sequel to "Sammy's Hill" which I adored because it had a nice blend of chick lit and Washington Politics. This book just seemed like an obligatory sequel when none was necessary and I ended up not liking characters I liked the first time around.
Anyway--one star. Ma...more
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Read in July, 2008
Sweet, fun, and definitely worth the read. But sadly, not as quirky and exciting as Sammy's Hill.
And I spent the whole book either, 1.) confusing the presidential troubles in real life with the ones in the book, and once almost asking if someone had heard about the president's drinking problem, or 2.) picturing President Wye as the man who played the vice president who had to stand in as president in the second or third season of '24' who looked like Nixon. Odd, yes, but that's just me.
And I spent the whole book either, 1.) confusing the presidential troubles in real life with the ones in the book, and once almost asking if someone had heard about the president's drinking problem, or 2.) picturing President Wye as the man who played the vice president who had to stand in as president in the second or third season of '24' who looked like Nixon. Odd, yes, but that's just me.
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Read in June, 2008
This is a worthy follow-up to Sammy's Hill. I imagine, for an author, the benefit of not having to develop a new narrative voice in a sequel is offset by the difficulty of living up to the first work. Gore accomplishes this task, but it's certainly not a rehash of the first book. Everything has matured a bit - Sammy, her love life, the politics, idealism, and the writing itself. The problems are more difficult and more complex, but the journey is even more interesting, if slightly less amusing.
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Read in March, 2008
It was all right. Gore tries a little too hard at times to make her characters quirky. I can't recall if it was as striking in the first book.
But it was good for a smile now and then.
However, her editor seems to have fallen asleep from about page 250 to 300. There were at least three glaring grammar and spelling errors in that section, and I didn't notice any outside of that section of text. It's disappointing how sloppy editing seems to be in books published in the last few years.
But it was good for a smile now and then.
However, her editor seems to have fallen asleep from about page 250 to 300. There were at least three glaring grammar and spelling errors in that section, and I didn't notice any outside of that section of text. It's disappointing how sloppy editing seems to be in books published in the last few years.
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Read in July, 2007
I picked this book up while in DC, thinking it would be place-appropriate. It's mostly fluff, though generally fun to read. Considering the author, I enjoy knowing that White House details are likely to be accurate. Unfortunately, the story and characters are often quite unrealistic and ridiculous. Good for a somewhat mindless fluff read, but don't expect profound perspective on DC life, in spite of the author's first-hand knowledge of the place.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
those who have read Sammy's Hil
It's helpful to read the first book, Sammy's Hill - the reader would be confused and uninformed if they just picked up Sammy's House. Written by Kristin Gore, this fictional novel tells the story of a White House staffer who works closely with the Vice President on issues regarding Health Care who dates a writer for the Washington Post. Very well written, very interesting, and very funny! I hope there's a third to this little series!!
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Read in September, 2007
At first I was really enjoying this. I laughed out loud a few times. But it got bogged down with political intrigue and lost me. I just wasn't motivated to keep reading. I did skim ahead though to find out the answers to some of the "mysteries." And I read the last few pages. I barely remember reading Sammy's Hill, but I remember enjoying it. Kristin Gore is a funny writer, but I'm hoping her next book stays away from politics.
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Read in November, 2007
I picked it up not expecting too much, and was pleasantly surprised. The humorous story of a White House staffer working for the VP while the President has fallen off the wagon. A light read, but you can see the author's background in writing comedy because there are some truly funny scenes in it. And it's certainly interesting given her real life access to the political lifestyle, in a raised eyebrow sort of way.
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