Member Reviews
BLURB
Nine-time Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Ed. Weinberger, known for his work on such legendary comedies as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Cosby Show, imagines an alternate Trump 2020 presidential campaign in this hilarious new novel.
In GOTCHA! Weinberger creates a chaotic world inhabited by America’s 45th President where cheating at golf is taken for granted; Fox anchors are valued advisors; and hydroxychloroquine is promoted as a COVID-19 cure.
Spanning the critical period from March 5, 2020 to January 24, 2021, GOTCHA! takes readers into Trump’s private world as he meets with his re-election committee, has a hush-hush dinner with Laura Ingraham, makes an angry early-morning call to Don, Jr., and asks Melania whether his bullet-proof vest makes him look fat. Trump tries to rush through a COVID-19 vaccine; attempts to build rapport with African Americans; and even gets away with shooting a protester on Fifth Avenue—an incident applauded by the NRA.
With an entertaining mix of fiction and satire, this provocative novel looks into the corrupt, three-ring-circus that is Washington in the new normal.
REVIEW
The blurb for the book states that this is a work of fiction/satire. The legal statement about characters reinforces that by saying that said characters do not resemble anyone living or dead. Balderdash, hogwash, and utter nonsense. Okay, okay...I know that this is an entertaining, witty, spot-on take on an administration which should be, at the very least, caricatured in such a manner. (Editor's note - the author of this review despises the current squatter in the White House, his criminal enterprise, and their enablers.) While reading Gotcha, I felt as if I was reading the actual notes of meetings or transcripts of phone calls that now reside in the Trump Presidential Library. (Editor's note - that was satire of a hyperbolic nature.) In other words they sound just so damn real, that I found myself emitting negative comments and many naughty words as I was reading, adding to my limitless loathing. Personal feelings aside, I was really laughing my arse off. Kudos to the author for a page turning way to survive the dual pandemics we are experiencing..Covid-19 & #45. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book made me chuckle! I was impressed with how up to date it was in the events. Timing is perfect - I read it in the build up to the election result. I don’t want to spoil the ending of the book, but it was well worth the read!
Entertaining book! Good fun!
Received as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars for this one from me. Writing satire for the Trump presidency is an unenviable task. I found myself reading sections of "GOTCHA!" and having to google to see whether an event included in the book actually happened. The book's publication date must have been fairly recently, as the book includes Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis on October 2nd.
In its best chapters, this book nails it. I found the chapters "Trump's Photo Op at the NRA" and "The Second October Surprise" to be spot on, excellent satire that made me laugh and shake my head at the same time. In other chapters, the book struggles to make its statement, again, likely because the current political climate in the United States is so topsy-turvy that satire has a tough time finding a mark. It's a quick read and has enough laughs in it to keep a reader occupied.
Sadly, the book's closing prediction may turn out to be all too prescient. I won't give it away, but I can see Trump acting as written in the closing chapters.
Gotcha! Inside Trump’s 2020 Campaign is billed as satirical fiction and parody. Unfortunately, not much seemed like fiction. Most of the stories are pulled straight from the headlines, and what isn’t feels like it just hasn’t happened yet.
Let Ed Weinberger pull back the curtain to give you a glimpse of what could very well be conversations taking place behind the scenes. I read this book on the night of the last presidential debate before the election. The book is chillingly accurate up to this point in time.
Many conversations will leave you chuckling over the foibles of politicians and media personalities. I suspect your political leanings may influence how much you enjoy the book. But, I believe many readers, American and foreign, will get a kick out of this story.
The author shows why he is so successful in writing for television and comedians. He reaches right into the heart of a scene and pulls out the gems to make you see the lighter side and chuckle over the absurdities of politics.
I give the book 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5). You can see my rating scale on my book review website, ginaraemitchell. com
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
This book was received as an ARC from BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is what the review will be...My honest opinion of the book in general. This is what the review WILL NOT be...my personal views on politic. Full disclaimer, I do not review many books on politics no matter who our president is and I know there is a fine line due to my job that I can't cross so NO POLITICS will be expressed in this review by any means necessary. This book went in depth on the behind the scenes focus on President Trumps Campaign. Ed Weinberger even went in on the personal lives of the family including Trump himself. I do have to say I have to be impartial but there were parts of this book that were tough to read and tough to accept and comprehend. But I know that there are members of our community that do have strong political views and will consider to read this book.
This is why we give this book 3.5 stars.
Gotcha! qualifies as a gallows humor text and draws on current events to weave a story that blends fiction, fact, and farce. It’s a novel that speaks to the strange times we live in.
this was a really unique read, I appreciated the humor and the way the author writes is well done. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from the author.
Sorry but I gave up on this book. Very choppy and certainly not funny. Perhaps it’s just me but this book isn’t for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review
This hilarious fictional take on the reelection campaign of Donald Trump was a fast read! With all of the negativity surrounding politics right now, it was nice to just laugh about it with this fictional story.