"Undiplomatic" is a sharp, witty exploration of international relations through the lens of personal conflict and ambition. The author masterfully blends humor with incisive commentary, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The characters are well-developed and flawed, navigating the murky waters of diplomacy and personal agendas with relatable struggles and ambitions. While some plot twists may feel predictable, the clever dialogue and rich, immersive world-building keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Overall, this novel successfully combines political intrigue with a keen understanding of human nature, earning it a well-deserved four stars for its clever storytelling and engaging characters.

Deesha Dyer was 31, a former community college student, who became a hip hop journalist working in a real estate company in Philadelphia, when she applied spontaneously to an internship position at the White House, during the Obama administration. To her own surprise, she suddenly got a call while she was cooking in her apartment, and soon she finds herself moving to Washington DC to be an intern in the White House. She is suffering from imposted syndrome, especially because all her fellow interns have impressive Ivy League diplomas and the diplomatic attitude for this job and the right connections and political background, while she feels undiplomatic and an imposter who doesn't deserve to be there with only a community college degree. What she truly could not expect, that years later after her internship ended, she would get a call that landed her a job as the social secretary of the White House, or which she planned and organized everything from major diplomatic summits to functions with Beyonce and the Pope, and is flying with the team and the Obama's on Air Force One to important presidential international visits to countries as Indonesia.
Her work in the White House is demanding, challenging and suffering from insecurity and imposter syndrome, doesn't make it easy. But Deesha does her work absolutely outstanding, and as a reader you get a good behind the scenes glimpse of the life of a social secretary in one of the most challenging places in the world. And you also get to read how Deesha's life went after the Obama administration left the White House, when she became the founder and CEO of the social impact firm Hook & Fasten.

This is just an outstanding and fantastic book that you don't want to miss! I didn't know what to expect when I started reading, but it truly blew me away. I love honest and open memoirs like this, and I think this is the best memoir that will be out in a book this year! Deesha tells her story very honestly, shares her ups and downs in life, her hard work before her internship at the White House started, where she juggled multiple job positions at once, from the start of her internship at the White House, how she dealt with imposter syndrome and the challenges of it, also with the difficulties she had to deal with as a black woman, to the start of her career as a social secretary and everything that comes with it in daily life at the White House. You can only have deep respect for a woman as strong as Deesha. Knowing what difficulties in life are (I also come from community college and wasn't able to go to a real college) I recognized a lot in the challenges and struggles she was facing sometimes. But it also shows to not give up and to go after dreams and life goals, this book is truly inspirational and I highly recommend reading this jewel of a book!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is amazing story of someone who we wouldn't think of working in the White House - black, female, not having a college degree and a far from impressive resume. Yet, at 31 as a community college student and a newish hip-hop journalist, she becomes a White House intern and eventually works in the Obama White House. It's an incredible story and I imagine there were many intangibles that didn't come through in her telling as on paper she's not the type of candidate we'd expect for these coveted roles. It's inspiring that someone who obviously was smart, driven, took calculated risks and also had imposter syndrome and lived on the brink of experiencing homelessness, is living a life which probably far surpasses her own dreams. This is a wonderful memoir for those who need a boost to hope and dream bigger and brighter!

Undiplomatic is the memoir of a 31 year old woman studying for her associates who decides to apply for an internship to Obama's press office. I like when memoirs are written in a conversational way. From the first page, it felt like Deesha Dyer was speaking to me as a reader. She has imposter syndrome but works her way up to become his press secretary. She talks alot about how she kept having imposter syndrome throughout the book, but it was good to see how she overcame it. I feel that this book is an inspiration to anyone who finds themselves stuck in life and needs a push to make changes.

I found this piece to be exceptionally well-crafted, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into more works by this author. Given its potential popularity among our library patrons, we're certainly looking forward to adding it to our collection

Before I was asked to review an advance reader copy (ARC) of Deesha Dyer's book, I was not familiar with her. However, I can fully relate to the kind of attitude that propels us into situations where we must either sink or swim—an attitude Dyer embodies. Her story is truly inspiring. I particularly enjoyed reading about her time in the White House, which provided candid insights into its inner workings as well as her life before and immediately after her tenure there. Dyer's narrative was both enlightening and entertaining. Her writing style vividly brings her experiences to life, allowing readers to live vicariously through her words.

One aspect of the book that resonated with me was her treatment of impostor syndrome. Although she only briefly touches on the topic, the discussion was sufficient to convey her feelings effectively. It's common for readers to expect exhaustive revelations in such memoirs, but I appreciate that Dyer balanced sharing with discretion.

Additionally, Dyer's exploration of the need for personal boundaries in relationships was particularly impactful. She emphasizes the crucial stage of recognizing and enforcing these boundaries—a lesson vital for all, but especially resonant for Black women, who may not always realize its importance. Her proactive steps in seeking both a personal trainer and a therapist offer valuable lessons for young women who might benefit from similar professional guidance. Overall, Dyer's book is a great share.

Thank you to Legacy Lit for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts relating to this book.

Deesha Dyer's Undiplomatic takes the audience along with her as she works her way from Philly to an internship with the White House all the way to Social Secretary in the Obama administration, while examining the all-too familiar feeling of imposter syndrome.

Overall, I really enjoyed Undiplomatic. Dyer has a clear, very engaging voice that makes it easy to fly through the novel itself. She never loses her integrity throughout it, opening herself up to vulnerable moments and memories. She doesn't shy away either from her own negative traits, instead calling herself out for what they are and why she acted a certain why—but also taking a critical look at where these ideas come from.

It was a bit more self-help-y than I personally realized, which threw me off. This isn't a slight on the memoir itself, but I did find myself taken aback at the amount of advice that was given, until I realized the billing also included self-help.

I think my only critique is that I wanted Dyer to stay a bit more in the pocket of certain memories. She has a beautiful way of reflecting but there were chapters that felt a bit rushed or glossed over. There's so much that she briefly references—especially when discussing how she worked to over come the imposter syndrome—but I felt like we needed a bit more extrapolation and explanation.

There were also a few grammar/editing errors, but I assume those will be cleaned up by the release date.

Overall, I did really enjoy Undiplomatic! I just felt like there were missed opportunities to really dig deeper into the memoir.

I had the privilege of experiencing one of Deesha's speaking engagements at a fundraising conference in Philadelphia a few years ago. She was engaging, funny, and honest. Her speech touched on imposter syndrome (the common denominator of this memoir) but what I remember most is her unconventional path towards a life of public service. I was working for an HIV-focused non-profit at the time and her journey began as an HIV community activist. I remember her saying during the presentation that "'Social impact' is the new gentrified term for doing what you're supposed to do." Amen.

This memoir is different. It focuses on her internal struggle with imposter syndrome, self-worth, and people-pleasing--to the point of sacrificing her own health at times. It is honest, well-written and immensely relatable, despite her not-at-all traditional career. If you can relate to those internal struggles, this book is for you--it's nice to feel seen. Also, if you are interested in politics, the inner-workings of D.C., and the Obama family, it's a great fit for you, too!

My only critique is I feel that there were parts of her story that were missing. By the end, Deesha mentions she's put in a lot of work and therapy hours in overcoming her struggles. However, I would have liked to see that journey as well. Especially since the thesis of the book is an immensely relatable topic.

I am grateful for the free ARC Kindle copy that was provided to me by NetGalley and Legacy Lit. All opinions are my own.

Undiplomatic by Deesha Dyer is truly the story of an "underdog". I say that lightly with all the intention to mean that it does not matter where you start, you just need to start to get to the place that is your wildest dreams. I so appreciated this narrative work, I related so much in being from Philly myself and just feeling out of place in a lot of rooms that I have been in so far in my life. It takes courage and perserverance to stay there not only to show others that you can handle the "hard" things but to prove it to yourself to in the midst of imposter syndrome especially as a black woman in America. Thank you for sharing your story Deesha and I am sad to say I was not aware of you and your work as social secretary while you held the position, but am grateful that you made the choice to share your story. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Publishing Group for this ARC.

"Learning to be yourself isn't easy because our selves are constantly shifting as we evolve."

This memoir is a beautiful blend of personal anecdotes, some sweet, some bitter, and some bittersweet; that feels like an older sister giving you advice based off what she already knows.

The reflection and introspection throughout Deesha's lived experiences make you feel like you know her personally while reading only fragments of her story. I felt like a long lost friend getting caught up over lunch.

my review:
thank you to net galley and deesha for the opportunity to read this arc.

this was such a dope and beautiful memoir to read. one thing that really stuck to me was the topic of imposter syndrome. something that i catch myself dealing with at times.

it was really great seeing someone like her, who i can relate to in different ways, get such a huge opportunity like being an intern for the white house. also her realness was something i enjoyed in the book, because yes girl we love the authenticity!

i may not know her personally, but reading this i feel like she could be one of my friends and i love that. i’m so damn proud of what she accomplished and was her own boss afterwards.

also look how bomb the cover is????😍

I loved this book. I was interested in it because I thought hearing about inside the White House stories would be fascinating but it was so much more. It was an extremely candid and inspiring adventure of an amazing woman. One particular quote really hit me hard. So much so that I wrote it down for future inspiration. I would recommend this book to anyone who's ever felt less than, unworthy or not enough.

This book was a pleasant surprise - I’ve been wanting to read more nonfiction in 2024, especially by Black authors.

I was surprised by how relatable this book was - although we come from different walks of life, I related deeply to the imposter syndrome and putting your career first. I loved learning more about the Obama administration and how she tackled her position. This book is definitely geared toward young Black professional women, but I think many readers can gain something from
this memoir.

A well written, thoughtful memoir by Deesha Dyer, the Obamas’ last social secretary. We all have built in biases, as did Deesha, and assume that all White House interns fit a certain mold, including attending a top-tier university. Deesha had no credentials, connections, or a college degree. What she had was the grit to apply to be an intern at the age of 31, which started her career in the White House. Even as she moved up the ladder, she suffered from “imposter syndrome.” That voice in her head kept telling her she didn’t deserve to be there, which made her only work harder to prove herself. Eventually, after many years, she comes to realize that she must put herself first and that her career does not define who she is.

The memoir is easily readable and relatable. The author is very frank and writes like she speaks, someone from Philadelphia, which might offend some readers. I think many of us suffer from “imposter syndrome” at some point in our lives. The memoir does not delve very deeply into politics, but is more a story about Deesha, from childhood until the present. I think the book is truly inspirational, especially for young African American women, but really for anyone who feels they don’t belong or aren’t good enough.

While it was interesting to learn what a social secretary’s duties are, the book glossed quickly over some other areas. My biggest concern is for Ms. Dyer herself, who seemed to put her work duties above everything else, to the detriment of her health. That might have been due to her “imposter syndrome,” but I hope she has learned a better work/life balance.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review. I requested this book to learn more about how someone with Ms. Dyer’s background could rise to such a powerful position. On that, the book delivered.

I give the book 4.5 stars. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. I am a huge Obama fan, so I was excited to read this book. I had never heard of Deesha but the story sounded amazing. I was really hooked on Deesha's story.

The author's story was so relatable to me. I am a white woman but could really relate to her imposter syndrome. I was, also, hooked on how amazing this woman was before even going to the white house.

The book was part self help and her story. I felt her rooting for the reader by carefully telling her story. Her story was very authentic and real.

The book covers everything that has happened to the world in the last decade. She talks about Obama, Trump, covid, Black Lives Matter, and more. It brought me back to everything we, as a society, has gone through recently.

It's a book that has a happy ending. She goes through a lot ( if are honest, most of us have gone through a lot too). She encouraged us to take care of ourselves in all ways.

The books target audience is probably young black women. I loved the book. I think there is something for everyone in this book. I can't wait to read her next book.

This was a good read! I loved Deesha’s story, and the look into her life leading up to her time in the White House as well as the inner workings of what she did there. She has a unique voice that pulled me in and made me want to keep reading.

In a way, this book left me wanting more. It felt like a very high-level overview of her life, and I wanted more details of just about everything—from her time at MHS to the actual work she did at the White House. At the same time, I didn’t feel like I learned much about impostor syndrome—either how it affected her or how to overcome it. Rather than diving into how certain situations made her feel, it was a “welp, that was my impostor syndrome” and she’d move on to the next thing. I would have liked a deeper look, to see how she really felt about it and how she pushed through to eventually overcome it. It would go a long way in helping people understand their own and work through those limiting beliefs to get to the point she was at at the end of the book—not letting it hurt her mindset and hold her back.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

gorgeous 5star read. a memoir by a very impressive person. thanks so much for the ARC! i especially loved the later sections of this one.