*The Carrington Affairs* by Susan GoochSusan Gooch’s *The Carrington Affairs* is a gripping and emotionally layered tale of political downfall, personal redemption, and the secrets that never quite stay buried. With sharp storytelling and an engaging narrative voice, Gooch explores the consequences of ambition, the fragility of public trust, and the deeply personal costs of political life.At the center of the novel is Bennett Carrington, a once-rising political star who, in the spring of 2012, seemed poised to become America’s next vice president. But by midsummer, his world had collapsed—his career shattered, his marriage over, and his heart broken. What followed was over a decade in the political wilderness—until an unexpected opportunity brings him back to the small town of Searcy, Arkansas, and into the orbit of two women from his past: Taylor and Poppy.The strength of this novel lies in its rich character development and the way Gooch peels back the layers of each protagonist’s story. Taylor and Poppy are more than just figures in Bennett’s past—they are strong, complex women with secrets of their own. Gooch does an excellent job shifting perspectives and revealing their motivations, allowing readers to wrestle with questions of loyalty, love, betrayal, and truth.Set against the backdrop of small-town Southern charm and national political intrigue, *The Carrington Affairs* manages to feel both intimate and high-stakes. The tension is built not through sensationalism, but through emotional honesty and the slow, deliberate unraveling of personal histories that were never quite finished.This is a story about second chances, but it doesn’t offer them easily. Gooch forces her characters—and her readers—to confront uncomfortable truths and the reality that healing sometimes requires revisiting the very pain we try to bury.Smart, nuanced, and timely, *The Carrington Affairs* is a must-read for fans of contemporary political drama with a strong emotional core. It’s a reminder that what’s hidden beneath the surface often has the greatest power to shape our futures.
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