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Whips

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Whips

By: Cleo Watson
Narrated by: Cleo Watson, Olivia Dowd
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Westminster in the 2020s, where the business of governing is the last thing on the agenda for anyone worth their salt. In the SW1 bubble, politics moves fast, schemes are hatched and foiled - through both accident and conspiracy - within hours, and sex and power preside.

When Bobby Cliveden decides to campaign against the closure of her local mental health unit, she scarcely thought it would take her straight to the heart of the UK's bustling political centre. She heads to London to work for her local MP, the ambitious Simon Daly, and moves in with her two old university friends, Jess, a new lobby journalist, and Eva, a junior Downing Street adviser. The three of them quickly become wrapped up in the political circus of glamorous parties, insufferable bosses and demanding workloads - and the desire to win. Beneath the headline-grabbing battle of a male-dominated leadership contest, they discover the secret, soft-skilled machinery behind so much political change at the very highest level of government: women.

Riotous and all too believable, Whips is a timely satire on politics and Party people. Watson takes us behind the doors of Number 10 and delivers a gripping tale of modern government, filled with intrigue and scandal and written with insight and verve. Whips delivers on every promise.

This audiobook edition includes an exclusive Q&A between Cleo Watson and her editor James Gurbutt, where Cleo's extensive research for Whips, plans for Book 2, and the literary landscape for women in politics are discussed. ©2023 Cleo Watson Fiction Genre Fiction Political Witty
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Critic reviews

Everything in here is real... a Jilly Cooper-style canter around that Westminster arena
Whips is undoubtedly a page turner, but at the heart of it is also a genuinely heartwarming story of female friendship and the power of politics to do good, believe it or not. Whips revels in its own ridiculousness and is a riot because of it
Whips joins the ageless genre of books about the dark heart of politics
A riot! A delicious mix of the high farce and low cunning of the political world. Ridiculous, revealing and impossible to put down
A whip smart, funny and completely absorbing book
Explosive debut novel... very addictive
I found Whips so delightful... it is a joy to read. More than that, it is fun... The author, it is abundantly clear, is having a wonderful time. And as a result so does the reader.... the true love story is female friendship... I was more struck by how accurately it depicts the mild horror of being in one's early twenties... As I read the final page, I found myself welling up. I didn't know what to expect from Whips. I certainly wasn't expecting that
[Watson] is a sprightly storyteller, and, if Westminster-watchers want some light reading for the beach, they need look no further
A tale of modern government, sex and scandal... very funny indeed
The red-hot political bonkbuster... a send-up of the people who run the country
Hilariously sexy satirical novel
Filled with sex and political scandals
A fun and scandalous romp of a read
Sensational... Think Jilly Cooper at her best meets West Wing meets Fifty Shades of Grey; it's utterly addictive, scandalous, and oh so shocking
Whips is irresistible... a warm-hearted romp
Part House of Cards-style thriller, part Jackie Collins-style bonkbuster... Whips is a fast-paced, darkly comic insider's insight into how our political system works (or doesn't)
It's a riotous and raunchy romp of a book that will probably confirm a lot of what you already think goes on at the heart of Government
Cleo Watson has produced a humdinger of a first novel, and the sound of scores being settled makes a wonderful backdrop to a rollicking read
This political romcom set in Westminster, written by a former No. 10 special adviser, satirises power, egos and image management through the eyes of an ambitious aide
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this! Before I knew it it was over, looking forward to the next instalment and finding you what these believable and relatable characters are going to get up to next.
So unfair that CW not only has been at the heart of government for the past few years but can just bang out a novel as good as this in her spare time!

Whipped along

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This is a very intriguing story about political life focussing on several key characters. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to Book 2!

Hot Politics!

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A delightful read with plenty of humour and a strong sense of the truth!
Highly recommended 😀

Very credible!

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Cleo is an excellent writer and I loved this debut - I look forward to the sequel. Really funny and clever. No woman in her right mind would be attracted to politics after this, because it just confirms everything one fears about it, but excellent all the same.

Hilarious romp

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Hilarious: just funny and beyond imagination trying to view a honourable gentleman or indeed lady in the light of this book. Before Boris premiership I would have questioned their (MPs) potential to be stupid, Not anymore!!!

Hilarious

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