Purple State - by Dana Perino (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The #1 bestselling author, popular Fox News host, and former White House press secretary, Dana Perino, reaches new heights with her first novel--a smart, politically and romantically charged story where red meets blue, and love is never black and white.

Dorothy "Dot" Clark, a buttoned-up PR professional from New York City feels stuck in her career and her love life. At twenty-five, she expected more from her choices. Seizing a chance to follow her passion, she's sent to Cedar Falls, Wisconsin, a swing district in a swing state that could decide the next presidential election. Joined by her two best friends, Mary and Harper--both excited to escape the city for reasons of their own--Dot quickly discovers that small-town Midwestern life is far outside her urban comfort zone.

Nestled along the banks of the picturesque Cedar Creek, the charming town of Cedar Falls is everything Dot, Mary, and Harper have been missing. The close-knit community takes pride in its cozy cafes, locally brewed beer, family farms, and, of course, the beloved Reader Falls Bookshop. There, Dot meets the mysterious Danny Dawson, a big-hearted, truck-driving guy who follows hockey, not headlines--a man so unlike anyone she's ever dated that she finds herself falling fast. And Mary and Harper, both tired of dating finance bros and influencer wannabes, soon also discover that guys outside New York might just be hotter, smarter, and more grounded than they'd imagined.

But with the campaign heating up, how can Dot find time for Danny when she has a job to do, and what's the point when she's going back to New York City after the election? Can love really cross party lines? Who says that two people from opposite sides of the aisle can't eventually walk down one together?

Dana Perino makes her fiction debut with this witty and delightful romantic comedy--a small-town romance and touching story of self-discovery that asks if choosing love is the best decision after all.

Review Quotes

"It's the friendship that is the soul of this story. . . . Perino is able to find a good balance between the story and the politics. It doesn't get preachy, but it still touches on important topics, and that's not an easy task. Perino is an author to look out for." -- Parade

"Forget the news cycle and the savagery of social media and book an extended vacation for your mind with Dana Perino's debut rom-com Purple State. It serves all the thrilling crushes, heartwarming moments, and homespun comfort you could ask for, and I'm calling every politico, uptown baddie, horse girl, PSL babe, and farmers market sis out there: This one's for you." -- The Daily Wire

"With her new novel, Perino assures young Americans they can find love in unlikely places." -- Desert News

"Purple State is a big-hearted, buoyant novel that reminds us that love is what truly binds us together. With wit, warmth, and irresistible charm, Dana Perino proves herself a natural storyteller. Perino creates a compelling world in a charming small town where unexpected romance and human connection take center stage even as politics swirl beneath the surface. Readers will fall in love not just with the town of Cedar Falls, but the women at the heart of his novel, Mary, Harper and Dot, whose friendships animate every page. Purple State is joyful and hopeful, filled with warmth and humor, and animated by the belief that when we listen, open ourselves up, and choose love, we find what matters most. Purple State is a reminder that when we lead with heart, we might just find common ground--and each other." -- Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Story She Left Behind.

"Politics, romance, and New Yorkers feeding chickens in heels--Purple State is a riot! Readers will love rooting for the novel's three best friends as they make a last chance leap from their lives in NYC to the campaign trail in rural flyover country. Wonderfully written, deeply insightful, warm and inspiring, this book is for anyone who believes--or wants to believe again--that our most important relationships can still transcend politics." -- Andrew Graff, author of Raft of Stars and True North

"Dana Perino effortlessly blends love and politics in her captivating debut novel, Purple State. Twenty-five year old Dot Clark seems to have it all: the perfect New York City apartment, her own office at a flashy PR firm, and a dreamy boyfriend on the verge of proposing. But when Dot leaves it all behind to work on an underdog presidential campaign in swing state Wisconsin, everything she thought she wanted is suddenly up for debate. Joined by her two whip-smart best friends, Dot enters the high stakes fray of modern campaigning--unaware of how the experience will change their assumptions, loyalties, and hearts. Drawing on her own insider knowledge, Perino pulls back the curtain on contemporary politics, revealing the strategy and savvy behind splashy headlines. Rich with unforgettable characters, sly humor, and sizzling romance, Purple State reminds us there is more to life than career or politics, and that sometimes the most surprising paths lead us to where we most belong." -- Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men Are Gone