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Verdict: A polished age-gap political romance: new-in-town paediatric surgeon Emily Lawrence collides with President Connie Calvin, a widowed single mother heading into a re-election fight. Readers enjoy the power-couple chemistry and behind-the-scenes politics; the book’s history — a 2020 version criticised for mirroring The American President, since heavily rewritten — still colours its reviews.
Best for: Readers who love powerful older heroines, politics and age gaps.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.8/5 — a 4.09 Goodreads average across 2,067 ratings, 3.82 on StoryGraph from 375 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 1,400 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Age gap, widowed single mom, ice queen, forbidden (public scrutiny), power couple, 40+ lead.
Presidential is Lola Keeley’s contemporary lesbian romance from Ylva Publishing, revised and re-released in 2022. High-flying paediatric surgeon Emily Lawrence is new to Washington, DC, and her first week puts her on a collision course with the most powerful woman in America.
It holds a 4.09 average across 2,067 Goodreads ratings, with 75% of them four or five stars, 3.82 on StoryGraph from 375 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 1,400 Amazon ratings.
What Is Presidential About?
President Constance “Connie” Calvin’s first term is turbulent as she juggles the job and life as a widowed mother to a 12-year-old boy, with re-election looming and critics circling.
Her famed icy cool is in danger of melting in the face of Emily’s passion and charm. But how can they act on it under the public glare — and what will the country make of them?
What Works in This Book
- Power couple: Readers enjoy two strong, intelligent women.
- Political setting: A semi-realistic peek behind the curtain of the presidency.
- The rewrite: Several readers who criticised the original say the new edition is much better.
- Audiobook: Abby Craden’s narration earns praise.
Book Synopsis
A surgeon who speaks her mind. A president who can’t afford a scandal.
Love is hard enough without the whole world watching.
My Review
As it stands now, this is an entertaining, confident romance that puts the power in power couple, with Connie’s son and the pressures of office giving it stakes beyond the bedroom.
Some readers still see strong echoes of the film, and a few found the chemistry lacking or Connie’s attraction to women underexplained and sudden. Readers also flag a shooting and grief.
My honest note: Read the revised edition and judge it on its own terms.
| Element | In Presidential |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Connie Calvin (US president, widowed mom) & Emily Lawrence (paediatric surgeon) |
| Core tropes | Age gap, ice queen, public scrutiny |
| Setting | Washington, DC and the White House |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | About 93,000 words (revised edition) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Gun violence, grief, death of a parent, homophobia, biphobia |
How Spicy Is Presidential?
Moderate — charged sexual tension with some on-page content.
StoryGraph readers flag gun violence, homophobia and grief.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a powerful, widowed older heroine. It is on our single mom lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you know the film well and dislike close homages.
In short: Power, politics, a second draft.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 39% five stars, 36% four, 19% three, 4% two and 1% one. On StoryGraph, 65% tagged it emotional and 85% found the characters loveable.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The power couple first. Second, the political setting. Third, the improved rewrite. Fourth, the audiobook.
What readers argue about and complain about: Similarity to the film, above everything. Second, chemistry. Third, pacing of Connie’s awakening.
The comparison worth making first: The Music and the Mirror, another Lola Keeley romance on our site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some reviews mention The American President?
The original 2020 version drew criticism for closely following the film The American President. Readers report it was pulled and heavily rewritten; the revised 2022 edition is the one now sold, and many who criticised the first version say the new one is much improved.
Which edition should I read?
The current revised edition (about 93,000 words). Early reviews on Goodreads may refer to the older version.
How big is the age gap?
One reader puts Emily at 32 and Connie at 51.
Is it a single-mom romance?
Yes. President Connie Calvin is a widowed mother to a 12-year-old son, whom Emily treats as a patient.
Is Presidential on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99. The audiobook is narrated by Abby Craden.
If You Loved Presidential, Read These Next
Try Other Girls or Keeley’s The Music and the Mirror. Browse our single mom list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Presidential sets out to be a charged age-gap romance at the highest level of power, and the revised edition delivers an entertaining read. What holds it back is lingering comparison to its cinematic inspiration. Worth a look. Check Presidential on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Presidential ranks as a good single-mom pick — powerful, polished.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ 4.09 average across 2,067 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 75% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.82 on StoryGraph from 375 reviews
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 1,400 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Power couple
- ✓ Age gap
- ✓ Public scrutiny
- ✓ Chemistry debated
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ President Connie
- ✓ Dr. Emily
- ✓ 12-year-old son
- ✓ 85% loveable on StoryGraph
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Polished rewrite
- ✓ Film echoes
- ✓ Political detail
- ✓ Entertaining
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Grief
- ✓ Shooting
- ✓ Hopeful
- ✓ Lighthearted moments
Heat Level ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Charged
- ✓ Moderate
- ✓ On-page
- ✓ Adult
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Satisfying
- ✓ Public stakes
- ✓ Standalone
- ✓ Hopeful
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Abby Craden audiobook
- ✓ Rewatchable vibe
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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