By Coral Gables Gazette staff

With the dust still settling from one of the most chaotic presidential elections in American history, two of Washington’s most connected political journalists are coming to Coral Gables to unpack the story behind the headlines. On Tuesday, August 5 at 7 p.m., Books & Books will host Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, coauthors of the newly released Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House—an insider chronicle of the 2024 campaign that forced a sitting president to bow out, a vice president to run on the fly, and a twice-impeached former president to weather both felony convictions and an assassination attempt.

The event is free and open to the public. It takes place at Books & Books’ flagship location, 265 Aragon Avenue, in the heart of Coral Gables. The conversation will be moderated by Marc Caputo, veteran Florida political reporter and Axios national correspondent.

From “Shattered” to the next political reckoning

Allen and Parnes are no strangers to dramatic campaign seasons. Their 2017 bestseller Shattered offered an unsparing account of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 collapse. In Fight, they return with a bigger canvas and even sharper stakes, drawing on real-time interviews with more than 150 sources from the Biden, Harris, and Trump camps—as well as operatives, party leaders, and Capitol Hill power brokers.

The result is a narrative that reads more like political theater than political science. The authors document President Joe Biden’s decision to seek re-election despite growing doubts within his party; his eventual withdrawal under intense pressure; and Vice President Kamala Harris’s unprecedented 107-day sprint to secure the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, facing multiple indictments and personal crises, leveraged public anger to solidify his grip on the Republican Party and reclaim the White House.

But Fight is less about policy platforms than power plays. The book depicts a Democratic Party torn by generational conflict, strategic misfires, and fraying loyalties—especially in the twilight of Biden’s presidency. It also offers new reporting on Harris’s rise, including the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped her candidacy and strained her relationship with Biden. Trump, for his part, is shown as both embattled and emboldened, surrounded by loyalists and haunted by legal landmines.

Coral Gables gets a front-row seat

That national political drama comes to a literary crossroads in Coral Gables next week. Books & Books, a fixture of the South Florida cultural scene for more than four decades, has long been known for its timely and substantive author events. This discussion promises to be no exception.

While Fight offers plenty of narrative color—from “bloodsport politics” to backstage betrayals—it also raises broader questions about the state of American democracy, the limits of loyalty, and the price of ambition. Those attending the August 5 event can expect a candid, possibly unscripted, conversation between three veteran observers of Florida and national politics.

Jonathan Allen, now with NBC News, has served as White House bureau chief for Politico and Washington bureau chief for Bloomberg. Amie Parnes, senior political correspondent for The Hill, is a frequent television commentator and former CNN analyst. Together, they have coauthored three political books, including HRC and Lucky, each known for their access and detail.

Moderator Marc Caputo, no stranger to South Florida politics, has spent decades covering campaigns at both the state and national level, including stints at Politico and The Miami Herald.

If you go

An Evening with Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes
📖 In conversation with Marc Caputo
📍 Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables
🗓 Tuesday, August 5
🕖 7 p.m.
🎟 Free admission. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Can’t make it in person? Copies of Fight can be ordered online from Books & Books. Seating is first come, first served, and early arrival is encouraged.

This rare gathering offers a chance to hear from three seasoned insiders who’ve not only reported on the battle—but stood just outside the war room doors.