The Better Half: A Novel
"Charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and honest, The Better Half celebrates the absurdity and joy in life, and does so with an enviable grace and good heart." --Mindy Kaling
From comedy writing duo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans comes The Better Half, a sidesplitting spin on reaching the pinnacle of life, only to stare down a slippery slope on the other side.
After a difficult five years, at age forty-three, Nina Morgan Clarke's time has finally arrived. With an ex-husband relocated across the country, her father bouncing back after the loss of his beloved wife, and her daughter, Xandra, thriving at boarding school, Nina is stepping into her dream job as a trifecta: a first-generation, Black female head of the storied Royal-Hawkins School. To mark the moment, Nina and her best friend, Marisol, take a long-overdue girls' trip to celebrate the second half of Nina's life--which is shaping up to be the best part of her life.
As Nina's school year gets underway, all seems to be progressing as planned. Before long, wunder-hire Jared Jones, two hundred pounds of Harvard-educated ego, relentlessly pushes Nina to her ethical limits. Soon after, dutiful Xandra accuses one of her teachers of misconduct. And most alarming, the repercussions of her trip with Marisol force Nina into a life-altering choice. Time is of the essence, and Nina must decide if she will embrace a future she never could have predicted.
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Community Reviews
This is more than a story of a mixed race couple. It is about friendships, mother-daughter, and father-daughter relationships. You can’t help but love Leo and his enthusiasm for life. He’s the kind of man that every woman wants on their “future husband list”. The secondary stories about private school admissions and being Black in a white world, make this book interesting and relatable. It’s not a simple love story. All the characters face challenges. Nina’s daughter, Xandra, is having issues at her school. Power house school mother, Courtney, tries to muscle her way on to the Board of Trustees. Brand new teacher, Jared, tries to balance his love of teaching with his fierce commitment to basketball. Throughout all of this Nina, in her first year as head of an elite private school has to deal with pressures from board members, parents, as well as figuring out her relationships with Leo, Xandra, and her father. Roan and Marisol are the best friends who are always there for Nina. It’s a light, feel good read, perfect for the summer.
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