Sometimes the most enviable life is really a private hell.On the surface, Sarah Jenkins appears to have it all: a handsome, wealthy and successful husband, a precocious five-year-old daughter, and a beautiful home in an affluent Seattle neighborhood. Her quirky best friend and fellow high school teacher, Maggie, marvels at her luck—and envies her happiness. But Sarah is far from happy. She feels … far from happy. She feels empty and on edge, harangued by a critical inner voice—and as the truth about her marriage and details of her past emerge, her “perfect” life begins to crumble. But just when it seems all is lost, a long forgotten, unopened letter changes everything, and with the support of friends, Sarah begins to rebuild her life. Can she quiet the critical voice in her head and learn to value herself instead?
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It’s almost like watching theater in the round, as this story of an abusive marriage with a slightly New Age-Shakespearean overtone unfolds in third-person omniscient viewpoints. We clearly see the characters as they don’t yet see themselves, Sarah the hyper-self-critical wife, Robert the gold-plated jerk of an abusive husband. Maggie, the loving but somewhat naïve friend who sees the surface accoutrements of a perfect marriage, and Kate, the close friend with enough marriage experience to suspect and fear all is not as it seems on the surface. As the layers of the story and the characters’ motivations build, we learn the why of Sarah’s and Robert’s behaviors. The book is a fast read because of the cringe-inducing actions and thoughts of both; you want to hurry to the inevitable climax—which comes with a full twisting layout, so to speak. Author Zane’s background as a psychotherapist serves her well as she pulls together the subtleties of each character, gently but surely, so it all makes sense. There are actions among the characters we can’t like, and shouldn’t, but the ultimate message is one of well-placed hope and the healing power of confronting truth, however challenging.
Relationships can be complicated. One with deep secrets can be dysfunctional and toxic. Communication and trust shut down, backing everyone into a corner or pushing someone out the door. It was painful to watch Sarah’s confidence crumble, and even more painful to watch her walk around on eggshells, worrying about everything she said and did as a wife and mother.
I wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time.
Eventually, with the help of friends, Sarah finds her bearings in a gratifying way. But before you think I spoiled the book for you, don’t forget about all the secrets! My lips are sealed!
From a craft perspective, Cathy Zane is a patient storyteller. And patience was necessary for this story because for Sarah to be realistic and resonating, Zane had to demonstrate that it’s not easy to change a lifetime of habits or patterns or to “give up” on a marriage with a cinematic, dramatic exit, shouting, “You don’t deserve me. It’s over!” Because we all know how seldom someone ends a relationship in a blink of an eye or with a huge eye-opening epiphany that leads to immediate action and change. No, more often than not, it’s a long, slow journey because it’s not about changing our partner or spouse, it’s about changing ourselves.
I think Zane is a generous author. I think she consciously chose to write a story for all the Sarahs of the world and one they could read and walk away from with hope and empowerment, saying, “Okay, I’m moving in the right direction.”
And as a psychotherapist, Cathy would know what the Sarahs need to hear and learn. Since completing her graduate degree in 1999, Cathy has worked extensively with families.
Thanks for being you, Cathy Zane.
What is REALLY most important?
A compelling story of Sarah, who on the surface appears to have everything – handsome, wealthy husband, nice house, lovely daughter – but who in fact is deeply unhappy. Early in the novel we come to see that her relationship with her husband is emotionally abusive, and this has shattered her self-esteem. As things go from bad to worse, Sarah relies on help from two wonderful female friends to pull her through. A quick read, with a lot of dramatic tension. The scenes with the therapist who helps her gain a deeper understanding of the root of her issues, are particularly well done, reflecting the author’s own professional experience as a psychotherapist .
Better than This provides us with a poignant portrait of Sarah, a woman consumed by self-doubt and low self-esteem. She’s married to workaholic, upper-crust Robert, who is controlling as a husband and neglectful as a father to their young daughter Lizzy, who drinks too much, and who spends days away at a time in LA, far from their Seattle home. Sarah’s inner voices scold her for every action and word that might offend someone, especially Robert, or lead anyone to believe that her marriage isn’t perfect. But as emotions well up inside her, she finds it hard to hold back her strong feelings. She’s fortunate in having two supportive friends—Kate, mother to Lizzy’s best friend, and Maggie, her fun-loving colleague at the school where she teaches. The story is mostly told from Sarah’s point of view but sometimes from the ponts of view of each of her friends and from Robert. It unfolds slowly at first, allowing us to see, in a cringeworthy fashion, Sarah’s wounds and understand how she came to be the way she is. In many ways, it’s a quiet novel, a psychological study of a woman who tries to hang on to a shred of hope that things will change even as the reader knows that they won’t. For pages, I wanted to shake her and tell her to wake up. Eventually, of course, something happens to tip the balance. The story resolves in a surprising but satisfying fashion that feels real and doesn’t resort to happy cliches. As a therapist, Zane is clearly familiar with people like Sarah and Robert, both of whom experienced difficult childhoods. But although in the end I understood Robert’s challenges, I was rooting for Sarah and her ability to realize her own worth. Kudos to Zane for making me care.
Wanted to climb in the book and shake the character.
This is an interesting but sad book. It shows what us truly important in marriages & life. Underscores the value of good friends and sticking by your friends in the valleys of life
Cathy Zane has written a compelling tale of love, manipulation, self-doubt and the power of friendship in overcoming all odds. Better Than This is a page-turner with unexpected twists that will stay with you long after you put it down.
An honest portrayal of the power of friendship and the struggles many women face in love and life. Zane is a welcome addition to the world of women’s fiction.
A heartfelt journey of a woman truly coming into her own and discovering who she really is and what she’s worth.
Kind of a drag.
Did not care for the story line – at all
This book should never have been published. I can find nothing good to say about it.
It was all right, not really memorable or great. I could see the plot twist coming from a mile away.
Cathy Zane’s novel of marriage, friendship, doubt, and trust will grab your interest from the first page. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, the setting is vivid, and the language is inviting and true. Following Sarah’s journey of self-discovery invites readers to ponder roads taken and not taken, and look at what’s in front of us with new eyes. It’s clear the author understands the complexity of the human heart and psyche.