Better Than Me

Better Than #1

by Emme Burton

Biz Connelly is headed back to Weldon University armed with an affirmative mantra, a new five-minute rule about freaking out and her emergency back-up bottle of Xanax. Last semester ended badly, leaving her unsure about whom “Biz” really is anymore. She is determined to get through her final year with no drama and as few panic attacks as possible.
The plan seems solid. Then, early in the semester, Biz is introduced to two guys at the same time. Jake is a sweet, open jazz major and unlike the guy that leveled her last year. And then there is Davis, the theatre designer. He is beautiful, dark, quiet and has eyes that render the usually over talkative Biz speechless. She makes a decision to keep any relationship she has under her control. But can she, really?

Genres: New Adult, Romance, College, Amazon, Contemporary, College Romance

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2013

About the author

Emme Burton is the author of the award winning Top 50 New Adult and Rom Com, SNACK, the Better Than Series: Better Than Me, Fix It For Us, and Still Into You and AwKWarD, Victoria. Emme is a contributor to the bestsellers, Hook & Ladder 69 and Bleed Blue 69. Emme's book, The Knock, is book six in The Juniper Court Series. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri with her amazing husband and sons, and her “fur babies.” Emme has never, ever been lost in a mall either as a child or an adult. Her mother, and now her family, have always known where to find her. At the bookstore.

Like Emme’s Facebook Page: Author Emme Burton
And Follow her on Twitter: @EmmeBurton

Reviews

[DKristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I liked this alright for the first half of it. It was interesting and the entire piece about the guy not exactly being single and whether they would end up just being friends or nothing at all did draw me in. I thought that what happened with the main character Biz and Neil was not all that uncommon unfortunately. Maybe not that exact experience but most people have experienced some type of betrayal in that regard in life. I even thought how she chose to "handle it" or "deal" was very common as well... Many people have to fall apart in order to put themselves back together, and to really learn who you are in life. Trust is one of the most difficult concepts there is. People, especially young people do not always understand of see how much damage you can cause another human being when you betray their trust. So, we are going along and as I stated I was into the story it, it was making sense... then we hit the 60% or so mark and it kind of got a little "huh?" on me. I did like the way that she ended up dealing with the difficult situation that she was put in, and I liked her original plan of action. Then we hit the 70-75% mark and that's where things start to go down hill. There is all of this "drama" all of this insecurity and even though the characters are talking to each other and having these "honest" conversations... the reactions their expression of feelings feels so contrived. All of a sudden I was dumped into a damn soap opera. Then there is the bit on mental health issues, and how some of the events that previously happened are just brought up in passing and never really discussed it was just strange at the end there. I was going to give it a solid 3 or 3.5 stars but I absolutely cannot stand when a story falls apart or gets down right DUMB at the last 20% or so. Hugest pet peeve for me to invest that much time and for it to fall apart at that point. BLEH!

[Coco.V]

🎁 Better Than Series (3 book series) is is FREE on Amazon today (3/14/2020)! 🎁

[Ashley Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Better Than Me in exchange for an honest review. This is Emme Burton's debut novel and also my first that I have read by her and I found it to be truly captivating. The story held my attention, page after page, from the beginning to the very last page. I definitely feel like the character development, plot, emotions, everything was spot on and very realistic to me. I was feeling all the emotions that the characters were going through. This book made me laugh, cry, yell, and took me on a roller coaster of different emotions. I absolutely award Better Than Me a 5 star read.

Better Than Me follows Biz, a young college woman who is dealing with anxiety and panic disorder after going through a terrible heartbreaking ordeal. She is trying to overcome this when Davis suddenly enters her life. He is very handsome and mysterious. They feel an instant attraction towards each other, but Davis is engaged and also the ultimate player. Davis is also trying to get past certain things from his past. Their story is complicated and filled with sexual angst.

I loved Better Than Me. The characters were relatable and Emme Burton deals with real life issues: mental health as well as sexual promiscuity/abuse. Although she deals with these real life problems, the story is filled with humor and angst which is what I enjoy reading about. I would definitely recommend this book! It will definitely keep your attention page after page and you will not want to put this book down till you read that very last word.

[Samaris Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth “Biz” is one of the most trusting, outgoing carefree people you could ever meet. She has a heart of gold and is easy to love. When her trust is broken along with her heart she goes into a downward spiral that takes her all summer to kind of put the pieces back together. Upon her return to college she vows that this semester will be different and to just take it one day at a time no drama. When she is introduced to Davis and Jake by her friend Charlie she is taken with both men. However it is Davis that makes her tingle and pulls her into a whole other world with just one look. When Biz learns Davis is off limits she tries to move past her attraction to him. Jake makes his intentions known that he wants her and so she tries to go with it. Yet something is holding her back. While things start off great Jakes façade is slowly slipping. Will Biz end up hurt and tormented again? Can she ever really have what she wants; Davis? Is history repeating itself yet again despite the promises Biz has made to herself? Will the things that happened to her after her heart got crushed come back in the present and destroy her? Davis has a past that would destroy others yet he seems to be adjusting. Can his happy façade continue? When Biz tells him about her break down will it be the end?

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I thought the story as a whole was good. It is well written, , fast paced, and the characters are realistic and believable. The author also deals with some serious, but often touchy issues about mental health. Biz is a college student who had a devastating experience the previous year, but she is back now, ready to try again and move on. I thought the inner dialogue of Biz was very helpful in understanding more about her and what she was going through. Then we have Jake and Davis enter the picture. Jake is your typical sweet guy, and Davis is a bad boy, player, who is engaged, but there is more to the story. Davis has some issues himself, and Biz and Davis find am attraction towards each other. Davis is off limits though, after all he is engaged. I don't want to give anything away, but I thought that this story was well crafted and I will be picking up Fix it for Us, the next book in the series. I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[R.M. Nicollette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the beginning. It is romance, but not your typical romance novel. Biz had been hurt in the past by a man, but now she is headed back to school to finish her final year. She meets two great guys, Jake, who is nice and sweet, and then Davis who is known to be a player, just what Biz does not need. The book was a good, easy read. The characters really add to the story. I could empathize with the characters and what they are going through. I am looking forward to reading Fixed It For Us!

[Theresa Troutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story with strong characters. Biz is a complex character struggling with the past and determined to move on and become a stronger person. On the surface, Davis is the "bad boy", but he's so much more and the author peels away the layers to show you how they two wounded souls find each other and start a friendship that may or may not lead to something more. The writing and story flow, even with the flashback chapters. Ultimately this is a beautiful story of first love, friendship and acceptance. Can't wait to read the next book!

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Good story line. Had you trying to figure what could have happened to her. Still a little lost on what Randall and Neil were doing. I liked the Hero and Heroine. They both had to struggle with their pasts, but they learned and came together. I will definitely read something else by Ms. Burton.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very enjoyable debut novel. It was a quick read for me and I read it in one sitting.

I thought that Biz would annoy me but she didn't. Really liked Davis and Jake.
The characters were portrayed as real and the storyline was believable. Questions cropped up that I'm hoping are answered in the next book. Looking forward to reading it.

[Belle Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this one 3.5 stars. It was a good book. The characters were intriguing. I wish there had been less 'dear diary' telling of events and more dialogue/interaction between characters.
I'll be reading more from Emme Burton.

[Dayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 Star read for me. Its a good short read. I absolutely loved Davis. He was great!!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sue Ouellet-Cofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to what will be a pretty decent series. Biz was always the good girl, doing everything right. The wrong man was enough to throw her into a tailspin. But this is her last year in college and she will do what she has to do to make it through with her dignity intact. She doesn't expect either Jake or Davis though and both will throw her off to some extent. There are secrets and there are SECRETS and when those come out, will Biz come out unscathed? And will she get her Happily Ever After?

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I probably shouldn’t mark this as read since I mostly skimmed. I was interested at first but then I just don’t like books with cheating. And come on she gets cheated on so she moves on to someone who cheats?

[Mary Winstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than me

Box had an awful ending through her junior year of college. Now starting fresh her senior year she meets Jake and the unattainable Davis. Make seems like the right choice but, Davis makes her heart beat faster every time they touch. Who will she choose? Great read.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit difficult waiting for all the backstory to unfold but a cute/steamy college romance.

[Laura Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in from the first page; Biz is such a deep and interesting character and I really enjoyed watching her relationship with Davis grow throughout the story. The story also touched on some deep issues regarding mental health which made it more than just a romance. I can't wait to dive into the second book!

[Jennifer Yockey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start by saying I was honestly surprised by this book. After reading the synopsis I wasn't sure this was something I was going to be interested in. To start I was already annoyed with the character description of Biz. However, I'm so glad I threw caution to the wind and read it anyway. My original feelings about Biz's character were far off base. She was not the whiney, poor me person that I originally thought, and I ended up truly admiring Biz for her trusting nature. The things that she had to endure were not something to take lightly and for her to come out as the loving and trusting person she was was actually quite admirable.
Then of course there is Davis....oh my, he sounds perfect! The changing relationship between Biz and Davis had me anxiously turning the pages (figuratively speaking, as I was reading on the Kindle app) until the very end. I loved that the author was not afraid to bring up some serious issues in this book and that we were given a glimpse as to how some people deal with these devastating events and move on from them.
This book was also very well written. So much detail that I was totally engrossed in Biz's every emotion. Truly a great read!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 stars. Biz is trying to start over at the new school year in college. She's been emotionally wounded in the past, having been used and discarded, that she earnestly wants to avoid those pitfalls and focus on school. She meets both Davis and Jake and while she has chemistry with Davis, he's already in a relationship, whereas Jake seems more than happy to dote attention on her.

This is a bit of an angsty read as Biz is constantly second guessing herself and opting to always choose the safe route. Her friends are really supportive, but I couldn't get a good feel for either Davis or Jake. I didn't particularly care for either of them, especially Davis, but I could see that he genuinely cared for Biz on a deeper level even though they could only be friends.

Because Biz is stuck in her head quite a bit, her POV can be limiting at times so it's difficult to interpret what the other characters around her are thinking. Otherwise, there's a good story underneath and hopefully with her increasing confidence, her POV will be more expansive in the next book.

[Catherine Wright (Cat's Guilty Pleasure) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story but it's no light read in my opinion. Biz is a college student dealing with anxiety due to something that happened to her the previous year and she is desperately trying to get back to being herself. Davis is the super hot guy of few words but they are instantly drawn to each other even though he is engaged. He also has some things in his past that he is trying to work through as well.

The author wrote an emotional and intense story here. There is a fabulous romance in this book but it's not your typical one by any means. Emme Burton tackles some serious issues and she does it very well. While this story contains these subject matters, there are some great funny scenes too and it's not all intense or serious.

I was given a copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review done by Cat for Cat's Guilty Pleasure
http://www.facebook.com/catherinewrig...

[Blogging For The Love Of Authors And Their Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

****Nic's Review*****

I was given this ARC for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Biz Connelly is returning to college broken and is doing all she can to keep it together. She meets two guys this semester and one she thinks is safe the other one she believes is not. After the horrible ending of last semester Biz is not wanting to date. Some of these horrible things that had happened to her she still can't remember. Biz learns some new things about herself during the summer before this new semester of college.

This was a nice read because at some time in your life you have chosen the "wrong" guy. It is how you deal with it and how messed up you are after that makes you or breaks you. So you can kind of relate to Biz. The story Kept my attention. It was funny, sad and there were parts that made you angry. I am looking forward to reading the next installment of this series. I give this book a five star rating.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Don't let the 'New Adult' category fool you with this book. The dialogue is believable, the character development is spot on and it's all wrapped around a plot that is emotional and devoid of any 'filler'.

Honestly, I liked Biz. I felt like her emotions were true to life, for what she's been through. I loved that the author wasn't afraid to touch on 'mental health' issues, such as anxiety. Then there's Davis. He is dark and intense, and also funny... but he's off limits. When Biz and Davis are together, you can feel the spark between them. You get the goosebumps when they are near each other. THAT is the true tell of a good author. You feel everything, right along with the characters.

I don't want to give too much away, but this book far exceeded my expectations.

I gave this book 4 1/2 stars

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Biz Connelly is returning to college broken and is doing all she can to keep it together. She meets two guys this semester and one she thinks is safe the other one she believes is not. After the horrible ending of last semester Biz is not wanting to date. Some of these horrible things that had happened to her she still can't remember. Biz learns some new things about herself during the summer before this new semester of college.

This was a nice read because at some time in your life you have chosen the "wrong" guy. It is how you deal with it and how messed up you are after that makes you or breaks you. So you can kind of relate to Biz. The story Kept my attention. It was funny, sad and there were parts that made you angry. I am looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a traumatic semester, Biz returns to school hoping to move on. She is severely damaged and is working through her demons. She meets two guys. One is sweet, the other a known player who is engaged. She's drawn to the forbidden one, but decides to try a relationship with the sweet one., Jake. She befriends both Jake and forbidden Davis. Having to work with Davis, they grow closer but each keep their boundaries. Never judge a book by its cover because Jake turns out to be a replay of her last semester's nightmare. Meanwhile Davis has been watching over her and is there when she once again breaks. They confess their dark histories to each other making Biz strong enough to kick Jake to the curb. The emotional journey brings Davis and Biz together.....forever. Well written and ugly cry worthy. Loved it!

[Darla Stokes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was overwrought melodrama, to the point where for the first quarter of the book, I thought perhaps it was urban fantasy because our heroine's reactions were so over-the-top: maybe the reason she felt a zap every time she saw our hero was because he was a magical being of some sort.

Other than that, it was very cliched. Does every teen romance have to have a best friend named Jules? Does every heroine have to be The Best Person Ever except that she's Just Too Trusting? And of course there are only three types of men in the world: the hero, the best buddy, and all other men who are evil.

And then there was the bouncing back and forth in time, and the heroine saying she has a mental illness because of perfectly understandable reactions to romantic betrayal.

I do not recommend this book. At all. But in all fairness, I have read worse.

[Tabitha Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will have to rate this book 3.5 star.

although the story line was good it felt as though it just kept going on and on about the same thing.Biz finds herself struggling with panic attacks and is worried about attending college again because something terrible happened to her.She had let her guard down too quick and was traumatized. Enter Jake and Davis. Davis more her friend than boyfriend material and was very sweet and genuine where as Jake was a little more defiant. Davis and Biz both felt an attraction to one another but didn't know when the right time was to test the waters. Looking forward to reading the second one in this series to see if it is better.

I was given a copy of this book by the Author to read and review for an honest opinion.

[Dottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty cool book. A gal in an on-line book-club listed it as a book she'd buy whatever the price. The others she listed are all books both she and I would pay any price for so being of like-minds, I thought I'd check it out. At first, I was a bit confused (could be because it was late and I was tired but there was too much activity around my house to sleep so I read). It went back and forth, from the previous year to current time. But once I got the hang of the story I really enjoyed it. This book portrays some of the guys as genuine a$$-holes but the others as pretty awesome. It addresses some mental health issues as well. Overall, a very enjoyable book!

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Few things that threw me and called for the 3 star.
If Jules was her best friend why was she not around more and more involved with Biz?
What was up with Neil and Randall? Why a trial?
Biz seems smart. Why was she so clueless about Neil and his not being with her in public?
I did like that Charlie was one of her friends that knew her secret and he was a guy. Love Davis! Their humor together was a big plus and why I will try the next one by this author.(

[RCA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up for free and loved that it was a St. Louis based author. The story of Biz and Davis was sweet and angsty and as soon as they visited his apartment in the Central West End with a view of Forest Park, she had me. Now as a self profession serial reader I will have to read the next two books in this trilogy. I look forward to peeling back the layers of these characters and seeing where the story goes.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the "Better Than" series! The story as a whole is wonderful and keeps you drawn in. You can't help put feel drawn to the characters. I love the way the intimate parts were described, never vulgar but always passionate. I would recommend this book to someone who might not normally read "adult" books. The story is strong enough that even if you chose to skip over the intimate parts is would still be a great book! I am hooked!