Better Than You Know Yourself

by Kristen L. Berry

A scandalous affair drives a wedge between two best friends and business partners. One of them is sleeping with their top investor—and that’s before he falls to his death . . . from the nationally bestselling author of We Don’t Talk About Carol.

Jia and Imani’s thirteen-year friendship has endured it all, from divorce and the early trials of motherhood to career upheavals and family betrayals. So their decision to start their own small business, Hart & Harlowe, is rooted in their profound trust in one another. That is, until they find themselves on opposing sides of a life-changing business offer. To make matters worse, the only other person with the power to tip the scales—their new cutthroat investor, Ravi Patel—is having an affair with Imani. And Jia doesn’t know until he’s found in Imani’s home . . . dead on the kitchen counter.

News of his death and eight-month-long affair with Imani spreads rapidly, soon becoming a major public scandal. Everything Imani and Jia have been working towards—not just as individuals or cofounders but as each other’s chosen family—threatens to implode. And when investigators suspect foul play in Ravi’s death, Imani becomes a primary suspect.

Jia is already shouldering the weight of crippling debt and single motherhood, and now she is suddenly forced to steer the business on her own. Imani struggles to maintain her composure and sanity amidst the loss of her lover, the public backlash, and worst of all, Jia’s cold shoulder. As they both face mounting pressure, and as more people in their circle fall victim to mysterious deaths, the two must decide whether to stand together—or let the chaos tear them apart.

Genres: Thriller, Adult, Mystery Thriller

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 2, 2027

About the author

Kristen L. Berry is a writer and communications executive. Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Kristen graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature. She has provided PR and communications expertise to leading consumer brands for nearly twenty years, all while writing in her spare time. When she isn’t reading or writing, Kristen can be found lifting heavy at the gym, hiking in Malibu, eating her way through Los Angeles with her husband, or shouting at the latest Formula 1 race. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT CAROL is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Jen Langan · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐½ | ARC Review 📚🐢🔍

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The beginning was very slow, and I had a hard time getting invested in the story or the characters. I kept waiting for the pace to pick up and for that moment where I couldn’t put it down, but it never really happened for me.

The biggest issue was that I found the story pretty predictable. I figured out where things were headed fairly early, which took away a lot of the suspense and made the slower pacing even harder to get through.

There were parts I enjoyed, and I can see this working better for readers who prefer a slower-burn story, but overall, it wasn’t a favorite for me.

⭐ 2.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Ballantine, for providing the copy of Better Than You Know Yourself by Kristen L. Berry. I adored We Don’t Talk About Carol, so I was excited to read this one. I’m so glad I skipped my TBR line and read it right away, and I loved how this one was MORE! More thrills, more friendship/relationship drama; Berry has certainly found her sweet spot in this great sophomore effort. The different timelines detailing Imani and Jia’s friendship were an effective way to show the longevity of their relationship and gave great insight into how close they were. This book is the perfect amalgamation f thriller and “women’s fiction" and if you love either genre, you won’t be disappointed by Better Than You Know Yourself. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one, with a friendship (and eventual rift) at its heart— but it was also certainly a murder mystery. It kept me fairly invested throughout, and I didn’t guess the murderer. I had a few issues that are impossible to disclose without spoilers but basically center around who I thought should be a very key player being missing throughout nearly the entire novel with barely a mention.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anya Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

At its heart, this is a story about friendship between Imani and Jia, two best friends and business partners who suddenly find themselves caught in turmoil. It starts when an investor falls to his death at Imani’s home. But when one death becomes more, and the pieces just aren’t adding up, suspicion starts to creep in from every direction, putting their friendship to the ultimate test.