Better Than This

by Cathy Zane

Sometimes the most enviable life is really a private hell.

On the surface, Sarah Jenkins appears to have a perfect life: she has a strikingly 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, envies her. Surely, Sarah’s life is the recipe for happiness.

But Sarah is far from happy. She feels empty, anxious, and on edge, with a critical inner voice that constantly puts her down—and as the reality of her marriage and the details of her past emerge, her “perfect” life begins to crumble, and it becomes clear that she is living a lie. As she confronts her past, she slowly allows herself to open to the healing power of connection, friendship, and love. Can she quiet the critical voice in her head and learn to value herself instead?

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction, Contemporary

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2018

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting novel that sees Sarah caught in an abusive relationship with her husband. He is a manipulative bully and Sarah is caught making excuses for him time and time again.

"You really are a worthless piece of shit. You can't do anything right. You never should have been born." Sarah's inner monologue tells us her deepest thoughts, her total lack of self-esteem and her suppression of her own wants and needs in her futile efforts to please him and keep him happy. There are glimpses of good times, however, and Sarah latches on to these as proof to herself that if she's good, things are good. So starts the downward spiral...

Sarah is extremely lucky that she has her young daughter Lizzy to concentrate on, and her two wonderful friends Maggie and Kate, who offer her marvellous support throughout and are always there to pick up the pieces.

And as things come to a head, an unexpected bombshell drops...

I raced through this novel in a couple of hours, completely caught up in the story. Sometimes I just wanted to slap Sarah and tell her to wake up to herself. Then you realise that people really can't move on until they're ready to, no matter the logic.

Cathy Zane has woven a powerful, realistic tale that sadly is a reflection of too many peoples lives. Recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Sarah's gaze travelled to the darkening sky just outside her classroom windows. It was one of those days when the grayness felt suffocating. After nearly ten years in Seattle, she longed for the abundant sunshine of her Southern California hometown. She never imagined she would settle here when she came for college, or that she'd end up teaching high school English, but here she was. Life never turns out how you expect. There are always unexpected turns and detours along the way.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: 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 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?

MY THOUGHTS: Just as life doesn't turn out as you expect, nor did this book.

Better Than This by Cathy Zane examines a marriage that should never have happened, the build up of resentments and animosities, and the resulting destructive behaviors, made all the more tragic by there being a small child involved. This story, with minor variations, plays out constantly in real life and Cathy Zane has done well to capture it in all its disintegrating 'glory'.

What I didn't like was the way Lizzy changed from a petulant five-year-old who blames her mother for her fathers leaving to one who adores her mother with the telling of just one story. While Sarah would have been struggling to come to terms with all that happened, Lizzy would also have been struggling, and no acceptance of the situation would have been quite that easily achieved. Lizzy would have placed far more pressure on Sarah's already fragile state of mind than what is depicted here.

A lovely cover.

☺☺☺

THE AUTHOR: Cathy Zane is a writer, psychotherapist, and former nurse who draws on her many years of working with women and families to create narratives of growth and empowerment. As a lifelong reader, she believes in the power of story to not only entertain but inspire, connect us to our common humanity, and instill hope.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to She Writes Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Better Than This by Cathy Zane for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publishing house via Net Galley in exchange of an honest review

"Better Than This" is the bittersweet story of a woman, Sarah, that does whatever she can in order to overcome the difficulties and hard situations in her life.
In times like this, with all of the feminist movements like "He For She" and "Me Too", books like this one are extremely important. Stories of women who are strong enough to take their life in their hands resonates to me in a particular way, cause I've always considered myself a feminist, and this topic is really important to me.
I have to say that in some parts this book was a bit too slow for me, some scenes were actually repeated more than once, and I think that communicating better with people sometimes could take you out of a lot of problems, but oh well.
For this reason I really enjoyed the character of Maggie. She was fierce, and honest, and clever, and I would very much like to have the energy she has. She's the best friend a person could ask for, and I'm glad to say that in some ways she reminded my very own best friend.
One thing that didn't really resonated with me was that the fact that Robert was gay in some ways was seen like a method to justify what he'd done to Sarah. For this reason I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars

After all I'm really glad to have read this story, and I would very much like to thank the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for sending this to me.

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was rather painful to read, but not because there was anything wrong with it. Quite the opposite. It was painful because it hits at some hard truths that you've either been, or you know someone who is, exactly like Sarah. Sarah seems to have it all. An older, seemingly devoted husband. A beautiful, precocious child. Comfortable wealth. Ahhh, but nothing is truly ever as it seems. Behind the scenes, Sarah struggles to hold it all together, be the perfect wife and mother, gauge and manage her husbands moods - all while hearing voices in her head (and from her husband) that she is stupid, clumsy, and never good enough. It is so horribly painful because I have been Sarah and at times I still am Sarah. And while it's so easy to see in others what they need to do, it's almost impossible to do it. Hard to stop the dance and stand up for yourself, or even believe you should. I wanted to smash Sarah over the head and tell her to grow a pair, fight for yourself, don't take that abusive behavior - and I wanted to wrap her kindly in a hug and tell her it would all be okay. I loved the honesty of this book and the writing and the situations. Well done!

[Kristi Schmitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished a REALLY good one, Better Than This by Cathy Zane. I read this book in a couple of hours, just because the dialogue and subject matter was so intense and REAL! Here's the premise: Sarah is a devoted wife to her husband, Robert, and mother of their little girl, Lizzy. From the outside, it seems like Sarah has it all...her husband is confident, handsome, makes a ton of money, but things are not all peachy keen. Pretty much right away, you can tell there is something really f-ed up about Sarah and Robert's marriage. 

Sarah's friends, Maggie and Kate, begin to realize something is going on with her and make it their mission to help. This was such a lovely book about marriage, secrets and lies, self-doubt, motherhood, and friendship....lots of topics and themes there, but it worked.

While reading this book, I kept thinking "Wow, this book could've been written by a therapist because it's just SO REAL" so it wasn't shocking to find out that Cathy Zane is also a psychotherapist in addition to being a fantastic author. She dealt with topics such as self-doubt, loss, childhood trauma, and marriage problems with such honesty and empathy that I couldn't help but root for Sarah to find peace and a happy ending. 

A huge thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book. This is definitely one that will stay with me for awhile!

4 out of 5 stars for Better Than This by Cathy Zane, which has a publication date of August 28th, 2018.

[Barbara Ridley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 .

[Katharine. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I already knew what the big deal was before the big reveal. A wealthy, privileged man in his 40s marries a much younger woman to please his parents and reluctantly agrees to have a baby. The book is about how distant he is from his unknowing wife and child. He spent days, and weeks, in LA and his family lived in Seattle. There were too many times when his wife could have flown to LA to surprise him and never did. If she had the secret would have been out a long time ago. She had to put up with his bad treatment of her. He had sex with her and yet was gay. It just did not hang together as a story.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of an emotionally abusive relationship is handled gracefully by Cathy Zane. You won't have to endure scenes of violence to understand that abuse takes many different forms which might not be obvious to someone outside a relationship, and that negative thought patterns can add to the uncertainty of whether to attempt to improve the relationship, live with the problems, or ... something else. I've met Cathy Zane, and she is a thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent woman, and these traits plus her experience as a psychotherapist inform the way she handles a tricky subject. Plus there's a great twist that I didn't see coming (one of those, "oh, of course!" moments), and I am usually pretty good at "twist spotting." I think this would be an especially encouraging book for a woman who is in a disappointing relationship, unsure of herself, and faced with tough decisions, especially when there's a child involved. This book resolves well, with a realistic and satisfying ending.

[Jane Binns · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of one-sided self sacrifice in the conscripted rules of an oppressive marriage, we are effectively pulled in, cheering on Sarah from the beginning. The immediacy of each chapter keeps us enthralled with the unfolding drama and tense with wonder about what will be the breaking point. I couldn't put it down.

[Belle Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and She Writes Press for an early release of Better Than This. I read this book in 24 hours and I work full-time, I couldn't wait to continue reading this book after I came home from working. This book really hit home regarding the good friendships that the main character Sarah had in her life. I loved Cathy Zanes writing, I felt like I was in the book with the characters. I just loved everything about the book, great plot with a very good twist at the end.

[Katie Katieneedsabiggerbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this book I wanted to simultaneously smack Robert across and face and knock some sense into Sarah to stand up for herself. I think it did a great job of portraying an abusive relationship, however I wish they would have discussed that further in the end. I understand he was hiding his “other life” and why he was doing so but the way he treated her was not just hiding his secret. Raping her was not just about hiding his secret. I wish we could have had more insight into him since he never seemed to think he was doing anything wrong by the way he treated her.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Better Than This" is a suspenseful read. The novel quickly entices you with little hints regarding Sarah's life, but it is done in a manner that keeps you wanting more. The authors writing style is similar to a Liane Moriarty book, I could easily see this book being made into a movie.. I love how her best friends are always there for and that she eventually recognizes that she needs them. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were still surprises arising even in the last few chapters of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I could not put it down and finished it in a day! I highly recommend!

[Shannon (The Book Club Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review of Better Than This by Cathy Zane:

Sarah's marriage is in shambles. Her controlling husband is barely home, barking orders when he is, and very unhelpful with their daughter, Lizzy. His expectations of Sarah are extremely high and she finds herself in an endless cycle of trying to keep him happy, attempting to stand up for herself, then backing down and putting his needs first again.
Throughout the entire novel, I had mixed feelings for Sarah. I was constantly annoyed by her self-loathing tendencies and her inability to stand her ground. However, I also found myself feeling sorry for her at times and desperately wanting things to go in her favor. Team Sarah over here! Zane definitely has a way with character development. By the end of the novel, Sarah became relatable, realistic and even likable to me.

I'm really loving novels that focus on marriages and domestic life right now. I like getting a peek at the character's relationship struggles and successes. I can't help comparing them to my own! Ha! With that being said, Better Than This is just the type of story for my recent book tastes. I highly recommend this novel for readers with similar book tastes of my own. Four stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for this free digital advance readers' edition in exchange for my honest review. I'm looking forward to reading more from Cathy Zane!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a stressful book to read. The main character, Sarah, spent most of the story sad, crying, angry, or depressed. Her husband, Robert, was a class A jerk who spent most of his time away from his family. He never wanted children and pays little to no attention to their daughter. I found myself impatient with both of them, but especially Sarah. The two friends, Kate and Maggie, were great. Toward the end, answers are given for the behavior of Sarah and Robert,, but I still didn't like either one of them. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful bad was amazing! I read this wonderful book in two days. Annie Ward perfectly captured Sarah who has terrible self esteem and is extremely critical of herself. Sarah is somebody we can all relate too. I was very bothered by Sarah putting up with Robert, but again - I think we can all relate to that. Somebody in our life has treated us poorly: maybe the gas station clerk? A loved one? Your boss? It was inspiring to see Sarah overcome her insecurity. I do wish the big twist came earlier in the book so the ending could be longer.

I was so lucky to receive a copy of Beautiful Bad in exchange for an honest review. Thanks NetGalley!!

[Barbara Stark-Nemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Catharine Zane’s Better Than This, we meet Sarah Perkins, walking on eggshells through her outwardly perfect life. In spare prose, punctuated with Sarah’s desperate inner dialog, Zane reveals this woman’s journey through insecurity and depression as gloomy as Seattle rain, but through Sarah’s friends, the reader senses the possibility of rescue and redemption. With a deft touch, and unexpected plot twists, Zane unravels the dysfunction of a family trapped in the wreckage of their pasts and unrealized identities. In Zane’s skillful hands, we see Sarah emerge toward a truer self.

[Susan Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was an insightful book, having Sarah's thoughts written out. Was so incredibly frustrating for me, I actually wanted to reach out to her! Robert was such a jerk, so controlling. The way he saw Sarah was so wrong, but I did understand why he felt that way. Sarah had the best friends ever, they were great characters. This was a great story, the characters were so real to me and the storyline was very fresh and current.

[Shay Tibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a strong story with a focus on self perception and how our past impacts our present. I really enjoyed Better Than This, mainly because the characters were so simple, but there for each other and true to their selves. Loved the best friends Maggie and Kate and how essential they were to her, and the twist with her husband Robert was one I thought was done well!

Thank you Netgalley & She Writes Press for allowing me a copy of this book to read in exchange for a personal review!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an advanced reader's copy and I was intrigued by the title due to the inspiration it represents. Our patrons love inspirational stories and this one in particular has a strong message that is sure to endure the interest of our readers. Everyone needs a good story that is motivating and moving and Better Than This is sure to do that for readers. 5 stars!

[Bonnie Monte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The protagonist's marriage is a wreck, but I found myself rooting for her the whole way, believing that surely she deserves better. The novel is a testament to the power of friendship and beautifully illustrates how the support of true friends can help one survive and triumph over life's difficulties. A great debut novel!

[Helen Manoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through netgalley,and it was a very enjoyable read,thd plot and characters were true to live with a twist at the end about Robert did not see that coming.
I would personally like a follow up of the book to see what happened to Sarah and Lizzy,a very enjoyable,relaxing read.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book focusing on Sarah and her attempt to regain control of her life due to being in an abusive marriage. The author handled this difficult topic wonderfully and the plot of the story was realistic and moved at a great pace!

[Denise Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. This is the first book by this author that I have read. I liked her style of writing and that things had a twist and a turn and wasn't dragged out. I will be looking for other books by this author.. I would recommend it..

[Rebecca]

#BookSparks #SRC2018

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty solid debut read. I was drawn in immediately by the friendships between Sarah, the primary character, and her two best girlfriends as well as the obviously abusive (emotional and mental) relationship between Sarah and her husband Robert. I was always a little on edge, waiting for the shoe to drop in the big climax... I knew it would flip the book on its head; I just didn't know what it would be. It was a little expected because of the nature of the marital relationship, but there was an element I wasn't ready for. (Don't worry, no spoilers here!) As a social worker, I recognized the manipulation and gaslighting in the spouse right away, but imagine my shock in reading the blurb about the author at the end and discovering that she was not only a writer but also a psychotherapist! That explained much of how she closed the loop in the storyline. It was authentic and true to practice. A well done story. While at times I was irritated by Sarah's blind faith and trust, I also know that's the reality of manipulation. The author showcased well developed character relationships across the board.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this was her debut novel, so it’s really more of a 3.5/3.75!

Sarah is basically a single mom to Lizzy. Her husband, Robert, is extremely controlling and demoralizing to Sarah. Their relationship is strained and he is always traveling to LA for “business”. Sarah is struggling with something that she must tell Robert, but is terrified at how he will handle the news. Lucky for Sarah, she has two amazing friends, Maggie and Kate who stand by her through some very difficult times and assist with the care of Lizzy. There is a great twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting which makes any good book a 👍👍!

I would read another book by this author. She has a great knack for portraying the inner dialogue or those “voices in your head” throughout the book.

[Amy Crick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Beautifully written. Sarah and her husband Robert live in a well to do neighborhood with their daughter Lizzie. Robert loves being in control and is a workaholic who comes home mostly on the weekends. Robert did not originally want children and wanted Sarah to abort Lizzie when she was pregnant but Sarah begged and pleaded and Robert told her only one child. Maggie and Kate are Sarah’s close friends who end up being there through thick and thin for Sarah especially when Robert tells Sarah he wants to separate, leaving Sarah in a dark place. What secrets has Robert been hiding?

[Donna Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review contains spoilers.

First the positives. This was a very quick read - the storyline was engaging and the book itself was organized in a way that the encouraged continued reading. The characters were interesting and the subject matter was timely and realistic. I found the internal dialogue of Sarah, although at times frustrating to read, a helpful tool to see where she was internally.
On the other hand, many of the other characters weren't developed thoroughly. Although we eventually find out more where Robert is coming from, much of the book he is just a caricature of a controlling workaholic. There was a lack of description of setting and detail of character that made some of the story seem unrealistic and cliche. My main criticism is that it seemed that Robert's homosexuality was given as a reason for his abusive behavior towards Sarah. That didn't ring true to me.

Thank you to BookSparks for an advanced copy of this book.