When the world seems to be falling apart, the economy is in the toilet, crime is at an all-time high, and you want a better life for your family, maybe it's time for a change. This is the decision that the Farmer-Bowen family makes in A Better World by Sarah Langan. Russell Bowen used to work for the EPA but gets no respect while the resources and jobs for Dr. Linda Farmer seem no better. They live with their 15-year-old twins in a small New York City apartment, which feels confining. They apply to move to Plymouth Valley, a company town where life is much sweeter...or is it?

Once the Farmer-Bowen's move to this idyllic town, they quickly realize that they must conform and adhere to the rules and customs of this weird place. The Caladrius bird serves as a symbol for their quasi-religion, loosely formed government, and the center of their rituals. Residents must participate in all kinds of unusual celebrations, which culminate in the Winter Festival. When they arrive in town, the Winter Festival has passed, so they go through a year of acclimating to this supposedly utopian place.

This book is so weird and creepy like many dystopian novels combined. There are elements of the Hunger Games, the Stepford Wives, The Time Machine, The Lottery, and many more about a person or group of people seeking refuge from an increasingly unkind and unfair world. But there's no silver lining--just the jagged underbelly of who knows what lurking behind the clouds. You get swept into the novel and want to know what is wrong with this place.

One issue I had with this book was the representatives of Plymouth Valley who let the Farmer-Bowen's know that they've been granted a palatial home and great jobs in town. They're strange, awkward, and not the types of people that I would expect would be persuading the family that they're making the right choice. Wouldn't that be a red flag right there, or is the outside world so horrible that that's their only choice?

Some of the terms used for contemporary items made me cringe, too. They're so strange that it lends to the creepy atmosphere. For example, screenies instead of movies. Every time I came across the word, I shuddered.

Many of the other characters are well-drawn and just suspicious the whole way. Every character seems like they could turn on the Farmer-Bowen's at the flip of a coin. Even though it seems like Plymouth Valley is a beautiful place and a safe refuge, it's a restrictive place where if you don't fit in, you may as well just leave. But are you even allowed?

Once you hit the climax of the book, shocking things happen, and some things that you suspected were coming, do. And it's not for the faint of heart. Even though this book came out in April, it would be perfect to read for the upcoming Halloween holiday (or Samhain if you're living in Plymouth Valley). Although I felt the epilogue was somewhat lackluster, and I didn't really connect with the characters, I went along for the ride and felt satisfied with the outcome.

After being disappointed with Good Neighbors by reading the synopsis, I decided to go into A Better World as blind as possible. I hear Sarah Langan speak at an event for the Virginia Book Festival a couple years ago and wanted to read whatever she came out with next. By going in blind, I felt like I enjoyed this book a lot more. As with her last book, A Better World is focused on a creepy neighborhood, but this one is separated from society. The fact it's set in South Dakota adds another layer of separation and desperation, I'm saying this as someone who lived in South Dakota for quite awhile. I don't want to say too much, but I really enjoyed this one. If you're looking for something with some creep factors and/or enjoy The Stepford Wives, this book would be for you.

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Set in the near future in which the planet is at the precipice of a climate disaster, A Better World introduces us to the Farmer-Bowen family as they score a nearly impossible to get position in Plymouth Valley, a company town. In this dystopian world, company towns are the last safe havens for those lucky enough to secure a spot within: housing is free, schools are advanced, the air is clean and safe, food is abundant, and there is zero crime. The only catch? They have to not only survive the year of hazing before their first review in which they will be deemed worthy of their spots or sent packing, but also find a way to become indispensable to their community. Beneath the saccharine, faux-friendly demeanor of their neighbors lies a cutthroat system of social rules and customs that the Farmer-Bowens are beginning to suspect is not quite what it seems. The so-called safe haven of Plymouth Valley might actually be far more dangerous than the toxic, dying world they left outside the gates…

WOW. Despite a slow start, Langan infuses A Better World with an atmosphere of dread that I could not put it down. I never knew what was coming next. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, and that what’s coming isn’t going to be THAT bad—BAM—absolute chaos in the best way. The ending of this novel is insanity. It will stick with me for a long time.

Absolutely loved every minute of this. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

I had hopes for this one, because I absolutely love most things dystopian. But this one got weirder and weirder as it went -- not good weird but goofy weird. Hard pass on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

Thank you to Atria Books for the digital copy to review!

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would! It was dark, thrilling, VERY different, and definitely one wild ride that I had no clue where it would go. It was a little on the longer side but I was still captivated and could not stop listening the entire time.

DNF at 27%. I liked the concept but I couldn’t get past the awful way the elites treated the outsiders. I get that was part of the point, but there is so much of that behavior in real life that I don’t want to read about it in my fiction.

I found "A Better World" by Sarah Langan to be only okay, mainly because the main character was hard to like and the genre isn't my usual preference.

Set in a dystopian future, the book follows a family who secures a place in an exclusive, eco-friendly community. As they try to fit in, they uncover dark secrets about their seemingly perfect town. The story is filled with suspense and relevant themes of wealth, power, and privilege.

Overall, while the plot was intriguing, the book didn't fully resonate with me.

Sarah Langan's A Better World is a thrilling whirlwind of a read that defies genre conventions, blending dystopian themes, horror, climate fiction, and domestic thriller elements. The narrative kicks off with a gripping start, immediately captivating the reader with its originality and suspenseful, unsettling moments. Despite occasional slow pacing and overwrought passages, the story remains engaging throughout.

Having previously enjoyed Langan's 2021 novel, Good Neighbors, I am eager to explore more of her work in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review

I thought the premise of A Better World sounded really interesting but unfortunately the execution didn’t work for me and I decided to DNF. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

🍷👑Book Review:
Title: A Better World
Author: Sarah Langan
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

I love weird books. And this book is WEIRD. I was pulled in instantly after realizing it was an "end-of-the-world", "society-is-collapsing" type of book! What would you do if the world you once knew was falling all around you? What would you do if you were offered to move to a "safe" community where you wouldn't have to fear for your safety every day? Well, you'd move to the town of Plymouth Valley where everything is just hunky dory 🙂.

As long as you can get past the worship of Caladrius birds and the word of the Hollow, and don't ask questions and just go about your day, you're good to go. Don't worry too much about the strange rituals and the missing people. Or the woman that has completely lost her mind ranting about how the people of the Hollow sacrifice children. It's a utopia, right?

This book was downright creepy, and I loved it!

Published: April 9th, 2024

Thank you, @netgalley and @atriabooks, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a creepy one! It was very eerie and I enjoyed trying to figure out what would happen next! The ending was quite shocking! Love the cover! I definitely recommend!

What a trippy story. That ending!! Yikes!

A Better World gave me weird Stepford Wives meet The Witches of Eastwick vibes with its perfect utopian town set in the midst of a dystopian, climate environmental collapsing, near future world.

Linda and her family move into Plymouth Valley, a wealthy town owned by a corporation for their top executives and families. There are no more worries about the quality of air, the food is plentiful, the schools are elite, and the benefits are phenomenal. After being snubbed by everyone living there, Linda then becomes friends with the elite group of women who basically run Plymouth Valley.

I love dystopian, so I was excited to read A Better World. But this book was also very suspenseful with a bit of horror thrown in as well! So fun!

*Thanks so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eGalley!*

A Better World is one of the best dystopian horrors I've read in a while. Sarah Langan nails the pacing and build up throughout, with an absolutely brutal ending that left me turning to my husband and saying "WOW" (in the best way possible). At the end, I felt myself tense and holding my breath and was left completely shocked at the turn of events. I couldn't shake the feeling unease while reading and as a reader, you are guessing on what exactly is going on in this community and with its residents and each time I thought I had figured it out, Langan had more surprises in store. I think A Better World is perfect for any reader, but especially those wanting to get more into horror - its brilliantly written and I'm excited to see what Sarah Langan does next. Thank you Atria for the review copy.

This one wasn't really for me overall. However I did enjoy the world building. Everything was well described visually. In turn it made the storyline a bit slow for me. I did kind of guess how the ending was going to go as well.

If you love dystopian stories this one will be right up your alley. I'm so glad I ventured out of my comfort zone and gave it a shot!

A tense, beautiful read that examines the complexities of marriage, family, and complicity. Some truly unsettling moments that will never leave me.

I enjoyed the satirical view of a dystopian world after most natural resources have been used up or contaimated in some way. However there are options to live in a community completely protected from the dangerous of the outside world because their little bubble allows for safety. Are the sacrifices for your freedom worth the protection that this bubble promises?

<i>A Better World</i> definitely had me thinking that sometimes a different point of view is all you need to realize that maybe the grass literally isn't always greener. However, the end got dark and a bit twisted. I realize this was purposely exaggerated but it was enough to turn me off a bit from the book as a whole.

The concept of this book was really interesting!! It started off so great but slowly unraveled for me during the second half!! I enjoyed my time
overall but this wasn’t my favorite!

A Better World
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Sarah Langan

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Atria Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: You’ll be safe here. That’s what the greasy tour guide tells the Farmer-Bowens when they visit Plymouth Valley, a walled-off company town with clean air, pantries that never go empty, and blue-ribbon schools. On a very trial basis, the company offers to hire Linda Farmer’s husband, a numbers genius, and relocate her whole family to this bucolic paradise for the .0001%. Though Linda will have to sacrifice her medical career back home, the family jumps at the opportunity. They’d be crazy not to take it. With the outside world literally falling apart, this might be the Farmer-Bowens last chance.

But fitting in takes work. The pampered locals distrust outsiders, cruelly snubbing Linda, Russell, and their teen twins. And the residents fervently adhere to a group of customs and beliefs called Hollow . . . but what exactly is Hollow?

It’s Linda who brokers acceptance by volunteering her medical skills to the most powerful people in town with their pet charity, ActHollow. In the months afterward, everything seems fine. Sure, Russell starts hyperventilating through a paper bag in the middle of the night, and the kids have drifted like bridgeless islands, but living here’s worth sacrificing their family’s closeness, isn’t it? At least they’ll survive. The trouble is, the locals never say what they think. They seem scared. And Hollow’s ominous culminating event, the Plymouth Valley Winter Festival, is coming.

Linda’s warned by her husband and her powerful new friends to stop asking questions. But the more she learns, the more frightened she becomes. Should the Farmer-Bowens be fighting to stay, or fighting to get out?

My Thoughts: I have read other cult-type thrillers before, but nothing like this. Langan masterfully crafts this dystopian atmospheric thriller that will keep you glued to the page. The whole world is falling apart and the only choice to keep your family alive is to live at Plymouth Valley, under a cult. This town at Plymouth Valley is known as a company town, which is presumed to the be the safest place to be in an unsteady world. Living in this town is a once in a lifetime opportunity, as everything is taken care of, you have a house, a car, a job, groceries, clothes, everything you could want to live a comfortable life. The hazing begins and the friendships are bizarre to Linda. Trying to fit into this town has been difficult and trying to conform to beliefs called Hollow has Linda questioning everything. Linda begins to volunteer using her medical skills, which has earned some scope of acceptance of them. But by living in this town, are they sacrificing their family? This story follows themes of bullying, power/privilege, money, environment, and conformity.

I loved the sense of danger, suspense and twists infused with tension and not knowing what was going to happen. Here lately, not many thrillers have been unpredictable to me, but this one really elevated the unpredictability factor, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The family dynamics were amazing and the multiple layers of the characters were outstanding. You could see the dynamic switch depending upon what community member they were engaging with. Linda was independent and fiercely protective of her family. When she starts asking questions when things seem suspicious, she is warned to stop asking questions. When the climate is disastrous, the social wold is deteriorating as you know it, and that this town is your only saving grace, that creates an epic storyline. The story relics some horror vibes the last third.

The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, were mysterious, very secretive, and very intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, twisted, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and brilliant. The author builds up the characters, delivers the twists in layers that are heart stopping, and ending that is a little outlandish but was still outstanding. Langan has this way of infusing environmental elements into her stories that are chilling & shocking, yet wonderful. The world that was built, Plymouth Valley, was amazing, and it felt so real. I was drawn into this world and the only con would be how this world was initially established would have elevated the novel into another level.

This book was creepy, eerie, and had a very unique premise. It kind of reminded me of The Stepford Wives. To craft a town where no one has a voice, you must not say what you are thinking, you have to portray yourself a certain way, and always participate in some way to the constant festivals, is truly dark and twisted. This was a different kind of thriller for me and I absolutely enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. If you like cult-type books, you will love this one. I highly recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy of A BETTER WORLD. This one is out April 9.

OK I didn't love this one. It was a relatively short book, but it took me a while to sludge through. I eventually switched to the audio version just to finish it. I loved the idea of this book, but it just didn't really pan out the way I imagined it would. I'd say skip this one.