I received a free copy of, Something Better, by Diane Parrish, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ruth and David are married, an accident shakes their life, and then more trauma follows. Ruth goes away for work, and absence does not make the heart grow fonder, at least with this couple. I did not care for this book, are the characters at all.

The plot of this book is so different as it takes us into the lives of a young married couple trying to conceive, Ruth and David and David’s need to help a young woman who just lost her family. I loved his dedication and wanting to be there for her, and somehow redeem himself. I adore Ruth and her resilience, because this woman STRUGGLES, sadly. The turn of events and David’s “wanting to be there for Annabeth” becomes unsettling to me, and the roll that Ruth has in this and how she goes about it is admirable. I got lost in the book at times but it was a quick book to read.

Something Better by Diane Parrish was an interesting novel in that it dealt with a youngish couple who were unable to conceive after years of trying. Although their marriage was happy, it was very wearing on the relationship to go through with the expectations month after month and not be pregnant. When Ruth is offered an opportunity to travel across the country for her job, she takes it, planning to return home at every opportunity. In the meantime, her husband David has hired the college aged daughter of his friends who have tragically died in a car crash. With his wife gone he is drawn to her and when his business is ransacked by an irate client, he is upset and goes to her. They both make decisions that are unwise. In chasing "something better" did they actually find it? I was disappointed with how this novel turned out, and that with such Christian overtones the author chose to take the novel in the direction she did. The end was just a let down. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Is the grass really greener on the other side?
In this book the author set this scenario for a happily married couple, Ruth and David. She is a successful lawyer and he is the owner of a landscaping business. When work sends her to San Francisco, the time difference and the obsession of Annabeth, David’s part-time office assistant, has their marriage drifting apart. These three characters carry the essence of the book and how they handle disasters, stress and forgiveness. I liked the character of Ruth, her resilience and ability to forgive. Annabeth seemed too clueless for a college student and David went too far off the rails just like another minor character, but in a less confrontational way when disaster hit. Would I read another book by this debut author? Yes. The author, Diane Parrish, drew me into the characters and plot and I look forward to what else she will bring to her readers. Thank you Netgalley and Meryl Moss Media Group. Meridian Editions for the early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

‘The house sits inside a snow globe.’

The story opens with a tragic accident in Connecticut. Jack Brady and his wife lose their lives: their college-aged daughter Annabeth tries to pick up the pieces. David, a much younger friend of Jack’s, wants to help Annabeth. David and his wife Ruth are happily married, hoping for children but as yet childless. David is a landscape designer and gardener; Ruth is a lawyer. Annabeth accepts a job working for David. Life seems good until Ruth is offered an unexpected job opportunity on the West Coast. She accepts reluctantly at first but plans to return home to David at every opportunity.

And then the wheels fall off. An attack at David’s workplace by a disgruntled client traumatises Annabeth and disrupts David’s business and life. And, although Annabeth seems interested in Theo, a fellow college student, she and David are (momentarily, at least) attracted to each other. Meanwhile, Ruth is attracted to Brian, with whom she works on the West Coast.

How does it end? Not very satisfactorily, from my perspective. The writing is good, but the characters annoyed me especially when some of them (occasionally) seem to take refuge in Christianity. I am afraid I really had difficulty accepting that an ostensibly happily married couple could so easily be distracted by others. Clearly, I’ve missed something. Yes, I understand forgiveness, even if I don’t accept (religious) faith.

‘For now, this is how they exist. Watching their words and guarding their hearts, they tiptoe cautiously, separately, through the altered landscape of their lives.’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and the Meryl Moss Media Group for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I was hoping that the story about something better would be a happy ending out of something tragic but instead it was a story about someone thinking there was Something Better than what they had and choosing the wrong thing.
I really liked most of the story about trying to overcome ones circumstance and trying to help one another but I didn't like the part of losing ones moral compass or intruding into a persons home without consent, and then ending up betraying ones partner and trying to put the blame and responsibility of the incident onto the other partner. I understand that the other partner was on the other side of the country, but the betrayal happened while she was at home, so I don't blame her. I also didn't like that no one is going to talk about the elephant in the room and that they are just going to go on their merry way. Don't see it. I also don't see how Annabeth just decided to let it just happen. Don't see it.

I want to thank Meryl Moss Media Group | Meridian Editions and NetGalley for an advance copy of this story.

This story had me completely involved and caring and concerned for our main characters, David and Ruth, as they
dealt with all of the sadness and grief of their infertility, the horrific car crash and the uncertainty of Ruth taking a job
on the other side of the Country. With each new life complication, the couple and their families and friends seem to
be pushed to their limits. However, with the sporadic faith showing through and their strong determination (albeit
at different times in the story) it is possible they will have the strength and determination to forgive and return to
each other.
I cannot say I’ve read a story this well written given everything that takes place, Sometimes the tragedies are
simultaneous and cross friend and family relationships. The Author crafted a superbly well written series of
personal triumph and tragedies, not always aligned with personal faith.
More than once I felt sadness or confusion as the characters made choices that, in my mind could not work.
The writing may be finished, but I’m still pulling for David and Ruth that they will realize the promises they made
are not to be broken.
My thanks to Deb Zipf, with Meryl Mass Media, who offered this book via NetGalley, for review purposes.

"Something Better" introduces Ruth and David, safely cocooned in their suburban life, when things began to get shaky.

Overall Impact: Although this book was a good read, and beautifully written, I felt slightly mislead by the back of the cover. "Each must decide if they will remain true to their vows, or what it might mean to search for something better;" this makes me think of love triangles, aching for someone you shouldn't love, and secretive, passionate nights. It turns out that both of those in the marriage are interested in someone else, and David does sleep with someone else once without planning it - but then the book ends. There is no marriage up in flames, no conversation about it, and no angry lovers. Perhaps it's my distaste for monogamy or my love for chaos that makes me feel slighted by the story itself, but either way it was well written and I still enjoyed the read.

In my humble opinion the genre for this novel should’ve been categorized in the Christian Fiction category. There’s a lot of praying going on throughout the novel and religious references. I did not mind that as I am a Christian woman myself, but It is not for everyone. Readers should know that upfront. It is a clean book, no foul language or descriptive sex scenes.

Halfway in I was wondering what the subject matter was for the plot. It seemed vague and commonplace for it to be primarily about the relationship between one happily married but childless couple, David and Ruth. The other major storyline was about a single college age student Annabeth who has come to this Connecticut community to look after her parents house after their sudden demise in an auto accident. She goes to work for David, Ruth’s husband who owns a landscaping business. She meets a college age guy and they get interested in each other, we see a world of possibilities for Annabeth.

But… circumstances causes a twist in this story making it seem unrealistic to me that Annabeth would react as she did. There was no indication she would make such a mistake and lose so much because of it. She was in a good place with her new beau. The main message is about forgiveness - of oneself and of hurting others in the process, with a lot of emphasis on religious support for it.

The ending disappointed as it doesn’t really resolve any issues, just kind of stops. This is a debut novel made to have the reader think through some possibilities of the choices we make and the consequences. I do think the author has a talent and wish her all the best in future endeavors.

I was intrigued by the cover and title of this book.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't settle into the story.
The characters fell flat for me.

While the writing style was good, and I would read more by this author, I found the characters unlikeable, under developed and unbelievable. I couldn't wrap my brain around how a couple so in love and committed to each other could be so easily swayed as to give in to temptation with very little prompting. On both sides.
Things that were well within there control were presented as huge hurdles and reasons for betrayal.

I finished the book but it took some effort.

I didn't hate the book.
It just fell short for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Meryl Moss Media Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book not really knowing anything about it. I quickly came to develop a deep affection for Ruth, one of the main characters. I enjoyed the character development and the relationships but there was just a little too much god stuff for me to rate this 5 stars or to recommend it to my friends. I appreciate that it's very important in some people's lives but not really my cup of tea.

The book was well written though and I enjoyed it.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2024/09/02/book-review-something-better-by-diane-parrish/.

An interesting set of characters forms the centre piece of this book, with a lot of effort put in to building their relationships so the reader can engage thoroughly in their experiences. It is a thoughtful book and this can mean the pace seems a little slow at times but it is worth it as the action picks up about halfway through,

3 stars

Thanks a lot, NetGalley, for sending over the ARC!

I’ve got mixed feelings about the book. I read it in one sitting, but the ending left me a bit torn. I wanted to see the conflicts resolved face-to-face, but at the same time, the ending felt complete and realistic. It was intense and raw, especially in how the characters reflected on their actions and leaned on their faith. The final third of the book was particularly powerful. What really struck me was how David realized he’d been hiding his guilt behind a mask of self-assuredness. Isn’t all of us like that?

On the flip side, the book felt a bit draggy to me. It felt like nothing much happened until about 75% through, but I guess the last 25% made up for it.

The book really resonated with me through its take on forgiveness and self-reflection. Watching the characters deal with their guilt and seek redemption felt really real, humane and relatable. I think i haven’t always been good at forgiving others, but it’s making me think I should try harder in the future, right?

Lastly, here are two quotes from the book that really left an impression on me:

"And maybe, when he finally sees his true self, he will find the strength to ask for forgiveness."


"But without trying, forgiving is impossible. It requires both human effort and divine help."

David and Ruth have a happy marriage, punctuated by their sadness dealing with infertility. Ruth indulges herself by spoiling her niece and David loses himself in work. He’s a successful landscape designer and has had a stream of satisfied customers except for one slightly crazed investor. Ruth is a lawyer and is surprised by her director’s request that she work with a new client, Brian Bishop, in San Francisco. She begins her new assignment with a promise to come home as often as possible. While she is away, David hires Annabeth, the young, rudderless daughter of a late friend, to be his office manager. (I think you can see where this is going). David becomes infatuated with Annabeth while Ruth and Brian deal with a slow burning attraction to each other. What happens next will put their marriage to the test.

Something Better, a debut family drama by the talented Diane Parrish, weaves love, frustration, anger and forgiveness together with threads of Christianity. I enjoyed all the characters, especially David, Ruth and Maeve. What I didn’t like was the final chapter. Without spoilers, I found it sad and depressing. Love does not win. So 4 stars and I will definitely read whatever Parrish writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Meryl Moss Media Group and Diane Parrish for this ARC.