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The Better Half: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Alli Frank (Author), Asha Youmans (Author), Mindy Kaling (Introduction) Format: Kindle Edition

10,028 ratings

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“Charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and honest, The Better Half celebrates the absurdity and joy in life, and does so with an enviable grace and good heart.” —Mindy Kaling

From comedy writing duo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans comes The Better Half, a sidesplitting spin on reaching the pinnacle of life, only to stare down a slippery slope on the other side.

After a difficult five years, at age forty-three, Nina Morgan Clarke’s time has finally arrived. With an ex-husband relocated across the country, her father bouncing back after the loss of his beloved wife, and her daughter, Xandra, thriving at boarding school, Nina is stepping into her dream job as a trifecta: a first-generation, Black female head of the storied Royal-Hawkins School. To mark the moment, Nina and her best friend, Marisol, take a long-overdue girls’ trip to celebrate the second half of Nina’s life—which is shaping up to be the best part of her life.

As Nina’s school year gets underway, all seems to be progressing as planned. Before long, wunder-hire Jared Jones, two hundred pounds of Harvard-educated ego, relentlessly pushes Nina to her ethical limits. Soon after, dutiful Xandra accuses one of her teachers of misconduct. And most alarming, the repercussions of her trip with Marisol force Nina into a life-altering choice. Time is of the essence, and Nina must decide if she will embrace a future she never could have predicted.

From the Publisher

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

Named one of AARP's Hot Summer Novels of 2023

“The third book from comedy writing duo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans dazzled Mindy Kaling so much that she is publishing the book under her own imprint launched in 2022, Mindy’s Book Studio.” —Entertainment Weekly “Best Books of Summer 2023”

“The Better Half is a rom-com unafraid to tackle weighty issues, and Nina’s narrative voice is a delightfully funny one.” —The Seattle Times

“Charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and honest, The Better Half celebrates the absurdity and joy in life, and does so with an enviable grace and good heart.” —Mindy Kaling

“The Better Half sizzles with sharp observations and even sharper wit from the first page to the delicious end. Alli Frank and Asha Youmans are a formidable team skewering the culture that forces women into roles while writing characters who both embrace, eschew, and finally succeed in their own powerful way.” —Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author of I Thought You Said This Would Work

From the Publisher

Nina Morgan Clark has put up with more than her share of BS in life. She’s been overworked and stressed for the past year—and has proven that she can achieve just as much as a white man, but backward and in heels. And now, a few years on the other side of her milestone fortieth birthday, she is finally coming into her own. Which is, of course, when life throws Nina a dramatic curveball, causing her to face an unexpected choice...

I related so much to Nina, a woman who is in control of her own fate, unafraid and proud and confident. And isn’t that true for so many women these days? We are stepping up, putting voice to our needs, no longer suffering in silence. Designing the lives we want to live instead of the lives we’re told we should want. Applying the lessons we learned (sometimes the hard way!) in our twenties and thirties to improve our forties and fifties. Even faced with a surprise, Nina teeters but never falls.

I’m so excited for you to read this book, which Mindy Kaling calls “charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and honest.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

—Alison Dasho, Editor

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BP8GNHD5
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mindy's Book Studio (July 1, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0C1JJV6RD

Best Sellers Rank: #77,847 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #626 in Women's Divorce Fiction
- #945 in Mothers & Children Fiction
- #2,157 in Contemporary Women's Fiction

Customer Reviews:
10,028 ratings

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Alli Frank
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The robustness of a farm girl, the honed sophistication of a city woman, a dash of Jewish chutzpah, and a heaping cup of endurance athlete and voila, you have Alli Frank. Alli was raised in Yakima, WA, the only child of two parents who instilled in her that hard work coupled with a resilient spirit will take you where you want to go. So up some of the highest mountains Alli climbed, down insanely steep terrain she skied and across long swathes of land she ran. To pay for all this adventure, Alli has worked in education for over 20 years in San Francisco and Seattle - from an overcrowded, cacophonous public high school to a pristine private girl’s school. She has been a teacher, curriculum leader, coach, college counselor, assistant head, private school co-founder, sometimes pastor, often mayor, and de facto parent therapist. A graduate of Cornell and Stanford Universities, Alli can still be found with her nose deep in a book or hunkered down at the movies, never one to miss a great story. Alli lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband, two daughters and terribly cute mini-Bernedoodle. When she needs good food (cause she can’t really cook) she turns to her co-author Asha Youmans.
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Asha Youmans
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Asha Youmans was raised in Seattle, WA, by an educational and civil right pioneer father and a children’s hospital administrator mother, along with a sister and a brother she admires and adores. As a child, Asha was a member of a two-time city champions Double Dutch team, among the first wave of girls to integrate Little League baseball and rode a unicycle, tumbled and juggled as a member of a traveling circus acrobatics team. She also read everything she could get her hands on from X-Men comic books to the “Clan of the Cave Bear” series to Camus. Enrolled in gifted programs while attending public school, Asha went on to graduate from one of America’s premier private academies, Lakeside School, from which her father, TJ Vassar, earned a diploma as the school’s first black graduate. After receiving a degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Asha returned to Seattle where she taught in public and private schools for nearly 20 years. Asha is a fabulous home cook who loves storytelling and connecting with others by making them smile. She lives with her white husband, two ethnically ambiguous sons, and a dog that is part Yorkie and part who-the-heck-knows. This is her first book.
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Customer reviews

10,028 global ratings

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Customers find this novel well-written and engaging, with a heartfelt story of life's ups and downs and interesting twists and turns. The book handles current topics honestly and features real and laugh-out-loud funny moments, with wonderful characters that feel like family and friends. They appreciate the portrayal of mixed-race relationships and racial themes, and one customer notes how it deals with classism and racism in a believable way.

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Readability Story quality Humor Thought provoking Character development Friendship Race Gender

242 customers mention "Readability"232 positive10 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, describing it as a pleasant and juicy read. One customer mentions it's a fun summer beach read.

"...Totally worth purchasing! My best read of the year!..." Read more

"...More of a fairytale boyfriend than a real one. Anyhow the book is entertaining and does have depth in examining feelings about race and issues faced..." Read more

"I actually enjoyed the book but I was confused as to why Nina was concerned about Leo being a father to a that is black when really their child is..." Read more

"...story was well written, and I love the little twists that encouraged you to keep reading. Great Story!" Read more

144 customers mention "Story quality"128 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the story of life's ups and downs with interesting twists and turns, finding it exceptionally relatable and well-crafted as a love story.

"...in school admin and married to a white guy, I found this book exceptionally relatable and super duper funny! Totally worth purchasing!..." Read more

"The story moves along fast enough, with interesting twists and turns. The main characters are likeable, and there's a lot of humor...." Read more

"...Overall good story" Read more

"...The story was well written, and I love the little twists that encouraged you to keep reading. Great Story!" Read more

90 customers mention "Humor"78 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, describing it as real and laugh-out-loud funny with heart-felt honesty, and one customer notes how it weaves social issues with grace.

"...to a white guy, I found this book exceptionally relatable and super duper funny! Totally worth purchasing! My best read of the year!..." Read more

"...The main characters are likeable, and there's a lot of humor...." Read more

"...Ali Frank and Asha Youmans address so many serious topics with a flair for humor that transcends any biases that the characters are confronting...." Read more

"I was looking for a light, humorous story, and I found one. There are not a ton of characters you have to remember...." Read more

90 customers mention "Thought provoking"90 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with many noting how it handles current topics honestly and provides insights into life.

"...But this book confirmed that my culture is not lost but actually is front and center...." Read more

"...The portrayals of female friendships are relatable and make you feel like one of the girls...." Read more

"...It is about friendships, mother-daughter, and father-daughter relationships. You can’t help but love Leo and his enthusiasm for life...." Read more

"...It touches on parenting, work, friendships, dating and life in general. And add some power playing in too...." Read more

86 customers mention "Character development"77 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the wonderful and robust characters with a sense of humor, and one customer specifically mentions the strong, intelligent, and real heroine.

"...The main characters are likeable, and there's a lot of humor...." Read more

"...There are not a ton of characters you have to remember. The storyline stays true and not all over the place...." Read more

"...The authors did an amazing job giving depth to the characters...." Read more

"...This novel skillfully weaves together intricate characters and a compelling storyline that will keep you glued to the pages from start to finish...." Read more

25 customers mention "Friendship"25 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the friendships in the book, with one customer particularly enjoying the relationship between Nina and Marisol, while another notes how it feels like spending time with a good friend.

"This is more than a story of a mixed race couple. It is about friendships, mother-daughter, and father-daughter relationships...." Read more

"...And add some power playing in too. Nina and Marisol are true best friends and I love the relationship they have...." Read more

"...Heinz 57 European who only attended public schools, I felt a strong kinship with Nina, and boy, was I cheering for her throughout!..." Read more

"...but I will say it’s based on love, lasting friendships, and getting through this hard old life with some great humor...." Read more

20 customers mention "Race"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's treatment of race, particularly its exploration of mixed relationships and racial themes, with one customer noting how it deals with classism and racism in a believable way.

"...Anyhow the book is entertaining and does have depth in examining feelings about race and issues faced by career women." Read more

"This is more than a story of a mixed race couple. It is about friendships, mother-daughter, and father-daughter relationships...." Read more

"...It touches on parenting, work, friendships, dating and life in general. And add some power playing in too...." Read more

"...Easy read for a raining day. The interracial problems are real and happy in all relationships." Read more

16 customers mention "Gender"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of women, with one review highlighting its feminist themes and another noting its realistic depiction of modern women's experiences.

"...and does have depth in examining feelings about race and issues faced by career women." Read more

"...This story is full of girl power and feminism but I also appreciated that the main male characters were positive...." Read more

"...Love when women excel and cope with life circumstances, no matter the color or age!" Read more

"...She was such a powerful take charge women and I love that she was in charge of an elite white school...." Read more

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KSM
BEST BOOK! Diversity as School Admin; Mixed Race Relationships; Funny, Relatable, Well Written!
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2024
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As a person of color in school admin and married to a white guy, I found this book exceptionally relatable and super duper funny! Totally worth purchasing! My best read of the year! Love that issues of color are at the forefront and even generational differences on how the main character approaches racism versus the new teacher versus her daughter and even her father! Can totally relate to initial worries of losing ones culture in a mixed race marriage. But this book confirmed that my culture is not lost but actually is front and center. We value all cultures within and outside of our family unit, in the USA and internationally. Thank you for a wonderful read! Highly recommend!

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2 people found this helpful

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MajoMn
Fun and thought-provoking
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
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The story moves along fast enough, with interesting twists and turns. The main characters are likeable, and there's a lot of humor. The portrayals of female friendships are relatable and make you feel like one of the girls. I just thought the main male character, Leo, was a bit flat and unrealistic. He does get a bit piqued at times, but quickly goes back to simple devotion and enthusiasm, even during a long-distance period. More of a fairytale boyfriend than a real one. Anyhow the book is entertaining and does have depth in examining feelings about race and issues faced by career women.

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Sheba Prime
This was good
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2023
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I actually enjoyed the book but I was confused as to why Nina was concerned about Leo being a father to a that is black when really their child is biracial. Meaning there’s a difference of experience when a child is black than to a child that’s biracial. That in the story should have been changed or pointed out from Nina’s daughter with her pro blackness.

Overall good story

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One person found this helpful

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CAL
Charming and Engaging Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2025
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I love how realistic, relatable yet charming, and engaging this story was. Each character bought a colorful perspective to the story based on their lives, age, and culture. The story was well written, and I love the little twists that encouraged you to keep reading. Great Story!

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Parrish MacDonald
Great story
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023
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This is more than a story of a mixed race couple. It is about friendships, mother-daughter, and father-daughter relationships. You can’t help but love Leo and his enthusiasm for life. He’s the kind of man that every woman wants on their “future husband list”. The secondary stories about private school admissions and being Black in a white world, make this book interesting and relatable. It’s not a simple love story. All the characters face challenges. Nina’s daughter, Xandra, is having issues at her school. Power house school mother, Courtney, tries to muscle her way on to the Board of Trustees. Brand new teacher, Jared, tries to balance his love of teaching with his fierce commitment to basketball. Throughout all of this Nina, in her first year as head of an elite private school has to deal with pressures from board members, parents, as well as figuring out her relationships with Leo, Xandra, and her father. Roan and Marisol are the best friends who are always there for Nina. It’s a light, feel good read, perfect for the summer.

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33 people found this helpful

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Running a School is Not Easy, but Nina Conquers Royal Hawkins School!
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
I recommend this funny, uplifting book to any number of audiences, including teachers, principals, any employee who reports to a board, single parents, parents with a surprise "bonus" baby on the way, divorcing parents, teenage and older children of divorcing parents, multi-generational families, interracial couples, couples in a long-distance relationship, and those who enjoy reciprocal deep friendships over time. This book has it all. Authors Ali Frank and Asha Youmans address so many serious topics with a flair for humor that transcends any biases that the characters are confronting. I absolutely adore the main character, Nina, who is the first African American female head of a prestigious private school. By quietly and appropriately asserting her authority, she successfully navigates her way past board of trustee members who overstep their bounds, but it is a constant game of wills. A divorced single mom whose daughter attends a boarding school near her father, Nina's life is turned upside down when she begins a romance with Leo, who is white. Another favorite character is Marisol, Nina's "sister from another mother," who is always there with advice and moral support. Other very entertaining characters included the school's director of admissions, Nina's father, and a new teacher with tremendous potential who is being led down the wrong path by a trustee. There were some unexpected decisions that had my head spinning, but the authors provided a satisfying and realistic conclusion.

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5 people found this helpful

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Kristin
Funny and light
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2023
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I was looking for a light, humorous story, and I found one. There are not a ton of characters you have to remember. The storyline stays true and not all over the place. I really like how the author tells the feelings and/or differences that interracial couples have to deal with. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Why the 4 star? Some of the conversations were a bit exaggerated for me, but still was a great read.

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Top reviews from other countries

Snowy
A tad over thought for me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 19, 2023
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Sweet story but felt a bit over pc and c
olour dominated for me. Worth a read though and did like the Winn twist at end!

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Joanne
Interesting book that challenges assumptions
Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2023
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These authors are not shrinking violets. They tackle such topics as mixed relationships, same sex relationships, single parenting, late in life pregnancy and racial assumptions in this book. I found myself struggling with Nina as she faced some tough issues thrown her way. Very well written, I highly recommend this book.

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Jomarko
Don't stop ....never give up
Reviewed in Australia on July 21, 2023
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A few pages in I wasn't loving it - then I was hooked. Totally hooked. I read and read. I high-lighted passages and just couldn't stop.

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Canu2
A satisfying summer read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2023
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I like reading novels from viewpoints of people from backgrounds different from my own. The central character is feisty and fun but has her own insecurities which threaten to derail her chances for happiness. Thankfully she has good friends and family to set her straight.
A summer romance but more, an exploration of interracial and cross-cultural relationship. in particular the destructive power of racism and toxic masculinity contrast with the power of love. The little twist regarding the pushy parent at the end was fun. A life-affirming read.

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krista barton
A great book
Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2024
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I loved the way this story is written by two authors ! I kept coming back to this book excited to see where it would lead. The characters are all so well written but xandra was my favourite if I was forced to choose one. I Would love to see a second book with her story in it.

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The Better Half: A Novel Kindle Edition

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Alli Frank

Asha Youmans

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK! Diversity as School Admin; Mixed Race Relationships; Funny, Relatable, Well Written!

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and thought-provoking

3.0 out of 5 stars This was good

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and Engaging Read

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story

5.0 out of 5 stars Running a School is Not Easy, but Nina Conquers Royal Hawkins School!

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and light

Top reviews from other countries

3.0 out of 5 stars A tad over thought for me

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book that challenges assumptions

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't stop ....never give up

5.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying summer read

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book

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BEST BOOK! Diversity as School Admin; Mixed Race Relationships; Funny, Relatable, Well Written!

Fun and thought-provoking

This was good

Charming and Engaging Read

Great story

Running a School is Not Easy, but Nina Conquers Royal Hawkins School!

Funny and light

A tad over thought for me

Interesting book that challenges assumptions

Don't stop ....never give up

A satisfying summer read

A great book