Better Than I Know Myself

By: Virginia DeBerry, Donna Grant

Narrated by: Lisa Renee Pitts

Length: 19 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The beloved #1 Essence best-selling authors of Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made now deliver a novel in which you'll meet their most unforgettable characters yet. Carmen, Jewel, and Regina could not be more different. When they meet as freshmen at Columbia University, they're pretty confident that a friendship among them isn't in the cards.

Jewel is Hollywood royalty; as the teenage star of the TV show Daddy's Girl, her face is instantly recognizable all across America. Now, though, she wants two things: to get a serious education and to leave her controlling stage-mother behind. Regina is the definitive upper-middle-class African-American girl. Her picture-perfect parents are what she calls "black Ward and June Cleavers", and their goals for her are like a stranglehold. No one can see, though, how far Regina's rebellious side will take her, or how treacherous it will become. Carmen is just trying to get by. A child of the projects whose father is dead and whose mother has vanished, Carmen has been raised by her abusive brother. Columbia is the way for her to get a better life, if she can hold down two jobs and keep her grade point average up.

When the three of them meet, their lives are at a crossroad. And as the years progress, from the 1980s to the present day, they are challenged by drug addiction, fame, secrets from the past, sickness, betrayal, and the darkest things women can face. One of them won't survive. But what will be the lasting legacy of their friendship? Better Than I Know Myself is a novel of heartache, triumph, tears, and the unshakeable bonds among women.

©2004 Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

A Must Read For Any Woman!

What a great read! The story line will draw you in instantly! Certainly a reminder of to all woman in their 30s, life will definitely take you down paths but it’s those that love, support and help us unpack make life’s journey worthwhile!

It was the ending for me

This book was great. It was a growing story. I found myself a bit confused in the beginning with the bouncing around of the story (which may not have happened if reading) but stuck with it. I got to know these women and appreciate their friendship. The ending was not deserving of the story, at all. Not sure if it was the editor saying “do more, go deeper” but it was a disappointment and still doesn’t sit right me with me. However as the book shows that’s life.
I will give another book from these authors a try as this was my first. But if the ending again seems as if they were in a rush to wrap up the story that will be my last.
Overall give it a listen, it’s a great escape.

Friends

Considering I just had my 50th class reunion from high school this book truly did touch my heart. I do know and cherish the long time friendships that I have developed and try to work on every day. Thanks for your great writing

Excellent Read

I truly enjoyed the ride this book took me on. It was truly an adventure. I hate saying good bye to them and will recommend this book to all the book lovers I know!

actnowsj

I really enjoyed this book. the friendship between these 3 ladies was out of this world. I cried withe them, I laughed with them and cheered with them. its a definite must read.

I love the book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this book because it show a good example of what is a true friend. Through the ups and down they remain friends.

What did you like best about this story?

Their friendship

Which character – as performed by Lisa Renee Pitts – was your favorite?

Carmen

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me cry

Beautifuly written about friends

It was well worth every penny. It got me through work listening to it. I found myself so engaged into the story. As a 25year old this book taught me the value of friendship and how to come out of myself to be an even more better friend to what I like to call the 5 close friends in my life my SISTERS. Amazingly written I wouldn't have changed a thing. I hope that some other young woman or just a woman in general can see themselves in this story and use it as a guide to a beautiful sisterhood with their friends.

The meaning of True Friendship and the deliciousness of Life

I stumbled upon this book by happenstance, but it was one of the best mistakes I made,. The book made me laugh, cry and kept me permanently intrigued while I listened to the book on audible. The medical terms were semantically and contextually accurate, and a refreshing upgrade for the sophisticated reader. In terms of the storyline, I found myself cheering for Carmen, then Regina and finally Jewel. The authors wrote the characters as if they could all be personal friends of mine. The images were real, I thought I was taking the trains in New York, tasted Lonnie’s cakes and saw the ladies in the beautify salon. The climax was a cultural detour from other books in that all the friends tasted success, love and acrimony.

Deelyght

This books was fabulous I laughed, cried, even got angry. But in all I enjoyed it.

Good storyline. Meh narration

i really enjoyed the story once I got pass the long hesitations in narration between character's lines. And the ghetto girl accents were grating. Beyond that the actual story was pretty good.