Better Than I Know Myself

By: Virginia DeBerry, Donna Grant

Narrated by: Lisa Renee Pitts

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

Great

Bravo!!! Loved the characters and wished them a happy life. The storyline shows that life goes on with all its joys and hardships and friendship endures forever.

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!