The Better Version of Me

By: Marni Mann

Narrated by: Therese Plummer, Erin Mallon, Jacob Morgan

Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

From USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann comes a gripping story about secrets, loss, and finding the better version of yourself in the wake of tragedy.

At forty-two, Jesse Black had the perfect life. Even after surviving her father’s passing, she still had everything she dreamed of—two beautiful children and a husband madly in love with her. She was the owner of one of the most successful shapewear companies in the country. There was even a white picket fence around their home in Vermont. But underneath all that sparkle, shine, and achievement, Jesse was harboring a secret. A secret that would rip their perfect family apart and alter their lives forever—if it was ever revealed.

©2019 Marni Mann (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

I grabbed this book on release day because I have loved so many of Marni Mann's books and the narration of this book is a serious DREAM TEAM. I will say I recommend you Buddy read this one because you will NEED to discuss it when it's over. I loved it but had no one to talk it out with and I really needed to when I finished it. There were so many things with these characters that were a little odd that had me thinking everyone was up to something as some point which makes for a great story. When it ended It was like a light when on and all those odd things began to make more sense. I love a book that surprises me and makes me think. I rarely go back after I finish a book and I actually went back to couple places that I needed to re-listen just to verify some of my thoughts lol. Great book, Great Narration!

The only thing I wish is that I hadn't read the Audible genre because I spent the entire book expecting something to happen that didn't. I am so glad it didn't and I loved it, I am just a go in blind kinda girl so I love to have no expectations about the story when I start a new book.

The Narration of this audiobook is STELLAR!! All three of these narrators are favorites of mine but together they truly were amazing. Each one was cast perfectly for the characters they portrayed.

Wow...Just Wow

A lot of audiobook friends have been talking about this book. I was lucky enough to have someone gift me this gem. I swear I did not have a clue going into this book what I was about to get. I am left with an open mouth and more questions. But also my mind is putting together all the pieces.

The book is put together in pieces of before and after and it does all make sense, I never was confused with the timeline. The story kept me guessing and wanting to know I didn’t want to pause it for any reason.

The last half of the book I had my own guesses and wow... Just wow. I think everyone needs to experience this for themselves.

The narration is out of this world phenomenal, they all do a fantastic job giving us these unique characters.

Ends abruptly....

*Spoiler Free Review* (beware, many reviews have spoilers!)

First - I agree that I'm not sure why this was listed in a "Thriller" Category. It felt like a Romance/Mystery type, especially with Erin Mallon and Jacob Morgan narrating. (PS There was not enough Jacob Morgan).

I love multi narrator books - it really helps with the POV.

Jessie and Emery have a wonderful loving marriage. The love and lust that Emery has for his wife after 24 years together is wonderful. But as things unfurl, you realize Jessie has secrets. We go back and forth in time to before Jessie's dad died, to present day. We learn the death of Jessie's dad really affected her, although the affects go deeper than we all realize or how much she's willing to tell her family.

Enter the Assistant, Charlotte. She's perfect for the job, Emery works hard, Jessie has pulled back to spend more time as the family. Charlotte helps run Emery's business and the family home.

Everything is still not all it seems to be.

Once it all comes together, the book just kind of ends. Like a total cliffhanger. I guess we are left to just fill in the blanks of what happens next? There are unanswered questions, I'm assuming it's left ambivalent for the reader (listener) to fill in?

I guess I feel a little cheated on a credit for a book that feels not quite done.

Can’t get past nonstop juvenile sex scenes

Who says d*ck and butt? Story is also boring. I couldn’t get past an hour of the audiobook

great ending

another great book love the twist and turn at the end of the story two strong women with a plan till the end it was sad and very emotional book!

Not worth the credit

Plot was not interesting & made no sense . I did finish it hoping it would get better . Jesse Before got very tedious, started skipping them. Details of the sex life was unnecessary

What just happened?

I am an avid reader who follows along with audio books VERY well. I read/listen to 4 books per month and often become absorbed in GOOD BOOKS before the first chapter is finished.

Soooooo...understand my confusion when I read these characters, remember their specifics and yet... by the end of the book I question whether one character is 82 or 32 years old! I reread the chapter where she was described as 82. And 10 chapters later, she's 32 and gushing over a man! WTH. By the end of the book, I'm not sure where the author was taking me.

The ending was BLUNT. Too blunt. The author builds the story to a certain crescendo and then casts the reader off the cliff with no parachute. I completely get the "twists and turns" of the main character's predicament, but the finale does NOT mesh with the previous 48 chapters! I have gone back and reread several chapters thinking I missed something BIG, but nope...I'm still unclear on what happened here. That age discrepancy really threw me off. Are there cliff notes for this book? Save your credit.

Why,Who, I can’t even!

My very first Marni Mann book and let me tell you it won’t be the last!

The narration was excellent! I love them all!

Why? Who recommended this book? Has someone recommended this book? I don’t know, but I have seen it in my news feeds so many times that I decided to get it! I have listened to it!!!! Again why, how, who?

Five Stars for me, thought I knew what was happening and then I didn’t and then I did again, I am so I don’t know! I just am! I am speechless!

A very weak thriller with a lot of graphic sex.

I have never read one of this authors books before and I don’t understand the glowing reviews. The story is mainly poorly disguised porn. I didn’t have any empathy for the characters as they didn’t feel real to me.
The narration isn’t bad but the story is so lame and sex so continuous that I had a hard time getting thru to the end.
This is one book I would definitely not recommend.

What just happened?!

I’ll tell you what happened. IT ENDED and I wasn’t ready!! Not yeeeeet!!

Okay. So the book is fantastic as well as the narrators. But I sorta felt like I wanted to get to the actual problem statement a lot sooner than it did. Outside of that I thought it was grrreeeat! ❤️