Better Together: A Novel

by Christine Riccio Narrated by Brittany Pressley, Karissa Vacker

Overview

Freaky Friday meets The Parent Trap in New York Times bestselling author Christine Riccio's Better Together, a sparkling and heartfelt story about sisters, second chances, finding romance, and finding yourself.

Jamie's an aspiring standup comic in Los Angeles with a growing case of stage anxiety.

Siri's a stunning ballerina from New Jersey nursing a career-changing injury.

They've both signed up for the same session at an off the grid Re-Discover Yourself Retreat in Colorado. When they run into each other, their worlds turn upside down.

Jamie and Siri are sisters, torn apart at a young age by their parents' volatile divorce. They've grown up living completely separate lives: Jamie with their Dad and Siri with their Mom. Now, reunited after over a decade apart, they hatch a plot to switch places. It's time they get to know and confront each of their estranged parents.

With an accidental assist from some fortuitous magic, Jamie arrives in New Jersey, looking to all the world like Siri, and Siri steps off her flight sporting a Jamie glamour.

The sisters unexpectedly find themselves stuck living in each other's shoes. Soon Siri's crushing on Jamie's best friend Dawn. Jamie's falling for the handsome New Yorker she keeps running into, Zarar. Alongside a parade of hijinks and budding romance, both girls work to navigate their broken family life and the stresses of impending adulthood.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Thoughtful and entertaining." —Kirkus

"A unique coming-of-age story....a refreshing perspective on two women looking at the lives they think were set before them and realizing the opportunities that await them if they could just take a step away from the four walls they were raised in... A wholly original story of sisterhood." —Hypable

"Compelling... Both realistic fiction and romance readers will enjoy this updated Parent Trap." -School Library Journal

Praise for Again, But Better

"This funny, poignant debut by a popular BookTuber is full of life and honest reflection, and it’s packed with adventures that will charm readers, whether they’ve traveled abroad or not. Give this to anyone who enjoys tales of self-discovery and first love." —Booklist

“Half wish fulfilment, half cautionary tale and full of charm." —Kirkus

"Again, But Better is a fantastic debut novel! Entertaining, clever and impossible to put down." —Colleen Hoover, New York Times bestselling author

"A story of finding love and finding yourself. Prepare to be completely charmed." —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of Autoboyography

School Library Journal

07/01/2021

Gr 9 Up—Siri, an 18-year-old ballet dancer, receives the devastating news that a back injury has derailed her career. Jamie, a 20-year-old aspiring stand-up comedian, is unsure about her future after a humiliating performance. Both girls turn to the Rediscover Yourself retreat to refocus their lives. While neither girl attends willingly, both hope the experience will be life-changing. It is, just not in a way either girl imagined. When the two literally run into each other, Jamie recognizes Siri as the sister she has not seen for 14 years, due to their parents' bitter divorce and custody agreement. After spending the week tentatively reconnecting with Siri, Jamie convinces her to pull a Parent Trap switch. The sisters, with a boost from a magic glitter bomb, swap homes, parents, and personas. But the big reveal falls flat; the pair discovers revenge is unfulfilling and reality is messier than a movie script. With the assistance of a therapist, the sisters examine how their manipulated upbringing shaped their emotional development, and they eventually attain a more satisfying rapprochement with their parents. The overall read is compelling, particularly the after story, as the girls pick up the messy pieces. There is romance for both girls; one is heterosexual and the other is bisexual. The sisters present as white, their love interests are Pakistani and Filipino, and other minor characters vary in race. VERDICT Both realistic fiction and romance readers will enjoy this updated Parent Trap that focuses on the psychological trauma wreaked by selfish grown-ups.—Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor Sch. Dist., Lancaster, PA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177130323
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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