An Anxious Feel Good Romance
From the author:
A feel-good story of love and reinvention at the worst time…
Lena Buckley’s not like other people—ones with awesome careers, relationships, and health insurance. She’s thirty-five and has nothing to show for it but a dilapidated family farm and an anxiety disorder worsened by her mother’s death. Starting over, again, means major decisions ahead, so she relies on the simple mantra that kept her going during her mom’s care—make one thing better—hoping it leads to the successful, independent life she wants.
Ben Wright has his life together. A disabled army veteran and local cop, Ben’s the type to have all the required insurance, health or otherwise. When Lena needs help, he’s quick to say it’s no trouble. Though he’s hard to read and not one for chitchat, an odd but endearing friendship builds on the one thing they have in common—brokenness. A sad but funny love story grows from their unique hardships, forging a deep connection that makes everything better.
But reality supports what her anxiety tells her—good things don’t last. When the COVID-19 pandemic steals her few opportunities and her home verges on unlivable, she must choose between love and survival.
A real romance with a quirky heroine, One Thing Better is a warm, funny, and, best of all, honest first person love story featuring broken people, (actual & metaphorical) fireworks, tears, bad words, the occasional mouse, and a delightful better-ever-after.
“A complex and hugely satisfying contemporary romance between genuine, flawed people.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3MDheBh
This book had a slow start, but I quickly got into it because these characters were so flawed and interesting. Lena was her mother’s caretaker in the last years of her life, and when she passes Lean still feels guilty, like she could have done more. Money is tight, and the farmhouse she inherited is literally falling apart. She does the repairs as best as she can with the little bit of money she has, but life is really difficult for Lena. She suffers from severe anxiety and has plenty to be worried about.
Ben meets Lena when he pulls her over for a driving infraction. She breaks down and bares her soul, but Ben is stoic, to say the least. He listens, then hands her some papers. She thinks it’s her ticket, but instead, he’s given her some words of support. One of the ways Lena gets through life is by focusing on making one thing better each day, or as often as she can. It is excellent advice.
Ben and Lena keep bumping into one another, and the more time they spend together, the more Lena learns that she is not the only one with trouble. Ben has war wounds that he has to deal with, and as the two of them talk about their lives, they start to lean on one another for support. Eventually, it becomes more than just friendship.
I loved watching these characters grow and help one another heal. It is a beautiful story, and I am looking forward to more from this author, who was new to me. This book was self-published and probably could have used a bit of editing, but all in all, it was a very good read. I hope you’ll try it!
11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ONE THING BETTER by Jessica Sherry. Publisher: Jessica Sherry (October 24, 2023). ISBN: 979-8988725411. 408p.
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 
[…] Thing Better has received another must-read review from Stacy at www.bookbitch.com! Check out what she had to say and her other book […]