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A Better Me
Seize the day... before someone seizes it from you.
Gabrielle Johnson, a film student and part-time production assistant, dreams of something more. After an otherworldly encounter with an influencer, she finds herself reduced to a supporting role in her own life. Will Gabrielle reclaim the director's chair, or will she get written off completely?
Gabrielle Johnson, a film student and part-time production assistant, dreams of something more. After an otherworldly encounter with an influencer, she finds herself reduced to a supporting role in her own life. Will Gabrielle reclaim the director's chair, or will she get written off completely?
194 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2022
About the author
Aly Welch
11 books14 followersAly Welch lives in Western New York with her husband, author Mike X Welch, and their twin sons. When she isn't writing, she enjoys acting, karate, and yoga. She also loves exploring the woods, and still hopes to find magic behind every tree and under every rock.
Her debut novel A Better Me is out now. Drama Queen is coming 2023.
Her debut novel A Better Me is out now. Drama Queen is coming 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 25, 2025
It's good but flawed.
I read "The Girl Next Door" before this, even though chronologically this book comes first. They are all of the same series, but the main plot of each is disconnected from the others, at least of the two I've read. And I don't know if reading this after knowing more about the world the author is building hurt the experience. I did enjoy catching glimpses of things that were hints about the reality of this world, but I wonder if I would've noticed them if I'd gone into this blind.
The characters are strong. Our main character Bri is a real human being and a more interesting protagonist than book 3's, but I would've liked her to be a bit more dynamic. She shows some dissatisfaction with her life before it's stolen from her, it would've been interesting to see Bri come to appreciate her life more before vowing to take it back. She even takes some time to even try to take her life back, so there was space for personal growth. She does seem more confident by the end, though, so that's something - also, Mason is almost a fully believable romantic lead, except he's attracted to Bri for plot reasons. It must be, because it's impossible to believe a girl who came to him with her story wouldn't be off-putting.
The rest of the characters are pretty good, I enjoyed Bri's roommate and some of the extra characters who only really seemed to be there for padding. That said, the plot is enjoyable, the dialogue shows wit and charm, and my only other complaint is that there was some confusion early on as to when perspective was changing - in one chapter it appears to happen between paragraphs with no warning. Not sure if this was an editing mishap.
All told, four stars, good yarn for a good price! Looking forward to the rest!
I read "The Girl Next Door" before this, even though chronologically this book comes first. They are all of the same series, but the main plot of each is disconnected from the others, at least of the two I've read. And I don't know if reading this after knowing more about the world the author is building hurt the experience. I did enjoy catching glimpses of things that were hints about the reality of this world, but I wonder if I would've noticed them if I'd gone into this blind.
The characters are strong. Our main character Bri is a real human being and a more interesting protagonist than book 3's, but I would've liked her to be a bit more dynamic. She shows some dissatisfaction with her life before it's stolen from her, it would've been interesting to see Bri come to appreciate her life more before vowing to take it back. She even takes some time to even try to take her life back, so there was space for personal growth. She does seem more confident by the end, though, so that's something - also, Mason is almost a fully believable romantic lead, except he's attracted to Bri for plot reasons. It must be, because it's impossible to believe a girl who came to him with her story wouldn't be off-putting.
The rest of the characters are pretty good, I enjoyed Bri's roommate and some of the extra characters who only really seemed to be there for padding. That said, the plot is enjoyable, the dialogue shows wit and charm, and my only other complaint is that there was some confusion early on as to when perspective was changing - in one chapter it appears to happen between paragraphs with no warning. Not sure if this was an editing mishap.
All told, four stars, good yarn for a good price! Looking forward to the rest!
April 10, 2023
I didn't know what to expect from "A Better Me", so I was pleasantly surprised when I picked it up. It starts off seeming like a normal story of Bri Johnson, a production assistant and film student, as she works on a movie set while also finishing her degree.
Convinced by her family and friends to meet a self-help author, Bri is surprised when the author invites Bri to her hotel room. Bri meets the author - and finds out she is definitely not what she seems. Bri finds that she now has a "twin" - something that had taken the appearance of the self-help author, but who now looks exactly like Bri.
Bri has to figure out who and what this "twin" is, and she finds her life turned upside-down by this supernatural impersonator. Along the way, she discovers hints of dark worlds beyond the natural, and beings who hide in plain sight among humans.
It's a quick and enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more from the author, Aly Welch.
Convinced by her family and friends to meet a self-help author, Bri is surprised when the author invites Bri to her hotel room. Bri meets the author - and finds out she is definitely not what she seems. Bri finds that she now has a "twin" - something that had taken the appearance of the self-help author, but who now looks exactly like Bri.
Bri has to figure out who and what this "twin" is, and she finds her life turned upside-down by this supernatural impersonator. Along the way, she discovers hints of dark worlds beyond the natural, and beings who hide in plain sight among humans.
It's a quick and enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more from the author, Aly Welch.
June 27, 2022
A Better Me me begins centered in the “real world” and as the book progresses it unfolds into an urban fantasy rich for exploration in further installments.
Our main character, Gabrielle, has big dreams of being a director, but after meeting with a famous self-help guru who isn’t what she seems, her life quickly spirals, quite literally, out of her control.
The pacing of the book was on point. I loved the slow immersion of the fantasy elements toward full-on Urban Fantasy.
Welch is wonderful with description and dialogue, but even more so with emotion and making me empathize with her characters. I was really pulled into Gabrielle’s story, and her plight with her mother, coworkers, job, and otherworldly rival. I found this refreshing because I’ve had issues connecting with characters in what I’ve been reading as of late.
Our main character, Gabrielle, has big dreams of being a director, but after meeting with a famous self-help guru who isn’t what she seems, her life quickly spirals, quite literally, out of her control.
The pacing of the book was on point. I loved the slow immersion of the fantasy elements toward full-on Urban Fantasy.
Welch is wonderful with description and dialogue, but even more so with emotion and making me empathize with her characters. I was really pulled into Gabrielle’s story, and her plight with her mother, coworkers, job, and otherworldly rival. I found this refreshing because I’ve had issues connecting with characters in what I’ve been reading as of late.
July 15, 2022
Fun and engaging.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews