The Better Woman

by Ber Carroll

Sarah Ryan, orphaned at a young age, grows up in a remote village in Cork. John Delaney, the boy next-door, is her best friend, her first love and the one who breaks her heart. Jodi Tyler is raised on Sydney's northern beaches amidst a loving family, but a terrible secret shadows her teenage years. On her eighteenth birthday, the awful burden she has been living with is finally exposed, with tragic consequences. This is a story of two remarkable women, their illustrious careers, their families, their friends, and the men they love. Sarah and Jodi, from opposite ends of the world, have more in common than they'll ever realise - they have their sights set on the same job. For both, it represents how far they've come to triumph over the tragedies of their pasts - but at what cost to their personal lives?

Genres: Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Ber Carroll (also known as B.M. Carroll.) was born in Blarney, a small but rather famous village in Ireland. The third child of six, she often retreated from the chaos of family life by immersing herself in books.

Ber moved to Sydney in 1995 and began to climb the corporate ladder. Her dynamic work environment captured her imagination and inspired her first novel. Ber is now the author of twelve novels, which never fails to surprise her. In recent years, her writing has become darker and more twisted (reflecting her state of mind!). Her most recent novels are: The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy (2018), Who We Were (2020), You Had It Coming (2021), The Other Side of Her (2023) and One of Us Is Missing (2024).

Ber gave up her finance career when she realised that she couldn’t hold down a demanding job, be mum to two small children and write books to contractual deadline. She lives in Sydney's Northern Beaches with her husband, children (who are adults now) and PJ, the family dog.

You can find out more about Ber by visiting her website or by checking out her Facebook page (@bercarrollbmcarroll) or Instagram (@bmcarrollauthor).

Reviews

[Jenny]

Really enjoyed the story line, especially the first parts that introduced the two main characters.

[Corinne Johnston]

Good writing and characters, but it was really two short books, reading concurrently. I expected more linking between the major characters.

[Amanda Dougall]

3.5!

[Nicki]

I didn’t really enjoy this. Though it flows along okay, I wasn’t excited to pick it up and it dragged on forever. I got to halfway and then skipped to the end because to be honest I didn’t care how these ladies got where they were going.

[Diane Porter]

3.5 ⭐️- an easy engaging read, but would have liked the protagonists lives/stories to have been more intertwined earlier in the book

[Helen Wild]

I found the 2 consecutive stories confusing.

[Samantha Schofield]

I loved the flow of this book, and I loved how true the two women stayed to themselves.
definitely read from this author again

[Janine]

This is the first book I've read by this author and won't be the last! This story as great, she cleverly interwove the stories of the two women beautifully and their stories were very well told. It had a very satisfying conclusion as well!

Fans of women's contemporary fiction will enjoy this book

[Emma]

Really enjoyable read

[Kiwileese]

Enjoyable easy read with good characters

[Lynda]

The first book I've read of this author. Really enjoyed it, and found it thought provoking along the way.

[Cate Alexander]

Perfect book for a long plane trip.

[Felicity M]

Great storyline, easy to read and likeable characters!
This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be my last :)

[Paula]

A good read giving you an insight into the life, love, obstacles and sacrifices the modern career woman makes to get to the top.