Member Reviews
Full review at fanfiaddict.com. I liked this dystopia a lot, Stepford wives vibes were ON POINT, and i thought folk horror elements in a modern world were interesting and effective
I enjoyed Langan’s A Better World, and there were some really interesting ideas and themes covered here, especially the way it presents the climate crisis, corporations, and the way religion can be used as a means of control. However, I do think it went on just a little too long, and by the last quarter I found the main character Linda to be really infuriating. She’s the type of character who always does the Right Thing, no matter what, but in the process of doing so she manages to thrust her whole family into the path of danger, and never actually seems to think things through.
The Farmer-Bowens are given the opportunity of a lifetime when Russell is offered a job in Plymouth Valley, a company town that is clean and prestigious. Despite Linda’s misgivings, she knows they have to take this chance and fly through the trial that’ll allow them to remain in PV, and keep their family – husband, wife, and their teen twins – safe and protected while the world outside falls apart. But fitting in isn’t easy in a town not used to outsiders, and where underlying, unspoken rules govern everything. When Linda helps the family make leaps and bounds to fit in, however, she discovers something else going on in this otherwise idyllic town.
I liked the general creepy vibe to the town, and the way Langan manages to keep you off balance with the characters Linda is surrounded by. It’s never really clear where the other characters stand, and it feels like, especially at the beginning, we’re as clueless as the Farmer-Bowens as to what they should actually do. Linda does end up befriending some pretty powerful women, who help her ‘fit in’ more than she’s been doing up to that point. These women were initially interesting, too, but it soon got frustrating trying to keep track of so many names and how the different ‘company’ families were linked to each other – I felt like I could have done with a corkboard and some red string!
Linda starts to uncover some information that puts her on a path of destruction, and while Langan lays out the odd clue, it feels like Linda misses some obvious, key information. For a long while, she bumbles along, coming across information and plot points in increasingly contrived, strange ways, which she then proceeds to ignore for a time. At points, it made for a confusing narrative, and none of Linda’s family seem to have any real self-preservation instincts. Linda herself seems to ignore a lot, and puts her own family in danger a fair bit without actually thinking through the consequences.
It felt like Linda was supposed to be smarter than she is. Russell is a really bland character, whereas the other characters who did initially come across as intriguing quickly felt really flat. By the end, I was almost hoping for some sacrificial moment from Linda to get her kids out. The most interesting character is Linda’s daughter, Josie, who tries to fit in but never quite manages it, despite being popular ‘back home’, and gets frustrated at how easily things happen for her brother. The dynamic between the twins could have been interesting if explored more, but it feels like Linda and Russell pay so little attention to the both of them, unless they’re pretty much jumping up and down waving.
Overall, I think this book starts off pretty solid, but gradually becomes more monotonous and repetitive, could have done with being a bit shorter, with characters who grew either frustrating or too bland to really care about.
This was the first book by Sarah Langan I have read so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I can honestly say I was instantly hooked and drawn into A Better World. Langan’s work is perfect fans of Black Mirror, Stepford Wives and the like. While her world is meant to be a satirical look at a near dystopian future it was, at times, frighteningly close to home.
The writing was perfect at creating a sense of unease which is mirrored by the way the characters, particularly the Farmer-Bowen’s feel. It had a creepiness that always seemed to be just out of sight. We knew something wasn’t right but on the surface it looked fine – so clearly we’re just paranoid… That is one of my favourite things about thrillers when done correctly and I can say this one was.
Full of twists and turns, interesting characters and eerily close topics this is a perfect read for those who are looking for a creepy but satisfying summer read.
Thank you as always to Titan Books and Netgalley for the ARC. This review is left voluntarily and is completely honest.
A fascinating concept, in a dystopian future where the world is in turmoil and a company run commune is sold as a safe and prosperous opportunity.
Of course, reality isn’t quite the dream that is portrayed and it made me think of a sinister and toxic version of desperate housewives! Anything not quite perfect is not spoken about and when newbie Linda pushes on some issues, she is quickly shut down.
After the first half of the book, I felt it lost its way, losing the suspenseful vibe and becoming repetitive with too much filler. I didn’t like any of the characters and didn’t really care much about what happened to them. A great story idea that sadly didn’t deliver for me.
2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sarah Langan and Titan for an ARC in return for an honest review.
For fans of Black Mirror, Stepford Wives and Hunger Games, this was a satirical portrayal of a near dystopian future that honestly felt not entirely fictional, whilst shelved as mystery/thriller this is definitely neighbour's to (geddit) the science fiction genre, commentry on climate change and social decay was at the forefront and is explored through the company town of Plymouth Valley, unsettling and oppressive it quickly becomes apparent that something is *not quite right*, Langan did a great job at making the reader feel the same unease as the Farmer-Bowen family, the residents felt robotic and there was something perverse about how nice they were it made me feel unnerved, I felt this book expertly depicted the grotesque nature of corporate greed and cult-like mentality, it was creepier than I expected and although it isn't straight up horror it most definitely left me feeling rattled, a thought provoking read that had me feeling the looming presence of societal, environmental and political issues closing in around me
I was so excited to read this after enjoying Good Neighbours and I was not disappointed, the suspense of the unravelling of the secrets and lies beneath the community that the Farmer -Bowen's move into is very compelling.
The Farmer-Bowen family has had to make some serious sacrifices when it comes to following through with their decision to take up the offer made to Linda Farmer's husband in the prosperous company town of Plymouth Valley. This includes Linda giving up her medical career - but they think it is worth it for the security and facilities that the family will gain in return.
Unfortunately, there are a number of unanticipated setbacks. For one thing, this community is not welcoming, not even to the twin Farmer-Bowen children. Their parents also face challenges of a another kind in adapting to this very different environment.
But the challenge with the greatest potential for being a deal breaker - albeit somewhat late in the game! - is the townspeople's preoccupation with a strange system known as the Hollow.
This story has a lot to say about privilege, and the price that people will risk paying to gain and protect it. Even if that price is dangerously high...
This is an engrossing read, and worth checking out for what it has to say about inequality, social acceptance, hierarchies, and how power reproduces itself.