A Better World

A Novel

By: Sarah Langan

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Sura Siu

One of NPR’s Best Books of 2024

For fans of Nightbitch and While No One Is Watching, comes “one of the best books this year, or any year” (Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World)—a disturbing dystopian thrillfest about a woman moving to a glittering town of the future, whose investigation of a local tragedy puts a target on her back.

You’ll be safe here.

That’s what the tour guide promises Dr. Linda Farmer and her family when they move to Plymouth Valley. Sure, the locals are privileged hot house flowers who observe a weird religion Hollow, but the schools are blue ribbon, the air’s clean, the food’s fantastic, and Linda’s out of options. With the outside world in shambles, this move is her family’s last chance.

Linda, her husband, and their teen twins work hard to fit in, accommodating their square peg personalities into rounded holes. It works at first—the family rise up, gaining acceptance from the powerful elite. Then Linda encounters Gal Parker, a hot mess of a woman, whose wife has abandoned her and whose kids are sick. One terrible night, Gal commits an unthinkable act.

All of Plymouth Valley turns on Gal, refusing to speak her name. But Linda can’t stop wondering: what would drive a woman to do something so awful? The more she learns, the more frightened she becomes. A clock is ticking, too—before the Plymouth Valley Winter Festival, Linda’s got to figure out: should she and her family be fighting to stay, or fighting their way out?

A heart-poundingly ruthless dissection of wealth, power, and privilege, A Better World is “more terrifying with every turn of the page” (Booklist, starred review) from a writer who “never ceases to amaze” (Gillian Flynn).

Critic reviews

"Langan’s dystopian thriller is set in the not-too-distant-future. Cassandra Campbell brings to life a dispassionate narrator and a wide range of unique characters. The Farmer–Bowens find themselves in Plymouth Valley, a company town where all needs are met. There Russell snags a job with Better World. Russell’s voice sounds distracted and distant as he struggles to succeed. Linda sounds friendly and eager, but she soon senses something rotten beneath PV’s facade. Townspeople sound distantly friendly but quickly turn away as Linda asks questions. Between chapters, Sean Patrick Hopkins uses a friendly, authoritative voice to share the history of life in Plymouth Valley. Sura Siu’s perky voice enthusiastically invites listeners to Plymouth Valley events."

The cult

Grabbed me in the begging. Didn’t grab me again until the end. A few sentences and then it’s over? Hit its climax a little late.

Excellent narration and gripping story.

I loved how this story kept me wondering about what was going to happen and how it would play out. The climax paid off great.

A (pre?) Apocalypse Capitalist Hellscape

Langan does great work. While this wasn’t my favorite of her novels, it was intriguing enough to keep me interested.

The story I wanted to read

I loved it from beginning to end. Never got slow. Love the representation. Excellent story

Horrible narration

I listen to a lot of audiobooks. This narration ranks among the worst I’ve heard. Statements are often phrased as questions. The narrator is continually sardonic. And she reads women in a grating, babylike voice — as if they’re all stupid. Rich stupid, confused stupid, drunk stupid. Practically unlistenable.