3.5 stars! “One Thing Better” was a reflective read. It was interesting to read a book that incorporated recent real world events, touching on topics such as the Covid pandemic and the ripple effects it created not only on the healthcare system, but also on the economy and across communities, as well as controversial topics such as police brutality. Occasionally, I felt that the introduction of these events felt a little awkward, or “plopped” into a conversation or forced into a spot in the chapter.

The author explores grief in a slow and realistic way; watching Lena struggle and gradually overcome stages of grief and loss felt raw and relatable. Lena’s relationship with Ben felt a lot more organic and less rushed or forced than a typical fiction. At times, the writing felt a little choppy and I felt the plot was a bit repetitive. However, despite the book having a slow pace, I enjoyed it and wanted to see Lena’s character arc and how her story unfolded.

This book had me on an emotional roller coaster. I related to so many of the tropes & scenarios in this book. It hit so close to home. Maybe that’s why I loved it so much. I definitely wanna re-read this one again in the future. I think it made me really come to terms with some of the things in my life. My mom has terminal cancer. I actually moved to California after my divorce. Some of the similarities were eerily ironic. I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of One Thing Better by Jessica Sherry in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Warning ---- KEEP the tissues handy as it's a tear jerker. Very heartwarming book that will for sure tug at your emotions. I really enjoyed a nice book like this that was different than the usual thrillers I read.

This was a great read about Lena Buckley who persevered to find herself. She is really going through it and while things get harder for a little bit, she pushes through and turns into a confident woman. The book was emotional and at times very relatable. I also loved that Lena was in her 30s and trying to figure out her life. A wonderful read!

REVIEW: One Thing Better by Jessica Sherry

One Thing Better by Jessica Sherry is a heartwarming and poignant tale of grief, healing, and the unexpected power of love. The story follows Lena, a woman grappling with the loss of her mother and the overwhelming task of cleaning out her childhood home, which is filled with years of clutter. When Ben, a kind and patient neighbor, offers to help, they embark on a journey of discovery and connection.

Sherry's writing is both sensitive and humorous, capturing the complexities of grief and the resilience of the human spirit. Lena and Ben are well-developed characters who feel authentic and relatable. Their relationship is a slow-burn romance that develops naturally and organically.

While the pacing is sometimes uneven, One Thing Better is a satisfying read that will stay long after you finish the last page. The book's exploration of themes like loss, forgiveness, and the importance of human connection is both thought-provoking and uplifting.

Thank you, Netgalley and Jessica Sherry, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This was a great book. I connected with the characters. I felt engrossed with the plot. I would read another book by this author.

One Thing Better was a touching novel that shows us that grief, while everlasting, doesn't have to be forever heavy. I enjoyed the overall messages that even in our darkest times, we can find light.

One Thing Better by Jessica Sherry tells us the story of Lena Buckley and how, after much adversity, she picks herself up and lives life to the fullest. Lena's mother always told her that when things got hard or overwhelming, she should remember to do "one thing better" - focus on making one thing better and that will help you make progress through the hard things. After her mother's traumatic death, Lena inherits her disaster of a house and is running out of money and can't seem to find a job. But with the help of her community, the reminder from her mother to do "one thing better", and the help of a handsome police officer, Lena thinks she's on the way up. Then the pandemic hits and her mental health declines.

This book is more than a love story. It is a heartwarming and honest look at how one woman deals with adversity and her mental struggles. It deals with a lot of heavy topics (including PTSD, covid-19, anxiety and mental health) which are dealt with in such a gentle way. I think that anyone who has struggled with these topics (or knows someone that has) will appreciate Lena's story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book fell a little flat for me. I liked the premise but the execution was somewhat lacking in that special touch pulling me into the plot alongside the characters.

Good book with a few slower parts. I enjoyed the book overall and would recommend it to people I think would like the pace of the storyline.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Lena and Ben. Lena has for the past three years been taking care of her mother. Her mother just recently passed. Ben is a cop. There is an attraction. Lena has big decisions to make about her family’s farm, her job and where she wants to live. They both have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

This started off great, but it slowly started sliding downhill and while bits and pieces seemed to get better, there were just too many things that kept this from being a star.
Lena Buckley suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder and her anxiety has gotten worse since her mother, for whom she was the sole caretaker, has passed away and the house in which she lives is literally falling apart around her. After being pulled over for speeding and being given a warning, she decides to rebuild her life by making one thing better at a time. While her anxiety still takes over, especially at the start of the Covid pandemic and the lockdown, she still finds ways to make things better. With the help of some new found friends she’s able to turn her dilapidated house into her dream business and finds a way to calm her anxiety.
I really wanted to like this book, especially because I love books that bring anxiety and the disordered thinking it brings to the limelight. Unfortunately, the things that grated on my nerves canceled out any positive vibes I had in the beginning.
Ms. Sherry seems to have a huge love of the words “smirk” and “ogle”. She uses them on nearly every page and definitely in every chapter. It got to the point where I cringed every single time they popped up and definitely affected how I felt about this book overall. While I definitely appreciated the anxiety disorder, I was completely over Lena’s self-sabotaging, even after she was offered help by people who showed her how much they truly cared about her. I think the part that was the hardest for me, though, was reading about the start of the pandemic and lockdown. That was such an anxiety inducing time for me and reading about someone else’s struggles (especially when I saw a viable solution to her money problems that she [nor Ms. Sherry, since she didn’t write it] just didn’t see) wasn’t very appealing to me. I really wish the book synopsis included that this took place during the early days of the pandemic because I would have skipped this for sure.

.I love this book for us over 30 women who are going through life experiences and dealing with life changes. Some of need to read a book right when we feel like giving up about a main character that feels like doing just that, that we can absolutely relate to. We all, as readers, read to escape and you come across a book that hits you right in the feels because you really can relate and this was my book. This book was great. Beautiful characters, perfectly relatable. Loved it!!

Unexpectedly emotional but SO good. I loved this read so much. It was beautiful and raw and real. Was a tad long but I still really liked it.

Whew. SO emotional.
I really loved reading a story based on a 30+ year old. It really hit home many times. Overthinking, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, etc....I feel that there is something that everyone can relate to, or knows someone who has been touched by these things.

"You are not your circumstances"

Some points can feel very pressing and heavy, but it is a beautiful story of hope. I don't dislike stories that depict the pandemic. I have read a few, and it honestly is interesting to read these stories and see how everyone experienced it differently. Slow burn romance, not a lot of hot spice, but it was just right for this story and the weight of what the MCs were experiencing. And who doesn't love a hot cop ;)

Very cute romance with lovable characters, and best of all, an amazing message. I love Lena's mindset of just focusing on making one thing better instead of stressing out about everything thats wrong. F*ck those anxiety b*tches. Very wholesome read! Absolutely recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

This was a very long story, kind of sad and, personally, I didn’t get attached to the main character! It was well written and a good story, but, for me, it dragged on too long.

After flying through the pages in less than a day, I’m so happy to say that Sherry’s story not only met my expectations, but they went above and beyond, crafting a plotline that kept me continuously on my toes and yearning for more.

One Thing Better is about hope, belief, and let’s be honest, anxiety. A relatable love story not just romantics but of learning to love and believe in one’s self. Jessica has done well with providing a parallel universe we all go through in the midst of hard times. I’d you’re looking for a cute feel good story, this is for you!

DNF, I really wanted to like it, but it was a little too depressing for me, and didn't like the covid factor because it reminded me too much of a time where I wasn't happy at all.
It was a good idea, and I like the thought behind the theme and character development, but ultimately wasn't for me.