In THE BETTER HALF, Alli Frank and Asha Youmans give their readers what we have come to expect from them: a novel with relatable characters, humor, romance and honest talk about race.

Nina Morgan Clarke appears to have it all. She's the first Black female head of the tony Royal-Hawkins School in Pasadena, CA. She has worked hard to get there, and with her daughter, Xandra, across the country at a private boarding school that's close to her ex-husband, she finally can enjoy life and the fruits of her years of labor.

"The book flows quickly and entertainingly. But there's more to THE BETTER HALF than just being a great summer read --- it's also a thoughtful novel about race."

Before the school year begins, Nina and Marisol, her BFF since they were kids, decide to take a girls' vacation. It is there that Nina meets Leo, a white corporate lawyer who is charismatic and handsome. They have a one-night stand that develops into something more. It turns out that Leo will be going overseas for his law firm, so Nina wonders if their just-budding relationship will survive four months apart.

But Nina soon has bigger questions when she finds out she's pregnant. She's in her 40s, her daughter is in high school, and she has an important career. Is there any way she can balance that with going through parenthood all over again? Will Leo even want the baby? And then there's the issue of Leo’s skin color.

As Frank and Youmans explain in the acknowledgments, THE BETTER HALF was written before the shocking Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade. Luckily, when weighing her options, the ability to actually obtain an abortion does not figure into Nina's planning. Being former educators, the authors know their way around schools, so the setting is quite authentic. So are Nina's doubts and worries about having a child with Leo. She can't believe that a white guy would be able to competently father a Black son, should the baby be a boy.

As we observe devious parents and school board members, problems with Xandra, feelings of uncertainty regarding Leo, and Nina’s father's quirky personality, we are drawn into the story and begin to care about these diverse characters. The book flows quickly and entertainingly. But there's more to THE BETTER HALF than just being a great summer read --- it's also a thoughtful novel about race. Does marrying outside of one's race or ethnicity somehow make one less? Less Chinese or less Mexican or less Black? It's a fascinating question that will keep book club readers talking as they share their opinions and experiences.