Alli Frank and Asha Youmans make a return visit to "Bookreporter Talks To" to share their thoughts on their latest book, THE BETTER HALF — a Bookreporter Bets On selection — with Carol Fitzgerald. They talk about what they brought to their protagonist, Nina Morgan Clarke, who is the first Black female head of the very tony Royal-Hawkins School. Nina quickly learns that, along with being in charge of student life, she must manage a board and lots of parental expectations.

Alli shares that she knew this would not be a job for her, though she had thought she did want that role in her past life as an educator. Asha comes from a mixed marriage and points out that she had her sons turn to her father and brother about living as young Black men in America today. Both are clearly loving the second half of their lives! This was the first book that they wrote in different places, as opposed to being in the same room, and they explain how they were able to do that so well (though when together they do have their writing pajamas). The humor that they write also lives off the page, making this another fun conversation!

Book discussed in this episode:

THE BETTER HALF by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans:

https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-better-half

Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:

Carolyn Mackler: https://youtu.be/L4M-w9BeaTk

Adrienne Brodeur: https://youtu.be/6U7kf2KVtco

Lisa See: https://youtu.be/D8XYEYI60Ww

Nancy Horan: https://youtu.be/49bdiHbIUmY

Linwood Barclay: https://youtu.be/pkDG90y9FN0

Alice Elliott Dark: https://youtu.be/9AAk-lLDRbc

Kate Morton: https://youtu.be/LMjdzDRlqrg

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo: https://youtu.be/ZWDnhSS26KI

Lisa Scottoline: https://youtu.be/8F-CDltuc3E

Sadeqa Johnson: https://youtu.be/TW01NY0d7CE

William Landay: https://youtu.be/Zcok9PHuRHw

Shelley Read: https://youtu.be/aZHZx2LaU4Y

Check out our past "Bookaccino Live" Book Group events:

Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M

Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE

Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA

Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M

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Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald

Edited by Jordan Redd Productions