jana114's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kenley11's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage
Minor: Homophobia
awishman's review
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up
This was so sad and depressing, but also so realistic, which adds to the depression. Betty Smith writes poverty in an authentic way. IYKYK.
CW for verbal and physical abuse, pregnancy, death of a child
This was so sad and depressing, but also so realistic, which adds to the depression. Betty Smith writes poverty in an authentic way. IYKYK.
CW for verbal and physical abuse, pregnancy, death of a child
maryfhaws's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lareine27's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ayeprile's review
5.0
I love how Betty Smith writes- she really takes you to a whole different time period in how she writes about Brooklyn, and the characters she creates are easy to get attached to.
mcsangel2's review
4.0
Betty Smith was *such* a good writer, but this was a tough read. Though the setting was the same as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I found the characters darker and much more bitter (especially Margy's mother). It really made me think about how tough life was, for so long, for most of the western world's working class, and appreciate that I live in relative ease.
princesszinza's review
4.0
When I was a little kid I read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". It was one of the most impactful books of my childhood. It spawned a fascination with New York that continues to this day.
Tomorrow Will Be Better is a compelling page turner. The characters aren't as well drawn as "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" but the subject matter is more mature. This is a story of people from different cultures who are stuck in their unsatisfying lives. Even though this story was written more than 70 years ago there is still so much truth in Betty Smith's words. I found the situations in the book to be stunningly modern. Particularly Margy's unsatisfying relationship with Frankie.
We might have modern refrigeration and cars these days, but people still struggle, parents can still be clueless and dreams are still hard to fulfill.
Tomorrow Will Be Better is a compelling page turner. The characters aren't as well drawn as "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" but the subject matter is more mature. This is a story of people from different cultures who are stuck in their unsatisfying lives. Even though this story was written more than 70 years ago there is still so much truth in Betty Smith's words. I found the situations in the book to be stunningly modern. Particularly Margy's unsatisfying relationship with Frankie.
We might have modern refrigeration and cars these days, but people still struggle, parents can still be clueless and dreams are still hard to fulfill.