This debut novel of love, money, and misbehaving parents is a hilarious drama, powerful inter-generational story, and a surprising romantic tale that celebrates the human spirit, foibles and all.

Co-authored by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

In this funny and inspiring novel, a mess of a heroine is desperate to resolve her past so she can finally rediscover who she was always meant to be.

Antonia “Toni” Arroyo’s protective mother has outdated notions for her daughter’s life: employ her natural beauty and marry young. But Toni has wholly different aspirations.

A promising inventor and budding entrepreneur, she fights to keep her passions alive as a financially strapped mother of twins with a job in airport transportation services that has her going in circles. One treasured frequent passenger is elderly traveler Sylvia Eisenberg, Toni’s sage but unofficial adviser and cheerleader. When Toni meets Sylvia’s grandson, Ash, a striking venture capitalist, luck just might bend her way.

With a game-changing new business endeavor in development, Toni hustles an opportunity to pitch her idea on TV’s Innovation Nation. Toni’s unexpected challenger? Her very own recently resurfaced, self-aggrandizing not-quite-ex-husband. As Toni’s interrupted past collides with her tenuous future, she is more determined than ever to follow through on her delayed dreams. Toni’s been clinging to “maybe” for so long―it’s finally time for “absolutely.”

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Montlake, July 2024

“Wepa! A feel-good tale about the power of perseverance, the beauty of diverse women uplifting each other, and the value of healthy relationships! Boss Lady left me inspired to go for it, just like Toni!”
—Priscilla Oliveras, USA Today bestselling author of West Side Love Story and Island Affair

“Alli Frank and Asha Youmans have written yet another winning novel in Boss Lady―a whip-smart, heartwarming, and all-around delightful look at one woman’s quest for success on her own terms.”
—Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of Community Board, The Last Romantics, and The House Girl

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Brillance Audio

Co-authored by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

A sidesplitting spin on reaching the pinnacle of life, only to stare down a slippery slope on the other side.

After a difficult five years, at age forty-three, Nina Morgan Clarke’s time has finally arrived. With an ex-husband relocated across the country, her father bouncing back after the loss of his beloved wife, and her daughter, Xandra, thriving at boarding school, Nina is stepping into her dream job as a trifecta: a first-generation, Black female head of the storied Royal-Hawkins School. To mark the moment, Nina and her best friend, Marisol, take a long-overdue girl’s trip to celebrate the second half of Nina’s life—which is shaping up to be the best part of her life.

As Nina’s school year gets underway, all seems to be progressing as planned. Before long, wunder-hire Jared Jones, two hundred pounds of Harvard-educated ego, relentlessly pushes Nina to her ethical limits. Soon after, dutiful Xandra accuses one of her teachers of misconduct. And most alarming, the repercussions of her trip with Marisol force Nina into a life-altering choice. Time is of the essence, and Nina must decide if she will embrace a future she never could have predicted.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Mindy’s Book Studio, July 2023

• Mindy Kaling Book Club Selection
• AARP: 32 of Our Favorite New Novels for Summer Reading
• Entertainment Weekly Best Book of Summer
• Bookbub’s Best Books of Summer
• Good Morning America Books to Dive Into This Summer Recommendation
• The Skimm SkimmReads Pick
• Shondaland Best Book of July
• BookBub’s Reader Favorite Summer Reads 2023
• Woman Around Town’s Beach Read with Substance
• BookTrib’s July Releases to Add to Your Beach Bag Pick
• Audible Top 10 Bestseller List
• Medium’s 9 Summer Reading Must Reads
• Zibby Owens Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Episode
• The African American Literary Awards Author Of The Year – Female

• Zibby Owens’ Best Books of 2023

“The third book from comedy writing duo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans dazzled Mindy Kaling so much that she is publishing the book under her own imprint launched in 2022, Mindy’s Book Studio.”
—Entertainment Weekly

“This is the authors’ third novel together, and they brilliantly and hilariously navigate topics like motherhood, being a woman in a position of authority, and the realities of entering middle age.”
—Shondaland.com

“The Better Half is smart, thought-provoking, and fun. Serious topics are handled with skill, taking us inside the lives of fictional characters dealing with all too real challenges. A great choice for a book club that would spark lively discussions.”
—Woman Around Town

“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.”
—Pam Kramer, BookReporter

“Alli Frank and Asha Youmans found literary soulmates in each other while working in education, and their third collaboration does not disappoint!”
—Medium Magazine

“The Better Half by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans is a great summer read full of real-life honesty and laughter”
—Dixon’s Independent Voice

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Mindy’s Book Studio

Co-authored by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

A riotously funny, emotionally real look at race and religion, love and heartache, and the realities of parenting through it all.

Self-appointed fixer of other people’s woes Marjette Lewis is uncharacteristically determined to keep to her side of the driveway when it comes to her flawless neighbor Noa Abrams. Professionally, Marjette has her hands full as she prepares for a new class of kindergarteners and her first year of teaching without her best friend, Judy, as campus “Black-up.” And at home, her son’s budding manhood challenges her expectations, and her vexing ex-husband continues to be a thorn in her side.

But when tragedy strikes Marjette’s street, and an unexpected child shows up on the first day of school with an uncle who has all the class moms aflutter, Marjette is forced to contend with both her neighbor and her own heartache over losing the life she once thought was guaranteed. Through laughter, tears, and the gift of found family, Marjette and Noa navigate the rituals of loss together and discover the strength to remake their lives—whether they meant to or not.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Montlake, October 2022 (pre-empt)

• Publisher’s Weekly: Starred Review
• Katie Couric Media: WHAT TO READ NEXT: 66 Must-Read New Books Coming Out in 2022
• Parade’s Best Fall Books 2022

• 2023 Washington State Book Award Finalist

“As these neighboring families blend, the authors do a good job exploring the common ground between African American and Jewish experiences: the characters feel like real people with racial and religious identities that inform their worldviews, but don’t define them…It’s an impressive feat sure to move romance fans and women’s fiction readers alike.”
-Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

“[A] sparkling story of unlikely friendship. Marjette is Black and Noa is Jewish, but they find commonalities between their two cultures while also learning about their differences. [A] complex yet sunny read…this is a must-buy”
– Booklist

“Friendship and romance go hand in hand in this warm, engaging story that should appeal to readers who enjoy novels by Susan Wiggs and Debbie Macomber.”
-Library Journal

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Brillance Audio

Co-authored by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

The Devil Wears Prada meets Class Mom in this delicious novel of love, money, and misbehaving parents.

All’s fair in love and kindergarten admissions.

At thirty-nine, Josie Bordelon’s modeling career as the “it” black beauty of the ’90s is far behind her. Now director of admissions at San Francisco’s most sought after private school, she’s chic, single, and determined to keep her seventeen-year-old daughter, Etta, from making the same mistakes she did.

But Etta has plans of her own–and their beloved matriarch, Aunt Viv, has Etta’s back. If only Josie could manage Etta’s future as well as she manages the shenanigans of the over-anxious, over-eager parents at school–or her best friend’s attempts to coax Josie out of her sex sabbatical and back onto the dating scene.

As admissions season heats up, Josie discovers that when it comes to matters of the heart–and the office–the biggest surprises lie closest to home.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

GP Putnam’s Sons, May 2020

• Publisher’s Weekly Deal of the Week
• She Reads List of Most Anticipated Books of 2020
• She Reads List of Most Anticipated Women’s Fiction of 2020
• She Reads List of Books by Author Duos
• Corroon Mother’s Day Gift Guide pick
• Good Housekeeping 20 Best Fiction Books of 2020 List; Best New Fiction of 2020
• The Skimm SkimmReads Pick
• New York Post Best Book of the Week
• Good Morning America Mother’s Day in Quarantine Books to Buy
• PopSugar Most Exciting Books for May 2020; #BlackOutBestsellerList roundup
• Read It Forward RIF’S Favorite Reads of May 2020
• Mercury News 12 Bay Area Bookstores Pick the best 50+ Books for All Ages
• Bibliolifestyle Our Favorite Reads of May 2020
• Rusa, a Division of the American Library Association Outstanding Audiobook 2021
• Coffee Bookshelves (blog) 20 Black Books Coming Out in 2020 roundup
• Bibliolifestyle (blog) 10 Most Anticipated Romances of Spring roundup
• Medium New books of the week post
• Book Culture Included in Amy Poeppel’s roundup of #stayhomereads
• Lesa’s Book Critiques (blog) Excellent May releases roundup
• Bookish Comfort Reads
• Frolic Mother’s Day essay
• Bookbub Roundup of short books to read in one sitting; Best Beach Reads roundup
• Hasty Book List Books by black authors publishing in 2020
• BookReporter Bets On pick in May
• Ashley Brooke Designs (blog) June Book Club Pick
• WAMC Radio Included in Book Picks segment
• American Library Association-mid-winter conference Best New Debut Authors
• BookTrib 6 Books You Didn’t Realize Are Actually Love Stories
• Seattle Times Paperback roundup
• Zibby Owens Best Author Photo Award
• Zibby Owens Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Episode

“A fun, snappy read about the over-the-top world of private school admissions and the unbreakable bonds of family.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Frank and Youmans pack their debut with drama…The glitzy, high stakes world and gossipy narrative voice will put readers in mind of Crazy Rich Asians.”
—Publisher’s Weekly

“Frank and Youmans’ humorous and touching debut novel explores how being a Black woman affects their protagonist’s personal and professional experiences in a tale that will resonate with readers of all demographic backgrounds.”
—Booklist

“Parents and anyone who’s ever been to school will love this peek into the turbulent world of private school, from two women who have worked in it for more than 20 years. Get to know three generations of Black women in San Francisco as they navigate that universe, along with their relationships, motivations, and a heaping helping of drama.”
—Good Housekeeping

“Humor, charm and intriguing drama combine in this novel – written by a best friend duo – about the competitive world of private education.”
—Woman’s World

“Youmans and Frank manage to tackle a woman’s journey through work, race, and motherhood beautifully in their debut. Tiny Imperfections is laugh out loud funny and full of heart. I can’t wait to see what they bring us next!”
—Alexa Martin, author of Fumbled

“Youmans and Frank’s deep-dive into private school culture sets the stage for a dishy, charming story of West Coast elitism and parenting at its pushiest. But it’s the characters, especially the marvelous Bordelon women, who give this delightful novel its heart and humor – and who make you long to be part of the family even after the last page.”
—Amy Poeppel, author of Small Admissions and Limelight

“With a heroine to cheer for and laugh-out-loud delicacies on every page, Tiny Imperfections is perfect entertainment! You’re in for such a fun ride. I loved it!”
—Lisa Patton, bestselling author of Rush

“Over-eager parents are just one of the many things heroine Josie Bordelon has to deal with as head of admissions for a tawny private school in San Francisco. These two authors are brave enough to expose the insanity and hilarity that happen during application season. It’s a really funny read.”
—Laurie Gelman, author of Class Mom

“Tiny Imperfections is a funny, heart-warming take on finding love in a most unexpected place.”
—Anissa Gray, author of The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

“Tiny Imperfections offers a delightful view inside the cutthroat world of private school admissions that is hilarious, cringe-worthy and all too relevant in today’s ultra-competitive educational landscape. I ate this book up like a box of candy; you will too.”
—Tara Conklin, author of The Last Romantics

“Tiny Imperfections perfectly captures the absurdist bubble of San Francisco’s tech upper class. A rollicking good read that reminds us that money, power and influence will never be enough to make someone truly happy.”
—Jo Piazza, author of Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win

“A smart and savvy take on the competitive world of elite kindergarten admissions, Tiny Imperfections offers a delightfully refreshing narrative on ambition, family and love.”
—Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Penguin Audio

Foreign

• Chinese (Simplified Characters): CITIC Press Corporation

Large Print

• Thorndike Press

Media Rights: Film, Television, Stage & Podcast

• Previously optioned by Netflix and Royal Ties Productions on behalf of Regina King (auction)