by Kristy (link)
Genre het, drama, romance
Pairings Isaac/OFC, Taylor/OFC, Zac/OFC
Length 44 chapters
Status Completed (sequel to So Many Times Before)
I had wondered what a sequel could possibly add to this little series, given that So Many Times Before ends on such a great, happy note. Not surprisingly, Any Better Than This seems to go around in the same circles that I’ve seen a billion times before, but Kristy’s writing is almost strong enough to sustain it.
This story picks up a few years later; Taylor and Exhale are, of course, still together but there’s a little tension and jealousy running through their relationship. There’s a small subplot involving Zac’s secret relationship, which I assumed was with Exhale’s best friend. Instead, he’s dating Taylor’s ex, which is more interesting and less cliche, and also provides the first bit of easily resolved drama for our main characters.
The big drama that they almost don’t recover from is a little silly, if you ask me. It all revolves around Exhale overreacting about something Taylor couldn’t have known, but it provides the catalyst for her (mistaken) realization that she can’t handle spending her life with someone famous. Then we tread some of the same ground as the original story, with Exhale choosing a shitty replacement for Taylor and a spring break trip that changes everything. Still, it all gets them back to a happy ending that’s just a little quirky, like the two of them.
Although Kristy’s writing is strong here, perhaps even stronger than the original, it can’t quite save a tired plot. Her song choices at the beginning of the chapters don’t always seem to fit, sometimes setting the wrong tone entirely. What I find most disappointing is that she doesn’t do nearly enough with the story’s setting. The stress of recording Underneath is a great source of drama, but it takes a backseat to Exhale’s other worries. The happy ending Kristy provides almost makes up for these weak spots… almost.
Review by Bethany (website)