TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER Betty Smith 1948 Harper Collins 275 pages Fiction In 1920's Brooklyn, Margie graduates from high school and is filled with youthful optimism. Determined to rise above the drudgery and poverty of her upbringing, Margie finds a job at a small business nearby and attempts to escape her overbearing mother and her overworked, disillusioned father. Before long, she meets Frankie Malone, a poor Brooklynite like herself, and the two fall headlong into courtship and marriage. Despite differences between her and Frankie, and some difficulties in her relationship with her parents, Margie still hopes that "tomorrow will be better." It's hard to believe this book was written over 60 years ago. The subject matter of interpersonal relationships in our lives and everything that can be at work to affect them, for success or failure, is timeless. This is an incredibly mind-blowing book for its time, or even today in some places. Though, the book has many ideas and themes, Smith's treatment of sexuality is absolutely amazing. To give details would to be giving spoilers, and I recommend is a novel way ahead of its time. The first time I read it I was about 14, and hardly understood it. It was only when I thought about it and reread it years later did I understand what was going on. If you loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, then I think you'll love Tomorrow Will Be Better too!