Beside Herself

Description

When she finds out her husband cheated, Hannah Bent thinks her marriage is over. Isn't that what happens after an affair? But she's seen friends divorce, and it's not pretty. Plus, she and Joel have kids and an otherwise-happy life, and she still loves him, although begrudgingly. Furious and feeling stuck, she suggests having her own affair to even the score. Joel, desperate for forgiveness, agrees. But does she really want to go through with it? And how exactly does a married mother of two get back in the dating pool? Many awkward dates follow until she finds a deep and unexpected connection where she was least looking for it. Just as she thinks she's made a decision, her journey to happiness is waylaid by storms of doubt. But the important thing is that she's finally figuring out what she truly wants for herself, and she understands that whatever choice she makes must be hers and hers alone.

Elizabeth LaBan is the author of Not Perfect, The Restaurant Critic's Wife, and Pretty Little World, which she wrote with Melissa DePino. She is also the author of The Tragedy Paper, which has been translated into eleven languages, and The Grandparents Handbook, which has been translated into seven languages. She lives in Philadelphia with her restaurant-critic husband and two children.

"A moving look at the heartbreaks and high points of a long relationship." -Kirkus Reviews "Told in her signature realistic style, LaBan (Not Perfect, 2018) brings to life what happens when a marriage goes devastatingly wrong...This is a great addition to collections where Elyssa Frieland's The Intermission (2018) and other stories of misguided but appealing characters messing up relationships are popular." -Booklist "This book begins quickly with an intriguing premise...LaBan gives voice to the conflicting thoughts and emotions spouses experience following infidelity." -Library Journal "A gripping story of betrayal, hope, and the messy detours to everlasting love." -Woman's World "Beside Herself is a sweet story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and finding out where you truly belong." -Arizona Foothills Magazine "Elizabeth LaBan's characters are so immediately relatable that I defy any reader not to lose herself inside these pages. From their pain, passion, and vulnerability, I saw into the making and unmaking of a marriage-and found myself desperate to know what could come next for a loving-and daring-wife like Hannah. Whether your heart is skipping in a moment of anguish or soaring at a moment of triumph, you will be moved. Powerful and poignant, Beside Herself is a must-read of the year!" -Kelly Harms, author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler "Elizabeth LaBan's chatty, familiar style instantly drew me into the drama of the story and kept me entertained throughout. A perfect poolside read!" -Cynthia Ellingsen, Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper "Beside Herself is a heartwarming love story with a unique twist on the aftermath of an affair. With a full cast of sympathetic characters-and the cutest little boy, Linc-readers travel deep inside the complex layers of contemporary family life and a marriage that has lost its way. An outstanding choice for a book club." -Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us "When Hannah Bent discovers her husband, Joel, has had an affair, she knows she needs to find a way to make herself feel okay again. Why not have an affair herself to even the score? Elizabeth LaBan has written a heartfelt and surprising novel about a woman's quest to restore her self-esteem and survive betrayal-as she embarks on a journey of discovering just what love really means. I could not stop turning the pages to see what was going to happen!" -Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners