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Sunday, November 24, 2019

Beside Herself by Elizabeth LaBan


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4*

Hannah is shocked and angered to learn that her loving husband Joel had a brief affair while away on business. Despite marriage counseling, advice from a well-meaning friend to fight for her marriage, and Joel’s own sincere remorse and declarations of love, she doesn’t know if she can get beyond her rage and hurt. Rather than rushing a decision, she flippantly tells Joel that she might have an affair to even the stakes. When he agrees, she’s reluctantly thrown into the murky and unsatisfying dating pool. As she tries to find a willing partner, she is still visiting Joel’s famous news anchor father in the nursing home, trying to keep the news from her young children, and evaluating her relationship with Joel through the lens of their history and the love that persists. Will she be able to forgive and move on or will an affair lead to a different future?

Both Hannah and Joel are complex, caring individuals which makes it hard to take sides. Given the depths of Joel’s guilt and heartache, it’s difficult to do anything but root for them to reconcile, but Hannah’s sense of betrayal and hurt are a strong counterbalance. Ultimately, this heartfelt story deftly handles the evolution of a marriage and the wide range of emotions felt by the couple. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.




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