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The Wrong Side of the Bed
An unexpected encounter from the past. A single mistake. An entire life is falling apart.
Emily, a young married woman and the mother of two children, runs a small neighborhood café together with her husband, and firmly believes people must stand behind the choices they have made in life.
Except she had not taken into account that some things in this world are beyond her control: her beloved father is dying at home, begging for help in putting an end to his agony, the business she and her husband manage is treading water, and the problems in their marriage are beginning to surface.
Amidst this chaos, Guy, the love of her youth, makes his appearance, looking for closure, or actually, for an opening. It’s all up to her now.
Emily is facing a major dilemma: Should she stick to the choices she once made or give a fair chance to a new beginning?
302 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2019
100 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 26, 2019
‘Each of us knew our role and accepted it’
Israeli author Ela M. Shmuely is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist and works with underprivileged high school students – a very strong foundation and vantage from which she offers her debut novel. Ela’s short stories have been published in journals and she has also succeeded in having one of her plays performed. Her insights and wit are evident in this excellent first novel, THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.
Focusing on family dynamics, Ela writes with exceptional fluidity, able to spin her tale with grace and sensitivity as is evident from the opening passages – ‘Eventually, my father died, it took him two years to realize he was tired of having all that cancer and things weren’t about to improve. Since he was the type of person who detested when others made decisions for him, he swallowed all the valium that had been sitting by his bed ever since the surgery. During the year before that, my older sister, Sharon, had to fly back and forth across the ocean. Each time she would contemplate about when to book her next flight, and then, after having landed here, deliberate about how long she should stay…Our trans-Atlantic conversations were taxing…’ Family interactions, and the entre to a very fine novel.
The well-paced story is concisely condensed in the synopsis: ‘Emily, a young married woman and the mother of two children, runs a small neighborhood café together with her husband, and firmly believes people must stand behind the choices they have made in life. Except she had not taken into account that some things in this world are beyond her control: her beloved father is dying at home, begging for help in putting an end to his agony, the business she and her husband manage is treading water, and the problems in their marriage are beginning to surface. Amidst this chaos, Guy, the love of her youth, makes his appearance, looking for closure, or actually, for an opening. It’s all up to her now. Emily is facing a major dilemma: Should she stick to the choices she once made or give a fair chance to a new beginning?’
Rarely has a novel explored all aspects of family – parents, siblings, spouse, children, ‘affairs…’ - been so seamless woven as Ela has accomplished in this novel. Each character is readily accessible to identify as participant in the scope of the story because of Ela’s fine sculpting technique. For a first novel THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED is a sparkling notice that a fine new author has arrived on the literary scene. Recommended.
Israeli author Ela M. Shmuely is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist and works with underprivileged high school students – a very strong foundation and vantage from which she offers her debut novel. Ela’s short stories have been published in journals and she has also succeeded in having one of her plays performed. Her insights and wit are evident in this excellent first novel, THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.
Focusing on family dynamics, Ela writes with exceptional fluidity, able to spin her tale with grace and sensitivity as is evident from the opening passages – ‘Eventually, my father died, it took him two years to realize he was tired of having all that cancer and things weren’t about to improve. Since he was the type of person who detested when others made decisions for him, he swallowed all the valium that had been sitting by his bed ever since the surgery. During the year before that, my older sister, Sharon, had to fly back and forth across the ocean. Each time she would contemplate about when to book her next flight, and then, after having landed here, deliberate about how long she should stay…Our trans-Atlantic conversations were taxing…’ Family interactions, and the entre to a very fine novel.
The well-paced story is concisely condensed in the synopsis: ‘Emily, a young married woman and the mother of two children, runs a small neighborhood café together with her husband, and firmly believes people must stand behind the choices they have made in life. Except she had not taken into account that some things in this world are beyond her control: her beloved father is dying at home, begging for help in putting an end to his agony, the business she and her husband manage is treading water, and the problems in their marriage are beginning to surface. Amidst this chaos, Guy, the love of her youth, makes his appearance, looking for closure, or actually, for an opening. It’s all up to her now. Emily is facing a major dilemma: Should she stick to the choices she once made or give a fair chance to a new beginning?’
Rarely has a novel explored all aspects of family – parents, siblings, spouse, children, ‘affairs…’ - been so seamless woven as Ela has accomplished in this novel. Each character is readily accessible to identify as participant in the scope of the story because of Ela’s fine sculpting technique. For a first novel THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED is a sparkling notice that a fine new author has arrived on the literary scene. Recommended.
March 5, 2020
Title: The Wrong Side of the Bed
Author: Ela M. Shmuley
Publisher: E.M.S.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Wrong Side of the Bed" by Ela M. Shmuley
My Speculation:
"The Wrong Side of the Bed" was a very complex and complicated story that was filled with a lot of raw emotions all over the place. The story will have 'mixed sadness, chaos, fun, and even some sexy times' from this read. Ela is going through quite a bit with her family grieving of a father who was dying, having to deal with her mother, sister, brother, her husband [Aiden], her two sons[Noam, Hall], and a long time ex-boyfriend [Guy] who has returned after some fifteen years. With Ela believing she should stand behind the choices she has made in life, but what will happen when some things in life are just beyond her control? Will Ela be able to stick to the 'choices she has always stuck by or chance a new beginning?'
The author gives the readers one story that will keep you turning the pages to see what is coming out next in this 'family's different culture up's and down in life' and one climactic ending.
February 17, 2020
The plot is fascinating and stirring. The heros are perfectly characterized and described. The mother of the storyteller, for example, honest and impressive, is drawn clearly with all her positive and negative features. Moreover - so is the storyteller herself, and therefor I can deduce that the author has a total internal integrity and also a perception and an understanding of the human soul.
M. Z.
,
M. Z.
,
December 27, 2019
First, I want to thank Ela M. Shmuely for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
The Wrong Side of The Bed by Ela M. Shmuely gave her readers a peak into a family’s different culture up’s and down’s in life. I enjoyed learning to me the unique names of the characters.
Originally the cover of this book drew me and caught my attention. This attractive woman standing in the middle of a rural street surrounded by beautiful middle-class houses. I think everyone can relate to the title of the book now and again. Put it all together and it is a very well-done cover. Congrats to the Graphic Artist who designed this.
How could your heart not break within the first paragraph of this book? Their father was dying of Cancer! I had just started this book and already Ela has pulled on my heart strings!! Ela blew me away at the all the ways she showed their family was grieving over the fact he was dying. This vs just telling you.
Ela is an incredible storyteller. They always say to write what you know and what you are passionate about. You can tell she is passionate about her family. All the stories she told were so heartfelt.
There was a storyline about an Abortion in the book. Many times I caution readers about this fact as it brings up triggers for many. Meaning the political aspect, religious, or the fact that maybe they had one and it brings up emotional issues. However, when Ela brings it into the story there is an actual story surrounding it. For someone like me who does not like reading stories with topics like this in books (for personal reasons) she handles this issue well done.
The Wrong Side of The Bed by Ela M. Shmuely gave her readers a peak into a family’s different culture up’s and down’s in life. I enjoyed learning to me the unique names of the characters.
Originally the cover of this book drew me and caught my attention. This attractive woman standing in the middle of a rural street surrounded by beautiful middle-class houses. I think everyone can relate to the title of the book now and again. Put it all together and it is a very well-done cover. Congrats to the Graphic Artist who designed this.
How could your heart not break within the first paragraph of this book? Their father was dying of Cancer! I had just started this book and already Ela has pulled on my heart strings!! Ela blew me away at the all the ways she showed their family was grieving over the fact he was dying. This vs just telling you.
Ela is an incredible storyteller. They always say to write what you know and what you are passionate about. You can tell she is passionate about her family. All the stories she told were so heartfelt.
There was a storyline about an Abortion in the book. Many times I caution readers about this fact as it brings up triggers for many. Meaning the political aspect, religious, or the fact that maybe they had one and it brings up emotional issues. However, when Ela brings it into the story there is an actual story surrounding it. For someone like me who does not like reading stories with topics like this in books (for personal reasons) she handles this issue well done.
December 31, 2019
interesting and fun read. it was different for me.. not my usual genre.. raw emotion and interesting personalities. i enjoyed it
November 5, 2020
ENDINGS AND NEW BEGINNINGS
I don't know what to say about this book without giving too much of the plot away, but it was an OK book. There were times I had a hard time keeping focused in the story, but overall it was good.
Emily's father has cancer and desperately wants his life over. It's terminal anyway, and he wanted to die. When his own attempt failed, he wanted his family to do the unthinkable—help him. Will they do it? Can they do it?
Through all of this, Emily's marriage is on the rocks and she does what she never thought she'd do. Now she's sure the damage is irreparable, and she's just lost the two men who meant the most to her, at the same time.
I think the only reason I give this book 3 stars was because the style was hard for me to keep focused on, but I did like it.
I don't know what to say about this book without giving too much of the plot away, but it was an OK book. There were times I had a hard time keeping focused in the story, but overall it was good.
Emily's father has cancer and desperately wants his life over. It's terminal anyway, and he wanted to die. When his own attempt failed, he wanted his family to do the unthinkable—help him. Will they do it? Can they do it?
Through all of this, Emily's marriage is on the rocks and she does what she never thought she'd do. Now she's sure the damage is irreparable, and she's just lost the two men who meant the most to her, at the same time.
I think the only reason I give this book 3 stars was because the style was hard for me to keep focused on, but I did like it.
April 28, 2020
Unfortunately I did not like this book at all. There was so much in there that I disliked or couldn't stomach at all. The writing was fine it was mostly the subject matters that were the problem. The way abortion religion, suicide, and cheating were handled in this book were quite distasteful in my opinion an I just couldn't get over those to enjoy any other part of the book. I would not recommend it to anyone. I am sure based on the ratings that others enjoyed it more than me and that plenty of others might enjoy it as well. I wish I could give it a higher rating but I just can't.
February 12, 2020
No ending
The story went along and at its dramatic climax just ended. The editing was bad and made it harder to read. Another 20 - 50 pages and clean up the editing would be better.
The story went along and at its dramatic climax just ended. The editing was bad and made it harder to read. Another 20 - 50 pages and clean up the editing would be better.
July 24, 2021
To me this book was boring. It was the same stuff back and forth and back and forth. There are so many times you can read how bored and upset she was in her marriage. Took everything I had to read it all the way through.
February 14, 2020
Very stream of consciousness. Needs editing!
Currently reading
February 18, 2020Didn’t like it. Didn’t read it.
August 20, 2021
It was ok. You wanted to find out how it ended however it has so many typos and grammar errors that it was hard and frustrating to read at times.
January 16, 2020
The wrong side of the bed is a raw emotional filled book, just from page one. You don't really learn about the characters till a few pages in. So it's definitely confusing to me. Even with the summary of the book. A bunch of rambling, and problems throughout. Where I understand the book. I wish it would of stopped droning on and on and get on with it.
She's a woman who believes that everyone has their choices. So with problems every where in her life, can there possibly be a silver lining in it all?
She's a woman who believes that everyone has their choices. So with problems every where in her life, can there possibly be a silver lining in it all?
February 28, 2020
This wasn't bad but could have been developed so much more. Needed a better-written ending.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews