Even though she is beautiful, intelligent, and makes six figures a year as a high school principal in Washington, DC, one man after another has failed her. Everything is going according to plan until she meets Dr. Tevin Harris, a prominent vascular surgeon, one night at a poetry slam. Tevin listens to her deliver her male-bashing poem and instead of steering away from her like most men with any common sense would do, he asks her out. Tevin has been casually dating for years, ever since his failed marriage to Estella.
They had suffered several miscarriages and the emotional pain had become too much for either one of them to bear and still wake up with each other every morning. Opening up, gaining trust, tearing down barriers, and ultimately, having the audacity to love again is not easy for either Jemistry or Tevin.
It takes a lot of transparency, emotional honesty, and patience to even begin to build a life together by helping each other rebuild what has been broken. The Other Side of the Pillow examines, explores, and exposes what it means to truly fall in love. It proves that true love stories do not have a happy ending.
True love stories never end at all.
The Other Side of the Pillow | Book by Zane | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster
Hardcover , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Other Side of the Pillow , please sign up. Be the first to ask a question about The Other Side of the Pillow. Lists with This Book. This was a hard book for me to give a rating to, but I decided on the 3 out of 5 stars because it was well written, the characters were realistic, and I could clearly recognize the point being made within the story.
However with that being said, I didn't like any of the characters involved at all. Jemistry, is completely unlikable. I understand that she has been sorely mistreated and abused by men in the past which has caused her to become jaded and bitter. Jemistry decides that she will now pla This was a hard book for me to give a rating to, but I decided on the 3 out of 5 stars because it was well written, the characters were realistic, and I could clearly recognize the point being made within the story. Jemistry decides that she will now play by the same rules and guidelines that so many men seem to follow and it is by no means a good way to live.
If the behavior that you abhor is offensive and destructive in men why in the world would Jemistry believe that it would be any less so when a woman does it? Why would Jemistry expect to attract anyone worthy of sharing a life with when what she is now showing the world of herself is ugly and off putting? I would not want her to become a doormat and continue to allow anyone to mistreat her, but to purposefully morph into the very thing that caused your own pain doesn't make sense either.
Especially when one wants to be thought of as an intelligent and independent woman. Jemistry instead came off as an angry, sarcastic, and volatile woman with a chip the size of the Chrysler building on her shoulder.
The character of Tevin didn't fare much better for me either. I just couldn't bring myself to like him even with the tragedy and heartache that he suffered. His interactions with Jemistry's roommate Winsome just sealed the "I don't like this guy" deal for me. I wish that I could have enjoyed this book more than I did. I definitely wish that I had read other books by Zane before this one.
Zane is such a popular author and is known for her erotic prowess and I could definitely see examples of that in this book. However, the story simply didn't resonate with me. The impression that I was left with was that of having just read a version of a made for B. T movie which is unfortunately not my cup of tea. View all 5 comments. Zane's Other Side of the Pillow was an entertaining read which not only show-cased the romantic relationship between Jemistry and Tevin, but also served as a lesson in relationships.
Jemistry Daniels is a successful high school principal in Chicago. But unfortunately she's also a woman scorned. She has been used and abused by a fair share of men. Coming off yet another bad relationship where she suffered both physical and emotional abuse, she's d [ARC received courtesy of NetGalley] 3. Coming off yet another bad relationship where she suffered both physical and emotional abuse, she's done with all men or let me say relationships.
Then we have Dr. Tevin Harris, a good looking wealthy surgeon and an overall good guy. Yes for the good guy! He lives by a set of high morals and values. He has women basically falling at his feet but those women don't impress him. He wants something more meaningful after his failed marriage. Although I've never had the same experience as Jemistry, I could understand to her bitter feelings toward men. Tevin's quest to convince Jemistry that not all men are the same was admirable. These two attempt to let go of the past and embark on a steamy relationship.
But it's not always easy to forget the hurt when it's all you've been dealt. The story had such a good flow that I completed it in one sitting. This story is about relationships and the way different people view relationships. I enjoyed that Tevin is in touch with his feelings and doesn't co-sign to a particular "man code" when it comes to women. Zane's commentary at the end was perfect.. The lead female protagonist spends the majority of the introduction whining about all men being dogs, and having been reduced to a shell of her former self as a result of her interaction with said losers.
When she then meets a man who has the qualities that she claims to be looking for She proceeds to go for a "booty call" right before said date. Weren't you just complaining about things like that in the men that you said were not worthy of you? The sex scenes aren't descriptive enough to be sexy. They are however, crude enough to border on vulgar. Jimistry, the main female character is supposed to be a young high school principal. Her speech is peppered with so much colloquial "black speak" that she often sounds no better than one of her students.
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This makes my head hurt You are doing your book, and what could be a great story a great disservice. View all 3 comments. Zane is a phenomenal author. I've been into her books since high school, maybe 8th grade yes I know I was young at the time, but I was obsessed with all types of books , so reading this was something I definitely knew I wanted to do.
While most of her books are all nitty gritty about sex, this book was intense and not so wrapped up in the sex scenes. Jemistry Daniels is a principal at a school and a bitter woman. She has been hurt time and time again from men in her life. Being used for money, abused, cursed out and much more. She vowed to only deal with men for sex and nothing more. She was a very good woman -- hardworking, loving, kind, caring and puts her all into what she does.
I felt bad for her and the men she dealt with. She was bitter, but she wasn't so far gone that she couldn't find herself loving a man again. She did have her moments of being insecure, but she was able to analyze things real good. Tevin Harris is a surgeon and he's been hurt by love before. He was married, but due to pregnancy issues in his marriage his wife couldn't bare it and divorced.
He vowed to never find love again. Tevin was a bold, hot and brilliant man. He may have been hurt, but he saw something in Jemistry after hearing her poem called "Bitter" and I was amaze by how bold he was in asking her out. Tevin was the perfect guy. He never gave up on his feelings for Jemistry and never pushed her into things she wasn't ready for.
He was respectful in every way. The relationship between Jemistry and Tevin was beautifully written. They both were hurt and Jemistry was "broken" but with Tevin by her side she was able to love again. I appreciated that even though there were a few sex scenes this wasn't consumed in it. I enjoyed how it focused mainly on the intimacy of the mind, emotions and communication in a relationship rather than the sex.
I definitely enjoyed the whole storyline and the characters. It was a very believable relationship that I loved reading and seeing grow. Definitely never disappointed with any of Zane's reads. Nov 09, Ashley Teagle rated it it was ok. This was the first Zane book that I read. I thought it was okay. The book, based on what I've heard others say about Zane's work, is right in line with her other titles. Jemistry is a high school principal who is bitter towards men following a break up from an abusive lover.
She meets Tevin, a surgeon, during an open mic night where she recites a poem about how bitter she is. Readers in the DMV area will enjoy Zane's numerous references to the area. Overall, this book fell a little short for me. M This was the first Zane book that I read. My first issue was with the introduction of Jemistry's past as an abused woman.
While I understand moving on to a healthy relationship is life changing and helpful, I really thought this was a great opportunity for Zane to focus on a real life problem that women face. I was waiting for Jemistry, as a well paid professional, to take charge of her mental health and visit with a psychologist to help her overcome her past. Also, Jemistry and Tevin are professionals. For lack of a better word, I thought some of their sex scenes and dialogue were a little outlandish.
I'm more forgiving on this point because Zane is known as an erotic fiction writer, so maybe the raunchy is what her fan base considers better. Lastly, the plot was a little out of focus. Zane tried to add a second plot featuring Tevin's best friend and yet a third subplot featuring Jemistry's roommate and I Just felt like it all felt like too much. The book is already told from alternating perspectives between Tevin and Jemistry and adding all the extra drama with three additional characters took away from the main story to me.
I would still recommend this book to erotic fiction fans and readers of African American fiction if for no other reason than to have an opportunity to introduce them to some of Zane's older more well known titles. Jul 21, Ms. Nikki rated it it was ok Shelves: This book just reiterated the fact that soft men don't appeal to me.
It's even worse when you see one taking crap from a woman who doesn't necessarily deserve his nice-ness. Jemistry I dislike this name and I would mess up and think chemistry and dentistry in my head is a woman who has been walked on, walked over, and beaten until the dust fell off. She's jaded, knows it, and can't seem to shake off the residue of past relationships gone wrong. She's now "all about the sex" and it has its perks This book just reiterated the fact that soft men don't appeal to me. She's now "all about the sex" and it has its perks until she meets a man that says all the right things at the wrong time.
He sees her pain and is willing to work with her if she'd just acknowledge that he's not a man from her past and to leave the baggage where it belongs. I haven't read an urban erotica story in awhile and I found this read lacking in substance and story. Yes, there was an HEA, but there was no dramatic build up and I wasn't necessarily elated when they got together nor was I saddened during the "apart" moments. This read was unreal to me, not absurdly so, with the whole roommate thing, the ring, how long they were separated, and his friend's drama. Although this read was not for me, others will be sure to get the message that there are still some good men out there if you can just leave the past in the past.
Mar 20, Lorrea - WhatChaReadin'? For most of the relationships Jemistry has been in, they have been abusive and she ends up hurt, physically and emotionally. After so many years of this she decides to take the rest of her life into her own hands and builds a wall around herself and stay single only have a few friends with benefits, to fill her needs.
That is until she meets Tevin Harris. Will he be able to tear down the wall Jemistry has built around herself or will she repeat her past patterns of bailing on a relationship just For most of the relationships Jemistry has been in, they have been abusive and she ends up hurt, physically and emotionally.
Will he be able to tear down the wall Jemistry has built around herself or will she repeat her past patterns of bailing on a relationship just when things seem to be going well? I have read quite a few of Zane's book in the past, but it has been few years since I have read one. This I will say is now one of my favorites. The Other Side of the Pillow was a great love story that most women dream will be a part of their lives. Jemistry meets Tevin after she finishes reciting a poem called "Bitter".
Shortly after they meet, though, she drops the two men she's been having casual sex with for the past couple of years. Learning to trust is not the easiest thing to do, but when you find someone you can trust completely then it's a magical thing. Tevin helped Jemistry to break down the wall she had built and learn to love again, but will the love and trust last.
Each chapter started with a quote about love, here are a few of my favorites: When I say forever, know I'll never leave you. When I say good-bye, promise me you won't cry. Cause the day I'll be saying that would be the day I die. Nov 09, Tqwana rated it it was ok. I wavered between giving this a 2 or a 3, but had to go with the lower rating. There was just too much scoffing and eye rolling happening as I was reading.
And anytime I find myself editing rather than just enjoying the story is a bad sign. Don't get me wrong. Somewhere in there is a good story, it's just mired by unnecessary and mundane details that didn't develop character or plot, and so much telling rather than showing that it read like a how-to, after school special rather than a novel. Ser I wavered between giving this a 2 or a 3, but had to go with the lower rating. Seriously, I think your target audience knows who Joe Clarke is.
Ironic, considering the notes at the end that said it ended up being a fictionalized tutorial rather than nonfiction. If you have to spell out that Jemistry has daddy issues rather than let the character's actions show it, that's a problem. This might've worked better as nonfiction. Much of the storytelling was disjointed.
One example that comes to mind is when Jemistry God awful name and Tevin were supposed to talk about his patient that died, but Jemistry ended up going on about her job. And that happened over and over again. I expected a big blow up with Tevin and Floyd after Floyd's dirt was revealed and again, got pages of exposition that had nothing or little to do with the confrontation.
There were so many soapbox preaching moments that I wasn't sure if this book was about Jemistry and Tevin or commentary on current events. By the way, no real educator would ever say the thing about teachers having shorter hours and summers off, because they know that's not true in anyway. Having been a teacher myself, I was offended.
The Other Side of the Pillow
Unless you're showing us how the character went from rags to riches, it's again superfluous details. He pulled into a parking space - did I really need to know the color and type of Mercedes he drove? What was the point? It's like people that go into Coach, Prada, Michael Kors, etc. So, Zane is the queen of erotica? This was the least erotic book I've read. Ok, maybe not as bad as Fifty Shades. All that vulgar language, but most of the sex scenes were again exposition or just fade to black.
Throwing out dirty language does not erotica make. That's just gross and unsexy all the way around. To say I was excited when I heard Zane was writing a new book would be a huge understatement. To me, despite what popular culture will lead you to believe, she is the one and only queen of erotica. I had relinquished all my common sense and self-respect in the name of love. I used to scoff at women who stayed with men who cheated on the To say I was excited when I heard Zane was writing a new book would be a huge understatement.
I used to scoff at women who stayed with men who cheated on them, or hit them. Yet, there I was with one who took pride in doing both. Or heck, we could be the one that is a Jemistry? Jemistry is a woman in a relationship with a man that she knows is no good for her, but yet she stays. Well, she stays until one day she realizes that she deserves more and walks away.
Jemistry is definitely a believable character. She is flawed, broken, bitter, and has dealt with enough heartbreak and disappointment to last a lifetime. Harris is swoon-worthy and everything else. But, he too is flawed and is carrying some baggage with him. The love story between him and Jemistry is one of push and pull.
It is one of complexities and it develops over time as each of them learn to not only put down their walls but to be patient and wait for the other person to allow them in. The Other Side of the Pillow came along right when I needed it in my life. It will serve as a constant reminder that nothing is gained by having a cold heart. Jemistry's story reminds us that even though we had one that broke us down, there is someone that will help build us back up and become the true love of our lives. And, as mentioned before this is a step out of the norm for Zane as it isn't erotica, but to me it is one of her best books to date.
This is how you write a book about grown ups for grown ups!! I received a complimentary copy of The Other Side of the Pillow in exchange for an honest review. Jul 14, Lisa Muhammad rated it it was amazing Shelves: Jemistry Daniels is the poster child for an angry black woman. Although she is independent and highly successful, she is tired of being used and abused by men so she adapts the mentality: If a man can do it, so can a woman…right??! Wrong, we as woman at some point have to break down those walls as it is not in our DNA to act like that without feeling some type of way.
Jemistry was doing well with that philosophy until she meets divorced Vascular Surgeon, Tevin Harris who is Jemistry Daniels is the poster child for an angry black woman. Jemistry was doing well with that philosophy until she meets divorced Vascular Surgeon, Tevin Harris who is just the man to knock down those walls.
Harris has had his own share of heartache in a different form. Will she allow him in? Is there such a thing as being happy after being in a mentally and physically draining relationship many times before? The author takes us on the journey of perseverance and love. The Other Side of the Pillow shows us with time and patience, anything is possible.
Sometimes when we are at our most vulnerable stage in life, we find that is then, we have also reached our breaking point. The story has a great flow and the characters are real and raw. I like how Zane has a quote at the beginning of each chapter. Nov 27, Nicole Hughes rated it liked it. It was really difficult for me to enjoy this book. I am a huge Zane fan but I was a little disappointed in this book. I enjoyed the story of Tevin and Jemistry although at times throughout the book I would forget their individual professions. It was extremely hard for me to believe that Jemistry worked around high school children by the way she herself spoke.
Then I remembered its Zane and her books are often very explicit. The other characters such as Winsome, Estella and Courtney in my opinion It was really difficult for me to enjoy this book. The other characters such as Winsome, Estella and Courtney in my opinion were underdeveloped. I think more could have been written in their individual story line. Oftentimes throughout the book some pages especially the thought processes of the characters were just fluff and did not flow with the story.
I thought quite a few thoughts as told by the person just did not make any sense. It was an ok read but not what I expected from Zane. Jul 13, Matysha rated it it was amazing Shelves: Zane has done it again! This book is has something everyone can relate to.
I loved that love definitely conquered all! With friends like Floyd and Winsome , Tevin and Jemistry didn't need any enemies. I really enjoy this novel and can't wait to see if Zane decides to write an "update" novel about the lives of Courtney, Floyd, Winsome , and Estella. Aug 07, Latrisha Clark rated it it was amazing. I was feeling him and wished that my roommate were there to hear it.
I was far from celibate, but Winsome was straight wilding out the majority of the time. He finished up his piece to mass applause and finger snapping. I was hoping that they would call at least two or three other names before mine so I could finish my drink. Even though I spoke in front of my students and faculty all the time, this was different. My words would be personal and from the heart. Queen Aishah, the comedic host for the evening, came back on stage working her fabulous hips, rocking her attention-getting hairstyle, and grabbed the microphone.
I hope some of the young ladies in this joint tonight take heed of your words. I could barely keep up with all the terminology meant solely to degrade women. THOT was a new one. Ho, chickenhead, bird, and the good old-fashioned whore were tossed around on the regular. The sad part was that a lot of women had started to embrace the monikers and often called one another those names.
Thank goodness that I had chosen a simple outfit: I was in a militant mood so my clothes reflected my attitude. Damn, love that name. I took the stage and Queen Aishah handed me the microphone, grinned, and sashayed off. She was so confident in herself; I wish I could have said the same. I cleared my throat and tried to imagine that the room was empty, that I was simply practicing like I had done several times at home earlier that day. I cleared my throat again and then start spitting out the words—slowly, concisely, and from the pit of my soul where all of my own personal pain and bitterness collided.
No sense at all I am a good woman A brilliant woman A compassionate woman A loving woman An educated woman A beautiful woman A romantic woman A unique and special woman So why do men overlook me? Or come into my life and play games? Use Jedi mind tricks? Spit out bullshit lies? Expect me to share dick? Expect me to tolerate their shit? Say one thing and do another?
Call me names and expect me to be their lover? Hit on me and then try to kiss me? Talk shit behind my back? Hurt Pain Anguish Bitter Those are the words that describe me Those are the terms that define me Now it is time for me to find me Before it is too late And my heart can no longer participate In what people call love In a true relationship Bitter. Then there was mass applause and cheers. A few men clapped and many were shaking their heads and crossing their arms in defiance. Their egos were bruised, but they knew that I had spoken nothing but the truth.
They were going to learn that day. As I walked off the stage, Queen Aishah came up to announce the next poet. That was some real shit right there!
I wondered if he had come in while I was performing. He was almost like a giant—at least six five compared to my five-two height. Even though he was sitting, I could tell that he was like a tree. He had a smooth, dark-chocolate complexion, eyes the shade of almonds, a polished fade, and he wore rimless eyeglasses.
The bartender came over to me. After another minute or two, once my fresh drink was in front of me, I could not take the stares anymore. There was an older woman onstage reciting a poem about the joys of menopause and moving on to the next stage of life. He was not paying attention to her at all. He was too busy watching my every move. I am bitter regarding several men from my past. All of the men from my past. Not a single one of them appreciated any of the goodness in me until after I was gone. The Virgo in me kicked in.