Being shelley, p.22
Being Shelley,
p.22
November 2019
Summary
Shelley Jacobsen is in her forties and feels trapped. The coffee and décor shop she opened with her bestie is proving to be a gilded cage. Meanwhile, her husband, Jerry, is consumed with Jewish guilt since having their twins, which reminds Shelley that she will always think of herself as the ‘shiksa’ to his family.
Then she hires Wayde Smith as a barista. To her, the sexy twenty-two-year-old surfer smells like a Pina Colada Coconut Vanilla Dessert, exactly the smell of the holiday she wants from her life. Is it so wrong that Wayde with his brown skin, abs for days, and beachy hair skimming his shoulders makes her feel young? Can’t a woman be friends with her male employee?
Shelley is tired of fighting with Jerry; she just wants some fun. But will the fun stay harmless, or is she heading for a total wipeout?
About the Author
Qarnita Loxton was born and lives in Cape Town. She has practised as an attorney, studied psychology and worked as an executive coach. Her first novel, Being Kari (Kwela 2017), was longlisted for the 2018 9mobile Prize for Literature and shortlisted for the 2018 Herman Charles Bosman Prize. Being Lily followed in 2018. Being Shelley is the third book in the series.
Praise for Being Lily:
“Loxton’s books are funny and smart, her writing style reminds you a little of award-winning Irish novelist Marian Keyes, and similarly leaves you excited for the next in her series.”
– Eleanor Douglas-Meyers, Herald
“Funny and poignant, with characters so believable I feel like I know them.”
– Pamela Power
“A fun read with underlying messages that stay with you.”
– Beryl Eichenberger, Woman Zone
Praise for Being Kari:
“Entertaining, stimulating and thought-provoking, Being Kari shows Loxton to be an extremely skillful writer with the potential to become a superstar of South African literature.”
– Mervyn Sloman, proprietor of the Book Lounge
“Loxton’s writing style is superbly considered and executed [ … ] as a writer she is a wise, insightful and compassionate observer of human circumstance.”
– Julian Richfield, Cape Times
“[G]ripping: Once you’ve opened the book, you’ll easily finish it in one evening.”
– Louise Ferreira, Die Burger
“A funny, insightful novel about contemporary life. The Cape Town setting is a bonus.”
– Mike Nicol, Sunday Times
“Loxton [ … ] brings an unaccustomed lightness of touch to the exploration of identity that constitutes a key theme in so much South African literature. The narrator’s sensitivity to speech rhythms and close attention to the minutiae of everyday life allow her to vividly effect a fusion between her warring worlds [ … ]”
– Commendation by 2018 Herman Charles Bosman Prize judges Johan Jacobs, Molly Brown and Ann Donald
Other novels by the author:
Being Kari (2017)
Being Lily (2018)
Kwela Books,
an imprint of NB Publishers,
a division of Media24 Boeke (Pty) Ltd,
40 Heerengracht, Cape Town 8001
www.kwela.com
Copyright © 2019 Qarnita Loxton
All rights reserved.
No part of this electronic book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying and recording, or by any other information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.
Cover design by publicide
E-book design by Wouter Reinders
Available in print:
First edition in 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7957-0960-9
Epub edition:
First edition in 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7957-0961-6 (epub)
Mobi edition:
First edition in 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7957-0962-3 (mobi)
Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Valentine’s Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Coffee & Cream, with a side of Wayde Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Surf’s up Shell’s out Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
It’s Shabbat Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Wipeout Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Smell the coffee, Shellbell Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Crunch Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Passed over Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
April Fool Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Hear me Chapter 57
Acknowledgements
About the Book Summary
About the Author
Praise for Being Lily
Praise for Being Kari
Other novels by the author
Imprint Page
Qarnita Loxton, Being Shelley
