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The Other Side of Now
A hilarious and heartfelt novel about how loves and lives are never truly lost, for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.
With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood's latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath the layers of makeup and hairspray, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip where she knows the grass is greener: Ireland. Specifically, the quaint little village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving—a dream that fell apart when an accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago.
When Meg arrives, the people in town are so nice, treating her not as a stranger, but a friend. Except for the (extremely hot) bartender giving her the cold shoulder. Meg writes it all off as jetlag until she looks in the mirror. Her hair is no longer bleached within an inch of its life, her skin has a few natural fine lines, and her nose looks like… well, her old nose. Her real nose.
Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this little town: with an adorable dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her (ex?) boyfriend; and at a retail job unrelated to acting. Eventually, she comes to accept that she somehow made a quantum slide into an alternate version of her life. But the most shocking realization of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is alive and well…but wants nothing to do with Meg.
Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke. She finagles an opportunity to act in the play Aimee is writing and directing and as the project unfolds, Meg realizes that events as she remembers them may not be the only truth, and that an impossible choice looms before her.
With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood's latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath the layers of makeup and hairspray, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip where she knows the grass is greener: Ireland. Specifically, the quaint little village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving—a dream that fell apart when an accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago.
When Meg arrives, the people in town are so nice, treating her not as a stranger, but a friend. Except for the (extremely hot) bartender giving her the cold shoulder. Meg writes it all off as jetlag until she looks in the mirror. Her hair is no longer bleached within an inch of its life, her skin has a few natural fine lines, and her nose looks like… well, her old nose. Her real nose.
Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this little town: with an adorable dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her (ex?) boyfriend; and at a retail job unrelated to acting. Eventually, she comes to accept that she somehow made a quantum slide into an alternate version of her life. But the most shocking realization of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is alive and well…but wants nothing to do with Meg.
Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke. She finagles an opportunity to act in the play Aimee is writing and directing and as the project unfolds, Meg realizes that events as she remembers them may not be the only truth, and that an impossible choice looms before her.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2025
562 people are currently reading
35123 people want to read
About the author
Paige Harbison
7 books498 followersA little bit about me...
I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.
I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.
Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.
At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.
I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.
I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.
I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.
Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.
At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.
I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,637 reviews
May 31, 2025
OMG I’m screaming!! This was so damn good!! 😭😭
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Part magical realism, part alternate reality, dashes of nostalgia, and 100% hopeful and healing.
Alright! Omg I’m so excited to talk about this one! I’ve been telling everyone I come into contact with about it! My realtor, my mom, my coworkers, my friends lmao. I loved it right from the first page and what an incredibly fun and touching journey!!
We follow our FMC, Meg Byan (lol yes) aka Lana Lord - she’s a hit tv show star on the extreme soap opera Brilliance (think like Dynasty) and she’s feeling a little out of sorts and discontent, so she books a spur of the moment trip to Ireland and secures and cute little Airbnb and sets off.
Once she arrives, her cell phone battery has drained and she’s hungry etc. so she pops over to the neighborhood pub to get something to eat and see if anyone has a charger to use.
As she steps into the pub she’s quite literally thrown into another world. Many of the people in the pub seem to know her. Intimately. Thrown off and confused, she returns to the Airbnb and when she glances at herself in the mirror, she’s still herself, but any of the work she’s had done since being in Hollywood has disappeared. Reflecting back at her in the mirror is how she would have looked if she never had Botox etc., lost the 20lbs production had her lose.
When Meg and her childhood best friend were teenagers, they were at the local fair. There was a woman there doing palm readings. She had explained to Meg that she had two lifelines, indicating two lives and she’d have to choose one. When the woman read Aimee’s palm, she didn’t say anything and instead had a look of dread and sorrow on her face.
Not long after, Aimee dies tragically, Meg escapes to LA and becomes an actress.
This story was so amazingly good besties! I laughed and giggled, I teared up with joy and with sorrow and sadness. The message in the story is truly heartwarming.
The fmc was so relatable, she is me and I am her. She’s a dog lover and a perfume lover, loves great music, not just the garbage they play on the radio. She loves deeply and when her best friend in the whole world tragically died, she shut down.
She was really good at denial for many years after the passing of her best friend and that really resonated with me. I don’t think anyone is particularly good at grief, but I am the absolute worst. I felt so much compassion and understanding for Meg, I’ve been there.
The heavier message in the book is sprinkled with tons of humor and heartfelt moments. I found myself over here quite literally giggling and kicking my feet. Kiera is my girl. What an amazing side character. Cillian is such a good guy and an amazing love interest.
All things said and done. I thought the writing was superb, the story kept me engaged and flipping the pages quickly right from the start. I laughed, I related, I cried, and just completely fell in love with all of these beautiful characters.
If you enjoy heartfelt and moving stories about life and friendship that include a little time travel/parallel lives/sliding doors themes- look no further and grab this one up! Highly recommend!
(Edited this review in my phone- I’ll come back and edit shortly on my laptop.)
💚Slow burn
💛Friendship
💚Found family
💛Fated mates
💚Forgiveness & grief
💛Small town
🐾Dogs!
💛Love and Loss
💚Happiness x Sorrow
Expected Release Date ~ 06/03/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the complementary advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Part magical realism, part alternate reality, dashes of nostalgia, and 100% hopeful and healing.
Alright! Omg I’m so excited to talk about this one! I’ve been telling everyone I come into contact with about it! My realtor, my mom, my coworkers, my friends lmao. I loved it right from the first page and what an incredibly fun and touching journey!!
We follow our FMC, Meg Byan (lol yes) aka Lana Lord - she’s a hit tv show star on the extreme soap opera Brilliance (think like Dynasty) and she’s feeling a little out of sorts and discontent, so she books a spur of the moment trip to Ireland and secures and cute little Airbnb and sets off.
Once she arrives, her cell phone battery has drained and she’s hungry etc. so she pops over to the neighborhood pub to get something to eat and see if anyone has a charger to use.
As she steps into the pub she’s quite literally thrown into another world. Many of the people in the pub seem to know her. Intimately. Thrown off and confused, she returns to the Airbnb and when she glances at herself in the mirror, she’s still herself, but any of the work she’s had done since being in Hollywood has disappeared. Reflecting back at her in the mirror is how she would have looked if she never had Botox etc., lost the 20lbs production had her lose.
When Meg and her childhood best friend were teenagers, they were at the local fair. There was a woman there doing palm readings. She had explained to Meg that she had two lifelines, indicating two lives and she’d have to choose one. When the woman read Aimee’s palm, she didn’t say anything and instead had a look of dread and sorrow on her face.
Not long after, Aimee dies tragically, Meg escapes to LA and becomes an actress.
This story was so amazingly good besties! I laughed and giggled, I teared up with joy and with sorrow and sadness. The message in the story is truly heartwarming.
The fmc was so relatable, she is me and I am her. She’s a dog lover and a perfume lover, loves great music, not just the garbage they play on the radio. She loves deeply and when her best friend in the whole world tragically died, she shut down.
She was really good at denial for many years after the passing of her best friend and that really resonated with me. I don’t think anyone is particularly good at grief, but I am the absolute worst. I felt so much compassion and understanding for Meg, I’ve been there.
The heavier message in the book is sprinkled with tons of humor and heartfelt moments. I found myself over here quite literally giggling and kicking my feet. Kiera is my girl. What an amazing side character. Cillian is such a good guy and an amazing love interest.
All things said and done. I thought the writing was superb, the story kept me engaged and flipping the pages quickly right from the start. I laughed, I related, I cried, and just completely fell in love with all of these beautiful characters.
If you enjoy heartfelt and moving stories about life and friendship that include a little time travel/parallel lives/sliding doors themes- look no further and grab this one up! Highly recommend!
(Edited this review in my phone- I’ll come back and edit shortly on my laptop.)
💚Slow burn
💛Friendship
💚Found family
💛Fated mates
💚Forgiveness & grief
💛Small town
🐾Dogs!
💛Love and Loss
💚Happiness x Sorrow
Expected Release Date ~ 06/03/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the complementary advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
January 10, 2025
I absolutely Love, Love, Love this book! ❤️
I honestly don’t remember how this book ended up on my shelf…but maybe that just adds to its magic!
Meg and Aimee, high school besties decide to visit a fortune teller. Sounds like innocent fun, right? So why does the woman refuse to give Aimee her reading? I’m no psychic but that can’t be good.
While getting her reading Meg gets a surprise as well. We are about to find out what's in store for Meg.
As predicted, Meg did find her success as Hollywood actress Lana Lord. So why isn’t she happy? For her 30th birthday she treats herself to a week-long trip to Ireland. A place she and Aimee always dreamed about going to for College. Life had other plans for them.
Once arriving in Ireland, Meg is a bit confused. Everyone seems to know her, yet for Meg it feels as though she’s meeting them for the first time. Could this be the life that fortune-teller alluded to all those years ago?
I’ve read a few sliding door themed books over the years but this one is my absolute favorite to date.
This is one of those books I simply didn’t want to end. I became a big fan of Meg (Ireland Meg more than Hollywood Meg). I cried with her, laughed with her and cheered her on!
As Meg’s emotions got the best of her, so did mine, leaving me in a pool of tears. Where will Meg end up? What life is she destined to live? You know I can’t tell you.💁🏻♀️. But I hope this book wraps you in the same magical spell it did for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
I honestly don’t remember how this book ended up on my shelf…but maybe that just adds to its magic!
Meg and Aimee, high school besties decide to visit a fortune teller. Sounds like innocent fun, right? So why does the woman refuse to give Aimee her reading? I’m no psychic but that can’t be good.
While getting her reading Meg gets a surprise as well. We are about to find out what's in store for Meg.
As predicted, Meg did find her success as Hollywood actress Lana Lord. So why isn’t she happy? For her 30th birthday she treats herself to a week-long trip to Ireland. A place she and Aimee always dreamed about going to for College. Life had other plans for them.
Once arriving in Ireland, Meg is a bit confused. Everyone seems to know her, yet for Meg it feels as though she’s meeting them for the first time. Could this be the life that fortune-teller alluded to all those years ago?
I’ve read a few sliding door themed books over the years but this one is my absolute favorite to date.
This is one of those books I simply didn’t want to end. I became a big fan of Meg (Ireland Meg more than Hollywood Meg). I cried with her, laughed with her and cheered her on!
As Meg’s emotions got the best of her, so did mine, leaving me in a pool of tears. Where will Meg end up? What life is she destined to live? You know I can’t tell you.💁🏻♀️. But I hope this book wraps you in the same magical spell it did for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
June 1, 2025
**One of the favorite reads of the year so far! It's a BOTM add on this month! If you're wavering...get it!!
Literally cannot stop thinking about this book and these characters!!!!
“Do you ever get déjà vu?”
Do you ever wonder...what if? How big can one small decision change the entire course of your life?
This genre bending story is part magical realism, part alternate reality, dashes of nostalgia, and 100% hopeful and healing.
Although categorized as a romance, The Other Side of Now packs a punch with its heavy subject matter and multilayered storyline. That being said, the different versions of love in this books were my favorite thing about it. Time travel endings can be tricky & I find myself hoping they don't wake up and it's all just been a dream or something. The ending brings closure and wrapped up loose end perfectly.
-Slow burn
-Friendship
-Found family
-Second chance
-Fated mates
-Forgiveness & grief
-Small Irish town
-Dogs!
4.5 stars. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Publishing June, 2025
Literally cannot stop thinking about this book and these characters!!!!
“Do you ever get déjà vu?”
Do you ever wonder...what if? How big can one small decision change the entire course of your life?
This genre bending story is part magical realism, part alternate reality, dashes of nostalgia, and 100% hopeful and healing.
Although categorized as a romance, The Other Side of Now packs a punch with its heavy subject matter and multilayered storyline. That being said, the different versions of love in this books were my favorite thing about it. Time travel endings can be tricky & I find myself hoping they don't wake up and it's all just been a dream or something. The ending brings closure and wrapped up loose end perfectly.
-Slow burn
-Friendship
-Found family
-Second chance
-Fated mates
-Forgiveness & grief
-Small Irish town
-Dogs!
4.5 stars. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Publishing June, 2025
June 8, 2025
Do you enjoy sliding doors type stories where the MC gets to explore what their life would’ve looked like had things played out differently? In this interdimensional take on that type of story, Meg Bryan discovers what life would’ve been like if she hadn’t abandoned her dream to attend school in Ireland to stay close to her best friend Aimee, who is later tragically killed in an accident.
Now a famous actress going by the stage name Lana Lord, she decides on her thirtieth birthday to book a trip to the “one that got away” - which in this case is Avalon, Ireland. When she gets there she finds that everyone knows her, she has a different best friend Kiera, an on-again/off-again relationship with bartender Cillian and weirdest of all? Aimee is there.
The story explores her journey of healing from her grief over losing Aimee in her “real” life, opening herself up to living life in the ‘now’, instead of in the past and letting go of regrets. These are all topics that I normally enjoy and connect with, yet here’s the big problem:
I never really connected with Meg. I felt oddly detached from her and frankly, found her a little obnoxious, which is a bad place to start when you’re trying to build the sympathy that the story requires. She comes across as a bit shallow with her sprinkled name dropping of celebrities, brands and places. The author’s L.A. connections show, but it feels like insider speak that kept me alienated.
I also didn’t feel the chemistry between Meg and Cillian. He seemed mature and balanced, while she felt too much like a YA character masquerading as a thirty-year-old. Harbison’s switch from the YA market to this adult debut shows with lines like:
“Plus, how completely special it is for a guy that hot to not be a total f*ckboy.”
“Our lips collide again, messily but in a hot way.”
“I should not have been surprised that he has a great d*ck.”
"I feel like we are discovering or inventing sex for the first time.”
Do adults talk like this? Maybe some do, but my eyes got tired of rolling.
Here’s what I think would’ve improved my experience: I should’ve just read it without the audio. The author narrates it herself and her voicing of Meg made her sound younger, more sarcastic and melodramatic than I prefer. If I’d pictured a different voice for Meg, I think it would’ve softened the edges of her personality.
Those things aside, I did enjoy the setting and characters of Avalon, especially Kiera and Cillian, Meg’s grief journey, as well as the ending, so there were likable aspects, but I really wanted to love it like the majority of others have.
Perhaps in another dimension I do?
★★★
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Paige Harbison for this digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.
Now a famous actress going by the stage name Lana Lord, she decides on her thirtieth birthday to book a trip to the “one that got away” - which in this case is Avalon, Ireland. When she gets there she finds that everyone knows her, she has a different best friend Kiera, an on-again/off-again relationship with bartender Cillian and weirdest of all? Aimee is there.
The story explores her journey of healing from her grief over losing Aimee in her “real” life, opening herself up to living life in the ‘now’, instead of in the past and letting go of regrets. These are all topics that I normally enjoy and connect with, yet here’s the big problem:
I never really connected with Meg. I felt oddly detached from her and frankly, found her a little obnoxious, which is a bad place to start when you’re trying to build the sympathy that the story requires. She comes across as a bit shallow with her sprinkled name dropping of celebrities, brands and places. The author’s L.A. connections show, but it feels like insider speak that kept me alienated.
I also didn’t feel the chemistry between Meg and Cillian. He seemed mature and balanced, while she felt too much like a YA character masquerading as a thirty-year-old. Harbison’s switch from the YA market to this adult debut shows with lines like:
“Plus, how completely special it is for a guy that hot to not be a total f*ckboy.”
“Our lips collide again, messily but in a hot way.”
“I should not have been surprised that he has a great d*ck.”
"I feel like we are discovering or inventing sex for the first time.”
Do adults talk like this? Maybe some do, but my eyes got tired of rolling.
Here’s what I think would’ve improved my experience: I should’ve just read it without the audio. The author narrates it herself and her voicing of Meg made her sound younger, more sarcastic and melodramatic than I prefer. If I’d pictured a different voice for Meg, I think it would’ve softened the edges of her personality.
Those things aside, I did enjoy the setting and characters of Avalon, especially Kiera and Cillian, Meg’s grief journey, as well as the ending, so there were likable aspects, but I really wanted to love it like the majority of others have.
Perhaps in another dimension I do?
★★★
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Paige Harbison for this digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s out now.
June 3, 2025
Synopsis:
Meg Bryan (not to be confused with Meg Ryan) always dreamed of becoming a Star! She is now the lead Actress on a soapy show called “Brilliance” and she is living with one of Hollywood’s hottest leading men-THE Grayson Gable!
But, fame hasn’t brought her the happiness she thought it would, despite changing her name to Lana Lord, changing her nose, changing her hair, and depriving herself of all of the foods she has loved to lose weight.
Finally on her thirtieth birthday she realizes that what she really needed to change is her life, and she books an impromptu trip to Ireland. She and her high school best friend, Aimee, once planned to attend the Avalon School of the Arts there together-before an accident took Aimee’s life.
But, when she arrives, Meg discovers that she has somehow slipped into a parallel universe-one where she isn’t a Star-she doesn’t looks like “Lana” but rather like an older version of her high school self-one who hasn’t made all of the changes that Hollywood “suggested” she make-and most importantly Aimee-the best friend she has never stopped grieving-is still alive!
But, Aimee doesn’t want anything to do with her.
Her trip was booked for ONE WEEK-and it will be a week of self discovery and second chances. Can she right any wrongs?
My thoughts:
First-I would never have requested this book if it wasn’t for the enticing reviews of several Goodreads friends, as the book cover is very unappealing to me (sorry!)
And, for about the first 25%, I wasn’t sure if this book would get me out of my book slump-as I felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny, as we learned about Lana’s superficial life in Los Angeles. Some of the humor felt forced.
But, when Lana slid into her parallel universe in Ireland and became Meg, the book shifted for me as well.
I was now engaged by the entertaining small town life with its requisite PUB, its bartender Cillian-who is also Irish MEG’s enviable love interest-and the wonderful, supportive female friendships!
I suddenly found myself invested in the outcome, and anxious to see how this would all turn out.
The book is advertised as “for fans of Rebecca Serle or TJR” but Ashley Poston would be a more accurate comparison. If you can open your mind to this concept without explanation-I think you will enjoy this heartfelt book too!
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn. Be sure to watch for their wonderful reviews for additional insight!
NOW AVAILABLE
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Meg Bryan (not to be confused with Meg Ryan) always dreamed of becoming a Star! She is now the lead Actress on a soapy show called “Brilliance” and she is living with one of Hollywood’s hottest leading men-THE Grayson Gable!
But, fame hasn’t brought her the happiness she thought it would, despite changing her name to Lana Lord, changing her nose, changing her hair, and depriving herself of all of the foods she has loved to lose weight.
Finally on her thirtieth birthday she realizes that what she really needed to change is her life, and she books an impromptu trip to Ireland. She and her high school best friend, Aimee, once planned to attend the Avalon School of the Arts there together-before an accident took Aimee’s life.
But, when she arrives, Meg discovers that she has somehow slipped into a parallel universe-one where she isn’t a Star-she doesn’t looks like “Lana” but rather like an older version of her high school self-one who hasn’t made all of the changes that Hollywood “suggested” she make-and most importantly Aimee-the best friend she has never stopped grieving-is still alive!
But, Aimee doesn’t want anything to do with her.
Her trip was booked for ONE WEEK-and it will be a week of self discovery and second chances. Can she right any wrongs?
My thoughts:
First-I would never have requested this book if it wasn’t for the enticing reviews of several Goodreads friends, as the book cover is very unappealing to me (sorry!)
And, for about the first 25%, I wasn’t sure if this book would get me out of my book slump-as I felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny, as we learned about Lana’s superficial life in Los Angeles. Some of the humor felt forced.
But, when Lana slid into her parallel universe in Ireland and became Meg, the book shifted for me as well.
I was now engaged by the entertaining small town life with its requisite PUB, its bartender Cillian-who is also Irish MEG’s enviable love interest-and the wonderful, supportive female friendships!
I suddenly found myself invested in the outcome, and anxious to see how this would all turn out.
The book is advertised as “for fans of Rebecca Serle or TJR” but Ashley Poston would be a more accurate comparison. If you can open your mind to this concept without explanation-I think you will enjoy this heartfelt book too!
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn. Be sure to watch for their wonderful reviews for additional insight!
NOW AVAILABLE
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
June 3, 2025
જ⁀➴ 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Harbison, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Other Side of Now is available now! (P.S. It’s also available as an add-on for the Book of the Month subscription box for June 2025 in the US and Canada!)
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I'm starting June off strong- my first true 4-star read in a long while that I haven't had to round up!
Meg "Meggie" Bryan, popular soap opera actress under the stage name of Lana Lord, has it all. She lives in LA, has enough money in her bank account, has an actor boyfriend, and her dog, Dido. However, not everything is as perfect as it seems on the surface. Her show might get canceled, she has her suspicions of her boyfriend cheating on her, people are telling her to get more work done on her body, and frankly, she needs a vacation. On the night of her thirtieth birthday, she decides to take a flight to Avalon, Ireland. It was the place she was supposed to go to for college, but didn't because of her best friend Aimee not getting into the same college as her back in high school. When she falls asleep in the Uber on the way to her Airbnb, she wakes up only to realize that she's woken up in an alternate reality timeline where she's lived in Avalon for years, complete with an on-and-off boyfriend, Cillian, close friends, and the plot twist? Aimee lives in Avalon too...but she hates her.
This was such a heartfelt read. Some heavier topics get covered in here, like grief, but it's not done in a way that overwhelms you and makes it a super heavy read. I loved seeing Meg try to adjust to her new life in this alternate timeline and how she starts to live life in the slow lane. I loved the small town and countryside vibes Avalon gave me; the setting and the way Paige Harbison set everything up just reinforced why I would love to travel to Ireland one day if I ever get the chance.
I really liked the idea of the "alternate" life aspect of the story. I think it's always interesting to see what life would be like for someone on the other side in an alternate universe, and I think Meg took a lot away from that in the story. She learned to enjoy life, appreciate the people she had in her life, and figured out what she truly wanted from her life away from her Lana Lord persona and her life in LA. She slowed down, took a deep breath, and learned to live in the moment, and I think that's such a wonderful message to have in this day and age where our society is all about hustle culture and moving up in your career.
Something interesting to note: while drafting my review, I was curious and looked up Avalon, Ireland, to see if it was an actual city there. While it's NOT an actual city that exists, I did find it VERY interesting that Avalon is known to be a mystical island in Arthurian legend, and it's known to be a sort of paradise and utopia. I found it quite interesting that Paige Harbison chose that name for the setting of the story because Meg slowly grows to love Avalon, which is the magical place of where her alternate timeline takes place, and the life she's created for herself there. Even if she doesn't fully remember everything that's happened to her leading up to the parallel lives switch, she learned to give into the circumstances and live her life there. Soon enough, she comes to love her life and it becomes her utopia in a sense, and while I have no idea if this was intentional by Paige Harbison or not, I thought it was a subtle, nice touch to the story.
I think the book being tagged as "romance" on Goodreads is doing it a disservice, because if you're going into this expecting romance to be the main portion of the plot, you'll be severely disappointed. Personally speaking, I think this is a really good contemporary fiction book! I think this is a trend I've been seeing overall in the romance genre lately, where contemporary fiction books that don't have romance at the forefront of the plot are primarily being marketed as romance, perhaps to appeal to a larger audience. I don't think it's the author's fault, but I did want to make this point known to other readers so they don't walk into this with the wrong first impression. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Meg and Cillian, and while we do get backstories on their relationship through Meg's friend, Kiera, in the story, I feel like their on-and-off relationship was too chaotic for me to believe they liked each other. It was like seeing "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry personified in a fictional relationship in a book.
Additionally, there was a scene that went down in the book that genuinely gave me the ick. It involves Meg and Aimee's boyfriend-turned husband, Theo, and while I don't want to go into the details (because spoilers), I can see why Meg has so much hatred for him. Aimee's on something else if she knew what went down and she still wanted to marry him.
Last, but not least, I felt that the ending was somewhat abrupt. I can see how and why it ended the way it did; I believe this is one of the very few alternate timeline/time jump stories that I've read where everything has a solid beginning and ending, but given the events leading up to the ending, it was kind of a sudden switch from one scene to the other.
Overall, for Paige Harbison's adult debut, I think she did a stunning job! I can't wait to see what she has in store next. If you're looking for a heartfelt summer read to read this year, I highly recommend you pick up The Other Side of Now.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Trigger/content warnings: recounted death of a loved one, car accident, grief depiction, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use, sexual content (probably a 1.5-1.75/5 on the spice scale, but obviously, this rating is based on my own experiences reading sexual content in books and may vary from person to person.)
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: It's been a while since I read a magical realism book that involved time travel, so here we go!✨ I always get a little wary with books that involve time travel because there's always something that gets missed, there's a loophole and/or a plot hole that doesn't make sense, or something that doesn't make the story come full circle, so I'm hoping this delivers.🤞🏼🍀
This is ARC 2/10 that I need to read for June 2025, and ARC 2/2 for my next deadline of June 3rd!☀️ (I'm definitely trying to get ahead of the curve here so I have time to read other non-ARC books this summer lol)
Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Harbison, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Other Side of Now is available now! (P.S. It’s also available as an add-on for the Book of the Month subscription box for June 2025 in the US and Canada!)
"Out of all the lives I might have, I believe I can make this the one that feels right. I simply have to build it. Nothing as simple as fame could give me what I need. What I need is to be around people I care about. To let people love me. To have small moments, knowing that they're the biggest ones, and not ignore them because I'm too busy looking way off in the distance, either future or past, for some imagined thing."
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I'm starting June off strong- my first true 4-star read in a long while that I haven't had to round up!
Meg "Meggie" Bryan, popular soap opera actress under the stage name of Lana Lord, has it all. She lives in LA, has enough money in her bank account, has an actor boyfriend, and her dog, Dido. However, not everything is as perfect as it seems on the surface. Her show might get canceled, she has her suspicions of her boyfriend cheating on her, people are telling her to get more work done on her body, and frankly, she needs a vacation. On the night of her thirtieth birthday, she decides to take a flight to Avalon, Ireland. It was the place she was supposed to go to for college, but didn't because of her best friend Aimee not getting into the same college as her back in high school. When she falls asleep in the Uber on the way to her Airbnb, she wakes up only to realize that she's woken up in an alternate reality timeline where she's lived in Avalon for years, complete with an on-and-off boyfriend, Cillian, close friends, and the plot twist? Aimee lives in Avalon too...but she hates her.
This was such a heartfelt read. Some heavier topics get covered in here, like grief, but it's not done in a way that overwhelms you and makes it a super heavy read. I loved seeing Meg try to adjust to her new life in this alternate timeline and how she starts to live life in the slow lane. I loved the small town and countryside vibes Avalon gave me; the setting and the way Paige Harbison set everything up just reinforced why I would love to travel to Ireland one day if I ever get the chance.
I really liked the idea of the "alternate" life aspect of the story. I think it's always interesting to see what life would be like for someone on the other side in an alternate universe, and I think Meg took a lot away from that in the story. She learned to enjoy life, appreciate the people she had in her life, and figured out what she truly wanted from her life away from her Lana Lord persona and her life in LA. She slowed down, took a deep breath, and learned to live in the moment, and I think that's such a wonderful message to have in this day and age where our society is all about hustle culture and moving up in your career.
Something interesting to note: while drafting my review, I was curious and looked up Avalon, Ireland, to see if it was an actual city there. While it's NOT an actual city that exists, I did find it VERY interesting that Avalon is known to be a mystical island in Arthurian legend, and it's known to be a sort of paradise and utopia. I found it quite interesting that Paige Harbison chose that name for the setting of the story because Meg slowly grows to love Avalon, which is the magical place of where her alternate timeline takes place, and the life she's created for herself there. Even if she doesn't fully remember everything that's happened to her leading up to the parallel lives switch, she learned to give into the circumstances and live her life there. Soon enough, she comes to love her life and it becomes her utopia in a sense, and while I have no idea if this was intentional by Paige Harbison or not, I thought it was a subtle, nice touch to the story.
I think the book being tagged as "romance" on Goodreads is doing it a disservice, because if you're going into this expecting romance to be the main portion of the plot, you'll be severely disappointed. Personally speaking, I think this is a really good contemporary fiction book! I think this is a trend I've been seeing overall in the romance genre lately, where contemporary fiction books that don't have romance at the forefront of the plot are primarily being marketed as romance, perhaps to appeal to a larger audience. I don't think it's the author's fault, but I did want to make this point known to other readers so they don't walk into this with the wrong first impression. I didn't really feel the chemistry between Meg and Cillian, and while we do get backstories on their relationship through Meg's friend, Kiera, in the story, I feel like their on-and-off relationship was too chaotic for me to believe they liked each other. It was like seeing "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry personified in a fictional relationship in a book.
Additionally, there was a scene that went down in the book that genuinely gave me the ick. It involves Meg and Aimee's boyfriend-turned husband, Theo, and while I don't want to go into the details (because spoilers), I can see why Meg has so much hatred for him. Aimee's on something else if she knew what went down and she still wanted to marry him.
Last, but not least, I felt that the ending was somewhat abrupt. I can see how and why it ended the way it did; I believe this is one of the very few alternate timeline/time jump stories that I've read where everything has a solid beginning and ending, but given the events leading up to the ending, it was kind of a sudden switch from one scene to the other.
Overall, for Paige Harbison's adult debut, I think she did a stunning job! I can't wait to see what she has in store next. If you're looking for a heartfelt summer read to read this year, I highly recommend you pick up The Other Side of Now.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Trigger/content warnings: recounted death of a loved one, car accident, grief depiction, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use, sexual content (probably a 1.5-1.75/5 on the spice scale, but obviously, this rating is based on my own experiences reading sexual content in books and may vary from person to person.)
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: It's been a while since I read a magical realism book that involved time travel, so here we go!✨ I always get a little wary with books that involve time travel because there's always something that gets missed, there's a loophole and/or a plot hole that doesn't make sense, or something that doesn't make the story come full circle, so I'm hoping this delivers.🤞🏼🍀
This is ARC 2/10 that I need to read for June 2025, and ARC 2/2 for my next deadline of June 3rd!☀️ (I'm definitely trying to get ahead of the curve here so I have time to read other non-ARC books this summer lol)
June 15, 2025
When I was 15, my best friend was killed in a car accident. For that reason, this was a hard read since I could relate to the pain of losing someone you thought would be in your life forever. It was also hard when she met this person again, in a parallell life. But it was written so wonderfully and wise that I managed to feel it all without feeling overwhelmed. There were lovely moments that made me smile, hard questions to ponder and reflections that spoke to me. It was truly a magnificent book that resonated deeply.
March 17, 2025
What a lovely surprise this book turned out to be! It has a strong sliding doors vibe to it. On the surface, Meg Bryan (known professionally as Lana Lord), has everything going for her - she is an actress on a hit show, her boyfriend is a a Hollywood hunk, and she lives in a beautiful home. But after her 30th birthday party, she decides to hop on a plane and head to Ireland to the village that she and her best friend Aimee; who died tragically years earlier, dreamt of moving. When she arrives, everyone acts as if they know her. Meg is a different person there. Not the bleached blond glammed up actress but the meg who runs a shop and has not altered her looks. Plus, her friend Aimee is alive!!!
This was a joy to read and had me smiling and feeling all kinds of good feelings. This book was like a breath of fresh air. Who hasn't looked back on their life and thought "what if". This book had a little bit of everything, friendship, loss, romance, being happy with yourself, relationships, forgiving, following your dreams, etc.
When I started this book, I had no idea just how much I would enjoy it. I found it to be such a wonderful surprising in all the right ways book. Wonderfully written, well thought out, and gripping!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
This was a joy to read and had me smiling and feeling all kinds of good feelings. This book was like a breath of fresh air. Who hasn't looked back on their life and thought "what if". This book had a little bit of everything, friendship, loss, romance, being happy with yourself, relationships, forgiving, following your dreams, etc.
When I started this book, I had no idea just how much I would enjoy it. I found it to be such a wonderful surprising in all the right ways book. Wonderfully written, well thought out, and gripping!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
June 3, 2025
Magical realism at its best!
I expected to smile, but I wasn’t prepared to cry!
What a story Paige Harbison has created! It’s truly unforgettable. The idea of walking through a door into a different life—the life you could have chosen if things were different—has been done before, but Paige Harbison’s spin on this novel felt unique. I fell deeply for the characters in Avalon. I wanted to visit and meet these fabulous, normal, lovely people.
So, what is The Other Side of Now about?
Meg Bryan, now a famous actress known as Lana Lord, stars in a hit TV show called Brilliance. She’s recognized by most but isn’t truly happy. After a difficult thirtieth birthday, she decides she needs a break from Hollywood and her famous actor boyfriend. She books a trip to Avalon, Ireland, a place she and her best friend Aimee once dreamed of attending college. In reality, that never happened—Aimee died a decade ago.
When Meg arrives in Avalon, she feels at home. The locals, especially Kiera, are kind to her. No one treats her like a Hollywood star, but when she asks for a drink, the bartender, Cillian, seems upset. When he calls her Meg, she senses something is off. Everyone acts like they know her, and when she looks in the mirror, the “improvements” Hollywood forced on her are gone. She sees her former self and likes it. The strangest revelation comes when she discovers that, in this reality, Aimee is alive!
The last third of this novel had me so worried. I didn’t want Meg to lose her Avalon friendships. I hoped she could keep Cillian, Aimee, Kiera, and, of course, the dogs in her life!
I won’t reveal what happened, but I felt content with the epilogue.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the audiobook, narrated by the author. She did a great job!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
I expected to smile, but I wasn’t prepared to cry!
What a story Paige Harbison has created! It’s truly unforgettable. The idea of walking through a door into a different life—the life you could have chosen if things were different—has been done before, but Paige Harbison’s spin on this novel felt unique. I fell deeply for the characters in Avalon. I wanted to visit and meet these fabulous, normal, lovely people.
So, what is The Other Side of Now about?
Meg Bryan, now a famous actress known as Lana Lord, stars in a hit TV show called Brilliance. She’s recognized by most but isn’t truly happy. After a difficult thirtieth birthday, she decides she needs a break from Hollywood and her famous actor boyfriend. She books a trip to Avalon, Ireland, a place she and her best friend Aimee once dreamed of attending college. In reality, that never happened—Aimee died a decade ago.
When Meg arrives in Avalon, she feels at home. The locals, especially Kiera, are kind to her. No one treats her like a Hollywood star, but when she asks for a drink, the bartender, Cillian, seems upset. When he calls her Meg, she senses something is off. Everyone acts like they know her, and when she looks in the mirror, the “improvements” Hollywood forced on her are gone. She sees her former self and likes it. The strangest revelation comes when she discovers that, in this reality, Aimee is alive!
The last third of this novel had me so worried. I didn’t want Meg to lose her Avalon friendships. I hoped she could keep Cillian, Aimee, Kiera, and, of course, the dogs in her life!
I won’t reveal what happened, but I felt content with the epilogue.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the audiobook, narrated by the author. She did a great job!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Read
August 1, 2025This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club August 2025 selection and a 2025 Summer Reading Guide Minimalist Pick. The author will join us for a live discussion!
Cross The Holiday with Sliding Doors and you’ll get a sense of Harbison’s adult debut. After a disastrous thirtieth birthday party, Meg books a getaway to the quaint Irish village where she had once dreamed of moving. That’s when things get weird: everyone seems to know her already. She has an apartment and friends and a hot ex who’s none too pleased to see her. Most shocking of all: in this version of her life, her best friend, who died in a car accident just before college, is alive and well. So why isn’t Meg happy? Harbison asks important questions about choice, contentment, and what makes for a meaningful life. I found it utterly unputdownable.
Cross The Holiday with Sliding Doors and you’ll get a sense of Harbison’s adult debut. After a disastrous thirtieth birthday party, Meg books a getaway to the quaint Irish village where she had once dreamed of moving. That’s when things get weird: everyone seems to know her already. She has an apartment and friends and a hot ex who’s none too pleased to see her. Most shocking of all: in this version of her life, her best friend, who died in a car accident just before college, is alive and well. So why isn’t Meg happy? Harbison asks important questions about choice, contentment, and what makes for a meaningful life. I found it utterly unputdownable.
June 3, 2025
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming!
Meg Bryan, aka Lana Lord, is a household name after her hit TV show and her relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob. However, her perfect life comes at a great cost. After a small breakdown on her thirtieth birthday, Meg goes on an impromptu trip to Ireland, that one place she and her best friend Aimee wanted to visit. An accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago, and now Meg makes the trip alone.
However, Meg seemed to have traveled into an alternative universe where she is not a celebrity. The hot bartender is apparently her ex, and her bestie, Aimee, is alive but not talking to her for some reason. Now, Meg has to figure out how and why she broke up with her ex and what happened between her and Aimee. As she navigates through her new life, Meg realizes what she remembers about her past isn’t the complete truth. And soon, she has to decide on her future.
The story comes in Meg’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Firstly, I’d tag this women’s fiction or contemporary fiction with a touch of romance. The focal point of the book is Meg’s acceptance of the past and her growth in the present.
The book starts with a prologue that gives us an insight into the MC’s relationship with her bestie. Then, we jump to the present timeline.
I like the sliding doors/ alternative setting that occurs pretty soon. No need to wait for it to happen. This gives the MC and us enough time to get used to the shift, dig through the past, and peel her character’s layers.
The side characters, especially Kiera and Cillian, are terrific. They brighten up the story when it starts to feel repetitive. The bestie, Aimee, is interesting, though I wish to know more about her.
The first-person POV works for the plot. It has dry humor and a bit of forced humor as well. The first is good, the latter isn’t, but the overall effect is nice. The MC has enough flaws, but is also a nice person, which we can see in her voice. However, it also feels quite YAish, even though she is 30. Maybe because the author is a YA writer, and this is her first adult novel.
The pacing is uneven thanks to the repetition in the middle. Maybe some of it was necessary, though I feel this could have been used to add some depth to the bestie’s character.
The ending is more on the line of women’s fiction. It is hopeful and positive, but not fully rounded. Still, it works for the storyline and leaves the reader with a smile (that’s job done right).
Given the premise, there are many references to Hollywood, celebs, movies, and related drama. Not my jam, exactly. If you enjoy this, you might like the book more.
The acknowledgments section at the end was fun to read. The author’s natural style did drip a lot into the main character’s voice, but it worked here.
To summarize, The Other Side of Now is a heartwarming story about grief of losing a loved one, trying to find oneself, making friends (found family), and learning that life goes on.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
One Liner: Heartwarming!
Meg Bryan, aka Lana Lord, is a household name after her hit TV show and her relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob. However, her perfect life comes at a great cost. After a small breakdown on her thirtieth birthday, Meg goes on an impromptu trip to Ireland, that one place she and her best friend Aimee wanted to visit. An accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago, and now Meg makes the trip alone.
However, Meg seemed to have traveled into an alternative universe where she is not a celebrity. The hot bartender is apparently her ex, and her bestie, Aimee, is alive but not talking to her for some reason. Now, Meg has to figure out how and why she broke up with her ex and what happened between her and Aimee. As she navigates through her new life, Meg realizes what she remembers about her past isn’t the complete truth. And soon, she has to decide on her future.
The story comes in Meg’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Firstly, I’d tag this women’s fiction or contemporary fiction with a touch of romance. The focal point of the book is Meg’s acceptance of the past and her growth in the present.
The book starts with a prologue that gives us an insight into the MC’s relationship with her bestie. Then, we jump to the present timeline.
I like the sliding doors/ alternative setting that occurs pretty soon. No need to wait for it to happen. This gives the MC and us enough time to get used to the shift, dig through the past, and peel her character’s layers.
The side characters, especially Kiera and Cillian, are terrific. They brighten up the story when it starts to feel repetitive. The bestie, Aimee, is interesting, though I wish to know more about her.
The first-person POV works for the plot. It has dry humor and a bit of forced humor as well. The first is good, the latter isn’t, but the overall effect is nice. The MC has enough flaws, but is also a nice person, which we can see in her voice. However, it also feels quite YAish, even though she is 30. Maybe because the author is a YA writer, and this is her first adult novel.
The pacing is uneven thanks to the repetition in the middle. Maybe some of it was necessary, though I feel this could have been used to add some depth to the bestie’s character.
The ending is more on the line of women’s fiction. It is hopeful and positive, but not fully rounded. Still, it works for the storyline and leaves the reader with a smile (that’s job done right).
Given the premise, there are many references to Hollywood, celebs, movies, and related drama. Not my jam, exactly. If you enjoy this, you might like the book more.
The acknowledgments section at the end was fun to read. The author’s natural style did drip a lot into the main character’s voice, but it worked here.
To summarize, The Other Side of Now is a heartwarming story about grief of losing a loved one, trying to find oneself, making friends (found family), and learning that life goes on.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
July 3, 2025
If you need a laugh and a break from reality, then do I have the book for you!
Overwhelmed by her Hollywood life as a soap opera star – and suspicion that her live-in boyfriend is cheating on her – 30-year-old actress Meg Bryan (stage name Lana Lord) escapes to a remote Airbnb cottage in the tiny Irish village of Avalon, a place where, years ago, she, along with her best friend Aimee, almost went to college.
But from the moment Meg arrives, things feel… off. Locals greet her by name. They speak to her as if she’s lived there for years. And somehow, impossibly, they believe she belongs.
In this strange version of reality, Meg isn’t famous. She’s not followed by paparazzi or trapped in a showbiz scandal. Here, Aimee – who died eleven years ago – is miraculously still alive. Only they are no longer friends, but Meg has no idea why, or what happened.
Meg has booked the cottage for one week. But as the days pass, and the lines between her real life and this alternate existence blur, she’s faced with impossible questions:
What happens when the week is up? Will she be able to return to her old life? And if she can, will she want to?
The Other Side of Now was pure escapism – light, witty, enchanting, uplifting, and endlessly fun – which was a welcome change of pace from the heavy, break-your-heart novels I’ve read recently, and exactly what I needed. But the plot wasn’t all light hearted, it also tackled serious topics like unresolved trauma, fight or flight, heartache, and resentment, especially the last half. They were also moments of striking insight.
The audiobook read by the author, Paige Harbison, turned an already hilarious read into an all-out performance. The humour and emotions were spot on. The accents were flawless. It is rare to find an author that can write as well as act. Talk about talented!
The characters were a riot – especially Kiera, Lisa Michelle, and Cillian’s mother, Marcia. Meg’s voice pulled me in from the first page – she was open-minded, warm, sentimental, and she loved dogs. What more could you ask for in a protagonist? Her love interest, Cillian was the ultimate dream guy, and who doesn’t swoon over an Irish accent! And, I wish I had a best friend like Kiera, she was so supportive, I adored her sarcasm, and her obsession with food. I could completely picture the quaint and idyllic Irish village of Avalon with its laid-back lifestyle, and quirky townsfolk. I really enjoyed all the pop culture TV and movie references and the delicious descriptions of food and snacks.
A beautiful gem from start to finish.
Overwhelmed by her Hollywood life as a soap opera star – and suspicion that her live-in boyfriend is cheating on her – 30-year-old actress Meg Bryan (stage name Lana Lord) escapes to a remote Airbnb cottage in the tiny Irish village of Avalon, a place where, years ago, she, along with her best friend Aimee, almost went to college.
But from the moment Meg arrives, things feel… off. Locals greet her by name. They speak to her as if she’s lived there for years. And somehow, impossibly, they believe she belongs.
In this strange version of reality, Meg isn’t famous. She’s not followed by paparazzi or trapped in a showbiz scandal. Here, Aimee – who died eleven years ago – is miraculously still alive. Only they are no longer friends, but Meg has no idea why, or what happened.
Meg has booked the cottage for one week. But as the days pass, and the lines between her real life and this alternate existence blur, she’s faced with impossible questions:
What happens when the week is up? Will she be able to return to her old life? And if she can, will she want to?
The Other Side of Now was pure escapism – light, witty, enchanting, uplifting, and endlessly fun – which was a welcome change of pace from the heavy, break-your-heart novels I’ve read recently, and exactly what I needed. But the plot wasn’t all light hearted, it also tackled serious topics like unresolved trauma, fight or flight, heartache, and resentment, especially the last half. They were also moments of striking insight.
The audiobook read by the author, Paige Harbison, turned an already hilarious read into an all-out performance. The humour and emotions were spot on. The accents were flawless. It is rare to find an author that can write as well as act. Talk about talented!
The characters were a riot – especially Kiera, Lisa Michelle, and Cillian’s mother, Marcia. Meg’s voice pulled me in from the first page – she was open-minded, warm, sentimental, and she loved dogs. What more could you ask for in a protagonist? Her love interest, Cillian was the ultimate dream guy, and who doesn’t swoon over an Irish accent! And, I wish I had a best friend like Kiera, she was so supportive, I adored her sarcasm, and her obsession with food. I could completely picture the quaint and idyllic Irish village of Avalon with its laid-back lifestyle, and quirky townsfolk. I really enjoyed all the pop culture TV and movie references and the delicious descriptions of food and snacks.
A beautiful gem from start to finish.
August 18, 2025
Meg Bryan (stage name Lana Lord, for obvious reasons), has it all: the lead in a hit tv show, a relationship with a Hollywood heartthrob, money, and fame. It’s everything she ever wanted. But her happiness is as fake as her botoxed face and new nose.
At her breaking point, she leaves on a trip to the quaint Irish village where she and her best friend Aimee dreamed of living one day. That dream ended when a tragedy occurred that left Aimee dead.
* I lost my best friend to a house fire when I was 14. This part of the story resonated deeply. I know what it’s like to bury your emotions.
When Meg arrives in Ireland it appears she’s in a parallel time warp where everyone knows her, she’s not famous, her face is her own, she’s no longer skeletal thin, and she actually eats and enjoys real food. Her phone displays hundreds of photos of herself in this little town. And then there’s the hot guy who she apparently dated but broke up with, and the cute little dog that is her own.
But the most amazing thing is the tragedy that occurred 10 years ago never happened. In this universe, Aimee is alive and well.
What follows is a heartwarming, often humorous, sometimes poignant look at the opportunity Meg has to repair the past, work through her memories and her grief, so she can move on and figure out exactly who she is and what she wants her life to be.
This sounds like a typical sliding doors story that we’ve all read before, but it’s anything but typical or predictable. The writing and the characters elevated this one above many in this sub-genre.
I was surprised - in a good way - by how much I loved this story. The last 20% or so of the book was unputdownable. The author nailed the ending. Certain books tick all my boxes and this one certainly did.
This was exactly the book I needed this week and I felt all the emotions as I read. As Meg’s character grew (thankfully) I grew to love her, as well as the village and the supporting characters. Reading about the food, the people, the relationships, and Irish village life was like being enveloped in a warm hug.
* I received a digital copy of via NetGalley and also listened to the audiobook is read by the author, who did a phenomenal job
At her breaking point, she leaves on a trip to the quaint Irish village where she and her best friend Aimee dreamed of living one day. That dream ended when a tragedy occurred that left Aimee dead.
* I lost my best friend to a house fire when I was 14. This part of the story resonated deeply. I know what it’s like to bury your emotions.
When Meg arrives in Ireland it appears she’s in a parallel time warp where everyone knows her, she’s not famous, her face is her own, she’s no longer skeletal thin, and she actually eats and enjoys real food. Her phone displays hundreds of photos of herself in this little town. And then there’s the hot guy who she apparently dated but broke up with, and the cute little dog that is her own.
But the most amazing thing is the tragedy that occurred 10 years ago never happened. In this universe, Aimee is alive and well.
What follows is a heartwarming, often humorous, sometimes poignant look at the opportunity Meg has to repair the past, work through her memories and her grief, so she can move on and figure out exactly who she is and what she wants her life to be.
This sounds like a typical sliding doors story that we’ve all read before, but it’s anything but typical or predictable. The writing and the characters elevated this one above many in this sub-genre.
I was surprised - in a good way - by how much I loved this story. The last 20% or so of the book was unputdownable. The author nailed the ending. Certain books tick all my boxes and this one certainly did.
This was exactly the book I needed this week and I felt all the emotions as I read. As Meg’s character grew (thankfully) I grew to love her, as well as the village and the supporting characters. Reading about the food, the people, the relationships, and Irish village life was like being enveloped in a warm hug.
* I received a digital copy of via NetGalley and also listened to the audiobook is read by the author, who did a phenomenal job
September 10, 2025
Sliding Doors, but make it Irish.
4.5 stars rounded up.
I’ll admit it: I absolutely do judge a book by its cover, and for that reason, „The Other Side of Now“ would have never ended up on my TBR if not for the glowing reviews of some of my trusted GoodReads friends. And I’m so glad it did, because I ended up loving it.
Meg Bryan (not to be confused with Meg Ryan, and yes, she’s heard it before) seems to have it all: she’s starring in a hit TV series and dating a Hollywood heartthrob. But behind the stage name “Lana Lord” and the red-carpet smile, Meg is deeply unhappy. On the night of her thirtieth birthday, everything comes crashing down, and on impulse she books a trip to Ireland, the place she once dreamed of moving to with her best friend Aimee, before tragedy tore that dream apart. What Meg doesn’t expect upon her arrival in Ireland is to end up in an alternate version of her life that feels eerily real yet completely unfamiliar. Gone are the bleached hair, the Hollywood sheen, and the endless hustle. Instead, she learns she has a cozy job in the small Irish town, a prickly-but-charming local bartender in her orbit, and - most impossibly of all - Aimee alive and well, though their friendship is fractured.
„The Other Side of Now“ balances just the right touch of magical realism, quite a bit of humor, and a whole lot of heart. The premise - a kind of “sliding doors” alternate reality - pulled me in right away, but about 60% of the way through, I actually started to worry how author Paige Harbison would write her way out of the predicament she had Meg in. However, I’m pleased to say she managed to strike exactly the right balance so the ending felt satisfying, true to the characters, and still hopeful.
A tender, heartfelt and life-affirming reminder of the importance of every small moment, an ode to friendship, and a love letter to life itself (and yes, to carbs).
4.5 stars rounded up.
I’ll admit it: I absolutely do judge a book by its cover, and for that reason, „The Other Side of Now“ would have never ended up on my TBR if not for the glowing reviews of some of my trusted GoodReads friends. And I’m so glad it did, because I ended up loving it.
Meg Bryan (not to be confused with Meg Ryan, and yes, she’s heard it before) seems to have it all: she’s starring in a hit TV series and dating a Hollywood heartthrob. But behind the stage name “Lana Lord” and the red-carpet smile, Meg is deeply unhappy. On the night of her thirtieth birthday, everything comes crashing down, and on impulse she books a trip to Ireland, the place she once dreamed of moving to with her best friend Aimee, before tragedy tore that dream apart. What Meg doesn’t expect upon her arrival in Ireland is to end up in an alternate version of her life that feels eerily real yet completely unfamiliar. Gone are the bleached hair, the Hollywood sheen, and the endless hustle. Instead, she learns she has a cozy job in the small Irish town, a prickly-but-charming local bartender in her orbit, and - most impossibly of all - Aimee alive and well, though their friendship is fractured.
„The Other Side of Now“ balances just the right touch of magical realism, quite a bit of humor, and a whole lot of heart. The premise - a kind of “sliding doors” alternate reality - pulled me in right away, but about 60% of the way through, I actually started to worry how author Paige Harbison would write her way out of the predicament she had Meg in. However, I’m pleased to say she managed to strike exactly the right balance so the ending felt satisfying, true to the characters, and still hopeful.
A tender, heartfelt and life-affirming reminder of the importance of every small moment, an ode to friendship, and a love letter to life itself (and yes, to carbs).
June 5, 2025
This was such an easy and refreshing read I flew through it! The Other Side of Now completely blew me away. It’s officially taken the crown as my favorite book I’ve ever won in a giveaway, and honestly? Might be one of the best magical realism books I’ve read this year. I loved the emotional pull, the dreamy setting in Ireland, and how the story balanced humor with so much heart. I was hooked from page one. If you’re into magical realism that explores identity, second chances, and the bittersweet weight of what could’ve been, add this to your tbr immediately! 💫
June 29, 2025
I LOVED THIS. Paige is hilarious & her writing is beautiful. I didn’t expect this to be such an emotional read, but all the talk of grief, friendship, & family got me in my feels. I can’t wait to read more from her.
“The truth is, we live. We can't spend every moment treasuring the things we love. We still get mad at the dog for tracking mud through the house, even though one day we would give anything to have her muddy paws back on our white carpet. We still roll our eyes at our parents' needy voicemails, even though one day those recorded moments will be all we have left.”
“The truth is, we live. We can't spend every moment treasuring the things we love. We still get mad at the dog for tracking mud through the house, even though one day we would give anything to have her muddy paws back on our white carpet. We still roll our eyes at our parents' needy voicemails, even though one day those recorded moments will be all we have left.”
July 3, 2025
This was such an emotional rollercoaster. Such a beautiful and tragic story. It was heartbreaking being in Meg’s perspective, her not being satisfied and wanting to run away from her current life was so relatable. Dealing with your best friend’s death is so traumatic, I can imagine it’s such a hard thing to move on from, I felt her character in such a deep level, it felt like I was going through the same thing. I’m so happy she was able to find peace despite all the pain she’s been through. I’m glad she got what she was looking for in Avalon. Finding people like Kiera and Cillian and building a beautiful relationship with them was what she needed. The experience and wisdom she gained from Avalon is something you can’t ever take away from her. I’m glad she got closure with Aimee, got to know her best friend a bit more in a different perspective and was able to mature as a person. The ending was not as satisfying as I hoped but it did not take away how incredible this book was.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced e-galley copy in exchange for a honest review.
—
I finally have time to read this
—
did I just get my first arc ??? 🙂↕️ I randomly created a NetGalley account like 3 weeks ago because of sudden fomo WHAT. I did not expect to get one, let alone this fast 😭😭 I’m so grateful and excited, I can’t wait to read this and maybe it will help me get out of my slump 🥹
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced e-galley copy in exchange for a honest review.
—
I finally have time to read this
—
did I just get my first arc ??? 🙂↕️ I randomly created a NetGalley account like 3 weeks ago because of sudden fomo WHAT. I did not expect to get one, let alone this fast 😭😭 I’m so grateful and excited, I can’t wait to read this and maybe it will help me get out of my slump 🥹
April 7, 2025
*+:｡.𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓪𝓼 𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭. 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽. 𝓣𝓸 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮. 𝓣𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼, 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂’𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘’𝓶 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓫𝓾𝓼𝔂 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓯𝓯 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮, 𝓮𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓻 𝓹𝓪𝓼𝓽, 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓘’𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮. 𝓘’𝓶 𝓲𝓷 𝓲𝓽. 𝓘𝓽’𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓷𝓸𝔀!.｡.｡:+*
4.5 ⭐
I finished this book in one freaking sitting and don't we all know what that means?!! It was AMAZING, chef's kiss. It was like "The Holiday" meets "The Unmaking of June Farrow". I couldn't simply put it down. It has friendships, love, found family, trauma, and healing. The character development is so good; the whole experiment is so unique; it absolutely deserves your time. Mind you, I'm new to this genre and this type of book. It's mainly about friendships rather than romance. The ending also made me over the moon.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 19
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Someone said that this was the best book they'd read in 2025 so I trusted them and requested it so thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request 💋🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
4.5 ⭐
I finished this book in one freaking sitting and don't we all know what that means?!! It was AMAZING, chef's kiss. It was like "The Holiday" meets "The Unmaking of June Farrow". I couldn't simply put it down. It has friendships, love, found family, trauma, and healing. The character development is so good; the whole experiment is so unique; it absolutely deserves your time. Mind you, I'm new to this genre and this type of book. It's mainly about friendships rather than romance. The ending also made me over the moon.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 19
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Someone said that this was the best book they'd read in 2025 so I trusted them and requested it so thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request 💋🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
September 11, 2025
In all honesty, up until about 65% of the book, I was having a nice time, but nothing blew my mind. It felt like a solid 3-star read for me - good, well-written, but not a must-read.
But then
the last 35%....
ugh
My heart
this is a romance, yes
but it's more
it's about friendship
it's about loss
it's about finding your place in the world
it's about living with reality as it is and the consequences of our actions
I wish I had annotated those last few chapters, but I only had the audio, maybe in a reread :)
----------
Heather got me here
But then
the last 35%....
ugh
My heart
this is a romance, yes
but it's more
it's about friendship
it's about loss
it's about finding your place in the world
it's about living with reality as it is and the consequences of our actions
I wish I had annotated those last few chapters, but I only had the audio, maybe in a reread :)
----------
Heather got me here
June 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐
I love the uniqueness of a good time travel book now and then. How you have to suspend belief to be fully entertained, almost like a fairytale. But this book is not about time travel forwards or backwards as much as it is parallel lives or alternative realities. It is a creatively structured story about friendship, loss, grief, love, forgiveness, and acceptance. The characters are all likeable, the dogs are lovable, and I needed a tissue or two to get me through several scenes. This recipe definitely worked for me.
On her thirtieth birthday Meg Bryan, who is also known by her acting name Lana Lord, decides she needs a break from her famous and evermore demanding life in Hollywood. She decides to jump on a plane and take a short vacation alone to Ireland. However, when she arrives, she finds herself in an inexplicable situation. Her friends and the people around town seem to know her, but she doesn't know them. She finds herself to be subtly different and definitely not a movie star.
Examining her life choices takes a circuitous route and Meg is not sure that she wants to return to her "other life" in California. She must determine what she wants out of her life and who she wants to spend it with, as well as figuring out what she is willing to give up in order to find happiness.
I was baffled by how this was going to turn out but pleased with the ending. This story reminds us that life is not always one job, one house, one group of friends, or one love. Things change. Sometimes we can control that and sometimes we can't. There are infinite possibilities.
The author, Paige Harbison, has written three YA novels from 2011-2014. This is her first foray into adult fiction, and I think that she has hit a home run. I look forward to what she writes next.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love the uniqueness of a good time travel book now and then. How you have to suspend belief to be fully entertained, almost like a fairytale. But this book is not about time travel forwards or backwards as much as it is parallel lives or alternative realities. It is a creatively structured story about friendship, loss, grief, love, forgiveness, and acceptance. The characters are all likeable, the dogs are lovable, and I needed a tissue or two to get me through several scenes. This recipe definitely worked for me.
On her thirtieth birthday Meg Bryan, who is also known by her acting name Lana Lord, decides she needs a break from her famous and evermore demanding life in Hollywood. She decides to jump on a plane and take a short vacation alone to Ireland. However, when she arrives, she finds herself in an inexplicable situation. Her friends and the people around town seem to know her, but she doesn't know them. She finds herself to be subtly different and definitely not a movie star.
Examining her life choices takes a circuitous route and Meg is not sure that she wants to return to her "other life" in California. She must determine what she wants out of her life and who she wants to spend it with, as well as figuring out what she is willing to give up in order to find happiness.
I was baffled by how this was going to turn out but pleased with the ending. This story reminds us that life is not always one job, one house, one group of friends, or one love. Things change. Sometimes we can control that and sometimes we can't. There are infinite possibilities.
The author, Paige Harbison, has written three YA novels from 2011-2014. This is her first foray into adult fiction, and I think that she has hit a home run. I look forward to what she writes next.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 11, 2025
3.5
A beautiful story about the experience of losing someone, and healing from that.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing at the start… too many name drops and pop culture references, but by the end, I realized this was likely intentional.
As we we grew with the character, the writing improved!
A beautiful story about the experience of losing someone, and healing from that.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing at the start… too many name drops and pop culture references, but by the end, I realized this was likely intentional.
As we we grew with the character, the writing improved!
June 1, 2025
This one is a huge surprise for me. I would never have selected this to read, until it landed on my radar months ago in a marketing email. I'm not exactly sure why I took it, as I'm not much of a fiction reader, nor do I gravitate to flights of fantasy and such. So imagine me shaking my head last night, unexpectedly winding up with my first Fiction 5 Star read of the year! As it stands today, I will definitely vote for this one in the 2025 Goodreads Awards.
The crux of the book is a story about two girls who were the closest of friends growing up- Meg and Aimee. As teenagers they talked endlessly about going to an arts college in Ireland that specialized in acting. However, circumstances prevented them from going and they went to college locally- and then Meg's world shattered when Aimee suddenly died. Now Meg is 30, a successful actress in a kind of smarmy but successful episodic show called "Brilliance", but there is a certain emptiness and shallowness to her life, despite the accolades and financial perks. She abandons her 30th birthday bash and hops on a plane to Ireland to visit Avalon, the college locale she dreamt about. Upon arrival, she slowly realizes she is 19 again, and everyone she encounters in this heartwarming cul-de-sac knows her- but she doesn't know them. More importantly, Aimee lives here and is ALIVE!!
The clincher of this story that burrowed into my heart was the reuniting of Meg and Aimee. Imagine having a soulmate friend from your youth who was torn from you suddenly, tragically when they had everything to live for? And then getting a second chance to share and discuss any misunderstandings from the past? I was enjoying the story alright, but as it careened towards the last 25% I was riveted and close to crying at multiple points. This was a brilliantly laid out story, so tenderly, masterfully choreographed. I am deeply touched and so glad I read this.
Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
June 16, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
This book was so heartwarming! It was advertised as TJR meets Rebecca Searle, and I think that embodies this book perfectly.
Paige’s writing was addicting for me. She weaves in humor effortlessly, while still maintaining an emotional depth to the story. The ending had me grinning ear to ear!
Take me to Avalon asap - the setting was so charming! I loved all of the side characters, honestly more than Meg at times, which is one of the reasons I didn’t rate this higher.
If you enjoy magical realism, a book that’ll tug at your heart strings, & women’s lit-fic with a dash of romance you’ll love this!
This book was so heartwarming! It was advertised as TJR meets Rebecca Searle, and I think that embodies this book perfectly.
Paige’s writing was addicting for me. She weaves in humor effortlessly, while still maintaining an emotional depth to the story. The ending had me grinning ear to ear!
Take me to Avalon asap - the setting was so charming! I loved all of the side characters, honestly more than Meg at times, which is one of the reasons I didn’t rate this higher.
If you enjoy magical realism, a book that’ll tug at your heart strings, & women’s lit-fic with a dash of romance you’ll love this!
June 3, 2025
Update 6/3/25: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC of The Other Side of Now in exchange for an honest review.
The Goodreads description is pretty solid (if anything it says too much), so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts, which can be boiled down to: I loved this book. It hits a perfect sweet spot of sci-fi/alternate timeline storyline and entertaining romance. It’s unpredictable, even a tiny bit ambiguous (in a good way), and the last 50 pages have a series of emotional punches that will keep you reading through your tears (or maybe that was just me 🤣). Meg is a great character who grows over the course of the book, learns that it’s never too late to change your life, and deserves every bit of happiness she eventually gets. Highly recommended.
I suddenly know exactly what’s happening. Suspension of disbelief fully engaged.
This is the other life. The one I would have had.
…
But I want him more than I want to make good choices.
…
I can lead a hundred lives in my lifetime.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC of The Other Side of Now in exchange for an honest review.
The Goodreads description is pretty solid (if anything it says too much), so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts, which can be boiled down to: I loved this book. It hits a perfect sweet spot of sci-fi/alternate timeline storyline and entertaining romance. It’s unpredictable, even a tiny bit ambiguous (in a good way), and the last 50 pages have a series of emotional punches that will keep you reading through your tears (or maybe that was just me 🤣). Meg is a great character who grows over the course of the book, learns that it’s never too late to change your life, and deserves every bit of happiness she eventually gets. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2025
I was not the right reader for this very impressive debut.
WHY?
"Magical realism/time travel/alternate lives/sliding doors" books are not my preferred genre.
However, I was enticed by the book's early laudatory reviews and requested an ARC.
The book's premise was powerful:
Different choices can shape lives and heal past wounds.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, Paige Harbison.
Her narration was good but not great.
Perhaps I would have liked the book more with a Julia Whelan narration?
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2025
Magical realism done right!
Tagged as time travel, but it's more "what if you were suddenly living your what if life?"
What if the worst thing in your life never happened?
What if fame and fortune disappeared in an instant? Would that be a great loss or a surprising gift?
What if a place you've never been and people you've never met started to feel familiar...to feel more like home than your actual home?
Is there no going back to your original life (which no one believes you had)? Or will your new life abruptly fade out, like a cancelled TV show that ends on a cliffhanger?
This book has humor, heart, and the slow burn suspense of not knowing how it will end. Bonus: the romantic element was swoonworthy, rather than making me want to gag.
I normally don't like when an author narrates their audiobook unless it's a memoir. But Paige Harbison does an excellent job, even better than some voice actor pros.
4.5⭐s rounded up.
ps: Shout out to Paige Harbison's brother whom she mentions in her acknowledgements. Read your sister's book, dude.
Tagged as time travel, but it's more "what if you were suddenly living your what if life?"
What if the worst thing in your life never happened?
What if fame and fortune disappeared in an instant? Would that be a great loss or a surprising gift?
What if a place you've never been and people you've never met started to feel familiar...to feel more like home than your actual home?
Is there no going back to your original life (which no one believes you had)? Or will your new life abruptly fade out, like a cancelled TV show that ends on a cliffhanger?
This book has humor, heart, and the slow burn suspense of not knowing how it will end. Bonus: the romantic element was swoonworthy, rather than making me want to gag.
I normally don't like when an author narrates their audiobook unless it's a memoir. But Paige Harbison does an excellent job, even better than some voice actor pros.
4.5⭐s rounded up.
ps: Shout out to Paige Harbison's brother whom she mentions in her acknowledgements. Read your sister's book, dude.
June 21, 2025
3.75⭐️
Love Paige’s writing also her narration of the book is top tier and really makes the book so good!!
I really loved the concept and loved how towards the end I didn’t know how it was going to end! Good read and listen!
Love Paige’s writing also her narration of the book is top tier and really makes the book so good!!
I really loved the concept and loved how towards the end I didn’t know how it was going to end! Good read and listen!
January 3, 2025
I knew nothing about this book when I chose the ARC to read on my Kindle. I didn't read a blurb first, there wasn't a finished cover on my file...I just randomly clicked on it.
AND OH MY GOODNESS I'VE ALREADY FOUND ONE OF MY FAVORITE READS OF 2025.
It has all of my favorite elements- love, growth, loss, found family, vulnerability, chemistry, banter, forgiveness, a touch of steam- all wrapped up in a beautiful Irish setting with a dash of philosophy/physics. Not the kind I'm too dumb to understand, bahaha!
It's warm and magical and bittersweet and just...absolute perfection. Please add to your TBR right this very minute- it will be released on June 2.
And Paige Harbison, if you are reading this- I've fallen in love with you, too. Instant addition to my favorite authors list. Thank you for this magical gem of a book.
And thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me a free advanced copy of this beautiful book. All opinions are my own.
AND OH MY GOODNESS I'VE ALREADY FOUND ONE OF MY FAVORITE READS OF 2025.
It has all of my favorite elements- love, growth, loss, found family, vulnerability, chemistry, banter, forgiveness, a touch of steam- all wrapped up in a beautiful Irish setting with a dash of philosophy/physics. Not the kind I'm too dumb to understand, bahaha!
It's warm and magical and bittersweet and just...absolute perfection. Please add to your TBR right this very minute- it will be released on June 2.
And Paige Harbison, if you are reading this- I've fallen in love with you, too. Instant addition to my favorite authors list. Thank you for this magical gem of a book.
And thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me a free advanced copy of this beautiful book. All opinions are my own.
July 24, 2025
Just over a decade ago, Meg Bryan made a choice that changed her life forever. As a high school senior, she got into her dream college, a tiny but prestigious arts school in rural Ireland, but chose to stay home in Florida with her best friend instead.
Now she’s living her dream life as the star of a hit TV show—only it turns out not to be so dreamy. She has no real friends, she’s on a starvation diet, and she’s pretty sure her movie star boyfriend is cheating on her. Several glasses of wine deep and feeling impulsive, she books a trip to Avalon, the Irish town she could have called home.
Avalon is just as charming as she imagined, but something seriously weird is going on. Everyone there seems to know her. They’re not treating her like a celebrity—they’re treating her like a beloved friend with a shared past. Except for the gorgeous guy behind the bar at the village pub, who seems to hate her for some reason. Meg realizes she has just stepped into the life she could have had if she’s gone to school in Avalon. And it turns out she likes this reality more than the one she’s been living. But is the choice hers to make?
This was a super charming and cozy book. It felt like a 2000s rom-com in the best possible way, with a cute small-town setting and a delightful cast of characters. But there were also parts that were completely heart-wrenching, so be sure to go into this one emotionally prepared!
Now she’s living her dream life as the star of a hit TV show—only it turns out not to be so dreamy. She has no real friends, she’s on a starvation diet, and she’s pretty sure her movie star boyfriend is cheating on her. Several glasses of wine deep and feeling impulsive, she books a trip to Avalon, the Irish town she could have called home.
Avalon is just as charming as she imagined, but something seriously weird is going on. Everyone there seems to know her. They’re not treating her like a celebrity—they’re treating her like a beloved friend with a shared past. Except for the gorgeous guy behind the bar at the village pub, who seems to hate her for some reason. Meg realizes she has just stepped into the life she could have had if she’s gone to school in Avalon. And it turns out she likes this reality more than the one she’s been living. But is the choice hers to make?
This was a super charming and cozy book. It felt like a 2000s rom-com in the best possible way, with a cute small-town setting and a delightful cast of characters. But there were also parts that were completely heart-wrenching, so be sure to go into this one emotionally prepared!
June 26, 2025
u know wut.. hell ya
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