I am always drawn to books that explore grief. Authors love to use shocking deaths as a plot device but rarely stand back and examine the long term effects these deaths have.

The Other Year explores two different fates for mother/daughter Kate and Olivia. In one- the unthinkable: Olivia drowns in the churning waves of the ocean. In the other, she resurfaces, laughing in the water. These two different fates send Kate’s life spiraling in two different directions.

While the thought of losing a child is every parent’s worst fear, I do appreciate the way the author explored relationships in The Other Year. Mother/daughter, spousal, young friendship, platonic friendship, The Other Year looks at the whole gambit of the relationships that make our lives meaningful. The message of love your people rings true throughout.

I did a combination of the physical book as well as the audiobook. Brittany Pressley narrated and brought so much depth and emotion to Frey’s words. There were certain scenes where I needed to pause and walk away due to the rawness of Frey’s words and the pain of Pressley’s narration.

As always, read the author’s note where she sheds light onto her thought process on writing the book. I do recommend reading The Other Year but obviously there is very heavy subject matter at play. This is truly Women’s Fiction at it’s finest.

This “sliding doors” story is a very difficult read about grief, guilt and hope. The narrator, Brittany Pressley, was one of the reasons I wanted to listen and she does an outstanding job of being both Kates - the grieving mother who lost a child, and the single mother of 8 year old.

While difficult to get through, a lot of the writing was beautiful and poignant. My only complaint is that both time lines got bogged down by romance storylines that felt repetitive and overplayed.

Overall 3.5⭐️

The Other Year is a really well written story that tackles a very difficult subject. I am impressed with Rea Frey’s ability to write emotion that is so immersive that I felt I could relate even though I’ve actually never been through the loss of a child. I think there are a lot of good lessons in this book. While one timeline is clearly more devastating than the other, a life without grief is not without its own challenges. The contrast of the timelines makes readers realize the importance of never taking life and the people in it for granted. Even though there were times in both timelines I was frustrated with Kate, I think the author did a good job of getting readers into Kate’s headspace enough to understand her thought process and that allowed me to give her some grace. I don’t think a more perfect ending could have been written for this book. I love how Rea Frey was clearly very intentional with how she wrote the epilogue. My ONE complaint is that I think there were too many instances in this book of normalizing alcohol being used as a coping mechanism.

I have no words. Well, actually I do and its nothing but praise or this book. I loved every single minute. The narrator did a phenomenal job and brought the characters to life. I cried, laughed, and experienced every single emotions the characters felt. It seemed like I read two books! I LOVED the two different scenarios that the other mentioned in this book. I loved that she showed us what would've and could've happened. There were things I loved and things I wasn't too hot about in each case. At the end, everything came together and I felt totally satisfied!

Each timeline could have been a book, dealing with different struggles of parenthood and grief, but it was in no way a long drawn out book. They captured my attention for different reasons and both went in directions I was not expecting. I loved how they slightly mirrored one other in timespan and were really easy to keep separate but also to get back into with each change. It was emotional and well developed. Kate has some self discovery in both timelines. Great writing, I loved it. The narrator did a great job with both timelines as well

Thank you @reafreyauthor @harpermusebooks and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy

Dear The Other Year,
I loved how uniquely you were written. Your concept was very Glass Doors, but I found myself lost inside both of Kate's timelines. I loved how everything came together for both of Kate's timelines, and I found the idea that there are places, people and points in our lives that seem to be unchangeable. The parallels between timeline one and two were endlessly fascinating for me to experience. I also really enjoyed Kate as a person; she had depth and heart and felt reflective and real to me. I look forward.to continuing to watch Frey's writing evolve.

Life can change instantly; sometimes there are moments in life that we will forever define as what happened before this incident and what happened after.
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Kate Baker’s young daughter Olivia vanishes among the waves on a beach vacation in a heart-racing, eyes comprehensive moment, only to resurface a moment later. Told through parallel storylines, one where Olivia resurfaces and one that she doesn’t, this book gave off TJR, Maybe in Another Life Vibes and I was here for it.
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Readers witness Kate's journey through grief, loss, and a custody battle, exploring the profound impact of different kinds of loss. This thought-provoking book challenges readers to live with eyes wide open.

There is something so enticing about Rea Frey’s writing! I mostly listened to this one on audio and it kept me sitting in my car in parking lots a few times! The narration was great - each character distinctly captured.

The thing about this book is that it didn’t go where I thought it would. It was complex and we dealt with different issues in each of the alternating timelines. It wasn’t just - child dies here and child doesn’t die there. There was so much more at play. Relationships, love, loss, and big life choices.

And it gripped me - the author went right for the jugular letting Liv drown in timeline one. This book was wrought with emotion - real and relatable emotion.

You would think a five star review would be easy to write - but it’s actually not. It’s hard to capture just how much I loved this book - and what made me love it most, because there are so many things. But here is what I can tell you- I HIGHLY recommend it. It is a fantastic read and I hope that many of you grab a copy in whatever format you like to read books!

One second is all it takes. This novel is written in two different timelines - in both Kate looks down to read a text and her daughter disappears in the ocean. In timeline one olivia doesn’t resurface and it’s too late to save her. In timeline two Olivia bobs back up and life continues.

This book was beautifully written and narrated and while the subject matter was incredibly sad it wasn’t over-done. It was a raw realistic portrayal of grief, love, family, finding yourself. One thing I loved was how in both stories Kate found herself with the same choices. While she took different paths by the end she ended up in the same place- it was about her own personal growth. The different timelines allowed the reader some lightness when the first timeline was too emotional.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Other Year" by Rea Frey is a Beautifully Written and Emotional Sliding-Door Story!

Kate, a single working mom, and her nine-year-old daughter, Olivia go on a long-overdue two-week vacation. Anxious to see the beach they've visited before, Kate takes Olivia for a quick swim.

Olivia goes in the water while Kate watches from the water's edge. She continues to observe her daughter as they talk and wave to each other.

Kate briefly takes her eyes off Olivia to read and respond to a text from her ex-husband. When she looks up, she doesn't see her daughter in the water.

In the first timeline, Olivia comes back to the surfaces and all is well. In the second timeline, she doesn't.

Told in alternate timelines, Kate lives two very different lives, one with her daughter, Olivia, and the other without her...

"The Other Year" is a beautifully written and emotional sliding-door story. The author does a fine job of ensuring both timelines feel equally realistic and engaging, while offering unique perspectives.

The first timeline continues with Kate's life as a single parent. She wrestles with the friendship with her best friend Jason, her relationship with her ex-husband Michael, and her daughter Olivia, who becomes a bit of a challenge.

The second timeline portrays Kate's life as a grieving mother trying to get through the fog of existing without her daughter. The loss, the rage, the blame - it's all there. I was rooting hard for Kate to get to the other side of this tragedy.

"The Other Year" audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley, who does another amazing job of voicing and bringing the characters to life.

Kate's challenges are at the center of this book but what stood out to me and what I enjoyed most was how both sides of the story come together. The ending is thoughtful, thought-provoking, and very well done. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

I recommend "The Other Year" to readers who enjoy a blend of Magical-Realism and Women's Fiction!

4⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Rea Frey for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

What a powerful book! This is a novel where the reader follows two timelines. The main character (Kate) and her daughter (Olivia) have taken a vacation to the beach. In one timeline, Olivia plays in the water as Kate stays on shore. When looking down at a text, she looks up and can’t see her daughter. Olivia pops up moments later. In the second timeline, Olivia drowns. One timeline is full of anger, grief, regret and blame. The other is full of struggles in parenting. The reader is left to see that both timelines result in similar struggles and emotions despite the differing situations. The book is beautifully written and hooked me from the start. I love Brittany Pressley - her ability to narrate with emotion highlights what a talented narrator she is. I have listened to 10+ books she narrated and she does not disappoint! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for both the book and narrator!

a HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

This novel is written from two parallel timelines that shift back and forth as the story progresses. Olivia is nine years old and for most of her development years she has been raised by her single mother Kate. The two timelines showcase Kate’s life after that fateful or not so fateful day at the beach with Olivia.
Very big warning here, loss of a child and the grieving process Kate experiences in timeline two. It is very important to read the author’s foreword before beginning the novel as she explains her thought process behind the writing. The audio production is beyond fabulous, but be prepared to choke up when Brittany Pressley portrays the raw grief and despair Kate feels.

Both timelines had their difficult moments. For one I wanted more of a connection with Olivia in timeline one, but the prepubescent anger was just too much for me. Timeline two seems to progress a bit too quickly through the grief stage and Kate begins a self-realization journey that feels a bit premature. In both her love interests remain similar and the ending has a feel-good tie in both timelines.

Having never experienced a loss of a child, I enjoyed this book and ultimately both timelines. I can also absolutely understand that this content is not for everyone and readers should proceed knowing this.

For Kate, the unthinkable happens when she is on holiday with her daughter, Olivia. In a blink of an eye, Olivia disappears in the ocean. Thankfully, Olivia resurfaces. But what if she didn’t?

This novel is told in alternating timelines: one based on Olivia resurfacing and one where she drowns. Both timelines show different sides of motherhood, one where we take our daily life for granted and one where we hold onto moments that we can never get back. As a mother, the timeline where her daughter drowns had me in tears. But I could absolutely relate to the mother-child friction in the other timeline. Definitely a heart wrenching yet insightful read on what it means to be a mother. I listened to this on audio and the narration definitely evoked those emotions.

Thank you to @netgalley and @librofm @harpermusebooks for an advance listening copy of this audiobook.

I love a book that makes you think long after you have finished it. This did that for me in all the best possible ways. The narrator did an incredible job making the emotions come to life. It is a very emotional book. There is a lot of grief and guilt in the book making it a heavy read but it gave a lot to think about.

Can your whole life change in an instant? Single Kate and her daughter Liv are on a two week beach vacation when Liv goes missing under the waves. In one timeline, Liv pops up and continues playing. In the second timeline, she stays under for too long and passes away.

The book fleshes out both plots equally. I found it absolutely heartbreaking in the one where Liv is gone. There is such devastation for Kate, it definitely made me tear up. But in the plot where she survives, it’s heartbreaking in other way. Kate recently went through a divorce and is working on shared custody with Michael, Olivia’s father. He travels a lot for his job and he’s based in Mexico City. He wants Liv to get to know his family and culture so he asks if Liv can spend the summer with him.

I really enjoyed this unique story telling, but please have tissues ready!

I thought the narrator was wonderful in this book. Her reading when Liv passes truly moved me to tears. I also love that they kept the two plots separate with each chapter.

I did not finish this audiobook. I stopped at about 70 percent. For me, I found the male and child voices the narrator did to be annoying and distracted from the story. I also felt like Liv’s character spoke and acted more like a teenager than a 9 year old girl. For me the premise seemed so creative and interesting but the writing just didn’t deliver. The author told me about the mothers grief but it lacked the vivid descriptions and details that would allow me to really connect with the mother and the story. I know it’s an unpopular opinion because many people enjoyed this book. Maybe it was just a case of the wrong book at the wrong time for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
What if your whole life changed in a split second?
The Other Year really tugged at my heart. My emotions were all over the place while reading. The writing was absolutely beautiful. The parallel timeline was what really got me. It was done perfectly. As a mom reading this, I was just amazed at how realistic Kate's character was. The details were amazing. Such an incredible story and I will be thinking about this book for a while. Rea Frey -- I loved this story!
Brittany Pressley narrating was perfect!

This book is immensely emotional. It is about the death of a child. It’s told from two different realities. The first one takes you through the extreme grief of losing a child and the second one imagines what life would be like if that hadn’t happened.

Because this has never happened to me or anyone that I know, this was an eye-opening glimpse at the the surface of that grief, that I can never truly understand. I felt deeply for the mom and how sad it was that she felt like it was her fault!

The timeline where her child lives on, is a look at how differently we can view life when it’s taken for granted. The message I have taken from this book is to love and care for my loved ones as they are, with all their imperfections, and not to worry about the trivial things in life.

Another part of story is the romance issues the mom goes through during both timelines. She has a great need for love and physical comfort but doesn’t want to make any rash decisions.

I am glad I read this book and I am grateful for the ARC I received from Harper Muse Audiobooks via NetGalley.

This was a good book....2 timelines which I really have come to enjoy in books. Narration was great. Trigger warning for child death. Shed a few tears. Would recommend as long as readers check triggers.

Frey pulls off an interesting and unique plot line involving a situation in which a child is lost while swimming and there are two different outcomes explored. She does a good job of going back and forth and the premise is captivating. I felt that it got a little bogged down with multiple romances and going back and forth and back and forth repeatedly. This became a little tiresome. The narrator does a very good job with the story and the audiobook has a nice flow to it. An overall enjoyable read.