The Other Year is not an easy book, whether reading or listening. The author explores two timelines, where a precipitating event either resolved as a tragedy or a near miss. Kate Baker always takes her daughter Olivia on a beach vacation. When the nine year old slips beneath the waves, will she be lost forever or come up out of the surf without a care in the world?

Having read other books by Rea Frey, I was expecting a family drama. This book explored the loss of a family, with just a divorce in one timeline that fractured the family, but the loss of the child in the other. The novel was expertly narrated by Brittany Pressley, who gave voice to Kate and her plight. Having listened to other novels narrated by this veteran voice actor, I knew that the novel was going to be powerful. It was tough to hear the anguish, as it made the book seem more real.

That being said, The Other Year follows the emotional upheaval of a life for a mother and it has the power to make readers think and be thankful for their own lives. This is not an enjoyable read, but the realism and characterization make it worthwhile.

Disclaimer: I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio version of this book by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to review this novel was entirely my own.

“The Other Year” by Rea Frey is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the delicate balance between joy and sorrow. The story centers on Kate Baker, a working mom whose two-week beach vacation takes a harrowing turn when her nine-year-old daughter, Olivia, vanishes beneath the waves. In one reality, Olivia resurfaces joyously, while in another, she tragically does not. This dual narrative structure is both captivating and heart-wrenching, as it delves into the profound impact of a single moment on Kate's life.

The novel's strength lies in its compelling portrayal of Kate's parallel lives. In the timeline where Olivia is lost, Kate's journey through grief, rage, and the search for purpose is rendered with deep emotional authenticity. The author skillfully navigates the complex terrain of a mother's worst nightmare, making Kate's pain and resilience palpable. This part of the story is a poignant reminder of the profound impact loss can have and the strength required to endure such a tragedy.

In the alternate timeline, where Olivia survives, Kate's life is equally complex but marked by different challenges. The tremulous romance with her best friend, Jason, and the re-emergence of her estranged ex-husband add layers of tension and emotional depth. This timeline explores the nuances of holding on to love while grappling with the fear of losing it, highlighting the fragility of joy and the constant undercurrent of potential loss.

The parallel timelines are woven together seamlessly, allowing readers to experience the drastic polarities that define Kate's existence. The narrative is both thought-provoking and emotionally charged, offering a rich exploration of the sharp turns any life can take in the blink of an eye.

The exceptional narration by Brittany Pressley elevates the novel further, bringing the characters to life with nuanced performances that capture the emotional weight of each timeline. Her voice adds an extra layer of depth and immersion, making the listening experience truly unforgettable.

This is a beautifully crafted story that delves into the fragility and resilience of the human spirit. Its exploration of love, loss, and the profound impact of a single moment is both moving and insightful. This novel is a must-read for those who appreciate stories that challenge the boundaries of reality and tug at the heartstrings.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy (audiobook) in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying the narrator of this story was fantastic. Next the actual book was also so good. The story is told through two different timelines. One, the story of a mother that loses her child in a terrible drowning accident and the second, the story of that never happening. It’s had me in all my feels and didn’t want to stop listening.

The Other Year by Rea Frey is a profound and emotionally charged novel that explores the complexities of life through parallel timelines, reminiscent of the movie Sliding Doors.

In one timeline, Kate, a single mother, faces the unimaginable tragedy of losing her child. This narrative delves deep into the heart-wrenching process of coping with grief, guilt, and the haunting "what ifs." The portrayal of a mother's journey through such a devastating loss is both poignant and gripping.

The other timeline presents a different yet equally compelling story. Here, the focus is on the mother-daughter relationship between Kate and her daughter and the trials and tribulations of raising a child alone. This timeline explores the emotional landscape of single parenthood, including the challenges, guilt, and moments of growth that come with it.

Listening to the audiobook version of The Other Year was an immersive experience, thanks to Brittany Pressley's brilliant narration. Her portrayal of the raw emotions in both timelines was so effective that I felt as if I were right there with the characters. When Kate realised her daughter was gone, my heart was racing, and I felt a profound sense of panic. This was a deeply engaging experience; I have to give this audiobook a 5-star rating.

Overall, The Other Year is an engaging and thought-provoking story. I recommend it to anyone who appreciates emotional and reflective literary fiction, especially those interested in the complexities of mother-daughter relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for gifting me the audio-ARC of this book.

This is a somewhat harrowing exploration of grief involving the loss of a child. The story is told in a sliding doors fashion with alternating chapters giving the two different versions of a similar set of events.

Kate is a single mother on holiday at the seaside with her daughter Olivia. She is expecting her (male) best friend of over two decades to join them with his daughter for the trip in a day or two, and is caught up in a combination of excitement and trepidation at the prospect of a romance blossoming between the two of them.

In the two contrasting versions of events Kate is at the beach with Olivia before her friend's arrival, when Olivia suddenly disappears into the waves. In the first version, she reappears unscathed, but in the second, she dies.

This is such a sad, powerful story - with an interesting back story as to why the author wrote it. It deals with emotions that live deep within a person's soul, and will be hard for readers to forget. Worth checking out, it gets 3.5 stars

This book had an interesting plot line. It is told through two different timelines. In both, we start at the beach and while the main character's daughter is swimming she loses sight of her for a second in timeline 1 she finally pops up and they continue home. In Timeline 2 that’s not what happens. The chapters “match up” in the different timelines. This is done with chapters 1 and one, then 2 and two and that continues so you can follow but it’s still hard to follow especially in the beginning. This is a hard book to read at times and deals with the loss of a child. It’s raw, painful and filled with anxiousness and grief in both timelines at times. I give it 4 stars. #netgalley #netgalleyreader #reafreyok had an interesting plot line. It is told through two different timelines. In both we start at the beach and while the main character's daughter is swimming she loses sight of her for a second and in Timeline 1 she finally pops up and they continue home. In Timeline 2 that’s not what happens. The chapters “match up” in the different timelines. This is done with chapters 1 and one, then 2 and two and that continues so you can follow but it’s still hard to follow especially in the beginning. This is a hard book to read at times and deals with the loss of a child. It’s raw, painful and filled with anxiousness and grief in both timelines at times. I give it 4 stars. #netgalley #netgalleyreader #reafrey

This book made me so sad. I was anticipating a sliding doors type book and that's what I go but it's about Kate who in one instance loses her daughter in a drowning accident and in the other timeline, her daughter pops up just fine. It was an interesting back and forth between the timelines and how kate's life progressed in both timelines but in both she still ends up on a similar path with I really loved.

The narrator was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed this heartfelt read.

4 stars

This was an interesting audiobook, narrated in the sliding door theory. Chapters run consecutively; two chapter 1’s, 2’s, and so on. This gives the reader/listener a chance to keep up with both narratives at the same time. It gets a tad confusing & I believe both theories would have made excellent books separately. I definitely would have enjoyed it much better as a standalone. Although tragic & heartbreaking, the story detailing the death of Kate’s daughter is much more interesting and I wish this would’ve been the entire narrative. It would’ve been a 5 star read for me, but as it stands, it’s 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Brittany Pressley’s reading of the audiobook was very engaging & transported me right in the middle of the chaos & feelings.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley, author Rea Frey, and Harper Muse for granting me the opportunity to delve into Ms. Frey’s audiobook, The Other Year. As a newcomer to this author, I was captivated by the intriguing synopsis, anticipating a unique storyline. The narrative is presented through alternating chapters set in parallel universes, providing insight into Kate's life over the course of a year. In one timeline, tragedy strikes as Kate's nine-year-old daughter Olivia drowns in the ocean while Kate is absorbed in her phone. In the other timeline, Olivia survives, resulting in divergent outcomes. However, despite the promising premise, the story unfolds into an every-chapter-switches style reminiscent of sliding doors, heavily centered around not one, but two love triangles. This focus on romantic entanglements detracted from what I hoped would be a more profound exploration of the mother-daughter dynamic. Instead, Kate's character often seemed to prioritize her relationships with attractive men over her maternal instincts. This repetitive focus on romance takes away from the deeper exploration of the mother-daughter relationship I had hoped for. The persistent emphasis on Kate's status as a single mother seeking male companionship became exasperating, overshadowing other aspects of what was a promising premise. Olivia's characterization and behavior often felt inconsistent with that of a nearly ten-year-old. Overall, I was disappointed by the writing style and found the narration lacking, which lessened my enjoyment of this lackluster story. 2/5

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! The Other Year by REA Frey is novel about tragedy and personal growth. The novel had two distinctive storylines in which Kate has a very different outlook on life. The love she feels for her daughter often prevents her from being in the present. But when tragedy strikes, she comes to learn that living in the moment is, most often, the very thing ou need. I found the parallel storylines difficult to follow at first. However, I came to enjoy the different outlooks and the different experiences Kate has depending on the circumstances. I loved the narration by Brittany Pressley. She used different voices to convey the different characters and had a very relaxed way about her storytelling. Overall, an enjoyable listen.

3.5 stars - somehow it’s weird how i was in a reading slump and a book that only caught me in the second half is my comeback

a more detailed and specific review is gonna be coming out on my podcast The Cry Lounge - gonna update the link here once it's out :)

The Other Year is a story about how the trajectory of your life can change in one second. Kate Baker and her daughter are on their annual trip at the beach, when one second Olivia is there, and the next second she’s underwater. In one timeline she resurfaces, and in the next one she does not. It then follows Kate’s life through each timeline, and it was tough. It was heartbreaking, but also beautiful in its own way. It’s a book about a mothers love, grief, guilt, and is it possible to overcome living through a mothers worst nightmare?

This book was good. It was so touching, the narration when the girl went into the water and couldn't be found, I was right there, great writing and narrating (I listened the audio). I understand exactly what the author did, how many times have I imagined two timelines in my life, when for a moment something happens that could be the end of my life as it is, losing my kids or my mom. In a second I can see both lives passing through my eyes. Life would go on, as it always do, but, how would things change? I enjoyed the book, I suffered the grief and am glad Kate found a way into a better life after all.

Wow! Grab the tissues.

This is a story of transformation.

Kate Baker is a single mother, navigating life based on the choices she makes. As a reader, you will have the opportunity to follow Kate's journey along two different timelines, focusing in on select chapters of her life. When Kate and her young daughter, Olivia, go on a beach vacation, Olivia disappears under the ocean's waves. In one timeline, Olivia resurfaces much to her mother's relief. In another timeline, Olivia does not resurface, forever altering her mother's life in one single moment. As you turn the pages, Kate will share her struggles and successes, joys and sadness, moments of confusion and understanding, her loves and losses, as well as her setbacks and breakthroughs.
This is an emotional read, so make sure you are in the headspace for that type of story.

Note: I listened to the audio version of this book, thanks to Harper Muse via NetGalley. Brittany Pressley does a fabulous job of bringing this story to life!

These opinions are entirely my own.

It was okay. I liked the way it told her life with daughter and without. It was such a page turner and hard to stop reading. I liked that it had both scenarios and kind of a pick your preferred ending type.

HALLMARK, GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT GREATEST MOVIE! This concept had me thinking through all of the what-ifs and could-have-beens in my life.

"The Other Year" follows two timelines for the life of Katie Baker and her daughter, Olivia. In both timelines, Katie and Olivia take a trip to the beach. Olivia goes swimming in the ocean. In timeline 1, Olivia emerges from the ocean. In timeline 2, Olivia drowns. The book alternates between timeline 1 and 2 throughout. The reader sees the bigger picture as Katie navigates her love life, time with/without Olivia, and her career in each timeline.

The career and love life of Katie Baker is completely Hallmark. I wasn't sure, at first, if I thought I would buy into it. I'm not a Hallmark movie person. Also, Timeline 2 is excruciatingly heavy with grief. Buuuut.... I REEEAAlly wanted to find out what happened in both timelines! I'm so glad I did. Both timelines took unexpected turns and left me with a gratifying ending. Somehow, through the stereotypical characters and scenes, I was all into this concept.

Brittany Pressley is an audio goddess in her interpretation of characters. SHE gave them a depth I don't think I could have had in reading ink and paper.

A special thank you to Harper Muse, Brittany Pressley, Rea Frey, and NetGalley for the chance to read this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What if your destiny had two alternatives? One with intense pain from loss and with different hardships. Loss creates growth as painful as it can be. This is story of finding yourself when you lose yourself. This is a story of motherhood, a struggle through grief, the mental battle of guilt and the discovery of hope. Beautiful novel of a women’s heart. Narration by Brittany Pressley was perfection!

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Muse for this audiobook.

One moment can change the rest of the trajectory of your life. In this sliding doors-type novel the author gives two alternative times lines. Kate and her 9 year old daughter Olivia go on their annual beach vacation: in one time line Olivia goes out in the water too far and drowns, and in the other they have a wonderful vacation and all is well. The rest of novel sets out two parallel lives for Kate, one where she learns how to cope with the loss of her daughter and another where Olivia is a happy normal 9 year old and Kate has to deals with her ex-husband and new romances. However, in the end some certain pivotal events in her life turn out remarkably the same.

I thought this novel was great and I loved both alternatives for Kate. One would assume that you wouldn’t enjoy the grief storyline as much but it was done really well and with an optimistic view that I didn’t dread reading it. I listened to this book entirely on audio and thought the narrator told both stories with wonderful and balanced emotion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC

This book gives a "Sliding Doors" vibe. It's a what if story. What if your child dies? What if she doesn't? In one life Kate takes her eyes off her child for a split second and what happens in that split second changes her life forever. In the other timeline, her daughter is fine. It's a heart breaking story every parent has thought of at least once. You get to see both sides. This book will make you cry, but there's joy as well. If a child passing is a trigger, then this book isn't for you. Brittany Pressley does a great job voicing both timelines and making them seem different. Rea Frey has written a thought provoking emotional story. A must read if you like books that will take you on an emotional roller coaster.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rea Frey, and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this audiobook to review. WOW but also WOAH. This is a heartbreaking and heavy book told in two parallel timelines of a single mother who lost her daughter in a the split second moment when she looked at her phone at a text with different outcomes. Just when the story gets horribly sad and heart wrenching the time line shifts to remember a funny or different time to lighten your heart. The narrator Brittany Pressly does an amazing job expressing the emotions from the mother to the pre-tween daughter just right. Triggers: If you have lost a child this may be a really difficult read. I found it difficult just with my daughter having the same name. Yet It is a wonderful well told story I am glad I was given the opportunity to read.