Holy crap! I've read many books with this type of story but I have never read one that had the plot twists of The Other Side of Now. It was very good and the author writes well. I say down and read this book with very few breaks because I had a hard time putting it down.

My only complaint is that the intimate scene is peppered with words that don't seem to be written by the same person. It bordered on the crude and didn't need to.

I highly recommend The Other Side of Now.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I'm so excited to give!

This is my very first NetGalley read, and my very first book I've read entirely electronically, and I'm so pleased to say it was a huge win. The Other Side of Now introduces us to Meg Bryan, a small town Florida girl, who along with her best friend Aimee, is seeking a bigger life on stage. At age 30, she is the star of a hit TV drama, has renamed herself Lana Lord, and is questioning everything about what her life has become. She is far from her parents, Aimee is dead following a tragic accident, and nothing about her life feels real. Feeling the need to escape, she spontaneously books a flight to a small town in Ireland where she and Aimee once dreamed of attending a school of fine arts. And that's when things get weird.

This is a book written in the slide of Sliding Doors, with a healthy dose of a Christmas Carol. It's not a holiday book, but the themes of past, present, and future felt very similar here. As Meg enters her "alternate life" in Ireland, I did have to seriously suspend belief (it is fantasy/magical realism, after all) but I found the characters all utterly charming but still real, which helped with what I found to be their very unrealistically chill responses to her situation. I never rolled my eyes, and all of Meg's struggles, her confusion, and her delight came across clearly and relatedly. Contemporary fiction that is not a thriller nor a romance is hard to find, and even harder for me to find that I actually enjoy. This was a huge win.

While this is a generally fast, lighthearted read, there are heavy themes of loss and of what it means to try and run away from and forget the most painful parts of our pasts. What happens when you excise from your life the things that form who you are? What does it mean to live always with the expectation that nothing, truly, will ever be good, joyful, and untainted ever again?

4.25 stars, and highly recommended.

4.5 rounded up. I would’ve argued this was a solid 4 stars until the last 15% or so - the play scene and what followed were so utterly heartbreaking and strong I had to round up. I wasn’t a fan of Kiera and I think this started a bit slow, but it caught itself up. Loved the fresh take on magic realism/alternate reality. Definitely will look out for more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm usually not the biggest fan of time travel/alternate reality type books, but this one worked for me. I liked all the characters in this: they felt really authentic and interesting. I also really enjoyed Meg's journey, and the ending really worked for me.

This book provides a fascinating insight into what would happen if you made a different choice that changed the entire course of your life. After the unfortunate death of Aimee of which she wholeheartedly blamed herself for, she got into her car and drove to California. She became Lana which was fitting that she became an actress as she changed herself entirely whether it be physically or emotionally. She was a caricature of herself. She hid behind Brilliance to forget her path. Once she went to Avalon, her life completely changed. She became Meg who lived there because she choose to go to school there. She had loving and supportive friends who didn't judge her on how she looked that day or the people she surrounded herself with. She liked her physical appearance. She was truly happy. One of my favorite scenes is when Aimee leaves to go to the party and remarks that she is happy and alive. The ending is perfect when Meg is in a bar with her fellow actors in London. It makes one truly believe in fate..

The Other Side of Now was both a thoughtful and very enjoyable read. I loved the sliding doors concept, and the exploration of the way that one action taken could have on a life was great. And yet, we hope that the underlying premise is true - that we will be able to hit the big notes of family/friendship/life in whatever path we choose. Harbison does an incredibly admirable job wrestling her characters into a storyline, and an ultimate destination, that felt both true and plausible, while still keeping the reader in suspense - I was very near the end of this story and I was still totally unsure about what the ending resolution would be, so when the truth of it all did finally emerge, it was a gut-punch. It's lovely to read a book this descriptive and fun that is still capable of delivering on those big emotional moments.

4.5 ⭐️

GASP. oh she was stunning!!!! like, pure perfection. a lovely story of hollywood, escapes to ireland, and reeling emotions made for such a beautiful story 🥹 my heart lies with meg, THAT IS MY GIRL. in a way, this almost felt reminiscent of tjr, possibly because she does the famous trope so very well and i would recommend to those who enjoy her books!

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Meg Bryan, aka Lana Lord, appears to have it all with a spot on a popular TV show and a relationship with a big star in Hollywood. After having a bit of a meltdown on her 30th birthday, she heads to Ireland, and a village that once held dreams for her and her departed friend, Aimee. The town is mostly welcoming, save for a bartender. And yet, on her phone reveals a photo montage of her life - in this town, with these people, with the bartender who is actually her ex. And her best friend Aimee is alive! - but, they do not have a relationship. Meg realizes she is living a different version of her life through some strange slip of time, and needs to make use of it to fix what matters.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, as well as the characters and setting. Meg was wonderful in Ireland, and I liked that she easily recognized what needed to be done. There are actually a lot of layers of story here, and the author easily explores them without deviating from the matter at hand or making things confusing or rambling. There are also a lot of emotional elements to this book, and it all blends just perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Side of Now tells the story of famous TV star Meg who has just turned 30 and is unhappy with her life in Hollywood. She is struggling with grief over the tragic death of her best friend, Aimee, in a car accident when the two of them were 19 and living in Florida. On a whim, she books a flight to Avalon, Ireland, where she had planned to attend college but decided not to after Aimee did not get in. Arriving at her rental cottage, she goes to get a meal at the nearby pub and is surprised to realize that everyone there knows who she is and it's not because of her Hollywood persona, it's because she actually lives in Avalon after having gone to school there. In this alternative universe, Meg realizes that has a close friend in Keira, and has just broken up with her boyfriend, Cillian, whose mother owns the pub. Most importantly though - Aimee is alive! In this universe, Meg DID attend Avalon School of the Arts and Aimee joined her there a semester later, married her high school sweetheart (who Meg can't stand), and they have two kids together. There is so much going on here- like a "Sliding Doors" meets "One Italian Summer." No spoilers - but the Epilogue made the story come alive for me. This story is about friendship, family, and personal growth. I loved it - and look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchance for an honest review.

When Meg was a teenager a palm reader told her she would live two lives. Now an adult living in LA staring in a hit soap opera she should be happy, but her life is making her miserable. Acting on a whim she books a flight to Avalon, where she almost went to college. When she arrives she notices some peculiar things. The local bartender seems to hate her, a girl in the pub seems to think they are best friends, and her childhood best friend, who has been dead for a decade, is alive and living in Avalon but wants nothing to do with Meg. With no choice but to live this second life Meg will get to see what could have happened if she had walked a different path.
I’ve read a few books with diverging time lines and this one is a great example of this concept used well. I loved @pharbeaux take on this plot device. Meg’s introspection as she examines both of her lives as the book unfolds was delightful.
Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for letting me have an advanced copy for review. Look for #theothersideofnow June 3, 2025
#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #bookrecommendations

4.5/5
This is an alternate reality book, where we experience 2 versions of Meg Bryan: the one where she goes to Hollywood and becomes a big TV star and the one where she doesn't and she's in Ireland with a whole different life. It was interesting to see how much Meg enjoyed this new reality when her other self did not (grass is greener on the other side).

This book is first and foremost about friendship and grief, where Meg hasn't had the chance to deal with her best friend Aimee dying so suddenly and traumatically after all these years. Paige Harbison does a great job depicting Meg's unexplored grief and her happiness at seeing her dead best friend alive and well in this alternate reality and her desire to remain in that reality. Meg and Aimee are best friends in both realities, and it was so heartwarming to see their friendship be a constant thing in both universes no matter what fights or arguments they have. I thought the author did the sliding door concept very well, and I was really rooting for Meg to live her best life and be happy, so I was happy to see Meg get what she deserves in the end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this novel! The mix of romance, dual timelines, and the undercurrent of grief and loss kept me engaged from beginning to end. I think almost everyone who has experienced a great loss or live changing event can appreciate the "what if" timeline that Meg experiences as she is in Avalon.

Overall a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review. Will definitely be recommending to others!

The Other Side of Now is my first Paige Harbison book and I can say with certainty I will be reading more of her work! 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. That being said, the different versions of love in this books were my favorite thing about it.

-Slow burn
-Friendship
-Found family
-Fated mates
-Forgiveness & grief
-Small 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

The contrast between happiness and sorrow, love and loss, is a recurring theme in my favorite romances. This one is no exception; it had heartfelt moments, but it also had depth and sorrow, which gave the book a multifaceted quality. This will appeal to readers who enjoy heartfelt romances and stories about women's maturation, discovery, and recovery.

I really enjoyed this book. The parallel stories intrigued me, the characters were very well-written and the plot flowed nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Side of Now is a moving story about time, memories, and personal growth. It follows a young woman, Meg, who is trying to make sense of her past while figuring out who she is in the present. The writing is beautiful and often really deep, but it’s also relatable and easy to connect with. The story jumps between her parallel lives', giving you a fuller picture of the her journey. Some parts are a bit slow, but the themes about change and self-discovery really pull you in. It’s a great read if you like books that make you think about life, friendship, your choices, and who you’re becoming.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to to this ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved this! It reminds me a lot of Emma Straub's writing. Lighthearted and fun while tackling emotional topics in a thoughtful way. I had a great time. This book does not read as timeless, though. The first 50 pages had some cringy writing and some of the pop culture references are very specific.

The other side of now by Paige harbison Arc review I revived this copy though net galley. I was so happy to read this was a roller coaster ride of emotional story. This book is definitely a magical realism genre which is one of my faves. We meet Meg who stage name is Lana who is famous actor who life is not playing out like she thought it should. She decided to take a trip to Ireland and wakes and her life is extremely different it like her life took a different path. She not famous she lives in Ireland and most importantly her best friends is alive again but she is close to her anymore. So she goes on this journey of self discovery and healing old scars. This is amazing story of second chance, see how your life would be if you made different choices. Also leans some hard truth the nobody perfect and we all make mistakes, but we deserve forgiveness and healing. It about learn to live with grief and loss. Getting closure about those we lose but never forgotten the best moments we had with those we care about. To never take life for granted and that we can make our life better if just change. I thought this was great story about friendship and healing very emotional read but also has a good ending very interesting take on what if we made one choice different what would happen. Highly recommend you check it out. I had good time reading it.

4.5 ⭐️s

This book was pitched as a contemporary romance, but I think the true love story is the platonic love between two best friends.

Meg Bryan loses her best friend Aimee while they’re in college together at nineteen and flees to LA to become a famous actress. Now, at thirty, she wonders what could’ve been if she had gone to her dream school in Ireland instead of staying in Florida to be with Aimee. On a whim, she books a flight to Dublin just to see the small Irish town she would’ve called home and somehow ends up in an alternate reality where she did go to school there, she has a whole different life, and Aimee is still alive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The prose was relatable and written in a familiar voice, the banter was witty, and the twist was shocking. There is one spicy scene that felt a bit rushed and slightly out of place, but the real magic was the platonic love between Meg and Aimee. They are the idyllic best friends, and reading this book will make you want to call your best friend immediately and tell them how much you love them. This book was fun and flirty, but also highlighted some hard truths about wanting what you can’t have and not truly appreciating what you do have until it’s gone.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this book and would recommend it! I’m already planning to reread it once it’s officially released in June.

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harrison was transfixing! I did not want this book to end I was so swept up in it! Life is full of choices how often do we get the opportunity to see how things would play out had we made a different one?