What a delightful read! The Other Side of Now is a sliding doors story about "What if". What if I took the other option in the major life decision and wondered how it turned out? Meg explores this and suddenly finds herself in Ireland, where she considered going to school but opted not to. The town and characters (Kiera is my favorite!) are so charming. I loved seeing Meg grow and recognize what worked about her original life, and the ending was perfect!

This was a really, really fun story. I loved the whole thing from start to finish. I loved Meg aka Lana so much. I haven't stopped recommending this book to my friends that like to read.

I liked the concept of this - stories that explore how we live our life/alternate paths with tinges of magic are some of my favorite! - but the writing style immediately agitated me. The MC is a Hollywood actress & she came across very obnoxious. I don't always need to like my characters or relate to them, but this one in particular was coming across particularly abrasive to me. And then ~44 pages in there was some internal thought about "unhoused people who you could tell used to be good looking" that made her heartbroken or something that just did me in and rubbed me the wrong way enough (on top of the annoying stuff leading up to it) that made the book not worth reading to me. This sounded like it would be serious/reflective but it was gauche and off-putting to me.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

🎧Macmillan Audio🎧

At the ripe old age of 30, almost all of Meg Bryan’s dreams have come true. She’s a successful, sought after actress, known for her role on a popular series. She’s also dating her hunky, equally successful co-star. But sometimes keeping up appearances feels like a chore more than a reward. That’s why Meg decides to treat herself by taking a solo trip to Ireland.

Ireland has always held a special place in Meg’s heart. This is because it was meant to be her ultimate destination-moving there with best friend, Aimee. Only a decade ago, Aimee passed away, leaving a hole in Meg’s heart no accolades or far away adventure could ever fill.

So imagine Meg’s surprise when upon her arrival, Meg isn’t only welcomed by the locals, she’s treated as if she’s one of them. The more she looks into the strange conversations she has, the more she realizes things aren’t adding up. Then she catches a glimpse of what she looks like and the unthinkable clicks into place-somehow she entered an alternate universe by taking the trip across the world.

Now Meg has the daunting task of not only convincing others she isn’t crazy, but figuring out the why, as well as what she really wants. Is she meant to be a size zero actress living in California, or was she destined to live a quieter village life where real love is within her grasp? As Meg weighs her options she learns something that tips the scales- in this version of the world, Aimee never died.

The Other Side of Now is an alternate timeline story along the lines of Sliding Doors. Only here, the reader spends most of the their time with Meg in the alternate life, never truly getting to know megastar Meg. Since there is no back and forth, the answer to what’s right should be clear, but with stories like these it’s more about the journey than it is the destination. All in all, this is a worthwhile story of the paths not taken and living out a world of what ifs.

The Other Side of Now is Paige Harbison’s debut adult novel. I read this in literally a day between the pool and then finishing up at home in the evening.

You know that one choice that can change the course of your life?! Often we don’t get to see what would have happened if we picked the other thing (college, boyfriend, job etc). In The Other Side of Now, Meg gets that chance. Through a slide of time, and a little magic, she finds herself in the life hers could have been if she made the other choice.

“If this whole experience has taught me anything? It’s that there are gorgeous mysteries winding between us and the people we care for.”

This story was about growth, and love, and grief. It’s about second chances with yourself and with those you care about. Throughout the whole thing was captivated by the story. I found myself wishing for the ending I was hoping to read then being equally crushed and loving the one that occurred.

If you read The Other Side of Now, I hope will love it as much as I did. Thank you St Martin’s Press for this eARC copy to read and review.

What if you got the chance to walk through a door and see another life you could have had…had you changed just one major decision?

If you love heartfelt women’s fiction with a slice of humorous friendship, healing from grief, second chances, an Irish setting, and a bit of romance you’re in the right place.

I didn’t know what to expect, but this book had been recommended to me multiple times so I took the leap! It definitely gave me similar feelings to The Good Part by Sophie Cousens but with less romance.

This is definitely a story about one women’s journey to take a step back and look at her life. She was able to finally see why she wasn’t happy and reminisce about the life she could have had. I know it won’t work for everyone but I found it to be funny, charming, and really introspective!

While the romance was a small part of the story I really enjoyed it and especially was happy to see how it all played out in the dual lifetimes. I found myself glued to this audiobook…waiting to see how it would all unravel…would she get to choose where she stayed and if not how would that work out for her happy ending? — and im happy to say I don’t think it disappointed!

I found myself chuckling out loud on a couple of occasions and I got misty eyed at the finish of the book…as it gave me all the feels! A lovely heartwarming story that really amplified my July reading.

While I am not one that dwells on what could have been, this one seems to hold what I would assume to truths. What if Meg never would have become famous? Would her life had looked much different? Come along for the ride as she finds out. So well written with all the emotions that come with that. You wont be disappointed!

THE OTHER SIDE OF NOW takes what could be a tired concept but weaves it with such raw authenticity that it becomes a gripping and fresh novel about friendship, love, loneliness, loss, grief, ambition and reinvention. Paige Harbison writes like Lorelai Gilmore speaks, with a quick wit and raw emotion that will have you sobbing. I put this ARC down feeling like I’ve grown up with Meg and Aimee, that Keira and I go way back and maybe Cillian has poured me a drink? What a great read. Would make for a wonderful book club pick!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of THE OTHER SIDE OF NOW.

I absolutely devoured this book and I'm actually quite sad it's over. I love stories like this and really loved being with these characters. If you're looking for a cozy escape read that will keep you hooked until you finish, a book that really sticks with you when life gets in the way of reading, a book that you will remember for a long time and recommend to your friends, then this is it. Obviously, I highly recommend this one.

Just a perfect story! I loved everything about it- the writing, the setting, the characters, the dogs❤️ I think we can all relate to the path not chosen in life and wondering just what would have happened if we chose it. I could certainly relate. And now I want more from this author!!

Although I don't usually enjoy an alternate universe, this novel’s secondary characters kept me reading. A Hollywood B-star experiences some strange stuff on her escape to Ireland.

Actress Meg Bryan walks away from her celebrity life and finds herself in a version of reality where she never became famous, and her best friend Aimee is still alive.
As she begins to experience the life she could have lived, Meg starts to see just how much fame cost her.

This book reminded me of Sarah Ready's Ghosted series, and I LOVE Sarah Ready's Ghosted series.
It made me realize that I DO like magical realism books. For years I have been adamant that trope was not for me, but it turns out I just needed authors like Paige Harbison in my life.

For me this book was a five star read, what really sealed it was the ending, it could have gone in a completely different direction, but instead, it hit that perfect sweet spot.
It was just messy enough to feel real, and because of that, it totally landed.

This book was such a magical, emotional ride—I seriously haven't stopped talking about it since I finished. From the very first page, I was hooked on Meg's journey. She’s a Hollywood actress feeling lost and disconnected, so she impulsively escapes to Ireland... and somehow ends up in a version of her life she could have had, one filled with warmth, familiarity, and people who already seem to know and love her. It’s got strong “sliding doors” vibes with a unique and touching twist, and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.

Meg is such a relatable and beautifully written character. I laughed with her, cried with her, and deeply felt her grief, especially when it came to the loss of her best friend Aimee. The story blends humor and heartache so seamlessly, and the themes of friendship, grief, self-discovery, and second chances really hit home. The side characters—especially Kiera and Cillian—brought so much joy and heart to the story. If you love warm, moving stories with just a hint of magic and a whole lot of soul, this one’s a must-read. I honestly didn’t want it to end.

I loved this one so much!!! I’m a sucker for an alternate reality time loop, and I enjoyed that this wasn’t a romance based one. Will definitely read more from this author!

This was an enjoyable story of Meg, a 30 year old Hollywood TV actress and her parallel life in an alternate universe in a small town in Ireland, where she had a completely different lifestyle. There were interesting side characters and a dog and dealt with friendship and other relationships and showed Meg’s growth. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing the book for review consideration via NetGalley.

The Other Side of Now is about Meg’s two lives in different realities. I was engrossed pretty early and never got bored. When Meg is in her “other life” I didn’t know how everything would play out and really enjoyed reading it. The play with Meg and Aimee is really intense and sad but adds so much.

Meg's glamorous life as star Lana Lord is falling apart. When she takes a trip to the town that was a starting place for her path not taken she slips into an alternate reality that gives her a chance to see where that choice could have taken her. What I really like about this is that she gets a chance to make amends and to gain insights that put her life on track.

ARC Courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Available now. This is an unpaid review.

I started this as a palate cleanser for something light, and ended up getting fully invested and read it until I finished. I loved all the characters, and the conflict between the girlfriends tore at my heartstrings almost more than the decision regarding the dogs. IYKYK.

I honestly read this so fast because it was amazing. Let me start off there. The writing was great. The story was great. I felt connected to both “lives”. I think I enjoyed the second life a little better because there was some depth in the conversation and it felt like the FMC got “closure”, if you will. Which is the point of the book.
The ONLY flaw I had with this, was all of the references. I only knew may 1/4 of them and it didn’t appear to be too relevant to the story. But naming movies and books and songs for a majority of the book was not necessary. Kinda just like, if you get it, cool, if not, cool. Doesn’t change the story. That’s why I gave it 4 stars. Other than that, READ THIS BOOK. lol.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Paige Harbison, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Meg haseverything she ever wants! A star role on a big TV show and a celebrity boyfriend. But underneath everything, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a breakdown on her birthday, she books a trip to Ireland to the place she and her best friend Aimee dreamed of living. The dream that died when Aimee's life was claimed by an accident.

When Meg arrives, the people in town are nice and treat her as a friend. Except for the really cute bartender. Meg thinks it is just jetlag until she looks in the mirror and sees that she is her self before she became an actress.

Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this town: with a dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her old partner and at a regular job. What's the most shocking moment of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is not only alive, but very angry at Meg.

Will Meg get a chance to truly be herself and to reconnect with her friend?

Wow! I loved this book and it definitely was not what I was expecting. I loved Meg's authentic character and her time in Ireland! This book will definitely keep you interested!