Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. The Other Side of Now follows Meg Bryan , also known as Lana Lord, a famous actress as she travels from LA to Ireland. Once there, Meg finds herself in alternate reality where everyone in the village knows her. Meg also finds that her childhood best friend is alive in this reality. In her own world, her friend Aimee tragically passed away, which caused Meg to flee to LA. Meg has to confront all of her past traumas in the new reality. I enjoyed the story. I do wish we could hade seen more of the relationship between Meg and her love interest. It felt rushed. The storyline was engaging, and I wanted to quickly finish the book.

4.25 stars (and also at least that many tears)! Truly this book is a made for Meg type of deal- theatre, Ireland, and the power of female friendships are the heart of the Other Side of Now!

This gorgeous magical realism story is about a girl who lost her best friend, and consequently her way in life, ends up in an alternate world where her life took a different path. Her journey to acceptance, understanding, and unlocking her past is an emotionally rich and deeply vulnerable path.

While there is a romantic element to this story, the most important relationships are with her friends and with her own damn self! I’m about to call my best friend just to tell her I miss her after reading this!

Thanks so much to Paige Harbison and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

First thank you to st Martin press and NetGalley fior the e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Meg Bryan seems to have it all a role on a hit tv show and a good looking well connected boyfriend and lives in a great house. However after a bad moment at her birthday party she decides to take a trip to Ireland where she would have went to college. When she gets there she discovers that it is the path she would have taken including her best friend Aimee.

What I liked: this was a great comfy read about friendship, what could have been and love. I really like Meg, she is a little brash but liked her development throughout the story. Cillian her on again off boyfriend is handsome but so good for her. He was the typical Irish guy in looks but much more in heart. Aimee her best friend story arc is what I liked best. No spoilers but her story is an amazing arc and shows a lot about young friendship and adulthood and jealousy and different paths. I really liked it and it was very emotional but worth it.

I look forward to reading more this author in the future

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?

It was good interesting story

The Other Side of Now is a mesmerizing, thought-provoking novel that explores the weight of choices, the lives we might have lived, and the meaning of second chances. With a unique blend of speculative fiction, emotional depth, and a touch of romance, this book is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.

Meg Bryan, better known to the world as Hollywood star Lana Lord, seemingly has it all—fame, a hit TV show, and a high-profile relationship. But beneath the surface, she’s unraveling. A spontaneous trip to Ireland, the place she and her late best friend Aimee once dreamed of moving, takes a surreal turn when Meg finds herself in an alternate reality—one where she never became famous, where she runs a local shop, and most shocking of all, where Aimee is alive. But this Aimee isn’t thrilled to see her, and Meg is left questioning everything she thought she knew.

The novel beautifully captures the nostalgia of “what if” moments, blending themes of friendship, grief, self-discovery, and the pursuit of happiness. Meg’s journey is deeply relatable—who hasn’t wondered how life might have unfolded had they taken a different path? The writing is immersive, the emotions raw, and the characters layered and real.

While the premise leans into magical realism, the heart of the story is grounded in human connection and the realization that happiness isn’t found in fame or success, but in the choices we make and the people we hold close. Fans of Sliding Doors and The Midnight Library will love this captivating, heartfelt read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

3.5 rounded up

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison has such a unique premise - I was hooked as soon as I read the description.

Meg is an actress in LA who needs a break from the spotlight. So she books a ticket to Avalon, Ireland - the small town where she’d once dreamed of attending college. When she arrives, she’s greeted with familiarity from all the locals, and not only that, but she looks like her pre-Hollywood self (with a few more wrinkles). Quickly realizing that she’s been transported into a timeline where she came to Ireland a decade earlier, she soon discovers that her now-deceased best friend is also alive and well in this other life.
The Other Side of Now explores the idea that we’re defined by our choices - and takes an in-depth look at how the smallest misstep can change the course of our lives.

I loved the plot from cover to cover. Truly so creative and unique. Where the concept of parallel universes and quantum physics is one that we’re starting to see more often in pop culture, I found this book to be a really fun read.

The reason I rated it as I did mostly had to do with the writing in the first third or so of the novel. It’s a bit clunky, maybe a little awkward, and full of run-on sentences that are hard to follow. Though I feel that it significantly improves by the halfway mark and stays that way until the end. I also feel that the romance could have used a little attention.

Fun, heartfelt, and funny. I recommend!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Other Side of Now comes out on June 3, 2025!

This slow burn gives you all the feels. I think some of us always wonder “What if I made this decision instead? This multilayered novel shows the different ways to love people. Time Travel was part of this story, which is not my favorite, but it worked with this story.
Family is not always blood. Fate can be good, bad or something beyond what imagined. Friendship and forgiveness is always a plus.
Thank you St. Martins Press for this ARC.

This was out of my comfort zone. It was interesting though, like an alternate universe. It’s comforting to see what’s on the other side.

Wow! Interesting plot! Not dual timeline, not exactly time travel, but maybe life in another dimension? This wasn’t my normal genre and it mentions ideas that I don’t really believe, but I did enjoy reading it. I felt like I was experiencing Meg’s emotions right along with her. I’m glad the book ended the way it did.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison is a dazzling, heart-tugging exploration of identity, fate, and second chances—with a glamorous twist of celebrity drama and a generous sprinkle of pop culture goodness.

Meg Bryan always dreamed of being an actress alongside her childhood best friend Aimee. But when only Meg got accepted to a prestigious drama school in Avalon, Ireland, she made the gut-wrenching choice to stay behind. Years later, she’s not Meg Bryan anymore—she’s Lana Lord, a Hollywood superstar caught in the endless churn of fame, heartbreak, and reinvention.

After a particularly intense birthday, Meg books a solo trip to Avalon—only to wake up in an alternate reality where she’s not famous, where Aimee is still alive, and where her life looks completely different. What follows is a beautiful, often poignant journey of rediscovery, as Meg explores who she could have been and what truly matters most.

This book delivers so much more than a time-twist story. It’s about grief, friendship, self-worth, and the stories we tell ourselves to keep going. Harbison gives us a nuanced look at the cost of ambition, the fragility of relationships, and the power of starting over. There are echoes of Sliding Doors and 13 Going on 30, but with its own dreamy Irish setting, heartfelt moments, and celebrity sparkle, The Other Side of Now feels entirely original.

The pop culture references—from Sydney Sweeney and LA wellness culture to coastal Irish charm—were such a fun contrast between Meg's two realities. The writing is sharp, vivid, and emotionally resonant.

📖 Read this if you love:

Sliding Doors / alternate timelines
Celebrity fiction & Hollywood drama
Found and rekindled friendships
Irish countryside aesthetics
Messy, beautiful self-discovery arcs

✨ This is a must-read for fans of Rebecca Serle, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and lovers of heartfelt fiction with a little bit of magic.

Thank you to @NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

A little magical realism time travely book, let's go! This book had me deep in thought, but entertained the entire time. It was an emotional rollercoaster that had me constantly making wishes for the characters. Overall, it was one of those you're going to suffer, but you're going to be happy about it type of tales. You wade through a lifetime of heartache, memories, and friendship and once you are on the other side...you get your ending.

Also, who doesn't love a good Scandoval reference?

I am so happy I got this read from Page Harbison and NetGalley, I know I will be thinking about this read for a long time.

"It has always been a latent fear of mine that I might one day lose my fucking mind."

I looooove a book with an alternate reality situation. This was so much fun and war so touching. I can't stop thinking about this book and will be revisiting this one again. You get slow burn, fated mates, DOGS, and a picturesque Irish town? Sign me up.

Title: The Other Side of Now
Author: Paige Harbison
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

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.

I can’t even imagine how confusing it would be to wake up in this situation! Meg’s rich and famous life sounds pretty horrible to me, so I can believe her wanting out. Her life in Ireland sounded amazing to me, so I can’t imagine wanting out of that. This was a story that kept me intrigued all along. I liked the characters, and I loved the quirky small town she ended up in—and I’m almost never a fan of small towns! I loved the character growth in this and Meg came to terms with her past and everything that happened.

Paige Harbison lives in L.A. The Other Side of Now is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of t. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 6/4).

I loved the magical realism and time travel elements. This book was surprising in the best way possible. I really enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to recommend it to everyone!

This book surprised me in the best way. It starts with Meg, a successful actress who seems to have it all on the outside—but something’s missing. After her 30th birthday, she books a spontaneous trip to a little village in Ireland that she and her best friend Aimee (who passed away years ago) once dreamed about. And somehow… Aimee is there.

It’s part alternate reality, part magical realism, and completely grounded in real emotions—grief, healing, nostalgia, and figuring out who you are beneath all the outside stuff.

I loved the quirky side characters, the dreamy setting, and the big-hearted message at the center of it all. It’s not just a story about loss—it’s about rediscovery, second chances, and letting yourself imagine something different.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this early.

“The Other Side of Now” by Paige Harbison
Wow, This could be a bit scary…
This was a ‘Little bit of Something Different’ for me. I didn’t fall in love with this story, but it did keep me turning the pages to see, ‘What would happen next.’. I bet it will keep you guessing, too! And, maybe leaving you wondering about some things. Happy Reading ! !

I have had quite a few time travel books have come my way this month. It’s not always my favorite trope but I actually enjoyed this one! You can’t go wrong with the backdrop of a small Irish town filled with a gaggle of interesting and lovable characters. Our main characters dilemma of being in an alternate world was heartbreaking in so many moments but also really beautiful to watch. The story was fairly emotional but possibly could have gone a little deeper with some of the relationship development. It had a good message about following your dreams, staying true to yourself and giving others the grace to do the same. It was an easy read, with some heavy elements but I had a good time throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Reminded me of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, but I liked this book way better. I won’t give anything away, but I will definitely be buying this book and recommending it.

RATING: 4/5 STARS

I love alternate reality stories, so was eager to read THE OTHER SIDE OF NOW. This was an enjoyable read that follows our main character through a "what if" situation. I recommend it for the small town vibes and fans of The Midnight Library or The Seven Year Slip.