TW/CW: Language, drinking, drug use, eating disorder, fat shaming, death of friend, grieving, graphic sex scenes, mourning, depression, anxiety

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
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.
Release Date: June 3rd, 2025
Genre: Magical Realism
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Love writing style
2. Funny parts
3. Kara - can she be my friend?
4. Ending was beautiful
5. So many great quotes to live by
6. Audiobook narrator did a fantastic job reading book

What I Didn't Like:
1. More man focused than friend focused at times
2. Women aren't allowed to eat on books

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

I hate when books over state that women don't eat. What's the point? This coming after Meg is told she needs to lose more weight after already dropping weight. Things like this in books are what tell women that eating is bad. You never read in books about men not eating and people pointing it out as much as it is pushed in books about women's pov's. Oh, but luckily we have a man that knows her better so she is given permission to eat. *rolls eyes*

Oh my goodness there were parts of this book that made me laugh so hard.
“In my life, my real life, I weigh like twenty pounds less and I’ve had some work done. Not a lot. But enough that I can say with one hundred percent certainty that this is not the face I had when I woke up yesterday.
”She laughs. “In my real life, I too am about twenty pounds thinner.”She then shakes her fists at the heavens. “God, won’t you wake me up from this nightmare?”


So Meg finally gets another chance to see Aimee (at the party) and she walks off with the bartender. I thought Meg would went to visit more with Aimee since she missed her so much but I guess one coffee hang out and 10 minutes talking at a party is all she needs for her friends death in another world. Meg has no idea how long this will last that she is here and able to see Aimee, but instead she is choosing to hang out with this man. Sigh.

God, of course Killian is perfect. From head to head *wink wink*

Loved this!
“You’re not on the outside of your life looking in. Everyone isn’t off having some perfect moment and you’re left out of it. You’re alive right now. Whether your real life is back in California, or it’s here, or if it’s on Pluto, it doesn’t matter. You’re here right now. I wish you didn’t feel like things were such high stakes. You can be happy, you know. Look, let’s say you’re right, that girl there is on the outside, yeah? Everyone’s inside enjoying the film, and she’s in the hall.”He shrugs against me. “She could walk in. And maybe the happiness is closer than she thinks.”

That's how I feel at times.

Look I was 100% team Aimee until Aimee starts being so mean to Meg for no reason. We then find out she's mad because in the other world that she does not believe that Meg is from she is dead. Um okay. She then confessed that she actually got into the art school and lied to Meg. So Meg did not go to her dream college because Aimee wanted to stay with her boyfriend. Aimee was worried she would make fun of her for not going and rather deal with that small thing she totally uprooted Megs life. So, I'm over here confused how Aimee has the gall to even be mad at Meg.

Great now I am crying at work.

The scene where Meg has to admit outloud that Aimee is dead tore my heart apart. Seriously... My god. I was crying so hard.

Awe poor Meg maybe it was good that she admitted that Aimee was dead because it got her out there living. I mean was Meg even living before or just existing. Now she is having a life and it seems like the universe is rewarding her by giving her Killian and Kara back into her life.

Final Thoughts:
From the moment I started this to the moment I finished it I was invested and loving the book. It deals with some heavy subjects and really punches you in the gut with facing your fears of losing someone.

I wanted so much for Meg to have a happy world where Aimee lived with a husband and kids. Where Meg got to see her alive and loved not dead in hers.

I'm telling you that scene where they were on stage and "acting" out the part of Aimee being dead made me ugly cry at work. The author did a fantastic job at dealing with grief and the way we can just keep moving on pretending it never happened. If we pretend doesn't that mean it's not real? That is the problem Meg had when she won't admit Aimee is dead. She took off and never even stayed for the funeral.

I only had one issue. The relationship with Killian muddled the message for me on this book about friendship. Not every book needs a romance. I wanted the book to be about a lost friendship and not about a found love. The message at the end when Meg finds Killian made it almost feel like you can replace the grief and death of that person with the love of another one and I don't think that's always right or healthy. Couldn't Meg just work through some stuff and that he the ending? Why the romance?

All and all though this was a gut punching story that I freaking loved. It was beautiful. The quotes in it about having to move on were so good. You can't let death hold you back but moving on doesn't mean forgetting someone either.

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Before Lana Lord became a rising star in the Hollywood, she’s just a regular woman named Meg Bryan who lost her best friend Aimee more than a decade ago. Wanting a little break from her current life, she booked a trip to Avalon, Ireland, a place where she dreamt of moving. But when she arrived there, something strange happened. It seemed like “Meg” has always been living there, and “Lana” doesn’t exist.

Despite her confusion, she immediately settled in, following her “Meg” routines and leaving her “Lana” life (literally) behind with the help of her best friend, Kiera. Turned out, she loved that life. Everything was perfect, and most importantly, Aimee wasn’t dead. She started to get too comfortable and dreaded the possibility that she’d be forced to return to her “Lana” life.

I enjoyed this so much, partly thanks to the audiobook narrator who delivered an amazing performance. It’s cozy, reflective, a little bit emotional, and also hopeful. I loved the characters but especially Kiera. She’s such a diva lol. Props to Meg for handling everything so well because if it were me, I’d actually go insane after all that.

4.25 Stars – The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

Meg Bryan has the dream life—fame, a hit TV show, and Hollywood’s hottest beau. But when a meltdown at her 30th birthday sends her spiraling, she books a last-minute escape to Ireland… and wakes up in a version of her life that isn’t hers.

Her face is different. Her job isn’t acting. Her best friend—the one she lost a decade ago—is alive… but wants nothing to do with her.

With magical realism, emotional depth, and alternate-reality intrigue, this story pulled me in. The characters are layered, the humor works, and the narration was great. I didn’t want to put it down.

How will it end for Meg? I won’t spill that tea—but if you love second chances and what-if storylines, this one has your name on it.

This was such a fun magical realism story! I could not stop listening because I wanted to hear what would happen. Meg Bryan is unhappy in her life. Her dream was to always be a star and her and her best friend Aimee were determined to go to a small acting college in Ireland. When life doesn’t go as planned, and Aimee and Meg have to stay in Florida, it changes everything. While Meg got exactly what she wanted, to be a famous actress, but life just isn’t as fulfilling as she wanted and she’s living with a lot of guilt after an accident with Aimee. After a disastrous 30th birthday party, she packs her bags and travels to Ireland to see what she missed out on. When she gets to Avalon, however, Meg is bombarded with people who know her intimately, and it appears she’s lived a full life in this town. It’s obvious that Meg has history in Avalon, but how?

I thought this was such a fun audiobook. I loved all the characters so much. Meg has such great character growth throughout the book. Kiera and Cillian are top notch as well. I love that the author is the one who read the audiobook because it allowed me to realize exactly how she wanted these characters to be brought to life. This was such an interesting examination of how choices and decisions that we make in our lives can greatly affect the outcome and future of how we live. I loved the magical realism portion and the ending was *chefs kiss!* HIGHLY recommend this audiobook!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Paige Harbison’s The Other Side of Now is a captivating blend of contemporary fiction and magical realism that explores identity, friendship, and second chances. Meg Bryan, a successful actress living a glamorous yet hollow life, suddenly finds herself in an alternate reality—one where her dreams took a very different path, and her best friend Aimee is alive but distant.

The story’s emotional core lies in Meg’s struggle to reconcile her two lives and mend the fractured bond with Aimee. Harbison’s writing is heartfelt and immersive, beautifully capturing the nuances of regret and hope. The audiobook narration adds depth, lending authenticity to Meg’s vulnerability and growth.

A thoughtful, moving tale about what it means to find yourself and heal broken relationships—The Other Side of Now will resonate with anyone who’s ever wondered about the roads not taken.

Five star read!

This book gave me all the feels. It broke my heart and then bit by bit mended it back together with the complicated love that is friendship.
The time warp and magical realism aspect of the story pulled me right in. Meg, the main character, living an alternative reality based on a changed choice from the past, was nothing short of enthralling. The way Paige Harbison weaves the past and present together is masterful, making you question the impact of every decision.

I love that the story mainly focused on the friendship between Meg and her best friend Aimee instead of the romance. It was a nice change. Their bond felt so real and relatable, highlighting the ups and downs of true friendship. But don’t get me wrong, I still loved the romance with Meg’s leading man, who was nothing but swoony. Their chemistry added an extra layer of depth to the story.

Additionally, the small-town Irish setting was so charming. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there, walking through the quaint streets and soaking in the local culture. The lovable cast of supporting characters, each with their own quirks and stories, reinforced the story, making it unforgettable.

The author narrated the audiobook and did a spectacular job with character differentiation, various accents, and male narratives. Her performance brought the characters to life in a way that felt authentic and engaging. She deserves an award!

4.5⭐️I loved so much about this book…great sense of place, time slip, the path not taken, self discovery, romance with Cillian (swoon), friendship and forgiveness. I wasn’t prepared, howeve, for the amount of time spent on the unresolved grief of the main character, including the memories of the accident that killed her best friend. I did love the happy ending epilogue, but of course would have like it to be longer. I listened to this on audiobook and loved it in this format. The author narrates the audiobook and was terrific. Thank you to @NetGalley and @Macmillanaudio for this free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a beautiful reflection of grief, written with humour, romance, and the hope that life can go on after loss.

I was unexpectedly taken in by this adult debut. I read the synopsis and was intrigued, but assumed it would be a pretty run of the mill "girl gets to experience what life would be like if she chose path B instead of A," It certainly was that, but it also ended up being a pretty profound conversation about grieving that I wasn't altogether prepared for. I think some will complain that the romance is weak, which is a little true, but it is so far from THE key to the story that I didn't mind at all. And that resolves itself nicely too!
Read by the author - this doesn't always work, especially with a debut, but this was also nicely done.

The Other Side of Now is a heartfelt and imaginative novel that explores the idea of “what if?”—specifically, what life might look like if one tragic event had never happened. It’s a story about grief, second chances, and the age-old question of whether the grass is really greener on the other side.

I was pulled in by the emotional depth of the story, but also appreciated the touches of humor as the main character tries to navigate her new reality. It’s a bit of a romantic time-warp plot, where she ends up in an alternate version of her life and reconnects with people she’s lost—friends and moments that aren’t part of her current world.

The book blends laughter and sorrow in a really compelling way. It made me think about how much the choices and events in our lives shape who we are, and how fragile yet beautiful our connections can be.

It’s a unique, touching read—one that stays with you after the final page.

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
Fiction, women’s fiction, romance. Alternate time line, paranormal / magical realism.
Meg Bryan is an actress on a hit TV show. She lives in a huge house in California with her boyfriend, also a famous actor. When she’s told that the show may soon be cancelled but that she needs to lose another 10 pounds regardless, she’s hit her limit. She’s already lost 20 when told to, she’s had brow work done and nose. She’s already only called by her stage name and at her thirtieth birthday party and hiding in a room on her own, she’s wondering if it’s all been worth it. Impulsively she finds a rental in the small town in Ireland and gets on a plane for a week away.
Something strange is happening in Avalon. Everyone seems to know Meg and not because she’s an actress. In fact, when Meg tries to google herself, all the promo has disappeared. A few people at the local bar treat her as a good friend although the bartender is a bit grumpy. And then she finds out her friend Aimee is alive and married. With children. How is this possible. Aimee died. Meg was in the car when it crashed. A fortune teller once told Meg that she would have two lives, but who believes those things? Yet, here in Avalon, it seems like Meg attended college and simply never left. Is this her life now?

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this narrated by the author. The performance is marvelous with the right amount of worry, wonder, and amazement. It’s the author’s writing so it make sense she knows what to emphasize and highlight. A delightful narration.
I did increase the speed to 1.5 to more closely match reading and conversation comfort. There are a few heavy Irish accents in the narrative so I didn’t go any faster to clearly understand the text.

Sliding door is a term I’ve never heard before but that’s what other reviews said it is for this time slip or magical realism, or alternate dimension setting. Whatever it is, this version of Meg’s life may be locally confined and partially unfulfilled but she’s also mostly happy with good friends and a seemingly loving boyfriend. And Aimee! Her best friend from her school days is alive. Clearly Meg has to make decisions or undergo some self reflection.
It’s poignant and at one point, I was crying. I loved the twisted ending. In fact, I had strong, out loud hopes about what needed to happen. And fortunately it did. Whew.

Feel good, life affirming, I’m here for a reason story with a wonderful romance finish.
Loved it. But maybe missing the dog. 🤣

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

I just need to learn not to read magical realism. I was drawn in by the description saying it was for fans of TJR, but I don't really see the connection. Rebecca Serle fans will definitely love this though.
3 stars because I am not the target audience, but it was fine. I definitely didn't hate it.
I appreciate the opportunity to listen in exchange for my review!

Oh, this book took me for a ride! I came here for the alternate reality and got a beautiful reflection on grief (with laughter, romance, and friendship to keep it from completely destroying me.) This story grabbed me quickly, and I was looking for things to clean to keep my hands busy just to keep listening! The author did a great job as narrator (except for a few scenes where I hated Meg's voice - could have been the speed I was listening to it. 1.5) I loved so many of the themes explored here- what it means to have community, to have true friendships where you know and are known wholly, how major life decisions can change the trajectory of our lives, and how we cope with grief. Meg's slide into her alternate reality was masterfully done, and I kept waiting for the ending I knew had to happen but desperately didn't want- just as the MC felt. I was heartbroken when she was heartbroken and felt healing as she finally began to experience it. The ending was perfection. This was a book that perfectly blended character growth with plot. Beautifully written and performed.

Some content notices for other readers: Open door scene. Lots of cursing. Alcohol is consumed often. Eating disorder. Panic attacks. Car accident description.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

The Other Side of Now surprised me in the best way. I’m not usually a magical realism fan (and I think this fits that genre?), but I really enjoyed the story. It’s a beautiful, emotional look at grief, healing, and letting go of responsibility for things outside of our control. I wasn’t sure where it was going, and that unpredictability really worked for me.

I connected with the characters, but I still felt like something was missing—I wanted just a little more depth. That said, I was so invested in the main character’s journey and desperately wanted her version of reality to be true. The ending hit all the right notes.

I listened to the audiobook ARC via NetGalley, thank you to Macmillan Audio, and the narrator was wonderful. I believe it was the author herself? She did a great job, especially switching between an Irish and English accent. It really brought the story to life.

I had to wait a day before reviewing, because I'm in total book hangover mode! It's so rare that I love a book enough that I finish it stunned and unable to concentrate on anything else, but here I am, unfocused but with a full heart.

Do you love a book about second chances, redemption, and exploring all the "what ifs" of a life? If so, I guarantee you will be endlessly charmed by the antics and missteps of Meg, Cillian, Kiera and Aimee in this romantic dramedy, The Other Side of Now.

Our main character, Meg, pokes fun at her "Sliding Doors" kind of predicament, so we recognize the adventure we're getting into, but we don't know where it will take us. We hope for all the perfect romance, perfect peace, perfect everything for her, and hold our collective breaths waiting for it to possibly, hopefully, maybe come true.

Unlike your formulaic Hallmark movie, things don't come together as cleanly and blissfully as we'd like, but Meg does have (as we say in the South) quite a few "come to Jesus" moments that keep us invested in her journey. She's a genuine and reliable narrator, openly flawed and eager to see her truth, which is rare in this kind of book.

“The truth is, we live. We can't spend every moment treasuring the things we love. We still get mad at the dog for tracking mud through the house, even though one day we would give anything to have her muddy paws back on our white carpet. We still roll our eyes at our parents' needy voicemails, even though one day those recorded moments will be all we have left.”

I need more introspective and feel good books like this in my life. We all do. I'm recommending this to all my book-loving girlies, and predicting that this will be THE READ of Summer 2025.

I absolutely loved listening to The Other Side of Now! Paige Harbison’s narration brought Meg Bryan’s journey to life with warmth and humor, making it easy to connect with Meg as she navigates an alternate reality filled with second chances, heartfelt friendships, and a touch of magical realism. The story’s blend of emotion, romance, and self-discovery kept me captivated from start to finish, and the immersive audio experience made every twist and revelation even more impactful. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stories about love, loss, and the possibility of rewriting your own narrative.

A excellent book on evaluating what really mattes, as well as working through the complex emotions of grief

I love a book with a sliding door/mutiverse trope and this was exactly that. I had both the kindle version and the audio, and it was a fiction book narrated by its author which I feel like is very rare- but I loved Paige Harbison as a narrator! I definitely think that assed a little something to my enjoyment of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Do you enjoy sliding doors type stories where the MC gets to explore what their life would’ve looked like had things played out differently? In this interdimensional take on that type of story, Meg Bryan discovers what life would’ve been like if she hadn’t abandoned her dream to attend school in Ireland to stay close to her best friend Aimee, who is later tragically killed in an accident.

Now a famous actress going by the stage name Lana Lord, she decides on her thirtieth birthday to book a trip to the “one that got away” - which in this case is Avalon, Ireland. When she gets there she finds that everyone knows her, she has a different best friend Kiera, an on-again/off-again relationship with bartender Cillian and weirdest of all? Aimee is there.

The story explores her journey of healing from her grief over losing Aimee in her “real” life, opening herself up to living life in the ‘now’, instead of in the past and letting go of regrets. These are all topics that I normally enjoy and connect with, yet here’s the big problem:

I never really connected with Meg. I felt oddly detached from her and frankly, found her a little obnoxious, which is a bad place to start when you’re trying to build the sympathy that the story requires. She comes across as a bit shallow with her frequent name dropping of celebrities, brands and places. The author’s L.A. connections show, but it feels like insider speak that kept me alienated.

I also didn’t feel the chemistry between Meg and Cillian. He seemed mature and balanced, while she felt too much like a YA character masquerading as a thirty-year-old.

The author narrates it herself and her voicing of Meg made her sound younger, more sarcastic and melodramatic than I prefer. If I’d pictured my own voice for Meg, I think it would’ve softened the edges of her personality. She does the Irish and British accents well and the gender voicing was good, on the plus side.

Those things aside, I did enjoy the setting and characters of Avalon, especially Kiera and Cillian, Meg’s grief journey, as well as the ending, so there were likable aspects, but I really wanted to love it like the majority of others have.

Perhaps in another dimension I do?

Loved this book! Sliding Doors theme and really about a woman coming to terms with the loss of her best friend. I enjoyed the setting, Ireland, and all the coziness and loveable characters she meets there. Such a sweet book!
4.5 stars!