Excuse me while I try to stop crying happy tears. I absolutely loved this book about friendship, grief, love, and really finding out who you are and what you want. Meg, also known as Lana, is a Hollywood super star. She made it big starring in an internationally known soap opera called Brilliance. She loves what fame has done for her, but at the same time feels empty. She has never processed her best friend’s death and the feeling of it is always on the surface. She decides to get away and books a trip to Ireland to the place where she and Amy were supposed to go to college. When she arrives she sees her best friend and the alternate life she could have lived. I absolutely loved this book. Time travel and magic realism are some of my favorites. Kira is the best friend a girl could have and I wish she was real! I’d highly recommend this audiobook. Paige does an amazing job at narration and all of the accents! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillion Audio for this audioARC.

My review of the novel:
I really enjoyed this -- I'm a sucker for a "Sliding Doors" story! More than that, though, I loved the characters. I felt connected to them, and became extremely invested in their lives.

I do wish there had been a *tiny* bit more of the Lana Lord timeline, and a bit more of Meg's too -- perhaps a day trip with Cillian or Kiera, just to get used to that reality.. And of course, <maybe spoiler> I was hoping for a different ending. I guess I just thought there would be more of a choice for Meg, given the fortune teller's reading. All things considered, though, it ended in the best way possible. (Thanks epilogue!)

I've not read Harbison's YA novels, but I will definitely be interested in reading more of her adult works.


My review of the audiobook:
LOVED! I almost always enjoy when authors narrate their own books. Not that it would have been dampened or less enjoyable with another narrator, but hearing the way Harbison meant for things to be said -- how characters should sound, phrasing of lines -- just brought it to life even more for me.

This book was such a pleasant surprise!! A fun exploration of the consequences of our life choices, I consumed this book in the blink of an eye. It strikes just the right balance of fluff and heart. And the audio was a delight. If you are a fan of Emma Straub’s THIS TIME TOMORROW or the movie SLIDING DOORS, this book is for you. I just wish that the publishers had given it a better cover.

Meg or more commonly known as her stage name Lana Lord is living the life her younger self always wished for. She acts in a popular television series, has 6 figures in her bank account, and is dating a famous movie.
...But Meg always wondered what her life would have been like if she went to the overseas college that she dreamed to attend. When a transatlantic flight transports her into that "What if?" alternate reality, she doesn't have to wonder anymore.
On the outside it looked like she had it all, but will experiencing this "other" life change everything?

WOW I loved this story. I haven't cried from a book in years, but that streak is broken. The Other Side of Now is so raw and real it can't help but make you feel and fall for the characters. I am so glad I signed up for this ARC, it's by far my favorite of the year.


I listened to the audiobook and the Narrator, Paige Harbison was perfect. She read at a steady and easy to follow pace. I could listen to any book she narrates and probably like the story thanks to the way she tells it.



Thanks so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for this ALC.

I didn’t know how much I would love or how much I needed this book. The story of love told through loss and grief about a friend with a touch of magic was beautiful. I laughed out loud several times. I SOBBED at the end of the play. I will now read anything Paige Harbison writes. This audiobook was top notch.

This book really is a mix of genres such as contemporary women's fiction with romance and magical realism aspects.

This follows Meg Bryan, professionally known as Lana Lord, who seemingly has everything she ever wanted. A leading role on a hit TV show and a Hollywood heartthrob boyfriend but she feels unhappy and is tired of faking it through her life. On a whim she books a flight to Ireland when she sees a quaint cottage online. When she was younger her and her friend dreamed of moving to that village for college. However, when Meg gets there strange things begin to happen and she finds herself in an alternate life that she might want to stay in. However, she knows it's not likely she will be able to stay.

This was such a lovely and emotional read. I really enjoyed the discussion of grief and forgiveness. As well as finding what makes you truly happy in life. I definitely felt anxious at the end to see how it would all wrap up. I was really rooting for Meg to find her happiness!

What to Expect:
✈ Time Travel
👜Friendship
✈ Grief & Loss
👜Soulmates
✈ Forgiveness

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Paige Harbison for this ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

I truly love a sliding doors concept - who wouldn’t want a peek into a life where you followed a different road or made a different decision! So this book was right up my alley, and I honestly loved how it was explored and explained in this book.

Meg is a successful tv star, but is simply unhappy and unsatisfied with how her life turned out. After booking a last minute trip to Ireland she finds a life not explored. Everyone knows her and she has an entire history and life that she knows nothing about. I appreciated that romance was just a side storyline. This book was more about friendships, decision making, trauma, self assessment and acceptance. The character growth and lessons were so well thought out.

I really enjoyed it. The Irish setting and accents didn’t hurt either - highly recommend the audio that is narrated by the author!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for my early copies! This one is out on June 3rd.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the review copies of The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison.
4 stars for the quality of the audiobook but this wasn't a win in terms of plot/story for me. great voice acting!

This novel feels less like a traditional “sliding doors” story and more like drifting through a dreamstate—a kind of modern-day Christmas Carol that meditates on grief, memory, and the possibility of self-forgiveness. The premise is compelling and full of thematic promise, especially in how it grapples with personal loss and emotional reckoning.

And yet, I never fully connected with the journey. The story felt more suited to a novella or extended short story; the pacing and structure left me more invested in the ending—and the awakening it suggested—than in the journey that led there. What stuck with me was the idea of a character on the edge of change, not quite transformed, but finally open to it.

This audiobook was such a treat as well, since this was narrated by the author herself! We got to hear exactly what she was picturing while writing. I think she did a wonderful job. The Irish accents were good, the differentiation between characters were distinct. That intense play scene really reflected through her own acting. It was spectacular!

Thank-you so much for the opportunity to listen to the ALC!

Usually I’m not a fan of author’s reading their own work. That being said, Paige Harbison does a wonderful job narrating this emotional and reflective story of hers. I highly enjoyed listening to this audio version and felt Paige was wonderful match to bring her characters to life.

I did not expect this book to hit me the way it did. Magical realism can be tricky, but The Other Side of Now nails it, emotional, immersive, and surprisingly grounded. I loved watching Meg unravel the life she didn’t know she had, and that small-town Ireland setting?? So cozy and vivid, I wanted to book a flight. The writing was smart, heartfelt, and effortlessly funny at times. I still can’t believe this is a debut, it read like someone who’s been doing this forever. Easily one of my top reads of the year. So glad I picked this up when I did.

I was beyond thrilled to receive an audio copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

First, a quick gush on the audio: This is narrated by the author, which can sometimes be a potential drawback. But I found it to be a vibrant, energized portrayal, replete with Irish accents that absolutely enriched the experience for me--in my opinion, Paige Harrison is a highly talented woman!

Disenchanted with her present life, actress Meg Bryan decides to revisit 'roads untravelled', in this case an Irish town where she ended up NOT attending college. But she's in for the surprise of her life when she arrives there only to be met with a townful of people who have known her as one of their own throughout her adulthood. What is going on?

As time-slip novels go, this one was a lot of fun. I felt the thing that really sets it apart is that the primary relationship Meg is concerned with, coming to grips with, desperate to fix, is not a romance (though, there's definitely some of that!) but the best friend of her youth. The way that storyline unfolded was, to me, really lovely and meaningful.

And the closing scenes left me feeling both wistful and deeply contented. This was so much fun!

A Beautiful Blend of Grief, Magic, and Self-Discovery

Thanks to @MacmillanAudio and NetGalley for the advance listener copy!

I absolutely loved The Other Side of Now—and it was an extra treat that the author, Paige Harbison, narrated it herself. She did an excellent job bringing Meg’s story to life with warmth and emotion.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres, and this book is a great example of how to seamlessly blend the real and the unreal. The story explores the idea of “the grass is always greener” through Meg’s journey into an alternate version of her life—complete with a job she loves, wonderful friends, and a compelling love interest. I was completely drawn in by her emotional struggle to understand her other self and her deep desire to stay in this new reality.

I really appreciated that, in the end, Meg took the time to evaluate her life—the things that brought her happiness and the things she no longer needed or wanted. Her experiences also helped her understand her parents, especially her mother, on a much deeper level. One of the most touching parts of the book was seeing her come to terms with her grief over Aimee’s death and reconnect with Aimee’s mom. I also loved that her journey led to career changes that brought her more fulfillment.

Themes of grief and loss are woven throughout the story in a powerful and relatable way. Harbison offers a thoughtful look at how we cope—or avoid coping—with the pain of losing someone we love. It’s touching, smart, and emotionally resonant.

A moving, magical read that stayed with me long after I finished.

Thank you, @macmillan.audio for my free audiobook. #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 311 / Genre: Magical Realism
Audiobook Narrator: Paige Harbison
Duration: 10 hours 22 minutes
Release Date: June 3, 2025
🥳#HappyPubWeek!🎉

Meg always wanted to be a star. She had big dreams of going to acting school in Ireland with her best friend Aimee. And when Aimee died in a car accident, she double downed on her dreams and made it as a soap opera actress with a high profile boyfriend (who’s possibly cheating on her). On her thirtieth birthday, she decided to get away and treat herself to a trip to Ireland. When she lands, she’s suddenly the person she would’ve been if Aimee hadn’t died and she never became an actress. She lives in this quaint Irish town. She has an incredibly hot and hunky on-again off-again boyfriend, a hilarious new best friend, and Aimee is alive. She loves this simple life away from Hollywood and filled with real people. Her people. And she’s scared to death of losing it all when her scheduled trip is over.

I love magical realism stories like this. This one is a sliding doors kind of thing, where one person’s life can go off in two very different directions. I also enjoyed the characters and their friendships. Such a fun, sweet story overall.

The audiobook was read by the author and she did a good job, but it often just sounded like she was reading rather than acting out the parts as a professional narrator would do. I liked the bits she did in an Irish accent the best.

I giggle snorted my way through most of this book until it emotionally destroyed me and I loved every single second of it!

Meg Bryan is the star of Brilliance, a hit TV show. Known to her fans as Lana Lord, Meg’s Hollywood life is glamorous and full but after a minor breakdown at her 30th birthday party, she impulsively books a trip to Avalon, Ireland. Meg and her high school best friend, Aimee, had dreamed of moving to Avalon once upon a time but that changed when a tragic accident changed the course of her life. When Meg arrives in this picture perfect little village filled with quirky characters she soon discovers that everyone knows her. But they don’t know her as Lana Lord the famous actor from Brilliance. They know her as Meg Bryan who works at a souvenir shop in Avalon. And even weirder, Aimee lives here. Yes, Aimee is alive and thriving in Avalon!

I don’t always love magical realism but this book blew my mind! I loved it so much! I will definitely be reading anything else this author writes.

The audio narration was phenomenal performed by the author herself, Paige Harbison. Her Irish accent was spot on and absolutely delightful!

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 3, 2025

Do you ever feel like a book deserves an extra star because the audio is SO good? If it were possible to give six stars, I would give six stars to the audio version of The Other Side of Now. Paige Harbison narrates her own novel. I often am not a fan of author narrated audiobooks. However, Paige was able to nail the voices in unexpected ways. Even more shocking was how perfect her Irish lilt was for an entire town of characters. It was impressive!

Lana Lord is a Hollywood starlet, with a Marvel star boyfriend and a villainous role on a super-popular television show, she should be on top. However, at her 30th birthday party, she wants to escape and books a week long trip to Ireland. Upon entering the small town where she had vowed to go to college alongside her childhood bestie, Aimee, Lana discovers that everyone already knows her. But the townsfolk don't know her as Lana Lord, but instead Meg Bryan, her real name. They believe that she went to college in town, that she never became famous. And in this reality, Aimee is still alive, even if she hates Meg. Meg grabs this second chance, knowing that chances of it lasting past the week she booked are slim. Can Meg repair things with Aimee? Does she have to return to her old life?

Have a box of soft tissues handy, because this book made me sob. Paige Harbison brought the grief on the page and through her voice.

I cannot recommend this read enough!

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC! All opinions are my own!

I loved this story! Meg Bryan is unsatisfied with her life. She is a famous actress, lost her best friend years ago, and is in a relationship she is not happy in. Ever since her friend’s death, she has felt unsettled and unhappy. Meg books a last-minute trip to Ireland and when she arrives, things are different. The whole town seems to know her and her best friend, Amy, is alive and well. Soon, Meg realizes that this is what life could have looked like if she had attended a prestigious arts university in Ireland. Usually I’m not into magic realism, but I loved it here. The characters were all amazing. All of them, especially Meg changed and grew as the story went on. Paige Harbison was the narrator of her own story which worked well! This was a story about love, loss, forgiveness and finding happiness.

Bravo, Paige. This book was absolutely fantastic. The narration was perfection and the epilogue brought it home! While not a completely new idea, the way it was written really allows you to feel everything the FMC is going through. Allows you to suspend logic for a bit and take a leap into the unknown.

Five stars. Everyone should read this book IMMEDIATELY!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, this book was such a pleasant surprise! I am not typically a fan of fantasy, but this one was so well written that it worked for me. To outsiders, Meg has everything - she is a famous actress, in a relationship with a famous actor, beautiful and surrounded by friends. But she is not happy. When she books a last minute trip to Ireland, she finds herself in a small town where everyone knows and loves her - including her best friend from childhood who passed away. Meg gets to see what life may have looked like if she made different choices along the way. The story flowed so seamlessly, the characters were amazing. Everything was well developed and well written. The story was incredibly engaging and I did not want to put this down. It was emotionally realistic and I enjoyed watching the characters grow and change. I got lost in Meg's world - and wanted to jump in and join her. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster ride - I grabbed the tissues often!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I absolutely loved this book. Romance, friendship, fame, an exquisite Irish setting, and even a multiverse! This book had something for everyone and I couldn’t put it down. I was totally invested in the characters, relationships, and whether or not Meg was in some elaborate dream world.

Do you ever wonder about the road not taken? For so many, there’s a single moment or a single decision that is so utterly profound that it is literally life changing. For Meg, when she’s had enough of her fame-fueled life in LA and finally decides to check out the quaint town in Ireland where she thought she would go to college but ultimately passed up, exploring that road not taken is exactly what happens when she wakes up in Ireland. She’s suddenly transported into the life of the Meg who DID decide to go to Ireland all those years ago. And the Meg that lives in Ireland isn’t the same person who lives in LA. Which is the real one?

I listened to this novel on audio and loved it. The narrator was stellar, the pacing was perfection, and I was utterly enthralled.

I loved that this book explores the “grass isn’t always greener” premise and also the butterfly effect. I also loved Meg’s character growth, her self reflection, and the emotion that poured out of every page. It’s so easy to take our blessings for granted and The Other Side of Now was a beautiful reminder of just how green our grass is.

This one cannot be missed. Thank you to St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for the copy!