I am a big Paige Harbison fan. Her latest, The Other Side of Now, was a great listen. It' s available next week.

A delightful, funny, suspenseful and emotional book that answers questions like, “What would my life be like if I would have traveled down the other road instead of the one I chose.”

Meg is a Hollywood television star who is not satisfied with her life but wonders what her life would have been like if she had chosen a different path after high school. Booking a plane ticket to Ireland on the spur of the moment, she flies to the small Ireland village that her and her high school bestie always dreamed of. When she enters the town, she also enters a completely new life where she has existed since high school along with her best friend, Amy, who is now alive.

This book has the feel of a light and fluffy book, but when you begin reading you discover life lessons that I will not soon forget. It was a wonderful story that was very creative and one that I very much enjoyed. The author read the audiobook and did a fabulous job, even with the Irish lilt. I also loved hearing her Acknowledgments at the end. The author seems very witty and fun.

I will highly recommend this book by Paige Harbison to my reading buddies. Thank you, Net Galley and Macmillan Audio, for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #TheOtherSideOfNow @MacmillanAudio @Macmillan.Audio

This was my first book of Paige Harbison's that I ever read, and I was hooked!! This story of two friends. Of loss. Of grief. Alternate realities. It was beautiful and, while heartbreaking, it is also healing. Living in both realities through the eyes of Meg was so satisfying. I really enjoyed The Other Side of Now, and if you're looking for a heartfelt story while also wanting something a little different-I highly recommend checking this out.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, wow.

I listened to the audiobook and let me just say that the narrator, who also happens to be the author, absolutely nailed the narration. I highly suggest the audiobook. The emotions that come through were devastating in the best way. Oh my goodness, I’m sobbing. Sad tears but also hopeful ones. She had a different voice/accent for each character too. It was great! I loved the acknowledgements at the end as well.🙂

I personally love magical realism but this book was even more incredible than I imagined it would be. It was done in a way that somehow didn’t feel cringy at all. It was funny, entertaining, and healing.
This deals with loss, guilt, and moving on. The fmc, Meg, was so real and relatable. Her journey in this book is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I loved every character in this book so much!
If you enjoy magical realism with lots of healing and heart, then I highly recommend this one! Listen to the audio!

Let me begin by saying that this book was thoroughly enjoyable. I'm not a fan of star ratings because they're so variable from person to person, so I prefer to let my review speak for itself.

"The Other Side of Now" is perfect for fans of "Again but Better" by Christine Riccio and lovers of stories about confronting who you've allowed yourself to become.

The Book in General:
The story follows Meg Bryan, a semi-famous actress, when she realizes that her life has gotten off track. After a less-than-stellar birthday party, she books a flight to Avalon, Ireland; the place she was supposed to attend college with her (now deceased) best friend, Aimee. Upon her arrival, she realizes that she's entered some kind of time slip and in this world, she lives in Avalon and Aimee is alive, well, and not speaking to her.
Meg is determined to make this life work, to be happy, and to make Aimee her best friend again.
This is all complicated by the fact that Meg can't remember anything from this life: not why she and Aimee aren't speaking, not the dog she finds living in her house, and not her handsome, on-again-off-again boyfriend, Cillian.

This book is entertaining, nostalgic, and so entirely healing. I couldn't put it down. And honestly? Meg might be the least interesting in this entire cast of characters. I instantly understood why Meg decided to settle in Avalon as a college student. Everyone is real, friendly, animated, and full of life. It was so realistic, even in the magical circumstances of the story.
I think that a concept like this could easily become info-dumpy, but the narration was self-aware without being cringey. The pacing was fast but sustainable. The book was really, really wonderful and managed to pull me out of a reading slump.

The Audiobook Experience:
The narrator was perfect. Her voice was pleasant, the pacing of her speech was wonderful, even at varying speeds (from the regular 1.0 to x2.0 speed.) I loved her Irish accent, although it was kind of generic. But that's to be expected I suppose, given the setting of the book. Each of her characters had a distinct voice, had a distinct cadence in which they spoke that really helped to pull me into the story.
I really love reading this sort of book as an audiobook. I think this format really makes the writing excel and come to life. I listened to this book in just a few, very long chunks of time because I was so hooked by everything.

Rating: 5/5

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Side of Now completely swept me up. From the very first chapter, I knew this one was for me. The story moved so naturally, I didn’t even realize how quickly I was flying through it. The writing hit that sweet spot between heartfelt and sharp, and the touch of magical realism gave it just enough sparkle without losing its emotional weight.

There wasn’t a single character I didn’t like, truly. Each one felt layered, real, and fully alive on the page. I laughed, I cried, and I didn’t want to put it down. At its core, this is a love story to friendship, to second chances, and to learning how to appreciate what’s already in front of you.

If you're into character-driven stories with a little magic and a lot of heart, definitely add this to your list. I will be singing this books praises and telling everyone to read it.

4.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

I LOVED this book. Magical realism is so hit or miss for me, but I love these sorts of time warp/alternate universe sorts of plot lines. There's often a sense of sadness when I'm finishing a book like this, because (by design) I know part of the story is going to be lost in some way. However, I loved the way that this one was wrapped up -- Paige Harbison did a great job of presenting this with happiness and joy, rather than sadness and loss.

It's funny to think this now, but I almost quit on this one at the beginning. Meg seemed vapid, and I didn't go into this one knowing anything about the story, so I wasn't sure if I could count on her growing and changing. I'm sooo glad I stuck with it, because this turned into such a beautiful story, with a little bit of everything -- found family, romance, character growth, intrigue, etc. Plus, the Irish setting was really fun, and Paige Harbison -- author AND NARRATOR! -- did a great job with the accents and different voices for the characters.

This one really tugged at the heart strings, and had some great moments of humor. I even laughed out loud during the acknowledgements, which has probably never happened in history. All in all, a really great story with some magic, love and transformation.

The Other Side of Now seemed to be a variation of Sliding Doors but somewhere the author lost me. I was very confused as to how she was able to reconnect with her dead friend and this took away from my enjoyment of the book. I am not posting this review as I do not want to hurt the book launch as it has a very good Goodreads rating. I am sorry I could not write a better review but need to be honest.
The narration was ok but some of the voices were annoying in my opinion.

Thank you Net Galley, Paige Harbison and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.

This audiobook was actually perfection and will easily be a favorite of the year. This story has a bit of everything — emotional depth, magical realism, character growth, romance, friendships — it’s such a well-rounded story that sunk its claws deep into my soul.

The audio is read by the author and she did a phenomenal job at bringing this story to life. I always love when authors narrate their own books because they read the story exactly as they want it to be read. Listening to this book made it all that more magical.

I can’t wait to add this book to my shelves!

First off, thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book! I absolutely loved this!! I loved the magical realism to it! I loved the characters! And I loved the way it showed dealing with grief! Highly recommend giving this one a read! 4.5/5 stars!!

The Other Side of Now was a Macmillan audio pick that I had to read because it’s about a woman who steps into an alternate reality of her life had she moved to Ireland for college! In her real life Meg, who goes by her stage name Lana, is famous, rich, and beautiful. Everything she thought she wanted, but in her alternate reality, her best friend, Aimee, who died when they were 19, is still alive. While the relationship seems strained, Meg will do anything to repair it and appreciate her newfound time with Aimee.

This book had me laughing out loud in many parts, especially the Irish characters’ sense of humor and colorful personalities. This book also had me in my feels over my own similar teenage grief, and the end had me in tears, ugly crying like I rarely do for books.

This story was in parts a romance/romcom, a grief study, a journey to healing, all with a dash of sci-fi (until a quantum slide is proven and not theoretical!). It was 5 stars, and I highly recommend it. Definitely a favorite recent read! It was also narrated by the author, and she was great!

While this story is certainly fantasy, its roots are in relationships and the choices we make. Meg’s time traveling is the device that allows her to see an alternative life, the path untaken. It's the life where her best friend is still alive and her Irish lover is still waiting for her.
I was drawn into Meg’s journey, as she navigated the process of healing from her “other” life. It was an emotional journey layered with friendship, the charm of amazing characters, and the endearing presence of lovable dogs.


Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley. Narrated by the author, it was a great companion to the physical book.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
I LOVED this book! The alternate reality / sliding doors plot is a favorite of mine, and this one was fantastic! Meg Bryan is a successful Hollywood actress who seems to have it all- money, famous boyfriend, good looks/body. But on her 30th birthday, Meg realizes how unhappy she is and spontaneously books a trip to Ireland- to the small town where she and her childhood best friend Aimee planned to attend acting college. That dream had fallen apart and Aimee had tragically died in a car accident when they were nineteen.
After arriving in Ireland and making her way to her rental cottage for the week, Meg realizes that something is strange- people seem to know her and she somehow seems to know where things are located in her cottage. She soon realizes that she has somehow entered into an alternate reality - and gets to experience another life that “could have been”. And most impactful of all, Meg realizes that Aimee is alive and well in this version of their lives.
Through this journey, the author does an amazing job tackling themes of grief, friendship, and romance. And Meg comes to understand what she really values in life and wonders what will happen next- what “reality” will continue to exist for her life and for others.
I encourage everyone to read this book and the audio version is fantastic!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this book!

Absolutely LOVED this one. I am all for Sliding Door-like books, movies, whatever and this one definitely didn't disappoint. And what made it even better was that you wanted to be friends with all the characters. You wanted to join her in her cozy non-famous life. I was getting anxious when the ending came close, because I didn't was worried as to which "reality" she would get stuck in. But it was such a perfect ending. This is one of those books I'll recommend to everyone and wish I could read for the first time again and again.

♥️Thank you @macmillonaudio @netgalley and Paige Harbison for the opportunity to enjoy to the advanced listener copy of this audiobook!

🍀 This book was the surprise JOY I needed!! This is a story about friendship, grief, second chances - a magical realism lens on “what if?, and so much more!

♥️ Let’s set the stage: Meg—better known to her fanbase as Lana Lord—is the leading lady of a hit streaming soap opera that gleefully embraces every cheesy trope in the genre playbook. Think evil twins, amnesia, surprise pregnancies… sometimes all in the same episode. Meg works nonstop, survives on espresso and green juice, and has perfected the art of the dramatic sigh. But on the night of her 30th birthday, something shifts. Mid-toast and slightly tipsy, she decides it’s time for a plot twist of her own—a getaway to the Irish town she’s never quite forgotten. The one that’s home to the college she almost went to, back in her “what if” chapter.

🍀 See, Lana/Meg and her best friend Aimee made a pact with to go to the same school. But when Meg got in, but Aimee didn’t - Meg honored the pact and has regretted that decision ever since. But, is the grass always greener over on the Emerald Isle?

♥️The flashbacks to Meg and Aimee’s friendship growing up reminded me of so many moments with my childhood & teen friends. The characters in this book were so well developed and lovable!! And did I mention dogs? Loveable dogs abound. ♥️

🍀The author does a brilliant job with the narration and I don’t think I’ve vacuumed my house this much in recent days as I stole every available moment to listen to this incredible story!

♥️If you’re a fan of Emily Henry, Rebecca Serle, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Katherine Center - this is a story you will love.

This was so cute!! But like, so sad???

I feel like the last few time travel-y, magical realism-ish romances haven’t worked for me but this was great!! A Hollywood actress flies to Ireland on a whim to find that she has woken up in a different life. Although I might say this is more women’s fiction than romance, it is a wonderful heartfelt story.

This dealt a lot with the loss of a friend, healing, and accepting help. I really loved the idea that hard things in our lives shape us sometimes for the better and make us better people. Meg is very relatable at times and it’s a classic story of always wanting something you can’t have.

A really quick, sweet read about second chances and friendship! Pick this up!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful book, written and narrated by Paige Harbison. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Meg Bryan has everything she has ever wanted - a leading role on a hit TV show, a relationship with a movie star, and plenty of money. But she feels as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. After a breakdown at her 30th birthday party, she books a trip to a quaint Ireland village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamed about living, a dream that dissolved when an accident claimed Aimee's life. When Meg arrives, everyone treats her as a friend. And when she looks in the mirror, she no longer sees the Hollywood version of herself but her real self. Just what is happening?

I thought this book was absolutely charming and the author's narration (something I usually don't like) was spot on, including all the Irish accents. This book had me feeling so much for the characters and I didn't want the story to end. The descriptions of Avalon, the Irish village, felt so homey and comfy that I just wanted to stay in those moments. While there was magical realism involved, nothing ever felt hokey or contrived; it was just a glimpse into another life. It was also a good commentary on the ideals that women in Hollywood must attain, and it was so refreshing to see the other side of that. This is a wonderful book about friendship, loss, grabbing onto that brass ring of life. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this audiobook!

I love magical realism - and this book was the perfect mix of reality and supernatural elements. Meg/Lana’s journey of confronting her discontent with her life, living through the “what ifs” of the life she could’ve lived, and confronting grief after holding onto it for so long was something I could relate to.

I listened to this one very quickly. I’ll definitely request that my library purchase this title!

• meg, a leading-lady on a hit tv show but deeply unhappy with her life, decides to take a list minute getaway trip to small-town ireland, a place she & her best friend aimee always dreamt of moving, before aimee died in a freak car crash ten years earlier. when meg arrives, however, she seems to have entered a version of reality where she & aimee did move here. and in this version, aimee is still alive... but wants nothing to do with her. seeing this as a second chance, meg does everything in her power to reconnect with aimee, and discovers things about herself in the process.
• a really great story of self-discovery & love, but this is also very much a story of grief, and about how we process the trauma that comes from losing someone we love. meg’s journey through her time in ireland & her time after she returns home is really well portrayed in this book.
• i do honestly wish we got more of a romance plotline in this, mostly because the scenes we did get between meg & cillian were great, but the ending did pay off in that regard!

4.5 rounded up

I love that the author narrated her own story. She did a great job telling the story and her voice fit the character. I almost finished this audiobook in one day.

Meg is told by a fortune teller that she will live two lives, but it isn't until years later when she books a trip from LA to Ireland that she understands what that that truly means. She is pulled into her alternate reality, where it seems she is still unhappy, but her best friend is there.

I could relate to Meg in the sense that I never wanted to stay where I grew up. I felt like there was something bigger for me outside of what I knew and I wanted to get away. Maybe, like Meg, I was running from something too. I enjoyed Meg's character growth through this story and how it all worked out for her.

The characters were enjoyable and felt like real people you would want in your real life. Overall I enjoyed the story. I found it interesting and engaging wanting to know what Meg's next step would be. For me this story was about healing and cherishing the life in the moment. This story was different from my typical reads, but I needed this story.

Highly recommend picking this up when it releases in June.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.