This book broke me. I absolutely loved it. I really don't have words to describe how much. Unfortunate since I'm trying to write a review! Ha. If you loved Rebecca Serle's In Five Years or Matt Haig's The Midnight Library you will love this one. All the stars and then some more.

Oh I love this book!!

What if!? That’s the question a lot of people ask what if we go this way what if we go that way. Well in this story we find out what would happen if Meg did things differently would her best friend Amy have not died and she gets that answer. We follow Meg who goes by Lora who is a while known actress. She takes a trip to Ireland and she is transported in to a life the life she would have taken if Amy didn’t die and she went to her dream school.

This book was so good… just read it and take those chances in life it’s life to live not play it save.

Magical realism done right!

This book has the perfect amounts of humor, romance, and friendship while sneaking in some heavier topics like grief and identity.

There was a lot of care given even to the supporting characters.

I think this book was so well thought out and ended perfectly.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the author narrates. So well done!

STOP! Immediately stop whatever you’re doing and pre-order this RIGHT NOW!

Oh my word - I absolutely love alternate lives, Sliding Doors, “what if I made this choice and not that” type books. And of all the ones I’ve read so far, this one is HANDS DOWN the BEST, my absolute favorite!

I’m just speechless and blown away by how very much I enjoyed this!

I felt so many emotions while reading this and connected with the characters very easily. I’m happy the book ended in a way that I wished for.

I was able to read and listen to the book and both versions were absolutely phenomenal. The author, Paige Harbison, narrated the book and I love it when authors read their books because you get to know the true voice and tone of the characters.

I adored Meg, Kiera, Cillian, ans Aimee - I would be ecstatic if I could travel to a town like Avalon myself. I’d also be so happy to return to that universe to see what happens with the characters after the end of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Paige Harbison, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the supreme privilege to read and listen to this 5 star gem ahead of its proposed release date of June 3rd!

I really loved how the alternate reality trope got twisted in this story--that instead of realizing her real life was what she wanted all along, she realized her alternate reality was, and then she had to panic about losing it. This made me so uncertain of how this book was going to end, and also really kept me hooked. I also got sucked in by the romance, the deep relationships, the genuine emotions and how Meg worked through her grief and found a new meaning in her life. All the nerdy acting stuff was great, too. It was just an overall great read and I definitely recommend it.

Meg Bryan is a successful actress on a hit show, but at her thirtieth birthday party, she feels restless and decides to head to Avalon, Ireland, where she had planned to attend a theater school but never did. Upon arrival, Meg is surprised that the whole town knows her, and it becomes pretty clear she’s in some sort of alternate reality, one where she feels connected to the community and where her deceased best friend is alive. I read that this was similar to Sliding Doors and The Holiday combined, and it’s an apt description. I loved this take on alternate reality and was pulling for Meg the whole time, hoping she would get to keep her newfound happiness but not sure how she could do it. Because Harbison limits the information we know to what Meg knows, it was interesting to see her story unfold in Avalon as she learns more about this version of herself who made a different choice and has been living a different life for several years.

I had no expectations when I went into this book, but the premise sounded interesting and the cover was intriguing. I've gotta say, this was among the more pleasant reading/listening surprises I've had in a long time! The author followed through masterfully on the premise, and her balance of drama and humor was excellent. I was thoroughly invested in the story and was really rooting for the characters throughout. I wasn't sure how she would wrap it all up, but the ending was very satisfying for me. In terms of the audiobook, I was worried a bit when I saw that the author was narrating the book, but she did a phenomenal job! The pacing was good (I went at 1.25, which is typical for me on professionally narrated books) and she absolutely nailed the accents. This is one I will highly recommend for both readers and listeners!

I am not usually a fan of the sliding doors trope, but I did enjoy this one.

This book was very sweet (maybe a little too sweet for me?). I think that the author may have tried too hard in some spots to make things endearing, which may be where it got a little too sweet for me.

Overall, this book was very well executed, but some of the finer points was where the story lost me a bit.

I was emotionally invested in this book in a way I have never been emotionally invested in a book before. It will continue to live rent free in my mind for the foreseeable future. Finishing this book is the equivalent of getting out of the shower and sitting on your bed in a towel and staring at the wall instead of getting ready because you need a moment and just can't seem to get yourself together so you have a mini existential crisis.

This was about self discovery and grief and an awareness that comes when you finally face your truths instead of running from them. It was funny and heartbreaking and nostalgic and very heavy on denial stunting your emotional growth. I think at least some parts of it will resonate with everyone. I hesitate to say "I loved this book" it's more like "I felt this book". I did like the book obviously and Harbison did an amazing job narrating her own book because every tone and every inflection was exactly as she intended. There was no ambiguity and every word was spoken with purpose.
This book doesn't solid settle on a topic or genre even so I guess if you like love, loss, friendship, denial, self discovery, magical realism, alternative reality, dogs, Hollywood, Ireland, familial relationships or comedy then this book may be for you.


I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t connect with the story or characters. The narrator was good, but I just didn’t really enjoy the plot. I feel like I’ve read similar books before. I probably will forget what this one was about by next week.

Okay, I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It was everything I didn't know I needed. I've been in a rut with my physical/ebooks where I get halfway through and I just want it to end. But not with this one 👏👏 I couldn't get enough. It grabbed me right away.

I loved everything about it especially the characters. The slowburn romance, the friendships!!! The romance is definitely a side plot but I was HERE for this dreamy Irish fellow!!! Helllllo! Their relationship just felt so real and well done! But it's more about friendships and cherishing the life you're in. I really enjoyed with how she did elements of this story too. Because I know it can be tricky with this type of book. But she did it all so well. It never felt forced or too over the top or some big drama/ third act (PRAISE BE!).

Plus the ending! It was SO good!!!!! Highly recommend adding this to your TBR. It's not out till June but I can't wait to reread it. REALLY hope the audiobook has some Irish accents cause I was all about the Ireland setting!!!! It gave me major The Seven Year Slip vibes which I also loved!!!! So sad it's over!!! Also, the author did a great job with the narration! I loved her Irish accent!

This big-hearted what if story sees Meg, a successful LA actress struggling with memories of her dead best friend and wondering what would have happened to her life if she had gone to Ireland for university instead of staying home. On a whim she books a trip there and upon arrival is met with a town and its people who live in a world where Meg did indeed go there and stay. Torn between her two lives Meg has to learn to deal with her grief and face the past. Moving and great on audio, this is perfect for fans of magical realism books and authors like Rebecca Serle. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a poignant and heartfelt story about finding yourself through grief. I was invested in the plot as soon as we meet Meg, she was funny and relatable. A popular and recognizable actress of a hit TV show, she was meant to be a star. After losing her best friend Aimee in a tragic accident at nineteen, through her Hollywood persona, Meg was hiding from her life instead of living it. Being transported to a world where Aimee was still alive, Meg will slowly unearth deeply buried feelings as she reconnects with an adult Aimee, but the possibility of change and acceptance may have her running back to LA.

The setting and magical realism elements were very appealing to me. Avalon sounded so dreamy and cozy. Meg went through a whiplash of emotions on her journey throughout the book. I grew to really care for her and how the plot would unfold. I loved the characters of Kiera and Cillian, the way they were able to break through her defenses and showed her what possibilities she was missing while hiding in LA.

I was moved by the conclusion of the book, it made me shed a tear or ten, it was well crafted and sentimental. The many bright and carefree memories for Meg gave me a sense of nostalgia, she also constantly thought of her dog back in LA and that was so touching.

The audiobook was performed by the author and it was very engaging. Knowing the core emotions and personalities of these characters, she really made them come to life. I loved the accents and inflections, she did a wonderful job!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the review copies.

Part of being human is wondering, at some point in our lives, what might have been. What if we had done ___ differently? Where would we be now? In The Other Side of Now, Meg Bryan gets a chance to find out, when she unwittingly stumbles into an alternate timeline. I love a good time travel/ inter dimensional story, and this one was definitely a good one. Thoughtful and poignant, with a touch of romance and a deeper focus on friendship, I loved this book.

Author Paige Harbison also did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Paige Harbison, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ~ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐖 ~ by Paige Harbison ~ Thanks to St, Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for and ARC of this wonderful book that has a 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄. AHHHHH!!! THIS is time-travel done right! It is a tough concept to pull off and I am not always a fan of it in all books… but for Lana/aka Meg… this felt just right. There are wonderful side characters, a quaint Irish village, plenty of soul searching, lessons learned, and an FMC who is brave enough to grow, but most importantly this book is about the heartfelt depth of longtime friendship. I went into this blind having only seen an early blurb and the cover. That made it even better because I had no idea what it was really about or where it would go. That is my suggestion for reader friends, hence I don’t want to say much more. I read this in two sittings because I found myself enjoying it so much. It is an easy read with some fun, some depth, characters to root for and lessons about grief and love and appreciating every day of life that we are given. I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to do an early review for this book so that other readers will know to grab a copy and enjoy a summer day lost in a story that will capture you and leave you with plenty of hope for your own human heart. This should be on your TBR for June
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for being exactly what it should be in this genre.
𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐥! 📚♥️

THE OTHER SIDE OF NOW by Paige Harbison is an entertaining novel with a parallel universe concept that includes strong themes of female friendship, loss, grief, and self-discovery. It answers a lot of “what if?” questions in a young woman’s life. It showcases the two alternate paths her life would have taken had she made a different choice right out of high school. If you don’t mind a touch of magical realism—think, Rebecca Serle—then this book will be a total hit for you.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Female friendship
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Actress/celebrity lifestyle
- Hints of magical realism
- Parallel universe concept
- Second chances
- Forgiveness and healing
- Slow-burning romance
- Quaint Irish setting
- Hilarious banter

I absolutely loved all of the characters in this novel. The female protagonist, Meg shows so much growth throughout but really couldn’t do it without the strong supporting cast. They were all so lovely, and the dialogue between them was fantastic!

Also, the author narrates the audiobook herself, and does a wonderful job with it! Her voice actually reminds me of a narrator I’ve heard a lot before, but I just can’t put my finger on who…🤔

THE OTHER SIDE OF NOW releases on June 3rd! 4/5 solid stars!

The Other Side of Now—what a read (or listen, if like me, you experienced the audiobook narrated by Paige herself). This book changed me. Truly, and I’m not being dramatic—it changed me. I loved it. There isn’t a scale high enough to measure how deeply I connected with it.

The story follows Meg, a deeply unhappy celebrity who, more than a decade later, still hasn’t fully processed the death of her dearest friend, Aimee. Everything about Meg feels fake—her name, her face, her feelings, even her relationship. After a lackluster 30th birthday, she decides she needs to get away. And where better than the place where her hopes and dreams began and ended—Avalon, Ireland.

Meg and Aimee were supposed to go there for school after high school but never did—Aimee wasn’t accepted, and Meg was too codependent to leave her behind. When Meg finally arrives in Avalon, she quickly realizes people aren’t recognizing her as a celebrity—they know her as herself. Slowly, she comes to accept the impossible: she’s slipped into an alternate reality. One where she did go to Avalon after high school. One where Aimee is still alive. But also, one where they’re no longer friends, despite living in the same country.

There’s a sexy, brooding, but absolutely besotted bartender, another best friend, and a couple of doggos you’ll absolutely fall in love with.

Maybe this book found me at just the right moment in my life, but the feelings it evoked are hard to put into words. I cried so much. I was beside myself with worry during the last chapter, and practically crawling out of my skin by the epilogue. Some of the twists may be ones you expect—but they’re delivered in a way that feels fresh and hits you right in the heart.

If you have the chance, I highly recommend not only buying the book (which you absolutely should) but also listening to the audiobook. Paige’s narration is phenomenal—there aren’t enough words in the English language to capture how good she is.

Paige, if you’re reading this—thank you for messaging me on Instagram and asking about my late best friend. Thank you for being so genuine and kind. You are truly a gem.


I received an ALC from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are mine!

This book was a delight. I went into it not really knowing what it was about and while I did assume it as going to be more of a romance, I overall loved the whole storyline. It had such a fun sliding doors plot. It adam easy listen and I liked all the narrators.

This was a hybrid read for me as I alternated between the audio and digital version.

It's a real treat to have the author of the book also be the narrator. Paige Harbison does an amazing job at narrating and her passion for the story really shines through. I really enjoyed the author's wit and sense of humor. There's a perfect mix of magical realism, parallel universe, romance, friendship, and grief.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St Martin's Press for copes of the digital and audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

i flew through this one! the writing was very accessible with quick witted humor and outrageous scenes that made it feel like watching a chicklit movie. we follow our main character, meg bryan, who is an actress in a leading role on a popular drama tv series as she reaches total burnt out. she feels like nothing in her life is real and hasn't been since her best friend died over a decade ago. being in denial about her grief has caused her to disassociate with her real feelings about everything in her life (relatable) and decides to take a break from everything by going on a spontaneous trip to a small town in ireland where her and her best friend were supposed to go to college.

but once she gets there, she's thrust upon into an alternate reality where everyone knows her, she apparently lives there, and *gasp* her best friend is very much alive and also lives in this small town. i loved exploring the idea of being able to see what life would have been like had she made a completely different life altering decision and the kind of person she would have grown up to be. the people in this small town show her it's okay to open yourself up, to be content with a life you have rather than the one you think you're supposed to, to face her grief and reconcile with her best friend.

this was funny and adventurous just as much as it was heavy and emotional. i really enjoyed the writing, the characters, and especially the way it ended because it felt like the most realistic ending rather than a happy ever after. the one aspect i didn't truly enjoy was the amount of pop culture references in here - there were so many and i honestly don't think that part will age well. but overall, i think this is the perfect summer read!

audiobook was PERFECTION. the narrator did such a great job of capturing the humorous and sometimes nonchalant behavior of the main character.

thank you to netgalley and macmillan audio for providing an alc!