3.5 ⭐️

This was not a bad book by any means- it was quite beautiful but for some reason I just could not connect with either one of the main characters. The narrators did a fine job and I can’t be certain why they did not resonate with me- this is a book I will definitely come back to at another time and see if it was just my mood during my initial listen.


Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ALC in return for my honest opinion

Rating 5⭐
Spice🎤🎤.5

ALC REVIEW

Please check the trigger warnings, your mental health matters, okay?

This story at times wasn't easy to get through. I didn't realize I was triggered until after certain scenes. It wasn't bad per say, it was just it hit me how the FMC acts like a person I know real life that it sometimes affects me.

The book deals with substance abuse, mental health issues, trying to get a second chance at life. It really shows the struggles of the two MCs. Not only on top of that, it shows how much the music industry can affect everyone in it and those aorund them.

It was a struggle to get through, because of how deep the trauma and struggles were, but the story was really beautiful.

I received an ALC through Netgallery.

Chefs kiss this book was beautiful written and evoked so many emotions. The characters and story were so relatable. I loved loved loved this book!

This Side of Beautiful totally hit me right in the feels. Janae’s story is honestly so real, the way she fights to come back after everything? I was rooting for her the whole time. And Landon? Ugh, such a vibe. He’s calm and steady but also totally swoon-worthy. Their chemistry is messy but sooo good.

The book is all about passion for music, for love, for life and you can feel that in every page. It’s not some perfect fairy tale, which made it even better because real love is messy, right? Sometimes it got a little slow, but the emotions and the way Tiye writes? Absolutely beautiful.

If you’re into stories about broken people finding hope and love, you’ll love this one. Definitely recommend!

I struggled with this one and couldn't finish. Not sure exactly what it was but I could not get into the story. I know not every story is for every reader and this one definitely wasn't for me. I will still try other work by this author though. And I may even try this one again later. Sometimes timing and mindset will make a difference.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

This Side of Beautiful
Tiye

(Audio)

Narrator: Myles Washington & Taryn Delanie Smith

Let me take a moment to say how emotionally intimate Janae and Landon’s relationship is. The chosen narrators were the perfect voices to invoke the required emotions for the story. I highly recommend experiencing the audiobook.

This is Janae’s moment to redeem herself. She’s done the work and taken the necessary precautions to believe in her abilities to reemerge. Her only problem is that the work is never over. Her trepidation is valid. The protective bubble she created is about to burst. She has to not only deal with her internal feelings, but the consequences of her actions prior to her recovery.

Landon is a beautifully intelligent, talented and anxious man. His biggest enemy is his mind. He has found ways to cope with the debilitating effects of fame. If he keeps his head down and focus on the music he’ll be safe. Janae’s presence alters his perception and illusion of safety.

On the surface, Janae and Landon present themselves differently. Janae’s mask is boisterous and outgoing. Landon’s mask is quiet, reserved and a little judgmental. Deep down they’re both trying their best to keep their brokenness at bay.

I enjoyed that the timeline felt real. Yes, their love story is a whirlwind, but it isn’t rushed. So much happened in a short span of time, but the journey had a believable pace. Janae and Landon learn what it means to working in partnership with another people. This is a gloriously imperfect love story.

#readandtellwithshantel #tiye #thissideofbeautiful #netgalley @dreamscape_media @tiye28always

Teyana Taylor- Gonna Love Me

This book absolutely was beautiful. I love a good love story but often run into love stories that are too polished. The nitty gritty in both of the background of the 2 main characters is a breath of fresh air. Love is so pure and untainted but the background to that is not always that simple. This story took me on highs and lows and I even cried because it is so real and raw and everyday human. I really enjoyed this.

The story started slowly, but I enjoyed it. The FMC was discussing things that people go through, such as addiction and attempting to take the edge off. That's what a lot of people are going through in the world right now, so I understood the MMC. He was the typical good-guy package, which I appreciate. I appreciate him having doubts, but they always return it to each other. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

There was a lot of drama and self-healing. There was a lot of music and a lot of spice. There was a lot to think of and a lot to lose. It was a long journey, and somewhere on the road, the characters started to grow on me, but there was something that I was not able to connect with. I think a lot of readers will love it, but I must say that I did enjoy it despite my wanting it all to move forward with a quicker pace. The audiobook narrators did bring the characters to life and made them much easier, whereas I might have DNF’d it if I had read any other format.

This Side of Beautiful is an emotional romance following two musicians as they navigate love, trauma, and the weight of their pasts. This isn’t your typical fluffy romance! it’s raw, honest, and rooted in real human experiences.

Tiye does a beautiful job not just telling, but showing us who these characters are. The depth of their pain and the way mental health is woven into the narrative made it feel incredibly authentic.

My only critique is that the book felt a little long at times, but that extra length gave space for character development, which made their connection feel all the more earned and real.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more from Tiye in the future.

The story weaves through some really dark and challenging themes, but what makes it stand out is the underlying thread of hope that never lets go. It captures the struggle of chasing your dreams when everything feels against you, and it does so with raw honesty.

The narrator’s voice adds an emotional depth that pulls you right into the heart of the journey. It’s not just about hardship — it’s about finding light in the darkest moments and the courage to follow your heart no matter what.

This audiobook stayed with me long after I finished listening, making me reflect on my own dreams and what it means to keep going. If you’re looking for something powerful, real, and inspiring, this is it.

Whew ok, this book was a lot. VERY heavy on the mental health side. Janae is a singer who is coming back from a recent dive off the deep end of her career. Janae is a character who touches on her mental health struggles relating to her bipolar disorder. She showed how hard it can be to regulate yourself and realize when an episode is incoming. Landon, our MMC of the book, faces his own mental health struggles, seeming to stem from trauma in childhood. He later in the story will receive an official 'diagnosis' which I felt seemed a little rushed and wasn't properly talked about. There were a lot of instances in this book that could have been written a little better imo, that seemed either out of place or just not necessary to the plot. I also felt that her mother should have had more consequences for the part she played in everything..
Overall it was an ok book and I thought the narrators did a good job with their characters.

I already had an ARC of this and had to listen to the narration. This was so beautiful still and I can’t stop recommending this enough. The care that went into this story coupled with the reality of mental health issues- this was amazing.

Tyie’s This Side of Beautiful is a heartfelt, introspective, and powerfully affirming novel that invites readers to explore beauty—not just the kind we see, but the kind we grow into. With poetic storytelling and emotionally honest characters, Tyie delivers a journey of self-discovery, healing, and quiet transformation.

The narrative follows a protagonist navigating life’s emotional complexities—whether that be grief, love, identity, or self-worth—with grace and vulnerability. Through trials and revelations, Tyie paints a portrait of what it means to find beauty in brokenness, strength in softness, and truth in one’s own voice.

What makes this book shine is its emotional depth and lyrical writing. Tyie has a gift for pulling readers into reflective moments without losing pace or clarity. The story is rich in inner dialogue, personal growth, and the kinds of hard-earned wisdom that resonate long after the final page.

This is a book for anyone who’s ever felt unseen, for those learning to heal, and for readers ready to redefine what “beautiful” truly means. It’s as much about the inner landscape of the heart as it is about the external world—and Tyie explores both with honesty and grace.

Janae Warner was at the top of the music industry, platinum records, and sold-out arenas, but she set it on fire. After taking some time away from the spotlight, she is ready to rebuild her career. Landon Hayes, the guitarist of The Hollow Bones, is a calm man focused on the success of the band. When Janae goes on tour with The Hollow Bones, Janae and Landon build an unbreakable bond.

I loved how this story showed the struggles of mental health. The MCs are the perfect example that recovery is now a one-size-fits-all. I enjoyed seeing the ups and downs of mental health. I felt that Tiye handled the topic beautifully and with care. With that said, I felt that the love story was lost in the chaos of the recovery and healing.

I enjoyed the narrations by Myles Washington and Taryn Delanie Smith. They brought the characters to life. At times, I felt that their performance

I was given an ARC of This Side of Beautiful by Tiye. This was a beautiful, poignant story of self-love, self-worth and redemption. This Side of Beautiful took me on an emotional journey. The way that I wanted to love on Janae and Landon. Janae and Landon were both going through some struggles. The way that they came together was beautiful. Their journey to love had highs and lows. I appreciate Tiye for touching on mental health and illness. As a person that suffers from depression, I felt seen and heard. This Side of Beautiful will be a book that I will encourage everyone to read.

Janae Warner, also known as Mila a former singing sensation who, returns to Houston to reclaim her voice and prove she's more than than the mistakes she made in the past. During her journey, she makes friends with Landon Hayes, a quiet and brilliant guitarist, who helps her confront her past and find a path to healing.
This story is beautifully written and voice actors did well on the audio.
Janae's story is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. Landon is a loner and not used to physical touch or being in awkward situations. Their character growth is paced well and as they learn each other and they have a natural magnetism to each other. Slow burn romance.
Addiction and mental illness is a difficult path, and recovery is even harder. This story was told to show the courage it takes to defeat addiction and live a full life

Janae and Landon’s love story could be dubbed a steamy and tumultuous romance revolving around their musical passions however, the true love story here is for the self.

Janae for herself, Landon for his. What an incredible microscope on anxiety, addiction, and other diagnosis’ that greatly put hardships on many today. This novel really shows how we tend to measure our capabilities against others. We see one person struggling on the autism spectrum, let’s say, and can’t possibly imagine that we too could be experiencing a less severe case on the spectrum. The fact remains, sometimes we can’t control or explain our condition, our traumas, our repressed emotions and many can will themselves to manage but others genuinely need help and either are afraid to a knowledge this or don’t feel they have a place to turn.

I appreciate the voice this novel gives to those who maybe doesn’t believe there are answers for them.

The writing is authentic and emotional, sexy and relatable. You walk away with more food for thought than you’d have expected and end up giving yourself more grace.

This was an intense music industry love story. Both the FMC and MMC were beautifully flawed. If you enjoy a forced proximity trope and an opposites attract trope, then this read is for you. However, it was so much more than that. The book did an incredible job of demonstrating the struggles and complexities associated with bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and neurodivergence. I love that so many tough but necessary conversations between the characters were had throughout the book. Even if you haven’t struggled with the specific issues of the characters, I think there was still lots of wisdom to be gleaned from this story. Great romance read but loved the depth and layers of the book. Great character development as well. 🫶🏾

This was an ALC from Net Galley.
First off I absolutely loved this audiobook. The Narraters really brought this book to life and Tiye really has a way with words that really make you think deeper than I never thought possible. This book was beautifully written and very believable. This was not your average love story. It was unpredictable but kept you invested from beginning to end. Although this was an ALC I plan on purchasing this book so that I can come back to it! If you are interested in a book that is based off the mental struggles of Music artist then this book is for you.