Many thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC and the opportunity to share my thought.

Just before mental health awareness week runs out!

I can not express how much I loved this raw, emotional, beautiful, potential tear jerker of a book!

Our FMC Janae is Bipolar and has struggled with addiction. After her hiatus/rehab she returns to the limelight in the hopes of restarting her career and proving to the world she's changed. The pressure sits heavily on her as she still struggles daily with emotional turmoil.

Landon Hayes is part of the group she tours with and he is a silent ,watchful steady and safe character. Their chemistry is undeniable but they are so different. And Landon also has some quirks she can't quite name.

As they grow close intimately, they slowly open up to each other and try to understand and support one another.

The way she braids his hair? omg!🥺
It really was a beautiful read and touched me deeply. Please check TW.

Narrators Taryn Delanie Smith and Myles Washington did a great job. Taryn gave it her all and expressed Janae's pain and turmoil perfectly!

☆BIPOC
☆Mental Health
☆Neurodivergent
☆Emotional
☆Music
Reccomend💜

Before you dive in this story, you need to check your triggers!
Janae Warner had it all — platinum records, sold-out arenas, and a life in the spotlight. But the same fire that fueled her rise burned everything down. Branded as unstable and unredeemable, she disappeared from the world she once ruled. Now, after years away, Janae is stepping back into the industry she left behind, determined to reclaim her voice and prove she’s more than the headlines.
Landon Hayes, a quiet, brilliant guitarist, moves through life with a rhythm and focus that sets him apart. His calm, structured world feels like a contradiction to Janae’s relentless highs and lows, yet their connection feels unexpectedly natural. He is a steady presence that both unsettles and intrigues her in ways she never imagined. But he has his own past too!
So their journey begins!
This novel explores the depths of love, struggle, and the ongoing process of healing. While it delves into themes of trauma, addiction, and mental health, it is a work of fiction and not a substitute for professional guidance.
I liked the story! The connection between the FMC and MMC. It wasn't something very easy to read/listen, but I still liked how the author wrote about the struggles of mental health and how everyone matters!
At the end of the day, even we go through very hard things in life, we still matter and the things we achieve after all we suffer is wortg the grow even though at the moment it doesn't seem like it!
The audiobook was okay! Although it would be better if narrators would choose familiar accents or maybe it would be better if it would be a duet, not a dual narration!

This Side of Beautiful was an okay read for me. I had no issues with the skill. The story didn't hit me like I thought it would. I wonder how I'd feel about the book had I just read off the page.

I listened to the audiobook and had mixed feelings about the narration. Taryn Delanie Smith, new to the business, brought fresh energy to Janae's voice. It is nice to hear a book that isn't narrated by the same person that narrated the last 10 books I read. Myles Washington's performance as Landon didn't work for me at all. Every sentence seemed to end in a whisper and it was hard for me to get through. It improved if I sped up the playback but I probably missed some nuances.

The story follows Janae Warner, a former platinum artist attempting a comeback after being branded unstable and unredeemable. She connects with Landon Hayes, a quiet guitarist in the band she's touring with whose methodical approach to life contrasts with her emotional turbulence. It becomes clear early on that Janae is a woman that needs a rock. And a therapist and some medication, all of which she pushes away until she gets herself in trouble.

Now this is of course billed as a romance. And while there's definitely steam, their connection seemed more co-dependent than romantic. I never really bought into their emotional connection.

Part of the reason I requested this book is I love a music industry romance. Janae's struggle with her past and the pressure of living under public scrutiny feels super authentic. Forced proximity creates convenient bed partners but creating a love story from that can be difficult. I also stiffened at how Janae handled Landon's anxiety and emotional issues. She leans on him constantly for her own comfort, which Landon willingly offers. The relationship felt unbalanced to me though. Janae gets whatever she wants........Landon gets sex? Is that what he really wanted?

E.G. Landon says he doesn't want to have dinner with his family, then backs down because Janae has arranged it behind his back and talks him into it. This boundary-crossing made me uncomfortable, especially since Janae was estranged from her family. The resulting emotional scene more made me angry than made me feel for anyone in the book. HE TOLD HER HE DIDN'T WANT TO.

Anyway, I kept waiting for a spark that never came, a moment where I'd believe these two belonged together beyond their shared space and time. It's sort of like how a couple on a movie set might fall for each other but they know full well once they get back to the real world, it won't work. I guess the epilogue was supposed to dispel that.

Part of my disconnect and discontent might be generational. I rarely read books with characters under 30 anymore. As someone in their 50s, the decision-making and reasoning often frustrates me.

Still, readers looking for steam, personal trauma, and music industry drama will find all of those elements in This Side of Beautiful.

I was very intrigued by the premise of this story and really wanted to enjoy it.

However, at 28% the FMC & MMC seemed to move rather quickly into their new dynamic? The MMC even called the FMC out for this, and yet everything continued to proceed at the same speed.

I found the story wasn't keeping my attention. I had to keep rewinding because I didn't know what happened because I didn't feel invested in the characters because I felt zero chemistry from them. I realize it was early in the story, but the characters were moving fast and still, I felt not a single spark.

The female narrator was giving a very solid performance, however the male narrator's cadence was boring to listen to. It felt very much like he was reading rather than embodying the character and performing the part.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

❗Before reading this book, please read the trigger warnings.❗

Janae Warner used to be one of the most famous singers but that all changed. The industry broke her and she got into more problems. She got a bad very bad reputation and struggled with substances.
She turned a new leaf and changed her life. Now she is ready to make a comeback into this industry. She started her comeback by going on a tour with Hollow Bones.

This is a beautiful story about the second chance of a famous singer who lost everything and is now trying to come back as a better version of herself. This story deals with mental health, addiction and healing. It shows the steps that the main characters make in their progress. The struggles and the mistakes make this story and characters feel real.
I liked the main characters because they were real and going through the same problems as us. I also loved the chemistry between Janae and Landon. Their relationship and how they healed together was beautiful.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and I liked the production. The narration was really good and I liked the narrators.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This Side of Beautiful by Tiye was everything I didn’t know I needed. I was deeply moved by how she took us on such a raw, honest journey—navigating the complexities of mental illness, healing, and the painful truths of the past. Tiye didn’t sugarcoat the struggle, and that made the moments of clarity, growth, and breakthrough all the more powerful. What I loved most is that the main character didn’t find love as a “fix”—she found love as a whole, healed woman. That kind of story matters. It’s a reminder that we deserve love that meets us in our wholeness, not our brokenness.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️🫑 2.5/5
🎧𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥
🎙️𝘔𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 & 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘩
❣️𝘔𝘈𝘒𝘌 𝘚𝘜𝘙𝘌 𝘛𝘖 𝘊𝘏𝘌𝘊𝘒 𝘛𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘎𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘈𝘙𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎𝘚

This was such a good story. Seeing the resilience Janae had was inspiring. We all have our demons, and I couldn’t imagine living them in the limelight. Seeing all she went through, but didn’t give up, made my heart happy. Landon has his own inner demons, and I understand his struggle to let others help him. This story is real, raw, and beautiful. Also, the narrators do a fantastic job bringing this to life. Definitely would recommend.

4.5⭐️ 2🌶️ 5🎧 This was a beautiful story about the music industry, addition, mental health struggles, love, and the struggles black people endure not only in the industry, but also in life in general.

Janae and Landon are complete opposites and I loved watching them come together and build a beautiful love story. Janae's is a sorry excuse for a mom and human, my heart hurts for her. The third act was so raw and emotional, included so much growth and the resolution was beautiful!

Myles Washington and Taryn Delanie did a fantastic job narrating this story, excited to have their voices in my ears again!

This book has a content warning. Mental illness is a major plot point. Talk of a suicide attempt is on page. Panic attacks occur on page. Cutting is on page. Discussion of sexual assault happens in the book.

Janae had been a famous pop star until she crashed out. She was trying to regain her fame. Part of that is touring with a band. Landon is a member of that band. There were sparks between the two when they first met. It was very clear that her anxiety and his anxiety bonded instantly. He tried to keep their relationship professional but couldn’t fight his attraction to her.

I really like the way this author handled her discussion of mental illness in this book. There was a lot going on with both characters. I appreciated that the relationship between Janae and Landon wasn’t used as a cure to their very real problems. Love wasn’t going to fix what they had going on.

This story was really good. The narrators did a really good job.

Before diving in, I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings. This story explores some deeply emotional and sensitive topics. Landon and Janae addressed mental health, showing it in a way that feels raw, real and necessary. So many people live with silent struggles and this book does a brilliant job of giving a voice to that experience.

Janae carries the weight of unresolved childhood trauma. So much so that she’s unsure of what normal even feels like. Landon also has his own inner battles to faced. What’s powerful about their story is the honesty. Janae recognized that what they might be experiencing is trauma bonding and they understood the importance of healing individually before coming together as a couple.

Their journey isn’t just about love. It was about growth, self-discovery and learning how to choose each other in a healthy, healed way. In the end, their love guided them back to one another, and it makes for a truly beautiful and heartfelt story.

*Check trigger warnings before reading*

Dual narration - Myles Washington & Taryn Delanie Smith

Great narrators. New to me and I found their voices enjoyable to listen to.

This book delves into a few mental health issues and is a great representation. The author writes great characters and storyline.

The two main characters have a deep connection and hearing their story had me feeling so much. Beautifully written and performed.

This was my first book by this author, and honestly, I totally picked it up because of the cover. This book dove into some really intense stuff, and it felt so real and honest. The way it portrayed the struggles with mental health was so authentic.

Janae and Landon definitely had a connection and their story took me on an emotional ride. I was feeling all the feels right along with them. The writing was so good, too! I was completely hooked and just had to know what was going to happen with these two. Definitely glad I grabbed this one!

I also listened to the audiobook and Myles Washington and Taryn Delanie Smith did a great job portraying these characters. Taryn Delanie Smith did a particularly excellent job and really had me hooked during her parts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media for an ALC of the audiobook. I voluntarily listened and gave an honest review.

4.25⭐️ This story follows Landon and Janae, musicians who end up on tour together and who's friendship blossoms into something beautiful. Both characters carry the weight of different mental health challenges and past trauma, but find solace and strength in one another.  It was so deep and emotional! I loved it! 🥰🥰

Thank you, Netgalley & Dreamscape Media, for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful, emotional and raw love story between Janea & Landon. The story itself dives deep into mental health, substance abuse and the hard realities of navigating through the struggles of life. Both characters have their flaws and it was amazing to be on the journey with them as they learn and continue to heal.
The Narrators did a fantastic job of portraying the raw emotions of these characters. It is done in dual style narration.
Overall this was a 4 🌟 book and I highly recommend it!

This book depicted mental health issues, autism, personal trauma, and so many other difficult topics with such grace. The characters were deeply flawed as they worked through their issues and towards each other and it was beautifully done. The narrators were absolutely wonderful and the male narrator actually read the perfect speed (I almost had to slow my speed down from my normal 1.75-2).

This book deeply moved me with its realistic portrayal of Janae, a recovering artist, and Landon, a guitarist she reconnects with. Their path to a happy ever after involves navigating substance use, mental health, and family struggles with care and authenticity. A recommended read for those who appreciate thoughtful romance.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ & Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
This side of beautiful by Tiye was written so nicely and touched on some heavy topics. This book is about irresistible love, unwavering resilience, redemption, and acceptance. In the beginning of the story, Janae got on my nerves; her character felt very self-destructive. But once you get a very up-close and personal look at Janae and the trials life has thrown her way, you start to understand her a lot more and will root for her character to get the happily ever after she truly deserves. Landon's character also kind of irritated me with his self-centeredness when it came to Janae and what he thought best suited her, but in reality, he was her number one support system and knew she could overcome what she was going through. I just wish he had made it a little easier for Janae to help him. But overall, this story is beautiful; the character development is amazing! The epilogue could easily be a tearjerker. Fair warning! Highly recommend.

The audiobook is a dual narration, narrated by Taryn Delaney and Myles Washington! They both brought depth to the characters, were easy to listen to and understand, and both of their voices fit the characters. Listened at 1.8x speed.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•black romance
•mental illness | health

Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Honey Blossom Press for the audiobook and ebook in exchange for my honest review.