I enjoyed the setup of this book, following two sisters Jess and Tegan as they embark on a cross country search for their mother, Charlotte. Joining the hosts of a true crime podcast focusing on the crimes of conman Lynton Baltimore, the same man their mother disappeared with.

I liked both sisters, they were relatable and despite the odds, had a good family dynamic. This is a romance so some predictability is a factor. The love interest between Jess and Adam was very instant, and while time passes as the characters travel to different cities, it’s a fast developing relationship with a happy ending, which some may expect and find gratifying.

There is mystery implied with Charlotte’s disappearance, the podcast transcripts featuring the conman and the people left in his wake, but I did not sense any thrill with this plot. The podcast information was very brief and didn’t dive into the actual crimes. Along with romance, there are themes of mental health and the after effects of abandonment, especially for Jess and Tegan. It was an emotional journey for these characters and in the end I felt sympathetic to all their expectations. With that said, the book was slightly underwhelming as a whole but I liked the writing style and the characters kept me interested enough in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Book for the review copy.

Title: The Other Side of Disappearing
Author: Kate Clayborn
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️