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.

Pub date: June 3, 2025

Title: The Other Side of Now
Author: Paige Harbison
Genre: Magical Realism, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️