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barnesj24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
themoonchild's review against another edition
4.0
Released on Mar 26, 2024, The Other Side of Disappearing follows the story of a Hairstylist Jess who finds herself dealing with the effects of the disappearance of her mother, leaving her years ago with a notorious con artist.
Left behind to shoulder the responsibility of raising her half-sister Teagan, Jess sacrificed her aspirations to shield Teagan from the anguish of abandonment. Now on the verge of adulthood, Teagan embarks on a quest fueled by a newfound lead suggesting their mother may still be reachable. With unwavering determination, Teagan enlists the help of unlikely allies: Salem Durant, a captivating true-crime podcaster, and her astute assistant Adam.
When Teagan decides to go on a journey by herself, Jess finds herself obligated to join in hopes of protecting Teagan from harsh truths. As they pursue a trail of compelling clues, the journey to locate their mother becomes an odyssey of self-discovery, where the search for one lost soul may ultimately lead to the illumination of their own identity.
On a personal and emotional level, I see the longing for the loss and the grief of a missing parent portrayed very well. The nonending ifs and questions about why her mother left then the feeling of betrayal and resentment are so valid. Jess left her feelings aside, focusing only on raising Teagan well and not missing her mother.
We can see the evolution of relationships between the sisters, the dynamic between Adam and Jess, and the personal growth of all the characters.
We have a Dual POV, alternating between Jess and Adam, with a writing style that is clear and concise. Despite the presence of descriptive elements for both characters and the story, they serve a vital purpose, enriching and enhancing the overall narrative.
I found this read immensely enjoyable, feeling that the book was expertly crafted, evoking a range of emotions throughout.
I highly recommend this book!
I was torn between 3.5 and 5 stars, but ultimately, I think a solid 4-star rating is the best fit.
Thank you to Netgalley the publishers Kensington Books | Kensington and Kate Clayborn for allowing me to review this audiobook. Which, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.
Left behind to shoulder the responsibility of raising her half-sister Teagan, Jess sacrificed her aspirations to shield Teagan from the anguish of abandonment. Now on the verge of adulthood, Teagan embarks on a quest fueled by a newfound lead suggesting their mother may still be reachable. With unwavering determination, Teagan enlists the help of unlikely allies: Salem Durant, a captivating true-crime podcaster, and her astute assistant Adam.
When Teagan decides to go on a journey by herself, Jess finds herself obligated to join in hopes of protecting Teagan from harsh truths. As they pursue a trail of compelling clues, the journey to locate their mother becomes an odyssey of self-discovery, where the search for one lost soul may ultimately lead to the illumination of their own identity.
On a personal and emotional level, I see the longing for the loss and the grief of a missing parent portrayed very well. The nonending ifs and questions about why her mother left then the feeling of betrayal and resentment are so valid. Jess left her feelings aside, focusing only on raising Teagan well and not missing her mother.
We can see the evolution of relationships between the sisters, the dynamic between Adam and Jess, and the personal growth of all the characters.
We have a Dual POV, alternating between Jess and Adam, with a writing style that is clear and concise. Despite the presence of descriptive elements for both characters and the story, they serve a vital purpose, enriching and enhancing the overall narrative.
I found this read immensely enjoyable, feeling that the book was expertly crafted, evoking a range of emotions throughout.
I highly recommend this book!
I was torn between 3.5 and 5 stars, but ultimately, I think a solid 4-star rating is the best fit.
Thank you to Netgalley the publishers Kensington Books | Kensington and Kate Clayborn for allowing me to review this audiobook. Which, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.
torifaye's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was fine. I normally love the romance books that Clayborn writes, but this one fell flat for me. I was also intrigued by the mystery aspect of this books, but it didn't land for me either.
kellymarie22's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kkosberg's review against another edition
I started reading a different book and then just didn’t want to get back into this one
ssilberman's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
leigh987's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
profpetitfours's review against another edition
5.0
Jess Greene is just trying to get her sister, Tegan, to college. Abandoned by their mother 10 years ago, Jess has done everything to control her and Tegan's life. She is obsessive about not appearing online, or on social media. She keeps her friend's list to zero and her work acquaintances know almost nothing about her. That is until two podcasters show up on her doorstep to see how her mother may be connected to an infamous con man. It turns out that careful control of her life was to avoid being connected to a decade-old Serial-esque podcast that traced the man's crimes.
This meeting kicks off an epic road trip to follow the last known locations of her mom and the con. As she travels across the country, she gets closer to one of the podcasters, Adam Hawkins, who has plenty of his own fears. Is Jess ready to slowly lower the walls she's so carefully built for the first man she's felt safe with in years?
It's hard to describe The Other Side of Disappearing. It's classified as a love story, which it is, but it's just as much a mystery. Jess and Adam fall in love as they unravel the mystery of where her mom went and why she left. Clayborn paces the book expertly, with an underlying tension, but not overwhelming anxiety. You desperately want Jess and Teagan to find their mom, but maybe you don't? At least not until the sisters grapple with what it might mean for a mom to voluntarily disappear for a decade. You desperately want Jess and Adam to work, but maybe you don't? At least not until Jess addresses her own trauma.
I loved Georgie, All Along, and this book incorporates a lot of the same things that I loved about it. It hurts, for sure, but it does have a HEA. Jess is grappling with big life changes and crises, but she works through them.
* Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *
This meeting kicks off an epic road trip to follow the last known locations of her mom and the con. As she travels across the country, she gets closer to one of the podcasters, Adam Hawkins, who has plenty of his own fears. Is Jess ready to slowly lower the walls she's so carefully built for the first man she's felt safe with in years?
It's hard to describe The Other Side of Disappearing. It's classified as a love story, which it is, but it's just as much a mystery. Jess and Adam fall in love as they unravel the mystery of where her mom went and why she left. Clayborn paces the book expertly, with an underlying tension, but not overwhelming anxiety. You desperately want Jess and Teagan to find their mom, but maybe you don't? At least not until the sisters grapple with what it might mean for a mom to voluntarily disappear for a decade. You desperately want Jess and Adam to work, but maybe you don't? At least not until Jess addresses her own trauma.
I loved Georgie, All Along, and this book incorporates a lot of the same things that I loved about it. It hurts, for sure, but it does have a HEA. Jess is grappling with big life changes and crises, but she works through them.
* Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *