Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Other Side of Disappearing

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Clayborn’s writing when I read Georgie, All Along last year. Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Other Side of Disappearing! It did not disappoint. I love how she depicts emotions and scenarios that make you truly feel like you are there, in the present, with these characters.

I really loved this book. Jess is the primary guardian for her sister after their mother abandoned them 10 years ago. I appreciate sister/sibling relationships when they are written well, and I love how Jess and Teagan’s relationship was displayed. As an eldest sister like Jess, it felt SO real with how she responded and moved through her life. I was so invested in their story and how/if they would find their mom.

Jess and Adam were great MCs, and I truly enjoyed their POVs so much. I love how well they see one another. They’re both so observant and truly understand how to interact with each other where the other feels comfortable. Watching their relationship grow during the book, especially on the farm, was so sweet. And the epilogue! So so sweet.

Content Warnings

downtown_kb's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

"I wonder if anyone’s ever stood up in the middle of a restaurant to ask if there’s a therapist in the room."

Jess has been caring for her half-sister Tegan since the day 10 years ago when their mom walked out on them. Jess has successfully lived in her bubble protecting herself and doing everything she can to protect Tegan from any further hurt ever since. However, everything changes when a podcaster shows up on their doorstep to finish a story she started about a famous con-man. The man her mother ran off with all those years ago.

I have seen a lot of reviews that say this is a “departure from Kate Clayborn’s normal work” and I have to disagree. We have swoon worthy romance, well developed characters struggling to overcome issues from their past and a lot of big emotions. This is a romance and it has great pacing and lovely found family. Kate can write a broken character who grows and changes and comes into their own so well. I love how she can drip emotions onto the page with her words.
I had some difficulty connecting with the characters in this story, and I know it is related to a book pet peeve of mine. The main character puts a ton of weight on the actions of her mother, of course. But I just can’t stand my characters wrecking themselves for shitty parents. Jess’ inability to open herself up to trust others however, I can relate to. And again, Kate gives you a satisfying character arc as Jess grows throughout the story. Be patient with her.

"I don’t want to know you for the story. I want to know you for myself.”

Adam is of course wonderful, and has past pain of his own. I found him to be so very kind hearted and patient. He is devoted from the jump. One thing is for sure, Kate Clayborn writes a great book boyfriend.
The mystery and side plot are an interesting addition to this story. I think fans of true crime will appreciate this aspect a lot. No murder involved.

This won’t be my favorite by hers, because ugh, Georgie! But I enjoyed it and I think others will fall in love with this book.

“I’m always going to have your heart, Jessie. Because you gave it to me so completely, and yours taught me how to make my own."

Content Warnings

louisekf's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Perhaps it’s my fault for not reading the publisher’s blurb, but I was quite excited for a new Kate Clayborn book and I figured I didn’t need to do that. However… I probably should have. The set-up is that Jess has been acting a mother-substitute for her younger half-sister, Tegan, for ten years. Their mother ran off with a man who turned out to be a skilled con man, about whom a true-crime-style podcast was made. Now that Tegan is 18 and ready to leave for college in a few months, she contacts the podcast host and she and Jess (reluctantly, for Jess) wind up joining the podcast host, Salem, and her assistant, Adam, on a road trip to try to track down their missing mother and perhaps the con man she ran off with. There’s an instant attraction between Jess and Adam and they are both very wary about acting on it, so this is a slow burn romance.

My take: I think there have been too many books focusing on podcasts lately; I guess that’s the latest “thing.”

Weirdly, I had just finished another book that featured an older sibling being a caretaker (in that case, for both the disabled father and the younger sister), so it was a bit hard to keep the two stories separated in my mind. Not the author’s fault, just bad timing on my part.

There was some excellent character development, particularly for Jess, as she finally begins to grapple with the impact of her mother abandoning her (twice). And for those who prefer to know these things, be aware that there are a couple of rather spicy, open door scenes, including one in a rather memorable location.

On the whole, this wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t what I expected from this author. The love story was almost beside the point, with most of the book spent on the four of them tracking down clues to find their mother and/or the con man.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings

thelibbyshow's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

anapsc's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

More...