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

The Other Side of Disappearing combines stories of romance, mystery, and family drama in one. The main story is about siblings Jess and Tegan who were abandoned by their mom 10 years ago to run off with a con artist, Lynton Baltimore. Lynton is the subject of a true crime podcast that journalists Salem and Adam are researching on, and the four of them go on a road trip across the US to get answers for themselves.

I’ve read many of Kate Clayborn’s books, but this one felt unique even from the start. The romance between Jess and Adam is still central to the plot, but I also loved the mystery elements about Baltimore’s con and the mom’s disappearance, as well as the growth in the relationship between the sisters. It’s also refreshing to read about two introverted characters in a romance plot. We often see opposite personalities in these stories, so it was nice to have two characters who are quiet and reserved open up to each other.

This is my favorite Kate Clayborn book so far. It wasn’t as heavy or dark as I was expecting, but maybe because I enjoy true crime and mysteries in general. If you also enjoy these, then I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!

Content Warnings

leann0330's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

5.0

This story follows two sisters (15 years age difference) as they travel with a popular true-crime podcaster and her producer to investigate the disappearance of their mother who was last seen with her con-artist boyfriend 10 years prior. The group travels to five different locations where postcards containing vague clues had been mailed from Charlotte (mom) to the sisters, Jess and Tegan. Along the way, the older sister, Jess, and the producer, Adam, become close—Adam (a former college football player) is able to break through Jess’s hard exterior and provides the first safe place for her in over a decade. Tegan, an 18yo headed to college soon, just wants to know why their mom left and what happened to her, while Jess just wants to protect Tegan’s heart from being destroyed. The podcaster, Salem, has been obsessed with finding the con man, Lyndon Baltimore, for the last 10 years and wants closure ever since he promised her one last interview then bailed.

This was a 5-star read for me, as most of Kate Clayborn’s books are! This is not a light-hearted rom-com… it’s an emotional rollercoaster that shows the trauma associated with abandonment and the difficulties in opening up yourself to love when you have done everything in your power to raise a sibling with as “normal” a life as possible. This book also goes into mental illness/bi-polar disorder/TBI, grifting, and terminal illness. But take heart! It is a happily ever after and if any two people deserve that, it’s Jess and Adam. Adam is patient, kind, protective, and just wants to be Jess’s person.

“I realize, with a startling sort of clarity, that I’d cut out my own heart before I treated hers carelessly.”

Jess is lonely, strong, selfless, and eventually learns to trust Adam and herself.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe against her neck. “I know I’m too—“
“You’re not too anything. You’ve never been too anything, for me.”

The story wraps up nicely although it could have gone into a little more podcast info at the end. I just always have a lot of questions when I’m done reading and I know I’ll think about this one for awhile!

Content Warnings

amateur_bookworm's review

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emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

My summary: Jess has spent the last ten years raising her sister, Tegan, and keeping a low profile after their mother ran away with an infamous con man, Lynton Baltimore. Freshly turned 18, Tegan has brought Jess’s worst nightmare to their doorstep—Salem Durant, a popular true crime podcaster, and her colleague, Adam Hawkins. Salem first made a name for herself after covering Lynton Baltimore’s story before he disappeared, apparently with Jess’s mother in tow, and now Salem is determined to finish the story. The connection between Jess and Adam sparks in the first moment they lay eyes on each other on Jess’s doorstep. Beyond needing to find Jess’s mother, Jess and Adam’s relationship is further complicated by Jess’s desire to do anything to keep her story to herself—but Salem has made Adam a deal he can’t refuse if he can manage to get Jess to talk about her mom.

My thoughts: Sometimes you don’t realize how average the books you’ve been reading are until one comes along to remind you of just how fantastic a book can truly be. This is one of those fantastic books. A contemporary romance with a sizable side of mystery and intrigue, it pulls you immediately into the mystery of Lynton Baltimore and Jess’s runaway mom. The style of writing is just so enjoyable. The metaphors are everything—both delightful and insightful. And—holy heartstrings. The tragicness of Jess and Tegan’s lives up until now, plus Adam’s loss of his friend and the guilt he carries over his death.

The way Kate Clayborn weaves everything together in this book is just so satisfying. This is my second book by this author and both have been five star reads for me.

Also, I was today years old when I found out con man is short for confidence man. I also thought it was, idk, convict or something.

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