Reviews

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

Only show reviews with written explanations

diann_h's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

seekpeace's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

3.25

oldandnewbooksmell's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Hairstylist Jess Greene has spent the last decade raising her younger half sister, Tegan, after their mother ran away with a boyfriend she’d only known a few months. Jess has also been keeping a huge secret - the boyfriend her mother ran off with, was an accomplished con man who was also the subject of a wildly popular podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

Right before Tegan hits her eighteenth birthday, Jess figures out her sister’s plan to do what she’s always feared - go on the search for their mother. But she’s not doing it alone, instead she’s accompanied by the host of the podcast and her producer, Adam Hawkins. Unwilling for her sister to go alone, Jess reluctantly joins them.

Together, the four make their way across the country, uncovering pieces of the mystery as to where her mother and her boyfriend disappeared to and why.

So first off, I don’t know how I missed this being a romance, because it’s not like it's not marketed as romance. I think I was more focused on the true crime podcast aspect of it over everything else. And, to be honest, I don’t think the novel needed the spicier scenes to it. I totally understood and felt Jess and Adam’s connection, no need for the horniess. But, maybe that’s just me being a reader who doesn’t read much romance above a two spice level, so don’t take my opinion on this bit too personally.

I loved the mystery of this novel and the adventure the group went on - but I still didn’t care for the romance of it. I also had a bit of a hard time connecting with anyone. Everyone had a lot of feelings that were deeply explored, but I didn’t feel as much connection as I do with others.

Overall, I can see people still enjoying this. Just because I didn’t care for the romance bit of it, doesn’t mean the story itself wasn’t still good!

*Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

elizabethide's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

4.75

Absolutely loved this! Did not want to put it down. A good balance of romance and true crime/family drama.

“I don't know if I've ever seen a face like hers. It’s like looking through a window at a storm. There's rain, lightning, wind; there're trees bending and shaking with the force of it. Part of you is glad to be separate from it.

But part of you wants to press against the glass and get as close as you can.”

“I'm distractedly packing the trunk of the van, quietly pleasing myself by deliberately setting Jess's suitcase right next to mine. It's a pretty sappy move, I know, but I'm practically marinated in sap at the moment.”

"You're not too anything. You've never been too anythingfor me."