A review by bookishlychar
The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

 

Jess became guardian of her half-sister, Teagan, when her mother left ten years ago. Jess’s life is turned upside down when a podcast explores her mother’s connection to an infamous. They, with the two podcasters, undertake a cross-country road trip to discover the truth. Jess finds herself discovering things about herself, as well as allowing herself to open up to Adam, one of the podcasters. 

 

Wow, this book. I was in full ugly cry mode for a lot of this book, but it felt so cathartic. We are following this mystery timeline of Jess and Teagan’s mother and also this developing relationship between Jess and Adam. I liked watching this slow opening Jess had toward Adam and herself. I loved both Jess and Adam, their flaws and who they were. I also loved the growth Jess experienced throughout the book. 

 

I enjoyed the exploration of Jess’s relationship with her sister, Teagan, it was so complicated. You never doubted their love for each other, but you got to see her both as a parent and as a sister. My heart broke as their past was revealed and I wanted to give them big hugs. I loved watching the changing dynamics throughout the story. 

 

Kate Clayborn has this amazing writing style that I fall in love with each time I pick up her novels. Her books are deeply emotional, and she has such relatable characters. She can put you in the story and feel the heartbreak and happiness that the characters feel. Her ability to combine the mystery and love story was done impeccably. 

 

Having a podcast/mystery and a love story between Adam and Jess was done so well. This is a great read and I can’t wait to see where she takes readers next! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.