I have now read all of Rea’s books!!! I love her style and writing and have become a fan for life. This novel is completely different from her other domestic suspense books, and reads more like straight-up women’s fiction. I was fortunate enough to receive both the e-copy of this first, and upon finishing was gifted the audio. While both had their own unique perks, the storyline is the same so I will duplicate the review for the audio as well.

Life can simply change in a moment. A single second or two can make or break paths taken or cause life to continue or cease to exist. That’s what Kate realized (or better perhaps, the reader) in this alternate timeline. While at the beach, Kate’s gets a text…she moves to look at it and swipe through, but her daughter (9), Olivia, gets swept up in a current and drowns… However, in the other timeline, Olivia resurfaces and is fine. But you don’t know this until you see very distinctive chapter breaks — I loved that and have not seen that before. We therefore follow Kate’s grief, find her family and best friends coming together for a funeral and subsequently helping her navigate what’s left of her future. But then we also see her continue though her vacation with her best male friend, contemplate getting back with her ex-husband, thriving in her job and live a normal life. The only difference between leading two different lives is that they both intersect at Serenbe — a very different town with a very different lifestyle than the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home. It’s here, that Kate is introduced to a whole new perspective of what her life means… and it’s where she learns to truly love again.

Again, beautiful writing and a great concept, with the cool introduction to a real place that I now want to escape to!
The reason for my 4 stars is that personally, i was frustrated with the MC’s back and forth with her feelings for her best friend and ex-husband. It started to get a little too repetitive for my liking. I was screaming at the book for her to “get on with it already!” :-)
Otherwise, it was solid read in her repertoire! I appreciate the chance to read early and review

Kate Baker and her daughter, Olivia, have taken a two week vacation at the beach. In one scenario, Olivia disappears in the waves long enough for Kate to panic. But, she eventually resurfaces with no ill effects. In another scenario, Olivia drowns and it changes Kate’s life irrevocably.

This is a unique layout for a book. And honestly, it might need to come with a trigger warning. When my children were little, I used to avoid books where a child was killed or kidnapped. When this child died…it tore me up. But, the way the author portrays the alternative year, very uncommon and different. I do not see how this author created this story and did not cry her eyes out, and maybe she did.

Sometimes you need a tale which will make you realize what is important and this story brings that front and center.

This novel is narrated by Brittany Pressley. I loved her. Excellent job on the emotion! And believe me…this story is emotional.

Need a heartbreaking tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This was a different genre from Rea Frey's usual thriller books. It's a contemporary with a love story also. It's a story of the most heartbreaking loss you can imagine and the guilt that follows. Also about a budding love that may happen along the way.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I shed quite a few tears reading it. Or I should say reading every other chapter. It's told from two different ways. One she lives. One she drowns. A mother's love and loss in this story is heart-wrenching and so realistic in every other chapter. The other chapters are the what if. What if her child had not drowned. What if she gets to grow up?

Kates daughter drowned. She went under and didn't resurface. Kate had glanced down at her phone for a mere second but it's costing her a lifetime of pain. She of course blames herself. If only she had gone in the water with Olivia. If only she had not looked at her phone. If only!

Kate is torn between not just two men but before it's over there are three. One is her ex. I only liked him as a dad. Then there is her best friend Jason. Don't ruin your friendship. You've been best friends way to long to go there. Then there is the farmer Ian. I absolutely adored him. He sounds very good looking and very nice. He's suffered a great loss also and well he's just the kind of man that she needs. But her ex Michael had his chance. He chose his job over his family. Though he was still a good dad he just wasn't husband material.

You'll also meet Waffles. Waffles is the dog you meet and will love. He's the perfect companion for Kate and Liv. I really liked Kate and was so glad she came to terms with her loss. Somewhat. As much as a mother can that is. I was glad she found love too. I was glad she finally got a dog in the end of the other chapters.

I finally got it what this title was suppose to mean. What it implies. What it says.... The Other Year is the perfect title. Well done Ms Frey.

Be sure and read the acknowledgement at the end also. Don't you dare stop writing. Please. Take some time for yourself always but please don't stop writing. You are good at it.

Thank you #NetGalley, #ReaFrey, #HarperMuse. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

FIVE huge stars. I highly recommend this book.

What if one simple moment could change life as you know it? THE OTHER YEAR is a sliding doors story following a mother who experiences the drowning of her young daughter in one timeline, and in another timeline her daughter is alive and well.

Rhea Frey touches on some deep-rooted fears shared by many mothers. The story explores themes of mom guilt, complex relationships, and debilitating grief so well. It asks readers to consider how a single moment in time can alter the trajectory of our lives. THE OTHER YEAR was incredibly thought-provoking and would make for a great book club discussion!

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: August 15, 2023

This brought me to tears! Multiple times. This story was beautifully written and showed the impact of grief so well. The story line follows Kate along two life possibilities. One where her daughter is alive and well, and another where her daughter tragically dies. The two story lines show her life and how things unravel and come together. I loved both lines a lot. I loved the ending and highly recommend reading this!!

Read as part of Suzys approved book tours

I picked up the book when I wondered if I would ever finish a recently published fiction title with the two major exceptions of Tom Lake and
Homecoming. I longed for the days of the great writing that came routinely out of Iowa Writers Workshop. Big fan of theme does your life experience change your destiny? for me it does. The quality of shared experience isn’t as face to face as it use to be so books both fiction and memoir can reflect the lived experience more truthfully. I rented an unbeknownst to me horrible farm cottage after seven years of difficult stresses in the hopes it would be Serenbe like and had the worst month imaginable so there was a twist of fate in picking up The Other Year.
not knowing the setting in advance just liked the sliding door concept. The book lent a much needed connection with place which is
perfect to read about if you don’t have it in real time. I hope the independent book stores will do the best job of hand selling the title.. I like
best the way the writing invites conversation.

OBSESSED with this book. I cried through most of it, will definitely be in my top ten of the year. What a wonderful, emotional story about motherhood and identity.

The Other Year. by Rea Frey, is one of those books that sticks with you. Kate, a single working mother, makes one bad decision that can have potentially terrible consequences. The book told in dueling timelines, tells the story of Kate, where those consequences occur, and one where everything ends up being okay. I loved this book, it was by no means a quick read, but it’s a deep read, about love, life and what it means to live freely and honestly with yourself. Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Rea Frey for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Nine-year-old Olivia disappears into the ocean and her mother Kate is left to mourn and wonder what if.
The Other Year by Rea Frey gives you the What If story in alternating chapters and of course that framing makes for a profoundly moving story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. The Other Year is available now.

I really love books with parallel timelines and an alternative reality. This one was well written but did have some issues.

I loved how this book explored Kate's grief in the timeline where Olivia dies. It was gut-wrenching, and truly, every parents worst nightmare. Although it was excruciatingly sad, this was the timeline I enjoyed the most. It was beautiful and inspiring watching Kate work through her grief.

Now on to the other timeline, the one where Olivia lives. I felt frustrated most of the time while reading this timeline. Honestly, Olivia was the most annoying child possible, and the love triangle was equally annoying. I did end up liking how it turned out.

Overall, I did enjoy seeing how the two timelines progressed and was satisfied with both endings.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Each timeline could have been a book, dealing with different struggles of parenthood and grief, but it was in no way a long drawn out book. They captured my attention for different reasons and both went in directions I was not expecting. I loved how they slightly mirrored one other in timespan and were really easy to keep separate but also to get back into with each change. It was emotional and well developed. Kate has some self discovery in both timelines. Great writing, I loved it.

Thank you @reafreyauthor @harpermusebooks and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is not the suspense that Rea Frey has written in the past - Frey even says this in the acknowledgments. However, the genre is different, but the writing style is still very much the same. I look forward to reading more novels like this one from Frey in the future.

The subject-matter (the death of a child) was difficult for me to read, but the alternating if/then chapters gave the novel a lighter feel just when I felt it was needed. I truly loved got everything came together. It took me a bit longer than usual to read this novel, but it was not because I did not appreciate it; it took longer for me to read it, because of the emotional content, I wanted to respect it, almost. I felt that if I rushed through, it would not have respected the characters, and the situation.

DNF at 19% due to unexpected content.

I wish I’d read the Goodreads reviews (especially low-star) for this before requesting it from NetGalley! Some of the descriptions were…really weird and out of place, especially for being about a 9-year-old kid. Disturbing. And the general attitude toward sex and alcohol…disappointing! I am defo not the right audience for the read.

I’m learning I need to be more cautious with books I request from this publisher. Authors I know and enjoy immensely are published through them, but (just like with any other company) it can be a mixed bag.

The premise was super interesting, but the above was enough to make me stop.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What a super interesting way to take on dual timeline... It was so interesting to see how choices played out. An adult version of choose your own adventure almost. So good.

Can your whole life change in an instant? Single Kate and her daughter Liv are on a two week beach vacation when Liv goes missing under the waves. In one timeline, Liv pops up and continues playing. In the second timeline, she stays under for too long and passes away.

The book fleshes out both plots equally. I found it absolutely heartbreaking in the one where Liv is gone. There is such devastation for Kate, it definitely made me tear up. But in the plot where she survives, it’s heartbreaking in other way. Kate recently went through a divorce and is working on shared custody with Michael, Olivia’s father. He travels a lot for his job and he’s based in Mexico City. He wants Liv to get to know his family and culture so he asks if Liv can spend the summer with him.

I really enjoyed this unique story telling, but please have tissues ready! Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @harpermuse and @librofm for my gifted book.

I got 65percent of the way through this one and did not finish. Clearly an unpopular opinion here because many have really liked this book. It could simply be a case of the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I loved the premise of this book but for me the writing didn’t deliver. The grief didn’t feel raw or real enough to me. It lacked the gut wrenching, vivid descriptions that I was expecting in a book with this kind of topic. The author told me the emotions but didn’t make me feel them or suffer along with the main character in the way I wanted to. Overall very creative and clever premise that just didn’t end up delivering for me

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Other Year
Author: Rea Frey
Source: NetGalley
Published: August 15, 2023
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The Other Year by Rea Frey is a heart-wrenching story told in alternate timelines. This book questions if we “end up where we are supposed to be no matter what, or does grief send us on a different path completely?” Kate is a hard-working single divorced mom to Olivia, a strong-willed 9-year-old child. Kate takes two weeks away from work to vacation in Santa Rosa beach with her single best friend and his child. On the first vacation day, Olivia swims in the sea and is having fun when her Mom looks away for a second, and Olivia disappears. The novel is then told from two parallel timelines that alternate chapters. One timeline has a tragic end, and the other has a future. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could get through this book because it is so well written, and the grief is so great, that my heart hurt. The emotions from both points of view are gut-wrenching. The author pulls this story together beautifully, and we spend a year as she travels two separate roads with a satisfying ending. To me, it all breaks down to the fact that life is hard and full of challenges, but grief is so significant, making moving into the future challenging. Kate decides to use her life for good and takes the time for individual growth. I liked this book so much that I purchased a copy for my library. This is my first novel by Rea Frey, but it won’t be my last. #TheOtherYear @reafreyauthor @harpermusebooks @netgalley #life #death #singleMom #choices #future #romance #emotional #grief #recovery
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Major trigger warning: death of a child
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Harper Muse, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: August 15, 2023.
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#book #books #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader

Frey pulls off an interesting and unique plot line involving a situation in which a child is lost while swimming and there are two different outcomes explored. She does a good job of going back and forth and the premise is captivating. I felt that it got a little bogged down with multiple romances and going back and forth and back and forth repeatedly. This became a little tiresome. Still, an overall enjoyable read.

I’m used to reading books written by Rea Frey with suspense at the core. Rea steps out of that genre to tell a beautiful story of loss, grief, and love.

This book has two timelines and goes through the course of a year. Timeline One begins as Kate Baker and her nine year old daughter, Olivia, are on a beach vacation. Timeline Two begins with the same beach vacation but when Kate looks down at her phone to check a text from her ex-husband, Olivia is swept away and drowns.

I know as a parent reading about what we most fear, to loose a child, could feel like a trigger. But this book weaves that tragedy into the story with grace and respect so that even though I was devastated at Olivia’s loss in timeline two I was able to understand the bigger picture. Kate’s life in both timelines are at the core of the story and those journeys make for a really engaging novel.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫
𝐁𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟖.𝟏𝟓.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝒪𝓊𝓉 𝒩𝑜𝓌!


In the blink of an eye, the course of our lives can change.
In 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 Rea Frey presents alternating timelines, that explore the what-ifs.

Kate Baker and her young daughter Olivia (Liv) are vacationing at the beach. As Liv splashes in the waves, Kate looks down at a text from her ex-husband. In that second Liv goes under the waves. After a terrifying moment, Liv resurfaces. But Kate wonders what life would be like if Liv had been pulled under.

The story progresses with alternating scenarios - one where Liv is alive and life goes on as usual, and one where Liv is pulled under and does not survive.

It goes without saying that this is an emotional story. I was ready for the timeline where Kate lost Liv to be filled with heartbreak, grief, and devastation, which it is. But I didn’t expect the timeline where Liv resurfaces and lives to be so emotional and sad as well. The author did a great job of showing how parents can suffer heartbreak in many different ways.

Loss, grief, parenting, and love are all explored in this thought-provoking narrative. It may make you hug your loved ones a little tighter.


Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @harpermusebooks and @reafreyauthor for a spot on tour and a gifted book and audiobook.