3.5 stars - somehow it’s weird how i was in a reading slump and a book that only caught me in the second half is my comeback

a more detailed and specific review is gonna be coming out on my podcast The Cry Lounge - gonna update the link here once it's out :)

The Other Year is a story about how the trajectory of your life can change in one second. Kate Baker and her daughter are on their annual trip at the beach, when one second Olivia is there, and the next second she’s underwater. In one timeline she resurfaces, and in the next one she does not. It then follows Kate’s life through each timeline, and it was tough. It was heartbreaking, but also beautiful in its own way. It’s a book about a mothers love, grief, guilt, and is it possible to overcome living through a mothers worst nightmare?

This book was good. It was so touching, the narration when the girl went into the water and couldn't be found, I was right there, great writing and narrating (I listened the audio). I understand exactly what the author did, how many times have I imagined two timelines in my life, when for a moment something happens that could be the end of my life as it is, losing my kids or my mom. In a second I can see both lives passing through my eyes. Life would go on, as it always do, but, how would things change? I enjoyed the book, I suffered the grief and am glad Kate found a way into a better life after all.

Wow! Grab the tissues.

This is a story of transformation.

Kate Baker is a single mother, navigating life based on the choices she makes. As a reader, you will have the opportunity to follow Kate's journey along two different timelines, focusing in on select chapters of her life. When Kate and her young daughter, Olivia, go on a beach vacation, Olivia disappears under the ocean's waves. In one timeline, Olivia resurfaces much to her mother's relief. In another timeline, Olivia does not resurface, forever altering her mother's life in one single moment. As you turn the pages, Kate will share her struggles and successes, joys and sadness, moments of confusion and understanding, her loves and losses, as well as her setbacks and breakthroughs.
This is an emotional read, so make sure you are in the headspace for that type of story.

Note: I listened to the audio version of this book, thanks to Harper Muse via NetGalley. Brittany Pressley does a fabulous job of bringing this story to life!

These opinions are entirely my own.

It was okay. I liked the way it told her life with daughter and without. It was such a page turner and hard to stop reading. I liked that it had both scenarios and kind of a pick your preferred ending type.

HALLMARK, GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT GREATEST MOVIE! This concept had me thinking through all of the what-ifs and could-have-beens in my life.

"The Other Year" follows two timelines for the life of Katie Baker and her daughter, Olivia. In both timelines, Katie and Olivia take a trip to the beach. Olivia goes swimming in the ocean. In timeline 1, Olivia emerges from the ocean. In timeline 2, Olivia drowns. The book alternates between timeline 1 and 2 throughout. The reader sees the bigger picture as Katie navigates her love life, time with/without Olivia, and her career in each timeline.

The career and love life of Katie Baker is completely Hallmark. I wasn't sure, at first, if I thought I would buy into it. I'm not a Hallmark movie person. Also, Timeline 2 is excruciatingly heavy with grief. Buuuut.... I REEEAAlly wanted to find out what happened in both timelines! I'm so glad I did. Both timelines took unexpected turns and left me with a gratifying ending. Somehow, through the stereotypical characters and scenes, I was all into this concept.

Brittany Pressley is an audio goddess in her interpretation of characters. SHE gave them a depth I don't think I could have had in reading ink and paper.

A special thank you to Harper Muse, Brittany Pressley, Rea Frey, and NetGalley for the chance to read this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What if your destiny had two alternatives? One with intense pain from loss and with different hardships. Loss creates growth as painful as it can be. This is story of finding yourself when you lose yourself. This is a story of motherhood, a struggle through grief, the mental battle of guilt and the discovery of hope. Beautiful novel of a women’s heart. Narration by Brittany Pressley was perfection!

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Muse for this audiobook.

One moment can change the rest of the trajectory of your life. In this sliding doors-type novel the author gives two alternative times lines. Kate and her 9 year old daughter Olivia go on their annual beach vacation: in one time line Olivia goes out in the water too far and drowns, and in the other they have a wonderful vacation and all is well. The rest of novel sets out two parallel lives for Kate, one where she learns how to cope with the loss of her daughter and another where Olivia is a happy normal 9 year old and Kate has to deals with her ex-husband and new romances. However, in the end some certain pivotal events in her life turn out remarkably the same.

I thought this novel was great and I loved both alternatives for Kate. One would assume that you wouldn’t enjoy the grief storyline as much but it was done really well and with an optimistic view that I didn’t dread reading it. I listened to this book entirely on audio and thought the narrator told both stories with wonderful and balanced emotion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC

This book gives a "Sliding Doors" vibe. It's a what if story. What if your child dies? What if she doesn't? In one life Kate takes her eyes off her child for a split second and what happens in that split second changes her life forever. In the other timeline, her daughter is fine. It's a heart breaking story every parent has thought of at least once. You get to see both sides. This book will make you cry, but there's joy as well. If a child passing is a trigger, then this book isn't for you. Brittany Pressley does a great job voicing both timelines and making them seem different. Rea Frey has written a thought provoking emotional story. A must read if you like books that will take you on an emotional roller coaster.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rea Frey, and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this audiobook to review. WOW but also WOAH. This is a heartbreaking and heavy book told in two parallel timelines of a single mother who lost her daughter in a the split second moment when she looked at her phone at a text with different outcomes. Just when the story gets horribly sad and heart wrenching the time line shifts to remember a funny or different time to lighten your heart. The narrator Brittany Pressly does an amazing job expressing the emotions from the mother to the pre-tween daughter just right. Triggers: If you have lost a child this may be a really difficult read. I found it difficult just with my daughter having the same name. Yet It is a wonderful well told story I am glad I was given the opportunity to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of "The Other Year" by Rea Frey.

"The Other Year" audiobook, narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, is a moving tale of love, loss, and family dynamics. Rea Frey's story follows Quinn's journey through grief and self-discovery, brought to life by Mollo-Christensen's authentic narration.

Frey's storytelling keeps listeners hooked, though some parts may feel a bit slow. Mollo-Christensen's voice captures the emotions of the characters well, though occasionally it can be a tad melodramatic.

Overall, "The Other Year" audiobook offers a touching listening experience, with Frey's engaging story and Mollo-Christensen's narration making it a journey worth taking.

I found the book highly engaging and a great read. It really broke my heart in the second timeline - especially immediately after the child's death. This author knows how to write and the narrator was absolutely amazing. She really pulled in the tragedy and sorrow through her voice and it made it gut-wrenching to listen to the main character's inner dialogue through her voice.
On a personal note, I'm not the biggest fan of the "two timelines lead to the same destination" story. I would have LOVED to devote all of the time to the second storyline and truly explore that narrative in depth. That being said I still very much enjoyed myself and is a great read on motherhood, grief and letting go.

This needs to come with a major trigger warning for parents or those who have lost a child. I read this shortly after my son was flown into the PICU with a collapsed lung and hit home waaaay too hard. While the author portrays true depth of our anxieties, it was just too much for me. I felt panic attacks coming on multiple times and would burst into tears as my mind would start reeling with the “what ifs” similar to the story. If you are up for the ride, it will definitely destroy you emotionally.

I picked this for the narrator. Shew was almost too good in this role. I was hurting imagining losing one my own nine year old daughters. I know mothers survive loss every single day and go on, but I can't even handle imagining it.
This one hurt. I know it is supposed to be a book about resilience and a bunch of lines and moments stuck with me - but I am just too sensitive.

🎧THE OTHER YEAR by Rea Frey was narrated by Brittany Pressley and was quite an emotional trip!

I saw that this was still offered by @harpermusebooks via @netgalley and remembered it had been well received by many, so I was happy to have received it! Thank you both!

This was a heavy read. The loss of a child...or not.

I think the exploration of how life would be in a different direction is fascinating. I appreciated how this story used a tragic event to point out how we can romanticize the "what-if's" when real life doesn't usually work out so lovely. I also appreciate how, with loss, the hard stuff would be so worth it if we could have them back.

I can't pretend to know how to feel with a loss this big. I have had close proximity to such losses, but it isn't the same. I did value the exploration and sharing of one such journey.

The audio was done very well. There was deep emotion in the narration. I am glad I listened to this story as it became a bit hard to keep going, but the audio kept me moving.

This was published back in August of 2023, so it is available now and if you are ready to engage on a moving yet difficult story, I would recommend it.

#TheOtherYear#
Kate takes her daughter on a seaside vacation. Kate watches the child play in the water. Kate sees her daughter go under. Terrified she rushed to the ocean and sees her child surface giggling. Later Kate is distracted a split second. The unthinkable happens. After rescuers bring the drowned girl to her mother, Kate suffers every emotion known to man. She begins to live two lives one with her child and another wrestling with reality of her loss, and her guilt. A story you will never forget. Highly recommend. I received this book from the publisher and net galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you publisher and NetGalley.

Thank you Harper Muse for allowing me to read and review The Other Year on NetGalley

Published: 08/15/23

Narrator: Brittany Pressley

Stars: 2.5

More enjoyable than an average book, however, I have already had to skim the synopsis i.e., forgettable. The subject matter is what aids remembering after the skim.

While on vacation Mom is on her phone texting while her 9-year-old daughter plays in the ocean and subsequently drowns. The story is written in dual timelines: before and after death. The requisite ex-husband has his self-centered role and family friend Jason is always available in both timelines. Do I sound snarky? The sexual tension between the three irked me while I was reading.
I kept most of my focus as Brittany Pressley snapped her fingers and did a couple yoo-hoo pay attentions -- Seriously, she really was amazing as a performing narrator.

As the story unravels more characters enter and having sex and potentially finding love overtakes the story of a woman texting while her 9-year-old daughter played in the ocean and drowned. This point was not addressed and it sickened me.

Without Pressley this is a creative writing paper that needed a point edit -- nonsensical texting or possibly, child dies and mom wants a male companion.

It’s hard for me to write a review of this book without potentially giving away spoilers.

This is an amazing story of a mother who loses her daughter… or did she? The dual timeline is so captivating- how characters fit into each. I became completely invested in all the characters. Navigating loss, friendship, old love, new love. My heart ached listening to this story.

Beautifully written story.

The narrator was 5 stars.

Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

I absolutely loved the concept of two parallel timelines in this book. Each one told so uniquely. I would definitely recommend this book and read it again!

The Other Year by Rea Frey

Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for the free audiobook.

Blurb:
“Bringing to light the drastic polarities dire circumstances often create, The Other Year explores truths about love, loss, and the sharp turns any life can take in the blink of an eye.

✨My thoughts:
This story completely wrecked me. I actually read and listened to this book and both were so good! Rea Frey literally ripped my heart from my chest and left me with a bleeding heart. All while my two boys were cuddling me. This book is not for the faint of heart and I highly suggest checking the trigger warnings. I loved to see the two different timelines and both pulled at my heartstrings in two very different ways. This story was written so beautifully. It was also written so painfully raw that I almost forgot I was reading a work of fiction. Honestly I’m getting choked up thinking about this book again. The Other Year is a meaningful and memorable story, written with pure talent and heart, and one I’ll never forget. There is so much to take away from this story and if you can handle reading about the loss of a child, you should really pick this one up. This one will break your heart and put you back together again.

“Slowly, achingly, I am learning to live.”

Happy reading!