I went in to this book blind, knowing I generally like Kate Clayborn and this book absolutely slaps. This is my far my favorite Kate Clayborn book. It was so beautifully written. I became very emotionally invested in the mystery and the characters. The romance was good too, but I loved it for the plot.

I really like Kate Clayborn books and how she writes. This one took me a bit to get into, I felt like the story started a little slower than her other books - but it was good overall. All that to say, I felt like there was a lot going on and the storyline felt a bit muddy.

Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I like Clayborn fine, but somehow her books never seem to excite me as much as they do other people. I really didn’t like this one at first because I had so much trouble accepting the premise. It grew on me and I got there eventually and found myself somewhat invested, but I almost DNFed along the way.

Jess Greene dropped everything to take care of her sister Tegan when their mom disappeared 10 years ago. But now Tegan is 18 and looking for answers, and that looking drops a famous podcaster on Jess' front porch. Against her better judgement, Jess agrees to be part of the investigatory journo road trip, which lands her in a van with Adam Hawkins for a month. Adam has his own agenda and his own demons to exorcise; but they're both about to de-rail each other's plans.

Kate Clayborn cannot miss, and in THE OTHER SIDE OF DISAPPEARING, she reaches another level of plot complexity and new emotional depths.

I loved Kates "Love Lettering" and this one didn't disappoint! Thank you and huge shout out to Netgalley, Kate and Kensington Books for an eArc!

What to Expect:
⭐ Trauma Healing
⭐ Strangers - to friends - to romantic partners
⭐ A journey of self discovery
⭐ A mystery to solve
⭐ A story of two sisters

My Thoughts:
A slight deter from her previous books, this story has a higher focus on the plot, storyline of the two sisters (Jess + Tegan), self-discovery and trauma healing. There is a romance story tangled in betwee all of that but only as a part of Jess healing and finding herself again. I truly enjoyed the bond the two sisters shared and the story that comes from that. The healing they both go through in this book was truly moving. The journey they take to find what happened to their mom and why she never came back was shocking, at times comedic and other times disheartening. As a mom myself I struggle to understand the leaving your children behind. I know it happens but wasn't a relatable thing for me.

All that to say I love the complexity of the characters in this story. I love Kates way of really building them through the story, working us through their journey and the conclusion she brings them too. In this case I loved the focus being on the sisters and not the romantic side. It shows the depth she has to write fiction and yet to give us a story to keep us wanting more. I knew she had this sort of story in her with Love Lettering but this really shows the depth of her writing skills.

Synopsis:
Hairstylist Jess Greene has spent the last decade raising her younger half-sister, Tegan—and keeping a shocking secret. Ever since their reckless mother ran off with a boyfriend she’d known only a few months, Jess has been aware that he’s the same accomplished con man who was the subject of a wildly popular podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

Now thirty-one, Jess didn’t bargain on Tegan eventually piecing together the connection for herself. But Tegan plans to do exactly what Jess has always feared—leave their safe, stable home to search for their mother—and she’ll be accompanied by the prying podcast host and her watchful, handsome producer, Adam Hawkins. Unwilling to let the sister she’s spent so much of her life protecting go it alone, Jess reluctantly joins them.

Together, the four make their way across the country, unraveling the mystery of where the couple disappeared to and why. But soon Jess is discovering other things too. Like a renewed sense of vulnerability and curiosity, and a willingness to expand beyond the walls she’s so carefully built. And in Adam, she finds an unexpected connection she didn’t even know was missing, if only she can let go and let him in . . .

DNF at about a third of the way through.

This is a bummer. I really wanted to like this one and I had put it down once before thinking I was the problem. That it just wasn't the right time for me to listen to the audio.

I gave this book more of a chance on my most recent attempt and I just couldn't get into it.

I've enjoyed Kate Clayborn's books in the past. I still look forward to reading more by her. This one was just a flop for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for my gifted copy of The Other Side of Disappearing. ❤

I've read all of Clayborn's books up to now and this is my least favorite. Having said that the writing is as usual sensitive and fluent so I did enjoy this book very much. looking forward to her next book!

I LOVED Georgie All Along so it pains me to say this one just wasnt for me. I didnt connect with the story and found myself quite bored. I will still look out for what Kay Clayborn creates though.

I absolutely love Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn so I was thrilled to see a new release from her. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a bit of a different genre/style than her typical work. It’s still a romance, but there is crime/action/mystery aspects involved as well.

I really felt like we got to know the main character’s thoughts and feelings about everything well. I had to learn to change my expectations regarding the romance once I learned this was more than just a romance book. Although we slowly see the couple/relationship develop, this book is also heavily about the main character’s growth and changes. Jess’ sister and overall past has a huge impact on her character traits that we see come out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the portrayal of grief in this book and how it played into the romance and the mystery of what happened to Jess and Teagan’s mom. The mystery was well done and could not believe how their meeting went. The romance in this book was so sweet and perfect. I also loved the portrayal of the sister dynamic in the book, the sisters were amazing and I loved every time they were together.

Kate Clayborn deserves all the hype and more! THE OTHER SIDE OF DISAPPEARING was such a fun (and entirely unique) romance! If you're looking for a romance that will stick with you for years to come (and that's a little different than what's currently out there on the market), this is a must-read!

I fell in love with these characters. The story is stunning and I just couldn’t put it down. I wish I read it sooner.

I requested and read this book because I really enjoyed Kate Clayborn's previous novel, Love Lettering. I found The Other Side of Disappearing to be an enjoyable read, if not quite as compelling as Love Lettering. The sibling relationship between Jess and Tegan was delightful and moving to read.

Thank you, NetGalley for this copy of The Other Side of Disappearing. I really enjoyed this story about sisterhood, family trauma and new beginnings.

There is something that is so special about a Kate Clayborn, the characters develop a very real sense of intimacy, and while they are flawed, they are incredibly relatable. Jess and Adam were so sweet, and the fact that he wouldn’t let her disappear into herself was everything.

I really loved the mystery component of this book. It was different from books I usually read and the curiosity of what happened to the characters mother along with wanting to see what happens with each of them drove the story along for me. I loved how the author described the evolution of each character. You slowly got to see into their lives and personalities as the story went on and nothing was just given to the reader to front. You had to discover them and realize how their past had shaped who they were as people to go on this journey together.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you for the e-ARC and I apologize for the long overdue review, but this book deserves attention for its emotional depth and relatable characters.

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn is a beautifully crafted novel that delves into themes of loss, longing, and the search for belonging. The story centers on the protagonist's journey of self-discovery after a personal tragedy, navigating the complexities of relationships and the struggle to reclaim a sense of identity.

Clayborn's writing is rich and lyrical, capturing both the emotional depth of her characters and the nuances of their experiences. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, making the characters relatable and engaging. The exploration of grief and healing is poignant, providing readers with a heartfelt look at how people cope with profound changes in their lives.

While the pacing is reflective, allowing for introspection, some readers may find it slower in parts. However, the payoff is rewarding, with moments of genuine connection and insight.

Overall, The Other Side of Disappearing is a compelling read that resonates with anyone who has faced challenges in their relationships or struggled with their sense of self. Clayborn's ability to weave emotion and narrative together makes this book a standout in contemporary fiction.

first, I would like to thank NetGalley for the arc of the book.

now for my rating, I gave it 3 stars.

this is definitely heavier romance novel compared to what I normally read, so obviously I'm giving it some lean and pull on the rating. I like the ideas of the book through trauma-processing, self-discovery, some mental health issues, etc.
the problem I had, is it felt like everything had too much feelings and emotions and not enough actual plot and feelings?? I'm not sure how to truly explain it except to read the book yourself.

again, it wasn't my normal read, but it was kinda of a cute novel still.