Member Reviews
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.
This was another book I wanted simply for the cover, but I wasn't expecting all that much from the book. In fact, based on what I knew of the author, I was really expecting it to be your basic romance novel.
It was a romance novel, I mean of course it was, BUT it almost seems like the romance took a second seat next to the journey the characters took. A journey where there was a self reflecting and processing and more of a deeper look inside these characters. In fact, there were time where I felt like the "romance" was truly not needed as her words spoke for themselves.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Captivating, complex, and gripping, this was a fabulous read. I fell in love with Ms. Clayborn's writing in Love Lettering and have yet to be disappointed. While easy to read, her writing makes me dive deeper into how these feelings and thoughts the characters have relate to my own life. I read books for the HEA and for the escapism, but when I read Clayborn's books, I'm always drawn into the greater message and wider view of the world. I highly recommend this book and all of her others. She continues to be a one-click author for me.
This was such an intriguing story. I love true crime stories, so one set in a fictional universe really grabbed my attention. I enjoyed following along to unravel the story.
I'm so genuinely torn about how to rate this book because it is beautifully written, and from a literary perspective, it's gorgeous. But the story? I absolutely hated it.
Now I need to acknowledge that this is 90% a me issue, because I have a visceral hatred for True Crime. I honestly didn't realize just how deep that issue was, and yes this will be another Kate Clayborn book I have to discuss in therapy 😂 So I feel like if you enjoy True Crime, or even if you're neutral about it, you'll be able to negate that part of my review. But the other 10% I do think comes down to the fact that there isn't much that actually happens in this book. It's all feelings, no action. The story itself is slow to get going, and based on the first few pages actually didn't go the way I thought it was going to. This book is like going up the first big hill of a rollercoaster, all slow building anticipation. But instead of a big drop at the end when all of that comes to a head, it just levels out. Now I do love that it levels out with therapy, but for a book where you just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, or for a sneeze to finally come, it's a little disappointing when it doesn't.
But Kate's writing is stunning, and I loved the characters. If they had been put in any other situation, any other major plot point, they would have really been able to shine. This book is all subtlety and small moments that add up to a lot of love and connection, and that felt so real to me. It really is a story about humanity and people, so if you want to be deep in your emotions and contemplative, this is the book to read!
Also, a shout out to Adam's "You don't speak to her, ever" moment because it rewired a part of my brain. Everything was worth it for that moment.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
What’s the old adage “If you build it they will come”? Well let me just say that if Kate Clayborn writes it I will most assuredly be reading it.
The Art of Disappearing did not disappoint, and tells the story of Jess, and the emotional turmoil abandonment can take on someone when their mother leaves them. Jess has cared for her sister Teegan for 10 years (since her mother left the second time) and is surprised to find out Teegan has discovered that their mother left with a famous conman and subject of a super popular true crime podcast. Jess and Teegan end up on a road trip of a lifetime with Salem Durant and her producer Adam Hawkins, searching for answers to questions they both have about their mother and themselves.
Let me just say Adam is so soft with Jess, like I could not get over how they both just see each other for who they are – like my bones were melting. He’s so big and masculine, but also like the biggest teddy bear EVER! I loved their connection so much. One thing I didn’t love was how long it took me to actually get into this book, the pacing was a little off and felt like a lot of emotions and Adam respecting Jess’s boundaries so that the action and story took a minute to get rolling. But once it did I couldn’t put it down, and as a true crime girly I did appreciate trying to figure out the truth behind Jess’s mother’s disappearance and the twists and turns that came with it.
Overall, I really liked this book and would literally read a phone book if Kate Clayborn wrote it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Kate Clayborn and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
I haven't met a Kate Clayborn book that dont like. While this one was slower paced, the characters were so enjoyable and the story was very engaging.
This was not my favorite but also wasn’t bad - I’m kind of indifferent. I felt like the characters’ emotions were a bit over the top and repetitive, and wish I got more personality separate from emotion.
Kate Clayborn can do no wrong. I will read anything she writes and it amazes me how she can even get better with each new book. This one was lovely and possibly my favorite of hers to date.
The Other Side of Disappearing is a classic Kate Clayborn- rich characters going through really deep emotions told with humor, wit and care. While I enjoyed this one I struggled to get into it but I think that is just me right now being not into true crime podcasts, or deep seated mother issues or the romance being a side plot.
Jess and Teegan were abandoned by their mother when she ran away with a notions con man that Salem made a famous podcast about. Now 10 years later Salem needs to jump start her career so she gets Jess and Teegan to go on a road trip to find their mother. Oh and there’s a love interest guy, Adam.
This book read like a random road trip where people are just spilling their lives horrible moments for total strangers to react too. The focus on the sisters is good, their mother is a horrible human and somehow Jess and Adam bang. It’s all a bit convoluted - especially Salems role in it all.
Overall, I didn’t hate it or love it.
Jess has spent the last ten years raising her sister, Tegan, after her mother abandoned them. Now, Tegan has brought their entire world crashing down after contacting a podcast host who created a viral podcast on the man their mother left with- a notorious con man. I think this is the most emotional book Kate Clayborn has written and it was unputdownable. The story is told in alternating points of view- Jess and Adam, the producer of the podcaster's shows. Both Jess and Adam are dealing with trauma from their pasts but are drawn together. The story is beautifully told and kept me riveted from beginning to end. Kate Clayborn is an auto-read for me for a good reason.