I just could not get myself to invest in this. The characters were interesting but left room to be desired. I’m also not sold on the premise but that is a me thing.

4.5 stars rounded up!

The Other Side of Disappearing is Kate Clayborn’s latest novel, and it’s more than a romance. It’s a heartfelt story about sisters, how families can break our hearts, and how sometimes it’s okay to be vulnerable.

Clayborn experiments a bit with this one, blending romance and mystery, and I think she has done it beautifully.

We meet Jess who has been raising her younger sister Tegan for the past ten years. Ever since their mother left town with her latest boyfriend and disappeared, only sending postcards occasionally from varying locations. Postcards that Jess has kept hidden from Tegan, along with the knowledge that said boyfriend is also a con-man made famous in a podcast that riveted the nation several years ago.

But Tegan has her own secrets from Jess—the fact that she has pieced together parts of this puzzle and plans to spend the summer before she leaves for college traveling with Salem, the host of the podcast, and Adam, Salem’s producer, as they search for the truth about their mother and this con-man using the postcards as clues. When Jess accidentally discovers Tegan’s plans, she insists on going along in an attempt to continue to shield Tegan as best as she can.

But Jess is rattled when sparks fly between her and Adam, and Clayborn gives us both of their alternating points of view, which only enhances the intensity of their growing attraction. At first I was afraid Adam’s feelings were too instant for me, but he won me over quickly with his selflessness and soft heart. He has his own demons to deal with, too. By the end of the book, Adam could do no wrong in my eyes.

On the other hand, Jess is a character who is real and flawed, which always makes a story more powerful for me. Even if I didn’t agree with some of her actions, I understood them, wanting only happiness for her. And Tegan and Adam.

I didn’t want to set this one down, riveted by the romance, the mystery, and the emotional gravity of the circumstances Jess has found herself in. And bonus! It’s a road trip book, which is one of my favorite tropes. Clayborn is a must-read author for me. Be sure and pencil The Other Side of Disappearing in for your spring or summer TBRs!

What a gorgeous story. The characters felt so real, more so than most books I’ve read in the past few years. Beautifully written and captivating.

I'm officially on the Kate Clayborn train. Anything she writes, I want to consume it as fast as possible. The Other Side of Disappearing was heartbreaking, real, sweet, something to be treasured. I honestly can't say enough nice things about it. This book made me smile from ear to ear, while simultaneously, made my heart ache for the sisters. Give me more.

Guys. I’m giving it bloody five stars. The storytelling and characters were great but the vibes I got while reading this book were indescribable. But I’ll give it a crack, seeing as that’s the whole point of writing a review.

I had this aching feeling in my chest the whole time I read this book. My mouth was watering over the angst. I fell in love with these two young women so much that all I wanted to do was take away their hurt and make sure they were ok. I loved the way Adam was so observant of Jess and could tell what she wanted, and gave her the space and protection she needed.

The mystery had me dangling along, trying to work out what happened, but it wasn’t really about that. It was about these two sisters who had been through so much and how they found a way to move forward with each other and for themselves.

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book.

Genre: Romance/general/mystery
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Tropes: true crime podcast, con artist, where’d mum go, intensely looking at each other but pretending like we’re unfazed by anything that’s happening, older sister becomes the mum when she leaves
Spice: 🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

God this book was BEAUTIFUL. Kate Clayborn writes so well and it was such a complicated story with messy characters that really grow. I just loved it.

Kate Clayborn, I’d follow you to the other side of anywhere!

The Other Side of Disappearing is a bit of a departure from Kate Clayborne’s typical romance. Because, not only is there a romance, but there’s a mystery, a family drama, and some dealing with trauma, stuff too.

I ripped through this book in two days and kept trying to slow myself down, knowing I would miss these characters when it was over. And I do.

What happens on the other side of disappearing? It’s where we learn to let go of trauma, build our chosen family, and discover ourselves anew.

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

Thank you to @kensingtonpress and @netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will read literally anything Kate Clayborn writes. Really, send me her grocery list and I’m gone. Everything she writes is so beautiful with such developed characters with such complex personalities. I adore her. I adore this.

3.3/5

This felt like a grittier/darker take for Kate. She has written (until Georgie) such light, sort of quirky girls. Georgie I loved because she was the first time a FMC felt real and I loved that book so much. This was also a real adult - Jess is in her 30s and has been raising her 17 year old sister for a decade after her mom walked out and disappeared. She has been holding it all together in a tight vice of control and with a small world she'll allow near them. Then her sister invites in a podcast crew, with former football star Adam Hawkins (who is I think Travis Kelce fanfic). The podcast story didn't really do it for me? Jess being bottled up got old after a while. The love story really just fell apart after the farm. I'm so sad about this! I was really looking forward to it. I guess I need more Georgie and Levi.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book are a lot heavier than I thought it would be, which was great! But also hard. It deals with a lot of trauma and difficult topics, and the romance is really sweet. I like both, but I’m not sure I was in the headspace for something quite this heavy. Beautifully told story, though!!

This book solidified the fact that I must read more Kate Clayborn! After enjoying Georgie, All Along last year, I was excited to see another new release from Clayborn this year. This one felt different in tone. It delves into the mysterious disappearance of a mother, so it feels heavier rather than funny. But Jess and Adam were such real characters that I found easy to root for, and the storyline involving the podcast that brought them together felt really fresh to me. I really enjoyed it!

I loved this story but found it unexpectedly heavy and bleak at times. Clayborn is a favorite of mine and hope to read more in the future.

This was totally different than Kate’s other books. I really liked the premise of this one and was intrigued by the mystery they’re trying to solve - where did Jess and Tegan’s mom go and why did she abandon them with a con man.

The start was promising and I liked the instant chemistry between Adam and Jess. The story got a bit long in some parts with Jess so melancholy in her head about everything. I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened to their mother and a bit let down by the ending.

Overall a good but not great mystery romance combo.

Read for:
🫥 Missing Woman
🚘 Forced Proximity
🛜 True Crime Podcast
🧨 Insta-love
🧁 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🟰 Dual POV

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/ 5
Spice Level: 🌶️/ 5

“Tell me you don’t remember.”

This! The entire concept of this book made for a good time. An investigation + a podcast + a “very complicated but damn” kind of romance + tricky family dynamics = my joy. It’s got some You, With a View vibes with the road trip and investigation (albeit a darker one) and Indigo Ridge, with that more ominous feel and protective romance. I ate it up.

Things I loved:
- The writing - I’ve only read one other book by Kate (Georgie, All Along), and I really enjoyed the style there as well. She has a way of bringing you completely into her world.
- Jess and Tegan as individuals as well as their relationship as sisters - So realistic, relatable, and raw
- Dual POV! This was absolutely necessary and appreciated so that we could fully understand the feelings and hesitations of both main characters. They were each complex with difficult pasts, and it was really great getting to know them individually.
- Adam - He’s also in my “struggle” section but let’s be honest, this man is wonderful. The patience, the protectiveness, the pining (oh, the pining!), and his adorable pink ears. Flaw. Less.
- The romance - It took me a minute, but damn. Talk about safety and respect mixed with sweet and spicy. Give me more trampolines, flower fields, and hallways.
- The men and mental health conversations! Yes, please.
- The incorporation of podcast snippets at the beginning of chapters - As a fan of such podcasts, this added a fun and intriguing element to the story.

Things I struggled with:
- The insta-lust: This can be hit or miss with me, and in this case it wasn’t a miss, per se, it just made it more difficult for me to fully engage in the first third of the story. I don’t know that I fully believed how we went from 0 to 1,000 on one person’s behalf so quickly and so intensely.
- The perfection of Adam: Was Adam a dream book boyfriend? 1,000,000% yes. He made me “aw” and swoon, said all the right things, did all the right things, even thought all the right things. He was truly and utterly perfect. And while I can absolutely get lost in that fantasy, it was hard to believe, at times, that someone could be that perfect.

Favorite Quotes:
- “Even the little pieces you find sometimes end up being worth something.”
- “I don’t want to know you for the story. I want to know you for myself.”
- “I came out of retirement for you.” 👏🏼
- “Make me say your name a hundred times tonight, I’m thinking. I’ll introduce you to the stars.”

** Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it did not disappoint! Kate Clayborn is one of my favorite authors. Her books are full of so much emotional depth, and the love stories she writes are all the more beautiful for it.

The Other Side of Disappearing blends romance with a bit of mystery as Jess gets pulled into a podcast host's search for her missing mother, and the notorious con man she ran away with ten years ago. Jess has spent her life protecting her sister Teagan from their mother's abandonment and has lost herself in the process. Adam, the podcast producer, is the kind of leading man Clayborn writes so well, quiet, protective, and fiercely loyal. This is a romance with a heavy emotional load, but I loved every minute of it.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve been sitting on this one, unsure of how to write a review that can do justice to how this book made me feel. The characters are not perfect. They’re flawed and real and make mistakes that I want to yell at them for, but you’ll love them anyway.

The romance between Jess and Adam is really, really lovely - it feels fast and like a slow burn at the same time. They’re at odds, and then they’re friends, and then they’re more - and each transition feels natural and perfect for them. I loved them together. Their differences were complementary.

But Kate Clayborn is a master at writing books that combine a lovely romance with so much more. Jess and her sister Tegan joining a podcast’s search for the mother that abandoned them? It’s the setup for a book fraught with tension and awkward moments, for dredging up sad memories, and most importantly, for growth. The way the dynamics between the characters change as the story progresses is just really well done. Aside from Adam’s insta-crush on Jess, nothing is rushed or easy. Every beautifully emotional moment is earned.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

Once again, Kate Clayborne has written a book that I found hard to put down. Jess has been raising her half sister Teagan since their mother left years ago but now Teagan has found out who her brother ran away with and contacted a podcast which is trying to discover where this man is because he’s an assumed car con artist. Just find herself also, looking for her mother in order to have some control as this podcast searches for both her mother and Linton.

It’s really interesting to see how Jess has to deal with her past while also dealing with the fact that her sister wants to move on and not be so reliant on her just also needs to deal with the feelings that her mother left her with when she left. Jess is also dealing with her attraction to Adam, who is a producer of the podcast. I love how the romance and the plot blend seamlessly to create a story that draws you in from start to finish.

Such a delightful book!! Kate Clayborn knows how to write a book. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the pacing, everything about this book was awesome

Jess has always kept her life - and her sister, Tegan's - very private. She's raised her sister ever since their mom walked out with a con man, and she's done a darn good, job of keeping her safe. But when Tegan decides she wants answers about their mom, Jess finds herself and her sister on an unexpected road trip with a podcaster and an ex-football star-turned-producer. Adam may the person to break down Jess' defenses, if that's even possible anymore.

I first encountered Kate Clayborne last year when I read Georgie, All Along, which I adored. So when I saw she had a new novel coming out, it was immediately on my list.
You guys. She managed to write a love story, featuring true crime (not murder) and podcasts and complicated family relationships - all things I love in a book. I love the unique premise of this book and the way Clayborne always adds depth to the typical romance novel.
If you like romance but also crave some depth, some familial drama/bonds, etc, then this is one you should for sure pick up.

I love Kate Clayborn and I really loved this book. She has a way of writing characters that make them so believable and like people you could meet in real life. I wanted to hang out with them and keep reading more about them.