I feel like maybe this one was right book but wrong time. Not sure what it was but I had a hard time getting into this story. When reading the blurb, I thought the plot sounded really interesting. I loved the whole idea about Jess looking for her mom and the fact that a podcast is involved. The beginning really gets you sucked into the story. But then the middle, kind of lost me, I found it was kinda of boring and hard to really connect with. I did love every single chapter of Adam’s though and I wish there was more of him and his best friend. Not sure if it was Jess that I was having a hard time connecting to or if it was her trying to find her mom. There was just something that I found difficult to continue to read the book. But I do have to say that I did like this story, it was an okay read.

I was so excited to get to read this Kate Clayborn book early, as I'm such a big fan of hers. I felt that this was a little more deeper emotionally than some of her other books, and I thought it all came together well. This book explored sisterhood and the always challenging family dynamics, personal growth and exploration, and had a healing journey as part of the themes. And there's a romance in there, that is sweet with good chemistry, but isn't overt or in your face. Everything here just blends well, with a unique storyline to weave it all together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy pub day @kateclayborn.author and thank you to @netgalley for coming in clutch late last week with this ARC that I power read over the weekend to prep for pub day.

I like having Big Feelings when I read. It’s part of the fun of being a reader, especially romance reader, to maybe have a little cry over poignant moments and the swelling crescendos of a character finding themselves. You don’t get better than Kate for this kind of thing, hands down.

This one is simultaneously fun and angsty, which yeah okay that describes almost everything I’ve read of hers, but here are a few things I personally enjoyed as a long time Serial fan (free Adnan!) and a member of the football cult in mid-Ohio:

The premise of this book is that a Serial-esque podcast that reported on a con man ten years ago wants to revisit the story with a new chapter. Jess’s little sister Tegan contacts the podcast hosts Salem and Adam, to give more info about the con man, Jess and Tegan’s mother’s boyfriend.

This opens every single wound that Jess has fought tooth and nail to keep closed — Jess’s mother ditched her for the con man, leaving her with 8 year old Tegan, alone. Jess, at 21, became Tegan’s mother and protector and does not want to open her soul to make a podcast, even if they do find her erstwhile mother.

Salem is somehow both no nonsense and full of nonsense as she hurtles toward the end of the story of this con man who ghosted her final interview with him ten years ago.

Adam, her co-host, is quiet and thoughtful, a people watcher, all totally hidden behind a former college football player’s build (O-H IYKYK) notoriety, and his own viral scandal after his pro-football playing best friend committed suic!de. He sees Jess’s strength and fragility. He falls in love.

Jess sees Adam’s strength and steadfastness and also falls in love. In many ways Jess and Adam have both disappeared under the weight of their choices. Their road is paved with potholes and missed steps and mistakes, because how does one come back from disappearing? What does it mean to be seen?

The plot is unique, the characters are soft (yes even Salem), quirky, angsty and remarkably three dimensional. Read it.

This was such an emotional story and these characters demanded my attention, even when I was not reading. This story also had many layers. The four main characters are captivating. Jess and Teagan are sisters who must come to terms with their past. Salem and Adam are podcasters chasing a story linked to the sisters. As the four go on hunt for answers they find a lot more questions and they each find some truths about themselves. There is a romance that is slow to build and so very tender. I was brought to tears a few times, experiencing all the feelings along with these characters.

A dual POV. Jess Greene. Adam Hawkins. A runaway mother. Raising a sister all alone. A father worthy of the podcast name, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

This story was heartwarming, charming, and inspirational. This story dives into realistic dysfunctional families and the pain of navigating life, just surviving on your own.

Parts of this book were painful and heavy. Although heartwarming, there were times that weighed on me, reminding me not to romanticize life. One should make the best of their situation, but not look at world through rose colored glass.

Sometimes, the bad is bad and wounding. But the good. Oh, the good is healing and great and reminds why we need light in darkness; but we need the darkness in order to see and properly experience and appreciate the light.

The abandonment of her mother caused a shield, an impenetrable wall to be built between Jess and all those who try to reach her heart. This part I felt with a horrifying clarity, as my own father caused the same effect in me.

Except, our MC slowly lets in Adam. The two go on a journey of self-discovery together. The beautiful story of sisterhood is peppered in with bright poignant points of romance developing between the enigmatic characters.

Adam is gentle and warm and everything that Jess needs. The two heal in beautiful ways and I can actually tell people why this book is blowing up on bookstagram. It certainly was worth the hype. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

I don’t know why I had plans to save this one for closer to the release date (as I write this it’s the first weekend in March) but I did. And instead I had to shatter the “break in case of emergency” glass and dive into my stash of guaranteed slump-busters after a string of disappointments. Though it’s not really that I’m in a slump, I’m just trying to love books again so as to avoid a slump because hooboy, it’s been rough out here.

And I did. Love this. I knew I would. Because it’s Clayborn.

Surprising no one, I cried. A few times. But I’ve come to expect that from this author, who even in her romcoms has achingly tender passages, but I was doubly prepared after seeing her mention this was going to be an angsty ride. And it was. And it was also a departure from her last few reads because of who, and how, Jess was. But to sum up? Complicated. Closed off. Careful. And more.

Adam, too, had his own baggage along for the journey but his overall self was so considerate. Conscientious. And, I’m breaking the alliterative game here, but.. soft.

They were such a complimentary couple even in the earlier interactions where they didn’t quite get on (well, at least, one side of the equation didn’t) but the foundation was still being laid for the later intimacy and understanding of each other. And this is another thing that Clayborn always does so so well.

But just as important, if not more so, were the complex dynamics of the relationship Jess had with her sister and pseudo-daughter, Tegan. It was one of their scenes that had me crying the most — and I especially loved having Adam’s POV as he watched them interact, as he saw them, so well — and it was one of those perfect moments that breaks your heart even as it mends it.

There is a lot of hurt and vulnerability and anger that plays out in how this story unfolds outside of the romance and the whole podcast investigative element was a really interesting setting as it provided both momentum and slower introspective pauses as things are revealed along the way. It also worked as a vehicle to work through some of said emotions.

The whole concept of disappearing had so many layers I didn’t expect, too, and that was so beautifully done.

Everything felt pretty pitch perfect to me, with no one element overriding the others, but at the same time we didn’t have too many things going on at once. So if you’re into stories full of tenderness and vulnerability, with sharp-edged protective female leads and soft giant cinnamon roll protector male leads, and enjoy a podcast element or mystery, and more!, you should absolutely pick this one up.

4.5 stars

BOOK/ARC REVIEW: The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

3 STARS

First, I would like to say that I am a huge Kate Clayborn fan and I love her books so much. But I feel like maybe this one was right book but wrong time. Not sure what it was but I had a hard time getting into this story.

When reading the blurb, I thought the plot sounded really interesting. I loved the whole idea about Jess looking for her mom and the fact that a podcast is involved. The beginning really gets you sucked into the story. But then the middle, kind of lost me, I found it was kinda of boring and hard to really connect with. I did love every single chapter of Adam’s though and I wish there was more of him and his best friend.

Not sure if it was Jess that I was having a hard time connecting to or if it was her trying to find her mom. There was just something that I found difficult to continue to read the book. But I do have to say that I did like this story, it was an okay read. However, I still 100% plan on reading future Kate Clayborn books.

"Tell me you don't remember how it's always felt between you and me."

"I think you love him as yourself, you know? For yourself. I think Hawk is the first person in a long time who could really see you. Even when you tried to hide."

"I don't think I ever forgave myself for those early years of her life. I don't think i ever forgave myself, for even thinking for one second about how maybe I wanted to escape from her for a while."

Kate Clayborn has taken my heart out, ripped it to shreds, and put it back together again in this beautiful story. I think I loved it even more than her last book, Georgie All Along.

This book explores all the ways that we can disappear into the roles we play in life or that are forced upon us. Whether that's mother, partner, guardian, etc. It's how we might lose ourselves along the way. The mistakes we inevitably make and feel guilt over. And that the other side of disappearing in those roles is found through those who love us and see us for our true selves, outside of our roles and responsibilities. It's about the things and people that reflect our real selves when we're not defined by parenting, friend or work.

I absolutely loved the characters and their journey, and Adam has my whole heart. I was surprised to resonate with Salem in the end as well, and her guilt over not being the mother she wants to be - grappling with wanting a career and not enjoying motherhood the way she thought.

These characters were all so complex and real, and the romance was believable and beautiful. This book cemented Kate Clayborn as an auto-buy author for me. Don't miss it.

I think Kate Clayborn is up there with other iconic authors of this generation. To make great romances with loveable and real characters while also having a good grounded story to place them in is no easy feat, but she makes it seem the opposite. This book is filled with depth and love and heartache and I just couldn’t put it down.

4.5 stars

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

I fell in love with Clayborn’s writing when I read Georgie, All Along last year. Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Other Side of Disappearing! It did not disappoint. I love how she depicts emotions and scenarios that make you truly feel like you are there, in the present, with these characters.

I really loved this book. Jess is the primary guardian for her sister after their mother abandoned them 10 years ago. I appreciate sister/sibling relationships when they are written well, and I love how Jess and Teagan’s relationship was displayed. As an eldest sister like Jess, it felt SO real with how she responded and moved through her life. I was so invested in their story and how/if they would find their mom.

Jess and Adam were great MCs, and I truly enjoyed their POVs so much. I love how well they see one another. They’re both so observant and truly understand how to interact with each other where the other feels comfortable. Watching their relationship grow during the book, especially on the farm, was so sweet. And the epilogue! So so sweet.

CW: abandonment, sexual content, mental illness, suicide, death

Thank you so much, Kensington, for the ARC. Giving this 4.5 stars, but rounding up!

This book. It has such complex layers to the story and characters. It is deeply thoughtful, and just so beautifully written.

Yes this book is a romance. But I think more than that, it’s about a woman’s (Jess) journey with finding herself again. Jess has been the sole caretaker of her half sister ever since their mother abandoned them. Their mother’s disappearance was so controversial that Jess felt the need to control every aspect of her and Teagan’s (her sister) life to protect them both. Teagan had other plans though; she wants to find their mom. And she does just that, when the hosts, Adam and Salem, of a very popular true crime podcast show up at their door. Feeling like she’s left with no other choice, Jess decides to join them all. Together, they make their way across the country, unraveling 0ld mysteries and finding new discoveries, too. In a whirlwind of emotions, Jess finds herself with an unexpected ally in Adam, feeling a connection she didn’t even realize she was missing.

Kate has done it again. I really don’t know how, but she has. I love when a book just leaves me staring at the ceiling, feeling all the feels. I will be thinking of this one for a long time.


CW: parental abandonment, death of a friend (past)

4.5 stars rounded up.

I really enjoyed Georgie, All Along and was looking forward to reading The Other Side of Disappearing.
Like Georgie, TOSOD is another tender love story that I couldn't get enough of. This one was a bit slower but I think it added so much to how the story unfolded and I ended up really enjoying the pace.
The mix of romance and mystery was done really well, I don't think one part of the story lacked because of the other, and I really enjoyed both aspects of the novel.

DNF at 45%…this book is way too slow paced. I found the instalove to be too much. The FMC is way too closed off and her inner monologue is too much and we don’t really see her relationships with others. The MMC is overly aware of the FMC’s sensitiveness but they don’t even know each other and barely talk. Unfortunately this didn’t work for me.

I have read several Kate Clayborn books, but this one has been my favorite so far. The way Clayborn digs into the mental gymnastics a person would have to go through to take on the care of a younger sibling when the parents dip was pretty phenomenal. If you are a fan of the "He falls first...and HARD" trope, then this is a story for you. There were so many lines that I highlighted just because they were a beautiful turn of phrase, in service to a larger story. Just a really wonderful, emotional love story....between siblings, among friends, and about the people who see those they adore as their true selves.

Ugh. My emotions. my EMOTIONS! This is billed as contemporary romance (and the romance is SO good) but it's really a story about discovering who you are, healing from trauma, and creating a family. This book sings to my Midwest USA heart and I can't say enough good things about it.

I'll start with why it's not a 5 star- because I really dislike the ungrateful younger sibling trope. Call it the oldest child syndrome in me. When a character has given up so much of themselves to take care of their sibling and that sibling actively tries to blow up said life, because of entitlement or even their own trauma, I get so mad. So Teagan was difficult for me to deal with for the first half of the book. However, she had her own character arc that I appreciated because the entire book wasn't just "Teagan gets what she wants."

I wasn't sure about the plot at first because I don't love the podcast trend, but I ended up loving it. It was a great vehicle for this story because there was plot, but the plot served to help the characters all grow. And those characters. Wow. Even Salem, really a secondary character, was so complex and nuanced.

Adam and Jess, though? They took the cake. Adam really, really pulled at my heartstrings, not just because I love a gentle giant, but because as a football fan and Midwest gal, the conversation about mental health and toxic masculinity in football culture (especially rural areas, where that's your LIFE) is a big deal. His careful handling of Jess's feelings and his POV were so heartwarming, and I loved every minute. He falls first, he falls hard, and he falls with purpose.

Jess was her own box of trauma, but I appreciated everything she did for her sister despite being a mess herself. Seeing her personality start to shine under Adam's careful handling was beautiful, and the way Clayborn expressed Jess's struggles and how she bloomed despite them was really subtle.

I loved their journey, I loved the characters, and I love Clayborn's style. This is more general fiction than romance to me, but I hugely enjoyed it all the same.

Retail reviews live now

Jess Greene is just trying to get her sister, Tegan, to college. Abandoned by their mother 10 years ago, Jess has done everything to control her and Tegan's life. She is obsessive about not appearing online, or on social media. She keeps her friend's list to zero and her work acquaintances know almost nothing about her. That is until two podcasters show up on her doorstep to see how her mother may be connected to an infamous con man. It turns out that careful control of her life was to avoid being connected to a decade-old Serial-esque podcast that traced the man's crimes.

This meeting kicks off an epic road trip to follow the last known locations of her mom and the con. As she travels across the country, she gets closer to one of the podcasters, Adam Hawkins, who has plenty of his own fears. Is Jess ready to slowly lower the walls she's so carefully built for the first man she's felt safe with in years?

It's hard to describe The Other Side of Disappearing. It's classified as a love story, which it is, but it's just as much a mystery. Jess and Adam fall in love as they unravel the mystery of where her mom went and why she left. Clayborn paces the book expertly, with an underlying tension, but not overwhelming anxiety. You desperately want Jess and Teagan to find their mom, but maybe you don't? At least not until the sisters grapple with what it might mean for a mom to voluntarily disappear for a decade. You desperately want Jess and Adam to work, but maybe you don't? At least not until Jess addresses her own trauma.

I loved Georgie, All Along, and this book incorporates a lot of the same things that I loved about it. It hurts, for sure, but it does have a HEA. Jess is grappling with big life changes and crises, but she works through them.

* Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

I have always really loved Clayborn’s novels. This one is not much romance and is more fiction with a mystery element or an investigation and a tiny hint of romance that comes out later in the story, but it is eventually there.

I feel like while I enjoyed this and rated it 5-stars, I liked it as something outside of or removed from the romance genre. Jess and Tegan’s sister bond and finding out about what happened to their mother and the podcaster Salem featured so much more than Adam (“Hawk” Hawkins) and Jess’s relationship ever did.

Salem created a podcast many years earlier about a con man, Lynton Baltimore, who had disappeared into thin air. He was supposed to show up after being released from prison to appear on her show, but he never showed again. She decided to re-open the case again, and after underage Tegan contacted her posing as Jess, finding postcards their mother had sent after she ran off with him, the four (Salem, her coworker Adam, Jess and Tegan), set off on the trail of the postcards to find out what they can about the duo - where they went, who they crossed paths with, what further cons they pulled, and where they landed. Are they still alive more than a decade later? Why did they cut all ties?

It was a tale that pulled at all of the heartstrings with the sister bond that was very tenuous but grew through the journey, and the dicey situations they found themselves in as they followed the leads around the country but they all grew closer - with the blossoming romance between Jess and Adam.

I definitely recommend it, but don’t go in expecting a typical Clayborn romance, because it definitely is not!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Kensington Books, and this is my honest feedback.

A story on the surface about a true crime podcast and road trip to uncover the mystery of a con man and a missing mother. But also about being our authentic selves and being brave enough to share that with our families and people we love. It’s a story about the roles we play and how those are just facets of our personality, not the whole. Beautifully and realistically crafted characters who have flaws and grow just like the rest of us.

A story about how we hide or lose parts of ourselves sometimes as we live our lives and how that lost or hidden part impacts us and those around us. It is about being vulnerable to someone else and learning to trust.

There was a theme of the challenges mother’s/caretakers face in this story. In Salem, we see someone who is so professionally driven, but still has to face that compromise of career, spouse, parent. In Jess, we see a caretaker who had to take on the role so young and lost some of the closeness and friendship sisters share in having to be a “parent”. And we learn more about Jess and Tegan’s mom as the story unfolds.

In Adam, we meet someone who is working to be bigger than the role other’s cast him in. He is such a gentle giant, who is amazing at caring for and taking care of those around him. He is also struggling with wanting to accomplish a dream, but making sure he is true to himself and doesn’t hurt others in his quest to achieve it.

I really love Kate’s books and her writing and this one was so good!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a chance to read this!

I think this is my second favorite Kate Clayborn! I loved Adam and Jess’s connection, and I’m such a sucker for a “feelings at first sight” trope. I also loved how Jess and Tegan had a found family at the end.

Kate, how do you do it? How do you continuously put me through the ringer and make me thank you for the privilege? How do you write women I want to be and men I want to be with time and time again?

Jess and Hawk's (Adam) slow burn from kind of enemies (as one sided as it was) to kind of friends to actual lovers made me yell just kiss already and then cheer when it happened. I loved Hawk's ability to take care of Jess and even though Jess fought against it, he persisted. The dynamic between Jess and her little sister Teagan was at the same time heart wrenching and beautiful.

I questioned the road trip setting at first but as the story unfolded, it made perfect sense and I was happy to be along for the ride (no pun intended).

Kate long ago became a favorite author of mine but her last two books have cemented themselves in my brain as some of my favorites of all time.

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing for blessing me with an early copy. I'm forever grateful.