The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn
Stars:4.5
Rating: PG-13

Perfect if you like:
Cinnamon Roll Heros
Mysteries with your romance
Road trips
Only Murders in the Building


You know how I know 2024 is going to be good? I was lucky enough (see what I did there) to get my hands on the ARC for Kate Clayborn’s newest book, coming out next month. I have devoured her books after I found Beginner’s Luck so many years ago. Like I did with Georgie, All the Way, I read this book slowly, savoring all the looks, emotions, unspoken words, and touches between our two main characters, Adam and Jess.

Jess has been raising her sister, Tegan, since their mother left them ten years ago, when Jess was 21 and Tegan just 8. And that entire time, Jess has been worried that someone would figure out that their mother ran off with a con man, Lynton Baltimore, made famous in one of the seminal true crime podcasts. In the summer before Tegan leaves for college, those fears come true, as podcaster Salem Durant (I was picturing Tina Fey as Cinda Channing the whole time) and her producer, Adam Hawkins, show up at Jess’s door, ready to embark on a road trip to find out what happen to Baltimore in the ten years since he disappeared.. Off the foursome go across the country in a minivan, forced proximity and all. Along the way, Jess and Adam, two people who have endured more than their fair share of trauma, will find each other (because duh, this is a romance).

There is a song by The Chicks, Easy Silence, who's chorus contains the line “And the way you keep the world at bay for me.” When Adam and Jess meet, I feel like Adam just immediately exudes that for Jess, whether or not she wants it. And by creating that space for peace, he provides the truest expression of love.

In this new work, Clayborn is masterful in adding a mystery element to her story, giving the reader both a good romance along with a bit of a puzzle. And not one that is just an afterthought; the discovery at the heart of this book is essential to the growth of all the characters. If Kate Clayborn wants to start writing detective stories with a sassy PI heroine who has a will-they-won’t-they relationship with a grumpy cop, I would be the first person in line for that book.

The best compliment I can give Kate Clayborn's latest novel is that it reminded me of the insanely talented Joshilyn Jackson, who wrote about troubled women facing a crossroads in their lives, usually involving mothers and/or daughters, and often with an understated romance. Unfortunately Jackson has joined the ranks of authors who have gone over to the Dark Side (suspense/thrillers) but The Almost Sisters and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty were both 5-heart reads for me.

The Other Side of Disappearing walks a fine line between contemporary romance and women's fiction. Jess Greene is a hairstylist in her early 30s who has served as de facto parent to her much younger half-sister, Tegan, ever since their mother disappeared ten years ago. Jess' entire life has revolved around providing a stable environment for Tegan, and she is emotionally closed off to other people and her own feelings. Jess knows that their mother met, was charmed by, and ran away with notorious con man Lynton Baltimore, but she has kept the truth a secret from her sister. Tegan is now 18, and unbeknownst to Jess, she has been communicating with a podcast host who recently profiled Baltimore. She's figured out the link between Baltimore and her mother, and she wants answers.

When the podcast host Salem Durant and her assistant Adam Hawkins show up at their door, Jess is furious at Tegan for potentially bringing public attention to their private shame. But Tegan is determined to track down their mother, using the few postcards she sent Jess as clues. Jess has no choice but to join the road trip so she can watch over Tegan. She has nothing but disdain for Salem and Adam, which is unfortunate because Adam is pretty much a goner from the first time he sees her.

Clayborn is trying to do a lot here, and sometimes the book feels a little stuffed. The relationship between Jess and Tegan is beautifully crafted, as Jess learns that she can't protect her little sister from the world and Tegan realizes how much Jess has given up for her. The search for their mother is less a careful unfolding of clues than a few discrete encounters with people who interacted with her in the past ten years. But the climax of that plot fully engages all of the emotions, and packs a strong punch.

Then we have Adam, giant cinnamon roll and former football player, who aspires to host his own podcast about his best friend who died by suicide when his mental health issues were ignored and belittled by the football community. He is basically perfect - caring, family-oriented, communicative, patient, and sexy. He does have a Big Secret but the reveal doesn't go quite the way you would predict. It strains credulity a bit that Adam and Jess feel so strongly about each other after only two weeks, but given everything else that is going on, there isn't room in the story for casual dating scenes. And I'm glad that Jess and Tegan both spend some time in therapy before the HEA to address multiple issues that have been suppressed for several decades.

This is definitely a change for Clayborn, and some readers may miss the lighter tone of her earlier novels. But I'm thrilled that she is moving into more complex emotional territory, and hope she can fill the Joshilyn Jackson-sized hole in my heart.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

I love Kate Clayborn and this book did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down.

I don’t know how she writes such closed off characters so compellingly, then slowly opens them up so realistically. But she is so so good at it. This story is tender and thoughtful, treating complicated issues with care and consideration while sucking you into an entirely believable, lovely, perfectly imperfect romance.

I requested an ARC (advance review copy) because my friend @hillarycopsey recommended it, and her assessment was spot on: this addresses sports/football culture (but it’s not about sports or football) and motherhood (but it’s not reeeeeally about motherhood) and so many poignant things, with a romance that feels real and just right.

Out March 24, don’t miss this one. Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC! @kateclayborn.author you’ve done it again. Thank you for bringing us into the worlds you build.

4.5 stars

Kate Clayborn writes the most tender and quietly beautiful novels. This one is a slower build, which might be a turn off for some readers, but I think the story needed to unfold the way that it did to give readers time to process, grieve, heal, and hope right alongside our characters. The Other Side of Disappearing was a mix of romance and mystery and as much as I enjoyed both plot lines, I also think that may have divided my attention a bit too much. The novel definitely falls more into women's fiction for me since it's the non-romantic relationships that truly make this story.

Jess had such a complicated relationship with herself and her sister, Tegan. There's never a doubt that these two love each other, but my heart broke for them as their pasts were revealed and that they never had the chance to just be sisters. I could definitely understand both of their actions and the fears that held them back. Jess and Tegan had such satisfying character arcs and I loved how their relationship shifted and how each of them grew through the novel.

The romance started with some instalove, but it worked for me because it ended up being such a slow burn between Jess and Adam. I absolutely LOVE Levi from Georgie, All Along, but wow did Kate Clayborn raise the bar again with Adam. His love was so gentle and pure. He truly saw and understood Jess. I swooned so many times from all the ways they both tried to protect and shelter the other. They both have, in one way or another, made themselves small or hidden their true selves away and I just loved it so much that when they were together they could just be Jess and Adam - messy and perfectly imperfect. Their intimate scenes were sensual and romantic, without being overly descriptive, which made them so much more impactful. The epilogue left my heart so full and Kate Clayborn is truly one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see where she takes readers next!

CW: parental abandonment, bipolar, grief, death of loved one (past, implied suicide), mental health struggles, sports related injuries, con artist/theft & deception

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I really enjoyed The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn. Her writing is so beautiful and it made the story good and easy to read. I enjoyed following Jess and Tegan while they try to track down their mother. Salem and Adam are interesting characters that really build on the story.

Adam and Jess’s journey to find the truth about the mother who left her two sister behind ten years ago is also the journey to their souls and hearts. Salem, the journalist that made the podcast about a famous con man and Tegan, Jess’s younger sister and the one Jess took care when they mother disappeared, are going to discover some truths about themselves too. A journey to forgiveness, self discovery, close soul wounds and face the future with hope and love again. A really great story from a great writer, Kate Clayborn at her best.

I know that Kate Clayborn writes stories that are more than just romance. She writes with a heart and understanding of people and tough situations that almost mesmerize me. I sometimes start her books thinking it will be a smidge too much, but they never ever are and they always stick in my heart for weeks after reading.

I did not know what The Other Side of Disappearing was about. But I knew that it would be good and I needed it. It was exactly that. I fell right into this story of the search for the con man behind Teegan and Jess's mother's disappearance. She just left one day with not word and left Jess to raise Teegan. So when Teegan finds a podcaster/journalist looking into her disappearance and the man she was with, she jumps and the opportunity to find more.

Teegan starts the ball rolling but the story of Jess and Adam is addicting and sweet and so good. She's grumpy. He falls first. They are the best kind of love story and I will be thinking about them for ages.

I stan Kate Clayborn I’ve read every single book of hers and they have all been top romances for me so my anticipation was palpable. Unfortunately, this is probably my least favourite of her books and it pains me to even say that. Well I appreciated her changing up things with a pod cast, familial mystery and a romance it felt far to ambitious and I didn’t particularly care about any of it, it didn’t go deep the way she normally does and I found myself craving more. I will continue to read whatever Kate writes she remains a favourite.

This is my second book I've read by Kate Clayborn and I can not express how much I connected with this story and these characters. I know that this book counts as a romance novel, but it is also so much more than that. It's a deep look into families, the events in our lives that shape and mold who we are, how the past affects us, the bonds of sisters, the journey of self discovery. There's even a few twists along the way.
Clayborn has ability to write characters with such depth. There's rational for why the characters behave the way they do, and there's an understanding of why the characters make the decisions they have made in life (even if the reader doesn't agree with those decisions.
Also, ADAM AND JESS. I just adore them both.
A must read. I can't wait to see what come next from this author.
A HUGE thank you to netgalley, Kensington books, and of course Kate Clayborn for this story and for allowing me to review this work.

See more on my instagram - @bookish_starry_skies

There is so much goodness in this beautifully written book. I loved that it was very distinctive from other romances. I greatly enjoyed that it was one of my favorites - a road trip romance. I loved how complicated, fragile, but strong at the same time were the main characters, I loved the tension, the feeling that someone is going to crack at any given moment. Sometimes, while reading, I'd feel a faint Emily Henry vibe, but I'm not sure, if it's a praise to Kate Clayborn, or rather the praise to Emily Henry herself. And though I'm not a fan of love at the first sight, still it was depicted very well. I think I would've loved this book even more if I weren't in my fantasy reading stage.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

Folks, Kate Clayborn is back! I loved Love Lettering and Love at First but I was not a fan of Georgie, All Along, Kate Clayborn’s most recent book. The Other Side of Disappearing is a true return to form.
This book tells the story of Jess and Teegan, two sisters, searching for the mother that abandoned them. They embark upon a journey with two podcasters, Salem and Adam, to unwind the mystery of the scammer who disappeared with their mother. A very interesting story unfolds, accompanied by an absolutely beautiful love story between Jess and Adam.
This book is so well-written, unique and heartfelt. I appreciated that there was a real meaty story that added to the romance.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me feelings...no, it gave me caps lock FEELINGS. Clayborn writes with such care, she brings us impossibly close to her complex characters. I loved this beautiful book so much.
PS Adam is my new book boyfriend.

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

Let me just say, wow.

Growing up, I loved Sarah Dessen. From the age of 12, I wrapped myself up in her environments, her dynamics, her characters, and her love stories. In my adulthood, I think Kate Clayborn is one of the closest authors I’ve ever found that feels like writes stories for the Sarah Dessen girls who grew up.

(That made more sense in my head.)

Since discovering Kate last year, I have read all of her books. I have loved all of her books. I love her character dynamics, her world-building, her romance. But Georgie, All Along and now The Other Side of Disappearing both feel like a turn for her - more dynamic/character/story-driven. Deeper.

I loved the Luck trilogy so much, but these last two novels have truly won me over.

I loved the relationship between Jess and Tegan - it was so soft. I loved Adam and his gentle protectiveness much. I love that this story really leaned into the mystery so much as well - it had my jaw dropping at certain points!

I teared up several times, smiled like a loser several times, and genuinely cannot wait to reread it when it has its proper release in a few months.

Thank you again, so much, for the opportunity to read this book early.

(And I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to be fan-casting Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce as Jess and Adam here but. Oops!)

The Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2024

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn
Release Date: March 26 from Kensington Books

I love watching an author challenge themselves, which is exactly what Kate Clayborn is doing with her latest romance—or rather, it’s a true-crime-inspired road-trip story about sisters joining up with podcast producers to track down their long-disappeared mother and the infamous con artist she ran away with. But hairstylist Jess Greene and her half-sister Tegan struggle to push past their shared scars of familial trauma enough to actually talk about their mom, let alone trust podcast host Salem Durant and her kindhearted producer Adam Hawkins enough to let them document this fraught family reunion.

And that’s where Clayborn weaves in her signature love story, with flesh-and-blood characters whose respective baggage is not merely convenient to the plot, but which actually gives them relatable desires (beyond kissing each other) and realistic obstacles to being together.

This didn’t work for me. The fmc was too stuck, too damaged and too focused on remaining still. I didn’t entirely buy the plot

This was super compelling! I loved the mystery at the heart of it all, and the sibling relationship of Jess and Tegan. Plus the romance!! Very much enjoyed!

3.5 ⭐️ A heartfelt book filled with a roadtrip of a lifetime, a true-crime podcast, and a sexy pancake-loving man!

Read if you like:
• exploration of grief and family trauma
• former goth FMC and her all-black fits
• dual POV

Avoid if you don’t like:
• love at first sight


Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-ARC!

The Other Side of Disappearing is a little mystery with a lot of romance and heart (and steam, thank you very much). The entire cast of characters comes into his story a bit broken, searching for various answers, and it all coalesces around one question: where is Lynton Baltimore a con man who disappeared a decade earlier? Salem Durant, a podcaster with a popular show about the conman that ended with him ghosting her final interview, wants to see this mystery through to the end. Adam, her assistant, wants to learn the tricks of the podcasting trade. Jess and Tegan have a more personal interest - they want to know where their mother, Charlotte, has been in the years since she ran off with the conman. With only five postcards to serve as breadcrumbs along her trail, the four set off on a road trip to retrace Charlotte's steps.

I'm not a huge fan of podcasts, true crime, or mystery, so to me this was all plot to give the story a structure, but at each new discovery, there was an emotional significance that impacted the characters, made them explore more of their past traumas and built an ever stronger connection between them, creating a kind of found family despite their different, sometimes conflicting motivations. The magic in all this was how powerfully it served the development of an unlikely romance into a real heartfelt bond between a couple of people who went from strangers to lifelines in a short time, through shared grief and proximity. The backdrop also worked really well for bringing out an emotional catharsis between the two sisters who have been forced to live like mother-daughter since they were abandoned. This dynamic was fascinating, as Jess tries to understand exactly how much of her parenting echoes that of her own failure of a mother. There's just a lot to unpack, and every emotional beat reverberates with so much skill.

As always, Kate Clayborn's prose is beautiful, compelling, and heartfelt. All the stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for *Georgie, All Along* was one of my favorite books of 2023, so I was super excited to read Kate Clayborn’s latest release, *The Other Side of Disappearing*. Swipe to read my review!

Aside from Clayborn’s classically stunning prose, there are so many strong aspects of this novel. The chapters alternate between Adam and Jess’s POVs, and perfectly demonstrate how opposites attract. Jess has spent the past 10 years protecting her sister and has become extremely guarded herself. Adam made a late career change with the intention of becoming an investigative journalist to explore how toxic football culture lead to the death of his best friend. In many ways, they are complete opposites, but they don’t just fall for one another. They completely unravel. While their connection felt genuine, they come together very quickly, giving it insta-love feels.

Although this was a romance novel, the relationship dynamic that truly shined in this story was the relationship between Jess and her sister, Tegan. Due to Jess having to raise her sister at a young age, the line between parent and sibling was blurred, and this was painstakingly demonstrated in Jess’s narration and her interactions with Tegan.

I also really enjoyed the podcast transcripts between chapters. These chapters were super short, and I would have liked a little more from them!

Kate Clayborn has done it again. In The Other Side of Disappearing, two sisters face down their mother’s reckless legacy to forge a future together – and find love outside of their bond. As always, Clayborne writes great, heart-tugging romance, with a solid side of family feelings.

Jess Greene has dedicated herself to a quiet, simple life – with good reason. Her mother, Charlotte, disappeared with an infamous con man named Lynton Baltimore – whom she introduced to her daughters by his assumed alias, Miles Daniels – ten years ago, leaving Jess to raise her half-sister Teagan between hairdressing appointments.

Behind Jess’ back, a barely-eighteen Teagan contacts Salem Durant – hostess of the The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore podcast, who has a past with the man all her own. Salem has been recounting all of Lynton’s crimes before disappearing into the ether alongside co-host Adam ‘The Hawk’ Hawkins. Having listened to the podcast, Tegan says she realizes she knows Salem and Adam know where Charlotte is. The plan? Teagan wants to team up with them to find their mom.

Jess can’t let Teagan leap into this alone, and thus volunteers to go with her. The foursome embark on a road trip, which provides a growing lesson for Teagan, and a lesson in letting go – and finding joy for herself – for Jess, who begins find romance with Adam. But where is Charlotte?

The Other Side of Disappearing takes its time answering that question, all the while building a compelling mystery around Lynton and Charlotte’s disappearance. But along the way we come to love Tegan, Jess, Adam and Salem. We want Jess to get a life outside of dutiful dawdling on the straight and narrow, Teagan to grow up safely, and Salem to move beyond her dogged pursuit of Lynton - and for Adam to find a world outside of the investigation. This is a mystery, a road trip, and a story about healing. In every aspect it exells.

The romance is great, too – even the fourth act break-up makes sense for who Jess is as a character. And it packs Claybourn’s usual sassy, spirited punch as well.

Every little bit of this journey is a fascinating mystery, a warm romance and a wonderful family saga – found and not. My standards for Kate Clayborn novels are very high, yet she manages to surpass them here. The Other Side of Disappearing is very highly recommended.