I think this is Clayborn's best so far. This is a solid and believable romance -- yes, things happen fast, but it you can see the characters' motivations and impulses, so it all feels real -- that also considers the way our culture deals with motherhood, sports, and trauma. I was thoroughly taken into the story and, honestly, would have understood if we didn't get the HEA. Of course we do, because it's a romance. But if we hadn't, I would have been satisfied as a reader -- if a little sad for the characters -- because that ending would make sense, too. The characters still would have experienced growth. The story still would feel right.

Also, as a former journalist, journalism in books generally makes me cringe. I liked the way it's portrayed here, mostly thanks to a self-aware rant from Salem on the way podcasting has changed journalism.

This was my first book of Kate's, and I really enjoyed the storyline. There's mystery, sisterhood, romance, and the modern use of a podcast to tie the story together. I liked the dynamic between Tegan and Jess, and the examination of their relationship as sisters and with Jess as the role of caregiver. I appreciated that there was more depth to the book than just your run-of-the-mill romance, though that plot line was enjoyable as well. Overall, an easy and enjoyable read!

As always with a Kate Clayborn novel, this was such a lovely read. Thoughtful. Poetic. Layered. Emotionally resonant. Full of small moments made large by their impact on the central characters, and cemented in the reader’s mind with impeccably described imagery. A hug in a parking lot. A new set of sheets. A hidden tattoo. A view from a truck bed. An unexpected portrait. A trampoline. A hairbrush. A collection of shells. A curtain rod. A sign on a houseboat. I love Clayborn’s use of detail, and the way the small things balance out the big love at first sight feelings that hit hard and fast and deep, yet only really settle in once all the little things fall into place as well. I really enjoyed the way the love story between the sisters took center stage here, even in a dual POV story with a prominent, swoony, steamy romance. I loved the double meaning of the title, which only makes itself apparent in the reading. And I loved the way Clayborn asks us to truly see her characters, It’s a beautiful invitation, especially since that’s what her characters are so good at doing for one another. Fasten your seat belts. It’s a road trip you won’t forget.

This book is lovely and complex. It is much more than a romance novel and I think fans of all genres will enjoy it. Personally, I think is is Kate Clayborn's best yet.

Kate Clayborn is a must read! Get ready to fall in love with Jess and Tegan and the perfect way Clayborn has depicted this complicated and imperfect relationship. Travelling across the country with a podcast team to unravel the mystery of why their mother left for the last time. Another extraordinary addition to her oeuvre. Old fans will not be disappointed, and new fans are sure to find this extraordinary author through this new work.

Years after their mother disappeared with a con man, Jess (reluctantly) and her sister Tegan (more enthusiastically) travel across the US with two podcast hosts to try to unravel the mystery of their mother's disappearance . Through their quest Jess and Tegan unpack their own identities, their relationships with their mother and each other and Jess even falls in love. Throughout the book you slowly learn more and more about the sisters, their mother, and then man she left with and grow to root for Jess and Tegan's happiness. I loved this book. I have loved every Kate Clayborn book but this might be my favorite. I have read very few books that are able to effectively navigate romance and mystery but this book does it perfectly! Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to give an honest review of this book. I honestly loved it:)

I always love Kate Clayborn's books and The Other Side of Disappearing did not disappoint! It was such a unique premise from the start and combined two genres - mystery and romance - all at once. I enjoyed how the sister relationship between Jess and Tegan evolved as they dealt with their family trauma individually and collectively. And I loved the connection between Jess and Adam, how he created a safe place for her to land, and she did the same for him. Wonderful read!

Another hit from Kate Clayborn! This was a swoon worthy romance with a hint of mystery intertwined. Fans of her previous work will enjoy.

I loved Georgie, All Along. I loved this one too. The story of the sisters at the center, and the romance being secondary gave the book its depth and meaning. The pace was quick but not rushed. I also liked the element of mystery and how it unfolded.

Why I read it: Because Kate Clayborn! When this went up on NetGalley, I decided to request it, and was thrilled when I was approved. (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy; this is my honest review.)

Review #insixwords: Clayborn’s writing is warm and tender.

More:
*My note for next steps after reading the digital galley: “Flail. Then preorder.”
*This is such a layered story, set up so that it’s not just a love story between Jess and Adam, but also features the complicated relationship Jess has with her half-sister, and the mystery of what happened with their mom. (And, honestly, even more than that.)
*This is a road trip book, but it’s not a light, adventurous road trip—it is a road trip in search of answers, the kind of answers that you know, deep down, can only ever cause more pain. But also answers that need to be unearthed so that the questions do not fester inside!
*This book is warm and tender, with characters who care deeply about each other and for the causes that have impacted their life. I wish Adam’s podcast about his friend, and his struggles with bipolar disorder as a professional football player, was real!
*There are secrets and promises and pain and comfort. Small touches from Adam that anchor Jess amidst a fast-changing landscape as all the secrets she’s tried to keep unravel.
*The book plays with the question: when someone we love disappears, how do we disappear as well? What do we lose of ourselves in the wake of that disappearance?
*Family relationships and dynamics. Not just between Jess and her sister, but Jess and her father, or Adam and his family. Adam’s boss and her husband and daughter. The (non-existent) relationship between Jess’s mother and her daughters.
*The kind of book that you want to savor, to read slowly, to sink into on a dreary Saturday morning. The kind you don’t want to end.
*Already cannot wait for whatever Clayborn writes next.

Recommendation: This is for anyone who likes contemporary romances that are warm and tender, with all the messy complications of life. (Also, road trips and gentle giants.)

Sad to say I was underwhelmed by this one from Kate Clayborn. She's become somewhat of a go-to author for me and her writing here is still a cut above. However, what didn't work for me is how similar the two main characters are. Or at least, the tone of both of their POVs is similarly on the heavy and dark side. It's not that that isn't apporpriate for the subject matter that Clayborn is engaging with, but for me there wasn't enough spark to leaven the grayness. I'll look out for her next one, though!

Kate Clayborn is a genius at writing partners who quietly and fiercely love each other. Jess and Adam are the definition of warm, comforting in their instant devotion to each other. I love how this book is about more than just them as a couple though, it’s also about family and grief and unresolved trauma. Kate Clayborn once again has crafted an all encompassing story of family and love. I can’t wait to see what she creates next!

4 stars stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Hairstylist Jess Greene has been raising her half-sister, Tegan, for the past decade, harboring a secret that their mother's reckless ex-boyfriend is a notorious con man featured in a popular podcast. As Tegan plans to search for their estranged mother, accompanied by the podcast host and producer, Jess reluctantly joins them. The group embarks on a cross-country journey to uncover the mystery of their mother's disappearance. Along the way, Jess experiences personal growth, vulnerability, and unexpected connections, particularly with the handsome producer, Adam Hawkins. The story explores unraveling family secrets, self-discovery, and the possibility of new relationships.

After reading Georgie, All Along earlier this year and loving it, I was thrilled to get my hands on this ARC. Though quite a departure from her usual lighthearted writing style, I think Kate Clayborn’s latest novel really showcases how much she has grown as a storyteller. She constructed a solid plot and saw it through, beautifully developing the characters of Jess, Adam, Tegan, and even Salem as their quest to find the girls’ wayward mother wears on. Beyond romance, this book is about two sisters learning to process the trauma of their collective past and forge a new future together. Such a surprisingly unique addition to the contemporary romance genre!

Kate Clayborn is one of my favourite authors and I admit I was a little nervous when she suggested on Instagram that this new novel was a bit of a departure. And it is... but also it isn't. The Other Side of Disappearing revolves around a mystery, so it's not a straightforward romance, but it's written with the heart, warmth and emotional intelligence I've come to expect from Kate Clayborn's books. Every character - even the ones we don't get to meet - is so well-drawn. I fell in love with Jess and Tegan, and Adam is one of the most delicious characters I've read in a long time. A really beautiful book.

Kate is one of my favorite authors. I love that her stories have so many different levels for all the people involved. She is wonderful at mixing family and romance together and all of her characters have a story of their own. Her characters become real and while they may make mistakes, they don’t give up and I always remember them long after I’ve finished their story.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.

Kate Clayborn never disappoints me. It was a very heart warming, feel good yet simple novel carrying some serious topics in the utmost delicate way. I’ll carry pieces of this story with me for the rest of my life; of that, I’m certain.

"The Other Side of Disappearing" is simply lovely. I've yet to be disappointed in anything written by Kate Clayborn and her latest novel is so overwhelmingly good it's hard to say much beyond, "I loved it."

This one can solidly be recommended to romance readers and folks who typically shy away from that genre. I suppose the term "women's fiction" applies (that phrase needs to wither and die, please and thank you). I have a feeling it will become one of my go-to recommendations.

Surprising no one, I absolutely loved a Kate Clayborn romance. I was as swept up in this story as Jess and Tegan were on the road trip to investigate their mother's whereabouts, but truth be told, I don't know that there's any writer out there who can capture the absolute <i>swoon</i> factor in their romances as well as Clayborn does. This is a story not just about a surprise romance, but about what brings sisters closer together, and what Jess discovers within herself by the journey she takes to uncover the truth. Everything was woven together so perfectly, and it made the conclusion of all three narratives so immensely satisfying. Read this one if you enjoy road-trip romances, a bit of a slow burn that ultimately IGNITES, and complex sibling relationships.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I HAVE NO WORDS I LOVE KATE CLAYBORN SO MUCH

Reading a KATE CLAYBORN (my computer auto capitalized that lol) novel gives me a physical ache in my chest (positive)!!! It's no secret that I adore Kate's way with words and her ability to create characters. But chapter two you know exactly who Jess and Adam are and you're rooting for them.

No one writes a silent/closed off characters with walls like Kate. Jess has been raising her sister for the last ten years and will do anything to protect her. Which has resulted in Jess putting a million walls up around her and Tegan. But Tegan does not want to be surrounded anymore and Jess has to grapple with that.

Adam sees Jess right away and she does not like that. The romance here is a slow burn, but oh my gosh their internal dialogue before anything happens is everything to me. Also YES TO ROMANTIC MOMENTS ON TRAMPOLINES. The day I started reading this I was being nostalgic about my cousin's trampoline and wow this book really delivered on that front.

Anyways this was lovely and I'm obsessed per usual when it comes to a KATE CLAYBORN book (lol at auto caps once again!)

TW: suicide (prior to novel), parental abandonment
CW: sports injuries,

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for providing a DRC of this title for review.

After their mother’s involvement with a notorious conman and subsequent disappearance, hairstylist Jess Greene has done all she can to protect her younger sister, Tegan. But when Tegan invites a podcast crew with a handsome producer to accompany the sisters as they search for answers, Tegan and Jess find themselves confronting long-buried mysteries and deciding whether they can dismantle the self-protective walls they’ve built for themselves.

The Other Side of Disappearing was a fascinating read, one that definitely showcases Clayborn’s versatility as a writer as she deftly explores family trauma and the limits of self-reliance. I think this book worked better for me as a mystery and family drama, but the romance is also enjoyable– tender, well-told, and convincing. I would definitely recommend this one for patrons looking for a light romance plot with an emphasis on family relationships and healing from trauma. 4.25 stars/5.