Review: The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison – A Magical Realism Journey

The Other Side of Now blends magic, romance, and heartfelt emotion as Meg Bryan navigates a life she never expected to live.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of The Other Side of Now. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summary:

Meg Bryan seems to have it all—a starring role on a hit show and a relationship with Hollywood’s hottest star—but beneath her glamorous persona as Lana Lord lies deep unhappiness. After a breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she impulsively travels to a small Irish village she once dreamed of moving to with her late best friend, Aimee. But upon arrival, Meg discovers she’s somehow slipped into an alternate version of her life—one where she never became famous, works retail, has a dog she doesn’t recognize, and shares a complicated past with a handsome bartender. Most shocking of all, Aimee is alive—but distant and angry. As Meg navigates this strange new reality and lands a role in Aimee’s play, she’s forced to confront uncomfortable truths about the past and make a heart-wrenching decision about where she truly belongs.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love when a book uses magical realism well, and The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison does exactly that. This story is emotional, funny, and an absolute joy to read — the kind of novel that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

We first meet Meg Bryan when she and her best friend Aimee visit a psychic who predicts two life lines for Meg and a tragically short one for Aimee. Fast forward a few years, and Meg seems to have everything she ever wanted: a leading role on a hit TV show, a relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob, and a glamorous lifestyle under her stage name, Lana Lord. But beneath the layers of makeup and fame, her happiness feels as fake as her Hollywood persona.

After a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party — a party that should have been a celebration — Meg decides to leave everything behind and spontaneously book a trip to a quaint village in Ireland. This village was once a shared dream between her and Aimee, before an accident took Aimee’s life a decade earlier.

What Meg discovers in Ireland, however, is something she never could have imagined: an alternate version of her life. One where her hair is its natural colour, her nose is her real nose, and her phone is filled with pictures of a life she doesn’t remember — including a grumpy (but very attractive) bartender named Cillian, who seems to know her very well. And most shocking of all, Aimee is alive, but wants absolutely nothing to do with her.

The way Harbison reveals Meg’s alternate life is beautifully done. Meg’s sense of déjà vu with the townsfolk, her slow realization of the depth of her history with Cillian, and her desire to repair her broken relationship with Aimee are handled with so much heart. I especially loved how the romance with Cillian is sweet and enduring without ever taking away from Meg’s personal journey. (You’ll have to read it to find out why their story feels so special.)

One of the absolute highlights for me was the theatre production that Aimee is writing and directing. As Meg becomes involved in the play, secrets about their past begin to unfold. Opening night gave me absolute chills — it’s so emotionally charged and layered with meaning that I found myself tearing up more than once.

Final Thoughts:

In The Other Side of Now, Paige Harbison has crafted a gorgeous, moving story about second chances, friendship, and the lives we could have lived. I’m already excited to dive into more of her books. It’s such a treat when an author leaves you wanting more.

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