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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*