The Other Side of Now - by Paige Harbison (Hardcover)

About the Book

"With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood's latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a tiny nervous breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip to Ireland. Specifically, to the village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving. When Meg arrives, the people in town don't just recognize her, they seem to know her. She quickly--reluctantly--realizes she has somehow slipped into an alternate reality. One where she did move to Ireland as a teenager, one where she never got famous, and--most shocking of all--one where Aimee is alive and well. She just wants nothing to do with Meg"--

Book Synopsis

A hilarious and heartfelt novel about how loves and lives are never truly lost, for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood's latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a tiny nervous breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip to Ireland. Specifically, to the village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving.

When Meg arrives, the people in town don't just recognize her, they seem to know her. She quickly--reluctantly--realizes she has somehow slipped into an alternate reality. One where she did move to Ireland as a teenager, one where she never got famous, and--most shocking of all--one where Aimee is alive and well.

She just wants nothing to do with Meg.

Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-two-lifetimes chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke . . . or else risk losing Aimee all over again.

Review Quotes

One of Bustle's "Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2025"
A Modern Mrs. Darcy pick for their "2025 Summer Reading Guide"

"A sweet and moving fairy tale about the road not taken, the ways our choices affect everyone around us, and the importance of closure. Smooth dialogue and loveable characters abound in this novel that is fun, engaging, and perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Maybe in Another Life (2015)." -Booklist

"Paige Harbison is one of the funniest writers working today, and this book delivers plenty of heart, too." -Hannah Orenstein for Bustle

"Utterly unputdownable." -Modern Mrs. Darcy

"Wildly entertaining and heartbreaking, Harbison's writing feels like being swept away for a joy-filled, life-affirming trip with your closest friend. This book is big-hearted and funny, filled with sharp observations and a stellar supporting cast that ground the (flawlessly executed) high concept and give the book so much soul I challenge you not to cry at least three times. A captivating story of friendship, grief and the roads not taken. Leaving the enchanting world of Avalon behind already feels like a loss." -Ella Berman, author of Before We Were Innocent: Reese's Book Club

"A full sprint down the path not taken that will make you feel alive and remind you that it's never too late for second chances. When you finish, you will want to call your best friend." -Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guncle

"The Other Side of Now is a sometimes heartbreaking, always heartwarming fantasy about what happens when you get not just the life of your dreams but the lives of your dreams. Paige Harbison's very knowing, very cool novel is moving, clever, funny, compelling, and warm as an Irish sweater." -Laurie Frankel, bestselling author of Family Family

"An engaging, winsome debut. An unexpected and bittersweet book about the choices we make and the paths we take, Paige Harbison writes with the perfect balance of sweetness and sarcasm. Readers will love the touch of magic and romance woven throughout, while still rooting for my favorite kind of heroine." -Elissa Sussman, bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask

"Bursting with wit and feeling, The Other Side of Now made me consider the other lives I might have led, then left me grateful that I'm in the one where I got to read this bighearted charmer of a novel. Paige Harbison's characters will win your heart, break it, then put it back together again." -Laura Hankin, author of One Star Romance

About the Author

PAIGE HARBISON is the author of three YA novels, the first of which was published in 2011 when she was just nineteen years old. More recently, she's worked on several celebrity projects as a ghostwriter. The Other Side of Now is her adult debut. A woman of many talents, she's also a visual artist, records music with her brother (band name: Thalo), hosts and produces the podcast Nameless Best Friends, and has a solid social media presence, amassing millions of views on her one-minutemovies. She lives in LA with her partner, Richie, and their dog, Tarot.