The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

The Other Side of Disappearing

by Kate Clayborn

I love that I can always count on Kate Clayborn to write the type of story that leaves me in agony and ultimately, breathless. There's a reason why she's one of my favorite romance authors of all time, and The Other Side of Disappearing cements her position on my list permanently.

In The Other Side of Disappearing, accompanied by podcasters, two sisters embark on a cross-country journey to unravel the mystery of their mother's disappearance with a con man. As they piece together their mother's journey, they're forced to navigate vulnerability, their curiosity, and an unexpected connection.

Kate Clayborn writes characters who, despite being fictional, feel like flesh and bone. Jess, the protagonist of The Other Side of Disappearing, stands as one of the best-written female characters I have had the pleasure of encountering. She was prickly, reserved, and carried within her a deep vulnerability that had my chest in all kinds of pain. Having shouldered the immense responsibility of raising her teenage sister in the wake of their mother's unexplained disappearance, Jess's prickliness was more than justified. On the road trip to find her mother, Jess embarked on a fraught emotional journey that tested her resilience, yet ultimately enabled her to shed her protective shell and emerge as a more self-actualized individual. Though the journey was turbulent, it was a profoundly rewarding one, as we got to witness her remarkable growth in pursuit of the happiness and peace she deserved.

It wouldn't be an excellent Kate Clayborn book without a pine-y, equally tormented hero. Adam, ah, how he shattered my heart!  As a former football player grappling with the tragic loss of a friend, he too had to navigate his own emotionally-charged journey in The Other Side of Disappearing. Here we encountered a gentle giant, yearning to emerge from the shadows cast by his football career into a new journalistic career. His vulnerability and depth of feelings were beautifully portrayed. I could not help but swoon over his immediate protective instincts toward Jess's happiness and his respect for her boundaries.

Adam and Jess immediately seemed to understand each other on a visceral level. What unfolded was a gentle story of two individuals who became essential to each other, and who found the kind of solace that everyone dreams of. Their emotions and attraction to each other were immediate, messy, and overpowering. Along their romantic path, they fumbled, but it was inspiring to see how they took a step back to decide how they could work in tandem to nurture their relationship.

The Other Side of Disappearing also told my favorite kind of love story - the love story between two sisters. Kate Clayborn captured the turmoil and chaos of sibling relationships with complexity and nuance. There was a palpable tension between Tegan and Jess at the onset of the book, a rift that the two had to actively work on to heal. Many times throughout the book, I had a lump in my throat, and it was because of their bond. While the undercurrent of their strain permeated the story, their love for each other shone even brighter. I loved these two fiercely and earnestly rooted for them to mend their fragile relationship.

In the end, I found The Other Side of Disappearing to be a moving and complex book, highlighting all of Kate Clayborn's talents. I can't recommend the book highly enough. If there's one romance book to add to your to-read lists this year, let it be this beauty.