Paige Harbison’s adult debut, The Other Side of Now, reads like a fever dream wrapped in the warm embrace of Irish countryside charm. What begins as a seemingly straightforward escape-to-Europe narrative quickly transforms into something far more ambitious: a quantum meditation on loss, choice, and the haunting persistence of “what if?”
The story follows Meg Bryan, better known to the world as television actress Lana Lord, as she flees her hollow Hollywood existence for the quaint Irish village of Avalon. But when she awakens in what appears to be an alternate version of her life—one where her best friend Aimee is alive, where she never became famous, and where her own reflection shows a face untouched by surgical enhancement—Harbison plunges us into territory that feels both deeply familiar and utterly disorienting.
A Premise That Demands Suspension of Disbelief
The novel’s central conceit requires readers to embrace magical realism wholeheartedly. Harbison doesn’t waste time explaining the mechanics of Meg’s quantum slide between realities; instead, she anchors the fantastical in viscerally authentic emotional truths. The moment when Meg discovers photographs of herself with a grown-up Aimee—the friend who died in a car accident over a decade ago—carries the weight of every grief-stricken person’s most desperate wish.
This approach works remarkably well because Harbison grounds the supernatural elements in recognizable human experiences. The awkwardness of reconnecting with someone who thinks they know you but doesn’t really, the discomfort of feeling like an outsider in what should be your own life, the complexity of relationships that have evolved without your participation—these dynamics feel authentic regardless of their metaphysical origins.
Character Development Through Parallel Lives
Meg’s character development unfolds through the fascinating lens of seeing herself through different choices. In her “real” life, she’s become a somewhat vapid celebrity, surgically altered and emotionally hollow, trapped in a performative relationship with fellow actor Grayson. In Avalon, she discovers a version of herself who chose authenticity over ambition, community over celebrity.
Harbison skillfully uses this duality to explore themes of identity and self-acceptance. The Meg who stayed in Ireland works retail, lives simply, and has maintained genuine friendships—yet she’s restless, wondering about the life she never tried. This creates a beautiful tension: neither version of Meg is entirely satisfied, suggesting that our dissatisfaction often stems from internal rather than external factors.
The supporting characters, particularly Kiera and Cillian, feel fully realized rather than merely functional. Kiera’s irreverent humor and fierce loyalty provide both comic relief and emotional grounding, while Cillian emerges as more than just a love interest—he’s a fully developed character with his own motivations and complexities.
Aimee: The Heart of the Story
The emotional core of “The Other Side of Now” lies in Meg’s relationship with Aimee, both living and dead. Harbison navigates this delicate territory with impressive sensitivity, capturing both the desperate joy of reunion and the painful reality that the Aimee of this world isn’t quite the Aimee that Meg remembers. Their friendship has fractures that mirror real relationships—misunderstandings, jealousies, and the natural evolution that occurs when people grow in different directions.
The revelation that Aimee had been accepted to Avalon University but lied about it to spare Meg’s feelings adds layers of complexity to their dynamic. It suggests that even our most cherished relationships are built on incomplete truths and that the guilt we carry often belongs as much to others as to ourselves.
Writing Style: Authentic Voice with Genuine Wit
Harbison’s prose strikes an ideal balance between accessibility and literary merit. Her dialogue crackles with authenticity, particularly in the Irish vernacular that never feels forced or stereotypical. The first-person narration captures Meg’s voice convincingly—she’s sardonic without being cruel, vulnerable without being weak.
The author demonstrates particular skill in her descriptive passages, making both Hollywood’s superficial glamour and Ireland’s rustic charm feel equally vivid. The contrast between these worlds serves the story’s thematic concerns while creating distinct atmospheric moods that support the emotional journey.
Strengths and Minor Shortcomings
What Works Brilliantly
- Emotional authenticity: Despite the fantastical premise, every emotional beat feels genuine and earned
- Complex female friendship: The portrayal of Meg and Aimee’s relationship avoids easy sentimentality
- Thematic depth: The exploration of choice, identity, and acceptance operates on multiple levels
- Supporting cast: Secondary characters feel three-dimensional and serve the story meaningfully
- Pacing: The narrative maintains momentum while allowing space for character development
Areas for Improvement
While “The Other Side of Now” succeeds admirably in most respects, there are moments where the magical realism elements feel slightly underdeveloped. The fortune teller’s prophecy from their teenage years, while thematically important, could have been woven more seamlessly into the present-day narrative. Additionally, some readers may find the quantum mechanics explanations—delivered through characters’ discussions of Radiolab episodes—a bit convenient as justification for the premise.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, raises questions about agency and choice that aren’t fully explored. Meg’s ultimate decision feels right for her character, but the implications of her choice for the Meg who originally inhabited the Avalon life remain somewhat unclear.
The Theater as Metaphor
One of the novel’s most elegant touches is its use of theatrical performance as a metaphor for life itself. The play within the novel—which Aimee writes and in which both women perform—becomes a vehicle for them to confront their shared trauma in a space that’s both artificial and completely real. Harbison understands that sometimes we can only access difficult truths through performance, that the stage can be safer than real life precisely because it’s acknowledged as constructed.
The climactic scene where Meg and Aimee deviate from the script to confront the truth about the accident that separated them demonstrates Harbison’s sophisticated understanding of how art and life intersect. It’s a powerful moment that earns its emotional impact through careful setup and authentic character development.
Comparisons and Context
The Other Side of Now occupies interesting territory within contemporary women’s fiction. It shares DNA with novels like Rebecca Serle’s Expiration Dates and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s works in its blend of speculative elements with deeply personal storytelling. However, Harbison’s focus on friendship rather than romance sets her work apart in a genre often dominated by romantic narratives.
“The Other Side of Now” also calls to mind classic sliding doors narratives while updating the concept for contemporary readers who’ve grown up with discussions of parallel universes and quantum mechanics in popular culture. Unlike many high-concept novels, this one never loses sight of its emotional center.
Final Verdict
The Other Side of Now succeeds as both an entertaining page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of profound themes. Harbison has crafted a novel that honors the complexity of human relationships while embracing the impossible possibilities that grief and love can conjure.
This is a book that will resonate particularly strongly with readers who have experienced significant loss or wondered about the paths not taken in their own lives. It’s also a love letter to the transformative power of friendship and the courage required to choose authenticity over safety.
While not without minor flaws, The Other Side of Now announces Paige Harbison as a significant new voice in contemporary fiction. Her ability to blend magical realism with emotional realism, combined with her gift for authentic dialogue and complex character development, suggests even greater achievements to come.
For readers who enjoyed:
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
- The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
Perfect for fans of: Books that blend contemporary women’s fiction with speculative elements, stories about complex female friendships, narratives exploring themes of choice and identity, and readers who appreciate authentic dialogue and emotional depth.
The Other Side of Now reminds us that sometimes the most important journey isn’t to somewhere else, but to who we really are—and who we might choose to become.