August 2025 Book Club Pick: The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
A new month means it’s time for a new virtual book club pick!
Last month, the Just Jen Things virtual book club read mystery thriller Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson. After a lengthy discussion about the book overall, the general consensus was: we found the plot to be lacking a few critical points, we REALLY didn’t like the female main character, and we found it weird that there were several QR codes/links to “evidence” in the physical versions that didn’t bring anything new to the story (basically just the audio narrator rereading a few passages); however, one positive thing to note: we all seemed to agree there was an always-present element of suspense sprinkled throughout the book, which made us want to keep reading, even when we were bored and/or annoyed with how things were unfolding. Of course, it’s an incredible feat to write and publish a book, so kudos to the author for that achievement, but sometimes books just aren’t for everyone, and that’s totally okay. Although this was my least favorite book we’ve read all year, one girl in the chat said she loved it, and it seems to be getting good reviews on TikTok/etc., so always remember to read what you want to read and don’t let the opinions of others sway you from picking up a book you’re interested in!
Before we hop to August’s book of the month, here’s a recap of all the books we’ve book clubbed about in 2025 (so far):
January: Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
February: The Favorites by Layne Fargo
And now for August!
The August 2025 Just Jen Things virtual book club pick is The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison. With tags like romance, magical realism, fantasy, contemporary, and time travel, I’m hoping this book engages a good discussion and brings something a bit different to our monthly chat. When done right, I love a good time travel/alternate universe story, and I’m hoping that with the many positive reviews I’ve read, this book is one of the good ones. The specific review that caught my attentions was: “Part magical realism, part alternate reality, dashes of nostalgia, and 100% hopeful and healing.” (see!! sounds promising, right?) I’ll be reading the physical book which I bought as an add-on option in my August Book of the Month subscription box. Excited for this one!
Here’s the synopsis from Goodreads:
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 the layers of makeup and hairspray, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip where she knows the grass is greener: Ireland. Specifically, the quaint little village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving—a dream that fell apart when an accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago.
When Meg arrives, the people in town are so nice, treating her not as a stranger, but a friend. Except for the (extremely hot) bartender giving her the cold shoulder. Meg writes it all off as jetlag until she looks in the mirror. Her hair is no longer bleached within an inch of its life, her skin has a few natural fine lines, and her nose looks like… well, her old nose. Her real nose.
Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this little town: with an adorable dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her (ex?) boyfriend; and at a retail job unrelated to acting. Eventually, she comes to accept that she somehow made a quantum slide into an alternate version of her life. But the most shocking realization of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is alive and well…but wants nothing to do with Meg.
Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke. She finagles an opportunity to act in the play Aimee is writing and directing and as the project unfolds, Meg realizes that events as she remembers them may not be the only truth, and that an impossible choice looms before her.
If you’re interested in joining the August discussion, let me know! We’d love to have you!
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Enjoy!
JBW