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This Side of Beautiful
Janae Warner had it all—platinum records, sold-out arenas, and a life in the spotlight.
But the same fire that fueled her rise burned everything down. Branded as unstable and unredeemable, she disappeared from the world she once ruled. Now, after years away, Janae is stepping back into the industry she left behind, determined to reclaim her voice and prove she’s more than the headlines.
Returning to Houston, the city that built her and broke her, Janae faces more than the pressures of a comeback. The emotional storms she’s battled for years still churn within, and while her drive to succeed is unwavering, the world is watching, waiting to see if she will rise again or fall harder than before.
Landon Hayes, a quiet, brilliant guitarist, moves through life with a rhythm and focus that sets him apart. His calm, structured world feels like a contradiction to Janae’s relentless highs and lows, yet their connection feels unexpectedly natural. He is a steady presence that both unsettles and intrigues her in ways she never imagined.
As their bond deepens, Landon’s unwavering presence forces Janae to confront the vulnerability she’s worked so hard to bury. Trusting someone who sees through the walls she’s built may be her greatest risk, but it could also be her path to a second chance she thought she’d never deserve.
But the same fire that fueled her rise burned everything down. Branded as unstable and unredeemable, she disappeared from the world she once ruled. Now, after years away, Janae is stepping back into the industry she left behind, determined to reclaim her voice and prove she’s more than the headlines.
Returning to Houston, the city that built her and broke her, Janae faces more than the pressures of a comeback. The emotional storms she’s battled for years still churn within, and while her drive to succeed is unwavering, the world is watching, waiting to see if she will rise again or fall harder than before.
Landon Hayes, a quiet, brilliant guitarist, moves through life with a rhythm and focus that sets him apart. His calm, structured world feels like a contradiction to Janae’s relentless highs and lows, yet their connection feels unexpectedly natural. He is a steady presence that both unsettles and intrigues her in ways she never imagined.
As their bond deepens, Landon’s unwavering presence forces Janae to confront the vulnerability she’s worked so hard to bury. Trusting someone who sees through the walls she’s built may be her greatest risk, but it could also be her path to a second chance she thought she’d never deserve.
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Published May 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 8, 2025
3.25⭐️
Soooo At about the 50% mark I was just ready to be done. It wasn’t quite a DNF feeling per se but from the synopsis, I thought I was getting a bit more of a true love story as opposed to two people with a ton of issues that trauma bonded because of them.
Mental health was a big part of this story. Where that’s not a con, and it was handled extremely well, I don’t think I was expecting this story to be full of pain and uncertainty from both the FMC and the MMC.
The flow of the story was pretty off as well. It would be full of angst and flowed seamlessly for a bit. Then the next it just became repetitive and seemed to drag.
The cover of this is so beautiful, I just wish that the contents in between matched.
No regrets, just a tad bit disappointed. 🦋🎸🎤
Soooo At about the 50% mark I was just ready to be done. It wasn’t quite a DNF feeling per se but from the synopsis, I thought I was getting a bit more of a true love story as opposed to two people with a ton of issues that trauma bonded because of them.
Mental health was a big part of this story. Where that’s not a con, and it was handled extremely well, I don’t think I was expecting this story to be full of pain and uncertainty from both the FMC and the MMC.
The flow of the story was pretty off as well. It would be full of angst and flowed seamlessly for a bit. Then the next it just became repetitive and seemed to drag.
The cover of this is so beautiful, I just wish that the contents in between matched.
No regrets, just a tad bit disappointed. 🦋🎸🎤
June 13, 2025
The emotional whiplash in this one was real. Landon, a misunderstood guitarist who thrives on structure and struggles with change and Janae, a talented artist trying to reclaim her music career while battling bipolar disorder, are two deeply complex characters whose love story is anything but simple.
This was one of the most back and forth, whirlwind relationships I’ve ever read. Both carry immense trauma and desperately need space for healing and growth, and yet, they love each other so fiercely. The tension between their love and their unhealed wounds makes for such a heavy, heartfelt read.
I felt all my feelings with this one. Please know there are many trigger warnings here, so take care of yourself if you pick it up. But overall, I loved this book.
This was one of the most back and forth, whirlwind relationships I’ve ever read. Both carry immense trauma and desperately need space for healing and growth, and yet, they love each other so fiercely. The tension between their love and their unhealed wounds makes for such a heavy, heartfelt read.
I felt all my feelings with this one. Please know there are many trigger warnings here, so take care of yourself if you pick it up. But overall, I loved this book.
May 15, 2025
I could not put this one down
The story was very emotional, and I could not put this book down. I wanted this couple to survive their trauma bonding issues. I could see Landon much clearer than Janae. She always had an aura surrounding her. His aloofness was sometimes excruciating and painful to experience. However, the way Landon loved Janae revealed so many layers for me. I read this book in one day, nonstop. I recommend this story 100%.
The story was very emotional, and I could not put this book down. I wanted this couple to survive their trauma bonding issues. I could see Landon much clearer than Janae. She always had an aura surrounding her. His aloofness was sometimes excruciating and painful to experience. However, the way Landon loved Janae revealed so many layers for me. I read this book in one day, nonstop. I recommend this story 100%.
May 18, 2025
3.5 Stars
Tiye was a new to me author and I liked this read.
Janae was a fallen Hip Hop and R&B star. Her wreckless choices had led to her hitting rock bottom. Now three years later she was attempting a come back. Landon, a guitarist in the up and coming band The Hollow Bones had a quiet aura and preferred to be in the background on stage. He came alive when it came time to create music. Janae and Landon run into each other literally on the first night of her come back and they have an immediate connection that they don't act upon right away.
Janae ends up touring with The Hollow Bones and this unspoken connection between her and Landon brings them together first as friends and then as lovers. This was somewhat of a slow burn as the author attempted to pull back the layers of each character. I will say I don't think that was fully executed, there is an art to it, but I did appreciate the journey of each character. This story was interesting because it felt like it was meant to be full of angst, but instead it was almost full of...fear and pain. As Janae navigated her disorder, her trauma, her addiction, her medication her inner thoughts and concerns were a lot. Landon struggled with anxiety that could be crippling at times, he was socially awkward, and had childhood trauma that kept him wanting to play it safe. With Janae a bright burning star, he found himself wanting to protect her out of the fear that she would push herself too far.
Overall, I liked the story however it was heavily based on the characters and could have used a little more balance between the characters and the story.
Tiye was a new to me author and I liked this read.
Janae was a fallen Hip Hop and R&B star. Her wreckless choices had led to her hitting rock bottom. Now three years later she was attempting a come back. Landon, a guitarist in the up and coming band The Hollow Bones had a quiet aura and preferred to be in the background on stage. He came alive when it came time to create music. Janae and Landon run into each other literally on the first night of her come back and they have an immediate connection that they don't act upon right away.
Janae ends up touring with The Hollow Bones and this unspoken connection between her and Landon brings them together first as friends and then as lovers. This was somewhat of a slow burn as the author attempted to pull back the layers of each character. I will say I don't think that was fully executed, there is an art to it, but I did appreciate the journey of each character. This story was interesting because it felt like it was meant to be full of angst, but instead it was almost full of...fear and pain. As Janae navigated her disorder, her trauma, her addiction, her medication her inner thoughts and concerns were a lot. Landon struggled with anxiety that could be crippling at times, he was socially awkward, and had childhood trauma that kept him wanting to play it safe. With Janae a bright burning star, he found himself wanting to protect her out of the fear that she would push herself too far.
Overall, I liked the story however it was heavily based on the characters and could have used a little more balance between the characters and the story.
May 29, 2025
6⭐️
This was such a real, raw & emotional read for me! A beautiful love story that touches on the hardships of dating with mental disorders and past traumas .
Our FMC Janae, is a bold, beautiful artist who “fell off” due to Bipolar disorder , drug addiction and alcoholism. she decided to pop back out as an artist with a documentary about her life and rekindling with a band she previously worked with , after trying to change her life for the better.
Our MMC Landon, is an anti-social, anxious guitar player who is apart of the band that is helping Janae fix her image in the media . After running into each-other again, sparks fly & they both realize each others anxious ways.
this story was so deep and beautiful. it touches on self harm, bipolar disorder, familial issues, abuse, alcoholism & it’s effects on a persons mind forever. it was so relatable and just heart wrenching at moments . But it also touched on healing and how that process is almost never an easy task. 🤍
This was such a real, raw & emotional read for me! A beautiful love story that touches on the hardships of dating with mental disorders and past traumas .
Our FMC Janae, is a bold, beautiful artist who “fell off” due to Bipolar disorder , drug addiction and alcoholism. she decided to pop back out as an artist with a documentary about her life and rekindling with a band she previously worked with , after trying to change her life for the better.
Our MMC Landon, is an anti-social, anxious guitar player who is apart of the band that is helping Janae fix her image in the media . After running into each-other again, sparks fly & they both realize each others anxious ways.
this story was so deep and beautiful. it touches on self harm, bipolar disorder, familial issues, abuse, alcoholism & it’s effects on a persons mind forever. it was so relatable and just heart wrenching at moments . But it also touched on healing and how that process is almost never an easy task. 🤍
April 15, 2025
If I could give this book more stars I definitely would. This book was phenomenal. I could not put it down. Dealing with mental health, love, healing and second chances.
I love the chemistry between Janae and Landon. Dealing with past traumas of their own. It never stopped the feelings they had for each other. Most definitely a must read.
Thank you Honey Blossom Press for letting me an ARC of this book.
I love the chemistry between Janae and Landon. Dealing with past traumas of their own. It never stopped the feelings they had for each other. Most definitely a must read.
Thank you Honey Blossom Press for letting me an ARC of this book.
May 16, 2025
I finished this book last night and felt drained, but in a good way.
Tiye excels at writing likable flawed characters, but at first, I was worried that I wouldn’t like Janae, the heroine. Her background was troubled. She had torpedoed her music career and was trying to revive it after years of drugs, sleeping with married men and other reckless sexual behavior, and disappointing people who depended on her.
But as the story unfolded, I saw more than her issues. I saw her fight to stand up for herself. Her vulnerability. Her longing to be loved. Her love of music and performing.
She wasn’t perfect, but she wasn’t all bad, either.
Mental health played a prominent role in the storyline. I learned that Janae was bipolar, and Landon, the hero, had his own set of issues. Though he hadn’t been officially diagnosed, he was an introvert who suffered from anxiety.
This is a long novel, so it covers a lot of ground. The backstory of both main characters was heartbreaking. The friendships in the band Landon played in, The Hollow Bones (love that name and the meaning behind it), were central to the story. I was really pleased when the guys accepted Janae, and their relationship blossomed into a ‘found family’ type of bond. I was also happy to see both main characters achieve closure with their family situations.
There were many lessons in this novel, and every person reading it will take away something different. For me, one of the lessons is that mental health issues don’t define a person—that individuals are more than their disorders. I believe another lesson is that there’s someone out there for everyone—no matter your problems or if you think you’re unworthy of love—your person is out there.
Landon and Janae were each other’s person.
Whenever I read a romance novel, I like to see why a couple works beyond the chemistry. Landon and Janae had a deep attraction for each other, but they also obviously cared about each other, and there were ample examples of why they belonged together. For one, they made beautiful music together.
Also, Landon didn’t like to be touched, but he allowed Janae to braid his hair. Janae had been promiscuous, but instead of taking advantage, Landon treated her with respect and care, showing her that he wanted more than her body—even though his body screamed for hers, lol. He was also not afraid to go to blows on her behalf, which was outside his character. And I love, love, love a hero who is not afraid to use violence to defend the heroine.
Landon and Janae were two wounded souls who somehow managed to find each other in the maze of life. The road to happily ever after wasn’t smooth. It was bumpy and had some sharp curves, and several times I wanted to shake them both, but it was clear they were soul mates. The way they both transformed by the end of the book was icing on the cake.
I’ll be thinking about Janae and Landon for a long time to come.
Tiye excels at writing likable flawed characters, but at first, I was worried that I wouldn’t like Janae, the heroine. Her background was troubled. She had torpedoed her music career and was trying to revive it after years of drugs, sleeping with married men and other reckless sexual behavior, and disappointing people who depended on her.
But as the story unfolded, I saw more than her issues. I saw her fight to stand up for herself. Her vulnerability. Her longing to be loved. Her love of music and performing.
She wasn’t perfect, but she wasn’t all bad, either.
Mental health played a prominent role in the storyline. I learned that Janae was bipolar, and Landon, the hero, had his own set of issues. Though he hadn’t been officially diagnosed, he was an introvert who suffered from anxiety.
This is a long novel, so it covers a lot of ground. The backstory of both main characters was heartbreaking. The friendships in the band Landon played in, The Hollow Bones (love that name and the meaning behind it), were central to the story. I was really pleased when the guys accepted Janae, and their relationship blossomed into a ‘found family’ type of bond. I was also happy to see both main characters achieve closure with their family situations.
There were many lessons in this novel, and every person reading it will take away something different. For me, one of the lessons is that mental health issues don’t define a person—that individuals are more than their disorders. I believe another lesson is that there’s someone out there for everyone—no matter your problems or if you think you’re unworthy of love—your person is out there.
Landon and Janae were each other’s person.
Whenever I read a romance novel, I like to see why a couple works beyond the chemistry. Landon and Janae had a deep attraction for each other, but they also obviously cared about each other, and there were ample examples of why they belonged together. For one, they made beautiful music together.
Also, Landon didn’t like to be touched, but he allowed Janae to braid his hair. Janae had been promiscuous, but instead of taking advantage, Landon treated her with respect and care, showing her that he wanted more than her body—even though his body screamed for hers, lol. He was also not afraid to go to blows on her behalf, which was outside his character. And I love, love, love a hero who is not afraid to use violence to defend the heroine.
Landon and Janae were two wounded souls who somehow managed to find each other in the maze of life. The road to happily ever after wasn’t smooth. It was bumpy and had some sharp curves, and several times I wanted to shake them both, but it was clear they were soul mates. The way they both transformed by the end of the book was icing on the cake.
I’ll be thinking about Janae and Landon for a long time to come.
May 7, 2025
ARC Review
Pub date: May 6, 2025
*Please check trigger warnings*
"This Side of Beautiful" was the perfect title to depict Janae and Landon's love story.
Janae and Landon are both musicians. Janae is a fallen hip hop star who is on the path to rising again and showing the world that her past doesn't define her future, all with coming to terms with her mental illness. Landon is a guitarist who plays in a band, is also dealing with his hidden struggle, and coming to terms with defining it.
Their story deals with different mental health battles, addiction, family issues, heartbreak, pain, trauma, hurt, second chances, and love. Through all these things, this story will take you on an emotional, sometimes painful, but beautiful ride that leads to an amazing love story. When I started reading this story, I thought to myself that Janae and Landon are either going to ruin each other or help each other grow and continue to be each other's "life jackets" in a healthy way. I am so glad the author showed us the down of someone dealing with mental health but also with therapy and support the ups of it. Janae and Landon's connection was one of a kind and I am so happy that in the end they both were able to come to terms with their mental health, themselves, and finally soar individually and together.
Thank you, Netgalley and Homey Blossom Press, for my advance copy for my honest review.
Pub date: May 6, 2025
*Please check trigger warnings*
"This Side of Beautiful" was the perfect title to depict Janae and Landon's love story.
Janae and Landon are both musicians. Janae is a fallen hip hop star who is on the path to rising again and showing the world that her past doesn't define her future, all with coming to terms with her mental illness. Landon is a guitarist who plays in a band, is also dealing with his hidden struggle, and coming to terms with defining it.
Their story deals with different mental health battles, addiction, family issues, heartbreak, pain, trauma, hurt, second chances, and love. Through all these things, this story will take you on an emotional, sometimes painful, but beautiful ride that leads to an amazing love story. When I started reading this story, I thought to myself that Janae and Landon are either going to ruin each other or help each other grow and continue to be each other's "life jackets" in a healthy way. I am so glad the author showed us the down of someone dealing with mental health but also with therapy and support the ups of it. Janae and Landon's connection was one of a kind and I am so happy that in the end they both were able to come to terms with their mental health, themselves, and finally soar individually and together.
Thank you, Netgalley and Homey Blossom Press, for my advance copy for my honest review.
June 29, 2025
TW: Self-Harm, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, Mental Health
Rating: 5/5
Thank you NetGalley for receiving the E-Arc. Wow, There's so much I can say about this book. This book spoke to me in ways I was not expecting. This book felt like I was going through real life issues with one of my best friends. The emotions that came from reading this were incredible. This was my first time reading anything from this author, and I will be looking at more of their catalog. There were times when I wanted to hug Janae & Landon and then shake them, lol. I love how realistic this love story was. The last half of the book had me on the edge of my seat!!!! Such a incredible read.
Rating: 5/5
Thank you NetGalley for receiving the E-Arc. Wow, There's so much I can say about this book. This book spoke to me in ways I was not expecting. This book felt like I was going through real life issues with one of my best friends. The emotions that came from reading this were incredible. This was my first time reading anything from this author, and I will be looking at more of their catalog. There were times when I wanted to hug Janae & Landon and then shake them, lol. I love how realistic this love story was. The last half of the book had me on the edge of my seat!!!! Such a incredible read.
September 26, 2025
3.5⭐️ This was such a raw and emotional read/listen. These characters are definitely one’s you are rooting for up until the very end. Truly a story of strength and resilience. The main characters were a little cute at times as well. I didn’t fully connect with the romance aspect like I hoped to, but that could be because I’m currently in a slump (I got the audiobook of this from Libby and needed something to try to at least get through a book on my tbr). Feel like I would’ve been more invested if I wasn’t (maybe idk) :/ definitely a 3.5⭐️ read for me. I would recommend this readddd though!
May 15, 2025
Whew, I’m glad that is over. These two characters were exhausting. I’m not sure when they fell in love.
June 11, 2025
Life Jackets!
4.5... This book was heavy and soft at the soft time at the same time. The push and pull that Jenae and Landon had was intense. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did an amazing job!
4.5... This book was heavy and soft at the soft time at the same time. The push and pull that Jenae and Landon had was intense. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did an amazing job!
May 24, 2025
Drowning without you!
Make no mistake about it, this was a heavy listen! The narration by Myles Washington and NTMN Taryn Delanie Smith brought the characters to life in a manner where every emotion, conflict and struggle were felt! Tiye did not shy away from the real when it came to the life of a celebrity in the public eye…especially one whose fall from grace was a public spectacle for all to witness. The addition of some pretty toxic family members compounded the drama brought on by mental health issues and abuse in many forms.
While being each other’s “life jacket,” both Janae and Landon did their best to navigate careers in front of the cameras, and provide a support system that teetered the line between enabler and savior at times. This was a well-written, eye-opening story that did not sugarcoat the importance of therapy and self-care when it comes to an industry where at times it may seem that you're only as relevant as your next hit or scandal!
Make no mistake about it, this was a heavy listen! The narration by Myles Washington and NTMN Taryn Delanie Smith brought the characters to life in a manner where every emotion, conflict and struggle were felt! Tiye did not shy away from the real when it came to the life of a celebrity in the public eye…especially one whose fall from grace was a public spectacle for all to witness. The addition of some pretty toxic family members compounded the drama brought on by mental health issues and abuse in many forms.
While being each other’s “life jacket,” both Janae and Landon did their best to navigate careers in front of the cameras, and provide a support system that teetered the line between enabler and savior at times. This was a well-written, eye-opening story that did not sugarcoat the importance of therapy and self-care when it comes to an industry where at times it may seem that you're only as relevant as your next hit or scandal!
May 16, 2025
I had one thought throughout this whole book, and that thought was... these two do not need to be together.
April 17, 2025
This was a 4.5 star for me.
Tiye did a great job with showing how the music industry can be difficult to navigate especially when dealing with mental health challenges. Janae was trying to make her comeback to the music scene after some poor choices she made in her career causing a lot of backlash and for people to write her off. No one knew what she was dealing with and why she made the choices she did but no one seemed to care. When she first ran into Landon, there was something there that they both felt but neither wanted to act on right away.
While they were on tour together, they both were drawn to each other even if just as friends at first and he was the constant she could turn to when she reached those low moments that could cause her to make bad decisions. They both were battling their own demons and when Janae finally opened up to him with her mental health challenges and what she was dealing with it brought them closer in a a way. Landon was dealing with his own mental health challenges but unlike Janae he didn't want to get the help that he needed which is another stigma with men of color that don't necessarily want to seek professional help when warranted. However, I am happy that he was able to deal with his situation so that he could be a better friend and partner for Janae and I was happy they did not give up on each other.
This was a slow burn love story with Janae and Landon but it kept you engaged wanting to see how it was going to go for them as a couple and rooting for Janae to overcome in her life and in her career. I also appreciated how she discussed the sensitive topics brought up in the book.
Thank you to Honey Blossom Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Tiye did a great job with showing how the music industry can be difficult to navigate especially when dealing with mental health challenges. Janae was trying to make her comeback to the music scene after some poor choices she made in her career causing a lot of backlash and for people to write her off. No one knew what she was dealing with and why she made the choices she did but no one seemed to care. When she first ran into Landon, there was something there that they both felt but neither wanted to act on right away.
While they were on tour together, they both were drawn to each other even if just as friends at first and he was the constant she could turn to when she reached those low moments that could cause her to make bad decisions. They both were battling their own demons and when Janae finally opened up to him with her mental health challenges and what she was dealing with it brought them closer in a a way. Landon was dealing with his own mental health challenges but unlike Janae he didn't want to get the help that he needed which is another stigma with men of color that don't necessarily want to seek professional help when warranted. However, I am happy that he was able to deal with his situation so that he could be a better friend and partner for Janae and I was happy they did not give up on each other.
This was a slow burn love story with Janae and Landon but it kept you engaged wanting to see how it was going to go for them as a couple and rooting for Janae to overcome in her life and in her career. I also appreciated how she discussed the sensitive topics brought up in the book.
Thank you to Honey Blossom Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 6, 2025
♡♡♡♡☆ARC REVIEW☆♡♡♡♡
This Side of Beautiful is a moving and gorgeous contemporary romance about being able to love and trust yourself enough to extend those feelings to others. Janae has been overlooked and written off because of her poor behavior and addiction. Landon has all but disappeared while still being a public entity. The two meeting once again create an attraction as magnetic as bees to flowers in the spring.
It's a strange thing to say, but I loved seeing Janae fall apart in order to rebuild herself. Addiction of any kind is hard to overcome because the underlying cause has to be faced when sober. Janae has to overcome addiction while actively being in the public eye and constantly scrutinized and Landon must maintain sobriety, without losing sight of the fact that in order to save anyone, he has to save himself first.
As a former cutter, I found myself relating deeply to Janae. Granted, she used tattoos and piercings, but I recognized self-harm no matter the mask used to cover it. This book can be a lifeline for many people, or at least a step toward getting help if they need it. Yes, the romance is great, and the angst moments are fantastic, but the underlying messages of self-love and self-healing are the greatest takeaways. I am so thankful I got to receive this arc.
This Side of Beautiful is a moving and gorgeous contemporary romance about being able to love and trust yourself enough to extend those feelings to others. Janae has been overlooked and written off because of her poor behavior and addiction. Landon has all but disappeared while still being a public entity. The two meeting once again create an attraction as magnetic as bees to flowers in the spring.
It's a strange thing to say, but I loved seeing Janae fall apart in order to rebuild herself. Addiction of any kind is hard to overcome because the underlying cause has to be faced when sober. Janae has to overcome addiction while actively being in the public eye and constantly scrutinized and Landon must maintain sobriety, without losing sight of the fact that in order to save anyone, he has to save himself first.
As a former cutter, I found myself relating deeply to Janae. Granted, she used tattoos and piercings, but I recognized self-harm no matter the mask used to cover it. This book can be a lifeline for many people, or at least a step toward getting help if they need it. Yes, the romance is great, and the angst moments are fantastic, but the underlying messages of self-love and self-healing are the greatest takeaways. I am so thankful I got to receive this arc.
July 30, 2025
4.5/5
This book gave me all the feels 😮💨💕 This Side of Beautiful follows Janae Warner, an R&B superstar trying to rebuild her life and career after spiraling from trauma, addiction, and a recent bipolar diagnosis. And then there’s Landon Hayes, a super talented and emotionally steady musician who plays it safe but carries his own quiet battles. When Janae returns to the music scene and ends up working with Landon’s band, The Hallow Bones, the connection between them is instant and deep.
I’m a sucker for tortured souls, but when both main characters are battling their demons, I’m done for. Janae and Landon had me rooting for their healing, together and separately. Their relationship was messy, honest, and raw in the best ways. You could feel their love, even through their back and forth. And I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from how hard love can be when you’re still figuring yourself out.
There were so many layers to this story. Celebrity drama, music industry chaos, childhood trauma, found family, healing, and trust. I especially loved how real the characters felt, and how by the end, they both understood that love alone isn’t enough. You really need time and space to heal too. The only thing I wish we had more of was time. The pacing felt a little rushed in some parts, and I just wanted more moments with Janae and Landon.
All in all, this was such a heartfelt and powerful read. I’ll def be reading more from Tiye in the future.
This book gave me all the feels 😮💨💕 This Side of Beautiful follows Janae Warner, an R&B superstar trying to rebuild her life and career after spiraling from trauma, addiction, and a recent bipolar diagnosis. And then there’s Landon Hayes, a super talented and emotionally steady musician who plays it safe but carries his own quiet battles. When Janae returns to the music scene and ends up working with Landon’s band, The Hallow Bones, the connection between them is instant and deep.
I’m a sucker for tortured souls, but when both main characters are battling their demons, I’m done for. Janae and Landon had me rooting for their healing, together and separately. Their relationship was messy, honest, and raw in the best ways. You could feel their love, even through their back and forth. And I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from how hard love can be when you’re still figuring yourself out.
There were so many layers to this story. Celebrity drama, music industry chaos, childhood trauma, found family, healing, and trust. I especially loved how real the characters felt, and how by the end, they both understood that love alone isn’t enough. You really need time and space to heal too. The only thing I wish we had more of was time. The pacing felt a little rushed in some parts, and I just wanted more moments with Janae and Landon.
All in all, this was such a heartfelt and powerful read. I’ll def be reading more from Tiye in the future.
April 9, 2025
I received this free copy from Honey Blossom Press in exchange for my honest review
This Side of Beautiful is a soul-deep, slow-burning romance rooted in healing, redemption, and the reclamation of identity. Tiye delivers a tender yet gritty narrative that follows two broken artists—Janae Warner and Landon Hayes—as they navigate the high-stakes, emotionally fraught world of music while slowly discovering that love doesn’t fix you, it helps you face yourself. What I loved most was the deeply human characters. Janae is magnetic, flawed, passionate, and aching for a second chance. Her struggle with sobriety is portrayed with raw honesty, never glamorized or rushed.
Janae's struggle is beautifully juxtaposed with Landon Hayes, a male character who is refreshingly emotionally layered, his quiet strength masking a fear of letting anyone truly see him. Tiye paints Landon with complex shades, making him both a pillar of support and a man with his own set of vulnerabilities. Together, they crack each other open in the best ways. Their growth feels real, not forced. Their chemistry is 🔥. But the emotional payoff is even more satisfying than the physical one.
In the end, Tiye crafts a narrative that’s equal parts tender and fierce, reminding us that love isn’t the absence of fear—it’s what walks beside us when we choose to face it. This novel also reminds us that true beauty often lies not in perfection, but in embracing each flaw and triumph along the way. This Side of Beautiful was an awe inspiring read that stayed with me long after the last page, and I can undoubtedly say this is my favorite book Tiye has ever written.
This Side of Beautiful is a soul-deep, slow-burning romance rooted in healing, redemption, and the reclamation of identity. Tiye delivers a tender yet gritty narrative that follows two broken artists—Janae Warner and Landon Hayes—as they navigate the high-stakes, emotionally fraught world of music while slowly discovering that love doesn’t fix you, it helps you face yourself. What I loved most was the deeply human characters. Janae is magnetic, flawed, passionate, and aching for a second chance. Her struggle with sobriety is portrayed with raw honesty, never glamorized or rushed.
Janae's struggle is beautifully juxtaposed with Landon Hayes, a male character who is refreshingly emotionally layered, his quiet strength masking a fear of letting anyone truly see him. Tiye paints Landon with complex shades, making him both a pillar of support and a man with his own set of vulnerabilities. Together, they crack each other open in the best ways. Their growth feels real, not forced. Their chemistry is 🔥. But the emotional payoff is even more satisfying than the physical one.
In the end, Tiye crafts a narrative that’s equal parts tender and fierce, reminding us that love isn’t the absence of fear—it’s what walks beside us when we choose to face it. This novel also reminds us that true beauty often lies not in perfection, but in embracing each flaw and triumph along the way. This Side of Beautiful was an awe inspiring read that stayed with me long after the last page, and I can undoubtedly say this is my favorite book Tiye has ever written.
dnf
May 12, 2025I was very intrigued by the premise of this story and really wanted to enjoy it.
However, at 28% the FMC & MMC seemed to move rather quickly into their new dynamic? The MMC even called the FMC out for this, and yet everything continued to proceed at the same speed.
I found the story wasn't keeping my attention. I had to keep rewinding because I didn't know what happened because I didn't feel invested in the characters because I felt zero chemistry from them. I realize it was early in the story, but the characters were moving fast and still, I felt not a single spark.
The female narrator was giving a very solid performance, however the male narrator's cadence was boring to listen to. It felt very much like he was reading rather than embodying the character and performing the part.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
However, at 28% the FMC & MMC seemed to move rather quickly into their new dynamic? The MMC even called the FMC out for this, and yet everything continued to proceed at the same speed.
I found the story wasn't keeping my attention. I had to keep rewinding because I didn't know what happened because I didn't feel invested in the characters because I felt zero chemistry from them. I realize it was early in the story, but the characters were moving fast and still, I felt not a single spark.
The female narrator was giving a very solid performance, however the male narrator's cadence was boring to listen to. It felt very much like he was reading rather than embodying the character and performing the part.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
August 28, 2025
3.5⭐️ This Side of Beautiful was an emotional roller coaster of 2 musicians battling mental issues while pursuing their dreams.
Janae is bipolar and harbors many scars of her upbringing. Landon struggles with an almost debilitating anxiety. They try to maintain a semblance of calm when in front of the cameras and star appeal while performing, meanwhile they’re crumbling inside.
They meet and find refuge and acceptance within each other. It’s an up and down spiral of chaos and a hint of peace, but it works for them…
I think the story was a pretty good read, yet, also very intense and somber. Though I’m glad that they found love in a hopeless place, it was centered around codependency and trauma bonds.
The narration was good, too. I’d recommend if you’re a fan of emotional stories heavy with mental health issues and the music industry.
Janae is bipolar and harbors many scars of her upbringing. Landon struggles with an almost debilitating anxiety. They try to maintain a semblance of calm when in front of the cameras and star appeal while performing, meanwhile they’re crumbling inside.
They meet and find refuge and acceptance within each other. It’s an up and down spiral of chaos and a hint of peace, but it works for them…
I think the story was a pretty good read, yet, also very intense and somber. Though I’m glad that they found love in a hopeless place, it was centered around codependency and trauma bonds.
The narration was good, too. I’d recommend if you’re a fan of emotional stories heavy with mental health issues and the music industry.
May 16, 2025
This was an emotional read that “explored the depths of love, struggle, and the ongoing process of healing” that touched on some very tough topic such as addiction & navigating sobriety, mental illness, family dysfunction, and childhood trauma. Both characters were flawed and layered, and I think the author did a great job showcasing that. I was very sensitive to Landon and Janae’s struggles and really wanted the best for them, but their relationship felt extremely codependent at times, even though they did balance each other very well. So I was glad that they were able to both find solid ground and sought a healthier love with each other. The story did drag on just a little bit for me towards the middle. But all of the stages of their relationship were necessary to be seen.
May 27, 2025
This Side of Beautiful is an emotional romance following two musicians as they navigate love, trauma, and the weight of their pasts. This isn’t your typical fluffy romance! it’s raw, honest, and rooted in real human experiences.
Tiye does a beautiful job not just telling, but showing us who these characters are. The depth of their pain and the way mental health is woven into the narrative made it feel incredibly authentic.
My only critique is that the book felt a little long at times, but that extra length gave space for character development, which made their connection feel all the more earned and real.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more from Tiye in the future.
Thank you Dreamscape media and Netgalley for the free book!
Tiye does a beautiful job not just telling, but showing us who these characters are. The depth of their pain and the way mental health is woven into the narrative made it feel incredibly authentic.
My only critique is that the book felt a little long at times, but that extra length gave space for character development, which made their connection feel all the more earned and real.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more from Tiye in the future.
Thank you Dreamscape media and Netgalley for the free book!
May 4, 2025
Thank you, Netgalley & Dreamscape Media, for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was a beautiful, emotional and raw love story between Janea & Landon. The story itself dives deep into mental health, substance abuse and the hard realities of navigating through the struggles of life. Both characters have their flaws and it was amazing to be on the journey with them as they learn and continue to heal.
The Narrators did a fantastic job of portraying the raw emotions of these characters. It is done in dual style narration.
Overall this was a 4 🌟 book and I highly recommend it!
This was a beautiful, emotional and raw love story between Janea & Landon. The story itself dives deep into mental health, substance abuse and the hard realities of navigating through the struggles of life. Both characters have their flaws and it was amazing to be on the journey with them as they learn and continue to heal.
The Narrators did a fantastic job of portraying the raw emotions of these characters. It is done in dual style narration.
Overall this was a 4 🌟 book and I highly recommend it!
September 7, 2025
This is a powerful and emotional story about redemption, resilience, and love. Janae’s journey from brokenness to reclaiming her voice is raw and inspiring, while Landon’s steady presence brings a beautiful balance to her chaos. Together, they show that healing, second chances, and true connection are possible—even after the hardest falls.
August 6, 2025
This was definitely a tear jerking. The struggles between both main characters was heartbreaking. You felt every high and low they both experienced. It was extremely well written, but I had to take it in doses due to issues in the book. If you feel like crying, and smiling by the end, this is a good read.
June 9, 2025
This book is raw, tender, and beautiful in every sense of the word. Tiye does something powerful here—she opens the door to vulnerability, and lets us sit with it.
At its core, this is a story about two people—Janae and Landon—who wear different masks to survive. Janae appears outgoing and full of life. Landon is reserved and guarded. But beneath the surface, they’re both battling demons, doing everything they can to keep their brokenness at bay.
The emotional intimacy between these two was everything. Their love story isn’t perfect—and that’s what makes it so real. The timeline felt honest: a whirlwind romance that didn’t feel rushed. It acknowledged grief, trauma, and the day-to-day choices we make just to keep going.
One of the things I appreciated most is how this book handles mental health. It doesn’t romanticize it, and it doesn’t ignore it either. It’s layered with care, respect, and clarity, and Tiye gives readers the space to prepare through thoughtful trigger warnings.
Trigger Warnings Included — please read carefully. This story is heavy in parts, but absolutely worth it.
At its core, this is a story about two people—Janae and Landon—who wear different masks to survive. Janae appears outgoing and full of life. Landon is reserved and guarded. But beneath the surface, they’re both battling demons, doing everything they can to keep their brokenness at bay.
The emotional intimacy between these two was everything. Their love story isn’t perfect—and that’s what makes it so real. The timeline felt honest: a whirlwind romance that didn’t feel rushed. It acknowledged grief, trauma, and the day-to-day choices we make just to keep going.
One of the things I appreciated most is how this book handles mental health. It doesn’t romanticize it, and it doesn’t ignore it either. It’s layered with care, respect, and clarity, and Tiye gives readers the space to prepare through thoughtful trigger warnings.
Trigger Warnings Included — please read carefully. This story is heavy in parts, but absolutely worth it.
July 7, 2025
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ .5 stars!! Thank you to Libro.fm for the alc. This story follows Janae, a former R&B superstar trying to rebuild her life and career after a very public fall from grace. Back in Houston and facing the weight of her past, she crosses paths with Landon, a quiet guitarist whose calm energy challenges everything she thought she knew about connection and trust.
Their bond grows slowly, but it’s layered with vulnerability, healing, and the kind of emotional honesty that doesn’t come easy. It’s a story about second chances, both in love and in life, with a raw, soulful vibe that lingers long after the last page. I really enjoyed this one and recommend.
Their bond grows slowly, but it’s layered with vulnerability, healing, and the kind of emotional honesty that doesn’t come easy. It’s a story about second chances, both in love and in life, with a raw, soulful vibe that lingers long after the last page. I really enjoyed this one and recommend.
May 6, 2025
This emotional slow burn is one for the books. Watching Jane and Landon overcome their individual struggles while finding love when they least unexpected it is definitely something worth seeing. This story had my emotions all over the place but wouldn’t trade one moment with it for anything. The Hollow Bones was definitely a great supporting cast and I hope to see more of them!
Tiye brought her A-game with this one. It’s one of her best one yet. This story covers topics like mental health, fractured families, abuse, and addiction. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
Received a ARC for HoneyBlossom via NetGalley for an honest review.
Tiye brought her A-game with this one. It’s one of her best one yet. This story covers topics like mental health, fractured families, abuse, and addiction. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
Received a ARC for HoneyBlossom via NetGalley for an honest review.
April 6, 2025
This is a 10 ⭐️ read!
I absolutely love how the author starts the book off with a letter to readers “Dear Reader”! It explains the journey the story will take us on. Explaining this is a story of strength, redemption, discovery beauty and the process of healing. She further explains the characters are unapologetically themselves and how they navigate the realities of pain, triumph, and love. The author wants the reader to take their time and prioritize taking care of themselves while ready a heavy story. BRILLIANT! Thank you!
The story follows two main characters, Janae and Landon, who both are talented musicians and experience internal “hidden” struggles.
This is a phenomenal story about love,loss, addiction, and second chances which advocates for mental health awareness and the importance of removing societal stigmas. Seeing how each character experiences their challenges, learns to be vulnerable, accepts their struggle and learns to heal was encouraging and a testament to the importance of connection.
Mental health diagnoses are no different than other health conditions which deserve attention and treatment.
Throughout this story I laughed and I cried. There were definitely times I needed to put the book down and take a mental break. I personally related to Janae in so many ways and this story touched my soul in a profound way.
“Don’t let the world tell you what you can’t do. Even roses root in the hardest of truths.”
“You do not have to face your battles alone. You are seen, you are valued, and your voice matters.”
Absolutely a Beautiful, Brilliant and Amazing story!
I absolutely love how the author starts the book off with a letter to readers “Dear Reader”! It explains the journey the story will take us on. Explaining this is a story of strength, redemption, discovery beauty and the process of healing. She further explains the characters are unapologetically themselves and how they navigate the realities of pain, triumph, and love. The author wants the reader to take their time and prioritize taking care of themselves while ready a heavy story. BRILLIANT! Thank you!
The story follows two main characters, Janae and Landon, who both are talented musicians and experience internal “hidden” struggles.
This is a phenomenal story about love,loss, addiction, and second chances which advocates for mental health awareness and the importance of removing societal stigmas. Seeing how each character experiences their challenges, learns to be vulnerable, accepts their struggle and learns to heal was encouraging and a testament to the importance of connection.
Mental health diagnoses are no different than other health conditions which deserve attention and treatment.
Throughout this story I laughed and I cried. There were definitely times I needed to put the book down and take a mental break. I personally related to Janae in so many ways and this story touched my soul in a profound way.
“Don’t let the world tell you what you can’t do. Even roses root in the hardest of truths.”
“You do not have to face your battles alone. You are seen, you are valued, and your voice matters.”
Absolutely a Beautiful, Brilliant and Amazing story!
May 4, 2025
Whew - this book was a rollercoaster - thank you to Tiye and NetGallery for the ARC, I really appreciate it!
I am a sucker for stories about the music industry and stories about mental health and character struggles. This was both of these - and yet, despite the stories that have explored these two in tandem previously, this book did feel like it explored a different aspect and had its own unique place among these books. If I were to describe this book with a single word it would be ‘real’. Real can be a double-edged sword in that it is both the book's greatest strength, but also possibly the cause of some of the aspects I less liked about the book. Although the main plot does revolve around the music industry - Janae Warner was a previously successful artist - one who has had a fall from grace due to personal struggles she was not able to overcome, but is now trying to mount a return to this industry - I do feel the main selling point of this book is in its depiction of trauma, mental health and neurodivergency. I cannot fully speak on all aspects of its depiction since I have not gone through all the experiences written about myself, but of what I can tell - Tiye has really done a great job to try to portray these struggles realistically. For example, the characters' struggles don’t magically fix overnight, the exploration of how some of their traits are just part of who they are and should not be expected to be ‘fixed’ and the depiction of healing does not occur in a linear fashion, but is a messy occurrence. This however, led me to my first gripe - which was the characters. Especially at the start, the characters, and Janae in particular - can be quite hard to like. Perhaps because the issues she has struggled with were quite different to my own, I found it very hard to relate with her and place myself in her mindset to understand some of her more frustrating actions. Despite her awareness of the issues that had landed her in the position she finds herself in at the beginning of the book and despite the initial promise she shows in wanting to change, her actions are a slap in the face and where she is at times (I’m really sorry!!) unapologetically entitled (demanding respect when respect is something that should be earned through actions - and in her case, rebuilt, given her history). I really was trying my best not to judge her, especially at this point when we do not know the full extent of what she is going through - but it did make it a little hard to read on at the start when I could not connect with her and felt my compassion for her waning a bit due to her actions (which would not have been as bad if she acknowledged her mistake in them, or if other characters did not side with her for behaviour I really did not agree with). Ironically, this is also what makes her depiction so real - how imperfect she is and how much of a mess she is - and I am sure that perhaps there are people out there who might really connect with her. I just wish, given she was already aware of her situation, she was just a little bit more humble and careful with her actions - it’s completely okay and understandable to make mistakes as long as it comes off as she is genuinely trying and taking steps, but her attitude towards it all was just off-putting to me. This did improve as the book progressed and I really like the character growth Tiye put the characters through.
Her relationship with Landon was another core aspect of the story as well and one which I think was great to explore - it really demonstrates how important surrounding yourself with good people are and how having people in your life can really help with struggles you’re facing. Having Landon in the story also opened the door to explore more struggles individuals might face, and I think that for that reason, many people may be able to relate to at least one aspect of this book. I like the way the characters support of each other was explored and this was one of the brighter aspects of the book. I was not fully onboard with all aspects of their relationship however - my main gripe being how quickly their relationship developed at the start which felt a bit inorganic (it was only 8% in when their first *you know what* happened). It did slow a bit after the first 15% and for the rest of the novel thankfully which worked well for me as I felt this gave them more time to genuinely bond and get-to-know each other, and for their relationship to feel more organic. I also liked the exploration of our protagonists’ relationships with other characters and their development over time.
I do think this book was a very character-driven one - especially given its heavy emphasis on mental health. The plot was not the most memorable or exciting - but this is forgivable if you are going in with this with the knowledge that the focus really is on characters, how they’re feeling, and how they will develop. I don’t think it is impossible, however, to have a book that does both - so that is probably where some of my detraction towards the rating is going towards. I think it was this, combined with my struggles with Janae, that made the first 30% of the book quite hard to get through (although I will give a shout-out to the opening chapter which I liked because of the mystery that existed - but unfortunately this mystery was quite quickly unravelled and I had little to drive me reading forward besides wanting to write a review). Once I got past this 30-40% mark however, as the characters were developing a bit more - I did find myself enjoying the story more and becoming more invested in their journeys.
I think the actual writing was generally nice - again, shout out to the opening chapter - where I could really feel her anxiety coming through and I liked the way variation in sentence length was used to create that tense atmosphere, establish a mystery, and give us tidbits of her past to get the reader initially hooked. For example, just a random example - “I forced a smile. Wide. Girl-next door wide. The kind that had disarmed teachers when I was a kid, softened angry producers when I was late, charmed interviewers when I was high”. I love sentences like this which drive forward the plot whilst offering insight into her character and her past.
This is getting quite long, so I will finish up by summarising: this book is about overcoming inner demons - it is perfect for those who really want a book that explores mental health at its forefront and one that does so in a way which feels authentic. We get realistically imperfect characters who truly struggle at times, and we get to see how through supporting each other, they grow.
Thank you again for the story!
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