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Destination Funeral
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26Four friends. One funeral. An endless Saturday.
When Babe—the complicated, magnetic matriarch of their teenage summers—dies, four estranged friends return to sleepy Mercy Island, a storm-swept stretch of coastal Georgia, summoned by the reading of her will.
Didion expects nothing more than an awkward visit with her sister and, maybe, a sundrenched funeral attended by beer-soaked locals. Instead, she arrives at the timeworn pink house to find the friends she never thought she’d see again—along with the tensions, attractions, and unfinished business that once bound them together and blew them apart.
What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels. Because the next morning, it’s Saturday again.
And again.
And again.
Trapped in a time loop with no end and no instructions, they’re forced to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that shattered them ten years ago. Something on the island isn’t ready to let them go—and if they can’t find a way to fix things, it may never let them leave.
When Babe—the complicated, magnetic matriarch of their teenage summers—dies, four estranged friends return to sleepy Mercy Island, a storm-swept stretch of coastal Georgia, summoned by the reading of her will.
Didion expects nothing more than an awkward visit with her sister and, maybe, a sundrenched funeral attended by beer-soaked locals. Instead, she arrives at the timeworn pink house to find the friends she never thought she’d see again—along with the tensions, attractions, and unfinished business that once bound them together and blew them apart.
What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels. Because the next morning, it’s Saturday again.
And again.
And again.
Trapped in a time loop with no end and no instructions, they’re forced to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that shattered them ten years ago. Something on the island isn’t ready to let them go—and if they can’t find a way to fix things, it may never let them leave.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
11375 people want to read
About the author
Paige Harbison
7 books655 followersA little bit about me...
I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.
I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.
Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.
At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.
I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.
I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.
I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.
Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.
At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.
I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was amazing. I'm only giving it four stars because of one thing that left a sour taste in my mouth. Is it a new story that has never been done before? No. Did I love it? Absolutely. I loved how everything wrapped up beautifully, and I loved seeing how the sisterly bonds were mended. Even if we think our parents might love the other sibling more than us (sometimes that's true, and sometimes it's not), we always have a place in their hearts. I can't believe this is only my second Paige Harbison book because now I adore her.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:42
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I already started reading this, and I have VERY good feelings. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley, for offering me this eARC 🩷🩵💛
Find my review on Instagram
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:42
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I already started reading this, and I have VERY good feelings. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley, for offering me this eARC 🩷🩵💛
Find my review on Instagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a strange reading experience for me because it felt like it needed two separate reviews.
On one hand, we are trapped inside Didion’s head for the entire book, and she is not an easy character to sit with. She is self righteous, self centered, and often deeply unkind. She is a bad friend to Matt, a bad friend and ex to Austin, and a bad sister to Sammie.
There were long stretches where I genuinely did not like her, and because we never get another perspective, there is no relief from that voice.
At the same time, the more the story unfolds, the more you understand why she is the way she is. Her childhood, her mother’s behavior, and the way responsibility was pushed onto her at a young age explain a lot. It makes her understandable, but not necessarily sympathetic. I could see the damage clearly, but I still struggled to excuse the way she treated the people around her.
The family dynamic was especially frustrating. The favoritism toward Sammie, the way their mother forced Didion to grow up too fast, and the resentment that festered between the sisters all felt painfully real. None of them were good to each other, and while that honesty worked, it also made the emotional payoff feel unearned by the end.
This is not a warm, nostalgic, coming of age story. It is not a comforting reunion tale. While the book ultimately lands in a place of reconciliation, it felt too neat for the amount of harm that had been done. Too many betrayals were brushed past, and too much pain was resolved simply because time forced them together.
That said, I do think this book will resonate deeply with a specific kind of reader. If you are someone who feels guarded, unlovable, or shaped by past hurt in ways that make connection difficult, you may see yourself reflected here. That recognition can be powerful, even if it is uncomfortable.
In the end, I did not love this book, and I did not hate it. It just was not for me. But I can absolutely see how it might be exactly right for someone else.
On one hand, we are trapped inside Didion’s head for the entire book, and she is not an easy character to sit with. She is self righteous, self centered, and often deeply unkind. She is a bad friend to Matt, a bad friend and ex to Austin, and a bad sister to Sammie.
There were long stretches where I genuinely did not like her, and because we never get another perspective, there is no relief from that voice.
At the same time, the more the story unfolds, the more you understand why she is the way she is. Her childhood, her mother’s behavior, and the way responsibility was pushed onto her at a young age explain a lot. It makes her understandable, but not necessarily sympathetic. I could see the damage clearly, but I still struggled to excuse the way she treated the people around her.
The family dynamic was especially frustrating. The favoritism toward Sammie, the way their mother forced Didion to grow up too fast, and the resentment that festered between the sisters all felt painfully real. None of them were good to each other, and while that honesty worked, it also made the emotional payoff feel unearned by the end.
This is not a warm, nostalgic, coming of age story. It is not a comforting reunion tale. While the book ultimately lands in a place of reconciliation, it felt too neat for the amount of harm that had been done. Too many betrayals were brushed past, and too much pain was resolved simply because time forced them together.
That said, I do think this book will resonate deeply with a specific kind of reader. If you are someone who feels guarded, unlovable, or shaped by past hurt in ways that make connection difficult, you may see yourself reflected here. That recognition can be powerful, even if it is uncomfortable.
In the end, I did not love this book, and I did not hate it. It just was not for me. But I can absolutely see how it might be exactly right for someone else.
February 3, 2026
Oh my god. Where do I even begin? This is easily one of my favourite books I’ve read in a long time. I could not put it down… and when I did, I was just thinking about when I could pick it back up again.
I loved the nostalgic vibe and how beautifully the setting was written. It genuinely felt like I was right there on Mercy Island. Every character had their own quirks, baggage, and issues, and somehow they all blended together perfectly. The dual timeline was SO well done too - you don’t fully know what happened between everyone at first, and each chapter feels like another little puzzle piece clicking into place.
Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison follows a group of old friends who’ve drifted apart over the years but are brought back together on a beachy island for the funeral of the woman who basically defined their teen summers. They’re already navigating awkward reunions and unresolved history… and then things get weird. They end up reliving the same day over and over. Being stuck like that forces them to finally face all the messy stuff they’ve been avoiding - hurt feelings, breakups, secrets, regrets - and decide whether they can actually move forward instead of staying stuck in the past (literally and emotionally).
This book gives Elin Hilderbrand vibes but set in the South, with a little sprinkle of magic and some spice… and honestly? I am HERE for it. Pre-order this one. I’m telling you now - this is going to be the ultimate summer long-weekend read. Grab a red solo cup of rosé on the beach and thank me later.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own!
I loved the nostalgic vibe and how beautifully the setting was written. It genuinely felt like I was right there on Mercy Island. Every character had their own quirks, baggage, and issues, and somehow they all blended together perfectly. The dual timeline was SO well done too - you don’t fully know what happened between everyone at first, and each chapter feels like another little puzzle piece clicking into place.
Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison follows a group of old friends who’ve drifted apart over the years but are brought back together on a beachy island for the funeral of the woman who basically defined their teen summers. They’re already navigating awkward reunions and unresolved history… and then things get weird. They end up reliving the same day over and over. Being stuck like that forces them to finally face all the messy stuff they’ve been avoiding - hurt feelings, breakups, secrets, regrets - and decide whether they can actually move forward instead of staying stuck in the past (literally and emotionally).
This book gives Elin Hilderbrand vibes but set in the South, with a little sprinkle of magic and some spice… and honestly? I am HERE for it. Pre-order this one. I’m telling you now - this is going to be the ultimate summer long-weekend read. Grab a red solo cup of rosé on the beach and thank me later.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own!
April 6, 2026
Destination Funeral follows Didion, Sammie, Matt, and Austin reuniting together for a weekend at Mercy Island in Didion and Sammie’s childhood summer home-Birdsong, in order to attend the funeral of Babe (their mother).
I was frustrated at first with this book, mostly because it was told only from the perspective of Didion, our main character, and some chapters also being told through the lens of an omniscient narrator. Seeing things only through Didion’s perspective was difficult because she wasn’t a particularly likable character-however, I did find that throughout the book I found her to become more relatable, particularly with her difficult relationship with her mother. I didn’t particularly like the trope of her working at a chef and hating it (maybe I’ve watched too much of The Bear). I loved the magical realism aspect of the book, and the whimsy of the world of Mercy Island, which gave off cozy Gilmore Girl vibes. Giving 4 stars because it was a fun read and I enjoyed it, but I feel like things wrapped up too quickly in the end, and the damage from years of being bad friends to one another, not speaking to one another, the way Austin treated Didion (terribly), was suddenly repaired and after a few weeks of “groundhogs days” and one big talk, they all lived happily ever after. I also wish we got a bit more background on some of the characters. Johnny Hart got so much hate and the only real explanation (prior to the fight and the accident) they gave was that he was just this awful guy who Sammie kept going back to. All in all it was a fun read.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!
I was frustrated at first with this book, mostly because it was told only from the perspective of Didion, our main character, and some chapters also being told through the lens of an omniscient narrator. Seeing things only through Didion’s perspective was difficult because she wasn’t a particularly likable character-however, I did find that throughout the book I found her to become more relatable, particularly with her difficult relationship with her mother. I didn’t particularly like the trope of her working at a chef and hating it (maybe I’ve watched too much of The Bear). I loved the magical realism aspect of the book, and the whimsy of the world of Mercy Island, which gave off cozy Gilmore Girl vibes. Giving 4 stars because it was a fun read and I enjoyed it, but I feel like things wrapped up too quickly in the end, and the damage from years of being bad friends to one another, not speaking to one another, the way Austin treated Didion (terribly), was suddenly repaired and after a few weeks of “groundhogs days” and one big talk, they all lived happily ever after. I also wish we got a bit more background on some of the characters. Johnny Hart got so much hate and the only real explanation (prior to the fight and the accident) they gave was that he was just this awful guy who Sammie kept going back to. All in all it was a fun read.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!
February 28, 2026
Heyyy why do I want to cry
”’You all get one big spell in your life.’
‘One big spell?’ Sammie repeated.
Babe nodded. ‘That’s right. One time in your life, you will get to ask the ancestors for one thing you really want. It has to be really big, though. Because it’s the only one you ever get.’”
“‘I think it actually makes sense,’ I call out, over the loud, loud rain. ‘Like, of course we’re here.’”
“It’s terrible to be world-endingly livid and have to get in something as silly as a golf cart.”
“Is being capable of greatness necessarily an indication that you should grasp it?”
This book was exactly (maybe exactly not) what I needed while feeling closed in by the 55 feet of snow that sits outside my window. Within the first 25 pages, I was Googling Mercy Island, desperately hoping it wasn’t a fictional location (spoiler: it is (mostly I think because no actual location could live up to its literary experience)).
Don’t get me wrong - Didion immediately grated on my nerves and I was ready to accept that she was just going to be unlikeable. But the more the story unfolds, the more I became invested in her character arc, and all the characters around her. This book brought me to almost tears because 1. I want so badly to have Babe’s home, 2. This made me discover some things about my own feelings with my day-to-day life that many of the characters reckoned with themselves, and 3. It was a touching story about sisters and moms and love.
”’You all get one big spell in your life.’
‘One big spell?’ Sammie repeated.
Babe nodded. ‘That’s right. One time in your life, you will get to ask the ancestors for one thing you really want. It has to be really big, though. Because it’s the only one you ever get.’”
“‘I think it actually makes sense,’ I call out, over the loud, loud rain. ‘Like, of course we’re here.’”
“It’s terrible to be world-endingly livid and have to get in something as silly as a golf cart.”
“Is being capable of greatness necessarily an indication that you should grasp it?”
This book was exactly (maybe exactly not) what I needed while feeling closed in by the 55 feet of snow that sits outside my window. Within the first 25 pages, I was Googling Mercy Island, desperately hoping it wasn’t a fictional location (spoiler: it is (mostly I think because no actual location could live up to its literary experience)).
Don’t get me wrong - Didion immediately grated on my nerves and I was ready to accept that she was just going to be unlikeable. But the more the story unfolds, the more I became invested in her character arc, and all the characters around her. This book brought me to almost tears because 1. I want so badly to have Babe’s home, 2. This made me discover some things about my own feelings with my day-to-day life that many of the characters reckoned with themselves, and 3. It was a touching story about sisters and moms and love.
March 2, 2026
After being blown away by The Other Side of now I was thrilled to get the opportunity to get an advanced reader copy (thanks NetGalley) of the author’s follow up. I didn’t know what to expect but was fun to find some more magical realism in this one too. Exploring themes of family, friends, relationships and regret, I enjoyed this book. It feels like it could have been tightened up a bit, nearly 400 pages was longer than expected. If you enjoy stories about family relationships with a dose of magical realism give this one a read!
February 22, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to this ARC, all following opinions are my own and freely given. I was so excited to get this as an ARC, after having read The Other Side of Now with BookHuddle a few months ago.
In this book we follow a group of four friends who grow up spending the summers at Birdsong, an idyllic home on Mercy Island. Didion, Sammie, Matt and Austin have had a falling out and they return to attend Babe’s funeral. Babe, Sammie and Didion’s mother, was larger than life, and they all return to pay their respects and agree to spend the weekend but have to address their unresolved issues and hurts from the past. They get more than they bargained for when they wake up on Saturday over and over again, reliving the day à la Groundhog Day.
I loved the nostalgic vibe of this book, and found the author did such a phenomenal job of really transporting us to Birdsong. Each character felt so messy and flawed, yet so well defined in their personalities and I found myself wanting to stay in this world as long as possible.
I really believe that we’ve all as humans wished a moment would never end, or we could relive a moment in time when you had the opportunity to say or do something different. I loved the magical realism aspect of this book and would absolutely recommend you pick this up on release day if you love found family, second chance romance and an atmospheric setting.
In this book we follow a group of four friends who grow up spending the summers at Birdsong, an idyllic home on Mercy Island. Didion, Sammie, Matt and Austin have had a falling out and they return to attend Babe’s funeral. Babe, Sammie and Didion’s mother, was larger than life, and they all return to pay their respects and agree to spend the weekend but have to address their unresolved issues and hurts from the past. They get more than they bargained for when they wake up on Saturday over and over again, reliving the day à la Groundhog Day.
I loved the nostalgic vibe of this book, and found the author did such a phenomenal job of really transporting us to Birdsong. Each character felt so messy and flawed, yet so well defined in their personalities and I found myself wanting to stay in this world as long as possible.
I really believe that we’ve all as humans wished a moment would never end, or we could relive a moment in time when you had the opportunity to say or do something different. I loved the magical realism aspect of this book and would absolutely recommend you pick this up on release day if you love found family, second chance romance and an atmospheric setting.
February 19, 2026
oh, i absolutely completely adored this. i loved all how it was focused on everyone but you were always in didion’s head. i loved all four of our main characters, especially didion. her complicated relationships with everyone, including her mother, were very well written. i loved the classic (to me) “time is fucked” of it all. didion’s relationship with austin, i was rooting for them the entire time. i love that i won. thank you for a great epilogue too! no book is finished without one.
thank you so much to NetGalley and publishers for this arc!
thank you so much to NetGalley and publishers for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
🏝️💗⚰️Destination Funeral ARC Review ⚰️💗🧩🏝️
Destination Funeral is a cleverly sharp, emotionally rich, introspective ode to first born children that fuses humor, heartache, and emotional realism with a playful, speculative twist.
🎵What A Difference a Day Makes by Dinah Washington🎵
🗓️ Expected Release: July 21, 2026
📓 For many years, four friends spent idyllic summers at Birdsong on Mercy Island, off the southern coast of Georgia. Until one day when things occur that result in the group painfully fracturing.
When Babe, mom to two of the four former friends (Didion and Sammie), suddenly passes away, all four head back to Mercy Island for her funeral. It's just one weekend, not even a full 48 hours — they can remain civil with one another for that short period. Probably. Maybe. (Narrator: they, in fact, could not — even if the whole time-loop situation hadn't happened).
They quickly learn that as much has changed in the years between, a lot hasn't changed. And maybe not everything they thought they knew was the full story. All the tensions, attraction, resentment, and unfinished business are still present and simmering.
They wake up on what should be Sunday, expecting to head home shortly after the funeral. Only to find out it's somehow Saturday again. And they keep waking up to re-live the same Saturday, again and again, only turning the heat up on all the simmering issues.
They're floundering in the group effort to find a way out of the loop. Until they start to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that fractured the group. Maybe what they need to save themselves is and endless weekend to hash everything out so they can begin to move forward (literally and metaphorically).��
🫵🏼 Destination Funeral is for readers who:
• enjoy character-driven stories
• appreciate messy, flawed, and deeply human characters
• enjoy funny and emotional deep stories
• appreciate stories that explore family dynamics (sisters and maternal figures in specific)
• enjoy second chance and romance in novels
• appreciate time-loop/magical realism with purpose
• are looking for a humorous and emotional beach read for this summer
• are firstborns and/or had to grow up way too young (if neither of those fit you, you still may enjoy, of course, but may find being inside Didion's head a bit more frustrating at times)
✨ No quotes as the final edition is available to verify. This book had so many lines I'd love to include. 🥹
📒 This is a story about adults who had to grow up and be the adult way too early in life. About how love looks different to everyone. An exploration of people being more than what you think of them. A look into (occasionally messy) family dynamics and how love can look to different people.
This novel doesn't shy away from exploring big emotions, like grief. Instead of being portrayed as neat closure, grief is portrayed as a looping emotional terrain that keeps people stuck until they confront it (however that looks for them). Not unlike the literal time-loop the characters find themselves experiencing. Rather than escaping the past, they must sit with it and discuss things they've let silently fester for way too long.
The emotional payoff was high for me. The narrative is delightfully drawn out just the right amount to keep my curiosity piqued and tension lightly simmering. When everything finally reaches a boiling point, it feels earned and as exciting as it is rewarding. The providential timing felt truly felicitous to this reader.
Destination Funeral, at its heart, is about messy, lifelong friendships. How they form, fracture, and sometimes healing requires brutally painful honesty. How the way you see a person may not always align with the truth of who they are.
📜 Told in then/now format in a way befitting the story and characters, it reads like a puzzle coming together in the most satisfying way. The gift of freedom, of choice, and the freedom to make choices. Mother's, daughters, sisters, friends.
For me, the then/now format worked wonderfully and I can't imagine a better format for this story. It heightened the impact and tension without making me frustrated that we were switching between them and now.
♾️ The narrative function of the time-loop in Destination Funeral is well done, fits the story, serves a purpose, and is impactful. Instead of just a gimmick, it's a meaningful mirror for emotional growth. It represents emotional inertia — characters aren't allowed to move forward chronologically until they process grief, guilt, resentment, etc with honesty.
It functions in a couple ways, besides the obvious opportunity for a second (and third, fourth...) chance. Not just for the romance aspect, but also for forgiveness, reconciliation, and growth (independent and collective growth). Revisiting old choices and regrets allows the characters to reflect on how much of life is defined by the actions not taken. That how you envision love looking isn't necessarily how someone else sees it looking and that doesn't mean that don't love you, or love you less. That love can look differently at different points in your life. The loops of life we all get comfortable or even stuck in with our busy schedules and doom scrolling.
The time-loop also functions as a metaphor for how all too often people repeat emotional cycles in real life — reliving the same pains until they make peace with past wounds and inner truths.
✍🏼 Clearly and accessibly written, this was a breeze to read. Descriptions give you plenty of material to set and imagine the scene without being verbose.
⏳ I quite enjoyed the pace. Initially, you're really not sure what's going on and I enjoyed that aspect. I was interested and invested on page one, I needed to know how Didion got to that point in her life. What caused this huge riff? I love that the author doesn't hold our hands too tightly, but rather loosely leads us on a tumultuous walk along the shore. Delicately leaving little crumbs for us to follow along the way.
As someone who really doesn't like the movie Groundhog Day, I was a bit concerned that this time-loop would drag on too long. Thankfully, it didn't and I felt it was well timed.
🏝️ Taking place almost entirely on Mercy Island, it almost feels like a thin veil of Practical Magic is infused in the sand that makes up the landscape. Full of charm, nostalgia, character, personality, and a pinch of whimsy, this is a setting that was easy to get lost in. The setting almost feels like a character in the story (a background character, but still).
I could be overthinking it, but I feel like the tumultuous weather they experience over and over mirrors their tumultuous inner worlds. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes unforgiving, always deeply formative.
⚰️ The funeral itself isn't merely an ending. It's a symbolic threshold between past bonds and future possibilities. It forces a gathering that otherwise may not have ever happened, and the time-loop ensures the gathering becomes meaningful.
📝 There's a theory mentioned after an event we see from the past. It's kind of a running theory as to a possible reason for the time-loop.
👥 The family dynamics are certainly dynamic, at times. I found that to resonate deeply, particularly the emotional impact.
I found the characters to be well developed with interesting backstories and drives. They're messy, flawed, and deeply human (even though that made them sometimes frustrating) made them dimensional, nuanced, and real.
Didion isn't a character everyone will love, particularly being in her head for a big chunk of the book. If you were fortunate enough to have a true childhood, I feel like you may enjoy being in her head less. But for those of us who's childhood included becoming an adult at a very young age and raising siblings — you'll feel deeply seen.
Inclusive cast done in a way that feels organic - one of the main characters is gay.
I don't recall there being much in the way of diversity in the characters. But we do get some inclusivity.
The secondary and background characters were developed to a fitting level and interesting. They served the story and main cast well by enriching it.
💕 Because of the way the plot and background unfolds, I wasn't 100% sure I should be rooting for the couple. They first fell in love in their mid-teens. It wasn't always a healthy relationship, so I was torn until probably around 80% (but in a good way lol). I actually loved that about this book because it made it feel more raw, grounded, and real. It better aligns with relationships in real life for me. While their relationship wasn't always healthy, if both people work on themselves maybe they can try again to have a healthy relationship down the road.
✨ If you appreciate a romance book where the main plot isn't exclusively romance focused - you'll enjoy this. If you prefer the plot to be exclusively romance focused, you may not.
🌶️ This isn't a book you'd read just for the spice. It's more of a slow burn in this regard, but the focus isn't on spice. What you do get is well done, fits the characters, timed in a way that feels earned.
⚠️ TW: parental death, drug/alcohol use, infant related stuff that I can't specify without spoiling
📚 If you liked: The First to Die at the End (Adam Silvera), The Lightest Object in the Universe (Kimi Eisele), Cemetery Boys (Aiden Thomas), Mexican Gothic (Silvia Moreno-Garcia), Swan Song (Elin Hilderbrand), The Midnight Library (Matt Haig), or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid), then I think you'd like this.
Thank you to @ Paige Harbison @ St Martin's press @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
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frtc. I think this book will resonate more with adults who had to grow up too quickly. those who had to be the mature and responsible one way too young, especially if they had to raise siblings when they were children themselves. if you had an actual childhood, the MCs perspective this is told in could be a struggle to connect situation at times.
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🏝️💗⚰️Destination Funeral ARC Review ⚰️💗🧩🏝️
Destination Funeral is a cleverly sharp, emotionally rich, introspective ode to first born children that fuses humor, heartache, and emotional realism with a playful, speculative twist.
🎵What A Difference a Day Makes by Dinah Washington🎵
🗓️ Expected Release: July 21, 2026
📓 For many years, four friends spent idyllic summers at Birdsong on Mercy Island, off the southern coast of Georgia. Until one day when things occur that result in the group painfully fracturing.
When Babe, mom to two of the four former friends (Didion and Sammie), suddenly passes away, all four head back to Mercy Island for her funeral. It's just one weekend, not even a full 48 hours — they can remain civil with one another for that short period. Probably. Maybe. (Narrator: they, in fact, could not — even if the whole time-loop situation hadn't happened).
They quickly learn that as much has changed in the years between, a lot hasn't changed. And maybe not everything they thought they knew was the full story. All the tensions, attraction, resentment, and unfinished business are still present and simmering.
They wake up on what should be Sunday, expecting to head home shortly after the funeral. Only to find out it's somehow Saturday again. And they keep waking up to re-live the same Saturday, again and again, only turning the heat up on all the simmering issues.
They're floundering in the group effort to find a way out of the loop. Until they start to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that fractured the group. Maybe what they need to save themselves is and endless weekend to hash everything out so they can begin to move forward (literally and metaphorically).��
🫵🏼 Destination Funeral is for readers who:
• enjoy character-driven stories
• appreciate messy, flawed, and deeply human characters
• enjoy funny and emotional deep stories
• appreciate stories that explore family dynamics (sisters and maternal figures in specific)
• enjoy second chance and romance in novels
• appreciate time-loop/magical realism with purpose
• are looking for a humorous and emotional beach read for this summer
• are firstborns and/or had to grow up way too young (if neither of those fit you, you still may enjoy, of course, but may find being inside Didion's head a bit more frustrating at times)
✨ No quotes as the final edition is available to verify. This book had so many lines I'd love to include. 🥹
📒 This is a story about adults who had to grow up and be the adult way too early in life. About how love looks different to everyone. An exploration of people being more than what you think of them. A look into (occasionally messy) family dynamics and how love can look to different people.
This novel doesn't shy away from exploring big emotions, like grief. Instead of being portrayed as neat closure, grief is portrayed as a looping emotional terrain that keeps people stuck until they confront it (however that looks for them). Not unlike the literal time-loop the characters find themselves experiencing. Rather than escaping the past, they must sit with it and discuss things they've let silently fester for way too long.
The emotional payoff was high for me. The narrative is delightfully drawn out just the right amount to keep my curiosity piqued and tension lightly simmering. When everything finally reaches a boiling point, it feels earned and as exciting as it is rewarding. The providential timing felt truly felicitous to this reader.
Destination Funeral, at its heart, is about messy, lifelong friendships. How they form, fracture, and sometimes healing requires brutally painful honesty. How the way you see a person may not always align with the truth of who they are.
📜 Told in then/now format in a way befitting the story and characters, it reads like a puzzle coming together in the most satisfying way. The gift of freedom, of choice, and the freedom to make choices. Mother's, daughters, sisters, friends.
For me, the then/now format worked wonderfully and I can't imagine a better format for this story. It heightened the impact and tension without making me frustrated that we were switching between them and now.
♾️ The narrative function of the time-loop in Destination Funeral is well done, fits the story, serves a purpose, and is impactful. Instead of just a gimmick, it's a meaningful mirror for emotional growth. It represents emotional inertia — characters aren't allowed to move forward chronologically until they process grief, guilt, resentment, etc with honesty.
It functions in a couple ways, besides the obvious opportunity for a second (and third, fourth...) chance. Not just for the romance aspect, but also for forgiveness, reconciliation, and growth (independent and collective growth). Revisiting old choices and regrets allows the characters to reflect on how much of life is defined by the actions not taken. That how you envision love looking isn't necessarily how someone else sees it looking and that doesn't mean that don't love you, or love you less. That love can look differently at different points in your life. The loops of life we all get comfortable or even stuck in with our busy schedules and doom scrolling.
The time-loop also functions as a metaphor for how all too often people repeat emotional cycles in real life — reliving the same pains until they make peace with past wounds and inner truths.
✍🏼 Clearly and accessibly written, this was a breeze to read. Descriptions give you plenty of material to set and imagine the scene without being verbose.
⏳ I quite enjoyed the pace. Initially, you're really not sure what's going on and I enjoyed that aspect. I was interested and invested on page one, I needed to know how Didion got to that point in her life. What caused this huge riff? I love that the author doesn't hold our hands too tightly, but rather loosely leads us on a tumultuous walk along the shore. Delicately leaving little crumbs for us to follow along the way.
As someone who really doesn't like the movie Groundhog Day, I was a bit concerned that this time-loop would drag on too long. Thankfully, it didn't and I felt it was well timed.
🏝️ Taking place almost entirely on Mercy Island, it almost feels like a thin veil of Practical Magic is infused in the sand that makes up the landscape. Full of charm, nostalgia, character, personality, and a pinch of whimsy, this is a setting that was easy to get lost in. The setting almost feels like a character in the story (a background character, but still).
I could be overthinking it, but I feel like the tumultuous weather they experience over and over mirrors their tumultuous inner worlds. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes unforgiving, always deeply formative.
⚰️ The funeral itself isn't merely an ending. It's a symbolic threshold between past bonds and future possibilities. It forces a gathering that otherwise may not have ever happened, and the time-loop ensures the gathering becomes meaningful.
📝 There's a theory mentioned after an event we see from the past. It's kind of a running theory as to a possible reason for the time-loop.
👥 The family dynamics are certainly dynamic, at times. I found that to resonate deeply, particularly the emotional impact.
I found the characters to be well developed with interesting backstories and drives. They're messy, flawed, and deeply human (even though that made them sometimes frustrating) made them dimensional, nuanced, and real.
Didion isn't a character everyone will love, particularly being in her head for a big chunk of the book. If you were fortunate enough to have a true childhood, I feel like you may enjoy being in her head less. But for those of us who's childhood included becoming an adult at a very young age and raising siblings — you'll feel deeply seen.
Inclusive cast done in a way that feels organic - one of the main characters is gay.
I don't recall there being much in the way of diversity in the characters. But we do get some inclusivity.
The secondary and background characters were developed to a fitting level and interesting. They served the story and main cast well by enriching it.
💕 Because of the way the plot and background unfolds, I wasn't 100% sure I should be rooting for the couple. They first fell in love in their mid-teens. It wasn't always a healthy relationship, so I was torn until probably around 80% (but in a good way lol). I actually loved that about this book because it made it feel more raw, grounded, and real. It better aligns with relationships in real life for me. While their relationship wasn't always healthy, if both people work on themselves maybe they can try again to have a healthy relationship down the road.
✨ If you appreciate a romance book where the main plot isn't exclusively romance focused - you'll enjoy this. If you prefer the plot to be exclusively romance focused, you may not.
🌶️ This isn't a book you'd read just for the spice. It's more of a slow burn in this regard, but the focus isn't on spice. What you do get is well done, fits the characters, timed in a way that feels earned.
⚠️ TW: parental death, drug/alcohol use, infant related stuff that I can't specify without spoiling
📚 If you liked: The First to Die at the End (Adam Silvera), The Lightest Object in the Universe (Kimi Eisele), Cemetery Boys (Aiden Thomas), Mexican Gothic (Silvia Moreno-Garcia), Swan Song (Elin Hilderbrand), The Midnight Library (Matt Haig), or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid), then I think you'd like this.
Thank you to @ Paige Harbison @ St Martin's press @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
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frtc. I think this book will resonate more with adults who had to grow up too quickly. those who had to be the mature and responsible one way too young, especially if they had to raise siblings when they were children themselves. if you had an actual childhood, the MCs perspective this is told in could be a struggle to connect situation at times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So here I was, book browsing on Netgalley, and my eye caught this book with such a beautiful, captivating cover and an unusual title! Curious, I read the blurb to find that the book was described as funny and reflective, exactly the kind of qualities I love in a book. That made me want to read it even more. And then I realized it was available to read immediately, which was the final deciding factor and thus started my journey with this book!
From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing was so seamless, so smooth, so beautiful. It was poetic in places, reflective in others, and so soothing to read. I loved the way it was written so much and I think that’s part of why I felt so pulled into the story. I could really see myself in Didion. I’m also the eldest daughter in my family, so I know exactly how it feels to be in her place, always the perceptive one, the one who fixed everything, wary of everyone’s emotions, the “yes person” of the family. My heart really went out to Didion.
And somewhere along the way, I realized this was also a story about second chances in love. I found myself completely lost in Didion and Austin’s romance, it was so beautiful and real, and it didn’t feel forced at all. I loved every single character, although Sammy was a bit difficult to love and forgive easily. But from her point of view, I understood her and why she behaved the way she did.
The most emotional part for me was towards the end, especially when Didion finally receives that letter from her mother. The last part of the book was so raw and heartfelt that I think I was reading with blurry eyes, tears streaking down my face. It was so powerful and moving, I couldn’t help but feel everything.
Overall, Destination Funeral is a beautiful book. I loved every second of it, enjoyed it so much that I just couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those stories that stays with you. It’s a story that touched my heart deeply, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing was so seamless, so smooth, so beautiful. It was poetic in places, reflective in others, and so soothing to read. I loved the way it was written so much and I think that’s part of why I felt so pulled into the story. I could really see myself in Didion. I’m also the eldest daughter in my family, so I know exactly how it feels to be in her place, always the perceptive one, the one who fixed everything, wary of everyone’s emotions, the “yes person” of the family. My heart really went out to Didion.
And somewhere along the way, I realized this was also a story about second chances in love. I found myself completely lost in Didion and Austin’s romance, it was so beautiful and real, and it didn’t feel forced at all. I loved every single character, although Sammy was a bit difficult to love and forgive easily. But from her point of view, I understood her and why she behaved the way she did.
The most emotional part for me was towards the end, especially when Didion finally receives that letter from her mother. The last part of the book was so raw and heartfelt that I think I was reading with blurry eyes, tears streaking down my face. It was so powerful and moving, I couldn’t help but feel everything.
Overall, Destination Funeral is a beautiful book. I loved every second of it, enjoyed it so much that I just couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those stories that stays with you. It’s a story that touched my heart deeply, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25🌟
Flashbacks, second chance love, blood family and found family, forced proximity, magical realism, characters to love and hate, so much drama, some trauma, and a book long shout out to first born daughters with absent mothers. Four friends and siblings meet again after years apart for the funeral of their mother/mother figure. A heartfelt journey as they re-live the same day over and over until they can figure out what they need to do to make the calendar change. All this while flashing back to the summers when they were growing up, learning who they were and the mistakes they made along the way.
The entire book is from the point of view of Didion who was a character to love at times and very strongly dislike the rest of the time. Her personality makes more sense as the backstory unfolds. The characters in general were great. I honestly am not sure if multi pov would have been better or if it was perfect the way it was. I want to know more about the other characters, but feel it would have been a completely different story if it was multi pov.
I enjoyed the nostalgic themes and forced proximity groundhog day style. I also liked how relatable some of the character relationships were throughout the book.
The trauma these characters went through in some cases seemed glossed over. It was only from the one point of view, but some of the life changing ones were just kind of noted and I felt could have used more emotion.
Thanks to Paige Harbison, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an Arc to review.
Flashbacks, second chance love, blood family and found family, forced proximity, magical realism, characters to love and hate, so much drama, some trauma, and a book long shout out to first born daughters with absent mothers. Four friends and siblings meet again after years apart for the funeral of their mother/mother figure. A heartfelt journey as they re-live the same day over and over until they can figure out what they need to do to make the calendar change. All this while flashing back to the summers when they were growing up, learning who they were and the mistakes they made along the way.
The entire book is from the point of view of Didion who was a character to love at times and very strongly dislike the rest of the time. Her personality makes more sense as the backstory unfolds. The characters in general were great. I honestly am not sure if multi pov would have been better or if it was perfect the way it was. I want to know more about the other characters, but feel it would have been a completely different story if it was multi pov.
I enjoyed the nostalgic themes and forced proximity groundhog day style. I also liked how relatable some of the character relationships were throughout the book.
The trauma these characters went through in some cases seemed glossed over. It was only from the one point of view, but some of the life changing ones were just kind of noted and I felt could have used more emotion.
Thanks to Paige Harbison, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an Arc to review.
April 21, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book.
I loved Paige Harbison’s book from last year and when I saw this was coming out I knew I had to read it. It definitely didn’t disappoint! It deals heavily with grief and family veering off into totally different directions. I was able to connect to that as I’ve dealt with grief myself. It’s never easy. I easily connected to the main character Didion. What she had to deal with growing up really made me feel for her. Some of the stuff her mom and sister said to her made me angry for Didion. The dual timelines in this really helped the story too. The thing I struggled with the most and why it wasn’t 5 stars was because of the way it wrapped up. I felt it was too easy. I was waiting for something big to happen but it just didn’t happen for me. However overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely be reading more books from this author.
I loved Paige Harbison’s book from last year and when I saw this was coming out I knew I had to read it. It definitely didn’t disappoint! It deals heavily with grief and family veering off into totally different directions. I was able to connect to that as I’ve dealt with grief myself. It’s never easy. I easily connected to the main character Didion. What she had to deal with growing up really made me feel for her. Some of the stuff her mom and sister said to her made me angry for Didion. The dual timelines in this really helped the story too. The thing I struggled with the most and why it wasn’t 5 stars was because of the way it wrapped up. I felt it was too easy. I was waiting for something big to happen but it just didn’t happen for me. However overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely be reading more books from this author.
April 15, 2026
Didion is headed back to Mercy Island for the celebration of life of her mother, Babe. She never expected to return and upon her arrival is flooded with memories, good and bad. She just needs to get through the weekend and can go back to her life in New York. If only it were that simple…::
Didion has to navigate her strained relationship with her sister, reconnect with an old friend, and see her first love. Thanks to a time loop, the foursome is forced to relive their Saturday over and over. Each Saturday gives the foursome the opportunity to grieve, forgive, heal, and grow. Sunday is only a day away, they just have to figure out how to get there.
I enjoyed this book and liked that Didion was messy and had a lot to figure out. My biggest issue was that it started slowly and took a while for me to get into it.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC.
Didion has to navigate her strained relationship with her sister, reconnect with an old friend, and see her first love. Thanks to a time loop, the foursome is forced to relive their Saturday over and over. Each Saturday gives the foursome the opportunity to grieve, forgive, heal, and grow. Sunday is only a day away, they just have to figure out how to get there.
I enjoyed this book and liked that Didion was messy and had a lot to figure out. My biggest issue was that it started slowly and took a while for me to get into it.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC.
March 24, 2026
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley*
This was such a fun take on magical realism. I enjoy a time loop story, and this one delivered—especially with how the author explained why and how everything was happening. It felt creative without being overly confusing.
One thing I really appreciated was the consistency. Time loop stories can get messy fast, but this one stayed grounded. Even if there were small plot holes (none stood out to me personally), they weren’t distracting enough to pull me out of the story.
Where the book really worked for me was in the relationships. The way the main character came to terms with different people in her life felt balanced and realistic—each relationship had its own kind of resolution, which made the ending feel satisfying without being too neat.
Overall, a really enjoyable, thoughtful read with a unique premise and strong emotional payoff.
This was such a fun take on magical realism. I enjoy a time loop story, and this one delivered—especially with how the author explained why and how everything was happening. It felt creative without being overly confusing.
One thing I really appreciated was the consistency. Time loop stories can get messy fast, but this one stayed grounded. Even if there were small plot holes (none stood out to me personally), they weren’t distracting enough to pull me out of the story.
Where the book really worked for me was in the relationships. The way the main character came to terms with different people in her life felt balanced and realistic—each relationship had its own kind of resolution, which made the ending feel satisfying without being too neat.
Overall, a really enjoyable, thoughtful read with a unique premise and strong emotional payoff.
May 7, 2026
When matriarch Babe passes away, her will states that the four friends come together again and spend the weekend together before deciding what to do with the house. As the four realize they're stuck in a time loop of Saturdays, the two sisters begin to wonder if this was Babe's "one big spell" to help the group with their unfinished business.
I am not the eldest daughter, but ooooeeeee did I feel for Didion!!! Destination Funeral is full of complicated grief and there were moments that I wanted to hug Didion, shake her, or just cry for her. The story is told in a dual timeline/flashback format and as we get more and more history of our four friends, the more I wondered if they would be able to find forgiveness and work through the regret and betrayals.
While all of the relationships were complicated in their own way, Didion's relationships with her mom and her sister sat at the forefront for me. When you add in the how of Babe's death and that impact on the relationship between the sisters, you could feel the tension and the sadness coming through the pages. While heavy topics were included in this read, Harbison handled them with care (but I would recommend checking a trigger warning list if you're concerned).
I loved this book, it was a big cry for me, but I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for an ARC of what is likely one of my favorite books of the year!
I am not the eldest daughter, but ooooeeeee did I feel for Didion!!! Destination Funeral is full of complicated grief and there were moments that I wanted to hug Didion, shake her, or just cry for her. The story is told in a dual timeline/flashback format and as we get more and more history of our four friends, the more I wondered if they would be able to find forgiveness and work through the regret and betrayals.
While all of the relationships were complicated in their own way, Didion's relationships with her mom and her sister sat at the forefront for me. When you add in the how of Babe's death and that impact on the relationship between the sisters, you could feel the tension and the sadness coming through the pages. While heavy topics were included in this read, Harbison handled them with care (but I would recommend checking a trigger warning list if you're concerned).
I loved this book, it was a big cry for me, but I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for an ARC of what is likely one of my favorite books of the year!
May 2, 2026
3.5 - Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Didion finds herself back on Mercy Island after the death of her mother, Babe. There she is reunited with her younger sister and their two friends, all of whom she’s had some sort of falling out with. As their short weekend turns into a reoccurring Saturday, they all heal, grieve, and reminisce.
This took me a bit to get into! The beginning is slow and Didion was not very likable at first. I do really enjoy books where the house is like a character itself and Birdsong was no different. I didn’t enjoy the love story between Didion and Austin though and I’m not convinced Austin is the greatest person. I think I would’ve enjoyed this one more on audio but alas, this was an eyeball read.
Didion finds herself back on Mercy Island after the death of her mother, Babe. There she is reunited with her younger sister and their two friends, all of whom she’s had some sort of falling out with. As their short weekend turns into a reoccurring Saturday, they all heal, grieve, and reminisce.
This took me a bit to get into! The beginning is slow and Didion was not very likable at first. I do really enjoy books where the house is like a character itself and Birdsong was no different. I didn’t enjoy the love story between Didion and Austin though and I’m not convinced Austin is the greatest person. I think I would’ve enjoyed this one more on audio but alas, this was an eyeball read.
January 29, 2026
5⭐️
This book is for first born daughters everywhere. Even more so it’s for first born daughters in their 30s who feel like they understand their own mothers differently after becoming a mother themselves.
This had so many profound tidbits that if I annotated books, I’d have highlighted. It was thought-provoking and tear-jerking and still managed to spark a lot of joy.
The plot caught my attention right away: I love magical realism and space/time/reality tropes. The Mercy island setting was delightful and the cast of characters was especially dynamic. They were all a little toxic, but in a way that made them realistic. I was rooting for them. There were multiple timelines, the “now” timeline being much more dominant than the past timelines which flowed rather seamlessly.
I loved this book. I smiled. I cried. Heck, I even read the acknowledgements and cried. I will remember this one for years to come.
Thank you to St. Martins Press for the invitation to read an early copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is for first born daughters everywhere. Even more so it’s for first born daughters in their 30s who feel like they understand their own mothers differently after becoming a mother themselves.
This had so many profound tidbits that if I annotated books, I’d have highlighted. It was thought-provoking and tear-jerking and still managed to spark a lot of joy.
The plot caught my attention right away: I love magical realism and space/time/reality tropes. The Mercy island setting was delightful and the cast of characters was especially dynamic. They were all a little toxic, but in a way that made them realistic. I was rooting for them. There were multiple timelines, the “now” timeline being much more dominant than the past timelines which flowed rather seamlessly.
I loved this book. I smiled. I cried. Heck, I even read the acknowledgements and cried. I will remember this one for years to come.
Thank you to St. Martins Press for the invitation to read an early copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2026
This book was so good! I would definitely recommend it for lovers of Carley Fortune and Ashley Poston. Didion is headed home for her mother’s funeral. On this trip she needs to face not only her estranged sister, but her old best friend, as well as an ex-boyfriend. What she thinks will only be a weekend lasts much longer, when she wakes up and it’s Saturday over and over again. This story has great character growth and I loved it so much! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc.
Want to Read
March 24, 2026✨✨Destination Funeral ✨✨
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
⏳ What to Expect
• Time loop
• Estranged friend group
• Funeral setting
• Second chances
• Past secrets
• Coastal small town
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
📝 Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
⏳ What to Expect
• Time loop
• Estranged friend group
• Funeral setting
• Second chances
• Past secrets
• Coastal small town
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
📝 Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
March 17, 2026
The Other Side of Now absolutely blew my mind; it was one of my favorite books from last year. I couldn't wait to jump into Destination Funeral , and it did not disappoint. Paige Harbison has a talent for weaving magical realism into her novels where it flows naturally with the story and doesn't feel forced.
This book had my attention from the very beginning. This author has such a beautiful and descriptive writing style and it's so easy to stay engaged. It was a bit of a slower paced read but I felt that it was perfect for the story being told.
An estranged group of friends, with a very messy history, are reunited on Mercy Island for the funeral and will reading of the one person they were all connected to, Babe. For our main character, Didion, the reunion is dreaded, awkward and emotional. There are a lot of unresolved issues and emotions lurking in this group of friends and while Didion may have removed herself years ago, she finds that the rest of the group is not as disconnected from one another as she is.
What could make a tense setting even better? A time loop of course! That is what this group of friends find themselves stuck in. It is the perfect opportunity for them to start repairing broken relationships, mending broken and confused hearts, gaining insight and clarity on their teenage years and most importantly, a second chance at love and healthy relationships for all of them.
Destination Funeral's expected release 7/21/26! You won't regret making sure this is on your TBR. It will hopefully leave you with a big smile and a warmed heart! Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Paige Harbison for this advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.
This book had my attention from the very beginning. This author has such a beautiful and descriptive writing style and it's so easy to stay engaged. It was a bit of a slower paced read but I felt that it was perfect for the story being told.
An estranged group of friends, with a very messy history, are reunited on Mercy Island for the funeral and will reading of the one person they were all connected to, Babe. For our main character, Didion, the reunion is dreaded, awkward and emotional. There are a lot of unresolved issues and emotions lurking in this group of friends and while Didion may have removed herself years ago, she finds that the rest of the group is not as disconnected from one another as she is.
What could make a tense setting even better? A time loop of course! That is what this group of friends find themselves stuck in. It is the perfect opportunity for them to start repairing broken relationships, mending broken and confused hearts, gaining insight and clarity on their teenage years and most importantly, a second chance at love and healthy relationships for all of them.
Destination Funeral's expected release 7/21/26! You won't regret making sure this is on your TBR. It will hopefully leave you with a big smile and a warmed heart! Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Paige Harbison for this advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2026
Groundhog Day meets Weekend at Bernie’s meets When Harry Meets Sally - I really enjoyed this one. It was a slow starting 10%, but the rest rolled out like a movie in my head.
And to think I was suffering from a bad case of eldest daughter syndrome!!
And to think I was suffering from a bad case of eldest daughter syndrome!!
February 20, 2026
this took awhile for me to get into! I’m not into the groundhog’s day trope (be it books, movies, etc). It seemed endless that the foursome would find a way to break the Saturday repeat. The family dynamics were incredibly frustrating and Didion a very hard protagonist to sit with.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**spoiler alert** This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review This review may contain spoilers.
Destination Funeral completely took me by surprise in the best possible way. I went in blind, and from the very first pages, I couldn’t put it down. What starts as an intriguing setup—a funeral, a fractured friend group, a pink house on a Georgia island, and a time loop—slowly unfolds into something much deeper, sadder, stranger, and more beautiful than I expected.
This book deals with so much. Grief. Loss. Friendship breakups. Sibling wounds. Parents loving their children differently. Illness. Career dissatisfaction. The kind of romantic heartbreak that doesn’t ever really leave your bones. And yet none of it felt heavy-handed. Paige Harbison threads all of these complicated, painful things through the story with such care, and the hint of magic running beneath it all made me keep turning the pages. I didn’t just want to know how the time loop worked or when it would end—I wanted to stay there, trapped with these characters, and let the story keep unfolding.
Didion is such an interesting main character because she is not easy. She’s jagged-edged and deeply flawed. She’s selfish and angry and avoidant and often incredibly frustrating—but she is also layered in a way that made her feel achingly real to me. I know some readers will probably struggle to connect with her, but I had the opposite experience. I connected with her immediately and even more as the book went on. I understood her ambition. Her love of cooking. Her need to be good at something, to build something for herself, and then the grief of realizing that the thing you once loved has become the very thing making you miserable. I felt that deeply. I also connected with her tendency to wear avoidance like armor and call it strength. Didion is messy, but she’s messy in such a human way that made me love her as a character.
Birdsong itself deserves its own paragraph because I truly did not want to leave. The setting is so vivid and immersive. That weathered pink house on Mercy Island felt magical from the moment we arrived, and once the Saturdays started repeating, I almost didn’t want the loop to end either. It had this dreamy, eerie, nostalgic quality that made the whole book feel suspended in time—not just literally, but emotionally. I wanted to keep wandering through those rooms, keep sitting at that dinner table, keep watching these people unravel and rebuild themselves in that strange, liminal space.
I also loved the flashbacks and the way the story slowly reveals how these characters became who they are. The tension between past and present is one of the strongest parts of the book. You understand very early on that everyone is carrying old pain, but the details are parceled out in a way that makes each reveal land harder. This isn’t just a story about one loss. It’s about all the losses that come before it and after it—the slow ones, the sharp ones, the ones you never really admit are losses at all.
What really stood out to me was how beautifully this book handled relationships—especially the complicated, messy ones. The dynamics between Didion, her sister, her friends, and her teenage romance are layered with resentment, misunderstanding, and love that never fully went away. Nothing is simplified or brushed over. The hurt feels real, the tension feels earned, and the healing—when it comes—feels just as complicated. I loved that this wasn’t a neat, tidy story about forgiveness. It was about choosing to face the past, even when it’s uncomfortable, and deciding what you’re willing to carry forward.
And the romance…it’s not loud or overly polished. It’s tangled up in history and hurt and timing, which made it feel all the more meaningful. It’s less about grand gestures and more about recognition—about seeing someone clearly, even after everything that’s happened. That thread of second chances, not just in love but in friendship and self-understanding, runs so strongly through the entire story.
Ultimately, Destination Funeral is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It feels atmospheric and a little odd at first, and then suddenly you’re fully immersed—completely invested in these characters, their past, and whether they’ll find a way to move forward. It made me laugh, it made me ache, and it left me sitting with that quiet, reflective feeling you only get from stories that really mean something.
I absolutely adored this book from start to finish, and it's one of my favorite reads of the year so far. It’s emotional, immersive, a little bit magical, and so much deeper than you expect going in. I didn’t want to leave Birdsong, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters—and honestly, I’d go back and relive that endless Saturday with them in a heartbeat.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read Destination Funeral in exchange for an honest review.
Destination Funeral completely took me by surprise in the best possible way. I went in blind, and from the very first pages, I couldn’t put it down. What starts as an intriguing setup—a funeral, a fractured friend group, a pink house on a Georgia island, and a time loop—slowly unfolds into something much deeper, sadder, stranger, and more beautiful than I expected.
This book deals with so much. Grief. Loss. Friendship breakups. Sibling wounds. Parents loving their children differently. Illness. Career dissatisfaction. The kind of romantic heartbreak that doesn’t ever really leave your bones. And yet none of it felt heavy-handed. Paige Harbison threads all of these complicated, painful things through the story with such care, and the hint of magic running beneath it all made me keep turning the pages. I didn’t just want to know how the time loop worked or when it would end—I wanted to stay there, trapped with these characters, and let the story keep unfolding.
Didion is such an interesting main character because she is not easy. She’s jagged-edged and deeply flawed. She’s selfish and angry and avoidant and often incredibly frustrating—but she is also layered in a way that made her feel achingly real to me. I know some readers will probably struggle to connect with her, but I had the opposite experience. I connected with her immediately and even more as the book went on. I understood her ambition. Her love of cooking. Her need to be good at something, to build something for herself, and then the grief of realizing that the thing you once loved has become the very thing making you miserable. I felt that deeply. I also connected with her tendency to wear avoidance like armor and call it strength. Didion is messy, but she’s messy in such a human way that made me love her as a character.
Birdsong itself deserves its own paragraph because I truly did not want to leave. The setting is so vivid and immersive. That weathered pink house on Mercy Island felt magical from the moment we arrived, and once the Saturdays started repeating, I almost didn’t want the loop to end either. It had this dreamy, eerie, nostalgic quality that made the whole book feel suspended in time—not just literally, but emotionally. I wanted to keep wandering through those rooms, keep sitting at that dinner table, keep watching these people unravel and rebuild themselves in that strange, liminal space.
I also loved the flashbacks and the way the story slowly reveals how these characters became who they are. The tension between past and present is one of the strongest parts of the book. You understand very early on that everyone is carrying old pain, but the details are parceled out in a way that makes each reveal land harder. This isn’t just a story about one loss. It’s about all the losses that come before it and after it—the slow ones, the sharp ones, the ones you never really admit are losses at all.
What really stood out to me was how beautifully this book handled relationships—especially the complicated, messy ones. The dynamics between Didion, her sister, her friends, and her teenage romance are layered with resentment, misunderstanding, and love that never fully went away. Nothing is simplified or brushed over. The hurt feels real, the tension feels earned, and the healing—when it comes—feels just as complicated. I loved that this wasn’t a neat, tidy story about forgiveness. It was about choosing to face the past, even when it’s uncomfortable, and deciding what you’re willing to carry forward.
And the romance…it’s not loud or overly polished. It’s tangled up in history and hurt and timing, which made it feel all the more meaningful. It’s less about grand gestures and more about recognition—about seeing someone clearly, even after everything that’s happened. That thread of second chances, not just in love but in friendship and self-understanding, runs so strongly through the entire story.
Ultimately, Destination Funeral is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It feels atmospheric and a little odd at first, and then suddenly you’re fully immersed—completely invested in these characters, their past, and whether they’ll find a way to move forward. It made me laugh, it made me ache, and it left me sitting with that quiet, reflective feeling you only get from stories that really mean something.
I absolutely adored this book from start to finish, and it's one of my favorite reads of the year so far. It’s emotional, immersive, a little bit magical, and so much deeper than you expect going in. I didn’t want to leave Birdsong, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters—and honestly, I’d go back and relive that endless Saturday with them in a heartbeat.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read Destination Funeral in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't know if Paige Harbison had any input on the cover or title of the book, but neither one feels like they are a good fit for the actual story. The cover and title make it seem like this book is a fun story about people being brought together at some beautiful place to attend a funeral. And yes, those things happen in the book, but it is not a fun story for the most part, and the memorial service for the character that has died is really only a small part of the book.
This is much more serious women's fiction, and I struggled to get through the first quarter of the book, because it felt like every other trope about a woman being forced to revisit a past she's run away from, with people she no longer gets along with, after they mutually inherit a house together on a beach or island. In this book it's Didion, a semi-famous chef in New York City, who returns to the home of the mother she grew apart from, reuniting with her younger sister, their childhood friend, and her first love.
But then Harbison throws a hook into the story. After the quartet is told they only have to stay for the weekend before going their separate ways, Saturday keeps repeating itself over and over and over again - but only for the four of them. With no one else on Mystic Island any the wiser to the conflict roiling between the group, they're forced to hash things out amongst themselves, though Didion has one of the bigger axes to grind.
Much of that only indirectly involves her sister Sammie, friend Matt, and ex Austin, and most involves the fact that her now deceased mother Babe forced her into a position where she had to act like a grown-up and make sure her sister was taken care of, because Babe decided to opt herself out of motherhood when it got to be too much for her. Not only that, but she forced Didion onto a path she didn't want to take to be something more than Babe got to be, because as she tells Didion "I got pregnant with you before I even knew what my dreams were". Not surprisingly, Didion has grown into a person who feels like she has to handle everything herself, and constantly makes concessions to try and keep people around her happy.
While she closed herself off to people, there were things I related to in Didion. Other early readers have felt that she was hard to like, but there were points where it was easy to relate to her frustrations and get worked up when everyone else seemingly did what they wanted and left her to pick up the pieces, especially her younger sister Sammie, who was never held to the same high expectations. The book in the present is told completely from her POV, so the reader doesn't necessarily see how the other characters were impacted by their summers growing up on the island.
After being stuck on Saturday for a significant period of time, Didion finally blows up and the group finally has to confront the dynamics that have gone unspoken between them, which is one of the best parts of the book, because the reader finally gets a peek into what Sammie, Matt, and Austin are feeling.
The 'Groundhog Day' approach does take this trope and make it into something more interesting and different, but it does feel like it goes on just a little bit too long. There are also flashbacks to previous summers, but they aren't all in chronological order, and they're not told from Didion's POV, which makes them less synchronous with the present tense part of the book. Also, Matt has a daughter Nora, who while there's a reason she's with him during the story and not with his husband, tends to disappear in and out of the story. She disappears almost entirely in the second quarter of the book, and then randomly pops back up again here and there, perfectly well behaved while barely saying a word, and being in an environment that doesn't seem remotely close to conducive to a four year old child - which doesn't seem to occur to any of them (maybe because like the reader they've forgotten she exists?) until they decide to have their massive blowout and Matt decides a child doesn't need to be witness to it.
The book does do a good job of exploring the immediate and long reaching consequences on a child of having both a passive and demanding parent that warps their expectations of who they're allowed to be. Babe damages both Didion and Sammie with her choices. But the book also seems to go on for too long and have some inconsistencies in it for me to truly enjoy it.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is much more serious women's fiction, and I struggled to get through the first quarter of the book, because it felt like every other trope about a woman being forced to revisit a past she's run away from, with people she no longer gets along with, after they mutually inherit a house together on a beach or island. In this book it's Didion, a semi-famous chef in New York City, who returns to the home of the mother she grew apart from, reuniting with her younger sister, their childhood friend, and her first love.
But then Harbison throws a hook into the story. After the quartet is told they only have to stay for the weekend before going their separate ways, Saturday keeps repeating itself over and over and over again - but only for the four of them. With no one else on Mystic Island any the wiser to the conflict roiling between the group, they're forced to hash things out amongst themselves, though Didion has one of the bigger axes to grind.
Much of that only indirectly involves her sister Sammie, friend Matt, and ex Austin, and most involves the fact that her now deceased mother Babe forced her into a position where she had to act like a grown-up and make sure her sister was taken care of, because Babe decided to opt herself out of motherhood when it got to be too much for her. Not only that, but she forced Didion onto a path she didn't want to take to be something more than Babe got to be, because as she tells Didion "I got pregnant with you before I even knew what my dreams were". Not surprisingly, Didion has grown into a person who feels like she has to handle everything herself, and constantly makes concessions to try and keep people around her happy.
While she closed herself off to people, there were things I related to in Didion. Other early readers have felt that she was hard to like, but there were points where it was easy to relate to her frustrations and get worked up when everyone else seemingly did what they wanted and left her to pick up the pieces, especially her younger sister Sammie, who was never held to the same high expectations. The book in the present is told completely from her POV, so the reader doesn't necessarily see how the other characters were impacted by their summers growing up on the island.
After being stuck on Saturday for a significant period of time, Didion finally blows up and the group finally has to confront the dynamics that have gone unspoken between them, which is one of the best parts of the book, because the reader finally gets a peek into what Sammie, Matt, and Austin are feeling.
The 'Groundhog Day' approach does take this trope and make it into something more interesting and different, but it does feel like it goes on just a little bit too long. There are also flashbacks to previous summers, but they aren't all in chronological order, and they're not told from Didion's POV, which makes them less synchronous with the present tense part of the book. Also, Matt has a daughter Nora, who while there's a reason she's with him during the story and not with his husband, tends to disappear in and out of the story. She disappears almost entirely in the second quarter of the book, and then randomly pops back up again here and there, perfectly well behaved while barely saying a word, and being in an environment that doesn't seem remotely close to conducive to a four year old child - which doesn't seem to occur to any of them (maybe because like the reader they've forgotten she exists?) until they decide to have their massive blowout and Matt decides a child doesn't need to be witness to it.
The book does do a good job of exploring the immediate and long reaching consequences on a child of having both a passive and demanding parent that warps their expectations of who they're allowed to be. Babe damages both Didion and Sammie with her choices. But the book also seems to go on for too long and have some inconsistencies in it for me to truly enjoy it.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I feel like my life is just a constant cycle of finally getting past the book I was obsessing about and then immediately finding another book to obsess about, this time it's Destination Funeral. This is one of those books that manages to be funny, nostalgic, emotional, and thought-provoking all at once. I went in expecting something reflective and a little quirky, but it ended up hitting much deeper than that. It’s a story about grief, friendship, and growing up.. but also about how our understanding of the past. It felt especially poignant as a daughter whose had to take care of everyone, and even more so as someone in their 30s starting to see those relationships through a different lens.
The premise alone hooked me. I mean, a book about a group of estranged friends reuniting on Mercy Island for the funeral of the woman who shaped their teenage summers… and then they find themselves stuck reliving the same day over and over sounded so incredibly interesting. I love anything that plays with time, memory, and reality, and Harbison uses the magical realism element so well. It never feels gimmicky. Instead, it becomes the perfect way to explore regret, grief, and all the things we wish we’d done differently. And even though the story deals with grief and loss, it never feels hopeless. There’s so much love in it. It’s ultimately about understanding, healing, and letting yourself move forward.
Mercy Island itself was such a vivid setting. It has that hazy, nostalgic summer energy, like a place where time really could bend if it wanted to. The pink house, the beach, the shared history, it all felt so real and layered. It created this intimate stage for the characters to work through their messy relationships. The descriptive writing woven throughout truly did so much work here to help convey those nostalgic feelings too, it was done so wonderfully. It's gorgeous without feeling heavy and was right up my alley. There were so many lines that made me pause and wish I was the kind of person who annotates books like it just reminded me so much of my summers as a child and how I wish I could go back to them.
And the characters really are messy. They’re flawed, sometimes selfish, sometimes frustrating, but in a way that makes them feel completely human. You understand why they hurt each other. You understand why they stayed stuck. I was rooting for them even when they didn’t necessarily deserve it. Didion, especially, hit hard for me. This book feels like it was written for those who grew up trying to manage everyone else’s emotions and carry more than they should. Her relationship with her mother was one of the most emotional parts of the story. Watching her finally confront those feelings and gain a new perspective was incredibly moving. There’s something about getting older and realizing your parents were full people too, with their own pain and limitations, and this book captures that beautifully.
There’s also a really lovely thread of second chances woven throughout, not just in romance, but in friendship, family, and self-forgiveness. The time loop forces everyone to stop avoiding the past and actually face it, and it leads to some really powerful moments of growth and honesty.
This is one of those books I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and I think especially for anyone who’s ever looked back and wondered what they’d do differently if they had the chance. Even the acknowledgements are lovely!
*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise alone hooked me. I mean, a book about a group of estranged friends reuniting on Mercy Island for the funeral of the woman who shaped their teenage summers… and then they find themselves stuck reliving the same day over and over sounded so incredibly interesting. I love anything that plays with time, memory, and reality, and Harbison uses the magical realism element so well. It never feels gimmicky. Instead, it becomes the perfect way to explore regret, grief, and all the things we wish we’d done differently. And even though the story deals with grief and loss, it never feels hopeless. There’s so much love in it. It’s ultimately about understanding, healing, and letting yourself move forward.
Mercy Island itself was such a vivid setting. It has that hazy, nostalgic summer energy, like a place where time really could bend if it wanted to. The pink house, the beach, the shared history, it all felt so real and layered. It created this intimate stage for the characters to work through their messy relationships. The descriptive writing woven throughout truly did so much work here to help convey those nostalgic feelings too, it was done so wonderfully. It's gorgeous without feeling heavy and was right up my alley. There were so many lines that made me pause and wish I was the kind of person who annotates books like it just reminded me so much of my summers as a child and how I wish I could go back to them.
And the characters really are messy. They’re flawed, sometimes selfish, sometimes frustrating, but in a way that makes them feel completely human. You understand why they hurt each other. You understand why they stayed stuck. I was rooting for them even when they didn’t necessarily deserve it. Didion, especially, hit hard for me. This book feels like it was written for those who grew up trying to manage everyone else’s emotions and carry more than they should. Her relationship with her mother was one of the most emotional parts of the story. Watching her finally confront those feelings and gain a new perspective was incredibly moving. There’s something about getting older and realizing your parents were full people too, with their own pain and limitations, and this book captures that beautifully.
There’s also a really lovely thread of second chances woven throughout, not just in romance, but in friendship, family, and self-forgiveness. The time loop forces everyone to stop avoiding the past and actually face it, and it leads to some really powerful moments of growth and honesty.
This is one of those books I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and I think especially for anyone who’s ever looked back and wondered what they’d do differently if they had the chance. Even the acknowledgements are lovely!
*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4.5/5 stars.
This is a moving, whimsical book, full of flawed people who feel so real while dealing with grief, baggage, and lapsed relationships and friendships but also so hopeful in the idea that we can always mend things and try to reconnect with those who love us and know us best.
Didion is the quintessential eldest daughter and head chef in New York, burnt out beyond belief, but back at Mercy Island for her mother's funeral. Besides her complicated relationship with her mother, there's also her estranged younger sister, best friend, and ex-boyfriend all at the house as well. She thinks that all she needs to do is get through Saturday, with the funeral on Sunday, but it turns out that her mother's last wish has stuck the four of them in a time loop of Saturdays until they can figure out how to get out of it.
I feel so hard for Didion--you intimately understand all her resentment of being the one who had to parent her younger sister Sammie from a young age and how her mother had piled on all her expectations onto her while letting Sammie run wild, and her hurt over how the others seem to have kept in contact with one another, but not her. At the exact same time though, you know she's not perfect either since she ends up causing a lot of her own problems as well through trying to anticipate everyone's needs and needing to prove herself even when she doesn't have to. Sammie also gets moments to shine because yes, she's kind of the fuckup who keeps getting back together with her asshole ex, but she's also the one who was cut out by her beloved older sister in the past and who really wants to do better, but she's not sure how. And of course, Babe, their mother, I think gets to win the prize as the most complicated and real character of the novel--yes, she did end up essentially abandoning her daughters for most of the year to live on an island on her own, and yes, she did somewhat resent Didion and pile on all her failed dreams onto her, but at the exact same time, she's the mother who made a magical Halloween in July and provided a loving haven to both of her daughters when they needed it. I absolutely started tearing up when it got to Babe's final letter to Didion.
I do feel like the male characters get a bit of the short end of the stick, although I will say that I did also tear up when Matt, the best friend, lays out how he always knew that Didion had to grow up too fast to parent Sammie, but at the exact same time, she cut him out too without asking what side he would take. Austin I feel like never really got to explore how his injury and end to his pro sports career really affected him, and personally, I feel like his relationship with Didion was rushed. They had oodles of chemistry, but I didn't quite buy the fact that he was over all his different issues, which is why I took off half a star.
Other than that though, besides a story about mothers and daughters, it's also a story about grief, and it gets it so well. Didion keeps seeing the house Birdsong and all her mother's possessions still here when her mother is not, and that just hits so hard and raw. The setting is absolutely beautiful and magical--the most whimsical island, full of the slow life, all the seafood you could ever want, the beach, the ocean, rain, I felt it all and desperately wanted to visit. This is an amazing book, and now I'm going to read everything this author has written and I can't wait for more as well!
4.5/5 stars.
This is a moving, whimsical book, full of flawed people who feel so real while dealing with grief, baggage, and lapsed relationships and friendships but also so hopeful in the idea that we can always mend things and try to reconnect with those who love us and know us best.
Didion is the quintessential eldest daughter and head chef in New York, burnt out beyond belief, but back at Mercy Island for her mother's funeral. Besides her complicated relationship with her mother, there's also her estranged younger sister, best friend, and ex-boyfriend all at the house as well. She thinks that all she needs to do is get through Saturday, with the funeral on Sunday, but it turns out that her mother's last wish has stuck the four of them in a time loop of Saturdays until they can figure out how to get out of it.
I feel so hard for Didion--you intimately understand all her resentment of being the one who had to parent her younger sister Sammie from a young age and how her mother had piled on all her expectations onto her while letting Sammie run wild, and her hurt over how the others seem to have kept in contact with one another, but not her. At the exact same time though, you know she's not perfect either since she ends up causing a lot of her own problems as well through trying to anticipate everyone's needs and needing to prove herself even when she doesn't have to. Sammie also gets moments to shine because yes, she's kind of the fuckup who keeps getting back together with her asshole ex, but she's also the one who was cut out by her beloved older sister in the past and who really wants to do better, but she's not sure how. And of course, Babe, their mother, I think gets to win the prize as the most complicated and real character of the novel--yes, she did end up essentially abandoning her daughters for most of the year to live on an island on her own, and yes, she did somewhat resent Didion and pile on all her failed dreams onto her, but at the exact same time, she's the mother who made a magical Halloween in July and provided a loving haven to both of her daughters when they needed it. I absolutely started tearing up when it got to Babe's final letter to Didion.
I do feel like the male characters get a bit of the short end of the stick, although I will say that I did also tear up when Matt, the best friend, lays out how he always knew that Didion had to grow up too fast to parent Sammie, but at the exact same time, she cut him out too without asking what side he would take. Austin I feel like never really got to explore how his injury and end to his pro sports career really affected him, and personally, I feel like his relationship with Didion was rushed. They had oodles of chemistry, but I didn't quite buy the fact that he was over all his different issues, which is why I took off half a star.
Other than that though, besides a story about mothers and daughters, it's also a story about grief, and it gets it so well. Didion keeps seeing the house Birdsong and all her mother's possessions still here when her mother is not, and that just hits so hard and raw. The setting is absolutely beautiful and magical--the most whimsical island, full of the slow life, all the seafood you could ever want, the beach, the ocean, rain, I felt it all and desperately wanted to visit. This is an amazing book, and now I'm going to read everything this author has written and I can't wait for more as well!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This novel follows Didion, the FMC, Sammie, her sister, Austin, Didion’s ex-boyfriend, and their collective friend, Matt, return to a house named, “Birdsong” on Mercy Island after the death of Didion and Sammie’s mother, Babe. They spent numerous summers there, growing together and apart in the process. Didion’s relationship with all attendees has been fractured in very specific and, eventually understandable, ways. They arrive on Friday (two days before the funeral on Sunday) and get stuck in a Saturday time loop for an indeterminate amount of time; this allows them to work through their respective brokenness (individual and collective).
This is a solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 star read.
My major issue with this novel was both the presence of and the absence of a supernatural agency. What worked for the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray (which was lovingly referenced several times) was that we, as viewers, never got an explanation for why he kept repeating the day. It was almost a Kafka-esque/metamorphosis approach to the meaning of life – things just happen and then it ends. How you handle it is based on your human condition. The juxtaposition of experiencing emotional growth while remaining in static motion, much like in this novel, was a defining factor. It really worked for Groundhog Day. However, what didn’t quite work for me in this novel is alluding to something greater being the cause, but not having a full follow through: there is the “Time Stands Still at Birdsong,” sign, a Ouija board, and a hint to some sort of family history of witches that was never truly flushed out. I think I would have liked this novel more if Harbinson had leaned more into the mysticism – not necessarily on a haunted house level, but just more. Babe’s presence, a grander reveal… something along those lines. The narrative dipped its toe in to this concept, but should have either jumped in the deep end or stayed out entirely.
Additionally, the emotional stakes feel uneven when a child is present, yet the urgency of securing her future is never fully explored. As a mom, that would be my first reaction – let’s fix this so that my child has a future. The child, which was just a side character, fell into the background in significant ways.
That being said, I really did like this book. Yes, there were some frustrating moments where they started to talk about things and then got interrupted – that’s a standard trope in this style of novel. I like that all friction was not easily explained away. The issues don’t come down to simple misunderstandings, and that is incredibly refreshing. Didion’s hurts are legit. She is frustratingly stubborn, but I came to understand her and identify with her. Sometimes good people do crappy things. Everyone is not batting 1000, and reconciliation is a choice.
This novel would be perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez. It hits in a way that feels more real than “Part of Your World” (of which I also struggled with the mysticism) and is more tonally aligned with the rawness and emotional resonance of “Just for the Summer.”
Thank you to Paige Harbinson, St. Martins and Netgalley for this eARC. I was super excited to have access to this “Read Now” a few short days after Groundhog Day. This is a great February read.
This is a solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 star read.
My major issue with this novel was both the presence of and the absence of a supernatural agency. What worked for the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray (which was lovingly referenced several times) was that we, as viewers, never got an explanation for why he kept repeating the day. It was almost a Kafka-esque/metamorphosis approach to the meaning of life – things just happen and then it ends. How you handle it is based on your human condition. The juxtaposition of experiencing emotional growth while remaining in static motion, much like in this novel, was a defining factor. It really worked for Groundhog Day. However, what didn’t quite work for me in this novel is alluding to something greater being the cause, but not having a full follow through: there is the “Time Stands Still at Birdsong,” sign, a Ouija board, and a hint to some sort of family history of witches that was never truly flushed out. I think I would have liked this novel more if Harbinson had leaned more into the mysticism – not necessarily on a haunted house level, but just more. Babe’s presence, a grander reveal… something along those lines. The narrative dipped its toe in to this concept, but should have either jumped in the deep end or stayed out entirely.
Additionally, the emotional stakes feel uneven when a child is present, yet the urgency of securing her future is never fully explored. As a mom, that would be my first reaction – let’s fix this so that my child has a future. The child, which was just a side character, fell into the background in significant ways.
That being said, I really did like this book. Yes, there were some frustrating moments where they started to talk about things and then got interrupted – that’s a standard trope in this style of novel. I like that all friction was not easily explained away. The issues don’t come down to simple misunderstandings, and that is incredibly refreshing. Didion’s hurts are legit. She is frustratingly stubborn, but I came to understand her and identify with her. Sometimes good people do crappy things. Everyone is not batting 1000, and reconciliation is a choice.
This novel would be perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez. It hits in a way that feels more real than “Part of Your World” (of which I also struggled with the mysticism) and is more tonally aligned with the rawness and emotional resonance of “Just for the Summer.”
Thank you to Paige Harbinson, St. Martins and Netgalley for this eARC. I was super excited to have access to this “Read Now” a few short days after Groundhog Day. This is a great February read.
Want to Read
March 13, 2026Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison is a poignant, speculative gem that blends the sharp ensemble dynamics of The Big Chill with the wistful time-loop magic of About Time (and a dash of Groundhog Day for good measure). Released in early 2026, this adult novel marks a confident step forward for Harbison, whose earlier YA work and recent adult debut The Other Side of Now have built a reputation for emotionally resonant, character-driven stories.When Babe—the larger-than-life, magnetic matriarch who presided over their idyllic teenage summers at Birdsong, a weathered pink house on storm-swept Mercy Island off the Georgia coast—dies, four estranged friends are summoned back for the reading of her will. Didion, Sammie, and the others arrive expecting awkward small talk, old wounds, lingering attractions, and perhaps some closure. Instead, they wake up to discover it's the same rain-lashed Saturday again. And again. And again. Trapped in an endless loop on the day of the funeral, they're forced to relive the grief, confront buried betrayals, unfinished business, and the ways they've all been emotionally frozen since those formative summers.Harbison excels at capturing the messy, layered texture of long-term friendships: the inside jokes that still land, the resentments that fester, the unspoken attractions that refuse to die. The time-loop device isn't just a gimmick—it's a brilliant metaphor for how grief suspends time, keeping people stuck in emotional limbo long after the world moves on. Each repetition peels back layers, revealing secrets, regrets, and moments of genuine connection amid the heartbreak. The speculative element feels organic and tender, never overshadowing the human drama at the core.The prose is warm, witty, and often laugh-out-loud funny, even as it dives into devastating territory. Harbison balances humor with heartache masterfully—small, quirky details (stormy island quirks, Babe's eccentric legacy) keep the tone buoyant without undercutting the emotional weight. The characters feel vividly real: flawed, relatable, and deeply bonded despite years apart. Didion's perspective anchors the narrative with quiet introspection, while the ensemble cast sparks with chemistry and conflict.At times, the loop's mechanics could use a touch more explanation (why this day? why them?), but the focus stays firmly on healing and forgiveness rather than rigid rules, which suits the story's soul. It's not a thriller—it's a character study wrapped in gentle magic, perfect for readers who want to laugh, cry, and feel seen in the messiness of love, loss, and second chances.If you're a fan of emotionally intelligent, friendship-centered novels with a speculative twist—like The Wedding People, One Italian Summer, or anything by Sophie Cousens—this will hit all the right notes. Harbison has crafted something hopeful, quirky, and profoundly moving.Rating: 4.5/5 stars
A storm-soaked, time-looped reunion that reminds us grief may pause the clock, but love and friendship can restart it. Tender, funny, and unforgettable. Highly recommended.
A storm-soaked, time-looped reunion that reminds us grief may pause the clock, but love and friendship can restart it. Tender, funny, and unforgettable. Highly recommended.
February 6, 2026
This book surprised me in the best way! I was browsing NetGalley and it caught my eye, thanks I guess to the bright cover. I wasn’t looking for a cheesy read and the cover was giving those vibes to me, but the blurb was intriguing enough that I decided to take a chance. And I’m here to say that I don’t think the cover does the depth of this story justice at all. It was reflective and insightful and I really enjoyed it.
The premise isn’t exactly original, with an estranged group coming back together after their matriarch dies. It actually reminded me of This Summer Storms in that regard. But the time loop twist was a more unique element that sets the story apart from others like it. I can usually take or leave magical realism, but it worked well enough for me here, if for no other reason than to add something new. The setting was also a bit different than your standard wealthy New England island, which added additional intrigue. It sort of felt like a southern Elin Hilderbrand with a bit more snarkiness and magic. Tons of really good food descriptions!
Didion is not an easy main character. In fact, she’s kind of the opposite. She was a prickly bitch and definitely exasperated me at times, but as the story went on, I began to understand more and more what had shaped her to be that way and seeing what her relationship with Babe was like, I understood her actions a bit more. I also found myself exasperated with Austin at times, and was less invested in them together. There was of course some miscommunication sprinkled in there that made me roll my eyes.
While I waffled back and forth throughout the first 70% of the book because of those minor grievances, it was still an enjoyable enough read. I mean I’m always here to read about people doing mushrooms, especially if it’s accidentally. I was always happy to pick it up and read another few pages. However, the end of the book really cemented it all for me. The story all came together so beautifully. Babe’s letter to Didion was raw and powerful and it was impossible not to be affected by that and by Didion’s speech at the funeral. I’m so glad I ignored the cheesiness of the cover and took a chance on this one because it ended up touching me much more than I expected.
I don’t often champion books that I read via NetGalley Read Now, because honestly a lot of them aren’t that great, but this is one that I’d encourage the preorder for. Don’t let the cover fool you into thinking it’s all light fluffy brain candy, it’s a solid contender for a wonderful beach read with some beautiful depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The premise isn’t exactly original, with an estranged group coming back together after their matriarch dies. It actually reminded me of This Summer Storms in that regard. But the time loop twist was a more unique element that sets the story apart from others like it. I can usually take or leave magical realism, but it worked well enough for me here, if for no other reason than to add something new. The setting was also a bit different than your standard wealthy New England island, which added additional intrigue. It sort of felt like a southern Elin Hilderbrand with a bit more snarkiness and magic. Tons of really good food descriptions!
Didion is not an easy main character. In fact, she’s kind of the opposite. She was a prickly bitch and definitely exasperated me at times, but as the story went on, I began to understand more and more what had shaped her to be that way and seeing what her relationship with Babe was like, I understood her actions a bit more. I also found myself exasperated with Austin at times, and was less invested in them together. There was of course some miscommunication sprinkled in there that made me roll my eyes.
While I waffled back and forth throughout the first 70% of the book because of those minor grievances, it was still an enjoyable enough read. I mean I’m always here to read about people doing mushrooms, especially if it’s accidentally. I was always happy to pick it up and read another few pages. However, the end of the book really cemented it all for me. The story all came together so beautifully. Babe’s letter to Didion was raw and powerful and it was impossible not to be affected by that and by Didion’s speech at the funeral. I’m so glad I ignored the cheesiness of the cover and took a chance on this one because it ended up touching me much more than I expected.
I don’t often champion books that I read via NetGalley Read Now, because honestly a lot of them aren’t that great, but this is one that I’d encourage the preorder for. Don’t let the cover fool you into thinking it’s all light fluffy brain candy, it’s a solid contender for a wonderful beach read with some beautiful depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
**ARC of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Opening scenes of this book are absolutely flawless and got me hooked from the page one. The atmosphere of a summertime funeral happening on a subtropical island off the cost of Georgia was executed so well I could almost feel the humidity under my fingers. I would happily read the whole book savoring this sad yet sunny vibes only but unfortunately the plot needed to happen and it was kind of meh.
When I first saw the cover of this book my interest was immediatelly piqued - a party happening on top of a pink coffin? It was quirky in just the way I find amusing and I hoped the story included will be equally zany. Author taps into campy tropes throughout the book but never fully commits to them creating this sensation that story is not quite sure if it wants to be profound, silly, somber or tragicomic. In the end Destination Funeral is not doing anything fresh or new and serves you with a solid albite forgettable beach read.
Our main character, Didion, is deeply neurotic, struggling with a range of mental health issues — most notably a volatile temper and a tendency to hold long-term grievances. She arrives to Mercy Island for her mother's funeral and meets her sister Sammie and her best friends - Matt and Austin - that she haven't seen or spoken to for several years because of the *grudges*. All 4 of them (actually 5 because there is a child in a mix that have no role whatsoever) fall into a time loop and are forced to re-live the same day over and over again. We are following them resolving their issues while attempting to break out of the time loop.
I really appreciate the subtle humour of a bunch of overworked adults locked in a permanent Saturday on a subtropical island where money and hangover is not an issue. I can almost hear them flatly saying "oh, nooooo" while mixing another margarita. But there are moments where author kind of ignors that and makes her characters limply try to break out of the loop and I just could not stand behind it. Add the second-chance romance that feels terribly shoehorned in with the love interest being as painfully generic as it gets (athletic, helplessly in love with the heroine, thick wallet, good guy, eyes of certain colour that is being mentioned way too frequently) and the star rating fell from 4-stars to 3. I've enjoyed this book messaging and there were a couple scenes that were executed perfectly but in the end I think I wanted so much more from it that it offered.
Good beach read if you are looking for something light but don't pick it up if you need all your characters to be likable.
Opening scenes of this book are absolutely flawless and got me hooked from the page one. The atmosphere of a summertime funeral happening on a subtropical island off the cost of Georgia was executed so well I could almost feel the humidity under my fingers. I would happily read the whole book savoring this sad yet sunny vibes only but unfortunately the plot needed to happen and it was kind of meh.
When I first saw the cover of this book my interest was immediatelly piqued - a party happening on top of a pink coffin? It was quirky in just the way I find amusing and I hoped the story included will be equally zany. Author taps into campy tropes throughout the book but never fully commits to them creating this sensation that story is not quite sure if it wants to be profound, silly, somber or tragicomic. In the end Destination Funeral is not doing anything fresh or new and serves you with a solid albite forgettable beach read.
Our main character, Didion, is deeply neurotic, struggling with a range of mental health issues — most notably a volatile temper and a tendency to hold long-term grievances. She arrives to Mercy Island for her mother's funeral and meets her sister Sammie and her best friends - Matt and Austin - that she haven't seen or spoken to for several years because of the *grudges*. All 4 of them (actually 5 because there is a child in a mix that have no role whatsoever) fall into a time loop and are forced to re-live the same day over and over again. We are following them resolving their issues while attempting to break out of the time loop.
I really appreciate the subtle humour of a bunch of overworked adults locked in a permanent Saturday on a subtropical island where money and hangover is not an issue. I can almost hear them flatly saying "oh, nooooo" while mixing another margarita. But there are moments where author kind of ignors that and makes her characters limply try to break out of the loop and I just could not stand behind it. Add the second-chance romance that feels terribly shoehorned in with the love interest being as painfully generic as it gets (athletic, helplessly in love with the heroine, thick wallet, good guy, eyes of certain colour that is being mentioned way too frequently) and the star rating fell from 4-stars to 3. I've enjoyed this book messaging and there were a couple scenes that were executed perfectly but in the end I think I wanted so much more from it that it offered.
Good beach read if you are looking for something light but don't pick it up if you need all your characters to be likable.
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