What do you think?
Destination Funeral
The Big Chill meets About Time in this laugh-out-loud funny and equally heartbreaking novel, following a friend group so damaged that only a funeral could bring them back together. Perfect for fans of The Wedding People and One Italian Summer.
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 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 broke them apart.
What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels when they wake up and discover...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 all those years ago. Because maybe, just maybe, an endless weekend is exactly what they all need to save their own lives.
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 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 broke them apart.
What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels when they wake up and discover...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 all those years ago. Because maybe, just maybe, an endless weekend is exactly what they all need to save their own lives.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Paige Harbison
9 books839 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,401 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison
When we meet Didion we quickly learn that she is resentful, bitter, quick to anger and just flat out a pain to be around. It's obvious and it's underlined by the fact that she admits these things about herself. She works very hard at her job as a chef at a top restaurant and that's her life. She connects with no one, wants to connect with no one and thinks being alone is the best choice for her.
Then she is summoned for the will reading of her mother, Babe, and that means going back to Mercy Island and seeing her sister, Sammie, and friends (former friends?) Matt and Austin. It takes us most of the book to find out why Didion was estranged from Babe, Sammie, Matt and Austin and that was too long for me to keep caring. After all, who would want to be around Didion anyway since she seems to be her own worst enemy and someone I'd avoid like the plague?
The timeline shifts back and forth from the present to the past and in the past it's all YA antics. Didion is hardworking even as a teen and takes care of her sister who is just a year younger than her. But she also gets into the usual misspent teen shenanigans along with her sister Sammie, who shows no sign of taking on any of the mature chores of her older sister. Matt has parental problems and Austin is a stud muffin top tennis player. He is super chill about everything but tennis (his true love) and he's also a constant flirt with all the girls, all the time.
Saturday night, after the four arrive at the island, they go to bed and wake up and it's Saturday again, over and over and over, too many Saturdays to count. While the four try to figure out how to stop this endless round of Saturdays they learn to make the best of it, too, and enjoy eating, drinking, and more each day. They try some things a bit differently and other things a lot differently because none of it matters since all will be erased by the time the next morning arrives.
At first this was interesting but I got tired of all these Saturdays and a big reason is because it seems the four really never grew up. Almost thirty year old Didion and Austin seem to still be living their YA lives, thinking with YA brains. Their chemistry seems to be all physical and they act on that chemistry and don't really care where they are when they do it. Ick, they could stay in revolving Saturday as far as I'm concerned. Check with Jayme and DeAnn to see what they think of the story since we read this one together.
Expected publication July 21, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC
When we meet Didion we quickly learn that she is resentful, bitter, quick to anger and just flat out a pain to be around. It's obvious and it's underlined by the fact that she admits these things about herself. She works very hard at her job as a chef at a top restaurant and that's her life. She connects with no one, wants to connect with no one and thinks being alone is the best choice for her.
Then she is summoned for the will reading of her mother, Babe, and that means going back to Mercy Island and seeing her sister, Sammie, and friends (former friends?) Matt and Austin. It takes us most of the book to find out why Didion was estranged from Babe, Sammie, Matt and Austin and that was too long for me to keep caring. After all, who would want to be around Didion anyway since she seems to be her own worst enemy and someone I'd avoid like the plague?
The timeline shifts back and forth from the present to the past and in the past it's all YA antics. Didion is hardworking even as a teen and takes care of her sister who is just a year younger than her. But she also gets into the usual misspent teen shenanigans along with her sister Sammie, who shows no sign of taking on any of the mature chores of her older sister. Matt has parental problems and Austin is a stud muffin top tennis player. He is super chill about everything but tennis (his true love) and he's also a constant flirt with all the girls, all the time.
Saturday night, after the four arrive at the island, they go to bed and wake up and it's Saturday again, over and over and over, too many Saturdays to count. While the four try to figure out how to stop this endless round of Saturdays they learn to make the best of it, too, and enjoy eating, drinking, and more each day. They try some things a bit differently and other things a lot differently because none of it matters since all will be erased by the time the next morning arrives.
At first this was interesting but I got tired of all these Saturdays and a big reason is because it seems the four really never grew up. Almost thirty year old Didion and Austin seem to still be living their YA lives, thinking with YA brains. Their chemistry seems to be all physical and they act on that chemistry and don't really care where they are when they do it. Ick, they could stay in revolving Saturday as far as I'm concerned. Check with Jayme and DeAnn to see what they think of the story since we read this one together.
Expected publication July 21, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC
July 3, 2026
I am a huge fan of The Other Side of Now & was beyond excited to receive an ARC of Destination Funeral. These two books share multiple similarities. This one felt heavier to me. Much heavier. & it lagged a bit in the middle. I ended up setting it down, taking a break, and coming back to it. So glad I did. Despite a plot that centers around grief, there were definitely moments of joy as well. Second chances, growth, redemption, and, best of all, happy endings.
Pick this one up if you like:
🔮Magical realism
🌊Small town coastal settings
❤️Second chance romance
🧑🧑🧒🧒Found family
🔁Dual timelines
🦫Groundhog's Day-esque time loops
Paige Harbison's writing is exquisite. She manages to make you tear up one minute and laugh out loud the next. Poetic, deep, humorous, relatable. All the things! It's also worth noting--she does an amazing job of narrating her audiobook as well!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for advance copies in exchange for my honest review.
3.75/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
Publishing 7/21
Pick this one up if you like:
🔮Magical realism
🌊Small town coastal settings
❤️Second chance romance
🧑🧑🧒🧒Found family
🔁Dual timelines
🦫Groundhog's Day-esque time loops
Paige Harbison's writing is exquisite. She manages to make you tear up one minute and laugh out loud the next. Poetic, deep, humorous, relatable. All the things! It's also worth noting--she does an amazing job of narrating her audiobook as well!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for advance copies in exchange for my honest review.
3.75/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
Publishing 7/21
September 5, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first book by Paige Harbison, and I genuinely enjoyed her writing style. A family member recommended this one to me, and I went in without reading the synopsis, so I really had no idea what to expect. I’m so glad I listened to the recommendation!
Destination Funeral was such an enjoyable read and had me feeling so many different emotions. Didion, Sammie, Matt, and Austin reunite for the funeral of Babe, a beloved resident of coastal island Mercy and mother to Didion and Sammie. But then Saturday begins repeating itself, and they’re left trying to figure out how, and why, they seem to be stuck living the same day over and over again.
There is a magical element to the story, but what really worked for me was the nostalgia and the way it explores memories, relationships, and the connections that can bring people back together. There is something so bittersweet about looking back at the people and moments that helped shape you, and this story captured that feeling beautifully.
And the love story woven through it all? That absolutely warmed my heart.
I went into this one completely blind and came away so happy that I did. A heartfelt, nostalgic, and surprisingly emotional read that reminded me just how powerful our memories of the people we love can be.
This was my first book by Paige Harbison, and I genuinely enjoyed her writing style. A family member recommended this one to me, and I went in without reading the synopsis, so I really had no idea what to expect. I’m so glad I listened to the recommendation!
Destination Funeral was such an enjoyable read and had me feeling so many different emotions. Didion, Sammie, Matt, and Austin reunite for the funeral of Babe, a beloved resident of coastal island Mercy and mother to Didion and Sammie. But then Saturday begins repeating itself, and they’re left trying to figure out how, and why, they seem to be stuck living the same day over and over again.
There is a magical element to the story, but what really worked for me was the nostalgia and the way it explores memories, relationships, and the connections that can bring people back together. There is something so bittersweet about looking back at the people and moments that helped shape you, and this story captured that feeling beautifully.
And the love story woven through it all? That absolutely warmed my heart.
I went into this one completely blind and came away so happy that I did. A heartfelt, nostalgic, and surprisingly emotional read that reminded me just how powerful our memories of the people we love can be.
June 28, 2026
What a beautifully complicated story. Paige’s ending had me crying, reflecting, & feeling so grateful for the people in my life. I loved uncovering the layers of each character & the reminders about love, friendship, forgiveness, & the people who shape our lives. Also, love some magical realism! I thought the Groundhog Day trope would get annoying, but it had me racing to finish the book to see where things would end!
July 24, 2026
4.5⭐️
Hey Siri play Call Your Mom by Noah Kahan
Something about me - I LOVE a story with a complex unlikable characters. They’re so much more interesting and the character development is so satisfying! Add found family in the mix and a setting I dream of visiting, and I’m a happy gal.
Paige is such a force to be reckoned with. Her writing style and the way she combines humor with emotionality in her writing is why I love reading!!
This NEEDS to be adapted.
Hey Siri play Call Your Mom by Noah Kahan
Something about me - I LOVE a story with a complex unlikable characters. They’re so much more interesting and the character development is so satisfying! Add found family in the mix and a setting I dream of visiting, and I’m a happy gal.
Paige is such a force to be reckoned with. Her writing style and the way she combines humor with emotionality in her writing is why I love reading!!
This NEEDS to be adapted.
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.
August 3, 2026
Ughh this was such a good book. I’m not usually a Groundhog Day lover but this was perfectly done.
The authors note was unbelievable raw and beautiful. Paige is beyond talented and I can’t wait to see everything she accomplishes.
The authors note was unbelievable raw and beautiful. Paige is beyond talented and I can’t wait to see everything she accomplishes.
July 25, 2026
“I don’t know what’s happening. I’m not the first guy to believe in all this woo woo shit. But I’ve read enough books, I’ve seen enough movies, if something like this is going on, it’s usually because of unfinished business, right?”
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC of Destination Funeral in exchange for an honest review.
The Goodreads description of this book tells you everything you need to know about the plot—it’s pretty close to perfect—so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts.
The Other Side of Now was one of my favorite books of 2025, so I went into Destination Funeral with high hopes. I was not disappointed. Once again, Ms Harbison has hit a sweet spot blending a time loop storyline with a moving story of friends and family trying to reconnect after years of hurting each other, intentionally and unintentionally. Didion is an interesting main character; she’s flawed, has hurt and been hurt by others—most deeply by her now-departed mother—but she’s still a good person you’ll be rooting for. And I enjoyed the time loop plot device, the way the characters slowly accepted their predicament and the whole ‘we are stuck here until we fix whatever in our lives made this happen’ but then still had no idea what they needed to change or address to find their way to Sunday. The story is well paced, delivering backstory and context in small, organic doses, and balancing humor, romance, and emotional drama as the story unfolds. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Highly recommended.
P.S. A word about the audiobook, which was narrated by the author. She’s a great performer, and does a nice job with the four main characters (two male, two female, and one with a soft Texas twang) as well as the side characters. I was surprised to learn she’d only previously narrated one other book (her adult debut), though I’m unsurprised to learn she’ll be narrating a book for a different author later this year. She’s good.
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
I think overall, this was a nice story. It had a bit of magical realism which can be fun, but I think for me around the 60% mark, it began to be redundant as we got closer to the conflict between the characters which just turned out to be a moment of venting to each other. And then the magical realism groundhog day loop closed out and no one batted an eye that they repeated Saturday a bunch of times and then they carried on the day like nothing really happened? I think I'm giving this one 3.5 star. I liked it enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2026
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: Doesn’t blink at self-immolation, but can’t forgive trauma. 🤷🏽♀️
(Seriously: this is not how codependence works.)
Rating: ⭐⭐
“He goes on, talking about his love of formulaic romances and holiday movies and I listen absently, jiggling my foot, feeling very aware of his slow, unhurried fifteen-miles-an-hour crawl. He’s matching the island’s pace. This is the kind of place where dogs run off-leash and children chase rogue soccer balls into the street while parents call perfunctorily from their front porches to look both ways, not really that worried. Outdoor cats live twenty years.” p. 16
In Short: The descriptive writing is lovely and creative. That in itself kept me interested. I also really love how honest the first-person narrator is about her own motivations and judgments.
The estranged-sister relationship is so familiar to me, and its depiction feels healing in a way. If you’ve ever been estranged from a family member, you might have the same reaction.
The plot depends on a Groundhog Day-style time loop. I almost never like this trope because, I mean, sometimes the execution of a technique is so good that it defines the technique. Hence “Groundhog Day time loop.” It simply cannot be bested. Attempts are most often silly.
I don’t think the execution here is silly. A group of people looping together is an interesting variation, and I was into it. But honestly, it becomes repetitious. That happens in time loops when there isn’t enough distinction between the loops. For a really good execution of this trope, I recommend the horror film Triangle.
A man trying to redeem his soul falls deeply in love? Awesome. (And Groundhog Day.)
A group of young people searches its shared and personal histories for meaning and connection? Omg, every loop is the same.
So. Much. Eating. Omg.
Absolutely not the right plot for a time loop.
One thing I thought I really liked was the representation of trauma and PTSD:
“I wish again that I could stuff it all down, not care. Let bygones be bygones. Water under the bridge. Not talk out the details. It doesn’t matter how much I want that, because I can’t do it. The sadness and anger from all those years ago lives in me like an anvil. Heavy, immovable, weighing me down, and present in every step I make. It’s time to finally split open my flesh and remove it. Even if it kills me.” p. 312
The book isn’t generous about trauma. It’s realistic. It shows the gritty side of living with a mind you can’t all the way trust, and I’m always grateful for nuanced characters with mental challenges.
Edit: I hate when I have to do this.
Never freaking mind.
Because of course it becomes a story in which everyone blames the traumatized person for EVERYTHING.
God. Ugh. Terrible ending.
And the problem isn’t simply that the ending is unkind to the FMC. It contradicts a pile of evidence the novel has already delivered about her reliability and the labor she performs for everyone else. It understands that trauma shapes a person’s judgment, relationships, and ability to let things go—until that understanding would require it to recognize codependence as a system rather than an individual moral failure.
Apparently the story can look directly at self-immolation, suicide, and “compassionate death,” but trauma is where its compassion runs out.
Preread: Nice descriptive writing. I hope the pace picks up a little.
Edit: It didn’t for me, unfortunately, but I think that was partly a matter of taste.
Literally.
So much food in this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! 📚
Content Warnings:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
death of a parent/grandparent, funerals, inheritance/estates, romanticizing suicide, ableist language, implicit ableism, estrangement, food, meat-eating, gaslighting, suicide, “compassionate death”/eugenics
(Seriously: this is not how codependence works.)
Rating: ⭐⭐
“He goes on, talking about his love of formulaic romances and holiday movies and I listen absently, jiggling my foot, feeling very aware of his slow, unhurried fifteen-miles-an-hour crawl. He’s matching the island’s pace. This is the kind of place where dogs run off-leash and children chase rogue soccer balls into the street while parents call perfunctorily from their front porches to look both ways, not really that worried. Outdoor cats live twenty years.” p. 16
In Short: The descriptive writing is lovely and creative. That in itself kept me interested. I also really love how honest the first-person narrator is about her own motivations and judgments.
The estranged-sister relationship is so familiar to me, and its depiction feels healing in a way. If you’ve ever been estranged from a family member, you might have the same reaction.
The plot depends on a Groundhog Day-style time loop. I almost never like this trope because, I mean, sometimes the execution of a technique is so good that it defines the technique. Hence “Groundhog Day time loop.” It simply cannot be bested. Attempts are most often silly.
I don’t think the execution here is silly. A group of people looping together is an interesting variation, and I was into it. But honestly, it becomes repetitious. That happens in time loops when there isn’t enough distinction between the loops. For a really good execution of this trope, I recommend the horror film Triangle.
A man trying to redeem his soul falls deeply in love? Awesome. (And Groundhog Day.)
A group of young people searches its shared and personal histories for meaning and connection? Omg, every loop is the same.
So. Much. Eating. Omg.
Absolutely not the right plot for a time loop.
One thing I thought I really liked was the representation of trauma and PTSD:
“I wish again that I could stuff it all down, not care. Let bygones be bygones. Water under the bridge. Not talk out the details. It doesn’t matter how much I want that, because I can’t do it. The sadness and anger from all those years ago lives in me like an anvil. Heavy, immovable, weighing me down, and present in every step I make. It’s time to finally split open my flesh and remove it. Even if it kills me.” p. 312
The book isn’t generous about trauma. It’s realistic. It shows the gritty side of living with a mind you can’t all the way trust, and I’m always grateful for nuanced characters with mental challenges.
Edit: I hate when I have to do this.
Never freaking mind.
Because of course it becomes a story in which everyone blames the traumatized person for EVERYTHING.
God. Ugh. Terrible ending.
And the problem isn’t simply that the ending is unkind to the FMC. It contradicts a pile of evidence the novel has already delivered about her reliability and the labor she performs for everyone else. It understands that trauma shapes a person’s judgment, relationships, and ability to let things go—until that understanding would require it to recognize codependence as a system rather than an individual moral failure.
Apparently the story can look directly at self-immolation, suicide, and “compassionate death,” but trauma is where its compassion runs out.
Preread: Nice descriptive writing. I hope the pace picks up a little.
Edit: It didn’t for me, unfortunately, but I think that was partly a matter of taste.
Literally.
So much food in this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! 📚
Content Warnings:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
death of a parent/grandparent, funerals, inheritance/estates, romanticizing suicide, ableist language, implicit ableism, estrangement, food, meat-eating, gaslighting, suicide, “compassionate death”/eugenics
September 16, 2026
4.5/5
didion and nora (book lovers by emily henry) would seriously be best friends
time travel, or playing with time in any way shape or form, does freak me out but the family drama and second chance romance of this did convince me to lock in, and i'm so glad i did. this whole premise is insane, friends/siblings go home for a funeral and their years of passive aggressive communication gets them stuck in an endless saturday. foolishly, i thought this would be fun, a kiki, friends laughing, i didn't know the emotional punch i would be hit with.
didion is the oldest daughter, so obviously she is me and she made me SOB. her mother has passed away and i know this whole book was about her coming to terms with who her mother was, and why she made the decisions she made, but i wanna hold the grudge for her. sammie was better, but i was still so annoyed with her. honestly i the only one i didn't get annoyed with was matt. i wish we saw more of his healing friendship with didion. sammie just didn't seem to ever take any accountability, i know that didion was rude at times and they she pushed her want for the future onto others, but she has her moment of apologies. don't even get me started on austin. i really hate to love him.
the book was a bit repetitive, but that has to be par for the course in books like this. they way i love didion is what carried my love for this book. plus i love rehashing the past and i love when people argue, so this was perfect. even tho all the characters were flawed, i loved reading their stories. this was such a fun idea and it showed me that maybe i shouldn't be so scared of a trope i don't normally love!
*thank you to st. martins press and netgalley for the copy!*
didion and nora (book lovers by emily henry) would seriously be best friends
time travel, or playing with time in any way shape or form, does freak me out but the family drama and second chance romance of this did convince me to lock in, and i'm so glad i did. this whole premise is insane, friends/siblings go home for a funeral and their years of passive aggressive communication gets them stuck in an endless saturday. foolishly, i thought this would be fun, a kiki, friends laughing, i didn't know the emotional punch i would be hit with.
didion is the oldest daughter, so obviously she is me and she made me SOB. her mother has passed away and i know this whole book was about her coming to terms with who her mother was, and why she made the decisions she made, but i wanna hold the grudge for her. sammie was better, but i was still so annoyed with her. honestly i the only one i didn't get annoyed with was matt. i wish we saw more of his healing friendship with didion. sammie just didn't seem to ever take any accountability, i know that didion was rude at times and they she pushed her want for the future onto others, but she has her moment of apologies. don't even get me started on austin. i really hate to love him.
the book was a bit repetitive, but that has to be par for the course in books like this. they way i love didion is what carried my love for this book. plus i love rehashing the past and i love when people argue, so this was perfect. even tho all the characters were flawed, i loved reading their stories. this was such a fun idea and it showed me that maybe i shouldn't be so scared of a trope i don't normally love!
*thank you to st. martins press and netgalley for the copy!*
Review of advance copy received from Author
💅
July 21, 2026
Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday.
What a wild ride of a book. While it's deep and raw, its beautiful and airy at the same time. This was a lot packed into one book. I couldn't imagine having to relive that day on repeat but I loved the reasons behind it and what came from repeating it constantly. Such a beautiful read with important life lessons along the way. The narrator (which is also the author by the way) truly did this book justice, it kept me intrigued and wanting to see what would come of the constant Saturday.
I received this ARC audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio to listen/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.
What a wild ride of a book. While it's deep and raw, its beautiful and airy at the same time. This was a lot packed into one book. I couldn't imagine having to relive that day on repeat but I loved the reasons behind it and what came from repeating it constantly. Such a beautiful read with important life lessons along the way. The narrator (which is also the author by the way) truly did this book justice, it kept me intrigued and wanting to see what would come of the constant Saturday.
I received this ARC audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio to listen/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.
February 2, 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!
August 13, 2026
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
Didion and Sammie’s mother, Babe, dies, and they return home to Mercy Island, a barrier island off the coast of Georgia, for the funeral. The thing is, they’re estranged. And because apparently a funeral weekend wasn’t complicated enough, their old friend Matt, as well as Didion’s ex-boyfriend Austin, also show up. Long story short, the four of them have to stay the entire weekend if they want to inherit the house, per Babe’s will.
Oh, and then they get stuck in a time loop. Groundhog Day-style. The idea is that they’re forced to relive the weekend until they work out their differences.
Except Didion is insufferable.
I just cannot stand a protagonist who refuses to talk about what’s bothering them. I don’t understand it, mostly because I’m a truthful person who speaks her mind in real life, probably to a fault. So watching Didion spend approximately half of the book refusing to tell anyone why she hates them, and refusing to work through her shit, was not my cup of tea.
The majority of the plot becomes an exercise in trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with her while she says approximately nothing about it, with teenage flashbacks that take forever to get to the point too. Then the ending was wrapped up with a neat little bow.
And that’s what made this so disappointing for me, because I absolutely loved The Other Side of Now by this author. I went into this expecting another winner and instead spent most of the book wishing someone would hand Didion a therapist, a megaphone, or both.
The time-loop concept was a hit for me, the humor that this author brings was there too, and the premise had so much potential. But this novel fell somewhat flat in its execution.
Didion and Sammie’s mother, Babe, dies, and they return home to Mercy Island, a barrier island off the coast of Georgia, for the funeral. The thing is, they’re estranged. And because apparently a funeral weekend wasn’t complicated enough, their old friend Matt, as well as Didion’s ex-boyfriend Austin, also show up. Long story short, the four of them have to stay the entire weekend if they want to inherit the house, per Babe’s will.
Oh, and then they get stuck in a time loop. Groundhog Day-style. The idea is that they’re forced to relive the weekend until they work out their differences.
Except Didion is insufferable.
I just cannot stand a protagonist who refuses to talk about what’s bothering them. I don’t understand it, mostly because I’m a truthful person who speaks her mind in real life, probably to a fault. So watching Didion spend approximately half of the book refusing to tell anyone why she hates them, and refusing to work through her shit, was not my cup of tea.
The majority of the plot becomes an exercise in trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with her while she says approximately nothing about it, with teenage flashbacks that take forever to get to the point too. Then the ending was wrapped up with a neat little bow.
And that’s what made this so disappointing for me, because I absolutely loved The Other Side of Now by this author. I went into this expecting another winner and instead spent most of the book wishing someone would hand Didion a therapist, a megaphone, or both.
The time-loop concept was a hit for me, the humor that this author brings was there too, and the premise had so much potential. But this novel fell somewhat flat in its execution.
August 3, 2026
2.5 stars.
A mashup of the movies Groundhog Day and The Big Chill.
When four estranged friends are thrown back together again by the funeral of a very significant person from their lives, they are forced to examine their pasts together; including all the hurts, betrayals, and outcomes.
It's Saturday, the day before the funeral. And then it's Saturday again when they wake up, and then Saturday again the day after that, followed by, you guessed it, Saturday once again. After days and days of resentment, frustration, and recrimination they bring it all out in anger and pain and come up with, "None of us are good at being friends anymore." I could have told them that on Day One! Isn't that why they were estranged?!
The Saturdays become interminable as this foursome wallows in their distress from the past, and their fight to figure out that they are anything but perfect and destined to live all their messy lives together after all.
I truly enjoyed this author's first adult fiction novel, The Other Side of Now. However, I'm sad to say that this one missed the mark for me. It's a lot of drama and talk therapy. To be honest, I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Many reviewers saw this differently than I did and I encourage readers to check out their reviews. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
A mashup of the movies Groundhog Day and The Big Chill.
When four estranged friends are thrown back together again by the funeral of a very significant person from their lives, they are forced to examine their pasts together; including all the hurts, betrayals, and outcomes.
It's Saturday, the day before the funeral. And then it's Saturday again when they wake up, and then Saturday again the day after that, followed by, you guessed it, Saturday once again. After days and days of resentment, frustration, and recrimination they bring it all out in anger and pain and come up with, "None of us are good at being friends anymore." I could have told them that on Day One! Isn't that why they were estranged?!
The Saturdays become interminable as this foursome wallows in their distress from the past, and their fight to figure out that they are anything but perfect and destined to live all their messy lives together after all.
I truly enjoyed this author's first adult fiction novel, The Other Side of Now. However, I'm sad to say that this one missed the mark for me. It's a lot of drama and talk therapy. To be honest, I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Many reviewers saw this differently than I did and I encourage readers to check out their reviews. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2026
I have truly never disliked all the characters in a book the way I disliked these characters.
The book follows an older sister named Didion who returns back to an idyllic south Georgia home that was owned by her mother. The beginning of the book was actually entrancing, and the author did a great job in regards to the setting and creating these characters. Didion is a semi famous chef now who has escaped her childhood by living in New York City. Upon her mother Babe’s death, she returns to home and is met with her sister, ex boyfriend, and ex best friend. Babe is meant to be this enigma and somehow special and all encompassing. We understand upon her arrival to south Georgia that Didion hasn’t seen these people or heard about them in about three or so years, which includes her mother. She’s met with awkwardness that begins as interesting because you want to know why, and as we go through past and present perspectives we learn that all the people around her are actually the worst, besides the ex best friend, Matt. Eventually, the characters get stuck in a time loop (magical realism!) until they can fully reconcile with one another, their mothers final wish before death.
I understand the mom is meant to be a complex character and someone who struggles, but instead I find her to be a miserable women who relieves herself of her responsibilities as a mother and favorites her second child. She disappears out of their daughter’s lives when they’re about fifteen and thirteen, and has them visit in the summer at her childhood home in South GA. The mom is flighty and oftentimes cruel towards her older daughter, which leads to a resentment between the two. However, the mother is the one at fault and even admits to this in the end. I don’t even think the ending could really relieve this pain, and to me this was why the novel so struggled for me. The mom isn’t like able beyond her death, even if she’s apologized through a post mortem letter. I think too that maybe if the characters had more recognized that their mom was flawed (which they did in part), I’d be way more inclined to like this book. But it fails too, and all the characters recognize Babe as this magical character.
Sami, her sister, may be a worse character than the mom. She flies through life without true responsibility and has a relationship that destroys almost every person in her life in a different way. She’s the worst, and somehow I’m also meant to forgive her at the end of the novel when she indeed is still childish.
The ex-boyfriend, Austin, is also evil. Omg he cheats on her and somehow played her like a million times but is still just SOOOOO amazing and everyone loves him. Ew, I truly dislike a cheating arc that’s forgiven in a book. Matt, the ex best friend, is easily the best character. I love him.
I actually think the main character separating and distancing herself from these people. This is viewed as bad in the novel, but I don’t know. It feels necessary for her development.
I just really struggled with this book. I wish I didn’t because I think the author wrote beautifully and well, but the story didn’t hit me well.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early listen and audiobook.
The book follows an older sister named Didion who returns back to an idyllic south Georgia home that was owned by her mother. The beginning of the book was actually entrancing, and the author did a great job in regards to the setting and creating these characters. Didion is a semi famous chef now who has escaped her childhood by living in New York City. Upon her mother Babe’s death, she returns to home and is met with her sister, ex boyfriend, and ex best friend. Babe is meant to be this enigma and somehow special and all encompassing. We understand upon her arrival to south Georgia that Didion hasn’t seen these people or heard about them in about three or so years, which includes her mother. She’s met with awkwardness that begins as interesting because you want to know why, and as we go through past and present perspectives we learn that all the people around her are actually the worst, besides the ex best friend, Matt. Eventually, the characters get stuck in a time loop (magical realism!) until they can fully reconcile with one another, their mothers final wish before death.
I understand the mom is meant to be a complex character and someone who struggles, but instead I find her to be a miserable women who relieves herself of her responsibilities as a mother and favorites her second child. She disappears out of their daughter’s lives when they’re about fifteen and thirteen, and has them visit in the summer at her childhood home in South GA. The mom is flighty and oftentimes cruel towards her older daughter, which leads to a resentment between the two. However, the mother is the one at fault and even admits to this in the end. I don’t even think the ending could really relieve this pain, and to me this was why the novel so struggled for me. The mom isn’t like able beyond her death, even if she’s apologized through a post mortem letter. I think too that maybe if the characters had more recognized that their mom was flawed (which they did in part), I’d be way more inclined to like this book. But it fails too, and all the characters recognize Babe as this magical character.
Sami, her sister, may be a worse character than the mom. She flies through life without true responsibility and has a relationship that destroys almost every person in her life in a different way. She’s the worst, and somehow I’m also meant to forgive her at the end of the novel when she indeed is still childish.
The ex-boyfriend, Austin, is also evil. Omg he cheats on her and somehow played her like a million times but is still just SOOOOO amazing and everyone loves him. Ew, I truly dislike a cheating arc that’s forgiven in a book. Matt, the ex best friend, is easily the best character. I love him.
I actually think the main character separating and distancing herself from these people. This is viewed as bad in the novel, but I don’t know. It feels necessary for her development.
I just really struggled with this book. I wish I didn’t because I think the author wrote beautifully and well, but the story didn’t hit me well.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early listen and audiobook.
July 29, 2026
When Babe - the complicated, bewitching matriarch of their teenage summers - dies, both of her daughters and two of their friends are summoned back to Mercy Island for the reading of her will.
The four estranged friends reunite for what should be a brief awkward weekend when they find themselves in a time loop reliving Saturday over and over and over again. With this occurring they are forced to confront the betrayals, breakups and buried truths that destroyed them many years ago.
Filled with romance, grief, magical realism and family dynamics this character driven novel is a great read.
Love the cover!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The four estranged friends reunite for what should be a brief awkward weekend when they find themselves in a time loop reliving Saturday over and over and over again. With this occurring they are forced to confront the betrayals, breakups and buried truths that destroyed them many years ago.
Filled with romance, grief, magical realism and family dynamics this character driven novel is a great read.
Love the cover!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
July 25, 2026
Didion and Sammie's mother, Babe, passes away on Mercy Island, at the family's beloved home, Birdsong. Didion has been mostly estranged from her mother and sister for some time, but she returns home for the funeral. There she also finds her childhood friends, Austin and Matt.
It is soon revealed that Babe's will stipulates that the foursome will have to spend the funeral weekend together at Birdsong -- no phones allowed -- if they want to inherit the house. Didion can't think of anything worse, but she reluctantly agrees. They spend a painful, resentful Saturday together, only to wake up and discover... it's still Saturday! Again and again.
The Groundhog Day aspect is cute and whimsical; much of the story itself is not. Didion is such an unlikable character that you find yourself having very little desire to spend one Saturday with her, let alone infinite ones. She carries a grudge against everyone--some of her anger against her late mother, who was rather tough on her, was justified, but still. This girl is angry and mean. Said anger extends to her sister, her friend Matt, and her once boyfriend, Austin.
Since most of the plot involves these characters stuck at Birdsong, rehashing old gripes, it gets a bit stale. We do get flashbacks to beachy summers past--some happier, some not--giving us a chance to learn a bit more about our characters. And yes, again, there's a reason for some of the bitterness. But while the story can have its light and funny moments, I often found this more of a rant rather than an enjoyable, magical tale.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.
It is soon revealed that Babe's will stipulates that the foursome will have to spend the funeral weekend together at Birdsong -- no phones allowed -- if they want to inherit the house. Didion can't think of anything worse, but she reluctantly agrees. They spend a painful, resentful Saturday together, only to wake up and discover... it's still Saturday! Again and again.
The Groundhog Day aspect is cute and whimsical; much of the story itself is not. Didion is such an unlikable character that you find yourself having very little desire to spend one Saturday with her, let alone infinite ones. She carries a grudge against everyone--some of her anger against her late mother, who was rather tough on her, was justified, but still. This girl is angry and mean. Said anger extends to her sister, her friend Matt, and her once boyfriend, Austin.
Since most of the plot involves these characters stuck at Birdsong, rehashing old gripes, it gets a bit stale. We do get flashbacks to beachy summers past--some happier, some not--giving us a chance to learn a bit more about our characters. And yes, again, there's a reason for some of the bitterness. But while the story can have its light and funny moments, I often found this more of a rant rather than an enjoyable, magical tale.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.
June 25, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
I enjoyed this one and could relate to the main character through her experience of losing her mother. This story showed how each character was dealing with their own struggles, and the family dynamics were complicated. The siblings didn’t get along in the way you might expect, and their mother played a significant role in shaping those relationships over the years.
This was an emotional and thought-provoking story that explored grief, family, and change. Watching Didion and the other characters come to terms with their new reality and navigate a future they never could have prepared for was both heartbreaking and meaningful. Overall, I enjoyed this book, would recommend it, and would definitely read more from this author.
I also had the opportunity to listen to the ALC, so I did an immersive read with this one. The author narrated the audiobook herself and did an amazing job bringing the story to life. She perfectly captured the characters’ pain, frustration, grief, and the complicated dynamics they faced. Her narration helped me fully immerse myself in the story and feel as though I was right there on Mercy Island with the characters. I highly recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this one and could relate to the main character through her experience of losing her mother. This story showed how each character was dealing with their own struggles, and the family dynamics were complicated. The siblings didn’t get along in the way you might expect, and their mother played a significant role in shaping those relationships over the years.
This was an emotional and thought-provoking story that explored grief, family, and change. Watching Didion and the other characters come to terms with their new reality and navigate a future they never could have prepared for was both heartbreaking and meaningful. Overall, I enjoyed this book, would recommend it, and would definitely read more from this author.
I also had the opportunity to listen to the ALC, so I did an immersive read with this one. The author narrated the audiobook herself and did an amazing job bringing the story to life. She perfectly captured the characters’ pain, frustration, grief, and the complicated dynamics they faced. Her narration helped me fully immerse myself in the story and feel as though I was right there on Mercy Island with the characters. I highly recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2026
will post my review after book club so Alex doesn't yell at me
3.5/5
I listened to this and thought her name was Vivian the entire time. Wtf kind of name is didion? Who adopts a puppy on a whim? hate to say it but Didion is obnoxious/whiny/always the victim. Only feel slightly bad for her bc her mom was absent/hard on her but also is revealed why later but still was annoyed by her (didion/vivian) the entire book.
I loved matt.
Was the random mention of the Irish cousin- killian, from the other book or is that my dementia talking.
Is migla the cat - Babe reincarnated?
cool that she narrated her own book. was it bc she was trying to save money? I get it paige, times is tough.
I liked the ending. Maybe its more of a 3.9/5
3.5/5
I listened to this and thought her name was Vivian the entire time. Wtf kind of name is didion? Who adopts a puppy on a whim? hate to say it but Didion is obnoxious/whiny/always the victim. Only feel slightly bad for her bc her mom was absent/hard on her but also is revealed why later but still was annoyed by her (didion/vivian) the entire book.
I loved matt.
Was the random mention of the Irish cousin- killian, from the other book or is that my dementia talking.
Is migla the cat - Babe reincarnated?
cool that she narrated her own book. was it bc she was trying to save money? I get it paige, times is tough.
I liked the ending. Maybe its more of a 3.9/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
how cute is this cover!! this is my second book by this author, and while I didn’t love it as much as the first one because everyone was so messed up and annoying, I still consider her a must read author for me now. I’m just a magical realism girly ~
August 21, 2026
This felt like a retelling of Groundhog Day. It sounds like that could have made this feel gimmicky, but it never had that feel. I liked too that instead of one person being stuck in the loop, it was 5 people stuck in the loop. And the adults had some stretching of their own to do before the day ends for good.
I liked the little details in this. It painted a solid picture that could be believed. Some of the references felt dated though....it kept me wondering how old the author was. Overall, the writing was a little choppy and it rambled a lot. But the one thing that brought this up to 4 stars was the way the characters were transformed in their own journey. A life spent pushing others away and waiting for an apology is a lonely life.
I liked the little details in this. It painted a solid picture that could be believed. Some of the references felt dated though....it kept me wondering how old the author was. Overall, the writing was a little choppy and it rambled a lot. But the one thing that brought this up to 4 stars was the way the characters were transformed in their own journey. A life spent pushing others away and waiting for an apology is a lonely life.
June 27, 2026
Destination Funeral is a heartwarming story about learning to let go of the past in order to embrace the future. The time-loop premise, where the main character relives the same day over and over until important life lessons are learned, adds an engaging twist that keeps the story moving while allowing for meaningful character growth.
The emotional journey is the highlight of the book, with themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances woven throughout. Watching the protagonist slowly change with each repeated day makes for a satisfying and uplifting read.
While a few sections felt a bit repetitive—which is understandable given the nature of the plot—I would have liked a little more depth in some of the supporting characters. Even so, the story delivers a heartfelt message and leaves readers with a sense of hope.
Overall, Destination Funeral is an enjoyable and touching novel that reminds us that sometimes we have to confront our past before we can truly move forward.
The emotional journey is the highlight of the book, with themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances woven throughout. Watching the protagonist slowly change with each repeated day makes for a satisfying and uplifting read.
While a few sections felt a bit repetitive—which is understandable given the nature of the plot—I would have liked a little more depth in some of the supporting characters. Even so, the story delivers a heartfelt message and leaves readers with a sense of hope.
Overall, Destination Funeral is an enjoyable and touching novel that reminds us that sometimes we have to confront our past before we can truly move forward.
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.
July 8, 2026
After loving The Other Side of Now, I was so excited for this release! Unfortunately I don’t think it was for me.
I love Harbison’s writing very much, and she has a great way of balancing all aspects of the novel and keeping you hooked on the book. Her writing is the reason I wanted to keep reading this one.
Unfortunately, the characters were really hard to root for in any way. The actions of Babe and Austin in particular felt unforgivable, and I didn’t feel like Sammie was all that great either. Matt was fine, and he was probably my favorite character of them all, but the bar was low.
Didion let everyone off the hook way too easily. I couldn’t believe the way she just let everyone walk all over her. I wanted to feel like there was character growth, but I did not. The magical realism aspect also didn’t work for me, as it wasn’t explained enough.
This book definitely will be loved by many, it just was not for me.
I love Harbison’s writing very much, and she has a great way of balancing all aspects of the novel and keeping you hooked on the book. Her writing is the reason I wanted to keep reading this one.
Unfortunately, the characters were really hard to root for in any way. The actions of Babe and Austin in particular felt unforgivable, and I didn’t feel like Sammie was all that great either. Matt was fine, and he was probably my favorite character of them all, but the bar was low.
Didion let everyone off the hook way too easily. I couldn’t believe the way she just let everyone walk all over her. I wanted to feel like there was character growth, but I did not. The magical realism aspect also didn’t work for me, as it wasn’t explained enough.
This book definitely will be loved by many, it just was not for me.
July 22, 2026
After reading The Other Side of Now, I couldn’t wait for another book release by Paige Harbison. I was lucky enough to get approved to read this book through NetGalley. I had high expectations going into this book. The concept of this story sounded very unique. It is about a group of people who come back to a childhood home to prepare for Babe’s funeral. She was the glue that held these people together. Babe has two daughters. She was always much harder on the older one and more lenient with the younger one. Babe remained close with Didion’s first love, Austin and her daughters’ childhood friend, Matt. While these four adults reunite to plan a funeral, they have a lot to work through. They only have to make it through one full day together and then, Sunday is the funeral. However, they soon realize they are stuck in a time loop. While these adults are working through past issues, they keep repeating Saturday. They try to figure out what needs to be done in order to repair their bonds before the time loop ends. Will these adults finally be able to work through their past problems or is it too late to smooth it out? This is a funny and heartwarming story about the importance of family bonds. The characters learn to forgive and move forward. Life is too short to hold on to past mistakes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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