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Destination Funeral: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26"Fun and sexy." ―People
"Paige Harbison is one of the funniest writers working today." ―Bustle
A fresh take on Groundhog Day meets the magical escapism of One Italian Summer in this heartfelt and hilarious novel following a friend group so damaged that only a funeral could bring them back together. This program is read by the author.
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
"Paige Harbison is one of the funniest writers working today." ―Bustle
A fresh take on Groundhog Day meets the magical escapism of One Italian Summer in this heartfelt and hilarious novel following a friend group so damaged that only a funeral could bring them back together. This program is read by the author.
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Audible Audio
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Paige Harbison
7 books685 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.
June 28, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ 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!
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!
June 26, 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.
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!
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 ~
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.
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.
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.
----
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.
🌶️
🏝️💗⚰️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.
----
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.
April 2, 2026
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for this ARC in exchange for a review.
I loved the setup of Destination Funeral—this group of childhood friends, once close, brought back together after a death, only to end up literally stuck reliving the same weekend. The time loop works well because it forces everything to the surface. There’s no avoiding each other or what’s been left unsaid.
What stood out most to me was how the book handles repressed emotions. Everyone is so bottled up—honestly, a bit emotionally constipated—and it shows in all the fractured relationships: sisters who barely speak, old lovers with unresolved tension, and friendships that quietly fell apart. The loop makes them confront all of it, whether they want to or not.
We mainly follow Didion, who’s especially closed off, and a lot of that ties back to her relationship with her mother. She’s carrying grief, but also anger and confusion—especially knowing her mother chose to die on her own terms. On top of that, there’s this underlying pain from how fractured their relationship was, how differently her mother treated her compared to her sister, and how much responsibility was placed on Didion from a young age. She had to grow up quickly, take care of things, and never really got the same kind of support or recognition. That resentment spills over—not just toward her mother, but toward her sister too, who got to have a more normal childhood and a better relationship with their mum.
That said, it didn’t hit as hard as I expected. The pacing felt slow in places, and there were moments where it dragged. Still, I was invested enough in the characters to want to see how everything played out.
Overall, I did enjoy it—it’s emotional, a little strange, and very much about all the things people leave unsaid. I just wish it had landed a bit harder for me.
I loved the setup of Destination Funeral—this group of childhood friends, once close, brought back together after a death, only to end up literally stuck reliving the same weekend. The time loop works well because it forces everything to the surface. There’s no avoiding each other or what’s been left unsaid.
What stood out most to me was how the book handles repressed emotions. Everyone is so bottled up—honestly, a bit emotionally constipated—and it shows in all the fractured relationships: sisters who barely speak, old lovers with unresolved tension, and friendships that quietly fell apart. The loop makes them confront all of it, whether they want to or not.
We mainly follow Didion, who’s especially closed off, and a lot of that ties back to her relationship with her mother. She’s carrying grief, but also anger and confusion—especially knowing her mother chose to die on her own terms. On top of that, there’s this underlying pain from how fractured their relationship was, how differently her mother treated her compared to her sister, and how much responsibility was placed on Didion from a young age. She had to grow up quickly, take care of things, and never really got the same kind of support or recognition. That resentment spills over—not just toward her mother, but toward her sister too, who got to have a more normal childhood and a better relationship with their mum.
That said, it didn’t hit as hard as I expected. The pacing felt slow in places, and there were moments where it dragged. Still, I was invested enough in the characters to want to see how everything played out.
Overall, I did enjoy it—it’s emotional, a little strange, and very much about all the things people leave unsaid. I just wish it had landed a bit harder for me.
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.
June 27, 2026
5 ⭐ ARC Review -
🔂 For Fans of:
- magical realism
- time loops
- coming back to hometown
- small town
- sisterhood
- friendship
- second chance romance
- working through grief
- loss of a parent (mom)
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
This book made me want to call my mom and tell her I love her. It made me want to call my friends and tell them I will always need them. It made me want to call my sister and tell her that my love will never be conditional.
This book is about a time loop on the weekend of Didion and Samantha’s mom’s funeral. The sisters and their two childhood friends arrive to her house and are asked to stay the weekend. Didion hasn’t spoken to any of them in years, even her sister, so this weekend is the perfect time for all of them to figure their shit out. But it’s not easy. Not by a long shot.
Destination Funeral was as real as a book full of grief and broken relationships could be in the most emotional way. Since the book is from Didion’s point of view, her thoughts and emotions immediately made me feel everything she felt. With so much shared history with everyone, the constant jokes make the book feel lighter and like you’re in on the jokes.
This book was an easy read in that it was beautiful and heartfelt in such a healing way that I didn’t want to stop reading once I had started.
I will definitely be going back to read more from this author!
🖤 Thank you to author Paige Harbison and publisher St. Martin’s Press for the digital advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison
📅 Release Date: July 21, 2026
⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5
🔂 For Fans of:
- magical realism
- time loops
- coming back to hometown
- small town
- sisterhood
- friendship
- second chance romance
- working through grief
- loss of a parent (mom)
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
This book made me want to call my mom and tell her I love her. It made me want to call my friends and tell them I will always need them. It made me want to call my sister and tell her that my love will never be conditional.
This book is about a time loop on the weekend of Didion and Samantha’s mom’s funeral. The sisters and their two childhood friends arrive to her house and are asked to stay the weekend. Didion hasn’t spoken to any of them in years, even her sister, so this weekend is the perfect time for all of them to figure their shit out. But it’s not easy. Not by a long shot.
Destination Funeral was as real as a book full of grief and broken relationships could be in the most emotional way. Since the book is from Didion’s point of view, her thoughts and emotions immediately made me feel everything she felt. With so much shared history with everyone, the constant jokes make the book feel lighter and like you’re in on the jokes.
This book was an easy read in that it was beautiful and heartfelt in such a healing way that I didn’t want to stop reading once I had started.
I will definitely be going back to read more from this author!
🖤 Thank you to author Paige Harbison and publisher St. Martin’s Press for the digital advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison
📅 Release Date: July 21, 2026
⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5
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.
June 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC and ALC!
I absolutely loved The Other Side of Now, so I was really excited to pick this one up. While I don't think it quite reached the same level for me, I still ended up really enjoying it.
The time loop premise immediately hooked me, but what kept me reading was the complicated friend group at the center of the story. As they relived the same day over and over, more of their history, grief, regrets, and unresolved issues came to the surface. None of these characters were perfect, but they felt very human, and I found myself invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
I also loved the magical realism element, but that's not exactly a surprise because I'm always a sucker for magical realism. The time loop never felt gimmicky, and I liked how it pushed the characters to confront things they'd been avoiding for years. I also really appreciated the mother-daughter relationship. It felt messy and realistic, and there were a lot of moments that I think some readers will be able to relate to.
There are definitely some heavier topics throughout, but the story balances them well with humor, heart, and a setting that made me want to spend a weekend on Mercy Island myself. This wasn't quite the standout read that The Other Side of Now was for me, but it definitely confirmed that Paige Harbison's books just work for me. I'll absolutely be picking up whatever she writes next.
I absolutely loved The Other Side of Now, so I was really excited to pick this one up. While I don't think it quite reached the same level for me, I still ended up really enjoying it.
The time loop premise immediately hooked me, but what kept me reading was the complicated friend group at the center of the story. As they relived the same day over and over, more of their history, grief, regrets, and unresolved issues came to the surface. None of these characters were perfect, but they felt very human, and I found myself invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
I also loved the magical realism element, but that's not exactly a surprise because I'm always a sucker for magical realism. The time loop never felt gimmicky, and I liked how it pushed the characters to confront things they'd been avoiding for years. I also really appreciated the mother-daughter relationship. It felt messy and realistic, and there were a lot of moments that I think some readers will be able to relate to.
There are definitely some heavier topics throughout, but the story balances them well with humor, heart, and a setting that made me want to spend a weekend on Mercy Island myself. This wasn't quite the standout read that The Other Side of Now was for me, but it definitely confirmed that Paige Harbison's books just work for me. I'll absolutely be picking up whatever she writes next.
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.
May 19, 2026
I don't even know where to begin to write this review other than to say, I wholeheartedly loved this book. Also, let me start out by saying that Didion isn't an easy character to follow, being in her perspective is rough at times but by the end you come to see why she is the way that she is and it was such a joy to see her open up and grow as a character.
I also loved the grief aspect, I'm not sure what that says about me but I do find myself gravitating towards and loving books that feature grief in some way and this author handles is beautifully. By the end I was sobbing.
I loved all of the characters and I loved watching how their dynamic shifted during the endless Saturdays and I also loved the different timelines we got to see how their friendships began.
Highly recommend picking this one up! Now I'm off to read this authors previous book, The Other Side of Now...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
Read
June 29, 2026Rtc
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!!
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