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The Other Side of Starting Over
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26When her husband’s tragic death uncovers long-buried secrets, a young mother fights to protect her family and heal her heart in an emotionally resonant novel about loss, love, and second chances.
After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell retreats to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her rebellious teenage twins in tow. Her plan is to take over her parents’ antique store, ensure it survives another generation, and build a new life from the rubble of the old one.
But Bea didn’t plan on Simon, the gruff store manager with his own ambitions for the business. As they’re forced to work together, animosity gives way to grudging respect and ignites an unexpected spark. Before Bea can find her footing, everything is upended. First by River, a local boy who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. Then by her estranged mother-in-law, who reveals devastating secrets that will test everything Bea believed about her marriage.
As Bea navigates grief, betrayal, and an unexpected connection with Simon, she finds that it may be possible to begin again, but only if she confronts the truth of her past.
After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell retreats to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her rebellious teenage twins in tow. Her plan is to take over her parents’ antique store, ensure it survives another generation, and build a new life from the rubble of the old one.
But Bea didn’t plan on Simon, the gruff store manager with his own ambitions for the business. As they’re forced to work together, animosity gives way to grudging respect and ignites an unexpected spark. Before Bea can find her footing, everything is upended. First by River, a local boy who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. Then by her estranged mother-in-law, who reveals devastating secrets that will test everything Bea believed about her marriage.
As Bea navigates grief, betrayal, and an unexpected connection with Simon, she finds that it may be possible to begin again, but only if she confronts the truth of her past.
335 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beatrice is 38 and a widowed mother of 14 year old twins. She's also back in her little home town because she had to sell their house and her husband's business.
She's supposed to run her semi-retired parents' antique shop. But because they weren't expecting her to come back, they hired Simon a year ago to take over one day.
Grumpy and dark and kind of super hot Simon.
Plus also maybe ... her husband might have a lookalike 18 year old son running around town. WTF?
I really enjoyed reading this! Such a sweet story.
It was fun and sad and a bit mysterious and exciting.
Great locations, great cast of characters.
A beautiful, small town, starting over, life and love story. Full of grief and anger and hope and fear and family and a new job, a new love, a new step-son and a horrible mother-in-law. Read it!
I also wouldn't mind seeing this on TV one day.
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July 10, 2026
3.5⭐️
GIVE US MORE HOT 30 SOMETHING YEAR OLDS PLEASE!!
There were things I liked and things I didn’t like in this book. Things I thought were executed well and things that weren’t.
This feels very much litfic with a subplot of romance and that’s a vibe I love so I feel like we got a larger scope on Beatrice’s life. Beatrice is truly the strongest woman going because I’m not sure I would have been able to cope with all the curve balls she was thrown. This poor woman is navigating grief, betrayal, new beginning and just general every day life on her own and nobody around her seems to make it easy for her. There were so many times I wanted to shake her and tell her she deserved better and that she was ALLOWED to be angry.
Every single teenager in this book had a stinking attitude problem, the twins were horrible to their grieving mother and although they too were grieving they never made it easy on her, constantly throwing things back in her face, going against what she says and just… kinda being hateful. A few times I wish Beatrice would have pulled them up on it because it was getting uncomfortable to read.
Speaking of uncomfortable. River. While the addition of River didnt annoy me because I feel like Bea’s husband wasn’t a fully fleshed out character therefore I didn’t really feel connected to him, his attitude and entitlement just stank. This woman who lost her husband less than a year ago is telling you she needs time to adjust and you’re doing your best to make her feel bad and break? Beatrice truly is better than me cause I would have just walked away at that point and left. What I will say though is that some of her thoughts about River and how he looked like her deceased husband were verging on uncomfortable and cringed me out a little bit. I understand it wasn’t the intent and it was to create more of a connection to Jake for the reader but it just didn’t work for me.
The romance. Simon. I reallllly wanted to like him and I did at the start but their relationship progressed far too quickly for me to see any semblance of genuine chemistry. I did enjoy that they took it slow but I would have loved that motel conversation to have been further into the book with build up. I also don’t think that dream was needed and completely took me out of The Moment. There’s also a good bit of miscommunication here for miscommunications sake and I don’t mind miscommunication but it needs to natively make sense and it didn’t here. Why should she know who chloe is he never explained it to her? shes been brought up enough times for him to explain who she was to him but it was never cleared up until the end. It also was a little too convenient that they had similar things happen to them.
The sex. I enjoyed the sex in this I thought it matched the characters well, added to the plot and didn’t have me wishing we got back to the story. The writing here was beautiful and I think it was really well done.
The writing. I love a litfic feel to my romances and I love that kind of writing so I did eat this up!
Overall I enjoyed this story will definitely check this author out again, there was just too many things that annoyed me but I loved Beatrice as a character and I liked how Mara wrote her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me an arc. All opinions are my own
GIVE US MORE HOT 30 SOMETHING YEAR OLDS PLEASE!!
There were things I liked and things I didn’t like in this book. Things I thought were executed well and things that weren’t.
This feels very much litfic with a subplot of romance and that’s a vibe I love so I feel like we got a larger scope on Beatrice’s life. Beatrice is truly the strongest woman going because I’m not sure I would have been able to cope with all the curve balls she was thrown. This poor woman is navigating grief, betrayal, new beginning and just general every day life on her own and nobody around her seems to make it easy for her. There were so many times I wanted to shake her and tell her she deserved better and that she was ALLOWED to be angry.
Every single teenager in this book had a stinking attitude problem, the twins were horrible to their grieving mother and although they too were grieving they never made it easy on her, constantly throwing things back in her face, going against what she says and just… kinda being hateful. A few times I wish Beatrice would have pulled them up on it because it was getting uncomfortable to read.
Speaking of uncomfortable. River. While the addition of River didnt annoy me because I feel like Bea’s husband wasn’t a fully fleshed out character therefore I didn’t really feel connected to him, his attitude and entitlement just stank. This woman who lost her husband less than a year ago is telling you she needs time to adjust and you’re doing your best to make her feel bad and break? Beatrice truly is better than me cause I would have just walked away at that point and left. What I will say though is that some of her thoughts about River and how he looked like her deceased husband were verging on uncomfortable and cringed me out a little bit. I understand it wasn’t the intent and it was to create more of a connection to Jake for the reader but it just didn’t work for me.
The romance. Simon. I reallllly wanted to like him and I did at the start but their relationship progressed far too quickly for me to see any semblance of genuine chemistry. I did enjoy that they took it slow but I would have loved that motel conversation to have been further into the book with build up. I also don’t think that dream was needed and completely took me out of The Moment. There’s also a good bit of miscommunication here for miscommunications sake and I don’t mind miscommunication but it needs to natively make sense and it didn’t here. Why should she know who chloe is he never explained it to her? shes been brought up enough times for him to explain who she was to him but it was never cleared up until the end. It also was a little too convenient that they had similar things happen to them.
The sex. I enjoyed the sex in this I thought it matched the characters well, added to the plot and didn’t have me wishing we got back to the story. The writing here was beautiful and I think it was really well done.
The writing. I love a litfic feel to my romances and I love that kind of writing so I did eat this up!
Overall I enjoyed this story will definitely check this author out again, there was just too many things that annoyed me but I loved Beatrice as a character and I liked how Mara wrote her.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me an arc. All opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
There were things I liked about this book and others I didn't like as much.
First, Beatrice... My God, what a character!
On one hand, she’s dealing with grief and betrayal; on the other, with her children, her parents, and life in general. It seems as though the universe had decided to heap almost every misfortune on her all at once. There were moments when I wanted to jump into the book and give her a hug because everyone in the story seemed so uninterested in how she was really feeling.
Second, the kids. They were the characters I liked the least in the story. I understand that they were also going through a rough time, that they were dealing with a lot of changes, but there came a point where it was just too much. At first, Miles seemed more understanding to me, but well, that didn’t last long. Tess was funny at times, but sometimes she could be really annoying. I get that maybe it has to do with the fact that they’re teenagers, but still. On top of that, Bea never really stood up to them. I would’ve liked to see a little more of that.
Honestly, I didn’t get River’s character at all. I was waiting the whole time for something to happen with him; for him to do something, say something, I don’t know. I was hoping that somehow things would get more complicated, but it didn’t happen.
Jake… well, I don’t have much to say. I wavered between anger, frustration, and empathy. I still haven’t decided how I feel about him.
Beatrice’s parents... another pair of characters I didn’t particularly like, but honestly, I didn’t dislike them all that much either.
And finally, Simon. He and Bea were the characters I liked the most... but separately. I didn’t get the romance; I feel like there wasn’t enough room for proper development. At times, I felt like the relationship had moved too fast. I didn’t understand when they suddenly started getting along so well. I felt the chemistry was missing. Then, all the no communication disguised as “misunderstandings”? I didn’t like that at all. I think he could have talked about Chloe and her brother differently. I don’t know, I had a really hard time understanding their relationship.
Having said all that, I’d like to wrap up with a comment on Mara’s writing. It was one of the things I liked best. The chapters were such a breeze to read—her writing is truly polished. All in all, *The Other Side of Starting Over* is a story I enjoyed and found entertaining.
Mara is definitely an author I’ll keep reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance copy <3
There were things I liked about this book and others I didn't like as much.
First, Beatrice... My God, what a character!
On one hand, she’s dealing with grief and betrayal; on the other, with her children, her parents, and life in general. It seems as though the universe had decided to heap almost every misfortune on her all at once. There were moments when I wanted to jump into the book and give her a hug because everyone in the story seemed so uninterested in how she was really feeling.
Second, the kids. They were the characters I liked the least in the story. I understand that they were also going through a rough time, that they were dealing with a lot of changes, but there came a point where it was just too much. At first, Miles seemed more understanding to me, but well, that didn’t last long. Tess was funny at times, but sometimes she could be really annoying. I get that maybe it has to do with the fact that they’re teenagers, but still. On top of that, Bea never really stood up to them. I would’ve liked to see a little more of that.
Honestly, I didn’t get River’s character at all. I was waiting the whole time for something to happen with him; for him to do something, say something, I don’t know. I was hoping that somehow things would get more complicated, but it didn’t happen.
Jake… well, I don’t have much to say. I wavered between anger, frustration, and empathy. I still haven’t decided how I feel about him.
Beatrice’s parents... another pair of characters I didn’t particularly like, but honestly, I didn’t dislike them all that much either.
And finally, Simon. He and Bea were the characters I liked the most... but separately. I didn’t get the romance; I feel like there wasn’t enough room for proper development. At times, I felt like the relationship had moved too fast. I didn’t understand when they suddenly started getting along so well. I felt the chemistry was missing. Then, all the no communication disguised as “misunderstandings”? I didn’t like that at all. I think he could have talked about Chloe and her brother differently. I don’t know, I had a really hard time understanding their relationship.
Having said all that, I’d like to wrap up with a comment on Mara’s writing. It was one of the things I liked best. The chapters were such a breeze to read—her writing is truly polished. All in all, *The Other Side of Starting Over* is a story I enjoyed and found entertaining.
Mara is definitely an author I’ll keep reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance copy <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Based on the premise of this one, I was expecting it to start off on a sad note, but my goodness are things bleak for the first two chapters. Not bleak in an overly dramatic depressing way, but bleak in a very dull depressing way that encapsulates widowed Beatrice’s probable depressed state quite well. Things pick up when Bea’s crazy mother-in-law shows up (my friends know that I love a great crazy mother-in-law storyline) and I was definitely sucked in from that point forward. Because who ARE these people?? This was the best kind of family drama and mystery!
Beyond the drama, this is truly a tale of Beatrice having seemingly put her trust in the wrong person, and then having to pick up the pieces after that person unexpectedly died. Her depression gives way to a woman on a mission to not be taken advantage of again, and it’s honestly both validating and frustrating to see, as this is as much the story of her healing as it is a story of the destruction her husband Jake left behind when he died. Simon comes with his own baggage, and watching the two of them navigate themselves and each other was the very definition of slow burn. There are many twists and turns once we get into the second half of this book, which honestly fed me the entire spectrum of human emotion. I don’t know how Mara Williams does it, but I had sweaty palms and an accelerated heart rate for several chapters near the end as many storylines hit their climax! The last 25% of this one is intense!!!
On a lighter note, Grandma Gigi is kind of the best. Obsessed with baseball, a shameless flirt, and also unflinchingly honest in her opinions and the wisdom she so cheekily bestows upon others.
Read if you love:
Grief and healing
Relearning trust
Older main characters (late 30s)
Small Town
Workplace romance
Only one bed
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beyond the drama, this is truly a tale of Beatrice having seemingly put her trust in the wrong person, and then having to pick up the pieces after that person unexpectedly died. Her depression gives way to a woman on a mission to not be taken advantage of again, and it’s honestly both validating and frustrating to see, as this is as much the story of her healing as it is a story of the destruction her husband Jake left behind when he died. Simon comes with his own baggage, and watching the two of them navigate themselves and each other was the very definition of slow burn. There are many twists and turns once we get into the second half of this book, which honestly fed me the entire spectrum of human emotion. I don’t know how Mara Williams does it, but I had sweaty palms and an accelerated heart rate for several chapters near the end as many storylines hit their climax! The last 25% of this one is intense!!!
On a lighter note, Grandma Gigi is kind of the best. Obsessed with baseball, a shameless flirt, and also unflinchingly honest in her opinions and the wisdom she so cheekily bestows upon others.
Read if you love:
Grief and healing
Relearning trust
Older main characters (late 30s)
Small Town
Workplace romance
Only one bed
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this heartfelt and emotional story by Mara Williams. The Other Side of Starting Over is a moving journey through grief, betrayal, family secrets, and the courage it takes to rebuild your life where it all began.
After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell returns to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her teenage twins to take over her family’s antique store and start fresh. What begins as a chance to rebuild quickly becomes something far more complicated when she clashes with the store’s manager, Simon, develops unexpected feelings for him, and uncovers shocking truths about her late husband. A mysterious local boy who bears an uncanny resemblance to her husband and revelations from her mother in law keep the story layered with intrigue and emotional tension.
I appreciated how the novel tackled difficult topics with care and sensitivity. There were moments when Beatrice was so patient, compassionate, and understanding that I found myself wishing she would get a little angrier at the people who had hurt her! Still, her resilience made her easy to root for. Her relationship with Simon was incredibly sweet, full of warmth, healing, and the kind of connection she truly deserved after everything she had endured.
This was an engaging and emotional read about second chances, finding strength after loss, and discovering that new beginnings can come from the most unexpected places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this heartfelt and emotional story by Mara Williams. The Other Side of Starting Over is a moving journey through grief, betrayal, family secrets, and the courage it takes to rebuild your life where it all began.
After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell returns to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her teenage twins to take over her family’s antique store and start fresh. What begins as a chance to rebuild quickly becomes something far more complicated when she clashes with the store’s manager, Simon, develops unexpected feelings for him, and uncovers shocking truths about her late husband. A mysterious local boy who bears an uncanny resemblance to her husband and revelations from her mother in law keep the story layered with intrigue and emotional tension.
I appreciated how the novel tackled difficult topics with care and sensitivity. There were moments when Beatrice was so patient, compassionate, and understanding that I found myself wishing she would get a little angrier at the people who had hurt her! Still, her resilience made her easy to root for. Her relationship with Simon was incredibly sweet, full of warmth, healing, and the kind of connection she truly deserved after everything she had endured.
This was an engaging and emotional read about second chances, finding strength after loss, and discovering that new beginnings can come from the most unexpected places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolutely recommend. This was romance with an undercurrent of a thriller, because Bea starts collecting secrets and they slow burn alongside her relationship with Simon, and you can feel them brimming to a very dramatic, high-stakes moment. The third act is gripping and emotional and because this is a romance and because Mara Williams is an excellent author, there's a feeling of safety and foundation while you still feel that Bea's foundation is crumbling.
Bea is strong, business-minded power player of a mom, who is working to resurrect her parent's business and her own family of twins, six months after her husband's death. I've read a few widow romances and this is a deeper reflection of how to accept being a completely different person after tragedy. This has enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes, but Bea is a clear, strong, intelligent as hell female lead and that was a distinct feature of the book which hooked me. She's an incredible mother and very hardworking, so I was rooting for her on every page.
Simon - well, he's a dreamy hunk that can repair furniture and spar with teeth when he meets Bea. I understood why she trusted him and then at times mistrusted him, and the safety and care he offers her is very alluring.
I really enjoyed reading this because that thrilling element of the impending explosion built it as a different type of romance. I'm such a fan of Mara Williams and this grew her portfolio in a different direction.
Thank you to Mara Williams, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Bea is strong, business-minded power player of a mom, who is working to resurrect her parent's business and her own family of twins, six months after her husband's death. I've read a few widow romances and this is a deeper reflection of how to accept being a completely different person after tragedy. This has enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes, but Bea is a clear, strong, intelligent as hell female lead and that was a distinct feature of the book which hooked me. She's an incredible mother and very hardworking, so I was rooting for her on every page.
Simon - well, he's a dreamy hunk that can repair furniture and spar with teeth when he meets Bea. I understood why she trusted him and then at times mistrusted him, and the safety and care he offers her is very alluring.
I really enjoyed reading this because that thrilling element of the impending explosion built it as a different type of romance. I'm such a fan of Mara Williams and this grew her portfolio in a different direction.
Thank you to Mara Williams, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review for NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
I am a huge fan of Mara Williams’s books. I definitely stayed up too late reading this book because I couldn't put it down. She truly has a special gift for storytelling.
The Other Side of Starting Over is a roller coaster of emotions wrapped in one book. Unexpectedly losing a husband is devastating... add financial loss, moving, starting over in a new job, and... finding out your husband has another child you didn't know about. Bea's life is in total shambles. She is doing everything she can to keep it together for her children and family. She is hanging by a thread.
This book has romance, but it really is not the centerpiece of the story, although the connection between Simon and Bea is everything. As she is running around trying to get to the bottom of why her life is a disaster, she can't keep herself from being drawn back to her grumpy, handsome employee. Their chemistry from day one is undeniable.
I loved how their relationship evolves. Building the business, confiding in one another about their grief, and supporting one another in their hardest moments. They are truly beautiful together.
A side note: I felt like Mara Williams channeled my sweet little Grandma Helen in this book. Gigi is everything I miss about her. A spicy little spitfire who lives for watching and yelling at her favorite sports teams. I loved every moment of this character.
I am a huge fan of Mara Williams’s books. I definitely stayed up too late reading this book because I couldn't put it down. She truly has a special gift for storytelling.
The Other Side of Starting Over is a roller coaster of emotions wrapped in one book. Unexpectedly losing a husband is devastating... add financial loss, moving, starting over in a new job, and... finding out your husband has another child you didn't know about. Bea's life is in total shambles. She is doing everything she can to keep it together for her children and family. She is hanging by a thread.
This book has romance, but it really is not the centerpiece of the story, although the connection between Simon and Bea is everything. As she is running around trying to get to the bottom of why her life is a disaster, she can't keep herself from being drawn back to her grumpy, handsome employee. Their chemistry from day one is undeniable.
I loved how their relationship evolves. Building the business, confiding in one another about their grief, and supporting one another in their hardest moments. They are truly beautiful together.
A side note: I felt like Mara Williams channeled my sweet little Grandma Helen in this book. Gigi is everything I miss about her. A spicy little spitfire who lives for watching and yelling at her favorite sports teams. I loved every moment of this character.
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
Thank you so much Mara Williams for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The Other Side of Starting Over was one of those reads I found impossible to put down because of how easy it was to become invested in FMC Beatrices life, her grief after loss and the mysteries surrounding her late husband's life.
I absolutely loved how raw and vulnerable she was written and how beautifully Mara Williams handled this difficult of loss and grief as well as coming to terms with our perception of someone and the reality of them. This book wasn't black and white /good and bad and I loved how Beatrice found room to grief and mourn her love even after uncovering so much.
I absolutely adored how classy she handled every curveball and weird conversation thrown her way.
- In general all the adult characters made very age appropriate decisions and handled situations accordingly ans with so much respect which was such a refreshing reading experience without any fabricated drama.
The center of this book was definitely Beatrice and her twins as well as the late husband Jake but I love how Simon added a little tension to it as well without taking away from this emotional story and how everyone was dealing with Jake's death.
My favorite Mara Williams read yet!
"Jake was at my side for all my best moments. He was the sun, and I was mesmerized by his brilliance. But there's something equally appealing about finding someone who will sit with you in darkness and hold your hand as you search for the flickering light."
The Other Side of Starting Over was one of those reads I found impossible to put down because of how easy it was to become invested in FMC Beatrices life, her grief after loss and the mysteries surrounding her late husband's life.
I absolutely loved how raw and vulnerable she was written and how beautifully Mara Williams handled this difficult of loss and grief as well as coming to terms with our perception of someone and the reality of them. This book wasn't black and white /good and bad and I loved how Beatrice found room to grief and mourn her love even after uncovering so much.
I absolutely adored how classy she handled every curveball and weird conversation thrown her way.
- In general all the adult characters made very age appropriate decisions and handled situations accordingly ans with so much respect which was such a refreshing reading experience without any fabricated drama.
The center of this book was definitely Beatrice and her twins as well as the late husband Jake but I love how Simon added a little tension to it as well without taking away from this emotional story and how everyone was dealing with Jake's death.
My favorite Mara Williams read yet!
"Jake was at my side for all my best moments. He was the sun, and I was mesmerized by his brilliance. But there's something equally appealing about finding someone who will sit with you in darkness and hold your hand as you search for the flickering light."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an emotional and heartfelt story that focuses on healing, resilience, and starting over, with romance and mystery playing an important but balanced role.
Beatrice is a very relatable and well-written character. She feels real as a grieving mother trying to hold her family together while also facing unexpected truths about her past. Her strength and compassion make her easy to root for, even in moments where you wish she could express more anger or frustration.
The mystery surrounding her late husband adds strong emotional tension to the story. Each new reveal keeps the story engaging and adds more depth, making it hard to put the book down. The romance develops slowly and naturally through trust, shared moments, and emotional support, rather than instant attraction.
The family dynamics are also a strong part of the story, especially her relationship with her children. The setting and antique store create a cozy atmosphere that balances the heavier emotional themes well. While the pacing slows at times, the emotional payoff and conclusion are satisfying.
Overall, this is a moving story about grief, healing, forgiveness, and new beginnings, with a good mix of mystery, romance, and family emotion.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Beatrice is a very relatable and well-written character. She feels real as a grieving mother trying to hold her family together while also facing unexpected truths about her past. Her strength and compassion make her easy to root for, even in moments where you wish she could express more anger or frustration.
The mystery surrounding her late husband adds strong emotional tension to the story. Each new reveal keeps the story engaging and adds more depth, making it hard to put the book down. The romance develops slowly and naturally through trust, shared moments, and emotional support, rather than instant attraction.
The family dynamics are also a strong part of the story, especially her relationship with her children. The setting and antique store create a cozy atmosphere that balances the heavier emotional themes well. While the pacing slows at times, the emotional payoff and conclusion are satisfying.
Overall, this is a moving story about grief, healing, forgiveness, and new beginnings, with a good mix of mystery, romance, and family emotion.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Surrounded by the comforting dust of her family's antique shop, Beatrice must face a complex grief and the daunting task of piecing her life back together after a tragedy strikes her family.
~
This book has layers to it in a way that makes me think... this is what reading is supposed to be about.
Set in the lush Sierra mountains, I could practically breathe the fresh air when Beatrice went on her walks. I feel like I have walked the small town where the Antique shop is located. All to say it's a beautiful story in a beautiful setting.
And our Beatrice is one strong woman. She's been dealt the heaviest blows all while navigating grief and motherhood. It's a great blessing that she had someone in her corner she could confide in.
And Simon. That man is pure gold. He's the safe space in case it wasn't clear. He defended Beatrice and was there for her in all the moments that mattered (he's a good man, Savannah).
Overall, this is a lush, heartfelt, thoughtful story about heartbreak, betrayal, healing and the courage it takes to move on. I'm definitely looking forward to what the author comes up with next.
~
4.05 / 5 ★
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
~
This book has layers to it in a way that makes me think... this is what reading is supposed to be about.
Set in the lush Sierra mountains, I could practically breathe the fresh air when Beatrice went on her walks. I feel like I have walked the small town where the Antique shop is located. All to say it's a beautiful story in a beautiful setting.
And our Beatrice is one strong woman. She's been dealt the heaviest blows all while navigating grief and motherhood. It's a great blessing that she had someone in her corner she could confide in.
And Simon. That man is pure gold. He's the safe space in case it wasn't clear. He defended Beatrice and was there for her in all the moments that mattered (he's a good man, Savannah).
Overall, this is a lush, heartfelt, thoughtful story about heartbreak, betrayal, healing and the courage it takes to move on. I'm definitely looking forward to what the author comes up with next.
~
4.05 / 5 ★
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)**
Okay… I struggled with the FMC at first. She came across as very judgmental, and Simon's "nepo baby" comment felt more accurate than she seemed willing to admit. She walks into situations assuming she knows best, which made it hard for me to connect with her in the opening chapters.
I also had some pretty strong opinions after the first couple of chapters. Looking back, I might have been a little harsh. This is one of those books that slowly peels back the layers, reminding you that people, relationships, and grief are rarely as simple as they seem at first.
I'd heard Chapter 3 was where the story really took off, and that turned out to be absolutely true.
From there, the book delivers heartbreak, grief, first love, betrayal, and wonderfully messy family dynamics. Gigi is an absolute national treasure, and her conversations with Beatrice were some of my favorite moments.
At its heart, this is a story about how complicated love, marriage, and grief can be. Everyone makes mistakes. Shame often leads to secrets. The biggest takeaway for me was that the simplest truths are often the easiest to lose sight of when life gets messy.
**4.5 stars.**
Okay… I struggled with the FMC at first. She came across as very judgmental, and Simon's "nepo baby" comment felt more accurate than she seemed willing to admit. She walks into situations assuming she knows best, which made it hard for me to connect with her in the opening chapters.
I also had some pretty strong opinions after the first couple of chapters. Looking back, I might have been a little harsh. This is one of those books that slowly peels back the layers, reminding you that people, relationships, and grief are rarely as simple as they seem at first.
I'd heard Chapter 3 was where the story really took off, and that turned out to be absolutely true.
From there, the book delivers heartbreak, grief, first love, betrayal, and wonderfully messy family dynamics. Gigi is an absolute national treasure, and her conversations with Beatrice were some of my favorite moments.
At its heart, this is a story about how complicated love, marriage, and grief can be. Everyone makes mistakes. Shame often leads to secrets. The biggest takeaway for me was that the simplest truths are often the easiest to lose sight of when life gets messy.
**4.5 stars.**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this story of family, motherhood, grief, romance, moving on and starting over. But I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the author's previous books. It took me quite a while to warm up to the main character, Bea. Her struggles and everything she was dealing with definitely made me feel for her. On top of dealing with her own grief and her children's grief after the loss of her husband, she's also dealing with finding out he lied to her and she starts questioning their whole marriage. So I did root for her to find her footing and be able to move on with her life. But I also got a bit irritated with her behavior at some points. She had a tendency to make snap judgments, jumping to unfoundend (and to me quite obviously wrong) conclusions and she could be a bit of a hypocrit.
The romance wasn't the main focus of this story, it was more focused on the grief aspect and on uncovering family secrets and coming to terms with that. And for me that was a good thing because the romance felt a bit lackluster and was the weakest aspect of the book.
Thank you to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for providing a review copy via NetGalley. This review reflects my honest opinion.
The romance wasn't the main focus of this story, it was more focused on the grief aspect and on uncovering family secrets and coming to terms with that. And for me that was a good thing because the romance felt a bit lackluster and was the weakest aspect of the book.
Thank you to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for providing a review copy via NetGalley. This review reflects my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The Other Side of Starting Over was a very well-written, delicate story. Each time I picked it up, I wondered which part would gut-punch me that time. Writing the loss of a parent or spouse, I would imagine, is difficult enough—but then pile on all the other trauma. Man.
As Mara has with each of her books, the characters experience heartache in some wretched way, which adds a depth to her stories that isn’t found in all romance. Bea and Simon were more interesting characters because of their losses. The twins and other side characters each had different personalities and quirks. Most everyone felt fully realized. I couldn’t quite grasp her parents. They were from one end of the spectrum in some facets, but the opposite in others.
Now. I super appreciate that Simon had gray in his hair. And I’ve never read so much about a man’s thighs… you better believe I’ve been checking out jeaned thighs. I LOVED the antiques store—that’s not a setting I’ve read before, at least not the way Mara wrote it.
I definitely recommend The Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williams.
The Other Side of Starting Over was a very well-written, delicate story. Each time I picked it up, I wondered which part would gut-punch me that time. Writing the loss of a parent or spouse, I would imagine, is difficult enough—but then pile on all the other trauma. Man.
As Mara has with each of her books, the characters experience heartache in some wretched way, which adds a depth to her stories that isn’t found in all romance. Bea and Simon were more interesting characters because of their losses. The twins and other side characters each had different personalities and quirks. Most everyone felt fully realized. I couldn’t quite grasp her parents. They were from one end of the spectrum in some facets, but the opposite in others.
Now. I super appreciate that Simon had gray in his hair. And I’ve never read so much about a man’s thighs… you better believe I’ve been checking out jeaned thighs. I LOVED the antiques store—that’s not a setting I’ve read before, at least not the way Mara wrote it.
I definitely recommend The Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williams.
August 7, 2026
Mara Williams writes books that make me want to abandon all my responsibilities to binge them in one sitting. This was no exception.
Reeling from her husbands death and the financial mess he left for her, Bea heads home to the small California town she grew up in with her 14 year old twins. She plans to start fresh by taking over her families antique business. Bea thinks she’s losing it when she keeps seeing the teenage ghost of her late husband around town, only to discover it’s not her husband. It’s his son.
This book has everything: grief, fresh starts, new love, and one seriously toxic mother in law.
Some of the plot lines were a weeeee bit far-fetched, but I genuinely loved everything about this story from beginning to end. And Simon 🥵 Say less. I appreciated that this wasn’t just a “dead husband screwed me over so now I hate him” kind of story. Williams dove into the complexities of what happens when you’re betrayed by the person you love…and you still keep loving them.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is my second from Williams and won’t be my last!
Reeling from her husbands death and the financial mess he left for her, Bea heads home to the small California town she grew up in with her 14 year old twins. She plans to start fresh by taking over her families antique business. Bea thinks she’s losing it when she keeps seeing the teenage ghost of her late husband around town, only to discover it’s not her husband. It’s his son.
This book has everything: grief, fresh starts, new love, and one seriously toxic mother in law.
Some of the plot lines were a weeeee bit far-fetched, but I genuinely loved everything about this story from beginning to end. And Simon 🥵 Say less. I appreciated that this wasn’t just a “dead husband screwed me over so now I hate him” kind of story. Williams dove into the complexities of what happens when you’re betrayed by the person you love…and you still keep loving them.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is my second from Williams and won’t be my last!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first book by this author, and I can already tell it won’t be my last. I’m absolutely hooked.
Her writing is beautiful and emotional, weaving together heartbreak, grief, hope, and healing in such a heartfelt way. I completely devoured this book in a single day.
Bea was such a wonderful main character. I loved watching her rediscover her strength while navigating unimaginable loss, raising her children, and rebuilding her life after having to move back home and start over. As more of her past and the story surrounding her late husband unfolds, you really see her journey through grief, forgiveness, and finding the courage to open her heart again.
This is such a beautiful story about life, loss, second chances, and learning to love yourself—and others—again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved every page, and I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author. If you haven’t added this one to your TBR yet, consider this your sign to do it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
Her writing is beautiful and emotional, weaving together heartbreak, grief, hope, and healing in such a heartfelt way. I completely devoured this book in a single day.
Bea was such a wonderful main character. I loved watching her rediscover her strength while navigating unimaginable loss, raising her children, and rebuilding her life after having to move back home and start over. As more of her past and the story surrounding her late husband unfolds, you really see her journey through grief, forgiveness, and finding the courage to open her heart again.
This is such a beautiful story about life, loss, second chances, and learning to love yourself—and others—again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved every page, and I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author. If you haven’t added this one to your TBR yet, consider this your sign to do it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bea is a 38 year old recent widow who moves herself and her 2 teenagers from Silicon Valley back to the small mountain town where she grew up in an effort to start over after the death of her husband. What she finds there are many ghosts of her past, as well as glimpses of a new future. Bea must wrestle with who she thought her husband was and all the secrets that are unearthed after his death, each one shaking the fragile world she's rebuilding for herself.
This was a beautiful story about living through grief and finding the strength to move forward, even when it seems impossible. The relationship between Bea and her twins Tess and Miles was so well done and any parent of teenagers will be able to relate. The entire book was well written and well paced.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but I know it won't be last. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This was a beautiful story about living through grief and finding the strength to move forward, even when it seems impossible. The relationship between Bea and her twins Tess and Miles was so well done and any parent of teenagers will be able to relate. The entire book was well written and well paced.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but I know it won't be last. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
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August 3, 2026I received an ARC of this book so I was able to read it prior to release. I enjoy Mara's writing because it mixes family drama with romance. The main character Beatrice was very relatable, especially as the mother of teens. After her husband's sudden death, due to financial issues she moves her two 14 year old twins to a town three hours away to live with her parents. The kids reactions and behavior felt very realistic for the situation as did Beatrice's feelings and reactions to her situation. The story unfolded in a very natural way and the twists and turns to the story made me audibly gasp and kept the story moving the entire way through. I felt for Beatrice as she had to overcome so much as a mother, daughter, and widow. Great writing! The plot unfolded in a non-predictable way that kept me hooked and wanting to read. Really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from Mara Williams.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
read two sweet and silly romcoms in preparation for this. I knew this book would destroy me.
And it did! In a best way possible!
There is something about Mara's writing: it's gentle, yet brutal. Her stories are beautiful and heart breaking at the same time. My heart was about to come out of my chest as I read it! I felt so deeply for Bea. Being so heartbroken and still being strong for her kids and find out about your dead husband's secrets?! Not being able to ask him about any of it?! Bea was amazing FMC!
I loved the family dynamic as well. It was very easy for me to get emotionally invested.
The love story was so gentle and sweet. The spicy scenes were intimate and so well done!
It was just amazing read overall. Easy 5
Also, that might be a personal preference, but I loved the FMC to be in her late thirties. I think we need more of that!
And it did! In a best way possible!
There is something about Mara's writing: it's gentle, yet brutal. Her stories are beautiful and heart breaking at the same time. My heart was about to come out of my chest as I read it! I felt so deeply for Bea. Being so heartbroken and still being strong for her kids and find out about your dead husband's secrets?! Not being able to ask him about any of it?! Bea was amazing FMC!
I loved the family dynamic as well. It was very easy for me to get emotionally invested.
The love story was so gentle and sweet. The spicy scenes were intimate and so well done!
It was just amazing read overall. Easy 5
Also, that might be a personal preference, but I loved the FMC to be in her late thirties. I think we need more of that!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mara Williams has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC. In Williams’ novel, Beatrice moves back to her hometown after the death of her husband. Reeling from heartbreak, and secrets that make her wonder if she really ever knew her husband, she throws herself into parenting her two teens and working to revive her family’s antique shop.
Her co-worker, Simon, proves to be a huge distraction. Yes, he’s handsome and empathetic, but Beatrice begins to wonder if Simon also has secrets he’d rather kept hidden.
Williams’ knows how to blend romance, humor, and in this book, suspense, to keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Readers who like Abby Jimenez and Catherine Cowles will devour Williams’ books.
Her co-worker, Simon, proves to be a huge distraction. Yes, he’s handsome and empathetic, but Beatrice begins to wonder if Simon also has secrets he’d rather kept hidden.
Williams’ knows how to blend romance, humor, and in this book, suspense, to keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Readers who like Abby Jimenez and Catherine Cowles will devour Williams’ books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Following her husbands tragic death, Beatrice moves back to her hometown with her teenage twins to takeover her family’s antiques store where she meets grumpy store manager Simon.
She also learns of secrets that could upend her whole life and everything she thought she knew about her age husband.
This was so much better than I was expecting!
Even as a romance girly, the romance between Bea and Simon was the least interesting part of the story in my
opinion. I was gripped by the storyline with River and Faye, and her relationship with her children.
The entire River storyline was devastating, and things really took a turn right at the end which had me on the edge of my seat.
Really pleasantly surprised by this one, will definitely be picking up more of the authors books!
Following her husbands tragic death, Beatrice moves back to her hometown with her teenage twins to takeover her family’s antiques store where she meets grumpy store manager Simon.
She also learns of secrets that could upend her whole life and everything she thought she knew about her age husband.
This was so much better than I was expecting!
Even as a romance girly, the romance between Bea and Simon was the least interesting part of the story in my
opinion. I was gripped by the storyline with River and Faye, and her relationship with her children.
The entire River storyline was devastating, and things really took a turn right at the end which had me on the edge of my seat.
Really pleasantly surprised by this one, will definitely be picking up more of the authors books!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I was completely invested in Bea's story from the very first chapter, and I felt every bit of her grief, heartbreak, and hope right alongside her. There were so many moments that had me tearing up, but there was also so much love and healing woven throughout the story.
I loved the slow burn between Bea and Simon, and I appreciated that her journey of healing always stayed at the heart of the book. The twists genuinely surprised me, and I couldn't put it down because I had to know how everything would come together.
This is one of those stories that stays with you long after you finish the last page. I loved every minute of it, even when it completely shattered my heart. ❤️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I loved the slow burn between Bea and Simon, and I appreciated that her journey of healing always stayed at the heart of the book. The twists genuinely surprised me, and I couldn't put it down because I had to know how everything would come together.
This is one of those stories that stays with you long after you finish the last page. I loved every minute of it, even when it completely shattered my heart. ❤️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am absolutely writing this review with tears in my eyes. This story was a beautiful and devastating take on grief, healing, and the imperfections of people we love. I was sucked into the story and into learning more about Beatrice and her family and her relationship with her husband before he died. I loved Simon for Beatrice and what their relationship meant for her healing journey. Give me more chapters with them, one bed, and their unbreakable tension and I would be set for life. I rarely wish for a book to be longer, but this book made me want more just to have more time with Beatrice and her growing family. This story will definitely stick with me for a long time.
Thank you Mara Williams, Lake Union Publishing, and Netgalley for this eARC.
Thank you Mara Williams, Lake Union Publishing, and Netgalley for this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Some stories remind us that life's most meaningful chapters can begin after everything changes.
The Other Side of Starting Over is a heartfelt story about healing, family, and finding the courage to embrace a new beginning. I especially appreciated that the heroine wasn't in her twenties—she brought life experience, resilience, and authenticity that made her journey feel all the more relatable.
The family dynamics were warm and full of heart, and the slow-building romance, with just a touch of enemies-to-lovers tension, added the perfect amount of hope without overshadowing the story's emotional core.
If you enjoy women's fiction that balances love, loss, and fresh starts, this is one to add to your TBR. I'm looking forward to reading more from Mara Williams.
The Other Side of Starting Over is a heartfelt story about healing, family, and finding the courage to embrace a new beginning. I especially appreciated that the heroine wasn't in her twenties—she brought life experience, resilience, and authenticity that made her journey feel all the more relatable.
The family dynamics were warm and full of heart, and the slow-building romance, with just a touch of enemies-to-lovers tension, added the perfect amount of hope without overshadowing the story's emotional core.
If you enjoy women's fiction that balances love, loss, and fresh starts, this is one to add to your TBR. I'm looking forward to reading more from Mara Williams.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Bea relocates to her hometown in California to take over her parents' antique store and continue the family legacy, she is already struggling with unexpected widow hood and rebellious teenage kids.
So, when she starts butting heads with the store manager - who has very clear ideas about how things should be done - it's really the last thing that she needs. But sometimes, new starts can come out of the most unpromising situations...
This is a relatable story with a believable set of characters. An enjoyable read, it easily gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So, when she starts butting heads with the store manager - who has very clear ideas about how things should be done - it's really the last thing that she needs. But sometimes, new starts can come out of the most unpromising situations...
This is a relatable story with a believable set of characters. An enjoyable read, it easily gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Other Side of Starting Over follows Bea, a newly widowed mother trying to help her teenage twins through their grief while dealing with the mess her husband left behind. Returning to her hometown brings even more secrets, heartbreak, and unexpected challenges.
Honestly, how much can one woman take?
This family drama was a quick, engaging read. Some plot points felt a bit far-fetched, and while there were plenty of side characters, many lacked the depth to make a lasting impact. Still, it kept me interested and made for an enjoyable summer read. ⭐⭐⭐
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Honestly, how much can one woman take?
This family drama was a quick, engaging read. Some plot points felt a bit far-fetched, and while there were plenty of side characters, many lacked the depth to make a lasting impact. Still, it kept me interested and made for an enjoyable summer read. ⭐⭐⭐
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4🌟
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me just start by saying that I read all of Mara Williams’ books and, even if I liked all of them, this one is my favourite.
I found this book so complex and every twist and turn of events kept me hooked throughout the entire story. I didn’t want to put it down and finally find out what happened.
Mara’s writing is phenomenal and you should definitely give this book a try if you also like:
✨ Healing and grief
✨ Single mom
✨ A supportive MMC
✨ A whole lot of plot twists
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me just start by saying that I read all of Mara Williams’ books and, even if I liked all of them, this one is my favourite.
I found this book so complex and every twist and turn of events kept me hooked throughout the entire story. I didn’t want to put it down and finally find out what happened.
Mara’s writing is phenomenal and you should definitely give this book a try if you also like:
✨ Healing and grief
✨ Single mom
✨ A supportive MMC
✨ A whole lot of plot twists
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital ARC of The Other Side of Starting Over.
I knew this was going to be a 5-star read from the start. I loved everything about this. The writing, the story, the characters. I devoured this in two sittings and wished it lasted longer. This is my first read by this author and I'm already about to start another. I wouldn't change a thing about this book, loved it!
I knew this was going to be a 5-star read from the start. I loved everything about this. The writing, the story, the characters. I devoured this in two sittings and wished it lasted longer. This is my first read by this author and I'm already about to start another. I wouldn't change a thing about this book, loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Other Side of Starting Over is one of the most emotionally resonant books I've ever read. Mara Williams has the rare ability to make me ache and smile on the same page -- and often in the same sentence. Her skill is on full display in this moving, tender, and utterly inspiring book where grief, joy, and chemistry are so fully intertwined that they stop feeling separate at all. Mara Williams is truly in a league of her own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a book that cracks your heart wide open, and Mara's books never fail.
The Other Side of Starting Over is a beautiful portrayal of the many layers, faces, stages, and nuances of grief and getting through to the “other side”.
Aside from her beautiful prose, what I love about Mara’s books are her very….human characters, do you know what I mean? They’re relatable, messy, complicated. Human. This set in particular, I feel. But maybe it's because this is such a universally felt topic.
If you haven’t read a Mara Willams book yet, I hope you consider this your sign to pick one up. Highly recommend them!
Thank you so much for this ARC.
The Other Side of Starting Over is a beautiful portrayal of the many layers, faces, stages, and nuances of grief and getting through to the “other side”.
Aside from her beautiful prose, what I love about Mara’s books are her very….human characters, do you know what I mean? They’re relatable, messy, complicated. Human. This set in particular, I feel. But maybe it's because this is such a universally felt topic.
If you haven’t read a Mara Willams book yet, I hope you consider this your sign to pick one up. Highly recommend them!
Thank you so much for this ARC.
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June 11, 2026The Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williamsis a full length, stand alone romance novel published by Lake Union.
Beatrice Bell is a mom of teenagers, a widow who has to start over. Still grieving she has to master a move, a new business and her very puberting teenagers.
A beautiful quiet story about loss, love nd second chances that is impossible to put down. 5 stars.
Beatrice Bell is a mom of teenagers, a widow who has to start over. Still grieving she has to master a move, a new business and her very puberting teenagers.
A beautiful quiet story about loss, love nd second chances that is impossible to put down. 5 stars.
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