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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 Author
4.5 stars
August 31, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Mara Williams for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!
The other side of starting over is Mara’s third book, this time we’re following Bea in her life journey after the recent death of her beloved husband.
I discovered Mara Williams casually, I saw her first book on Netgalley and decided to pick it up. I ended up loving it and now I’m always on the lookout for her next release. I was so happy to pick up The other side of starting over and to have the chance to read it early.
I have to say I enjoyed this, but not as much as her previous releases. Still, this is a read I will recommend because honestly, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Mara’s books. Her writing style is amazing, she’s capable of transporting you to the locations she writes about and she’s always able to hold the attention of the reader.
I think with this one, I probably wasn’t the perfect audience. Bea’s story didn’t resonate with me as much as the other stories. Bea is dealing with the loss of her husband and with the betrayals uncovered by his death, while also parenting her teenager twins and moving back home to her parents. It’s… a lot. But Bea is a badass, she’s strong but she’s also just… real. She isn’t perfect, because nobody is and that’s alright.
The love story was nice and sweet, but to be honest it wasn’t the thing that caught my attention. I was more intrigued by the secrets, by the mysteries Bea needed to uncover.
I’m definitely happy I read this one, and once again I can’t wait to see what Mara’s next book will be about!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Mara Williams for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!
The other side of starting over is Mara’s third book, this time we’re following Bea in her life journey after the recent death of her beloved husband.
I discovered Mara Williams casually, I saw her first book on Netgalley and decided to pick it up. I ended up loving it and now I’m always on the lookout for her next release. I was so happy to pick up The other side of starting over and to have the chance to read it early.
I have to say I enjoyed this, but not as much as her previous releases. Still, this is a read I will recommend because honestly, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Mara’s books. Her writing style is amazing, she’s capable of transporting you to the locations she writes about and she’s always able to hold the attention of the reader.
I think with this one, I probably wasn’t the perfect audience. Bea’s story didn’t resonate with me as much as the other stories. Bea is dealing with the loss of her husband and with the betrayals uncovered by his death, while also parenting her teenager twins and moving back home to her parents. It’s… a lot. But Bea is a badass, she’s strong but she’s also just… real. She isn’t perfect, because nobody is and that’s alright.
The love story was nice and sweet, but to be honest it wasn’t the thing that caught my attention. I was more intrigued by the secrets, by the mysteries Bea needed to uncover.
I’m definitely happy I read this one, and once again I can’t wait to see what Mara’s next book will be about!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williams is a beautiful story. Beatrice Bell comes back home to run her parents antique store after her husband’s sudden death. She and her teenage twins are trying to build a new life. Simon is the current gruff store manager with demons of his own. They both are forced to work together and truly have more in common then they first thought.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Simon and Beatrice had great chemistry, banter and were very likable. I appreciate how the kids and Beatrice had a good relationship through going through a hard time they persevered. The author wrote such engaging characters who were so relatable I felt like I had met them in real life by the end of the book. The author writes grief in such a relatable way that I appreciate. The author’s insights on life, grief and people were a pleasure to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williams. The setting was beautiful, the characters memorable, and the romance was beautifully realistic. I highly recommend.
I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review.
CW one skippable open door scene.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Simon and Beatrice had great chemistry, banter and were very likable. I appreciate how the kids and Beatrice had a good relationship through going through a hard time they persevered. The author wrote such engaging characters who were so relatable I felt like I had met them in real life by the end of the book. The author writes grief in such a relatable way that I appreciate. The author’s insights on life, grief and people were a pleasure to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williams. The setting was beautiful, the characters memorable, and the romance was beautifully realistic. I highly recommend.
I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review.
CW one skippable open door scene.
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
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒍?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍?
This is a beautiful story of loss, forgiveness, and love. When a tragic accident takes the life of Jake Bell, Bea and her two kids have to uproot the lives they have built and move back to Bea’s home town with her parents. Trying to do what’s best for her kids and come to terms with her husband’s death and uncovered secrets, she never expects to meet Simon, the closed off, grumpy, store manager. 🙊
I was so mad at Jake. I wanted to punch him. You aren’t supposed to hate on the dead, but how could I not?
The only time I could set that anger aside was when Tess or Miles was talking about him. Although, I didn’t like him….it doesn’t change the fact that two kids lost their dad. Two precious children, who had a perfect life. It was uprooted all of the sudden. That grief will never go away.
Is it bad to be able to move on so soon? Is it bad to not be able to move on so soon? Bea doesn’t know. She wants to protect what she had with Jake and keep his memory alive for her children. When is it ok to move on and do what’s right for yourself? She feels a pulling towards Simon. When she starts falling for him, she can’t help but feel guilty because of all she has gone through with the passing of her husband. ❤️🩹
Ughhhhh. Ok, her kids were back and forth for me. I know they are dealing with the semi recent death of their dad and they are trying to process but the way they treat Bea is so unfair. She did what she had to do in order to keep her family afloat. She was barley surviving herself, but she put that aside to do what was best for her and her kids. She gets treated like garbage for it. It was so frustrating. It made my little heart ache for Bea. 🥺
Pleaassseeeeee. I loved Simon. Well, I kind of didn’t like him cause he just didn’t care. Let’s face it….no one likes a man who ignores and acts like a booty bottom😒
BUT. He saved himself that first time he helped Bea with a panic attack. I got to see his real character. I got to see past the walls he’s built up.
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞—> 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠—> yes
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ♡ ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙥𝙮:) 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣!
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒍?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍?
This is a beautiful story of loss, forgiveness, and love. When a tragic accident takes the life of Jake Bell, Bea and her two kids have to uproot the lives they have built and move back to Bea’s home town with her parents. Trying to do what’s best for her kids and come to terms with her husband’s death and uncovered secrets, she never expects to meet Simon, the closed off, grumpy, store manager. 🙊
I was so mad at Jake. I wanted to punch him. You aren’t supposed to hate on the dead, but how could I not?
The only time I could set that anger aside was when Tess or Miles was talking about him. Although, I didn’t like him….it doesn’t change the fact that two kids lost their dad. Two precious children, who had a perfect life. It was uprooted all of the sudden. That grief will never go away.
Is it bad to be able to move on so soon? Is it bad to not be able to move on so soon? Bea doesn’t know. She wants to protect what she had with Jake and keep his memory alive for her children. When is it ok to move on and do what’s right for yourself? She feels a pulling towards Simon. When she starts falling for him, she can’t help but feel guilty because of all she has gone through with the passing of her husband. ❤️🩹
Ughhhhh. Ok, her kids were back and forth for me. I know they are dealing with the semi recent death of their dad and they are trying to process but the way they treat Bea is so unfair. She did what she had to do in order to keep her family afloat. She was barley surviving herself, but she put that aside to do what was best for her and her kids. She gets treated like garbage for it. It was so frustrating. It made my little heart ache for Bea. 🥺
Pleaassseeeeee. I loved Simon. Well, I kind of didn’t like him cause he just didn’t care. Let’s face it….no one likes a man who ignores and acts like a booty bottom😒
BUT. He saved himself that first time he helped Bea with a panic attack. I got to see his real character. I got to see past the walls he’s built up.
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞—> 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠—> yes
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ♡ ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙥𝙮:) 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣!
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 Publisher
Beatrice Bell is a recently widowed single mom of teenage twins that is navigating life after the unexpected death of her husband. Beatrice finds out that her husband withdrew a large amount of money from both their personal accounts and their business account the night that he died. When Beatrice confronts her husband about the money, they get into a huge argument after he had been drinking. He gets into his car and speeds away from her. Later that evening, she gets a knock on her door from the local police telling her that her husband has gotten into a car accident and did not make it.
Since she cannot financially stay in their family home anymore, she moves herself and her two teenage twins into her childhood home with her parents. Her parents own an antiques shop in town. Her parents recently hired Simon to run the antiques store for them as they are getting older in age. Simon has been running the store, managing the accounting, and going to estate sales to find vintage pieces. Her parents intended to leave the store to Simon but now Beatrice is back in town unexpectedly. What begins as a chance to rebuild her life becomes something far more complicated. She starts developing unexpected feelings towards Simon and feels ashamed since she recently lost her husband. She runs into a local boy that looks exactly like her late husband. Beatrice starts uncovering unexpected truths about her husband’s past and feels like she cannot trust anyone anymore.
This was an emotional read about second chances, finding strength after loss, and discovering new beginnings. This was the best kind of family drama, small town romance, and mystery. This was a 5-star read for me! I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC read.
Since she cannot financially stay in their family home anymore, she moves herself and her two teenage twins into her childhood home with her parents. Her parents own an antiques shop in town. Her parents recently hired Simon to run the antiques store for them as they are getting older in age. Simon has been running the store, managing the accounting, and going to estate sales to find vintage pieces. Her parents intended to leave the store to Simon but now Beatrice is back in town unexpectedly. What begins as a chance to rebuild her life becomes something far more complicated. She starts developing unexpected feelings towards Simon and feels ashamed since she recently lost her husband. She runs into a local boy that looks exactly like her late husband. Beatrice starts uncovering unexpected truths about her husband’s past and feels like she cannot trust anyone anymore.
This was an emotional read about second chances, finding strength after loss, and discovering new beginnings. This was the best kind of family drama, small town romance, and mystery. This was a 5-star read for me! I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
#TheOtherSideOfStartingOver
The Other Side Of Starting Over
By: #MaraWilliams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A BIG thank you to #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing and #MaraWilliams for sending me this arc in exchange for my honest review.
About the book: After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice moves her and her teenage twins back to her hometown in California to help keep her dead husband’s secrets buried. The plan for her is to take over her parent’s antique shop and start a new life for her and her kids. Beatrice does not plan on meeting Simon, the grumpy hard to get along with store manager. As they are forced to work together, animosity and “butting heads” turns into mutual respect for one another, and eventually ignited an unexpected spark.
Before Beatrice can allow herself these feelings, her world is upended again when she sees River, a local boy who bares a striking resemblance to her late husband. Then again by her crazy estranged mother in law, who reveals devastating secrets that make her question everything about her life with her husband and their marriage. As Beatrice tries to find her way through grief, these unexpected secrets, and her feelings for Simon, she learns that it may be possible to move on again but only if she confronts the truth of her past.
What I thought: I absolutely loved this book! It was great from start to end. The story flowed really well and kept me wanting to keep reading. The secrets and drama had me going “whoa!” I really loved all the characters, and even “loved to hate” a certain character. This is the type of book I will think of long after I read it. I would rate this book 5 stars and I would definitely recommend it to everyone.
This book will release November 2, 2026!
The Other Side Of Starting Over
By: #MaraWilliams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A BIG thank you to #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing and #MaraWilliams for sending me this arc in exchange for my honest review.
About the book: After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice moves her and her teenage twins back to her hometown in California to help keep her dead husband’s secrets buried. The plan for her is to take over her parent’s antique shop and start a new life for her and her kids. Beatrice does not plan on meeting Simon, the grumpy hard to get along with store manager. As they are forced to work together, animosity and “butting heads” turns into mutual respect for one another, and eventually ignited an unexpected spark.
Before Beatrice can allow herself these feelings, her world is upended again when she sees River, a local boy who bares a striking resemblance to her late husband. Then again by her crazy estranged mother in law, who reveals devastating secrets that make her question everything about her life with her husband and their marriage. As Beatrice tries to find her way through grief, these unexpected secrets, and her feelings for Simon, she learns that it may be possible to move on again but only if she confronts the truth of her past.
What I thought: I absolutely loved this book! It was great from start to end. The story flowed really well and kept me wanting to keep reading. The secrets and drama had me going “whoa!” I really loved all the characters, and even “loved to hate” a certain character. This is the type of book I will think of long after I read it. I would rate this book 5 stars and I would definitely recommend it to everyone.
This book will release November 2, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved Mara Williams book,The Epicentre of Forever. I went into The Other Side of Starting Over with an understanding that the author would tackle a tough subject matter thoughtfully. Mara Williams writes with such visceral writing style that I would either be rooting for these characters or ready to throw the book at the wall.
Well, there was no disappointment there.
The Other Side of Starting Over follows Bea as she returns to her home town in the aftermath of her husbands unexpected tragic passing and the many relationship and life secrets he had withheld from her. In returning home to step into her parents antique shop business she is thrust into the orbit of the enigmatic, Simon (all I could visualise was Adam Driver in his Keylo Ren days).
Bea's teenage twins, Tess and Miles, were written as the most distasteful 14 year olds you could imagine. They were (sort of) redeemed right at the end but, oof, they were obnoxious to read.
I did find Bea depressed, repressed and understandably suspicious of everyone and everything. I would have liked more of her relationship with Simon and her relaxing into her next chapter to take centre stage. The unravelling of her husband's mysteries led to much introspection that just dragged for me. I admit from between 60-80% I skimmed to the end because i just wasn't feeling it anymore. I do love a nice epilogue to round things off.
Although The Other Side of Starting Over wasn't an absolute win for me, I love the authors writing style and I look forward to what she produces next.
With many thanks to Lake Union Publishing, the author, Mara Williams and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication.
All opinions and grammar errors are made by me with no AI.
Well, there was no disappointment there.
The Other Side of Starting Over follows Bea as she returns to her home town in the aftermath of her husbands unexpected tragic passing and the many relationship and life secrets he had withheld from her. In returning home to step into her parents antique shop business she is thrust into the orbit of the enigmatic, Simon (all I could visualise was Adam Driver in his Keylo Ren days).
Bea's teenage twins, Tess and Miles, were written as the most distasteful 14 year olds you could imagine. They were (sort of) redeemed right at the end but, oof, they were obnoxious to read.
I did find Bea depressed, repressed and understandably suspicious of everyone and everything. I would have liked more of her relationship with Simon and her relaxing into her next chapter to take centre stage. The unravelling of her husband's mysteries led to much introspection that just dragged for me. I admit from between 60-80% I skimmed to the end because i just wasn't feeling it anymore. I do love a nice epilogue to round things off.
Although The Other Side of Starting Over wasn't an absolute win for me, I love the authors writing style and I look forward to what she produces next.
With many thanks to Lake Union Publishing, the author, Mara Williams and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication.
All opinions and grammar errors are made by me with no AI.
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
This book was a bit mid for me, for a few reasons.
Bea was so convinced that Simon was surly and rude but I felt like a lot of that was coming from her. She was pretty quick to judge Simon and seemed to make up her mind about him before really ever having an actual conversation with him. There were several moments where I found myself thinking, ma’am…are we sure he’s the problem here? She jumped to conclusions a lot.
Granted, they were all grieving and a bit traumatized, but her kids were jerks (or is that just how teens are today?). Either way, I had a really hard time warming up to them, and their behavior definitely didn’t help me connect with that part of the story.
The motel dream was…weird. I’m still not entirely sure what I was supposed to take from that. I also found myself wishing the romance had been more of the focus because that was the part I was most expecting. There was a lot happening on the periphery of the romance, and it felt like the relationship itself got pushed to the side. The suspensey bits were probably the strongest part for me—they kept things moving and had some genuinely interesting bits—but unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the things I enjoyed.
There was also a bit of repetitive phrasing throughout, which started to become noticeable after a while.
I didn’t hate it, but I definitely struggled to connect with the characters and the story in the way I wanted to.
I am very grateful for receiving a physical and eARC from the publisher.
Bea was so convinced that Simon was surly and rude but I felt like a lot of that was coming from her. She was pretty quick to judge Simon and seemed to make up her mind about him before really ever having an actual conversation with him. There were several moments where I found myself thinking, ma’am…are we sure he’s the problem here? She jumped to conclusions a lot.
Granted, they were all grieving and a bit traumatized, but her kids were jerks (or is that just how teens are today?). Either way, I had a really hard time warming up to them, and their behavior definitely didn’t help me connect with that part of the story.
The motel dream was…weird. I’m still not entirely sure what I was supposed to take from that. I also found myself wishing the romance had been more of the focus because that was the part I was most expecting. There was a lot happening on the periphery of the romance, and it felt like the relationship itself got pushed to the side. The suspensey bits were probably the strongest part for me—they kept things moving and had some genuinely interesting bits—but unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the things I enjoyed.
There was also a bit of repetitive phrasing throughout, which started to become noticeable after a while.
I didn’t hate it, but I definitely struggled to connect with the characters and the story in the way I wanted to.
I am very grateful for receiving a physical and eARC from the publisher.
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."
August 15, 2026
First, a huge thanks to Mara Williams for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I don’t know how I got so lucky to receive this, but I absolutely loved Williams’ “The Epicenter of Forever” and this has such similar themes.
Our protagonist, Beatrice, is reeling from the death of her husband & childhood sweetheart and has returned home with her teenage twins to help at her parents’ antique store. It’s there that she meets Simon, who has been helping her parents in the store and seems…well…cranky to have Beatrice underfoot.
There’s so much in this beautiful story: grief and loss, family dynamics, romance after loss, navigating older parents, parenting teens, and even a mystery. There’s a whole side drama/mystery plot that definitely changed how I felt about Bea’s late husband, Jake.
The romance in this is so real and heartfelt. I love a romance with characters who are almost 40 and not 22. As a person approaching 50, it’s sometimes hard to identify with 20-year-olds falling in love in the same way you can with someone closer to your age. I loved the authenticity of Simon and Bea’s story. And I just adored Simon, period. Love me a cranky, stoic, quiet leading man in a romance.
This story has so much heart, and I felt so much sadness and anger on Bea’s behalf over the turn of events. But the romance healed my heart. It was the best of both worlds.
I am so glad I had a chance to read this early and beg you to preorder it. It drops November 3! 💜
Our protagonist, Beatrice, is reeling from the death of her husband & childhood sweetheart and has returned home with her teenage twins to help at her parents’ antique store. It’s there that she meets Simon, who has been helping her parents in the store and seems…well…cranky to have Beatrice underfoot.
There’s so much in this beautiful story: grief and loss, family dynamics, romance after loss, navigating older parents, parenting teens, and even a mystery. There’s a whole side drama/mystery plot that definitely changed how I felt about Bea’s late husband, Jake.
The romance in this is so real and heartfelt. I love a romance with characters who are almost 40 and not 22. As a person approaching 50, it’s sometimes hard to identify with 20-year-olds falling in love in the same way you can with someone closer to your age. I loved the authenticity of Simon and Bea’s story. And I just adored Simon, period. Love me a cranky, stoic, quiet leading man in a romance.
This story has so much heart, and I felt so much sadness and anger on Bea’s behalf over the turn of events. But the romance healed my heart. It was the best of both worlds.
I am so glad I had a chance to read this early and beg you to preorder it. It drops November 3! 💜
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
Bea is such a beautiful character. Despite the hell she's in, Bea never stops being kind, sweet, and thoughtful. And once you start reading about everything she is going through, her paranoia and distrust make total sense.
But it is also heartbreaking because it doesn't allow her to enjoy and take at face value other people's kindness. Bea had to learn the hard way not to trust people, to deal with everything on her own, and you can see the toll it is taking on her.
Entering Simon. A man who keeps to himself, who is a hard worker, and has an infinite amount of determination and patience. He will not let Bea push him away. He is not perfect, though. Despite his good intentions, Simon sometimes says things that come out in the wrong way, and feelings can be hurt.
This book is about grief, loss, forgiveness, and second chances. It is about realizing that you are allowed to be mad at someone after they're gone and still love them and miss them. It is about learning that love doesn't make people perfect.
It is also about being an adult and motherhood, and realizing that you don't have all the answers, just like your parents didn't when you were a child. As a parent, the only thing you can do is your best and keep learning.
I had a great time reading this book, and I never stopped rooting for Bea. She is a queen and deserves the best. My favorite part is how she and her kids say "I love you" to each other. Like "I love you more than the stars in the sky", and things like that. It felt like a hug to the soul. For me, this book is a yes.
But it is also heartbreaking because it doesn't allow her to enjoy and take at face value other people's kindness. Bea had to learn the hard way not to trust people, to deal with everything on her own, and you can see the toll it is taking on her.
Entering Simon. A man who keeps to himself, who is a hard worker, and has an infinite amount of determination and patience. He will not let Bea push him away. He is not perfect, though. Despite his good intentions, Simon sometimes says things that come out in the wrong way, and feelings can be hurt.
This book is about grief, loss, forgiveness, and second chances. It is about realizing that you are allowed to be mad at someone after they're gone and still love them and miss them. It is about learning that love doesn't make people perfect.
It is also about being an adult and motherhood, and realizing that you don't have all the answers, just like your parents didn't when you were a child. As a parent, the only thing you can do is your best and keep learning.
I had a great time reading this book, and I never stopped rooting for Bea. She is a queen and deserves the best. My favorite part is how she and her kids say "I love you" to each other. Like "I love you more than the stars in the sky", and things like that. It felt like a hug to the soul. For me, this book is a yes.
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
Absolutely loved this book and struggled to put it down despite having numerous jobs to do! The author delivers a story that sweeps you up from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go. The flow of the storyline is so smooth and engaging that I found myself reading “just one more chapter” until suddenly a lot of the day had gone!
Beatrice is a phenomenal FMC—warm, flawed, determined, and so easy to root for. Her emotional journey is layered with the lingering presence of Jake, her late husband, whose backstory adds real depth to the story. Williams handles grief with such tenderness that Jake's character feels like a living part of the story, even in memory.
And then come the twists—Simon, River, Faye, the twins—each one adding tension, surprise, and a dose of real‑world complexity. These characters don’t just complicate Beatrice’s life; they highlight the messy, beautiful challenges of modern blended families and the dysfunction that often sits beneath the surface. It’s refreshing to see a romance that embraces the chaos of real relationships rather than smoothing everything into perfection.
Warm, twisty, heartfelt, and full of emotional honesty. A great read about starting over when life refuses to follow a neat script.
Beatrice is a phenomenal FMC—warm, flawed, determined, and so easy to root for. Her emotional journey is layered with the lingering presence of Jake, her late husband, whose backstory adds real depth to the story. Williams handles grief with such tenderness that Jake's character feels like a living part of the story, even in memory.
And then come the twists—Simon, River, Faye, the twins—each one adding tension, surprise, and a dose of real‑world complexity. These characters don’t just complicate Beatrice’s life; they highlight the messy, beautiful challenges of modern blended families and the dysfunction that often sits beneath the surface. It’s refreshing to see a romance that embraces the chaos of real relationships rather than smoothing everything into perfection.
Warm, twisty, heartfelt, and full of emotional honesty. A great read about starting over when life refuses to follow a neat script.
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
As someone who also had to start over with children (albeit for different reasons), I was drawn to the title of this book. Little did I know that it was going to take me on such a meaningful, twisty, and wholesome journey. First, the writing is beautiful. There are so many lines that have incredible depth and are elegantly worded to create powerful meaning and imagery. But also, the storyline isn’t a straight and narrow one. There are twists and turns, diabolical drama, heartbreak, and hope. Unanswered questions that may never have an answer can haunt you and Beatrice was surrounded by impossible ones. But she had her village - her kids, her parents, and an unexpected calming force in Simon. I told myself “oh I’ll read a few chapters tonight” but then I hit 70% and things took off. I HAD to finish it. Beatrice was tested over and over and over again. Fictional character or not, there’s power in going through that and coming out on the other side. Everyone could use a dose of that hope.
I’m thankful to NetGalley and Mara Williams for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I’m thankful to NetGalley and Mara Williams for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was no surprise after reading the author’s first two books that The Other Side of Starting Over was exactly what I needed once again. It’s why Mara Williams is an auto-buy author for me. The book is heartrending, with Beatrice returning to her hometown after being blindsided by her husband’s accidental death and the ensuing financial ruin. She retreats to the security of her parents’ home, where she and her twin teenagers can mourn and start over.
While working at the antique shop her parents have run for decades, she must cooperate with Simon, the mysterious restorer of furniture who seems to have pulled the wool over her parents’ eyes. After betrayals by her estranged mother-in-law and late husband, she’s extremely averse to trusting anyone new.
But of course, Beatrice and Simon find ways of connecting with each other. This is a gorgeous and complex romance tied to a story of family secrets, and I thought every beat sang with beauty and tension and hope.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC!
While working at the antique shop her parents have run for decades, she must cooperate with Simon, the mysterious restorer of furniture who seems to have pulled the wool over her parents’ eyes. After betrayals by her estranged mother-in-law and late husband, she’s extremely averse to trusting anyone new.
But of course, Beatrice and Simon find ways of connecting with each other. This is a gorgeous and complex romance tied to a story of family secrets, and I thought every beat sang with beauty and tension and hope.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union 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.
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