What do you think?
Rate this book
On the Flip Side
KATIE
In a world of filtered pictures, the truth isn’t easy to spot. But right now, it’s the one thing keeping me going.
Mom and Dad founded Shimmering Falls, the gated community we live in, on supposed family values, but they never check in on us. My twin, Kennedy, spends her time surrounded by her friends and boyfriend, Harris, all while feeling nothing but alone. I’m the homebody who watches from the sidelines, the only one who sees the cracks in our shiny exterior, but everyone’s stopped listening to me, the “paranoid” one.
Because my discernment kicks off whenever I’m around Harris Sutton. Charming yet calculating, he’s far from the boy my sister thinks she’s fallen for. And I won’t rest until Kennedy sees the light.
KENNEDY
Despite what Katie wants everyone to think, she’s no saint. Ever since she started going to church, all she’s done is harbor secrets, badmouth my boyfriend, and distance herself from the best friends she’s ever had. Including me.
Then again, as of late, can I trust anyone anymore? My “friends” pick apart everything I do. Harris ditches me for better plans. Lately, he’s always in a mood, and after finding the bracelet in his car, I can’t help but wonder if Katie isn’t as crazy as everyone makes her out to be.
From the author of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy comes a contemporary young adult Christian standalone about sisterhood and the hidden dangers of dating a narcissist.
In a world of filtered pictures, the truth isn’t easy to spot. But right now, it’s the one thing keeping me going.
Mom and Dad founded Shimmering Falls, the gated community we live in, on supposed family values, but they never check in on us. My twin, Kennedy, spends her time surrounded by her friends and boyfriend, Harris, all while feeling nothing but alone. I’m the homebody who watches from the sidelines, the only one who sees the cracks in our shiny exterior, but everyone’s stopped listening to me, the “paranoid” one.
Because my discernment kicks off whenever I’m around Harris Sutton. Charming yet calculating, he’s far from the boy my sister thinks she’s fallen for. And I won’t rest until Kennedy sees the light.
KENNEDY
Despite what Katie wants everyone to think, she’s no saint. Ever since she started going to church, all she’s done is harbor secrets, badmouth my boyfriend, and distance herself from the best friends she’s ever had. Including me.
Then again, as of late, can I trust anyone anymore? My “friends” pick apart everything I do. Harris ditches me for better plans. Lately, he’s always in a mood, and after finding the bracelet in his car, I can’t help but wonder if Katie isn’t as crazy as everyone makes her out to be.
From the author of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy comes a contemporary young adult Christian standalone about sisterhood and the hidden dangers of dating a narcissist.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2026
About the author
Allyson Kennedy
8 books131 followersAllyson Kennedy writes contemporary Christian young adult books that honor God without sugarcoating the realities of the world. She is the author of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy and other YA standalones, as well as Writing By Faith, a nonfiction book for Christian authors. She calls eastern North Carolina home and is well-versed in the art of southern sass, which she enjoys weaving into her stories.
Connect with Allyson and learn more about her books at https://authoringarrowheads.com/
Books Available At: https://books2read.com/allysonkennedy
Connect with Allyson and learn more about her books at https://authoringarrowheads.com/
Books Available At: https://books2read.com/allysonkennedy
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Read
March 10, 2025From the author of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy comes a contemporary young adult Christian standalone about sisterhood and the hidden dangers of dating a narcissist.
On the Flip Side is in stores now!
While On the Flip Side is a clean and Christian young adult novel, it contains several heavy topics that are tackled from a Christian perspective. A complete content guide (spoiler and non-spoiler versions) can be found here: https://authoringarrowheads.com/conte...
Paperbacks and eBooks are available! Grab your own copy here or read on Kobo Plus: https://books2read.com/ontheflipside
On the Flip Side is in stores now!
While On the Flip Side is a clean and Christian young adult novel, it contains several heavy topics that are tackled from a Christian perspective. A complete content guide (spoiler and non-spoiler versions) can be found here: https://authoringarrowheads.com/conte...
Paperbacks and eBooks are available! Grab your own copy here or read on Kobo Plus: https://books2read.com/ontheflipside
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've been looking forward to reading this book since I learned about it, watching for every update and snatching up an ARC as soon as they went live. XD I was so excited and this book didn't disappointment, it had such beautiful faith themes, family struggles, and touched on some much needed topics in fiction.
Pause a moment though...cause that cover it gorgeous! And can we all appreciate that Kennedy is on the side of the cover that say the author's last name which is also Kennedy. XD I love it!!!
Characters:
Katie was super sweet and I loved her, her struggle of trying to do the right thing and look out for her sister and the reality that she is not her sister's keeper. I hurt with her and just loved her to pieces! I've been in that spot where you are watching a sibling do things that hurt them and wondering how you can get them to see the truth, that they are wonderfully and beautifully made and deserve so much better. <3
Kennedy, I hurt with her. <3 I just wanted to rescue her the whole time! And the whole book was just beautiful.
All the side characters were great and it's always fun to look for the little Easter eggs like seeing Victoria in Youth Group!
Romance:
There is a beautiful romance between Katie and her boyfriend, that is Christ centered and wholesome. Then you have Kennedy and her boyfriend and the toxic whirlpool that it creates.
Language:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
Nothing over the top, there is an abusive relationship, so there are a few moments where a character gets hit, forced to do things (nothing sexual), and there is a car crash as well. Two characters get in a fight and there are several yelling moments, again, nothing detailed.
Overall:
This is a really good book that shines a light on one of the many types of narcissist in the world. It's a topic that really needs to be talked about more, especially the damaging effects of being convinced by someone that you have no worth or value, you are the crazy one, you are the problem, and you are lucky that they love you because no one else will. It's a dangerous place to be and I'm glad this book spoke to that and pray that it finds the readers who need this message desperately.
Recommend for age 15+
Pause a moment though...cause that cover it gorgeous! And can we all appreciate that Kennedy is on the side of the cover that say the author's last name which is also Kennedy. XD I love it!!!
Characters:
Katie was super sweet and I loved her, her struggle of trying to do the right thing and look out for her sister and the reality that she is not her sister's keeper. I hurt with her and just loved her to pieces! I've been in that spot where you are watching a sibling do things that hurt them and wondering how you can get them to see the truth, that they are wonderfully and beautifully made and deserve so much better. <3
Kennedy, I hurt with her. <3 I just wanted to rescue her the whole time! And the whole book was just beautiful.
All the side characters were great and it's always fun to look for the little Easter eggs like seeing Victoria in Youth Group!
Romance:
There is a beautiful romance between Katie and her boyfriend, that is Christ centered and wholesome. Then you have Kennedy and her boyfriend and the toxic whirlpool that it creates.
Language:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
Nothing over the top, there is an abusive relationship, so there are a few moments where a character gets hit, forced to do things (nothing sexual), and there is a car crash as well. Two characters get in a fight and there are several yelling moments, again, nothing detailed.
Overall:
This is a really good book that shines a light on one of the many types of narcissist in the world. It's a topic that really needs to be talked about more, especially the damaging effects of being convinced by someone that you have no worth or value, you are the crazy one, you are the problem, and you are lucky that they love you because no one else will. It's a dangerous place to be and I'm glad this book spoke to that and pray that it finds the readers who need this message desperately.
Recommend for age 15+
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). What I love about Allyson Kennedy's books is that she never shies away from the hard topics, and she always drenches them in God's truth. This is probably the book I related to least—I'm not a teenager, I didn't go to public school, I don't have a twin sister, I never met a narcissist (that I know of)—but it still spoke to my heart. I just loved seeing Katie learning the hard lessons of surrender & how to actually reach those around you who are stuck in bad situations, while Kennedy's lessons about worth & true love were equally powerful. The plot kept me intrigued—I never knew where this was going—and the ending was just perfect. I'm so eager for this author's next book!
Contains scenes of physical violence & abuse; parental neglect & verbal abuse.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Contains scenes of physical violence & abuse; parental neglect & verbal abuse.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
September 25, 2026
I was going to pass this book at first thinking it was a regular YA Christian contemporary but then I saw it was highlighting being in a relationship with a narcissist and my interest was immediately piqued. Most of my life was lived with a narcissist family member, so I was curious as to how the author would approach the topic and I wasn’t disappointed.
The harsh reality behind Kennedy and Harris’s toxic “romance” and the confusing, isolating, almost brainwashing experience Kennedy went through and kept subjecting herself to under his subtle and crazy scary manipulation was painfully real and relatable; as someone who’s escaped this living nightmare I’m so grateful Allyson chose to write about this tough topic, and I hope and pray it helps others who are in a similar boat to get out and get help while also raising awareness to this horrible reality many people have and continue to live in.
I related to both Katie and Kennedy in various ways, though I will admit Kennedy made it hard for me to care for her at times due to her continued choices and actions towards Katie, but I’m glad Katie never gave up on her and was always in her corner even when it didn’t seem like it to the people around them. Katie flubbing up with being a new Christian I liked a lot, as normally this type of character would be put on a moral pedestal for the reader to applaud no matter how perfectly annoying they may come across. It showed real depth on Katie’s part in where she needed to grow and I really enjoyed that.
I never found the faith content to be preachy in any way, though the cliche use of a church message to jumpstart growth was used a few times which can come off as being a bit convenient though it was used well here.
The suspense elements sprinkled throughout, especially in the final third of the book, really had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath and gave me a better appreciation for younger me being wary of who handled guns around me, yikes. If Allyson ever wants to write suspense books I think she’d do a great job! The twins’ parents I wanted to punch soooo badly and while I wanted them to suffer a bit more at the end because I’m sadistic and they deserved it, mwahaha, I appreciate that she didn’t let them off the hook for their neglect like I’ve read and raged about in other books.
A really good book highlighting a very serious topic and sister bonds in very real and needed ways; I highly recommend it!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a narcissist boyfriend who manipulates and is controlling and possessive; manipulative, controlling people; a manipulative guy says he should “off himself” to make others happy (nothing happens); a girl has some body image issues (not detailed or overly focused on); emotional and physical abuse; parental neglect
Language: dang it; skank; turd muffin; what the heck; dang; screw up; sucks; geez; ohmigosh; sucked; dissed; oh my gosh; turd; sl—; bull; son of—; suck; heck; dang; screwed up
Violence: a metal water bottle is thrown at a character and hits their wrist; a speeding car crashes into a ditch; injuries (not detailed); a guy slaps a girl; a manipulative guy says he should “off himself” to make others happy (nothing happens); a guy slaps himself and punches the ground; a girl punches and attacks another girl; a character shoves a gun under another’s chin (nothing happens); a character threatens to “kill them both” before they’ll ever let a character go (nothing happens)
Sexual: a guy’s called hot; a girl has a history of cheating (not either MC); kissing (not detailed); a girl’s called hot; a guy tries to force a kiss on a girl (nothing happens, she gets away); a girl mistakenly thinks her sister is pregnant with a guy’s child (not true); a boyfriend cheats on his girlfriend
Alcohol/Drugs: a woman smokes; adults and teens drink and have hangovers
Other: a narcissist boyfriend who manipulates and is controlling and possessive; manipulative, controlling people; a girl has some body image issues (not detailed or overly focused on); emotional and physical abuse; parental neglect; a character’s tied up, gagged, and locked in a closet; kidnapping
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
The harsh reality behind Kennedy and Harris’s toxic “romance” and the confusing, isolating, almost brainwashing experience Kennedy went through and kept subjecting herself to under his subtle and crazy scary manipulation was painfully real and relatable; as someone who’s escaped this living nightmare I’m so grateful Allyson chose to write about this tough topic, and I hope and pray it helps others who are in a similar boat to get out and get help while also raising awareness to this horrible reality many people have and continue to live in.
I related to both Katie and Kennedy in various ways, though I will admit Kennedy made it hard for me to care for her at times due to her continued choices and actions towards Katie, but I’m glad Katie never gave up on her and was always in her corner even when it didn’t seem like it to the people around them. Katie flubbing up with being a new Christian I liked a lot, as normally this type of character would be put on a moral pedestal for the reader to applaud no matter how perfectly annoying they may come across. It showed real depth on Katie’s part in where she needed to grow and I really enjoyed that.
I never found the faith content to be preachy in any way, though the cliche use of a church message to jumpstart growth was used a few times which can come off as being a bit convenient though it was used well here.
The suspense elements sprinkled throughout, especially in the final third of the book, really had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath and gave me a better appreciation for younger me being wary of who handled guns around me, yikes. If Allyson ever wants to write suspense books I think she’d do a great job! The twins’ parents I wanted to punch soooo badly and while I wanted them to suffer a bit more at the end because I’m sadistic and they deserved it, mwahaha, I appreciate that she didn’t let them off the hook for their neglect like I’ve read and raged about in other books.
A really good book highlighting a very serious topic and sister bonds in very real and needed ways; I highly recommend it!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a narcissist boyfriend who manipulates and is controlling and possessive; manipulative, controlling people; a manipulative guy says he should “off himself” to make others happy (nothing happens); a girl has some body image issues (not detailed or overly focused on); emotional and physical abuse; parental neglect
Language: dang it; skank; turd muffin; what the heck; dang; screw up; sucks; geez; ohmigosh; sucked; dissed; oh my gosh; turd; sl—; bull; son of—; suck; heck; dang; screwed up
Violence: a metal water bottle is thrown at a character and hits their wrist; a speeding car crashes into a ditch; injuries (not detailed); a guy slaps a girl; a manipulative guy says he should “off himself” to make others happy (nothing happens); a guy slaps himself and punches the ground; a girl punches and attacks another girl; a character shoves a gun under another’s chin (nothing happens); a character threatens to “kill them both” before they’ll ever let a character go (nothing happens)
Sexual: a guy’s called hot; a girl has a history of cheating (not either MC); kissing (not detailed); a girl’s called hot; a guy tries to force a kiss on a girl (nothing happens, she gets away); a girl mistakenly thinks her sister is pregnant with a guy’s child (not true); a boyfriend cheats on his girlfriend
Alcohol/Drugs: a woman smokes; adults and teens drink and have hangovers
Other: a narcissist boyfriend who manipulates and is controlling and possessive; manipulative, controlling people; a girl has some body image issues (not detailed or overly focused on); emotional and physical abuse; parental neglect; a character’s tied up, gagged, and locked in a closet; kidnapping
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm not typically a YA reader, but the synopsis of this book had me intrigued and on a whim I reached out when I saw that ARCs were available. I'm glad I did! I'm also so glad there's authors out there who aren't shying away from difficult themes.
The eeriness of dysfunctional relationships smacked me in the face (in a good way, I promise) within the first couple of pages and I truly wanted to know where it was going. I continued down a road deep and darker than I expected but arrived at a hope-filled ending.
I also appreciated the clear voice within each POV, something I see a lot of authors fall short of. You watch the honest questions and struggle of a new Christian trying to reach her family and wrestling with old habits, old grudges, and bitterness. Relatable and realistic. Nobody in this story is perfect, even the ones we admire.
My main caution would be that while I enjoyed the themes as an adult, this is a YA book that wouldn't be suitable for every young adult and maybe some of these themes should be a little more clearly stated in the synopsis (I'm thinking of my Christian homeschooled bubble I grew up in). At the same time, for teens exposed to tough and toxic situations within friend or school groups, it addresses issues worth exploring. I can also see this book profoundly helping a young adult by providing a way through storytelling to make sense of toxic situations through a faith-filled perspective.
The eeriness of dysfunctional relationships smacked me in the face (in a good way, I promise) within the first couple of pages and I truly wanted to know where it was going. I continued down a road deep and darker than I expected but arrived at a hope-filled ending.
I also appreciated the clear voice within each POV, something I see a lot of authors fall short of. You watch the honest questions and struggle of a new Christian trying to reach her family and wrestling with old habits, old grudges, and bitterness. Relatable and realistic. Nobody in this story is perfect, even the ones we admire.
My main caution would be that while I enjoyed the themes as an adult, this is a YA book that wouldn't be suitable for every young adult and maybe some of these themes should be a little more clearly stated in the synopsis (I'm thinking of my Christian homeschooled bubble I grew up in). At the same time, for teens exposed to tough and toxic situations within friend or school groups, it addresses issues worth exploring. I can also see this book profoundly helping a young adult by providing a way through storytelling to make sense of toxic situations through a faith-filled perspective.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Kennedy and Katie were both well developed, sympathetic characters. I appreciate that Katie wasn't the "perfect" Christian character. The times she reacted poorly/made wrong decisions made her realistic. And poor Kennedy ... I wanted to reach through the pages and get her to open her eyes to how nasty Harris truly was.
Themes: One of the main themes in On the Flip Side is love. Not in a sappy sort of way, but talking about what real, biblical love looks like.
Plot: I wasn't expecting this book to have so many twists and turns. Needless to say, it held my attention.
Romance: While this book isn't a romance, it contains both good and bad examples of romance.
Writing: Allyson's writing works great for this genre. I had a moment of surprise when I finally realized it's written in the present tense (I'd been reading for a while at this point). I guess I'm an oblivious reader.
Content: Nothing that bothered me. The language and romance are both clean.
Overall: On the Flip Side kept me entertained, and I'm looking forward to reading Allyson Kennedy's next book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian young adult fiction.
Characters: Kennedy and Katie were both well developed, sympathetic characters. I appreciate that Katie wasn't the "perfect" Christian character. The times she reacted poorly/made wrong decisions made her realistic. And poor Kennedy ... I wanted to reach through the pages and get her to open her eyes to how nasty Harris truly was.
Themes: One of the main themes in On the Flip Side is love. Not in a sappy sort of way, but talking about what real, biblical love looks like.
Plot: I wasn't expecting this book to have so many twists and turns. Needless to say, it held my attention.
Romance: While this book isn't a romance, it contains both good and bad examples of romance.
Writing: Allyson's writing works great for this genre. I had a moment of surprise when I finally realized it's written in the present tense (I'd been reading for a while at this point). I guess I'm an oblivious reader.
Content: Nothing that bothered me. The language and romance are both clean.
Overall: On the Flip Side kept me entertained, and I'm looking forward to reading Allyson Kennedy's next book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian young adult fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Author
10/10
I haven’t finished a book this fast in a long, long time!
I knew from the sneak preview we got in the blog that I needed to dive in as soon as I could and stepped into ARC territory for the first time.
Between the quick pacing from trading perspectives of the twin MCs and the intensity of their unique upbringing, it was difficult for me to put this one down.
I loved a good portion of the characters and how they either humorously fed off of or lovingly cared for each other.
There were so many good messages in this book too that outweighed the tough topics in it, at times pulling at emotions. I laughed, cried, cringed in fear over fictional people and at times, wanted to pull my hair out and yell at some, but this is part of what makes it such a great story over all.
So don’t miss out on it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I haven’t finished a book this fast in a long, long time!
I knew from the sneak preview we got in the blog that I needed to dive in as soon as I could and stepped into ARC territory for the first time.
Between the quick pacing from trading perspectives of the twin MCs and the intensity of their unique upbringing, it was difficult for me to put this one down.
I loved a good portion of the characters and how they either humorously fed off of or lovingly cared for each other.
There were so many good messages in this book too that outweighed the tough topics in it, at times pulling at emotions. I laughed, cried, cringed in fear over fictional people and at times, wanted to pull my hair out and yell at some, but this is part of what makes it such a great story over all.
So don’t miss out on it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 20, 2026
What a story! I was very impressed by the author's depiction of an emotionally abusive relationship. This book is very poignant and powerful. My heart was hammering for Kennedy in so many scenes, as if I could feel her pain and fear....and my blood would boil right with Katie's exasperation and desperation at Kennedy's choices. I love how this book centered on family (and how God and Christ can restore a family), rather than being a fluffy novel without impact. This is a weighty read, so I would recommend readers be mature teens, yet at the same time, I think this book would be an excellent way to educate younger girls about narcissism and emotional abuse. It would make a great conversation starter for families and small groups. Fans of Christian fiction that tackles tough and realistic topics will be touched deeply by this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews