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The Other Year: A Novel
Can the entire course of a life be traced back to a single moment? On a coveted two-week beach vacation, working mom Kate Baker’s nine-year-old daughter, Olivia, vanishes suddenly among the waves—a heart-dropping incident that threatens to uproot her entire reality. But in the next moment, Olivia resurfaces, joyously splashing. What would I do if she didn’t come up? Kate wonders. How would I live without her? In another set of circumstances that hold a different fate, Kate doesn’t have to wonder. Because in that “other” world, in the pulse-pounding seconds after Olivia goes under, she doesn’t come back up. Told in parallel timelines, Kate begins to live two lives—one in which Olivia resurfaces and one in which she doesn’t. In the reality that follows her daughter’s death, she maneuvers through every mother’s worst nightmare, facing grief, rage, and the question of purpose in the aftermath of such profound loss. She endures, day by day, in a world without her daughter. In her alternate timeline, while she explores a tremulous romance with her best friend, Jason, she finds herself grappling with the ex-husband who abandoned Kate and Olivia years prior. Even as Kate scrambles to hold her daughter close, Olivia pulls further away. The line between joy and loss seems to get thinner with each passing day. Woven into a single story, both Kates discover a breathtaking fragility and resilience in their respective journeys. Bringing to light the drastic polarities dire circumstances often create, The Other Year explores truths about love, loss, and the sharp turns any life can take in the blink of an eye. “In this world-altering women's fiction novel, single mother Kate Baker looks away for a single moment, only to lose sight of her daughter in the ocean. As a result, her world splits into two separate one where she gets to keep being a mother and the other where she doesn't. The message is Love your people. A tear-jerker with heart.” —Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author
368 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2023
123 people are currently reading
8674 people want to read
About the author
Rea Frey
16 books1,009 followersRea Frey is the #1 bestselling author of several suspense, thriller, and contemporary fiction novels.
Known as The Book Doula, Rea helps other writers birth their books into the world. To learn more, visit reafrey.com
Known as The Book Doula, Rea helps other writers birth their books into the world. To learn more, visit reafrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 467 reviews
September 28, 2023
In a Nutshell: A sliding-door style story. Mine is an outlier review, partly because I expected something else altogether from this book. Some of the content is excellent, but the annoying main character (and her equally annoying daughter) ensured my disconnect and the dual love triangles guaranteed my dissatisfaction.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
😍 The book begins with the author’s note, and this is among the most genuine notes I have ever read. It sounds heartfelt, and seeks to carve a realistic idea of the author’s intentions than a picture-perfect one. I loved her candour! As she rightly says, ‘Life isn’t always about the good stuff.’
😍 The main characters aren’t perfect, and through the mistakes they make and the choices they mess up, we get many life lessons. I guess the most important of these was: Don’t wait until it is too late. One thing that really struck me was the contrast in Kate’s feelings about Olivia between the two timelines; it was a very realistic portrayal of human nature. This book also shows how we constantly ponder the ‘What-ifs’ after losing a loved one.
😍 I loved how the two timelines were settled at the end. Rather than being forced into resolution, the plot elements get sorted out neatly within the natural flow of the story.
😍 The initial section of Timeline II where Kate grapples with her grief after Olivia’s death is excellently written. I could actually feel Kate’s helplessness and sorrow as she grieved over the death of her little one. This was, by far, my favourite part of the book.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 While there are quite a few Sliding-Doors style novels, this is unique in terms of its approach. Timelines I & II have common numbered chapters, with the formatting being different to help us identify them. Thus we get chapters numbered 1, One, 2, Two, 3, Three, and so on. That said, though the two timelines are somewhat distinct in content, it is a little tough to adjust to their contrary emotional situations. The constant switch of sentiments isn't easy, especially at the start of Timeline II when Kate’s grief was quite intense.
😐 Kate is a fairly realistic character. She isn’t portrayed as the perfect mother, nor does she get the work-life balance right. However, the only time I really felt connected to her was when she was in the initial stages of her grief. As I got to know her better, I was just frustrated with her. She was quite judgemental, stubborn and bossy. Because she was so annoying in the first timeline, it was hard for me to sympathise with her in the second. Moreover, she hardly ever acted forty, behaving instead as a lovesick teen caught between two hot dates. She did grow emotionally towards the end of the book, but it was ‘too little; too late’ for me.
😐 I initially loved the fact that Kate was an agricultural engineer. Great female STEM rep is a rarity in genre fiction, so such an unusual career choice made Kate a potential inspiration. At the same time, I was fed up by just how many times she mentioned her qualification in the course of the story, even in her inner monologues. It was almost as if she didn’t trust us readers to remember her profession.
(On an aside, it is sad to see that even an agricultural engineer didn't feel any guilt sawing off a live tree for Christmas. There was such a great chance to advocate a sustainable Christmas, but it went ignored.)
😐 I appreciate the diversity of some of the characters. The story had an Ethiopian woman (deceased), an adopted Ethiopian child, and a Mexican man and his family. As Olivia was biracial, I loved how she peppered her talk with both English and Spanish, and how Kate tried to speak with her using Spanish words. That said, other reviewers have pointed out that the Spanish used by Kate is more like a ‘Google Translate’ version and has usage errors, so the editing team should have proofread this aspect better. I found the portrayal of the Mexican family somewhat clichéd. Except for Michael’s being an archaeologist, there was nothing in their portrayal that went beyond the typical stereotypes. The Ethiopian representation is almost nominal, as we barely get to see anything about that culture. The active players of the story, except for Kate’s ex-husband, are white.
Bookish Nays:
😒 My biggest problem with the content was that I expected a greater focus on Kate’s grief in one timeline, and in the other, maybe a greater exploration of her parenting struggles. I didn’t realise that love triangle trope would be the dominant one in both timelines. (I am not a fan of this concept even in romances, so seeing it in a non-romance book irritated me much.) We get not one but two distinct romantic triangles in each timeline. It also didn’t help me that Kate’s verbalisation of her feelings for the two men were too physical, with every scene of her interaction with them containing at least some reference to their anatomical virtues. There’s only so much of lusty thoughts I can stand reading when the genre isn’t even romance.
😒 Along with the love triangles, we also get an OTT dose of the done-to-death miscommunication trope and a minor cheating trope as well. Liked neither of these!
😒 Sorry, but not a single man in the book had common sense. Each seemed absorbed in their own needs, and as such, I didn’t even care what happened to them and which of them finally ended up with Kate.
😒 I feel quite bad saying this, but I actually preferred the timeline where Olivia was dead. Not just because it explored more complex feelings, but because I could avoid the nine-year-old entitled brat. The bigger problem for me was that she never sounded nine. Her attitude and her conversation made her sound either much older (a young teen, perhaps) or much younger (around 5-6 years old). The inconsistency of her sketching and her behavioural issues meant that I simply couldn’t feel a bond with the child, which is never the case for me.
😒 I’m no expert at judging telling vs. showing, especially on audio. But it sure sounded like there was a whole lot of telling happening in this novel. The first person narration worsened this feel as we get to hear literally every single thing Kate thinks and does. There is also a fair bit of repetition in her thoughts.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 44 min, is narrated by Brittany Pressley. She was quite good overall, but where she truly shone was in the scenes where Kate was battling grief. Pressley narrated those scenes with such poignancy that it sounded as if she herself was grieving. She depicted Kate’s emotional turmoil perfectly.
Of course, keeping track of the two storylines is slightly trickier on audio, but as the narrator is great, I can safely recommend this version to avid audio listeners wanting to try this book. Audio newbies, maybe stick to reading.
All in all, most of my disappointment stems from the strong role that romance had to play in this plot. I had expected this novel to depict a parent’s grief, and their rebuilding their life after a tragedy. But as this fresh attempt at life involved love triangles, my interest turned into eye-rolling. Though the premise sounds like it will work for women’s fiction readers, it would certainly help if those readers are fond of the romance genre as well.
Must add that I am very much the outlier in my feelings about this. Most of my friends found this read an emotional experience. So do check out their reviews before taking a call on this book.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the audio version.
My thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Other Year”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Forty-year-old single mom Kate Baker is on a two-week beach vacation with her nine-year-old daughter Olivia. However, on the very first day of the trip, Olivia is caught in a riptide and she goes under the waves – a moment that sets Kate’s heart thudding.
Now the story splits in two timelines.
In Timeline I, Olivia resurfaces almost immediately and the vacation continues as a typical vacation would. However, with Olivia’s increasing tantrums, Kate’s ex-husband’s intentions to return in their lives for a second start, and Kate’s best friend Jason suddenly discovering feelings for her, Kate’s life is full of tough choices.
In Timeline II, Olivia drowns, and Kate grapples with the loss of her only child. In the days following the funeral, Kate struggles to come to terms with her new reality. In a bid to get away from everything that reminds her of Olivia, she takes up an apprenticeship at a farm in idyllic Serenbe. Can grief be left behind easily with new distractions?
The story comes to us in Kate’s first person perspective, alternating between the two parallel timelines.
Bookish Yays:
😍 The book begins with the author’s note, and this is among the most genuine notes I have ever read. It sounds heartfelt, and seeks to carve a realistic idea of the author’s intentions than a picture-perfect one. I loved her candour! As she rightly says, ‘Life isn’t always about the good stuff.’
😍 The main characters aren’t perfect, and through the mistakes they make and the choices they mess up, we get many life lessons. I guess the most important of these was: Don’t wait until it is too late. One thing that really struck me was the contrast in Kate’s feelings about Olivia between the two timelines; it was a very realistic portrayal of human nature. This book also shows how we constantly ponder the ‘What-ifs’ after losing a loved one.
😍 I loved how the two timelines were settled at the end. Rather than being forced into resolution, the plot elements get sorted out neatly within the natural flow of the story.
😍 The initial section of Timeline II where Kate grapples with her grief after Olivia’s death is excellently written. I could actually feel Kate’s helplessness and sorrow as she grieved over the death of her little one. This was, by far, my favourite part of the book.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 While there are quite a few Sliding-Doors style novels, this is unique in terms of its approach. Timelines I & II have common numbered chapters, with the formatting being different to help us identify them. Thus we get chapters numbered 1, One, 2, Two, 3, Three, and so on. That said, though the two timelines are somewhat distinct in content, it is a little tough to adjust to their contrary emotional situations. The constant switch of sentiments isn't easy, especially at the start of Timeline II when Kate’s grief was quite intense.
😐 Kate is a fairly realistic character. She isn’t portrayed as the perfect mother, nor does she get the work-life balance right. However, the only time I really felt connected to her was when she was in the initial stages of her grief. As I got to know her better, I was just frustrated with her. She was quite judgemental, stubborn and bossy. Because she was so annoying in the first timeline, it was hard for me to sympathise with her in the second. Moreover, she hardly ever acted forty, behaving instead as a lovesick teen caught between two hot dates. She did grow emotionally towards the end of the book, but it was ‘too little; too late’ for me.
😐 I initially loved the fact that Kate was an agricultural engineer. Great female STEM rep is a rarity in genre fiction, so such an unusual career choice made Kate a potential inspiration. At the same time, I was fed up by just how many times she mentioned her qualification in the course of the story, even in her inner monologues. It was almost as if she didn’t trust us readers to remember her profession.
(On an aside, it is sad to see that even an agricultural engineer didn't feel any guilt sawing off a live tree for Christmas. There was such a great chance to advocate a sustainable Christmas, but it went ignored.)
😐 I appreciate the diversity of some of the characters. The story had an Ethiopian woman (deceased), an adopted Ethiopian child, and a Mexican man and his family. As Olivia was biracial, I loved how she peppered her talk with both English and Spanish, and how Kate tried to speak with her using Spanish words. That said, other reviewers have pointed out that the Spanish used by Kate is more like a ‘Google Translate’ version and has usage errors, so the editing team should have proofread this aspect better. I found the portrayal of the Mexican family somewhat clichéd. Except for Michael’s being an archaeologist, there was nothing in their portrayal that went beyond the typical stereotypes. The Ethiopian representation is almost nominal, as we barely get to see anything about that culture. The active players of the story, except for Kate’s ex-husband, are white.
Bookish Nays:
😒 My biggest problem with the content was that I expected a greater focus on Kate’s grief in one timeline, and in the other, maybe a greater exploration of her parenting struggles. I didn’t realise that love triangle trope would be the dominant one in both timelines. (I am not a fan of this concept even in romances, so seeing it in a non-romance book irritated me much.) We get not one but two distinct romantic triangles in each timeline. It also didn’t help me that Kate’s verbalisation of her feelings for the two men were too physical, with every scene of her interaction with them containing at least some reference to their anatomical virtues. There’s only so much of lusty thoughts I can stand reading when the genre isn’t even romance.
😒 Along with the love triangles, we also get an OTT dose of the done-to-death miscommunication trope and a minor cheating trope as well. Liked neither of these!
😒 Sorry, but not a single man in the book had common sense. Each seemed absorbed in their own needs, and as such, I didn’t even care what happened to them and which of them finally ended up with Kate.
😒 I feel quite bad saying this, but I actually preferred the timeline where Olivia was dead. Not just because it explored more complex feelings, but because I could avoid the nine-year-old entitled brat. The bigger problem for me was that she never sounded nine. Her attitude and her conversation made her sound either much older (a young teen, perhaps) or much younger (around 5-6 years old). The inconsistency of her sketching and her behavioural issues meant that I simply couldn’t feel a bond with the child, which is never the case for me.
😒 I’m no expert at judging telling vs. showing, especially on audio. But it sure sounded like there was a whole lot of telling happening in this novel. The first person narration worsened this feel as we get to hear literally every single thing Kate thinks and does. There is also a fair bit of repetition in her thoughts.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 44 min, is narrated by Brittany Pressley. She was quite good overall, but where she truly shone was in the scenes where Kate was battling grief. Pressley narrated those scenes with such poignancy that it sounded as if she herself was grieving. She depicted Kate’s emotional turmoil perfectly.
Of course, keeping track of the two storylines is slightly trickier on audio, but as the narrator is great, I can safely recommend this version to avid audio listeners wanting to try this book. Audio newbies, maybe stick to reading.
All in all, most of my disappointment stems from the strong role that romance had to play in this plot. I had expected this novel to depict a parent’s grief, and their rebuilding their life after a tragedy. But as this fresh attempt at life involved love triangles, my interest turned into eye-rolling. Though the premise sounds like it will work for women’s fiction readers, it would certainly help if those readers are fond of the romance genre as well.
Must add that I am very much the outlier in my feelings about this. Most of my friends found this read an emotional experience. So do check out their reviews before taking a call on this book.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the audio version.
My thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Other Year”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
August 18, 2023
Whew, that was a gut wrenching read.
Major trigger warning: death of a child
Many of you know, I lost a child many years ago. Ryan was seven when he was killed in a car accident. I thought I could handle this book because it is told uniquely in two timelines. In the first timeline, single mom Kate and her nine-year-old daughter Olivia are at the beach starting a vacation. Kate looks down at a text on her phone and when she looks up, Olivia has disappeared. A minute or so later, she pops up and everything continues as normal. In the second timeline, Olivia doesn't resurface and she dies. We follow Kate through both timelines in a Sliding Doors type scenario, seeing how her life changes and stays the same in both time frames.
There is so much of the second timeline that was frankly too raw and painful for me to listen to. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley and I'm in awe of how she was able to portray such grief yet keep it together enough to narrate. Those first gut-wrenching weeks were very well written, but so difficult. Just when I would think it would be too difficult to bear one more second, the timeline would switch and it would be lighter.
One of the things that stood out to me was really fascinating. In the timeline where Olivia is alive, she and Kate fight, bicker, have issues and problems just like any mother and daughter do. Yet in the other timeline, Kate has a tendency to idealize their relationship, paint a picture in her head of how perfect and rosy everything was. I think that is always the tendency, but seeing it written out was intriguing.
Overall, this is a meaningful book about grief, guilt (in both timelines for different reasons) and about changing and growing in life in all circumstances. If you can handle the subject matter, this one is a winner.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Major trigger warning: death of a child
Many of you know, I lost a child many years ago. Ryan was seven when he was killed in a car accident. I thought I could handle this book because it is told uniquely in two timelines. In the first timeline, single mom Kate and her nine-year-old daughter Olivia are at the beach starting a vacation. Kate looks down at a text on her phone and when she looks up, Olivia has disappeared. A minute or so later, she pops up and everything continues as normal. In the second timeline, Olivia doesn't resurface and she dies. We follow Kate through both timelines in a Sliding Doors type scenario, seeing how her life changes and stays the same in both time frames.
There is so much of the second timeline that was frankly too raw and painful for me to listen to. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley and I'm in awe of how she was able to portray such grief yet keep it together enough to narrate. Those first gut-wrenching weeks were very well written, but so difficult. Just when I would think it would be too difficult to bear one more second, the timeline would switch and it would be lighter.
One of the things that stood out to me was really fascinating. In the timeline where Olivia is alive, she and Kate fight, bicker, have issues and problems just like any mother and daughter do. Yet in the other timeline, Kate has a tendency to idealize their relationship, paint a picture in her head of how perfect and rosy everything was. I think that is always the tendency, but seeing it written out was intriguing.
Overall, this is a meaningful book about grief, guilt (in both timelines for different reasons) and about changing and growing in life in all circumstances. If you can handle the subject matter, this one is a winner.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 13, 2024
EXCERPT: She erupts from the waves every few seconds, her orange long-sleeved one piece slightly too large. She is growing so fast and caught between sizes. Her crotch sags with collected sand, but surprisingly, she doesn't complain. After a year of no vacations due to my intense work demands, she isn't going to waste a second of this one.
When my phone dings in my pocket, I answer, one eye trained on Liv while scanning for shark fins, the other on the message. It's from Michael, as if by thinking about him I've conjured his text.
We really need to talk, K. Call me when you can, por favor, mi amor.
I sigh. Mi amor. Though we are divorced, there is still so much love between us. I miss him. I miss us. I miss being a family. I text back a reply that we are on vacation and I will connect with him when we're back in two weeks. Disgruntled, I return my focus to the ocean, back to Liv.
The waves climb and crash. Other children scream and play, tossing tiny footballs to each other or riding boogie boards on healthy waves. I search for Olivia's unruly brown curls, her bright bathing suit, that oversized rainbow on the chest. My heart seizes, and I take a step towards the water.
One moment she is there - right there.
The next she is gone.
ABOUT 'THE OTHER YEAR': Can the entire course of a life be traced back to a single moment?
On a coveted two-week beach vacation, working mom Kate Baker’s nine-year-old daughter, Olivia, vanishes suddenly among the waves—a heart-dropping incident that threatens to uproot her entire reality. But in the next moment, Olivia resurfaces, joyously splashing.
What would I do if she didn’t come up? Kate wonders. How would I live without her?
In another set of circumstances that hold a different fate, Kate doesn’t have to wonder. Because in that “other” world, in the pulse-pounding seconds after Olivia goes under, she doesn’t come back up.
Told in parallel timelines, Kate begins to live two lives—one in which Olivia resurfaces and one in which she doesn’t. In the reality that follows her daughter’s death, she maneuvers through every mother’s worst nightmare, facing grief, rage, and the question of purpose in the aftermath of such profound loss. She endures, day by day, in a world without her daughter.
In her alternate timeline, while she explores a tremulous romance with her best friend, Jason, she finds herself grappling with the ex-husband who abandoned Kate and Olivia years prior. Even as eager Kate scrambles to hold her daughter close, Olivia pulls further away. The line between joy and loss seems to get thinner with each passing day.
MY THOUGHTS: I honestly didn't know how I was going to get on with parallel timelines, the medium used to tell this story, but I loved it. It's an interesting concept and Rea Frey's talent as a writer ensured that changes between realities were seamlessly handled. At no point was I confused about which reality I was experiencing.
In Timeline one, Liv is at that pre-teen age where she seems to have a foot in each camp. At one time she is her eager to please, childish self, taking pleasure in simple things; another she is strident, demanding, sulky and prone to playing her parents off against one another. There are inevitable clashes as mother and daughter each try to assert their will.
In Timeline two, Liv is dead, and Kate is grieving and taking time out for herself away from the pressures of her busy professional life. She takes great pleasure in odd moments that remind her of Liv - like when someone uses the word 'dank'; Olivia's favorite word at the time of her death.
Each timeline is handled with great sensitivity. In one Kate is learning to be a single parent and starting to spread her wings. In the other, Kate's grief is raw, her love for her daughter overshadowing everything as she comes to terms with her loss and a new way of life.
The Other Year is a beautifully written story of a mother's love, fate and growth.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#TheOtherYear #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Growing up, I believed the false story that writing was a hobby; it wasn’t a job. But I’ve always liked a challenge.
After a “publishing experience gone bad” for my first novel, I decided to learn everything I could about the publishing industry. And along the way, I decided to share my knowledge with authors, in hopes that they too could go into this world with eyes wide open and pick the right publication path for them.
What started out as a simple writing coach side hustle quickly scaled to a multiple six-figure business with nearly 100 first-time authors landing agents, nabbing six-figure book deals, and reaching #1 bestselling status.
What I’ve learned in the publishing industry—from numerous traditionally published novels with the “Big 5,” to four traditionally published nonfiction books that (somewhat) crashed and burned—is what it takes to be a successful author, how the publishing landscape continues to change, and how vital it is for authors to understand all the moving parts if they want to birth their own books into the world.
Now, as a book doula, I offer my guidance so that authors can stand on their own two feet.
DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Harper Muse for providing an audio ARC of The Other Year written by Rea Frey and superbly narrated by Brittany Pressley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
When my phone dings in my pocket, I answer, one eye trained on Liv while scanning for shark fins, the other on the message. It's from Michael, as if by thinking about him I've conjured his text.
We really need to talk, K. Call me when you can, por favor, mi amor.
I sigh. Mi amor. Though we are divorced, there is still so much love between us. I miss him. I miss us. I miss being a family. I text back a reply that we are on vacation and I will connect with him when we're back in two weeks. Disgruntled, I return my focus to the ocean, back to Liv.
The waves climb and crash. Other children scream and play, tossing tiny footballs to each other or riding boogie boards on healthy waves. I search for Olivia's unruly brown curls, her bright bathing suit, that oversized rainbow on the chest. My heart seizes, and I take a step towards the water.
One moment she is there - right there.
The next she is gone.
ABOUT 'THE OTHER YEAR': Can the entire course of a life be traced back to a single moment?
On a coveted two-week beach vacation, working mom Kate Baker’s nine-year-old daughter, Olivia, vanishes suddenly among the waves—a heart-dropping incident that threatens to uproot her entire reality. But in the next moment, Olivia resurfaces, joyously splashing.
What would I do if she didn’t come up? Kate wonders. How would I live without her?
In another set of circumstances that hold a different fate, Kate doesn’t have to wonder. Because in that “other” world, in the pulse-pounding seconds after Olivia goes under, she doesn’t come back up.
Told in parallel timelines, Kate begins to live two lives—one in which Olivia resurfaces and one in which she doesn’t. In the reality that follows her daughter’s death, she maneuvers through every mother’s worst nightmare, facing grief, rage, and the question of purpose in the aftermath of such profound loss. She endures, day by day, in a world without her daughter.
In her alternate timeline, while she explores a tremulous romance with her best friend, Jason, she finds herself grappling with the ex-husband who abandoned Kate and Olivia years prior. Even as eager Kate scrambles to hold her daughter close, Olivia pulls further away. The line between joy and loss seems to get thinner with each passing day.
MY THOUGHTS: I honestly didn't know how I was going to get on with parallel timelines, the medium used to tell this story, but I loved it. It's an interesting concept and Rea Frey's talent as a writer ensured that changes between realities were seamlessly handled. At no point was I confused about which reality I was experiencing.
In Timeline one, Liv is at that pre-teen age where she seems to have a foot in each camp. At one time she is her eager to please, childish self, taking pleasure in simple things; another she is strident, demanding, sulky and prone to playing her parents off against one another. There are inevitable clashes as mother and daughter each try to assert their will.
In Timeline two, Liv is dead, and Kate is grieving and taking time out for herself away from the pressures of her busy professional life. She takes great pleasure in odd moments that remind her of Liv - like when someone uses the word 'dank'; Olivia's favorite word at the time of her death.
Each timeline is handled with great sensitivity. In one Kate is learning to be a single parent and starting to spread her wings. In the other, Kate's grief is raw, her love for her daughter overshadowing everything as she comes to terms with her loss and a new way of life.
The Other Year is a beautifully written story of a mother's love, fate and growth.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#TheOtherYear #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Growing up, I believed the false story that writing was a hobby; it wasn’t a job. But I’ve always liked a challenge.
After a “publishing experience gone bad” for my first novel, I decided to learn everything I could about the publishing industry. And along the way, I decided to share my knowledge with authors, in hopes that they too could go into this world with eyes wide open and pick the right publication path for them.
What started out as a simple writing coach side hustle quickly scaled to a multiple six-figure business with nearly 100 first-time authors landing agents, nabbing six-figure book deals, and reaching #1 bestselling status.
What I’ve learned in the publishing industry—from numerous traditionally published novels with the “Big 5,” to four traditionally published nonfiction books that (somewhat) crashed and burned—is what it takes to be a successful author, how the publishing landscape continues to change, and how vital it is for authors to understand all the moving parts if they want to birth their own books into the world.
Now, as a book doula, I offer my guidance so that authors can stand on their own two feet.
DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Harper Muse for providing an audio ARC of The Other Year written by Rea Frey and superbly narrated by Brittany Pressley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 1, 2023
The Other Year by Rea Frey is a Beautifully Written and Emotional Sliding-Door Story!
Kate, a single working mom, and her nine-year-old daughter, Olivia go on a long-overdue two-week vacation. Anxious to see the beach they've visited before, Kate takes Olivia for a quick swim.
Olivia goes in the water while Kate watches from the water's edge. She continues to observe her daughter as they talk and wave to each other.
Kate briefly takes her eyes off Olivia to read and respond to a text from her ex-husband. When she looks up, she doesn't see her daughter in the water.
In the first timeline, Olivia comes back to the surfaces and all is well. In the second timeline, she doesn't.
Told in alternate timelines, Kate lives two very different lives, one with her daughter, Olivia, and the other without her...
The Other Year is a beautifully written and emotional sliding-door story. The author does a fine job of ensuring both timelines feel equally realistic and engaging, while offering unique perspectives.
The first timeline continues with Kate's life as a single parent. She wrestles with the friendship with her best friend Jason, her relationship with her ex-husband Michael, and her daughter Olivia, who becomes a bit of a challenge.
The second timeline portrays Kate's life as a grieving mother trying to get through the fog of existing without her daughter. The loss, the rage, the blame - it's all there. I was rooting hard for Kate to get to the other side of this tragedy.
The Other Year audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley, who does another amazing job of voicing and bringing the characters to life.
Kate's challenges are at the center of this book but what stood out to me and what I enjoyed most was how both sides of the story come together. The ending is thoughtful, thought-provoking, and very well done. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.
I recommend The Other Year to readers who enjoy a blend of Magical-Realism and Women's Fiction!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Rea Frey for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Kate, a single working mom, and her nine-year-old daughter, Olivia go on a long-overdue two-week vacation. Anxious to see the beach they've visited before, Kate takes Olivia for a quick swim.
Olivia goes in the water while Kate watches from the water's edge. She continues to observe her daughter as they talk and wave to each other.
Kate briefly takes her eyes off Olivia to read and respond to a text from her ex-husband. When she looks up, she doesn't see her daughter in the water.
In the first timeline, Olivia comes back to the surfaces and all is well. In the second timeline, she doesn't.
Told in alternate timelines, Kate lives two very different lives, one with her daughter, Olivia, and the other without her...
The Other Year is a beautifully written and emotional sliding-door story. The author does a fine job of ensuring both timelines feel equally realistic and engaging, while offering unique perspectives.
The first timeline continues with Kate's life as a single parent. She wrestles with the friendship with her best friend Jason, her relationship with her ex-husband Michael, and her daughter Olivia, who becomes a bit of a challenge.
The second timeline portrays Kate's life as a grieving mother trying to get through the fog of existing without her daughter. The loss, the rage, the blame - it's all there. I was rooting hard for Kate to get to the other side of this tragedy.
The Other Year audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley, who does another amazing job of voicing and bringing the characters to life.
Kate's challenges are at the center of this book but what stood out to me and what I enjoyed most was how both sides of the story come together. The ending is thoughtful, thought-provoking, and very well done. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.
I recommend The Other Year to readers who enjoy a blend of Magical-Realism and Women's Fiction!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Rea Frey for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
September 7, 2023
😭 "The message is Love your people. A tear-jerker with heart." The story is told in parallel timelines with two different outcomes. This one was hard to read. Warning: You will cry. The loss of a child was captured so deeply at times it became unbearable....right down to the mother's last goodbye and holding her cold hand as she laid on the autopsy table and prepared for her funeral.
Kate and her 9 year old daughter planned a two week vacation at the beach. While Olivia played in the water with warnings of dangerous currents, Kate looked away at her phone when she looked back she was gone. It was heart-wrenching as she and onlookers searched for her daughter. When her body resurfaced, it was too late.
Kate's grief was all too real as it rotated through the phases of grief, rage, and re-purposing her life.
Her ex-husband and Olivia's father, Michael, worked through the grief with guilt weighing heavy that he put his job first. One of her best friends above and beyond friend vibes was Jason, who had lost his wife to cancer and was raising his adoptive daughter by himself. I felt his friendship was one of a kind and sincere. He was one anyone would like to have by their side.
The parallel to this was Kate sees Olivia come up from the waves alive. Their mother-daughter relationship was strained with conflicts and Olivia was given the chance to live with her father.
Although second chances are far and few, you would like to think the latter is a better outcome than death, but it was hard to watch Kate and Olivia's bond tear away.
The author did a phenomenal job creating the second chance situation which comes back to the opening phrase "Love your people".
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Kate and her 9 year old daughter planned a two week vacation at the beach. While Olivia played in the water with warnings of dangerous currents, Kate looked away at her phone when she looked back she was gone. It was heart-wrenching as she and onlookers searched for her daughter. When her body resurfaced, it was too late.
Kate's grief was all too real as it rotated through the phases of grief, rage, and re-purposing her life.
Her ex-husband and Olivia's father, Michael, worked through the grief with guilt weighing heavy that he put his job first. One of her best friends above and beyond friend vibes was Jason, who had lost his wife to cancer and was raising his adoptive daughter by himself. I felt his friendship was one of a kind and sincere. He was one anyone would like to have by their side.
The parallel to this was Kate sees Olivia come up from the waves alive. Their mother-daughter relationship was strained with conflicts and Olivia was given the chance to live with her father.
Although second chances are far and few, you would like to think the latter is a better outcome than death, but it was hard to watch Kate and Olivia's bond tear away.
The author did a phenomenal job creating the second chance situation which comes back to the opening phrase "Love your people".
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 11, 2023
4.5⭐️ This is an incredibly emotional story about what it means to be a mother, how impactful that role is on an individual, and the fear of losing a child.
Through the main character Olivia, we are taken down two paths - one in which her daughter drowns in a split second of distraction, and one where her daughter reappears from beneath the water. Over the course of a year, we are shown the ways in which her life would differ depending on that singular moment.
As a mom myself, whose worse fear is described within these pages, I found the story to be eye opening, insightful and thought provoking - what would I myself do differently in any given moment - and one that will stay with me for a long time to come. An excellent read and one I would easy recommend, especially to those who are moms themselves.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
•women’s fiction
•sliding doors trope
•emotional reads
•stories focusing on motherhood
•Two Lives of Lydia Bird
Thank you Harper Muse for the gifted copies.
Through the main character Olivia, we are taken down two paths - one in which her daughter drowns in a split second of distraction, and one where her daughter reappears from beneath the water. Over the course of a year, we are shown the ways in which her life would differ depending on that singular moment.
As a mom myself, whose worse fear is described within these pages, I found the story to be eye opening, insightful and thought provoking - what would I myself do differently in any given moment - and one that will stay with me for a long time to come. An excellent read and one I would easy recommend, especially to those who are moms themselves.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
•women’s fiction
•sliding doors trope
•emotional reads
•stories focusing on motherhood
•Two Lives of Lydia Bird
Thank you Harper Muse for the gifted copies.
September 7, 2023
➸ 𝟏/𝟓 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨
Well, I finally finished the book, and let's just say it left me questioning my life choices more than my last bad haircut.
This book was basically about a mother losing a daughter but it was told in two different timelines; in first one she loses her but in other one she's still alive and both of the timelines were playing simultaneously. It talks about the grief, sadness and pain that comes with losing child. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹???𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗵.
The book was well-written but i feel due to different timelines it was kind of chaotic and honestly a bit messy. Oh, that timeline where she was alive was a real page-turner, wasn't it? It added about as much to the story as a hat on a fish. I mean, who needs relevance and continuity when you can throw in some pointless subplot? 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. I feel the timeline where she was still alive was pretty irrelevant and it could've worked better without it. The lack of sequence made me feel confused most of the time like i have to go back to different pages to know what event is actually happening in which of the timeline which pissed me off so many times. 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆.🥹🫂
The characters were pretty bland and honestly I didn't felt any connection towards any character. There was no chemistry between the main character and her romantic interests and her growth after her daughter's death felt a bit rushed to me and the choices she made while she was alive and after her death were pretty much same making it plainly boring.
Most of the time i was just skimming through pages as i wanted to end this soon and tbvh i was waiting for a good plot twist which never came as i said that she just kept making the same choice in both the timelines making it uninteresting and boring. This book legit managed to achieve the impossible: it made me nostalgic for my high school math class.I mean, even counting sheep would be more riveting. I am so sure that author tried to make it an emotional rollercoaster but ended up making it a disaster.
That plot twist was as exciting as watching grass grow in slow motion.I'm pretty sure even my pet rock could have written a more engaging plot. The story's pace was so glacial; that it made me sleepy most of times 😭✋🏻
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹,𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲.The lack of clarity and sequence makes it a less enjoyable choice. I can't decide if reading it was a punishment or a test of my endurance – either way, I definitely deserve a medal for making it to the last page 🥹🤌🏻
Well, I finally finished the book, and let's just say it left me questioning my life choices more than my last bad haircut.
This book was basically about a mother losing a daughter but it was told in two different timelines; in first one she loses her but in other one she's still alive and both of the timelines were playing simultaneously. It talks about the grief, sadness and pain that comes with losing child. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹???𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗵.
The book was well-written but i feel due to different timelines it was kind of chaotic and honestly a bit messy. Oh, that timeline where she was alive was a real page-turner, wasn't it? It added about as much to the story as a hat on a fish. I mean, who needs relevance and continuity when you can throw in some pointless subplot? 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. I feel the timeline where she was still alive was pretty irrelevant and it could've worked better without it. The lack of sequence made me feel confused most of the time like i have to go back to different pages to know what event is actually happening in which of the timeline which pissed me off so many times. 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆.🥹🫂
The characters were pretty bland and honestly I didn't felt any connection towards any character. There was no chemistry between the main character and her romantic interests and her growth after her daughter's death felt a bit rushed to me and the choices she made while she was alive and after her death were pretty much same making it plainly boring.
Most of the time i was just skimming through pages as i wanted to end this soon and tbvh i was waiting for a good plot twist which never came as i said that she just kept making the same choice in both the timelines making it uninteresting and boring. This book legit managed to achieve the impossible: it made me nostalgic for my high school math class.I mean, even counting sheep would be more riveting. I am so sure that author tried to make it an emotional rollercoaster but ended up making it a disaster.
That plot twist was as exciting as watching grass grow in slow motion.I'm pretty sure even my pet rock could have written a more engaging plot. The story's pace was so glacial; that it made me sleepy most of times 😭✋🏻
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹,𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲.The lack of clarity and sequence makes it a less enjoyable choice. I can't decide if reading it was a punishment or a test of my endurance – either way, I definitely deserve a medal for making it to the last page 🥹🤌🏻
April 30, 2023
This is book #5 for my by Rea Frey and I was excited to see she has a new book coming out in August 2023. A mothers worse nightmare happens while at the beach with her daughter Liv. Liv gets in an undercurrent and can’t get out. Paramedics come. Then she’s fine. But wait! This is a different scenario now. Luv is perfectly ok. She’s in her room listening to her IPod. Flipping back and forth from each story line was genius! This was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. To be published August 2023.
December 13, 2023
This is a MUST~READ! Rea Freys most recent novel, based in a parallel timeline takes you down 2 paths, One scenario in which Kate loses her daughter, Olivia, who’s 9 years old, from drowning in the ocean while on their yearly vacation at the beach, and the other, where Olivia resurfaces from the waves and is okay. In both timelines you are taken down the treacherous path of losing a child and on the other path , the challenges and rewards of raising a daughter. Wretched with an unspeakable loss, Kate has to learn how to move forward in addition to handling a divorce, the love of Jason-her best friend and wondering if love is ever possible again. Rea doesn’t leave out any detail when describing Kates loss and what one goes through in such an unthinkable situation.
Rea Frey is an award winning best- selling author in several women’s non~fiction and suspense novels. Her most recent fiction novel leaves no stone unturned! “ The Other Year” will be published August15th, 2023. Pre-order available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
I cried a lot , I laughed and couldn’t put it down ! Rea was able to describe what’s it’s like to lose a daughter and the fear, heartbreak and sheer sickness Kate went through. On the 2nd parallel , she describes the joys, challenges and memories Kate has from raising her daughter. Rea is able to bring both parallels to closure, they meet, and we as the reader get to decide how we want to believe Kates story ends or continues. This novel not only brings to surface some really sad feelings but most importantly that we have this one life to live in the best way we can! I’ll be thinking about this novel for a while!
In the meantime, love harder, play longer and enjoy each other, these are the memories we get to remember.
Rea Frey is an award winning best- selling author in several women’s non~fiction and suspense novels. Her most recent fiction novel leaves no stone unturned! “ The Other Year” will be published August15th, 2023. Pre-order available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
I cried a lot , I laughed and couldn’t put it down ! Rea was able to describe what’s it’s like to lose a daughter and the fear, heartbreak and sheer sickness Kate went through. On the 2nd parallel , she describes the joys, challenges and memories Kate has from raising her daughter. Rea is able to bring both parallels to closure, they meet, and we as the reader get to decide how we want to believe Kates story ends or continues. This novel not only brings to surface some really sad feelings but most importantly that we have this one life to live in the best way we can! I’ll be thinking about this novel for a while!
In the meantime, love harder, play longer and enjoy each other, these are the memories we get to remember.
September 4, 2023
This book is immensely emotional. It is about the death of a child. It’s told from two different realities. The first one takes you through the extreme grief of losing a child and the second one imagines what life would be like if that hadn’t happened.
Because this has never happened to me or anyone that I know, this was an eye-opening glimpse at the the surface of that grief, that I can never truly understand. I felt deeply for the mom and how sad it was that she felt like it was her fault!
The timeline where her child lives on, is a look at how differently we can view life when it’s taken for granted. The message I have taken from this book is to love and care for my loved ones as they are, with all their imperfections, and not to worry about the trivial things in life.
Another part of story is the romance issues the mom goes through during both timelines. She has a great need for love and physical comfort but doesn’t want to make any rash decisions.
I am glad I read this book and I am grateful for the ARC I received from Harper Muse Audiobooks via NetGalley.
Because this has never happened to me or anyone that I know, this was an eye-opening glimpse at the the surface of that grief, that I can never truly understand. I felt deeply for the mom and how sad it was that she felt like it was her fault!
The timeline where her child lives on, is a look at how differently we can view life when it’s taken for granted. The message I have taken from this book is to love and care for my loved ones as they are, with all their imperfections, and not to worry about the trivial things in life.
Another part of story is the romance issues the mom goes through during both timelines. She has a great need for love and physical comfort but doesn’t want to make any rash decisions.
I am glad I read this book and I am grateful for the ARC I received from Harper Muse Audiobooks via NetGalley.
July 2, 2023
This is my first book by Rea Frey. I found it to be an emotional one. Kate is vacationing at the beach with her 9 yr. old daughter Liv. While there her daughter Liv is pulled under the water by the current. Told through parallel timelines, one where Liv ends up drowning and one where she doesn't. I thought this was a really unique way to tell the story. I was expecting the world where Liv dies to be the only one with sadness, but both worlds actually had sadness, but there was also hope in both worlds too. An interesting look at what a parent can go through in grief. I enjoyed this story.
Out Aug. 15.
Thank you to the publisher, author and suzyapproved for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Out Aug. 15.
Thank you to the publisher, author and suzyapproved for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 15, 2023
Review coming soon.
August 28, 2023
* Brilliant! Review to come *
August 21, 2023
Due to some content I wasn’t comfortable with, I DNFed the book at 18%. I will say that the story has a very interesting premise, and while I didn’t get too far into it, it was really interesting to read the “what if” timeline (if her daughter hadn’t drowned versus if she had). While this story wasn’t for me, I’d encourage potential readers to check out the reviews on Goodreads and see if this book might me up their alley :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Other Year. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Other Year. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.
August 26, 2023
An emotional gut-punch of a women's fiction novel that explores every parent's worst nightmare in a sliding door style that alternates between two realities - one in which single working mom Kate's nine year old daughter Olivia drowns at the ocean while on a beach vacation and another where she doesn't.
The book is a beautiful mediation on grief and guilt over losing a child in a way that could have been prevented and the strength that's required to forgive yourself and move on afterwards. It's also a great look at love and friendship and figuring out what role people play in your life.
Perfect for book clubs and great on audio narrated by my forever fav Brittany Pressley. Highly recommended for fans of books like Karma Brown's Come away with me or The possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: accidental death of a child from drowning
The book is a beautiful mediation on grief and guilt over losing a child in a way that could have been prevented and the strength that's required to forgive yourself and move on afterwards. It's also a great look at love and friendship and figuring out what role people play in your life.
Perfect for book clubs and great on audio narrated by my forever fav Brittany Pressley. Highly recommended for fans of books like Karma Brown's Come away with me or The possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: accidental death of a child from drowning
August 10, 2025
As a single mother, I expected this book to pack an emotional punch. The death of a child is one of the most devastating losses a family can endure, and I anticipated an unflinching exploration of grief, fractured relationships, and the ripple effects of those haunting “what if” moments. Instead, the tragedy serves mostly as a backdrop for the protagonist’s romantic entanglements.
The biggest missed opportunity is in the structure. Timeline 1 could have explored romance while Timeline 2 delved into the harsher realities of loss—alcoholism, drug abuse, counseling, fractured family bonds, even suicide attempts or thoughts. Instead, both timelines circle back to romance, leaving little room for raw grief or messy humanity. The alternate timeline concept had enormous potential for emotional and philosophical depth, but here it’s reduced to a light narrative device.
That said, the premise is intriguing, the pacing brisk, and the writing clean and accessible. The dual timelines are easy to follow, and the story flows smoothly, making it the kind of book you can read in a few sittings. It’s not without its strengths, especially for readers looking for something emotionally gentle despite the heavy subject matter.
Ultimately, this isn’t a bad book—it’s engaging enough—but it skims the surface rather than diving deep. If you’re looking for a poignant meditation on loss, you may walk away wanting more. If you’re in the mood for a romance lightly framed by tragedy, this might be a better fit.
The biggest missed opportunity is in the structure. Timeline 1 could have explored romance while Timeline 2 delved into the harsher realities of loss—alcoholism, drug abuse, counseling, fractured family bonds, even suicide attempts or thoughts. Instead, both timelines circle back to romance, leaving little room for raw grief or messy humanity. The alternate timeline concept had enormous potential for emotional and philosophical depth, but here it’s reduced to a light narrative device.
That said, the premise is intriguing, the pacing brisk, and the writing clean and accessible. The dual timelines are easy to follow, and the story flows smoothly, making it the kind of book you can read in a few sittings. It’s not without its strengths, especially for readers looking for something emotionally gentle despite the heavy subject matter.
Ultimately, this isn’t a bad book—it’s engaging enough—but it skims the surface rather than diving deep. If you’re looking for a poignant meditation on loss, you may walk away wanting more. If you’re in the mood for a romance lightly framed by tragedy, this might be a better fit.
April 28, 2024
HALLMARK, GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT GREATEST MOVIE! This concept had me thinking through all of the what-ifs and could-have-beens in my life.
"The Other Year" follows two timelines for the life of Katie Baker and her daughter, Olivia. In both timelines, Katie and Olivia take a trip to the beach. Olivia goes swimming in the ocean. In timeline 1, Olivia emerges from the ocean. In timeline 2, Olivia drowns. The book alternates between timeline 1 and 2 throughout. The reader sees the bigger picture as Katie navigates her love life, time with/without Olivia, and her career in each timeline.
The career and love life of Katie Baker is completely Hallmark. I wasn't sure, at first, if I thought I would buy into it. I'm not a Hallmark movie person. Also, Timeline 2 is excruciatingly heavy with grief. Buuuut.... I REEEAAlly wanted to find out what happened in both timelines! I'm so glad I did. Both timelines took unexpected turns and left me with a gratifying ending. Somehow, through the stereotypical characters and scenes, I was all into this concept.
Brittany Pressley is an audio goddess in her interpretation of characters. SHE gave them a depth I don't think I could have had in reading ink and paper.
A special thank you to Harper Muse, Brittany Pressley, Rea Frey, and NetGalley for the chance to read this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"The Other Year" follows two timelines for the life of Katie Baker and her daughter, Olivia. In both timelines, Katie and Olivia take a trip to the beach. Olivia goes swimming in the ocean. In timeline 1, Olivia emerges from the ocean. In timeline 2, Olivia drowns. The book alternates between timeline 1 and 2 throughout. The reader sees the bigger picture as Katie navigates her love life, time with/without Olivia, and her career in each timeline.
The career and love life of Katie Baker is completely Hallmark. I wasn't sure, at first, if I thought I would buy into it. I'm not a Hallmark movie person. Also, Timeline 2 is excruciatingly heavy with grief. Buuuut.... I REEEAAlly wanted to find out what happened in both timelines! I'm so glad I did. Both timelines took unexpected turns and left me with a gratifying ending. Somehow, through the stereotypical characters and scenes, I was all into this concept.
Brittany Pressley is an audio goddess in her interpretation of characters. SHE gave them a depth I don't think I could have had in reading ink and paper.
A special thank you to Harper Muse, Brittany Pressley, Rea Frey, and NetGalley for the chance to read this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2023
I really love books with parallel timelines and an alternative reality. This one was well written but did have some issues.
I loved how this book explored Kate's grief in the timeline where Olivia dies. It was gut-wrenching, and truly, every parents worst nightmare. Although it was excruciatingly sad, this was the timeline I enjoyed the most. It was beautiful and inspiring watching Kate work through her grief.
Now on to the other timeline, the one where Olivia lives. I felt frustrated most of the time while reading this timeline. Honestly, Olivia was the most annoying child possible, and the love triangle was equally annoying. I did end up liking how it turned out.
Overall, I did enjoy seeing how the two timelines progressed and was satisfied with both endings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I loved how this book explored Kate's grief in the timeline where Olivia dies. It was gut-wrenching, and truly, every parents worst nightmare. Although it was excruciatingly sad, this was the timeline I enjoyed the most. It was beautiful and inspiring watching Kate work through her grief.
Now on to the other timeline, the one where Olivia lives. I felt frustrated most of the time while reading this timeline. Honestly, Olivia was the most annoying child possible, and the love triangle was equally annoying. I did end up liking how it turned out.
Overall, I did enjoy seeing how the two timelines progressed and was satisfied with both endings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 27, 2023
“ I chastise myself from going down the rabbit hole of what is not instead of what is”
This book takes the “what if’s”
in life to the next level.
Kate is away with her daughter Olivia, when Olivia drowns in the ocean… The book proceeds to give us two chapter ones, two chapter twos and so on… Each chapter focusing on if she drowned, versus if she lived
Written, so heartbreakingly beautiful… as only this author can do, she has a way of ripping your heart out of your body, making you think the bigger questions, and appreciating all you have, when you have it!
I laughed, I cried, I vowed to love deeper and slow down and appreciate all I have.
This author always has a way of making you dig deep… And this book was written with her entire soul spilling out on every page
This book takes the “what if’s”
in life to the next level.
Kate is away with her daughter Olivia, when Olivia drowns in the ocean… The book proceeds to give us two chapter ones, two chapter twos and so on… Each chapter focusing on if she drowned, versus if she lived
Written, so heartbreakingly beautiful… as only this author can do, she has a way of ripping your heart out of your body, making you think the bigger questions, and appreciating all you have, when you have it!
I laughed, I cried, I vowed to love deeper and slow down and appreciate all I have.
This author always has a way of making you dig deep… And this book was written with her entire soul spilling out on every page
March 19, 2024
The Other Year by Rea Frey
Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for the free audiobook.
Blurb:
“Bringing to light the drastic polarities dire circumstances often create, The Other Year explores truths about love, loss, and the sharp turns any life can take in the blink of an eye.
✨My thoughts:
This story completely wrecked me. I actually read and listened to this book and both were so good! Rea Frey literally ripped my heart from my chest and left me with a bleeding heart. All while my two boys were cuddling me. This book is not for the faint of heart and I highly suggest checking the trigger warnings. I loved to see the two different timelines and both pulled at my heartstrings in two very different ways. This story was written so beautifully. It was also written so painfully raw that I almost forgot I was reading a work of fiction. Honestly I’m getting choked up thinking about this book again. The Other Year is a meaningful and memorable story, written with pure talent and heart, and one I’ll never forget. There is so much to take away from this story and if you can handle reading about the loss of a child, you should really pick this one up. This one will break your heart and put you back together again.
“Slowly, achingly, I am learning to live.”
Happy reading!
Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for the free audiobook.
Blurb:
“Bringing to light the drastic polarities dire circumstances often create, The Other Year explores truths about love, loss, and the sharp turns any life can take in the blink of an eye.
✨My thoughts:
This story completely wrecked me. I actually read and listened to this book and both were so good! Rea Frey literally ripped my heart from my chest and left me with a bleeding heart. All while my two boys were cuddling me. This book is not for the faint of heart and I highly suggest checking the trigger warnings. I loved to see the two different timelines and both pulled at my heartstrings in two very different ways. This story was written so beautifully. It was also written so painfully raw that I almost forgot I was reading a work of fiction. Honestly I’m getting choked up thinking about this book again. The Other Year is a meaningful and memorable story, written with pure talent and heart, and one I’ll never forget. There is so much to take away from this story and if you can handle reading about the loss of a child, you should really pick this one up. This one will break your heart and put you back together again.
“Slowly, achingly, I am learning to live.”
Happy reading!
August 8, 2025
I enjoyed 'The Other Year' by Rea Frey, narrated by Brittany Pressley, for its unique parallel timelines narrative, which added depth to the story.
The author's handling of grief and loss was particularly well done. The concept of exploring what life could be like if we could choose our fate was captivating.
Brittany Pressley's narration was excellent, skillfully navigating the dual timelines, 3 stars specifically for her great work. However, the writing style didn't resonate with me, and I wasn't a fan of the romantic subplot.
Overall, it was an interesting read with some standout elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen and review this Advanced Release Copy audiobook.
The author's handling of grief and loss was particularly well done. The concept of exploring what life could be like if we could choose our fate was captivating.
Brittany Pressley's narration was excellent, skillfully navigating the dual timelines, 3 stars specifically for her great work. However, the writing style didn't resonate with me, and I wasn't a fan of the romantic subplot.
Overall, it was an interesting read with some standout elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen and review this Advanced Release Copy audiobook.
April 27, 2025
This was a gut-wrenching and emotional roller coaster of a novel. Once you get past that, it does make you self-reflect on how one split-second moment can change your life by leaps and bounds. So go home and hug your loved ones and cherish the moments.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperMuse for this ARC.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperMuse for this ARC.
dnf
August 6, 2024DNF @ 16% : this is weird to me. Idk, I can’t get into it. Even as a mother I just don’t feel this is written in a way for me to connect to the characters at all.
August 23, 2023
you will need tissues for this one as you embark on an emotional journey following the parallel timelines of a mother's life—where one path is marked by heartbreaking loss and the other by hope and possibilities. I love how Frey explores the power of choice and the twists of fate in her latest, which is a (good) departure from her usual suspense books.
July 17, 2023
The Other Year is Rea Frey's latest book and while I didn't find it as suspenseful as her past books, it still had a strong emotional family pull in BOTH storylines. You read that right. TWO storylines.
The Other Year is about a single mother that vacations with her daughter at the same place each year. We get two parallel stories of what could've happened when not being 100% present for 5 seconds and the outcomes are very very different. Seeing Kate grapple with grief, love, loss, moving on, how she handles the people in her life under the different circumstances all has her growing and learning from what life has thrown at her.
While this story had a very prominent emotional pull for me with some serious subject matter, I didn't feel as connected to the characters and what they were going through. It seemed just matter of fact. It did take me a little while to get through it and I feel that had to do with being a mother and needing to take breathers from the actual story. But in the end, I didn't really connect with the deep seated emotional aspects because I wasn't FEELING it. It was just there on the page, but not making me be pulled into the story.
Even though I didn't fully feel all the emotions I was meant to feel, I did like the uniqueness of parallel lives being lived within one story (although ironically enough, this is the second book this summer I've read like that). I think the content of the parallel lives was well thought out and it helped engage the reader and the way life can work out after 5 seconds changing your life forever.
Overall, I liked the idea of the book and also enjoyed the side characters of both storylines, but still didn't absolutely love the story as a whole. I just wanted to FEEL more rather than be told. It lost me there, but had great potential to be more if I connected with Kate and her struggles.
The Other Year is about a single mother that vacations with her daughter at the same place each year. We get two parallel stories of what could've happened when not being 100% present for 5 seconds and the outcomes are very very different. Seeing Kate grapple with grief, love, loss, moving on, how she handles the people in her life under the different circumstances all has her growing and learning from what life has thrown at her.
While this story had a very prominent emotional pull for me with some serious subject matter, I didn't feel as connected to the characters and what they were going through. It seemed just matter of fact. It did take me a little while to get through it and I feel that had to do with being a mother and needing to take breathers from the actual story. But in the end, I didn't really connect with the deep seated emotional aspects because I wasn't FEELING it. It was just there on the page, but not making me be pulled into the story.
Even though I didn't fully feel all the emotions I was meant to feel, I did like the uniqueness of parallel lives being lived within one story (although ironically enough, this is the second book this summer I've read like that). I think the content of the parallel lives was well thought out and it helped engage the reader and the way life can work out after 5 seconds changing your life forever.
Overall, I liked the idea of the book and also enjoyed the side characters of both storylines, but still didn't absolutely love the story as a whole. I just wanted to FEEL more rather than be told. It lost me there, but had great potential to be more if I connected with Kate and her struggles.
October 9, 2023
A sliding doors book showing how one particular event changes a single's mothers life forever...but also, what if that didn't happen? Then things remain on the same trajectory.
The chapters rotate between the two timelines (note the beautiful cover work), one filled with loss and grief and the other just moving along as life goes.
I listened to this on audio and personally, I didn't love how drastically the narrators voice changed for the sad chapters. She seemed on the verge of crying and it ended up bothering me. I think I would've preferred to book read this.
I also felt this had hyper focus on romantic relationships, which I was over by the end. I just feel like there's more to life, but this seemed to be so much of the main points in this book.
The chapters rotate between the two timelines (note the beautiful cover work), one filled with loss and grief and the other just moving along as life goes.
I listened to this on audio and personally, I didn't love how drastically the narrators voice changed for the sad chapters. She seemed on the verge of crying and it ended up bothering me. I think I would've preferred to book read this.
I also felt this had hyper focus on romantic relationships, which I was over by the end. I just feel like there's more to life, but this seemed to be so much of the main points in this book.
August 27, 2023
Frey pulls off an interesting and unique plot line involving a situation in which a child is lost while swimming and there are two different outcomes explored. She does a good job of going back and forth and the premise is captivating. I felt that it got a little bogged down with multiple romances and going back and forth and back and forth repeatedly. This became a little tiresome. Still, an overall enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper Muse and Rea Frey for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper Muse and Rea Frey for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 23, 2024
2.5 stars. Great premise, but not for me.
August 12, 2023
This book starts off with single mom Kate and her daughter, Olivia, enjoying their first day at the beach during their annual vacation. After a moment of distraction, Kate briefly loses sight of Olivia playing in the ocean. The book then splits into two timelines: one where Olivia is safe, and another where she drowns.
One timeline follows Kate navigating raising her daughter and all the trials that come along with it, while searching for a love of her own. The other is a difficult to read timeline of loss and grief, and slowly rediscovering a new life after such a devastating loss.
I don't consider myself someone with triggers when it comes to books, as a mom with a young daughter, this was very difficult to get through the loss timeline. This book was a heartbreaking and tear-jerking tale of love and grief, and a reminder to not take your life and loved ones for granted. This is a heavy read but I definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
One timeline follows Kate navigating raising her daughter and all the trials that come along with it, while searching for a love of her own. The other is a difficult to read timeline of loss and grief, and slowly rediscovering a new life after such a devastating loss.
I don't consider myself someone with triggers when it comes to books, as a mom with a young daughter, this was very difficult to get through the loss timeline. This book was a heartbreaking and tear-jerking tale of love and grief, and a reminder to not take your life and loved ones for granted. This is a heavy read but I definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
dnf
May 7, 2025I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
Well that's another DNF for me.
In the year of our lord 2025 I do not fuck with people who go out of their way to use the clunky and suspicious "female" when woman would be much more appropriate.
Well that's another DNF for me.
In the year of our lord 2025 I do not fuck with people who go out of their way to use the clunky and suspicious "female" when woman would be much more appropriate.
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