Carnival Promises and Divergence

Fifteen-year-old Meg and her best friend Aimee visit a Florida carnival, where a mysterious fortune teller reads their palms. Meg is told her life will split in two, with two destinies ahead. The girls laugh it off, but the moment lingers, especially as their lives begin to diverge. Aimee's palm reading is left unspoken, but the encounter plants a seed of unease. Their friendship, once seamless, is shadowed by the possibility of change, and the carnival's magic becomes a quiet harbinger of the choices and losses to come.

Hollywood Illusions Unravel

Years later, Meg—now Lana Lord—has achieved her dream of Hollywood stardom, starring as a villain in a hit soap, "Brilliance." Yet, beneath the glamour, she's plagued by insecurity, body image pressures, and the shallow demands of fame. Her relationship with Grayson, a famous actor, is hollow and performative. Lana's life is a whirlwind of parties, social media, and career anxiety, but she feels disconnected from herself and haunted by a sense that she's living the wrong life. The fortune teller's words echo as she questions her happiness and the cost of her choices.

Birthday Betrayals and Regrets

On her thirtieth birthday, Lana's carefully curated world cracks. She discovers Grayson's infidelity, and the party meant to celebrate her success becomes a symbol of her loneliness. Old videos of her and Aimee resurface, reminding her of a time when joy was simple and real. The pain of lost friendship and the weight of unfulfilled dreams press in. Lana's therapist urges her to revisit her past, and she's struck by the realization that her last true happiness was before she abandoned her dream for Aimee. Regret and longing for a different path consume her.

Escape to Avalon

Impulsively, Lana books a trip to Avalon, Ireland—the place she and Aimee once dreamed of attending school. She flees LA, leaving Grayson and her old life behind. Arriving in Avalon, she's struck by the town's beauty and the sense of possibility. But as she settles into her rented cottage, reality begins to blur. Locals seem to know her as "Meg," and her belongings, body, and even her face are subtly different. The world feels both familiar and alien, and Lana—now Meg again—wonders if she's crossed into the life she was meant to live.

The World Split in Two

Meg discovers she's living a parallel life: she never became Lana Lord, never left for LA, and instead stayed in Avalon. Her best friend Aimee is alive, and she's surrounded by friends she doesn't remember but who know her intimately—Kiera, the witty confidante, and Cillian, the bartender with whom she shares a complicated romantic history. Meg is torn between disbelief and wonder, struggling to reconcile her memories with the reality around her. The fortune teller's prophecy has come true: she's living her other life, but at the cost of everything she thought she knew.

The Wrong Life, The Right Place

Meg tries to piece together her new existence, learning about her relationships, job, and the small joys of Avalon. She's both comforted and unsettled by the warmth of her friends and the simplicity of her life. Yet, she's haunted by the knowledge that this isn't her "real" life—or is it? Her connection with Cillian deepens, and she's drawn to the authenticity of her surroundings. The ache of missing Aimee in her old world is replaced by the fear of losing her again. Meg is forced to confront what truly matters: love, friendship, and the courage to be present.

Ghosts of Friendship Past

Meg finally reunites with Aimee, who is alive and thriving in Avalon, but their friendship is strained by years of unspoken hurt. The joy of seeing Aimee is tempered by guilt and the knowledge of her death in Meg's original world. As they navigate their complicated history, Meg is forced to confront the truth about their falling out, the choices that led them apart, and the pain of what was lost. The possibility of forgiveness and reconnection hangs in the balance, as does the fear that this second chance is fragile and fleeting.

Parallel Love and Lost Chances

Meg's relationship with Cillian, her on-again, off-again love in Avalon, becomes a mirror for her own fears and desires. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their history is fraught with breakups and missed opportunities. As Meg relearns their story, she's confronted by the ways she's sabotaged happiness out of fear of settling or missing out on something bigger. The intimacy they share is both exhilarating and bittersweet, as Meg wonders if she can truly belong in this life—or if she's destined to lose it all over again.

The Truth About Aimee

The heart of Meg's grief is finally exposed: in her original life, Aimee died in a car accident for which Meg has always blamed herself. In Avalon, the truth comes out—Aimee had lied about her college acceptance, and both friends made choices out of fear and love that led to their separation. The play Aimee is directing becomes a cathartic space for them to confront the past, culminating in a raw, unscripted performance where Meg confesses her guilt and Aimee reveals her own regrets. The act of telling the truth becomes an act of healing.

Rehearsals, Revelations, and Release

As Meg and Aimee prepare for the play's opening, their rehearsals blur the line between performance and reality. The script becomes a vessel for their pain, love, and longing. Onstage, they improvise a new ending, allowing Meg to finally say goodbye and forgive herself. The audience is moved, and the act of creation becomes an act of redemption. Meg realizes that happiness isn't about the life she "should" have lived, but about embracing the one she's in, with all its messiness and beauty.

The Curtain Falls Twice

After the play, Meg is abruptly pulled back to her original world. Avalon, Aimee, Cillian, and Kiera vanish, leaving her alone and heartbroken. The magic is gone, and she's forced to confront the reality of her old life—her fame, her loneliness, and the absence of true connection. The pain of losing Avalon is as sharp as the pain of losing Aimee. Yet, the experience has changed her: she can no longer pretend that success and notoriety are enough. The cost of living in the past or the future is the loss of the present.

Homecoming and Healing

Meg returns to Florida, seeking solace with her parents and Aimee's mother. She confesses the truth about Avalon and the accident, finally allowing herself to grieve openly. The act of sharing her story brings comfort and understanding, and she's reminded that love and memory endure beyond loss. Meg reconnects with her roots, finding peace in the ordinary pleasures of home and the company of those who love her. She learns that healing is possible, not by erasing the past, but by embracing it.

Choosing the Now

Transformed by her journey, Meg leaves behind her Hollywood persona and chooses a new life in London, acting in theater and building real friendships. She honors Aimee's memory by living fully, allowing herself to love, laugh, and be present. The boundaries between worlds blur as she encounters echoes of Avalon—Kiera and Cillian—reminding her that the connections we make are never truly lost. Meg understands at last that happiness isn't found in the life we "should" have lived, but in the one we choose, moment by moment, on the other side of now.

Characters

Meg Bryan / Lana Lord

Meg is the protagonist, a woman split between two lives: the Hollywood star "Lana Lord" and the real, vulnerable Meg who once dreamed of Avalon with her best friend. Her journey is one of self-discovery, regret, and healing. In LA, she's successful but hollow, haunted by the loss of Aimee and the choices she made. In Avalon, she's given a second chance—to love, to grieve, to forgive. Meg's psychological arc is defined by her struggle with guilt, her fear of missing out, and her longing for authenticity. Her development is a movement from denial and self-punishment to acceptance, presence, and the courage to choose happiness in the life she has.

Aimee

Aimee is Meg's childhood soulmate, the anchor of her past and the ghost haunting her present. In one world, Aimee is dead—a loss that defines Meg's adulthood. In Avalon, she's alive but estranged, their friendship strained by secrets and unspoken pain. Aimee is gentle, creative, and quietly strong, but also burdened by her own fears and desires. Her relationship with Meg is complex: love, jealousy, and codependence intertwine. Aimee's development is about honesty—admitting her own choices, forgiving Meg, and allowing both of them to move forward. She embodies the possibility of reconciliation and the enduring power of friendship.

Cillian

Cillian is the bartender in Avalon and Meg's on-again, off-again partner. He represents the life Meg could have had: rooted, loving, and real. Cillian is patient, grounded, and deeply loyal, but also wounded by Meg's restlessness and fear of commitment. Their relationship is a dance of longing and loss, marked by missed chances and deep connection. Cillian's psychological depth lies in his quiet strength and his willingness to love Meg even when she can't love herself. He is both a mirror and a guide, helping Meg see what she truly wants and deserves.

Kiera

Kiera is Meg's best friend in Avalon, a source of humor, support, and tough love. She's quick-witted, compassionate, and unafraid to call Meg out on her bullshit. Kiera's presence grounds Meg, offering both comfort and challenge. She represents the possibility of new, adult friendships and the importance of community. Kiera's own struggles—with love, self-worth, and the messiness of life—mirror Meg's, making her both a foil and a companion on the journey toward healing.

Grayson

Grayson is Meg's boyfriend in LA, a famous actor whose relationship with Meg is more performance than partnership. He's charming, attractive, and ambitious, but emotionally unavailable and self-absorbed. Grayson embodies the emptiness of fame and the dangers of living for appearances. His infidelity and indifference force Meg to confront the reality of her unhappiness and the need to choose a different path.

Aimee's Mother (Jenny)

Jenny is a gentle, loving presence, both in Meg's memories and in her return to Florida. She represents the enduring bonds of family and the possibility of forgiveness. Jenny's acceptance of Meg's story and her own grief for Aimee provide a model for healing and moving forward.

Cillian's Parents (Jim and Marcia)

Jim and Marcia are pillars of Avalon, offering Meg both medical and emotional support. Jim's practical wisdom and Marcia's protective love for Cillian highlight the importance of belonging and the pain of loss. Their reactions to Meg's confusion and her relationship with Cillian add depth to the community's tapestry.

Theo

Theo is Aimee's high school boyfriend and eventual husband in Avalon. He's a complex figure—once a source of pain and jealousy for Meg, now a devoted partner and father. Theo's presence forces Meg to confront her own biases and the ways she's held on to old wounds. He represents the unpredictability of life and the necessity of letting go.

Maureen (the dog)

Maureen, the golden retriever, is a constant in Avalon, offering Meg unconditional love and a sense of home. Her presence bridges the gap between worlds, reminding Meg of the simple joys and the importance of connection.

Kiera's Mother (Kay Donahue)

Kay is a minor but memorable character, the town gossip whose stories and soup connect the community. She adds levity and realism, highlighting the quirks and warmth of small-town life.

Plot Devices

Parallel Lives and Sliding Doors

The novel's central device is the "Sliding Doors" concept: Meg's life splits at the moment she chooses whether to go to Avalon or stay in Florida. The fortune teller's prophecy foreshadows this divergence, and the narrative structure alternates between the life Meg lived (Hollywood, loss, regret) and the life she could have had (Avalon, love, healing). This device allows for deep exploration of regret, possibility, and the nature of happiness. The blurring of realities—through déjà vu, altered memories, and shifting identities—creates a sense of magical realism that heightens the emotional stakes.

Metafiction and Art as Healing

The play within the novel serves as both a literal and metaphorical stage for Meg and Aimee to confront their past. The rehearsal and performance blur the line between acting and truth, allowing the characters to say what they cannot in ordinary life. This device underscores the power of storytelling to heal, transform, and release buried pain.

Memory, Guilt, and Forgiveness

Meg's journey is shaped by her struggle to remember, reinterpret, and finally accept the truth about Aimee's death. The novel uses memory as both a plot device and a psychological battleground, exploring how guilt distorts reality and how forgiveness—of self and others—is the only path to peace.

Foreshadowing and Recurrence

The fortune teller's prophecy, recurring images (the carnival, the play, the cottage, the dog), and repeated lines ("You only live once," "You're here now") create a sense of fate and inevitability. The novel's structure is circular, beginning and ending with choices, departures, and the possibility of new beginnings.

Analysis

The Other Side of Now is a deeply emotional exploration of the roads not taken and the lives we build from our choices. Paige Harbison uses the device of parallel realities not as a mere fantasy, but as a lens to examine the universal longing for second chances and the pain of what-ifs. The novel's heart lies in its portrayal of friendship—how it shapes us, how its loss can define us, and how its recovery can heal us. Through Meg's journey, the story interrogates the seductive emptiness of fame, the dangers of living for appearances, and the necessity of facing our pain to move forward. The play within the novel becomes a metaphor for the act of living: we improvise, we make mistakes, and we find meaning in connection. Ultimately, the book argues that happiness is not found in the "right" life, but in the willingness to be present, to forgive, and to love—on the other side of now.

Last updated: December 31, 2025