The Other Side
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The Other Side Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Kim Holden (Author, Narrator), Michael Crouch (Narrator), Natasha Soudek (Narrator),
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,399 ratings
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From the best-selling author of the Bright Side series comes a thought-provoking, eye-opening story about the complexity of family, the devastation of loss, the destruction of depression, and the unequivocal power of kindness and perspective. An Amazon Top 50 best seller, The Other Side is a stand-alone novel.

There are two sides to every story. The surface reality that’s presented to the world. And then, there’s the other side. The real one. The one that matters.

Seventeen-year-old self-proclaimed asshole Toby Page is alone. No friends. No family. He trades maintenance work in exchange for room and board.

Every day, he fights demons no one else can see. Every day, he wants to give up. But he can’t. Not yet. When Alice Eliot moves in downstairs, she offers Toby some light in his dark world.

At a crossroads and barely hanging on, it’s hard to have perspective. It’s difficult to see your own worth when you’re the villain in your story. Luckily for Toby, Alice brings things out in him that no one else ever has.

As the two sides of Toby’s story are revealed, and the full reality comes into view, truth is gained, unlikely heroes emerge, and improbable alliances prove that kindness is fundamentally human.

The question is: Will it all be enough to save him?

The audiobook is produced by One Night Stand Studios.

Praise for the book:

"With grace, care, honest words, and a hopeful message, Holden has woven a story that will sit in your soul and has the power to make so many of us feel less alone. A must-read for young and old alike.” (Ginger Scott, best-selling author)

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 2 minutes
  2. Author
    Kim Holden
  3. Narrator
    Michael Crouch, see all
  4. Audible release date
    April 23, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Do Epic LLC
  7. ASIN
    B087L4XW4X
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 2 minutes
Author Kim Holden
Narrator Kim Holden, Michael Crouch, Natasha Soudek, Bahni Turpin, Kirby Heyborne, Adenrele Ojo, Graydon Long, Erin Spencer, Vikas Adam
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 23, 2020
Publisher Do Epic LLC
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B087L4XW4X
Best Sellers Rank #86,522 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#12 in Fiction on Loners & Outcasts for Teens
#24 in Audiobooks on Family Life for Teens
#82 in Teen & Young Adult Family Issues

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,399 global ratings
A MUST READ
5 Stars
A MUST READ
It’s hard to put into words what this book meant to me. At times I saw myself in this book, at other times I saw my loved ones in this book. The focus on mental health, trauma, and living with grief are so important that Kim included an Author’s Note in the middle of the book that breaks you but heals you all at the same time.𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭. I will forever shout this from the rooftops.𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞. He has a permanent place in my heart. I sobbed more times than I could count. Just like 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆, all of the characters are developed so intricately. By the end of the book you care so deeply for them all. Kim’s writing is beyond beautiful. You will feel every emotion while reading this. I want to wrap up every one of these characters into a big hug.𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sonia Reads & Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
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This story was heartbreaking yet beautiful at the same time. The way it was written was raw and genuine. It's a story I will never forget because it made me feel like I knew these characters personally. This author writes with her heart and soul. A definite must read as are all her books. Bravo 🌹
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AlohaD
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 "YOU'RE WORTH FIGHT FOR" stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2019
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This was a book that I needed to process a little bit before writing a review. And any review that I put into my own words will not do this book justice. This book is something I believe we all need to hear, to see and to listen to. We all need to know we aren't alone. And we all should see that there is two sides to every story. But that other side is very hard to see for some people.

"The most important time to listen is when words are missing, that's when hearts cry out the loudest."

Toby...what can I say about our main character? He's like the quiet warrior that wasn't such a warrior in his own eyes. He felt his story had an ending. He was a loser and wasn't good. He wasn't good for anyone. But all the supporting characters he surrounded himself with? They were all an important piece to his puzzle. To his life. His life may not have been perfect, but the people placed into his life weren't looking for perfect. They were looking for hope. Alice was one of the people who saw him. And that's kind of ironic. I won't tell you her story, because I believe this story is better to go in to without too much information, but please go in with an open mind and understanding.

KINDNESS MATTERS

There should be some trigger warnings, but I also feel those trigger warnings will be able to help others. This is a story of heartbreak, understanding, love and friendship. But it's SO MUCH MORE. Kim Holden has a way of taking us on a well timed journey into a bit of darkness, but always with a light of hope surrounding that darkness. Her characters have a pulse in them that make you smile in joy and cry in despair. You want to hug her characters and be friends with them. They become very real. While some people may call this a love story, I would almost call it a fictional self help book. I feel like the story within these pages has been many people's lives. And I want them all to know they are important and worth fighting for. There is light at the end of the tunnel and Alice, above most characters here, shows that each and every day. When her world is literally turning to black, she feels the light and the goodness. We all need an Alice in our lives. And I'm glad Toby found that.

Thank you to Kim Holden for tackling a very real subject matter in a very careful way. I can tell it wasn't easy and I'm sure it hurt at points. I can feel that in your characters and your note to us the readers. YOUR light shines through your characters and their journey. I can't recommend this book enough.

"There are people we meet in this life who anchor us. They reassure us with their presence. They bring us comfort simply by being. They love by osmosis, radiating it out and diffusing it in effortlessly. Quietly, they walk among us, treading lightly but providing stability and influence because it's second nature. The thing that's so special about these people is that they don't even know they're doing it."

Kim, that's a gift you have and I hope you keep blessing us with your quiet influence. This book is your gift to us and to those that suffer. Thank you for SEEING us.
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Misty D
4.0 out of 5 stars Another great Kim Holden book
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2019
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Another book that has Kim Holden written all over it. When I want to read something emotional and that tackles the real and hard parts of life I know Kim is my girl. The Other Side was a perfect example of this.

Kim knows how to write a character and their growths like no other. The characters and their struggles in this book were perfect and drove the plot so well. The different POV's and the different parts of this story were well balanced and very necessary to carry out this story.

This story was a perfect example of an author taking their time with taking a hard subject and making it very relatable to every single person that reads it. I love authors who do this and they always end up being some of my favorite stories to read. Well done Kim.
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Sharon Thérèse
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022
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How could I have not reviewed On The Other Side when I bought it a while back? So, as it’s never too late, here you have it! Holden is the queen of heart-wrenching pulse-racing romances, her vivid prose and the genuineness of her characters igniting every possible feeling. This young-adult novel enmeshed in a compelling plot breaths benevolence, pain and sorrow, and more importantly, hope. So, if you get teary-eyed easily, a box of tissues at hand is a must.

Toby isn’t one for prying into anyone's business but funnily enough, he’s more than aware of what is going on around him. He appears to be unapproachable to those who know him, the little bit of conversation he grudgingly offers is clipped, his irony that of an old soul who’d witnessed too much. I’m sure if I told him his soul was beautiful, he wouldn't believe me; however, observing him cope in everyday life demonstrated to me that beneath his aloofness, there was an incredibly fragile young adult. 

Alice was for me, Toby’s blessing. Although most of his thoughts are disturbing, I loved her sixth sense; how well tuned in she was to his false bravado and how this soft-spoken gal called him up on it, slowly making him open up.

Generous by nature, Alice brought out the best in Holden’s broken characters. I couldn’t have appreciated how sensitive issues were dealt with more, and never once did I find the players in this story dislikable or frivolous. 

Holden’s braided timeline structure doesn’t confuse the reader. On the contrary, it helped me understand the roots of Toby’s state of mind and guilt better. The before is interestingly narrated and felt like a first-person was observing what he’d had to live through. Split into three parts, the last two are shorter but just as emotional.

The secondary characters trying their utmost to overcome every hard to imagine circumstance is not to be taken lightly. Each and every one of them has a cross to bear. If their want for a better life were possible, at least the author’s generosity gave me time to understand their worries and small joys. This story is mind-opening, devastating, enlightening but above all, a must-read for those who like me need to put life’s perspective in order. I cried ugly tears, I loved every single word, I loved the playlist open on a smart link! Bravo, Holden!
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Top reviews from other countries

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MeganC
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING story
Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2023
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I’ve got a lot of tears and heartache, but not a lot of words. What an incredible book.
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Arianna
5.0 out of 5 stars Essenziale
Reviewed in Italy on December 29, 2020
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Leggere The Other Side è stato faticoso. Parlo di quella fatica che ti fa battere il cuore, ti fa pensare, ti fa mettere in discussione ciò che sai o che credevi di sapere. Quella che ti fa guardare le cose da un altro punto di vista. Vorrei scrivere tante altre cose, ma ne dirò solamente una, invece: leggete questo libro.
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Terri T.
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, a heartrending wonderful story by this talented author !!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2019
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Having read every single one of Kim Holden's books I was over the moon when her new release hit my kindle. Her writing is meticulous, full of depth and overflowing with feelings. This book is everything but so much more, delivering a very important message in her writing.

Toby has had a very sad life, repeatedly told how worthless he is, that he is no good and will never amount to anything. He has been told this so many times he actually believes it and his story is hard to read. Kim has written the story so beautifully, so poignant I could feel the swell in my chest, the lump in my throat; I felt so much of Toby's pain and what he was going through. It flits back and forth between two years ago to present day and we find out why Toby is like he is and just what devastation this young man has gone through.
We meet other important characters and each has a story to tell which just binds everything together in this amazing book. I could relate to them all in one way or another, Alice being a fabulous person I just adored, Jonny and Chris too were so endearing in there own ways. There are many revelations in this story; many are heartbreaking, sad, and soul destroying. Each chapter that Kim wrote was like peeling back layer upon layer only to reveal something else to suprise me. Angst, heartbreak, hope, and moments of complete joy only for my poor heart to come crashing down around my feet once again. The clock was ticking, I was holding my breath, my heart couldn't stand the pace but oh my what a story, one I just devoured and loved so much.

Go in blind with this book, the message is raw but so important, it opened my eyes to Toby's situation and the face he put on for others whilst inside he was slowly crumbling, day by day, hour by hour.

Kim Holden has such a talent with words and feelings. Everyone of her books I have loved so much and this one is no exception. Read this book. learn from it, and be humbled.

"No one is supposed to see this. It's supposed to remain hidden . My sadness is mine and it shouldn't bleed over anyone else"

Perfection !!!
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Gina
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful, emotional, heartbreaking book. "I am"
Reviewed in Australia on May 1, 2022
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There are books that you can read and love, go to sleep and look forward to reading more of tomorrow. Then there are one’s that you keep reading until 4.30am because you need to know the character is going to be ok.

Is going to be ok
Is going to be ok.
Is going to be ok?

Reminding myself to breathe.

Kim Holden’s books have a depth of emotion that will just grab at your soul because she writes them in a very real way that the reader can relate to, whether they have been through it themselves or known someone who has. This book is heavy at heart, at times not an easy read and I mean that in the best of ways, because the subject matter in this book in reality is raw with despair and heartache, and Kim Holden has approached it in a completely undiluted way.

She shows how destructive mental health can be when someone is not in a good relationship with themself. In a two-person relationship you can weigh up the pros and cons and decide which outdoes the other as to whether you stay or leave the other person.

But in a relationship with your own mental health, when the bad outweighs the good it can become unrelenting with reasons to go, not to stay. A way out. Then there is a plan, a countdown.

“I just want people to forget and keep living their lives. I’ll slip out of the daily flow the same way I lived in it…unseen.”

Oh my heart – Toby.

Toby is the protagonist in “The Other Side” but the other characters are equally compelling and relatable, hiding their own struggles and challenges. It is a reminder that we need to listen, understand and see what another person is going through. That the armor and smile they show to the world can drop away like a second skin when they are alone and those drums of “Not being good enough, worthy enough, important enough” come back louder and louder till they are a crescendo.

Everyone needs an “Alice”, everyone needs to belong. Everyone needs to be important to someone. What comes between chapter forty-one and forty-two is a very real “Alice” moment for the reader. A step away from Toby’s story to see into yourself. See into others. A true touching of your soul and someone else recognising you.

I could say so much more about this book, but my review could never do it justice. Read it, prepare your soul and heart for it, and remember there is hope, there is love and you are important.

Thank you Kim Holden for this beautiful book.
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JM
5.0 out of 5 stars So deep
Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2020
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I have no words right now but I'm going to try. This was a tough book to read but SO worth it. I think some may be triggered and appreciate the multiple pauses that are intentionally placed throughout the book. This story touched me so deeply and gave me so many things that will stick with me long after I finished the book. I felt so many things that I think stemmed from my own mental health and suicidal experiences. I don't know what else to say except for thank you Kim Holden for the beautiful soul that is Toby. For truly showing both the dark and the light so truthfully and unapologetically. The mismatched family in that house is sometimes the best kind of family to have.
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