To Get to the Other Side
A Novel
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- $22.99
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
In the vein of Lyssa Kay Adams and Abby Jimenez, Kelly Ohlert’s charming debut is a one-of-a-kind rom-com that explores the power of overcoming the past and fighting for the things you love.
Trixie isn’t exactly sure what she was thinking when she stopped her car in the middle of downtown Chicago, scooped up a chicken struggling to cross the road, and drove off… but she does know that she has to find a new home for herself and her new feathered friend. The landlord at her apartment doesn’t allow pets and has caught Trixie in one too many pet-smuggling attempts in the past.
Bear likes his quiet life with his close-knit family, who own a flower business, but he’s in for a rude awakening when his meddlesome sisters post an ad to rent the spare room in his simple home, without asking his permission. Still, when Trixie responds to the ad, he agrees to let her move in, despite immediate worries about keeping things platonic.
Determined to keep her new room, befriend Bear, and give her rescue chicken the care she deserves, Trixie fights to keep her walls up and resist her romantic feelings for Bear. However, it’s not long before the pair’s proximity and chicken parenting ignite flames that have Trixie and Bear testing the boundaries of their platonic ground rules. They have to figure out how to save a family business, pay for mounting vet bills, and navigate their own emotional baggage if they want to find the love that they all deserve.
Perfect for readers of The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, and fans of The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, readers will find themselves rooting for every one of the relatable, but tenderly flawed, characters in this book as they follow the heartwarming antics of a rescue chicken and her human companions.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Two bleeding hearts work through doubts and trust issues in Ohlert's adorable debut. After animal-loving Chicagoan Trixie Ward rescues a chicken from traffic, she and her new pet have one week to find an apartment with an animal-friendly landlord. An ad for a room in "urban lumberjack" Barret "Bear" Ross's apartment seems promising. There's just one problem: Bear's meddling sisters placed the ad without his knowledge to help with his financial woes. A grump with a heart of gold, Bear can't turn Trixie or her "feather baby" away, but he also struggles to ignore his intense attraction to the bubbly beauty whom he suspects uses her ever-present smiles to mask deep pain. From a young age, Trixie's parents taught her to hide her emotions, a lesson reinforced when her college roommate betrayed her, and she's been closed off ever since. Bear, who was bullied as a child for his love of plants, has just as many walls. They're both reluctant to start anything and potentially implode their living situation—but as their walls crumble, love blooms. Breezy humor leavens the themes of self-acceptance and trust as the pair work through their issues. This good-natured love story is sure to please.
Customer Reviews
Light-Hearted & Heartfelt
Kelly Ohlert's "To Get to the Other Side" is a light-hearted, hilarious and heartfelt read. Leave it to a chicken to bring two beautiful characters together. Chick Chick (The Chicken) is found on the road, helpless and distressed. Enter Trixie and Bear to the rescue! If you thought that this chance encounter sealed the deal, think again. Trixie is a firecracker with a heart of gold, while Bear is an introspective introvert who thrives on structure. The chemistry between the two characters is well written, infused with flirtation, banter and hilarious pop culture references. What makes this book a winner for me is the character growth in the form of confronting their past and actions. There are moments of messy contradictions that make them relatable. Falling In love is like metamorphoses that ignite confrontation and change. I would have loved the character traits to be explored more and more banter between them.
If you're a fan of slow-burn romances, cute and cuddly feels and an animal lover, this one is for you!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for giving me a review copy. This honest review is left voluntarily.