RELEASE DAY REVIEW – The Other Side of Tomorrow by Micalea Smeltzer

Title: The Other Side of Tomorrow
Author: Micalea Smeltzer
Release Date: June 7, 2018

Life can change in an instant…

For Willa Hansen, this statement couldn’t be truer. One minute she was a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old, and the next her life was turned upside down with only a few words. Three years later, she’s receiving a kidney transplant and can start living again, only now she’s not sure she knows how.

Life can end in a moment…

Jasper Werth knows this all too well, seeing as a drunk driver killed his little brother. He’s always been a carefree guy, never taking life too seriously, but losing his brother is a major blow, and he finds himself lost until Willa walks into his life.

Life can mend the most broken parts of our souls…

Willa and Jasper couldn’t be more opposite, but as fate brings them together they’ll learn maybe they’re not so different after all.

Sometimes what you need comes in a package you least expect.

A powerful journey that explores life, loss, and love, The Other Side of Tomorrow is so much more than a romance novel. Willa and Jasper’s story is raw, gripping, and undeniably heartfelt, a tribute to the healing power of hope and the unexpected adventure that is living. From their awkward first meeting to the very last page, I was utterly enchanted by the inexplicable connection Willa and Jasper shared. This couple felt fated in every single way, and I quickly found myself walking the twists and turns of their journey with baited breath, praying they’d find the happily ever after they both so desperately deserved.

“Your sunrise is here, Willa, don’t let it get away.”

There is no denying the deeply personal nature of this story. Micalea Smeltzer lays bare the hopes and fears of living with kidney failure, unafraid to own the uncertainty and guilt that comes with waiting for a transplant. Willa’s struggles were written with a profound understanding that breathed life into each heartbreakingly earnest moment and gritty emotion. As Willa and Jasper’s love bloomed, the author used Willa’s experiences with kidney failure and organ transplant to unobtrusively raise awareness, ensuring that this couple’s story would leave an indelible mark on the reader.

“A few seconds is more than enough to change everything.”

Willa and Jasper’s journey wouldn’t be complete without the vibrant cast of secondary characters that helped color their world. I especially adored Willa’s sister Harlow who embodied positivity and unconditional love. Despite the serious nature of Willa’s condition and Jasper’s loss, this novel was largely life-affirming. Overflowing with joyous appreciation and unapologetic exploration, Willa and Jasper’s story was uplifting and transformative. I completely devoured this book, lost to the magic that is Micalea Smeltzer’s writing. Breathtakingly poignant and emotionally uninhibited, The Other Side of Tomorrow is an absolute must-read!