The Other Side of Nothing - by Anastasia Zadeik (Paperback)

About the Book

The day after her eighteenth birthday, Julia Reeves checks herself into a psychiatric facility, longing to find a way out of the grief and guilt that have engulfed her since her father's untimely death. What she finds is fellow suicide attempt survivor Sam Lorenzo, a brilliant twenty-three-year-old photographer. Sam brings beauty and light back into Julia's life, so when he asks her to escape with him on a cross-country odyssey, she agrees.Before Julia can process what she's done, the two young lovers are on the run.When Julia's mother, Laura, learns Julia has disappeared and authorities will do nothing to help find her, Laura forms an uneasy alliance with the sole person who has as much to lose as she does: Sam's mother, Arabella. Armed with only a handful of clues, the two mothers embark on a journey of their own, desperately hoping to save their children before they are lost forever.A moving exploration of family, friendship, and how far we are willing to go for the ones we love, The Other Side of Nothing is a powerful read about loss, self-determination, and second chances.

Book Synopsis

On the run from the psychiatric facility where they fell in love, two suicidal young adults embark on an increasingly perilous cross-country odyssey in search of truth, beauty, and the meaning of life-forcing their mothers into an uneasy alliance as they embark on a journey of their own, hoping to find their kids before it's too late.

Review Quotes

"A powerful read that packs a big punch. Anastasia Zadeik uses words to immerse us in the depths of despair across generations-and shows us what it takes to come back to the surface. She also masterfully captures the adolescent voice and makes the reader care, so much, about every character. A moving, timely story that highlights the challenges of mental health and the impact on the people who love those struggling."
--Zibby Owens, author of Blank and podcast host of Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books

"In this profound story of love and loss, Anastasia Zadeik tackles the complexities of mental health from every angle and perspective, taking readers on an unforgettable journey that explores what we can and cannot control. Moving, insightful, and deeply compassionate, The Other Side of Nothing is a remarkable and important read."
--J. J. Elliott, author of There Are No Rules for This

"Anastasia Zadeik's characters grab the reader from the first page as a young couple embarks on a suspenseful journey in search of beauty, connection, and meaning--heading toward a perilous precipice. The story reveals the complex and misunderstood layers of mental illness, offering insights and nurturing empathy for those who suffer and the people who love them. Recommended reading to enhance understanding of mental illness through a heart-wrenching story."
--Linda Moore author of Attribution

"Riveting, devastating, redemptive. The Other Side of Nothing is both intimate and cosmic--intellectually, physically, and emotionally. I was holding my breath until the final pages."
--Shelley Blanton-Stroud, author of the Jane Benjamin novels

"Mental illness is still something we don't talk about enough. Anastasia Zadeik tackles it head-on in this moving portrayal of two suicidal young adults searching for meaning in their lives. With sensitivity and compassion, the author explores the effects of the demon of mental illness not just on the patients but also on their loved ones. Heartbreaking yet also hopeful, The Other Side of Nothing takes the reader on an unforgettable journey."
--Jody Hadlock, author of The Lives of Diamond Bessie

"The Other Side of Nothing is a page-turning novel about young love, art, philosophy, motherhood, grief, and healing. Zadeik writes with tremendous empathy and compassion for her characters, exploring the complexities and nuances of mental illness. The characters in these pages are beautifully alive."
--Tammy Greenwood, author of The Still Point, Keeping Lucy, and Two Rivers

"The Other Side of Nothing takes readers on a journey into the complex world of mental illness and its effects of both luminosity and shadow on the fully realized characters who inhabit this novel. Zadeik's deep knowledge of the intricacies of mental illness and her compassionate portrayal of its ramifications make this an important and timely book."
--Judy Reeves, author of When Your Heart Says Go