C. H. Lazarovich chronicles the experiences of a woman trying to cope with grief from losing her daughter in Another Side of the Heart. Mary decides to spend the summer on Kilkare Island, New Jersey, during Lily’s first anniversary while her neurosurgeon husband travels to teach in Europe. By chance, Mary meets Juliet, who she later discovers is the daughter of her first love, Antonio. During her pregnancy, Juliet looks to Mary for support, who, in turn, feels grateful to be needed again. Memories of their young romance flood Mary’s mind when she encounters Antonio, and she dares to hope they can rekindle what they had. She navigates her grief while coming to terms with her marriage’s breakdown and as she faces the possibility of a new start.

The story is a thought-provoking read that explores how grief can impact a relationship, how people cope with loss differently, and how grief can bring simmering issues to the surface. Lazarovich’s deft storytelling skilfully describes Mary’s experiences and reactions to them, creating a compelling lead character who is difficult to forget. I loved the story’s many layers that kept me drawn to their feelings and experiences. Complex emotions are cleverly brought out, and the relationships included are dynamic and intriguing. Another Side of the Heart by C. H. Lazarovich is a mesmerizing novel about grief, relationships, and the hope of a new beginning.

Another Side of the Heart by C.H. Lazarovich is a touching and poignant journey about a woman named Mary, middle-aged and going through one of the most challenging times that any parent can face—the loss of her young daughter Lily. While grieving over the loss of her daughter and the distance, both physical and emotional, from her husband, Mark, she finds herself in her favorite place, Kilkare Island, New Jersey. It is there that she finds herself staring back into the eyes of a love she left behind thirty years ago. Will she discover what she has been searching for? Will love spark once again for Mary?

C.H. Lazarovich’s Another Side of the Heart is a well-crafted story filled with moments of laughter and tears of absolute sadness. Lazarovich can involve the reader to the point that it feels as though it is non-fiction instead of fiction. Be prepared for tears to follow as you read along, as the author paints a vivid world with her words. C.H. Lazarovich displays her literary prowess in lines such as this: “To me, the new houses have little character. Like an old matriarch, our cottage is stooped and wrinkled, but she’s lived.” Another Side of the Heart brings both past and present together into one allotted moment. It reminds us of our lives, where we’ve come from, and where we stand today. It’s a reflection of the heartaches that one heart can withstand. C.H. Lazarovich’s Another Side of the Heart is a mirror you want to keep looking into.

"Another Side of the Heart" uses clever writing to really reach deep into its characters. If you like the beach reads of Elin Hilderbrand and the Philly-region touches that Jennifer Weiner drops in, you're bound to like this book.