Mara Williams Archives - Over The River PR

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November 2026 Virtual Tour on behalf of THE OTHER SIDE OF STARTING OVER by Mara Williams

When her husband’s tragic death uncovers long-buried secrets, a young mother fights to protect her family and heal her heart in an emotionally resonant novel about loss, love, and second chances.

“Honest, tender, and the best kind of complicated—I loved every page of Simon and Bea’s unexpected love story. As always, Mara Williams balances difficult family dynamics, complex grief, and full-bodied romance with charm and style.” —Lauren Okie, author of Tropesick

“Heartbreaking and hopeful…Williams tells the emotional story of a grieving widow blindsided by loss, betrayal, and the possibility of new love. Set against the backdrop of a small California lake town, readers will fall in love with the Bell family and all their complications, then root for Bea to find her footing in the chaos. The Other Side of Starting Over is a novel that stays with you long after the last page.” —Julie Hatcher, author of Not Quite by the Book

“The Other Side of Starting Over is a beautiful, nuanced story of how the people we’ve loved—and the people we’ve been—can haunt us. Williams doesn’t shy away from complexity, giving her characters room to be realistically and endearingly messy as they relearn joy in the midst of intense grief. This book is a resonant reminder that while we can’t change the hand we’ve been dealt or outrun our old lives, we can give our past a safe space to live on inside us, and find comfort in the love of people whose baggage fits right beside ours.” —Ellen O’Clover, author of The Heartbreak Hotel

“Tender, incisive, and endlessly emotional, The Other Side of Starting Over should come with the warning May change your life. With expansive, lush prose and pulse-pounding twists and turns, this book explores something vulnerable and deeply universal: How do we let the biggest pieces of our hearts exist outside our bodies, and how do we learn to trust again if the unthinkable happens? Mara Williams is an auto-buy, drop-everything-to-read author for me, and this story about family, grief, and a second chance at love is nothing short of spectacular.” —Isabelle Engel, author of Most Eligible

“The Other Side of Starting Over is one of the most emotionally resonant books I’ve ever read. Mara Williams has the rare ability to make me ache and smile on the same page—and often in the same sentence. Her skill is on full display in this moving, tender, and utterly inspiring book, where grief, joy, and chemistry are so fully intertwined that they stop feeling separate at all. Mara Williams is truly in a league of her own.” —Ann Adams, author of Racing Hearts

After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell retreats to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her rebellious teenage twins in tow. Her plan is to take over her parents’ antique store, ensure it survives another generation, and build a new life from the rubble of the old one.

But Bea didn’t plan on Simon, the gruff store manager with his own ambitions for the business. As they’re forced to work together, animosity gives way to grudging respect and ignites an unexpected spark. Before Bea can find her footing, everything is upended. First by River, a local boy who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. Then by her estranged mother-in-law, who reveals devastating secrets that will test everything Bea believed about her marriage.

As Bea navigates grief, betrayal, and an unexpected connection with Simon, she finds that it may be possible to begin again, but only if she confronts the truth of her past.

THE OTHER SIDE OF STARTING OVER will be published on November 3rd, and we’re celebrating all month long with this fantastic line-up of book influencers. We hope you will follow along on our virtual book tour and enjoy the many reviews, features, character studies, excerpts, and book giveaway opportunities these bookstagrammers will be sharing:

11/03/26: Dea’s Bookshelf

11/03/26: Book Princess of Cali

11/03/26: Quilted Reads

11/04/26: Reading is My Remedy

11/04/26: She Reads with Coffee

11/04/26: Alice the Reader

11/05/26: Left on Read Reviews

11/05/26: Nurse Bookie

11/05/26: Book Obsessions Linda

11/06/26: We Break For Books

11/06/26: Cat Reader 18

11/06/26: Books Love and Understanding

11/07/26: Purrfect Pages

11/08/26: Audrey Oaks Reads Everything

11/09/26: Books with Blair

11/09/26: Reading Diaries

11/10/26: Bookslover 16

11/10/26: Books and Coffee MX

11/11/26: The Calm Chapter

11/11/26: Epicurean Reads

11/12/26: Book Musing

11/12/26: Books Cats Travel Food

11/13/26: Danish Mustard Reads

11/13/26: The Book Cover Lover

11/14/26: The Book Club Mom

11/16/26: Secret Reading Life

11/16/26: Bbecca Marie

11/17/26: Inspired J Reads

11/17/26: Books and Biewers

11/18/26: Sarah’s Bookish Reviews

11/18/26: 2 Many Books 2 Little Time

11/19/26: A Novel Account

11/19/26: Shobiz Reads

11/20/26: Book Addict 827

11/20/26: Reading Late into the Night

11/21/26: Red Reviews 4 You

11/23/26: Page and Place

11/24/26: Armed with a Book

11/25/26: My Bursting Book Bag

11/26/26: Rebekah Dolmat

11/27/26: Subakka Bookstuff

11/28/26: Nissa the Bookworm

11/29/26: Love my Dane Dolly

11/30/26: Tammy Reads 62

12/01/26: Books Writing and More

12/01/26: Bookish Bri

12/01/26: Mandy’s Book Nook

12/02/26: Love my Books 2020

12/02/26: Booked by Christina

12/03/26: Carol Doscher Reader

12/03/26: Rittle Reviews

12/04/26: The Page Ladies

12/04/26: Angela Reads Books

12/04/26: Meghan Reads Books

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February 2026 Virtual Book Tour for THE EPICENTER OF FOREVER by Mara Williams

A moving story about family, forgiveness, and unexpected love―where the fault lines of a fractured past become the foundation for building something new.

“With the perfect mix of dreamy romance and affirming self-discovery, The Epicenter of Forever is the kind of novel that cracks your heart wide open and leaves your emotions trembling long after the last page. Williams’s writing is wonderfully rich, her characters layered, and the rugged MMC―did someone mention ‘biceps’?―is as swoon-worthy as they come. But I double dare you not to fall in love with the small California mountain town of Grand Trees. You won’t want to leave.” ―Lauren Parvizi, author of Trust Me on This

“Perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan, Mara Williams’s The Epicenter of Forever weaves together old hurts and new love. Eden is an instantly relatable protagonist, and I loved watching her navigate her divorce, her relationship with her mother, and her growing feelings for Caleb and the people of Grand Trees. Insightfully written and emotionally rewarding, I devoured every page.” ―Emma Barry, author of Bad Reputation

“What a cozy, heartwarming, and searingly hopeful romance. The Epicenter of Forever took me on an enchanting ride full of emotional longing, gorgeous prose, idyllic nature, and sweeping grand gestures. With a thoughtful portrayal of fractured family dynamics and beautiful examples of how to heal―all set amid a budding yet soul-deep romance I could not get enough of―Mara Williams has to be on your radar.” ―Clare Gilmore, USA Today bestselling author of Never Over

Eden Hawthorne spent idyllic childhood summers in Grand Trees, a mountain town perched along a restless earthquake fault in the heart of California’s fire country. But her family and future were shattered there, and she vowed never to return―until news of her estranged mother’s illness forces her back twenty years later.

Still reeling from her recent divorce, Eden has to confront her mom’s found family, including single father Caleb Connell, who blames Eden for the seismic rift that drove her away. But as they move beyond a battle of wills, Eden and Caleb discover shared wounds and intertwined histories―and succumb to an attraction that feels fated.

When her mother’s condition worsens, Eden faces an impossible choice between the man she’s falling for and the mother she’s just beginning to forgive. And with time running out, Eden fears her decision will doom her to relive the aftershocks of past heartbreak.

We hope you will join us in celebrating the release of THE EPICENTER OF FOREVER. Follow along with this stellar list of social media influencers as they share reviews, excerpts, Q&As, and lots of giveaways!

Sunday, February 1 – @legallybookedup

Sunday, February 1 – @bibliolau19

Sunday, February 1 – @stacy40pages

Monday, February 2 – @jenniferk_reads

Monday, February 2 – @brianas_best_reads

Tuesday, February 3 – @nurse_bookie

Tuesday, February 3 – @books_and_biewers

Wednesday, February 4 – @webreakforbooks

Wednesday, February 4 – @deasbookshelf

Thursday, February 5 – @thebookclubmom

Thursday, February 5 – @niks.bookshelf

Friday, February 6 – @lizziepagereads

Friday, February 6 – @sarahs.bookish.reviews

Monday, February 9 – @lovemybooks2020

Monday, February 9 – @booksandcoffeemx

Tuesday, February 10 – @booked.with.julia

Tuesday, February 10 – @fieldstone_lfl

Tuesday, February 10 – @bookprincessofcali

Wednesday, February 11 – @nissa_the.bookworm

Wednesday, February 11 – @enjoyingbooksagain

Thursday, February 12 – @bookswritingandmore

Thursday, February 12 – @danish_mustardreads

Friday, February 13 – @purrfectpages

Friday, February 13 – @bookphile_belle

Saturday, February 14 – @carol_doscher_reader

Monday, February 16 – @subakka.bookstuff

Tuesday, February 17 – @redreviews4you

Tuesday, February 17 – @readingonthebrink

Wednesday, February 18 – @the_unwined

Wednesday, February 18 – @wbtbbookreviews

Thursday, February 19 – @ablueboxfullofbooks

Thursday, February 19 – @speedreadstagram

Friday, February 20 – @tammyreads62

Friday, February 20 – @reading_is_my_remedy

Saturday, February 21 – @kimreadsandreads

Monday, February 23 – @secretreadinglife

Monday, February 23 – @meowskinsbookskins

Tuesday, February 24 – @thebookcoverlover

Tuesday, February 24 – @myburstingbookbag

Wednesday, February 25 – @lexijava

Wednesday, February 25 – @booksloveandunderstanding

Wednesday, February 25 – @bookobsessionslinda

Thursday, February 26 – @2manybooks2littletime

Thursday, February 26 – @epicureanreads

Friday, February 27 – @gloriana.wong

Friday, February 27 – @gymaholicbookworm

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August-September 2025 Virtual Book Tour: THE TRUTH IS IN THE DETOURS by Mara Williams

“Why does childhood sweethearts to estranged friends to lovers have to go SO HARD? I loved all the history between Ophelia and Beau in Mara Williams’ The Truth Is in the Detours, and I loved watching them fall for each other as adults with all the complications that come with having more life experience. By the time they finally hooked up, when I tell you I was dying for it to happen — these two were always meant for each other! Mara Williams is definitely a romance writer to watch.” —Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped

“Clever, funny, and wonderfully romantic, The Truth Is in the Detours tells the story of a woman who finally gets to know herself. It delivers all the best story elements: delicious banter, tension, a road trip, gorgeous California settings, and hot romance. I devoured this sharp story. Mara Williams is a talent.” —Sierra Godfrey, author of A Very Typical Family and The Second Chance Hotel

“A rare gem of a book that captures the beauty and pain of grief, love, and finding yourself, while still feeling like a hug. With sentences that sing and settings that feel like characters, The Truth Is in The Detours is the perfect blend of frenemies-to-lovers road trip romance that will steal your heart and set it racing, and a woman’s journey to finding herself as she searches for the truth about her family. An outstanding debut.” —Holly James, author of The Big Fix

In this sharp-witted and poignant novel, two former friends with a complicated history are thrown together on an unexpected road trip, where old lies unravel and new truths emerge with every mile marker.

Ophelia Dahl has just buried her beloved father when she finds among his personal effects a blindsiding document. The mother Ophelia thought died thirty years ago isn’t dead after all—she abandoned her. But how could she, and where is she now? With some neighborly help, Ophelia’s going to find out.

Beau Augustin is an acclaimed author and Ophelia’s childhood bestie turned teenage nemesis, still chafing after all these years. As luck would have it, Beau’s current project—family deceptions—is set to take him across the West Coast. Ophelia has a brilliant idea: Beau’s book. Her life. Win-win. In a Subaru filled with baggage, they hit the road.

Despite detours, dead ends, and old grudges, Ophelia is desperate to unravel a lifetime of lies. And Beau’s research is a little more personal than he’s letting on. Mile by mile, they’re getting closer to their truths—and to each other—than they ever thought possible.

To celebrate the release of Mara Williams’ wonderfully romantic debut, THE TRUTH IS IN THE DETOURS, we are hosting a virtual book tour from mid-August through mid-September. These marvelous book influencers will be sharing exclusive reviews, excerpts, Q&A, feature spotlights, and giveaways. Follow along for lots of fun!

Tuesday, August 12 – ASHLEY HASTY and BOOKS AND BIEWERS

Wednesday, August 13 – PAGES AND PUPS

Thursday, August 14 – NIKKI H. ROSE

Friday, August 15 – THE BOOK COVER LOVER and FISH GIRL LOVES BOOKS

Saturday, August 16 – JEN’S TOWERING TBR

Monday, August 18 – MEOWSKINS BOOKSKINS

Tuesday, August 19 – WORD NERD BOOK WORM

Wednesday, August 20 – DANISH MUSTARD READS and MARY MARY LIBRARY

Thursday, August 21 – MY BURSTING BOOK BAG and MELANN ROSENTHAL

Friday, August 22 – BOOKALONG

Monday, August 25 – LOVE MY DANE DOLLY

Tuesday, August 26 – DEA’S BOOKSHELF