The Other by Annie Neugebauer is a twisted cosmic horror novella that asks how well you really know your significant other. The story centers on doppelgangers attempting to take over, forcing a couple to determine who is the “other.”
This story is a mind trip. It had me dizzy thinking about all the possibilities. After finishing it, I even had a conversation with my wife about how we would tell each other apart. I love stories that get into your head and stay there long after you’ve turned the final page.
The story follows Elise and Logan, who are on a seven-day hiking trip when they encounter another couple with similar features and clothing. As they spend time together, the strangers begin changing in unsettling ways until the couples can no longer tell each other apart.
This is a dual perspective story, with chapters alternating between Logan and Elise. The structure works very well, especially once the characters begin struggling to identify one another. It made me want to shout at the page and tell them who was who. At times, the reader seems to know more than the characters, but the story does an excellent job of creating doubt and confusion. That aspect worked extremely well.
The Other is the second novella in The Outsiders Sequence. The books are loosely connected. We hear a rumored story that turns out to be the plot of The Extra, and then at the end… well, I can’t say much more than that, but it ties the series together in an interesting way.
The novella moves at a brisk pace and is easy to finish in a few hours. I was able to read it in a single day.
The ending was just okay for me. I think it will work better for some readers than others. It succeeds thematically, but it felt a little like a cheat. I wanted the story to spend more time exploring the couple’s perspective before cutting things off.
The Other was first published on June 9, 2026, by Shortwave Publishing.
Why did I read The Other by Annie Neugebauer?
I first heard about The Other through all the praise surrounding The Extra, the first book in Annie Neugebauer’s The Outsiders Sequence. I listen to a lot of horror podcasts, and many of them have recommended that book. I haven’t read The Extra yet, but I want to. I was planning to read it through Hoopla before my library dropped the service.
I received an ARC of The Other from Shortwave Publishing through NetGalley, so thanks to them. There is also a third book in the series, The Spare, scheduled for release early next year.
Plot Summary:
Elise and Logan are on the final stretch of a seven-day hike. The trip serves as both a vacation and an opportunity to discuss their marriage and whether they want to expand their family. While reconnecting on the trail, they spot another couple with similar builds and clothing styles.
The strangers seem to appear from nowhere, which immediately confuses Elise and Logan because they should have passed them earlier on the trail. As night approaches, they must decide whether to share a campsite or continue hiking in the dark. They choose to stay.
The new couple gives them both bad vibes almost immediately. Elise and Logan decide to get some sleep and leave early the next morning. When they wake up, however, something is terribly wrong. The other couple has become nearly identical, wearing the same clothes and sharing the same features. Now Elise and Logan must figure out who the “other” really is.
Recommendation:
The Other by Annie Neugebauer is built around a fantastic, creepy premise that will leave readers questioning everything. The story reminded me a little of The One I Love, where a couple encounters doppelgangers at a remote cabin. The difference here is that the mystery is much darker and more unsettling.
Beyond the horror elements, the novella explores the uncertainty many couples feel about bringing a child into the world. Am I doing this to fix my marriage? Am I doing it more for my partner than myself? Can I give up my independence? Those questions add emotional depth to the story.
I recommend my followers check out this short, creepy, and easy to read novella.
Rating:
The Other by Annie Neugebauer
4 out of 5
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