Lifetime broadcast Side Order of Life with State of Mind and Army Wives in an effort to offer a night of new original programming aimed primarily at female viewers during the summer hiatus.

[1] Marisa Coughlan plays Jenny McIntyre, a photographer who reconsiders her life and is reawakened to her options after her best friend, Vivy Porter (Diana-Maria Riva), is diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer.

Christopher Gartin rounds out the main cast as Jenny's boss Rick Purdy at the fictional In Person magazine; he is in love with Vivy, who has rejected him.

"[2] Initial reviews were positive, with Variety's Brian Lowry saying, "writer-producer Margaret Nagle brings a level of wit to the proceedings superior to most chick-lit-inspired TV drama.

"[5] The Boston Herald stated that "Lifetime's new dramedy Side Order of Life wants to be the next Grey's Anatomy so badly, it even borrows Meredith's TV dad for the debut," but despite the content of the review, rated it a 'B' and said it was "almost satisfying.