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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Sam and Damon were close friends in high school; Damon wanted to be closer but Sam was afraid of breaking his heart when she inevitably felt compelled to leave town just like her estranged mother. Now she's back home to help her grandmother move out of the family home, and Sam finds her old CD player with the last mix tape Damon made for her inside. Turns out it is a time-travel/possessed/haunted CD player showing Sam an alternate timeline with Damon. (Suspend disbelief, please, you'll have a lot more fun than over-analyzing why or how this is happening, especially since it's never explained.) Over time and as Sam is shown various stages of their alternate timeline romance, she realizes that she may have had a happier life if she'd made a different choice with Damon back in high school. But is that really true, and is it ever too late for happiness? I'm sure we all have those things or people we wonder "What if?" about, and I absolutely loved this concept! I also loved the idea of music being the vehicle of choice for showing the alternate timeline, and the author captured the feel of the early 'aughts very well. The childhood friends to lovers trope is my kryptonite, and it works well here. And while this isn't a second chance romance in the traditional sense I think it was close enough to make this a wonderful redemptive romance. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review! I gave it 4 stars here but it's closer to 4.5 stars.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For anyone who grew up in the mid to late 2000s and had a soft spot emo rock. You'll like this.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This was a childhood friends to lovers/second chance romance with a twist - when Sam Leto returns to her hometown to visit her grandmother she comes across an old CD player that was gifted to her by her best friend Damon and playing those songs show her an alternate reality where she never left her hometown and got into a relationship with Damon. I liked the other books from the author but this one was a bit disappointing with the lack of chemistry between the leads. I did like the songs and playlists though - many of my faves 🎵 but not enough to keep me invested in the relationship.
lighthearted
slow-paced
3⭐️ | TikTok |
Former emo kid Sam returns to her childhood city to help clean out her grandmas home. She stubbles upon her CD player and the last mixtape her childhood best friend (or was he more…) made her. When she listens she’s transported back in time to relive the moment that changed her life.
Adorable concept and fun nostalgia, id made me think of my HS best friend and all the great mix tapes he used to make me (Thanks Kevin!), might have even brought up memories of that one walk where we almost kissed
Former emo kid Sam returns to her childhood city to help clean out her grandmas home. She stubbles upon her CD player and the last mixtape her childhood best friend (or was he more…) made her. When she listens she’s transported back in time to relive the moment that changed her life.
Adorable concept and fun nostalgia, id made me think of my HS best friend and all the great mix tapes he used to make me (Thanks Kevin!), might have even brought up memories of that one walk where we almost kissed
✅ friends since childhood Sam & Damon, friends to lovers, second chance romance
✅ Now adults (late 20s/early 30s), Sam returns to her small hometown of Tybee Island, GA. As she reminisces about her childhood, she finds an old CD that Damon created for her back then. As she listens to the songs, she sees an alternate version of what could have happened if she had given her feelings for Damon a chance
✅ your mid-aughts pop punk playlist is the perfect accompaniment
🌶️: mostly off page (which surprised me because the author’s last book was on page if I recall correctly)
✅ Now adults (late 20s/early 30s), Sam returns to her small hometown of Tybee Island, GA. As she reminisces about her childhood, she finds an old CD that Damon created for her back then. As she listens to the songs, she sees an alternate version of what could have happened if she had given her feelings for Damon a chance
✅ your mid-aughts pop punk playlist is the perfect accompaniment
🌶️: mostly off page (which surprised me because the author’s last book was on page if I recall correctly)
I really enjoyed Erin La Rosa's previous book, but I LOVED The Backtrack. It was such an engaging book, giving me the best of my favorite aughts TV - a combo of 13 going on 30 and Sliding Doors - two of my favorite movies. It has everything you could want - a VERY likeable and engaging leading couple, great emo music from the 2000's, time travel, and an adorable grandmother that you cannot help but fall in love with. I could not put this book down!
Recap:
Sam Leto and Damon Rocha are high school best friends in 2005. They are grungy. They love Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. They are social outcasts - and they love each other. Then, Damon, after making a very personal mixed CD with his favorite songs and gifts it to Sam, he tries to kiss her- and she turns him down. Sam knows she has to leave Tybee, GA and live a life bigger than a small town. Damon loves his hometown and wants to stay. They take different paths in life and have not spoken since. Now, Sam is back in Tybee to help her grandmother move and finds herself around Damon again. Sam finds the CD Sam once made for her in her old discman - which still magically works. Now, the discman is telling Sam what could have been if she would have kissed Damon all those years ago. Would they end up together and can Sam and Damon find a way back to each other?
Review:
Everything about this book was magical - from the way I was transported with the fantastic playlist, to the angst of being around your first love, to the anxiety of wanting to know the "What If". I was so into this I cannot even explain. The story was captivating. The characters were intensely likeable and you WANT to cheer for them. The angst was palpable. I loved every second of it! Honestly, five stars. No notes.
Read if you like:
Second Chance Romance
2000's Emo Music
Best friends to lovers
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Recap:
Sam Leto and Damon Rocha are high school best friends in 2005. They are grungy. They love Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. They are social outcasts - and they love each other. Then, Damon, after making a very personal mixed CD with his favorite songs and gifts it to Sam, he tries to kiss her- and she turns him down. Sam knows she has to leave Tybee, GA and live a life bigger than a small town. Damon loves his hometown and wants to stay. They take different paths in life and have not spoken since. Now, Sam is back in Tybee to help her grandmother move and finds herself around Damon again. Sam finds the CD Sam once made for her in her old discman - which still magically works. Now, the discman is telling Sam what could have been if she would have kissed Damon all those years ago. Would they end up together and can Sam and Damon find a way back to each other?
Review:
Everything about this book was magical - from the way I was transported with the fantastic playlist, to the angst of being around your first love, to the anxiety of wanting to know the "What If". I was so into this I cannot even explain. The story was captivating. The characters were intensely likeable and you WANT to cheer for them. The angst was palpable. I loved every second of it! Honestly, five stars. No notes.
Read if you like:
Second Chance Romance
2000's Emo Music
Best friends to lovers
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.