A review by illstoptheworldandreadwithyou
The Backtrack by Erin La Rosa

4.5

Successful, international pilot Sam Leto returns to Tybee Island, Georgia, to help her grandmother Pearl move out of the beach home they once shared. Returning home forces Sam to confront some painful memories as well as some bittersweet ones and to once again come face-to-face with childhood best friend Damon Rocha, who once upon a time was almost something more. 

 

Just in case spending time with him now isn’t enough to make her wonder what would have happened if she had just kissed him back in high school, the universe decides to send her more signs in the form of a mixtape from Damon in a magical CD player. 

 

Listening to each song gives her a glimpse of what their lives would have been like if they had crossed that line to become more than friends so many years ago. 

 

Despite her being a world traveler and him being a hometown boy, Sam and Damon just fit. They are each other’s sense of home. 

 

But—oof—Erin La Rosa makes their hearts work for that happy ending. 

 

Filled with nostalgia, the Backtrack will make you want to dig out your Discman, put on your Doc Martens, and roll on some glitter for old times’ sake. It will put your heart through the emotional wringer, not only with Sam and Damon’s relationship in the present and their story arc in that alternate reality, but with Sam’s familial relationships as well. 

 

Damon has my heart. 

 

Sam has my support. 

 

And I adored the full cast of characters. 

 

It wouldn’t be an Erin La Rosa novel without some delectable steam, and between the backyard dances and motorcycle rides, the buildup to them finally coming together is delicious. 

 

And it looks like their relationship can now weather the storm. 

 

I received an advance copy of the book from Canary Street Press and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.