Rewind it Back Review (Windy City, #5)

Hello, all!

Let's chat about Rewind it Back by Liz Tomforde.

You can see my review of the previous book here!

Pub Date: 5-20-25
Adult - Contemporary

You would think that as a star hockey player, Rio DeLuca could have any girl he wanted. Sure, he's dated a lot, but no one has ever captured his interest enough past the dinner course. He grew up craving the kind of love that his parents had. He always dreamt of finding that one person who felt like they were specifically made just for him. Not many people find that special connection, but Rio did when he was barely a teenager, and he's still trying to mend the pieces after everything fell apart.

Hallie Hart has been grinding for years, trying to make her dream of becoming an interior designer come true. It's been a long road to get to where she is--interning at a high-profile firm in Chicago--and she's determined not to let anything stand in the way of a full-time position. But when the homeowner of the major renovation project she landed ends up being Rio, Hallie sees her dreams begin to crumble. They say you never forget your first love, but Rio and Hallie have been trying to do just that. They haven't spoken in six years, but all the feelings they've tried so desperately to push down are quick to resurface.

I've been having so much fun binging this series. There's something about them that is so addictive. It's like I can't turn the pages fast enough. Tomforde has a knack for creating characters that feel real. They're messy, emotional, vulnerable, funny, and flirty, and Rio and Hallie were no exceptions. A second chance isn't a trope I usually go for; I can really take or leave it, but I thought it was done so well here. I loved Rio and Hallie from the jump, and I liked seeing snippets of their relationship as kids versus the present day. You get to see how solid a connection they had and how much they truly cared for one another, and how, despite all the drama between them, those feelings never went away for either. It very much gave The Notebook-'It wasn't over, it still isn't over'-vibes. The one thing I noticed, because I am reading these so close together, some scenes feel reminiscent of previous books, but Tomforde knows what hits, and I'm going to eat it up every time. Other than that, this was another banger by her.

Rating: 4/5

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