The Backtrack - by Erin La Rosa (Paperback)

About the Book

"Nearly twenty years ago, Sam Leto left her small hometown of Tybee Island, Georgia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot. While she d prefer to keep flying away from her painful childhood memories, her beloved grandmother Pearl decides it s time to sell the family home. Reluctantly, Sam is summoned back to pack up the house. The 2000s nostalgia from Sam s old bedroom hits immediately: Fall Out Boy posters, drawers of roll-on body glitter and even her favorite CD player with a mixtape from her best friend, Damon Rocha. Damon was always a safe place and Sam often wonders what if her teenage self admitted her feelings for him back then... Mysteriously, the CD player still works all these years later. And somehow it has the power to show Sam an alternate version of her life. Song by song, Sam receives flashbacks from her past--senior prom, graduation, leaving home. But the memories aren t as she remembers them; they show what could have been. uddenly, Sam knows exactly what would have happened if she d taken a chance with Damon--and she can t help feeling she made a terrible mistake leaving Tybee all those years ago."--

Book Synopsis

Life, rewound...

Nearly twenty years ago, Sam Leto left her small hometown of Tybee Island, Georgia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot. While she'd prefer to keep flying away from her painful childhood memories, her beloved grandmother Pearl decides it's time to sell the family home. Reluctantly, Sam is summoned back to pack up the house.

The 2000s nostalgia from Sam's old bedroom hits immediately: Fall Out Boy posters, drawers of roll-on body glitter and even her favorite CD player with a mixtape from her best friend, Damon Rocha. Damon was always a safe place and Sam often wonders what if her teenage self admitted her feelings for him back then...

Mysteriously, the CD player still works all these years later. And somehow it has the power to show Sam an alternate version of her life.

Song by song, Sam receives flashbacks from her past--senior prom, graduation, leaving home. But the memories aren't as she remembers them; they show what could have been. Suddenly, Sam knows exactly what would have happened if she'd taken a chance with Damon--and she can't help feeling she made a terrible mistake leaving Tybee all those years ago.

"A perfectly in-tune love story that will be playing on repeat in my mind for a very long time." --Lauren Kung Jessen, author of Red String Theory and Lunar Love
"La Rosa shines at genuinely funny and feminist romantic tales, and I'll read every single one of them." --Amy Spalding, bestselling author of For Her Consideration

FOR FANS OF:

• Millennial nostalgia
• Magical realism
• Friends to lovers
• Dual timeline
• Second chances
• Found family
• Beachy small town

Review Quotes

"Combining the concept of 13 Going on 30 with 2000s nostalgia, La Rosa's memorable storytelling is engaging, bringing readers into a world filled with raw emotions, complex relationships, and intricate character development." --Library Journal

"There's no denying the chemistry between these would-be high school sweethearts. This goes down easy." --Publisher's Weekly

"The Backtrack is the perfect nostalgic love story for anyone whose music taste hasn't changed since high school. It is a love ballad to both pop punk and the people we leave behind." --Allison Raskin, New York Times bestselling author of Overthinking About You

"Bursting with mid-aughts nostalgia, The Backtrack is an irresistible take on what if. With a cast of lovable, quirky characters and a dreamy seaside setting, Sam and Damon's sliding doors love story pulled me in like the heart-tugging hook of a favorite song. Full of wisdom about being true to oneself, growing up, and the little decisions that can change everything, La Rosa's newest is the perfect mix(tape) of laugh-out-loud, steamy, and sincere." --Holly James, author of The Déjà Glitch

"Erin La Rosa has concocted a dazzlingly imaginative concept for the ages, but she doesn't stop there. The mystical game of What If? will keep readers compulsively turning the pages, but where the story shines brightest is in its characters' tackling of an even weightier question: What comes after what if? Steamy, nostalgic, and often truly hilarious, The Backtrack feels like the musical emo love child of 13 Going on 30 and (500) Days of Summer, and it turns out that's exactly what the world's been missing. Fans of Elissa Sussman and Ashley Poston will want to scoop this one up!" --Bethany Turner, bestselling author of Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story

"This is the book of my nostalgic dreams! Erin La Rosa hits all the right notes in this catchy second-chance romance humming with heart, heat, and humor. Filled with tender and laugh-out-loud moments, sparkling banter, and thought-provoking flashbacks, The Backtrack is a perfectly-in-tune love story that will be playing on repeat in my mind for a very long time." --Lauren Kung Jessen, author of Red String Theory and Lunar Love

"La Rosa has written a beautiful contemplation on what-ifs. Watching Sam and Damon's lives intertwine and then intertwine again is equally as riveting in each timeline, leaving the reader cheering for their love story and Sam's poignant journey of self love and acceptance. Throw on your old band shirts, cue up the music, and get ready for a love story so tender you'll have to press repeat." --Carlyn Greenwald, author of Sizzle Reel and Director's Cut

"Erin La Rosa has delivered the pitch-perfect "mixtape" of heartwarming second-chance romance, nostalgic music, and a hint of magic. The Backtrack is a clever and well-executed novel for anyone who has ever looked back on their first love and wondered "what if?". I laughed, I swooned, and I cheered for Sam and Damon to finally get their happily-ever-after." --Melissa Wiesner, author of The Second Chance Year

PRAISE FOR PLOT TWIST

"Readers will swoon for Dash and Sophie as they struggle to resist their growing feelings. This is a true romance lover's romance." --Publishers Weekly

"An engaging novel that seamlessly weaves together an exploration of love, the challenges of sobriety, and robust sex." --Kirkus Reviews

"This book takes on some very serious topics, which are lightened by Sophie's zany antics, and will appeal to fans of Christina Lauren and Tessa Bailey." --Booklist

"A quirky, sexy romp that had me turning pages into the night. An ex-actor struggling with sobriety and a frazzled writer struggling to meet her deadline decide to help each other out, with sizzling results. Will definitely look for more from Erin La Rosa." --Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

"Utterly charming and fun! PLOT TWIST gives readers a steamy ride while also respectfully handling serious topics. A delight to read and sure to be a favorite." --Mariah Ankenman author of The Firefighter's Dilemma

"Sweet, deliciously steamy, and ripe with unexpected depth, PLOT TWIST is sure to delight. This rom-com between a blocked romance author on a deadline and a troubled but soft-on-the-inside former teen heartthrob is irresistible and will have readers pining along with the characters until the utterly satisfying happily ever after." --Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen on TV and Someone Just Like You

"PLOT TWIST is pure sunshine in book form, a story that sparkles with sharp, witty banter, laugh out loud moments, and endearing, expertly-drawn characters. Erin La Rosa is a master of taking beloved tropes and making them feel fresh and exciting, without sacrificing their familiarity or warmth. This book is a love letter to the romance genre, to sisterhood, and to the strength of those in recovery--an absolute gem." --Ashley Winstead, author of The Boyfriend Candidate

"Sparks fly in La Rosa's gripping and swoon-worthy romance novel. PLOT TWIST pulls at your heartstrings with a romance that feels tender and comforting at first meet. The story between Sophie, a romance author currently having a writer's block, and Dash, a former Hollywood star, is as electrifying as a thunderstorm in April. But before sunshine, rainbows and happily ever afters, PLOT TWIST gives you a tale about recovery, growth, perseverance, finding love, and belief in yourself. This is a book that will make your heart go through obstacle courses towards a HEA-finishing line! If you decide to pick up a book this season, let it be La Rosa's enchanting novel." --Silvana Reyes, writer at Book Riot and @thebookvoyagers

"An expertly-crafted contemporary romance... Erin La Rosa has once again found the perfect formula of taking nuanced characters and putting them in the cutest, most satisfying rom-com narrative. Even with its laugh-out-loud (and dare I say squirrelly) hijinks, PLOT TWIST makes a powerful statement. Love isn't something you earn--it's something that derails everything the moment you think you have things figured out. Frankly, I can't wait for Erin's next book. As a reader, it's a privilege to live inside of Erin La Rosa's brilliant, quirky, and deliciously risqué brain." --Becky Feldman, host of the Too Stupid to Live podcast

"Another sharp, sly, and very steamy romcom from Erin La Rosa! PLOT TWIST is about road trips and sexy neighbors and the power of opening up to the people who care about you the most. La Rosa shines at genuinely funny and feminist romantic tales, and I'll read every single one of them." --Amy Spalding, bestselling author of For Her Consideration

"Erin La Rosa delivers with yet another steamy, smart, and wonderfully sweet romantic comedy. La Rosa's witty banter and tender scenes are top-notch; PLOT TWIST is a can't miss romance that will leave readers swooning. I give it five stars--and five chili pepper emojis." --Kate Spencer, author of In a New York Minute

"PLOT TWIST expertly balances real world issues while delivering a heaping spoonful of hope. This heartfelt and laugh-out-loud-funny romance had me rooting for Sophie and Dash until the very last page. They--along with Rain Boots and Richard the squirrel--will charm your socks off." --Melissa Baron, author of Twice in a Lifetime

"This sweet and spicy rom-com is a true treat! Witty and fun, yet firmly grounded in reality, PLOT TWIST is escapism at its best." --Lacie Waldon, bestselling author of The Layover

"Spicy. Sexy. Swoony. Erin La Rosa's latest explores what falling in love really means and the importance of found family, all while handling sensitive topics with great care. Rachel Lynn Solomon and Christina Lauren fans will love this story!" --Suzanne Park, author of So We Meet Again and The Do-Over

"PLOT TWIST is a sweet and spicy romance for everyone who loved Erin La Rosa's delightful debut." --Elissa Sussman, bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask

"An Erin La Rosa novel never ceases to make me laugh, swoon, and stay up well past my bedtime! A delightfully delicious read, PLOT TWIST delivers all the steam while gripping readers by the heartstrings and exploring deep topics with great care. La Rosa's work is a romance staple, perfectly placed on the spice shelf." --Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak

"Full of tractor kinks, a trip to the Ripped Bodice, and a fish named Rain Boots--how could you go wrong with PLOT TWIST?... Erin La Rosa's deep dive into Dash's struggle with sobriety sparks a flame in Sophie and Dash's story that I haven't felt before in romance. PLOT TWIST's deep exploration into the struggles of sobriety is as real as it gets for a rom-com.... We need more sobriety stories in romance and this one is absolutely riveting." --Coco Zephir, Bookseller at Phoenix Books

"Erin La Rosa crafts the romantic journey between Sophie and Dash so carefully, giving her latest novel, PLOT TWIST, the perfect balance of sweetness and spice!" --The Honey Pop

"Erin La Rosa delivers a side-splitting romcom with PLOT TWIST. At times hysterically funny, the storyline focuses on Sophie's mission to interview her exes in hopes of determining why she has avoided the love bug....While on the surface, the theme is light-hearted, the author spends quality time developing the characters. As a result, Sophie delves deep to find the answers she seeks." --Novels Alive, 4.5 star review

PRAISE FOR FOR BUTTER OR WORSE

"[A] sparkling romance...witty and lighthearted, with plenty of tender moments to keep readers invested, this work gets the enemies-to-lovers trope right."--Publishers Weekly

"A heartwarming tale of trust and absolution from a skilled novelist."--Kirkus Reviews

"This sexy, steamy contemporary romance, told from both Leo's and Nina's points of view, is well written and engaging. Descriptions of food and food metaphors are lightly laced throughout the novel, bringing humor to the story, and delightful secondary characters provide support and counterbalance to the protagonists. Issues of sexism and mental health are handled gently but realistically and add emotional depth to the well-developed characters...Fans of Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, Sadie on a Plate, and Food Network shows will love this foodie-themed enemies-to-lovers/fake-relationship romance." --Library Journal

"With great tension, simmering heat, and clever banter, FOR BUTTER OR WORSE is a mouthwateringly delicious enemies-to-lovers romance."--Helen Hoang, USA Today bestselling author of The Heart Principle

"A deliciously witty, laugh out loud rom-com! This enemies-to-lovers romance is full of wicked banter, a delightful slow burn and a cinnamon roll hero who will melt your heart."--Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author

"Fun, sexy, and delicious. This foodie romcom will delight all your senses."--Jayci Lee, author of A Sweet Mess & The Dating Dare

"You can count on Erin La Rosa for a rollicking good time!"--Janet Fitch, #1 NYT bestselling author of White Oleander

"FOR BUTTER OR WORSE has all the ingredients of a perfect romance: impeccable banter, a stellar cast of characters, and a healthy dash of steam. Erin La Rosa has cooked up a romance that is sure to captivate readers. I'll be adding this one to my shelf of favorites!"--Falon Ballard, author of Lease on Love

"FOR BUTTER OR WORSE is a dessert in words, with a hot drizzle of enemies-to-lovers tension, delicious layers of fake-relationship and real-relationship, and enjoyable banter as the cherry on top. This book is sweet with heat: it made me laugh, and it made me very, very hungry."--Sarah Hogle, author of Twice Shy

"For Butter or Worse is a melt-in-your-mouth good time. A deliciously fun take on enemies to lovers with just the right amount of sweet and spice. From page one I was rooting for Nina and Leo to put aside their past differences and embrace their showstopping chemistry."--Bridget Morrissey, author of Love Scenes

"Definitely needs to be on your TBR." --Frolic