The Girl Next Door

When Hallie Hart moves in next door to Rio DeLuca's Boston home at age eleven, a lifelong connection is forged. Their friendship is instant, built on shared music, secret rooftop meetings, and the comfort of being outsiders together. Hallie's quirky habit of picking a song for every important moment becomes their private language, and as they grow, so does their bond. The two families intertwine, and Hallie and Rio become inseparable, their friendship deepening into something more as adolescence approaches. The foundation of their relationship is laid in these formative years, with the roof between their bedrooms serving as the literal and figurative bridge between their worlds.

Missed Connections, Old Wounds

Years later, both Hallie and Rio are living in Chicago, but they haven't spoken since a painful falling out in their late teens. Rio, now a professional hockey player, is haunted by the memory of his first love and the unresolved pain of their breakup. Hallie, struggling to make ends meet while interning as an interior designer and bartending at night, is shocked to discover she's moving in next door to Rio—again. Their accidental reunion is fraught with tension, old wounds, and the weight of everything left unsaid. Both are forced to confront the ghosts of their past and the possibility that the connection they once shared might not be as dead as they thought.

Childhood on the Roof

Flashbacks reveal the heart of Hallie and Rio's childhood: late-night talks on the roof, birthday mixtapes, and the slow, sweet burn of first love. Their relationship is built on small rituals—music, shared secrets, and the comfort of knowing someone sees you. As they grow older, their friendship turns romantic, but the pressures of family, ambition, and the looming specter of adulthood threaten to pull them apart. The roof becomes a symbol of both their intimacy and their innocence, a place where they can be themselves, away from the expectations of the world.

Unspoken Hearts

As teenagers, Hallie and Rio fall deeply in love, but their relationship is tested by secrets and the unraveling of their families. Hallie's father is diagnosed with cancer, and her mother's betrayal with Rio's father shatters both families. Hallie, sworn to secrecy by her mother, is paralyzed by fear and guilt, unable to tell Rio the truth. When the affair is revealed, Rio's world collapses, and in his pain, he pushes Hallie away, blaming her for not warning him. The unspoken words between them become a chasm, and both are left to navigate the fallout alone.

The Reunion Game

In Chicago, a chance sighting at a hockey game brings Hallie and Rio face-to-face for the first time in years. The encounter is electric and painful, reigniting feelings neither has truly buried. Forced to work together when Hallie is assigned as the designer for Rio's home renovation, they must navigate a minefield of unresolved emotions, professional boundaries, and the ever-present pull of their shared history. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, but both are wary of reopening old wounds.

Renovation and Resentment

As Hallie transforms Rio's house from a sterile bachelor pad into a warm, inviting home, the renovation becomes a metaphor for their relationship. Each design choice, each color palette, is a step toward healing. But the process is messy—resentments surface, and the pain of the past threatens to derail their progress. Hallie's financial struggles and Rio's guilt over his family's implosion add layers of complexity. Through late-night meetings and shared memories, they begin to rediscover the comfort and safety they once found in each other.

Secrets in the Walls

The renovation uncovers more than just outdated fixtures. Hallie's secret debt, accrued from caring for her sick father, comes to light, as does the truth about her mother's manipulation. Rio learns the full extent of Hallie's sacrifices and the impossible position she was put in. The revelation is both devastating and cathartic, forcing Rio to confront his own role in their breakup and the ways he let his mother's pain dictate his choices. The walls between them begin to crumble, replaced by a fragile, hard-won honesty.

The Weight of Care

Hallie's years as her father's caregiver have left her exhausted and wary of letting anyone else in. She's fiercely independent, but the burden of responsibility has shaped her sense of self and her ability to trust. Rio, meanwhile, grapples with guilt over abandoning Hallie when she needed him most. Their reunion is as much about learning to accept help as it is about rekindling romance. Through small acts of care—homemade lattes, shared meals, and the simple act of being present—they begin to heal each other.

Friends, Lovers, Strangers

As Hallie and Rio move from enemies to tentative friends to something more, they must redefine what they mean to each other. Their friends and found family in Chicago become a support system, offering both comic relief and sage advice. The couple's journey is marked by setbacks and miscommunications, but also by moments of joy and rediscovery. The chemistry that once defined their relationship is still there, but now it's tempered by maturity and the hard lessons of the past.

The Past Unraveled

The final obstacles to Hallie and Rio's happiness are rooted in their families. Hallie returns to Boston to confront Rio's mother, seeking forgiveness and understanding. The conversation is raw and honest, forcing both women to reckon with their regrets and the ways they hurt each other. Rio, too, must make peace with his parents' choices and his own. The process is painful, but it allows for true closure and the possibility of a future unburdened by old resentments.

Forgiveness and Family

With the past finally laid to rest, Hallie and Rio are free to choose each other without reservation. Their families, once fractured, begin to mend. Rio's mother and Hallie's father find common ground, and the couple's found family in Chicago rallies around them. The home Hallie designed becomes a symbol of their new beginning—a place filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a future together. Forgiveness, both given and received, is the foundation on which they build their life.

The Birthday Playlist

On Hallie's birthday, Rio creates a playlist of songs marking their most important moments, mirroring the mixtapes Hallie made for him as a child. The gesture is both nostalgic and forward-looking, a testament to the enduring power of their shared language. The playlist becomes a living record of their love story, proof that even after years apart, they never truly let go of each other. The music is a thread that ties their past to their present, and to the future they're building together.

Second Chances, First Loves

With the house finished and their families reconciled, Hallie and Rio finally allow themselves to be fully together. Their love, once interrupted, is now stronger for having survived so much. They embrace the messiness of their history, choosing to see it as proof of their resilience rather than a source of regret. Their relationship is both a second chance and a continuation of the first love that shaped them. They are, at last, home.

The Heart Tattoo

Rio's tattoo—a heart in Hallie's handwriting, inked over his own—becomes the ultimate symbol of their bond. It's a reminder that even when they were apart, they carried each other with them. The tattoo, like the house, is a promise: of love, of forgiveness, of a future together. It's a mark that can't be erased, just as their story can't be unwritten.

Letting Go, Holding On

Hallie and Rio learn that true love isn't about erasing the past, but about holding on to what matters and letting go of what doesn't. They make peace with their mistakes, honor the people they've become, and commit to building a life together. Their story is one of endurance, of choosing each other again and again, even when it's hard. In the end, they find that home isn't a place, but a person.

The Proposal on the Roof

In a full-circle moment, Rio proposes to Hallie on the roof where their story began. Surrounded by friends and family, in the home they built together, they promise to keep choosing each other—spoken or unspoken, in music and in silence, for the rest of their lives. The proposal is simple, heartfelt, and perfect, a testament to the love that survived everything.

Home at Last

The epilogue finds Hallie and Rio surrounded by their chosen family, celebrating the home they've created. Their journey has been long and difficult, but every hardship has brought them closer. The house is filled with laughter, music, and the promise of new memories. They are, finally, home—not just in a place, but in each other.

Characters

Hallie Hart

Hallie is the emotional heart of the story—a woman shaped by early loss, family secrets, and the heavy responsibility of caring for her sick father. Her creativity and love of design are matched only by her fierce independence and loyalty. Hallie's relationship with Rio is the axis around which her life turns, but her journey is also one of self-discovery and learning to accept help. Her psychological complexity is rooted in her fear of abandonment and her struggle to balance self-sacrifice with self-worth. Over the course of the novel, Hallie learns to forgive herself, trust others, and embrace the love she deserves.

Rio DeLuca

Rio is a professional hockey player whose outward confidence masks deep-seated guilt and longing. His childhood with Hallie is the source of his greatest joy and his deepest pain. The trauma of his parents' divorce and his mother's heartbreak leaves him emotionally adrift, and he spends years searching for a connection that can match what he lost with Hallie. Rio's journey is one of reckoning—with his own mistakes, with the ways he let others' pain dictate his choices, and with the reality that love is as much about forgiveness as it is about passion. His growth is marked by vulnerability, humility, and a willingness to fight for the life he wants.

Mia DeLuca

Rio's mother is a central figure in both his and Hallie's lives. Her devastation over her husband's affair and her subsequent emotional needs shape much of Rio's behavior. Mia's journey is one of grief, anger, and eventual acceptance. Her relationship with Hallie is fraught, but ultimately, she is able to see past her pain and embrace forgiveness. Mia's arc is a testament to the power of chosen family and the importance of letting go.

Mr. Hart

Hallie's father is the quiet anchor of her world. His illness is the catalyst for much of the novel's conflict, forcing Hallie into the role of caretaker and upending the family's stability. His vulnerability and gratitude for Hallie's sacrifices are deeply felt, and his eventual recovery is a source of hope. Mr. Hart's presence is a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength of familial love.

Luke Hart

Hallie's brother is initially absent, having left Hallie to care for their father alone. His return and reconciliation with both Hallie and Rio are important steps in the healing process for all three. Luke's arc is about recognizing the cost of avoidance and the importance of showing up for the people you love.

Wren Wilder

Wren is Hallie's roommate and a key figure in her Chicago life. Her friendship offers Hallie a sense of belonging and stability, and her own family's sports legacy provides a parallel to Rio's world. Wren's presence is a reminder that new connections can be just as meaningful as old ones.

Indy Shay

Indy is Rio's best friend in Chicago and the emotional glue of their friend group. Her insight, warmth, and unwavering support help both Hallie and Rio navigate their reconciliation. Indy's own journey with love and family serves as a model for what's possible when you choose vulnerability over fear.

The Chicago Crew (Zanders, Stevie, Miller, Kai, Kennedy, Isaiah, Ryan)

This group of friends—athletes and their partners—forms the backbone of Hallie and Rio's new life in Chicago. Each brings their own quirks, wisdom, and history, offering both levity and perspective. Their acceptance of Hallie and Rio is crucial to the couple's healing, and their presence underscores the novel's theme that family is what you make it.

Mrs. Hart

Hallie's mother is the catalyst for much of the novel's conflict. Her affair with Rio's father and her emotional manipulation of Hallie leave lasting scars. She represents the dangers of secrecy and the ways in which parents' choices can reverberate through their children's lives.

Uncle Mikey

Rio's uncle, who eventually becomes Mia's partner, is a symbol of the possibility of new beginnings even after great loss. His relationship with Mia offers a counterpoint to the pain of the past and a model for moving forward.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Flashbacks

The novel employs a dual timeline structure, alternating between Hallie and Rio's childhood/teen years and their adult reunion. This device allows the reader to see the full arc of their relationship, understand the roots of their trauma, and appreciate the weight of their reconciliation. Flashbacks to rooftop meetings, mixtape exchanges, and family crises provide emotional context and deepen the impact of present-day events.

Music as Memory

Music is a central motif, with Hallie's habit of assigning songs to important moments serving as both a narrative device and a symbol of their connection. Mixtapes and playlists become repositories of memory, allowing the characters to revisit and reframe their shared history. The act of "rewinding it back" is both literal and metaphorical, underscoring the novel's themes of nostalgia, regret, and hope.

Home Renovation as Metaphor

The renovation of Rio's house is a powerful metaphor for the work required to heal and move forward. Each design choice, each act of demolition and reconstruction, mirrors the emotional labor of forgiveness and the creation of a new life together. The house, once sterile and empty, becomes a home filled with love and possibility.

Found Family and Community

The Chicago friend group functions as a surrogate family for both Hallie and Rio, offering support, perspective, and a sense of belonging. Their presence highlights the importance of community and the idea that family is not just about blood, but about the people who show up for you.

Secrets, Guilt, and Forgiveness

The novel's central conflict revolves around secrets—those kept out of fear, shame, or misguided loyalty. The slow revelation of these secrets, and the characters' willingness to confront them, is the engine of the plot. Forgiveness, both of self and others, is the ultimate resolution, allowing for healing and the possibility of a future together.

Analysis

Rewind It Back is a deeply emotional, character-driven romance that explores the enduring power of first love, the corrosive effects of secrets, and the redemptive potential of forgiveness. Liz Tomforde crafts a narrative that is as much about healing as it is about romance, using music, memory, and the metaphor of home renovation to chart her characters' journeys. The novel is a meditation on the ways in which our past shapes us, the importance of chosen family, and the courage required to let go of old pain in order to embrace new happiness. In a modern context, it speaks to the challenges of adulthood—caring for aging parents, navigating financial hardship, and redefining what it means to belong. Ultimately, the story's lesson is that love is not about perfection or erasure of the past, but about choosing each other, again and again, in spite of it.

Last updated: May 20, 2025