Rewind it Back Liz Tomforde Summary: A Bittersweet Final Chapter in Windy City Love

Introduction: When the Past Moves Next Door

Rewind it Back Liz Tomforde Summary introduces readers to a powerful and nostalgic finale in the bestselling Windy City series.

What happens when your first love becomes your neighbor again—six years after heartbreak? In Rewind it Back, Liz Tomforde crafts a masterful second-chance romance that’s equal parts heartbreak, healing, and homecoming. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Chicago, this final installment in the Windy City series reunites childhood sweethearts Hallie Hart and Rio DeLuca, only to pit them against the emotional ghosts they never quite laid to rest.

This deeply reflective story isn’t just about rekindled passion—it’s about memory, music, forgiveness, and the quiet courage it takes to love again. For longtime fans of the Windy City saga, this is the emotional payoff they’ve been waiting for. For new readers, it’s a perfectly paced standalone that weaves past and present into a moving tale of rediscovery.

In this review, we’ll explore character arcs, themes, writing style, and why Rewind it Back is more than just a love story—it’s a lyrical farewell.

About: Liz Tomforde

Who is Liz Tomforde?

Liz Tomforde is a contemporary romance author best known for her emotionally rich, character-driven stories, often featuring athletes, second chances, and found family. She gained popularity through her Chicago-based hockey romance series, which blends steamy romance, heartfelt drama, and witty banter.

Rewind it Back Liz Tomforde Summary: What Is Rewind It Back About?

Rewind it Back follows Hallie Hart, an aspiring interior designer who lands an internship in Chicago—unaware that her next project will bring her face-to-face with Rio DeLuca, her childhood friend, first love, and the man who broke her heart. Now a professional hockey player and the last single man in his friend group, Rio finds himself spiraling back through memories when Hallie unexpectedly reenters his life… and his house.

But six years of distance, hurt, and personal growth have changed them. And when Hallie is assigned to transform Rio’s bachelor pad into a family home, the real renovation begins—with their hearts.

Rewind it Back by Liz Tomforde Quotes

“Spoken or unspoken, I’ve always loved you.”
“Love fell into our hands… But this time, it feels like we earned it. We get to be in love because we worked for it.”
“How lucky am I to have been loved by you for fifteen years now?”
“My perfect fucking girl. She’s always been my perfect girl.”
“This second chance doesn’t feel like luck. It feels like a reward.”
“You were supposed to teach me how to be a man, Dad, and I truly hate the things I learned from you.”
“I’ll speak for all ten of us when I say, there’s nowhere else we’d rather be.”
“They don’t just make me feel like I belong, but they make it seem as if I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
“Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Hallie. Be nice to her or I’ll literally never talk to you again.”
“He grips the side of my neck and slams his mouth onto mine.”

❓ 5 Questions Rewind It Back Answers:

Can childhood love survive the tests of time and heartbreak?
How does unresolved grief affect present relationships?
Is it ever too late for a second chance?
What role do memory and music play in healing?
How do we redefine home when it’s tied to someone we lost?

Hallie and Rio: A Love Story on Rewind

Who Is Hallie Hart?

Hallie is more than a romantic lead—she’s the emotional anchor of the novel. When we meet her, she’s determined to forge a new path in a competitive design world. But beneath her drive lies pain: her father’s illness, old regrets, and a love that once defined her youth. Hallie’s growth is raw and compelling—from her guarded reentry into Rio’s orbit to her gradual willingness to feel again.

Key traits:

Emotionally intelligent
Independent yet vulnerable
Haunted by memory but not defined by it

Who Is Rio DeLuca?

Rio may be a professional athlete, but he’s no caricature of bravado. Beneath the hockey pads is a man who quietly aches for the girl he once loved—and lost. Rio’s internal dialogue reveals years of emotional suppression, making his rediscovery of love with Hallie all the more powerful.

Key traits:

Loyal to a fault
Reflective and romantic
Carries the weight of regret

Thematic Pillars: What the Story’s Really About

Memory and the Mixtape Metaphor

Music isn’t background noise—it’s narrative glue. Each song on Hallie’s and Rio’s annual mixtapes reflects a moment in their shared past, anchoring the reader in emotions that transcend time. The final track, revealed on a rooftop, is both poetic and plot-defining.

Why it matters:

Deepens emotional immersion
Provides non-verbal character insights
Serves as a storytelling tool, not just an aesthetic

Second Chances Done Right

This isn’t a shallow reunion romance. Tomforde allows both characters to process past wounds with care, making their reconnection feel earned—not forced. The tension between them builds naturally, with intimate conversations and small moments paving the road to reconciliation.

How it stands out:

Avoids instant forgiveness tropes
Explores emotional growth authentically
Ties past and present with emotional resonance

Emotional Depth Without Melodrama

Tomforde’s strength lies in restraint. Rather than lean into drama for drama’s sake, she explores complex emotions through dialogue and introspection. Whether it’s Hallie dealing with her father’s illness or Rio unpacking his childhood fears, the stakes feel personal and poignant.

Hallie’s emotional arcs include:

Grieving an ailing parent
Letting go of control
Rediscovering joy through vulnerability

‍‍‍ The Power of Found Family

While the romance is central, the returning couples from previous Windy City books offer warmth and humor. Their support gives the story its heart—and its laughs.

Featured couples:

Zanders & Stevie (Mile High)
Ryan & Indy (The Right Move)
Kai & Miller (Caught Up)
Isaiah & Kennedy (Play Along)

Each pair brings unique energy and support, reinforcing themes of community and enduring friendship.

✍️ Writing Style: Lyrical, Relatable, and Real

Liz Tomforde’s prose is cinematic yet conversational. She crafts scenes that play like film reels—soft lighting, old songs, glances that say more than words. Her ability to blend nostalgic tone with modern emotion makes this book both comforting and contemporary.

Notable strengths:

Seamless flashbacks
Dialogue that breathes authenticity
Sensory-rich setting (Chicago becomes a character itself)

Tomforde’s author’s note adds extra emotional texture, revealing that Hallie’s story helped her process her own familial grief—making the novel not only crafted with care, but written from truth.

Windy City Series: A Final Bow

Recap of the Series:

Book	Couple	Core Trope
Mile High	Zanders & Stevie	Opposites attract, slow burn
The Right Move	Ryan & Indy	Roommates to lovers
Caught Up	Kai & Miller	Single dad romance
Play Along	Isaiah & Kennedy	Fake dating
Rewind It Back	Rio & Hallie	Second chances, childhood sweethearts

Each story is self-contained but deeply enriched when read in order. Together, they create a tapestry of modern love with emotional and thematic continuity.

⚖️ Strengths vs. Weaknesses

Strengths:

Emotionally immersive prose
Well-paced character arcs
Relatable themes of loss and love
Series continuity and closure

Weaknesses:

Occasional pacing lulls in internal monologues
Predictable plot beats typical of the genre

Despite these minor flaws, the depth of emotion more than compensates.

✅ Why You Should Read Rewind It Back

Recommended if you enjoy:

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Perfect for readers who:

Crave emotionally driven romance
Appreciate lyrical storytelling
Enjoy stories about memory, healing, and home

A Heartfelt Finale You’ll Want to Rewind

Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde is a beautiful goodbye—and a hopeful beginning. It asks a simple question: what if the one who got away was always meant to stay? Through Rio and Hallie’s bittersweet journey, Tomforde gives fans closure that feels like a warm hug and a quiet tear. The book is sincere, evocative, and the literary equivalent of your favorite love song.

we hope this Rewind it Back Liz Tomforde Summary answers all your questions.

Don’t just read it—feel it.
And if you’re new to the series, this book is still the perfect place to fall in love.

Ready to rewind the magic? Start with Hallie and Rio today.