Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde Summary

Rewind It Back is the fifth and final book in Liz Tomforde's Windy City series, featuring fan-favorite character Rio in a second chance romance with Hallie. The story centers on Rio, the hopeless romantic who has carried a boombox through previous books, as he reconnects with a past love. Music plays a central role in this nostalgic, emotional sports romance that brings together all beloved couples from the series while exploring themes of lost love, personal growth, and finding your way back to someone who completes you.

Liz Tomforde is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her Windy City sports romance series. She works as a flight attendant for an NHL team and began writing during the 2020 pandemic when the hockey season was postponed. Her books have become TikTok sensations, praised for portraying healthy relationships, witty banter, found family dynamics, and steam. Tomforde's unique background combining professional sports travel with romance writing gives her stories authentic sports world details that resonate with readers seeking emotionally intelligent love stories.

Rewind It Back is perfect for contemporary romance fans who love second chance love stories, sports romances, and emotionally complex relationships. Readers of the Windy City series will especially appreciate seeing all their favorite couples return while falling in love with Rio and Hallie's story. If you enjoy books with music-centered romance, nostalgic elements, angsty tension, and healthy relationship representation, this book delivers. While it's the series finale, new readers seeking witty banter, found family moments, and steamy romance with deeper emotional layers will find it satisfying.

Rewind It Back is worth reading, especially for fans invested in the Windy City series who want closure and Rio's complete story. Liz Tomforde describes it as "nostalgic, angsty, sweet, emotional, & complete," promising readers will "possibly shed a few tears while also falling in love with Rio and Hallie". The book offers Rio's perspective for the first time after four books of knowing him through others' viewpoints, providing deeper understanding of his character and backstory. For romance readers seeking emotionally satisfying conclusions with well-developed relationships, this finale delivers.

Rewind It Back features a second chance romance between Rio and Hallie, deliberately subverting reader expectations. Liz Tomforde chose this trope because Rio appeared as the hopeless romantic desperately seeking love in books 1-4, leading readers to anticipate a "teach me" storyline. Instead, the author crafted an unexpected narrative exploring past love and reconciliation. The second chance framework allows readers to understand both characters' history within one book, making their relationship journey more emotionally resonant. This trope choice adds depth and surprise to Rio's long-awaited romantic arc.

Music serves as a central theme in Rewind It Back, directly connecting to the book's title and Rio's character. Rio has carried a boombox throughout all four previous Windy City books, establishing music as integral to his romantic identity. The title "Rewind It Back" inspired the entire storyline, with Liz Tomforde using music as the vehicle to explore Rio and Hallie's past and present relationship. Music becomes the emotional language through which their second chance romance unfolds, creating nostalgic moments and deepening the connection between past memories and present feelings.

Rewind It Back serves as the series finale, bringing together all favorite couples from the previous four Windy City books. Readers can expect appearances from characters introduced in Mile High, The Right Move, Caught Up, and Play Along, creating satisfying closure for the interconnected storylines. While Rio has been a beloved supporting character carrying his signature boombox through each book, this novel finally provides his perspective and backstory. The found family dynamics that define the Windy City series remain central, making this both a standalone romance and a culminating celebration of the relationships built throughout the series.

In Rewind It Back, readers finally experience Rio from his own perspective after knowing him only through other characters' viewpoints in books 1-4. Liz Tomforde particularly enjoyed writing Rio's POV, sharing his backstory and inner thoughts to provide deeper understanding of the hopeless romantic who carried a boombox throughout the series. His character reveals unexpected layers beyond the love-seeking persona readers knew. Rio's journey explores vulnerability, past heartbreak, and what it means to get a second chance at the love that shaped him, transforming him from supporting character to fully realized romantic lead.

Rewind It Back is the fifth and final book in Liz Tomforde's Windy City series, following Mile High, The Right Move, Caught Up, and Play Along. While it functions as the series conclusion featuring all beloved couples, new readers can still enjoy Rio and Hallie's second chance romance independently. However, reading previous books enhances the experience by establishing Rio's character development, explaining the boombox significance, and deepening emotional investment in the found family dynamics. The Windy City series connects through overlapping characters and relationships, making the full journey more rewarding for dedicated readers.

The Windy City series stands out for portraying healthy relationships with emotionally intelligent leading men, witty banter, and found family moments combined with steam. Liz Tomforde's background as an NHL team flight attendant brings authentic sports world details to her contemporary romances. The series balances humor with real emotional struggles, mental health representation, and body positivity, creating characters readers deeply connect with. Starting with Mile High in 2022 and concluding with Rewind It Back in 2025, the interconnected books became TikTok sensations for their satisfying blend of romance, friendship, and realistic relationship development.