On His Way Back To Me

by Brittany Bacinski

Jade and Paul fall for each other hard as teenagers in their small town of Tiffin, Ohio. They seem to be made for one another until one day, it all unravels.

Later, Jade meets Sam, an affluent real estate mogul from Chicago who promises to give her the life she could never have in Tiffin. Life is never as it seems, with Paul resurfacing before her upcoming nuptials, begging her to change her mind. When Paul suddenly passes away, Jade is overcome with regret and spirals into a mind-bending quest through the Appalachian Mountains in an attempt to reach him again.

In the foggy mountains, Jade must decide once and for all – will she risk her life to be with Paul again, or will she choose instead to remain in a place she’s no longer meant to be? On His Way Back To Me is a gorgeously romantic story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Bacinski fearlessly showcases the turbulent journey of maddening grief while begging the question— does true love ever die?

Genres: Romance, Fiction

318 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2023

About the author

Brittany Bacinski is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, certified rule-breaker, astrology nerd and filmmaker from South Haven, Michigan. Her most recent work includes the Book-Tok sensation, On His Way Back To Me, her stunning new novel Suburban Womxn, and her memoir Reaching For Driftwood. She is a single mother to her two boys living in Metro-Detroit. She is on Instagram and Tik-Tok @brittanybacinski.

Reviews

[Meagan✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw the author’s tiktok about this book and immediately bought it.

Emotional read.

Straight to the point this story is basically about “the one that got away”

I read this book in under 24 hours. I think I was so captured by the story because it can be so relatable in different aspects of everyone’s life. Love. Regret. Grief. Self- Discovery.

The Character-
The main character Jade, she was beautifully written. Her high school chapters reminded me so much of all the feelings and trial and tribulations high school girls go through.
As she got older I didn’t see eye to eye with some decisions ; BUT I’m not in her shoes so I guess I wouldn’t know how to handle the cards that were dealt.

Paul- I love him so much. The way he loves Jade is *chefs kiss* I kept picturing that guy from the movie Sweet Home Alabama.
He makes a good point in this story as well. “Always tell the people you love how much they mean to you” 🫶❣️

Sam- he can choke. The end.

I would recommend this book. It’s a great read.
This book is self-published so there’s grammatical errors but it’s not a big deal.

The only thing I can really say negatively is I wished we did get a little bit more at the end with a certain situation. I didn’t have closure lol.

[Diana Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It would’ve honestly been a five star hadn’t it been for the insane amount of grammatical errors, missing words, repeated words, on a couple of occasions there was also what appeared to be the rough and final drafts - as though they’d forgotten to delete one of them. I also noticed some bits contradicted past mentions as though the author maybe changed her mind about how to tell the story, but forgot something different had been told already. Unfortunately, I’m that annoying person who can’t overlook these things in books, it takes away from the experience for me a little bit.
However, the story itself is flawless and absolutely heartbreaking that the author actually went through this. The emotions were so well conveyed, I was able to put myself in her shoes and understand what this heartbreak felt like for her. I’ve never highlighted a book as much as this one.

Please get proofreaders, this book is easily a five star!

[Emily Ricketts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very interesting because I wasn’t initially sure if I was reading a true story about the author’s life or just a story similar to her experiences. This is something I discovered at the end in her “acknowledgements.” To know that the author went through such heartbreak makes me empathize with her and wish that things were different. That being said, there was a truly beautiful ending to her story.

My only critique is that there were a lot of grammatical errors throughout the book. I’m not sure why this is since she did have a publisher; however, I don’t think it took away from the impact that her life story had on me.

[Emily Riser · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐️- I’m going to keep this one short and sweet because I was sent this book by the author out of the kindness of her heart and I truly do appreciate it.

Personally, for me, this was not my kind of romance. I’m not usually a huge romance girl to begin with, but I do like to sprinkle it in my reading throughout the year. This one just really really did not do it for me. I didn’t fully buy into the relationship. I didn’t really love the way the main character handled all of the situations she found herself in. And the supernatural/paranormal turn this took at the end was not my vibe at all. This book is definitely for someone that someone just wasn’t me, unfortunately.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for choosing me.

This is a hard no for me. I have never and will never understand the allure behind the cheating trope. This is not a story about grief. This is a story of a highly unlikable female main character who can't get over her first love and decided to marry a man she doesn't love even though her first love begs her to choose him instead.

Grow up. I understand that when they were teenagers, their families kept them apart, but as adults, she could've made a choice. She didn't and then proceeded to cheat on her boyfriend before marrying him and then spends more time fantasizing about her first love than actually making her marriage work. Was her husband a great guy? No, not really. But cheating is never justifiable.

None of these characters were likeable, I didn't find any reason to invest myself in her story.

Hard pass.

[Shan · Rating 2 out of 5]

'“𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞?”
“𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”'

Paul deserved better.
And this seriously needed another proof read. So many grammatical errors and tense changes.

[Natalie Gulbraa · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay wtf was the last like 10% of this book

[Kaz 💙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional 🥲❤️‍🩹 So proud of Jade for being brave & making the right choice at the end.

[Tracy Sustaita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow my heart! I’d definitely recommend this book. This book is about love, grief & self growth. Kinda predictable towards the end but wish there was a little more to the ending.

[Ellen Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book lacked depth and development of characters, had the makings of a great love story but fell flat.

[Terra Clotfelter G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “twist” caught me by surprise, as I suppose is its purpose, and I didn’t think I would like where the rest of the story was headed. The FMC’s journey on the Appalachian Trail was a good addition, though rather unbelievable considering she was completely unprepared and face unprecedented weather. I liked the small bit of magical realism in the end, and I wish there had been an epilogue. I appreciated the possibility of a HEA for her.

[Kaylee Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotions that I felt on this journey. Loss of a loved one in any form is absolutely soul crushing... this is a book I will likely always think of during hard times because of how relatable to any grieving scenario it can be.

[Kendra Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is EVERYTHIIIIIIINNNNNNGG!! I could not put the book down. I finished it under 24 hours. The chemistry between Paul and jade is something of Hollywood. The notebook~ the section of the funeral and she comes back to town screams the notebook! This book got me out of my reading slump. Theres spice, chemistry, mystery of how jade will continue her life married or not? Finding closure after the loss of a loved one. I could go on! GO READ THIS NOW! that is all <3

[k8y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw the author’s tik tok about this book, immediately bought it, and read it all in one day. Emotional read. I’m grieving the loss of Paul. The author captured their passionate love so well and Jade’s inability and complexity to leave her marriage. I feel like many people can resinate with the “one that got away” relationship. My only critique is I wish I got a little more ending. I want to know if that relationship panned out.

[Carolyn Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars, maybe rounded up to 2.5.

Cons:
- Everything about this should have appealed to me, I enjoy reading about dysfunctional relationships, I usually enjoy young love, I have been really interested in hunting/camping and the Appalachian trail... but this just did NOT do it for me.
- The writing is just bad. There is no prose.
- The pacing is bizzare. I felt like it dragged on and on and yet so much of it felt rushed. I felt everything following Paul's death (which you know is coming, so that is kind of lame) went at breakneck speed.
- The hiking stuff... it very much read like "someone who has sort of researched hiking but has never spent any time outdoors." Other hiking books I have read really dig into how truly difficult it is, but I felt like I blinked and Jade was like "then I walked 100 miles! :)"
- The relationships - I felt like Sam was absurdly evil, but also Jade was a complete nutcase. Why was everyone so evil? Her mom sucks, Paul's parents suck, Sam's family sucks, EVERYONE? Really? I felt like none of the relationships felt genuine in any capacity. They were all "built" for the story but did not generate hardly any emotions for me.
- I don't want to spoil anything but the last chapter or so... GIRL WHAT? Grief who?!?!

Pros:
- I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot more, I enjoyed learning about Paul's character - he seemed to be the only redeeming person in this whole ensemble.
- At first I enjoyed reading about the push and pull of Jade struggling with wanting Paul but wanting to live her dream, but at a certain point it started to feel a bit ridiculous.
- Justice for Paul is all I will say.

[Cheyney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw a TikTok about this book and I couldn't download it fast enough.

To sum it all up it's a story of love, grief, regret & self- discovery.

I enjoyed the relationship between Jade and Paul. But I found myself getting frustrated by Jade at numerous times throughout the book. I don't understand how they didn't even attempt a relationship after high school. If they felt as strongly about each other as the author portrayed I don't understand why they didn't even at least try to reconnect even with the disapproving family. I guess having different life goals (Jade wanting life in the big city, and Paul being content living his family legacy on the farm) makes it a tad bit more believable.

Sam is the spawn of Satan. I have nothing else to say about him.

The story started to lose me during the Appalachian trail hiking. It felt like it was dragging on and on. I wasn't buying that she was able to hike 100s of miles in a couple weeks with 0 training. And then throwing in the super natural/paranormal element was a choice. It kind of fell flat in my opinion. I felt like there was a chance for a profound and raw moment of real self-discovery and healing for Jade. A chance to actually say goodbye to Paul that felt real.

I hated the ending. Sam just showing up and causing a tiny little scene. Then just leaving didn't feel true to his character. I wish there was an epilogue or more of Jade's story after Sam. It felt like we didn't get any closure.

[Sara Littlefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish OHWBTM -- so be warned, when you start this you WILL have to finish it. So, make sure you have water, a snack, and nothing else to do for a few hours other than to follow Jade on her through-hike through grief.

Brittany's grief resonates off the pages, it practically vibrates between your ribs as if your ribs are shifting against each other causing earthquakes in your chest. This isn't just another story about young love lost too soon...this is a beautiful, raw, vulnerable examination of grief and how it becomes an echo of love.

If you've loved someone so intensely that your blood whooshes their name in your ears, be prepared for this book to unearth emotions you may have buried long ago.

...and PS - be prepared to want to immediately plan a hiking trip and to find a Telephone of the Wind. (https://thetelephoneofthewind.com/loc... -- in case you're curious)

[Anonymous · Rating 1 out of 5]

DND'd at 47%. I should have DNF'd it much sooner, but I continued to TRY to enjoy this book.

Jade, the FMC, is selfish, self-centered, weak, confused, and annoying FMC. She doesn't know what she wants and makes bad decisions. Her decisions have consequences and thus the storyline.

Sam, the second MMC, is also a pain in the ass, a weak excuse for a man, controlling, manipulative, and almost as annoying as Jade.

Too much angst, and I don't enjoy angst at all.

I read what I thought was the end, and then there was a Book Two. Annoying.

Overall, this book was maddening and annoying.

This author needs to have someone re-read and edit the book. There were SO MANY grammatical errors that added to my annoyance.

As an avid reader, a pet peeve is a book that has grammatical errors. Invest in an editor if you want to be a respected author!

I would NOT recommend this book, and I wouldn't read another book by this author.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Is heaven a place on earth, or is it after?"

Gut-wrenching. Soul-aching. Hope-tinged heartbreak. This story wrecked me in the most beautiful way.

Brittany Bacinski delivers a raw and emotional journey about first love, lost dreams, and the painful pull of what could’ve been. The main character falls hard for Paul—her once-in-a-lifetime, small-town soulmate. But life takes them in different directions, and though she finds stability in the city with Sam, her heart never quite leaves Paul behind.

Just when she’s about to marry Sam, Paul calls and says, “Don’t do it. We’re meant to be.” And from that moment, the book grabs your heart and doesn’t let go.

I sobbed. Ugly cried. Not just for Paul, but for anyone who has ever lost someone they weren't ready to say goodbye to.

This book made me feel like I was reading my own “what if” love story. It's painfully relatable and achingly tender. The ending? A mix of devastation and quiet hope.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. It left me sobbing like a baby. From start to finish, I was completely emotionally invested in Jade and Paul’s love story, it’s tender, painful, and so deeply felt.
I loved them together, but I’ll admit… Jade frustrated me so much at times. Just when I thought she was finally going to make the choice, something else would stop her. Her indecisiveness drove me crazy! but in a very real, human way that made the story feel even more authentic.
I disliked her at times but also understood the whys.

And that ending… WOW. I was not prepared for it at all. I would love to believe that something like that could exist in real life (trying very hard not to spoil anything). It left me feeling happy, angry, heartbroken, and hopeful all at once. I was emotionally all over the place by the final page.

This is one of those books that makes you feel everything DEEPLY. It hurts, it heals, and it stays with you.

[Jennifer Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, while demonstrating the potential for a 5-star rating, receives a 3.75-star evaluation due to the prevalence of grammatical errors.

I found the narrative highly engaging, particularly the high school chapters focusing on the protagonist, Jade, and Paul. These segments resonated deeply, recalling my own experiences during eighth grade and freshman year to a certain extent. The story offers a candid and emotionally charged examination of first love, unrealized ambitions, and the poignant reflection on alternative life paths.

Concerning the character of Sam, I must express my lack of affinity.

[Amanda Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Was hesitant at first but enjoyed it! I wish there was more to know what happened life after baby!

Let me be completely real I ugly cried a lot during this book. I yelled at Jade a lot in this book. This is probably one of the rawest romances I have ever read.

I wasn’t expecting a loving over the top romance like I normally read but I also wasn’t expecting this. My heart goes out to her. Absolutely heartbreaking but I would definitely read it again.
Deep down also had the urge to fight Sam the entire time. I’d throw hands with Sam.

[Majora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character was suffering severely by keeping a true love alive in her mind. The thing is; Paul is not her true love. Its a disguise. I do not believe that true soulmates cannot find a way to be with each other. She wanted the city, he wanted the farm. They made a problem out of something they both have not tried or compromised on. It seems to me that this would not be a sustainable relationship because they were not flexible with each other and neither did they bring the best out of each other. The only good thing was the sex they had.

[Malarie Fennell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has such a great storyline. There were parts where it was slow, especially book two but the ending was definitely a huge shocker. My biggest issue with the book was that it had so many grammatical errors and it made it hard to read at times. There were several lines in the book that either didn’t make sense or the lines were repeated. Altogether though, it was a good read! I would definitely recommend it! 🫶🏻

[Sharron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy in a Goodreads giveaway - but it was an already published book, so odd that I saw more mistakes than I usually find in others! Also, since there wasn't a deadline, it got set aside a couple of times for library or other books; but it was very easy to get right back into the story.

I didn't like the main character much and I don't like the whole phone thing, but other than that it was a good story.

[AndreaFalet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m staring at the wall after finishing this book with no words. My heart is in pieces. What a beautifully written book about first loves and loss… and something a lot of experience: regret. Things we should have said or done but didn’t until it was too late. This book is it. You want a book that will take you through many emotions? This is it.

I’m going to go buy the physical copy now to have forever.

[Julie Plourde · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow. this book absolutely broke me. the fact that it’s based on a true story broke my heart even more. the main thing that bothered me is the amount of grammatical errors. it’s hard to focus on the story when there are so many missing/repeating words, missing punctuation & spelling errors. those errors were the main reason for knocking off a star. other than that, this was a great read & i’d definitely recommend it!

[Kristy Huber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost didn’t continue this book after the first couple of pages because there were so many errors! I continued on but it was all throughout the book. So many missing words and incorrect endings on words. I don’t know who did the editing on this book but they should be fired! The story was pretty good and I would recommend it but if you get frustrated, as I do, with lots of errors in a book, avoid this one.

[Kristi Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

On His Way Back To Me by Brittany Bacinski was an emotional and heartbreaking read. While the story pulled at my heartstrings, I was often frustrated with Jade and Paul for not fighting harder for their love, which made parts of the book hard to fully connect with.

The ending absolutely wrecked me. His untimely death while on his way back to her was devastating and brought me to tears. Even with its flaws, the story delivers a powerful emotional punch that’s hard to forget. 💔 3.5 stars

[Yadilis Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly…. It’s one of the most emotional books I’ve read in a while. Couldn’t stop reading it. I could feel the passionate love of Paul and Jade so deeply. The rollercoaster of emotions was real too. But honestly I feel like a lot of people can relate to having these kind of relationships in their lives. I totally recommend it.