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Back to the Start Lib/E
When Remy's grandmother dies, it means leaving her life in San Francisco and returning to a town she swore she'd never revisit, forced to confront a world she'd worked hard to put behind her over the last twelve years.
She's not expecting that the first girl to ever steal her heart, the pretty, popular Fallon Lewis is still around, and in a town this small, their paths continue to cross much to Remy's dismay. It's hard enough seeing her first love, but it's exponentially more difficult when she can barely stand to look at the woman.
Remy's trip back has the possibility to open up doors she believed were shut long ago, but she's never planned on staying, and she definitely never planned on letting Fallon back into her life.
If she thought being a teenager in a small town was hard, she's about to find out how much harder life is when there's no one but herself to blame for her problems.
Contains mature themes.
She's not expecting that the first girl to ever steal her heart, the pretty, popular Fallon Lewis is still around, and in a town this small, their paths continue to cross much to Remy's dismay. It's hard enough seeing her first love, but it's exponentially more difficult when she can barely stand to look at the woman.
Remy's trip back has the possibility to open up doors she believed were shut long ago, but she's never planned on staying, and she definitely never planned on letting Fallon back into her life.
If she thought being a teenager in a small town was hard, she's about to find out how much harder life is when there's no one but herself to blame for her problems.
Contains mature themes.
Audio CD
First published August 4, 2018
361 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCallan
17 books1,491 followersMonica McCallan was an enthusiastic fan of romance novels before she began writing them.
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
October 30, 2018
"Back to the Start" is another book I read a couple of weeks ago without writing a review...I hate the delay because I lose details. But from what I remember...
This is a second chance romance story where Remy returns to the small town she lived in after she moved away to San Francisco.
For the most part, I enjoyed the read. That said, it has issues.
What it got right:
The character of Fallon and her sister Claire. Who wouldn't fall in love with these two? Fallon is so saintly the book actually pokes fun at her sainthood AND she's sexy AND beautiful. Claire is the loyal and loving little sister. Both are really endearing characters that I enjoyed spending time with.
The flirting. Many romance books these days do NOT capture little touches, lingering looks, flirting, tension...all of the subtleties that bring a romance to life. This book does. A lot. I really liked the interactions between Remy and Fallon.
The small town. It probably helped that I was driving through Podunk, USA on a two week road trip so the tiny town of Farmingdale, Illinois really came to life for me.
That said, the issues:
The book is from the viewpoint of Remy, the girl who moved to San Francisco and is now back to manage the estate of her deceased grandmother. I really was intrigued by her in the opening chapter. She's awkward and geekily charming. After, though? I just didn't like her much. She was an okay character but the author made a point of writing her as jaded and urban (I guess) and the more I read the less I liked her.
The constant reference to "the blonde", "the brunette", and "the other woman". This is something we often seen in fan fiction so I don't expect to see it in a book and it really pulls me out of a story. It's so much more intimate and personal just to use the name of the characters rather than this type of identifier. To give you an idea, the counts: the brunette (133), the blonde (188), and other woman (97).
Conflict comes from assumptions. It was something I could at least see happening but, as a reader, I was frustrated because I wanted to shout at Remy to stop.
As romances go, it's a fairly satisfying read minus Remy's chip on her shoulder. On the whole, I was entertained by this second chance romance. 3.5 stars
This is a second chance romance story where Remy returns to the small town she lived in after she moved away to San Francisco.
For the most part, I enjoyed the read. That said, it has issues.
What it got right:
The character of Fallon and her sister Claire. Who wouldn't fall in love with these two? Fallon is so saintly the book actually pokes fun at her sainthood AND she's sexy AND beautiful. Claire is the loyal and loving little sister. Both are really endearing characters that I enjoyed spending time with.
The flirting. Many romance books these days do NOT capture little touches, lingering looks, flirting, tension...all of the subtleties that bring a romance to life. This book does. A lot. I really liked the interactions between Remy and Fallon.
The small town. It probably helped that I was driving through Podunk, USA on a two week road trip so the tiny town of Farmingdale, Illinois really came to life for me.
That said, the issues:
The book is from the viewpoint of Remy, the girl who moved to San Francisco and is now back to manage the estate of her deceased grandmother. I really was intrigued by her in the opening chapter. She's awkward and geekily charming. After, though? I just didn't like her much. She was an okay character but the author made a point of writing her as jaded and urban (I guess) and the more I read the less I liked her.
The constant reference to "the blonde", "the brunette", and "the other woman". This is something we often seen in fan fiction so I don't expect to see it in a book and it really pulls me out of a story. It's so much more intimate and personal just to use the name of the characters rather than this type of identifier. To give you an idea, the counts: the brunette (133), the blonde (188), and other woman (97).
Conflict comes from assumptions. It was something I could at least see happening but, as a reader, I was frustrated because I wanted to shout at Remy to stop.
As romances go, it's a fairly satisfying read minus Remy's chip on her shoulder. On the whole, I was entertained by this second chance romance. 3.5 stars
December 24, 2018
A romance book on second chances, by and large, between Remy & Fallon who met and hooked up in the final days of their senior year in high school. Misunderstanding occured and Remy fled town when she felt she was being ‘played’/mocked and returned more than a decade later to attend to her grandma’s estate after her passing. Story is mainly focus on the 2 MCs how they came together, etc. with nothing much being said of other secondary characters, maybe apart from Claire.
It was an enjoyable read with a little angst thrown in. Storyline written well - though at times it gets to me with the constant throwing of the brunette and the blonde in the book, to differentiate between the 2 MCs.
It was an enjoyable read with a little angst thrown in. Storyline written well - though at times it gets to me with the constant throwing of the brunette and the blonde in the book, to differentiate between the 2 MCs.
June 9, 2022
In the last few months, Monica McCallan is having all her back catalogue released on audio. Back to the Start was written in 2018 and is one of her first novels.
After her grandmother passed away, Remy returns to the small town she left twelve years ago. She has bitter memories of the place as a teenager, especially from her first love, Fallon Lewis, who broke her heart back then. The trip will allow Remy to reconnect with Fallon again and to learn hard truths about herself too...
This is a second chances romance with the setting of a small town. The book is written in third person only from the point of view of Remy, who is a hard-to-like character. Ms. McCallan shows Remy with all her shortcomings, self-doubts, and flaws. She's a character that has a lot of growing up to do and this book is as much a romance as her journey to become a better person.
Despite Ms. McCallan being a relatively new author (her debut novel was published in 2017), she has grown a lot as a writer and readers can tell by comparing this novel with her latest ones. I'm not sure if it was the psychic distance of the third person, or the emphasis on Remy's struggles, or the miscommunication but sometimes it was hard to keep up with Remy's contradictions and hesitations. Her road to redemption is not without bumps.
Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of the lack of communication between characters and the angst associated with it. While I understand that there is miscommunication or lack thereof in many relationships in real life, somehow it's hard to pull this reality into a book, not sure why, maybe written stories have to simplify miscommunication too much so they make sense, and once they are simplified they lose credibility. I'm not a fan of angst either so I'm not the ideal demographic for this story. Despite that, I enjoyed most of it and I eventually warm up to Remy and her life decisions. Readers who like angst will enjoy this story much more than I did.
Lori Prince has narrated all of this author's audiobooks so far (plus the next two which will be released this summer) and has done a magnificent job as usual. Her narration definitely improved my overall enjoyment of this story as she made the most to convey the chemistry between the main characters. If you like your love stories with a side of angst and miscommunication, then this one is for you. 4 stars.
Length: 8 hours, 39 minutes
Available in Scribd
After her grandmother passed away, Remy returns to the small town she left twelve years ago. She has bitter memories of the place as a teenager, especially from her first love, Fallon Lewis, who broke her heart back then. The trip will allow Remy to reconnect with Fallon again and to learn hard truths about herself too...
This is a second chances romance with the setting of a small town. The book is written in third person only from the point of view of Remy, who is a hard-to-like character. Ms. McCallan shows Remy with all her shortcomings, self-doubts, and flaws. She's a character that has a lot of growing up to do and this book is as much a romance as her journey to become a better person.
Despite Ms. McCallan being a relatively new author (her debut novel was published in 2017), she has grown a lot as a writer and readers can tell by comparing this novel with her latest ones. I'm not sure if it was the psychic distance of the third person, or the emphasis on Remy's struggles, or the miscommunication but sometimes it was hard to keep up with Remy's contradictions and hesitations. Her road to redemption is not without bumps.
Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of the lack of communication between characters and the angst associated with it. While I understand that there is miscommunication or lack thereof in many relationships in real life, somehow it's hard to pull this reality into a book, not sure why, maybe written stories have to simplify miscommunication too much so they make sense, and once they are simplified they lose credibility. I'm not a fan of angst either so I'm not the ideal demographic for this story. Despite that, I enjoyed most of it and I eventually warm up to Remy and her life decisions. Readers who like angst will enjoy this story much more than I did.
Lori Prince has narrated all of this author's audiobooks so far (plus the next two which will be released this summer) and has done a magnificent job as usual. Her narration definitely improved my overall enjoyment of this story as she made the most to convey the chemistry between the main characters. If you like your love stories with a side of angst and miscommunication, then this one is for you. 4 stars.
Length: 8 hours, 39 minutes
Available in Scribd
December 3, 2024
As always with a Monica McCallan book, Back to the Start was a solid, enjoyable read! I liked how well-developed the small cast of characters was—each one felt like they had real depth. The pacing was spot on too; it made the story so easy to get lost in, and I breezed through it in no time.
I have to admit, Remy wasn’t my favorite. Fallon deserved better, in my opinion, but I appreciated the way Remy owned up to her flaws and genuinely worked to better herself by the end.
It’s a sweet second-chance romance with a satisfying HEA, and fans of the genre will definitely enjoy it!
I have to admit, Remy wasn’t my favorite. Fallon deserved better, in my opinion, but I appreciated the way Remy owned up to her flaws and genuinely worked to better herself by the end.
It’s a sweet second-chance romance with a satisfying HEA, and fans of the genre will definitely enjoy it!
November 2, 2018
3.5.
Over all, its a good read, and I'm a sucker for books that are set in a small town in middle of no where. .. score would have been higher, but I wasn't overly keen on one of the main characters... Remy came across as a self centered snob and for me, put a 'downer' on the story.
Over all, its a good read, and I'm a sucker for books that are set in a small town in middle of no where. .. score would have been higher, but I wasn't overly keen on one of the main characters... Remy came across as a self centered snob and for me, put a 'downer' on the story.
March 27, 2023
3.75
Loved Prince’s performance.
For the story it was sweet though a bit predictable.
Based on the reviews many readers disliked Remy, I enjoyed both MC’s. Each had their own flaws with communicating.
Overall I liked it but parts fell flat for me. Just left with a feeling that there could’ve been more, what I am not sure atm.
Loved Prince’s performance.
For the story it was sweet though a bit predictable.
Based on the reviews many readers disliked Remy, I enjoyed both MC’s. Each had their own flaws with communicating.
Overall I liked it but parts fell flat for me. Just left with a feeling that there could’ve been more, what I am not sure atm.
July 12, 2022
Fair warning this review starts with a tangent. Skip to the 2nd paragraph for the actual review.
I finished a reread of a book I loved yesterday, which means I was looking for a new book to read. The process of starting a book stresses me out—actually the process of starting anything stresses me out. But I finally had the chosen book in hand and started to read the first paragraph of the first chapter when, all of a sudden, I remembered I was about 75% finished reading another book that I’d completely forgotten about. And while starting things is difficult for me, finishing things is my wheelhouse—to a point that it’s sometimes masochistic. But this book had completely slipped my mind. And that’s bad, folks. So keep this in mind when you read my review.
Monica McCallan was my big find last year. I’d never read any of her books and I was honestly blown away—exceeded all my expectations. Interestingly, the book that first caught my eye was Back to the Start (damn, gorgeous cover), but I never got around to reading it until now. And let me just state here that I’m grateful this wasn’t my introduction to McCallan because Back to the Start just didn’t work for me. I guess the takeaway is that McCallan has grown and improved as a writer since she published this novel, but there were some major bumps for me here.
Back to the Start is a second-chance romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. It also must be one of McCallan’s because this is the third novel of hers that I've read (of 5) that’s exploring the trope. As for Back to the Start, Remy spent her senior year of high school in a small midwestern town where she lived with her grandmother and never felt she fit in. Thankfully for her, she had an acceptance to Berkeley and only one more week left in the town before she could get the hell out. The town’s only saving grace was Fallon, the gorgeous and popular girl Remy tutored and the person who helped Remy feel welcome in this town even if they weren’t super close friends. Remy returns to the town several years later after her grandmother’s death to settle the estate and running into Fallon again is the last thing Remy wants to do or deal with. But fates don’t always agree and maybe Remy’s understanding of the past has some gaps.
Overall I wasn’t sold on the romance here. At least not in the present tense. I never felt like they really knew each other. At least in terms of Fallon really getting to know adult Remy very well. It just seemed like Fallon had been stunted romantically at 18 and had never recovered. Because Remy is a hard character to like, which doesn’t make or break the book, but the author has to convince me what it is about Remy that would attract a character like Fallon. But McCallan does manage to stick the landing. It’s everything in between I struggled with.
The biggest obstacle to the book is the writing. Other reviewers have commented on this but descriptors like “the blonde” and “the brunette” and “the taller woman” etc. really detracted from the story. Just use the characters’ names or pronouns! No one refers to anyone like that like except for maybe in regards to a stranger and definitely not more than once. And experienced writers don’t do this (or maybe their editors fix it), but it was distracting. Add the abundance of cliches used, and I was bored. No wonder I completely forgot about the book.
Look, I’m not trying to be overly negative, but this was my experience. If the descriptors above don’t bother you, then definitely read this book. Fallon is worth the journey on her own. And definitely read McCallan’s more recent novels as I think they’re well worth your time. This one? I can’t really recommend it.
I finished a reread of a book I loved yesterday, which means I was looking for a new book to read. The process of starting a book stresses me out—actually the process of starting anything stresses me out. But I finally had the chosen book in hand and started to read the first paragraph of the first chapter when, all of a sudden, I remembered I was about 75% finished reading another book that I’d completely forgotten about. And while starting things is difficult for me, finishing things is my wheelhouse—to a point that it’s sometimes masochistic. But this book had completely slipped my mind. And that’s bad, folks. So keep this in mind when you read my review.
Monica McCallan was my big find last year. I’d never read any of her books and I was honestly blown away—exceeded all my expectations. Interestingly, the book that first caught my eye was Back to the Start (damn, gorgeous cover), but I never got around to reading it until now. And let me just state here that I’m grateful this wasn’t my introduction to McCallan because Back to the Start just didn’t work for me. I guess the takeaway is that McCallan has grown and improved as a writer since she published this novel, but there were some major bumps for me here.
Back to the Start is a second-chance romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. It also must be one of McCallan’s because this is the third novel of hers that I've read (of 5) that’s exploring the trope. As for Back to the Start, Remy spent her senior year of high school in a small midwestern town where she lived with her grandmother and never felt she fit in. Thankfully for her, she had an acceptance to Berkeley and only one more week left in the town before she could get the hell out. The town’s only saving grace was Fallon, the gorgeous and popular girl Remy tutored and the person who helped Remy feel welcome in this town even if they weren’t super close friends. Remy returns to the town several years later after her grandmother’s death to settle the estate and running into Fallon again is the last thing Remy wants to do or deal with. But fates don’t always agree and maybe Remy’s understanding of the past has some gaps.
Overall I wasn’t sold on the romance here. At least not in the present tense. I never felt like they really knew each other. At least in terms of Fallon really getting to know adult Remy very well. It just seemed like Fallon had been stunted romantically at 18 and had never recovered. Because Remy is a hard character to like, which doesn’t make or break the book, but the author has to convince me what it is about Remy that would attract a character like Fallon. But McCallan does manage to stick the landing. It’s everything in between I struggled with.
The biggest obstacle to the book is the writing. Other reviewers have commented on this but descriptors like “the blonde” and “the brunette” and “the taller woman” etc. really detracted from the story. Just use the characters’ names or pronouns! No one refers to anyone like that like except for maybe in regards to a stranger and definitely not more than once. And experienced writers don’t do this (or maybe their editors fix it), but it was distracting. Add the abundance of cliches used, and I was bored. No wonder I completely forgot about the book.
Look, I’m not trying to be overly negative, but this was my experience. If the descriptors above don’t bother you, then definitely read this book. Fallon is worth the journey on her own. And definitely read McCallan’s more recent novels as I think they’re well worth your time. This one? I can’t really recommend it.
October 30, 2018
Hmmm. First from the author.
I got mixed emotions toward this one.
I don’t really think that Remy is a likable character. She’s too selfish and narrow-minded. I was ready to give this a 3 because I don’t really think she deserves Fallon.
They had a misunderstanding, she felt betrayed.
For me, her reaction to be like that I mean It was too over the top. I don’t want to belittle what she’s been through but I was expecting something deeper happened for her to react that way.
I can imagine the situation but the delivery of the story is lacking. Sorry. Maybe I was expecting something to happen.
Although I admit Remy redeemed herself at the end.
Major reason for my 4stars is because of Fallon, she’s too sweet and nice and also Fallon’s sister, Claire.
3.5
I got mixed emotions toward this one.
I don’t really think that Remy is a likable character. She’s too selfish and narrow-minded. I was ready to give this a 3 because I don’t really think she deserves Fallon.
They had a misunderstanding, she felt betrayed.
For me, her reaction to be like that I mean It was too over the top. I don’t want to belittle what she’s been through but I was expecting something deeper happened for her to react that way.
I can imagine the situation but the delivery of the story is lacking. Sorry. Maybe I was expecting something to happen.
Although I admit Remy redeemed herself at the end.
Major reason for my 4stars is because of Fallon, she’s too sweet and nice and also Fallon’s sister, Claire.
3.5
August 28, 2018
Monica McCallan’s Back to the Start is an okay read featuring the trope of rekindling first love. Although the book has a wonderful love interest and interesting plot twists, it’s bogged down with tedious writing and an unlikable protagonist.
Our protagonist is Remy who must leave San Francisco and return to Farmingdale after her grandmother dies. Although Remy only lived there briefly and hasn’t been back in twelve years, the small town left an indelible mark on her. She’s vowed to forget everything that happened there, especially Fallon, the beautiful and popular girl who broke her heart. However, their paths inevitably cross. As misunderstandings are cleared up and Remy and Fallon form a tentative friendship that blossoms into something more, Remy must decide exactly what she wants from life.
I struggled with this book. Although the plot is decent, I dislike McCallan’s writing style. Every other page is filled with phrases like “the blonde said” or “the brunette did” and it’s frustrating and boring to read. The writing is very flat and lacks emotion. I really would have liked some relevant descriptions because I struggled to picture people and places.
Remy is an unlikable, selfish, and narrow-minded protagonist. I couldn’t connect with her at all. But, she does experience some much-needed growth by the end of the book. However, I really would have liked the narrative to feature more of Remy’s change in attitude toward the town and other people. On the other hand, Fallon is the perfect love interest who is honestly too good for Remy. She’s a great and relatable character who is generous, caring, and sweet.
While the plot isn’t ground-breaking, it’s well-paced and kept my attention. There is a decent amount of tension and sweetness in the romance. I like that there isn’t an instant love reconnection between Remy and Fallon. Instead, they take time to rebuild their relationship, move past their issues and learn about each other. I particularly like the last few twists which finally allow Remy to show some growth.
Back to the Start is an okay take on the rekindling first love trope. While I love Fallon and the plot held my attention, I couldn’t fully get into this book because of McCallan’s writing and Remy’s off-putting personality. I wouldn’t read this one again. But, if you like the rekindling first love trope and well-written love interests, maybe you can give this book a go.
This review was originally posted at The Lesbrary.
Our protagonist is Remy who must leave San Francisco and return to Farmingdale after her grandmother dies. Although Remy only lived there briefly and hasn’t been back in twelve years, the small town left an indelible mark on her. She’s vowed to forget everything that happened there, especially Fallon, the beautiful and popular girl who broke her heart. However, their paths inevitably cross. As misunderstandings are cleared up and Remy and Fallon form a tentative friendship that blossoms into something more, Remy must decide exactly what she wants from life.
I struggled with this book. Although the plot is decent, I dislike McCallan’s writing style. Every other page is filled with phrases like “the blonde said” or “the brunette did” and it’s frustrating and boring to read. The writing is very flat and lacks emotion. I really would have liked some relevant descriptions because I struggled to picture people and places.
Remy is an unlikable, selfish, and narrow-minded protagonist. I couldn’t connect with her at all. But, she does experience some much-needed growth by the end of the book. However, I really would have liked the narrative to feature more of Remy’s change in attitude toward the town and other people. On the other hand, Fallon is the perfect love interest who is honestly too good for Remy. She’s a great and relatable character who is generous, caring, and sweet.
While the plot isn’t ground-breaking, it’s well-paced and kept my attention. There is a decent amount of tension and sweetness in the romance. I like that there isn’t an instant love reconnection between Remy and Fallon. Instead, they take time to rebuild their relationship, move past their issues and learn about each other. I particularly like the last few twists which finally allow Remy to show some growth.
Back to the Start is an okay take on the rekindling first love trope. While I love Fallon and the plot held my attention, I couldn’t fully get into this book because of McCallan’s writing and Remy’s off-putting personality. I wouldn’t read this one again. But, if you like the rekindling first love trope and well-written love interests, maybe you can give this book a go.
This review was originally posted at The Lesbrary.
January 29, 2019
Enjoyed the general premise of the book. Loved Fallon, didnt care much for Remy. But Fallon and her sister made the read worth it. Some issues with the writing style - it could have been a lot more engaging and fun than it turned out to be. Still, overall not a bad read.
3.4 stars
3.4 stars
September 6, 2018
Loved it!
July 13, 2022
fallon lewis, oh the woman that you are….
December 28, 2024
It’s pretty interesting going back and reading an author’s earlier works. I love Monica McCallan’s books and I gave this early work a shot. It’s not as polished as her later works, but Remy and Fallon were a nice couple to follow. Fallon is complete sunshine and such a good person, almost to a fault. Remy is smart and driven and a little broken. It was a fun read with a little angst and some nice steam and spice.
It’s a little distracting to read the words “the blonde” and “the brunette” in every other sentence and even though I knew it was coming, it still took away from the story.
It’s a little distracting to read the words “the blonde” and “the brunette” in every other sentence and even though I knew it was coming, it still took away from the story.
October 19, 2025
3.75⭐️ I am a massive McCallan fan. Without fail have loved everything I’ve read of hers, all 4+ stars easily. Unfortunately this was the first of her books that didn’t reach my now lofty expectations.
I definitely prefer when McCallan writes dual points of view (she does it so well!) and missed that here. I would have loved to have more of Fallon, and I also suspect it would have helped make Remy more likeable seeing her from Fallon’s perspective rather than just her own self deprecating one. I did not enjoy the main characters being identified as “the blonde” or “the brunette” or “the taller woman” - it just pulled me out of the story and often made me have to take pause to orientate myself to who was being referred to. I’m glad McCallan doesn’t do this as much in her more recent work.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed Back to the Start, which despite my critique is an easy enjoyable comfort read. It just fell short of my expectations.
I definitely prefer when McCallan writes dual points of view (she does it so well!) and missed that here. I would have loved to have more of Fallon, and I also suspect it would have helped make Remy more likeable seeing her from Fallon’s perspective rather than just her own self deprecating one. I did not enjoy the main characters being identified as “the blonde” or “the brunette” or “the taller woman” - it just pulled me out of the story and often made me have to take pause to orientate myself to who was being referred to. I’m glad McCallan doesn’t do this as much in her more recent work.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed Back to the Start, which despite my critique is an easy enjoyable comfort read. It just fell short of my expectations.
June 15, 2022
3.75 stars. Feeling generous enough to round up.
This isn’t my favorite by McCallan (still Then and Now, I think) but it was solidly fun. I liked both MCs and the main side character of Fallon’s younger sister, Claire a lot. The pace felt nice and the dynamic fleshed out. My only real complaints were that I tend to prefer povs from all sides of a romance, and would have liked to get into Fallons head, too. And I haaaate the whole usage of ‘the blonde’ ‘the brunette’ ‘the taller girl’ etc. it’s a thing I remember being really prevalent in fanfic about a decade ago (did it myself, iirc) but it gets annoying. I don’t recall mccallan using it in other books, so that’s good.
Lori Prince was as wonderful as always, and her Remy voice is one of my favs of hers. Def rec, but there are better ones by this author for sure. I think this is one of her earliest ones and she’s really hit her grove with newer ones.
This isn’t my favorite by McCallan (still Then and Now, I think) but it was solidly fun. I liked both MCs and the main side character of Fallon’s younger sister, Claire a lot. The pace felt nice and the dynamic fleshed out. My only real complaints were that I tend to prefer povs from all sides of a romance, and would have liked to get into Fallons head, too. And I haaaate the whole usage of ‘the blonde’ ‘the brunette’ ‘the taller girl’ etc. it’s a thing I remember being really prevalent in fanfic about a decade ago (did it myself, iirc) but it gets annoying. I don’t recall mccallan using it in other books, so that’s good.
Lori Prince was as wonderful as always, and her Remy voice is one of my favs of hers. Def rec, but there are better ones by this author for sure. I think this is one of her earliest ones and she’s really hit her grove with newer ones.
September 30, 2022
3.5 star rating
Two women with a high-school past find themselves within each other's space once again. With a realisation that what they thought they knew wasn't what it truly is. Then comes the reacquainting closeness and they realisation it might only be a fling.
Nice story...absolutely checkmarks the romance corner 👌.
Two women with a high-school past find themselves within each other's space once again. With a realisation that what they thought they knew wasn't what it truly is. Then comes the reacquainting closeness and they realisation it might only be a fling.
Nice story...absolutely checkmarks the romance corner 👌.
December 31, 2024
This was like 2.5... I was surprised by the writing being just objectively bad because I like Monica McCallan, and this was never a problem.
August 7, 2018
Back to the Start is based on my LEAST favorite romance trope but I could not stop myself from reading the whole book. McCallan gives the trope a nifty spin and makes you feel every heart-wrenching moment of Remy's anxiety at returning to a part of her childhood.
Of course, a return to home story is incomplete without the one who broke her heart and Fallon fits the bill perfectly.
The tension is ratcheted up slowly and perfectly the twist at the end make you want to smack the main character while also feeling her pain.
Fabulous.
Of course, a return to home story is incomplete without the one who broke her heart and Fallon fits the bill perfectly.
The tension is ratcheted up slowly and perfectly the twist at the end make you want to smack the main character while also feeling her pain.
Fabulous.
September 22, 2019
Sometimes it is good to look back!
Remy is dreading going home to clear out her grandmother’s house after her death. She doesn’t want to see Fallon, her first love and plans to avoid her at all costs. Except this is a small town and the inevitable happens, but this time Fallon wants a second chance even if it is just a friendship.
But Remy knows deep down that her feelings for Fallon were always much more than just that.
At times I didn’t warm to Remy. I thought she was a little hard on Fallon and still held the same resentment of a teenager instead of seeing what happened between her and Fallon as a teenage mistake.
This was such a sweet story, and I enjoyed the premise. There is something about a small-town romance that just gets me every time. The Last 30% of the story was fantastic and really had me glued to the page. The last chapter, followed by the epilogue, which was excellent and gave me all the feels.
The chemistry between Fallon and Remy was great, and Fallon, in particular, oozed sex appeal. Their flirting made for really great reading and the sex scenes were hot… Damn hot! Also, the quiet, more intimate moments from Fallon and Remy show the other side of them and how their connection wasn’t all sex but something more profound with a stronger connection. It was lovely to watch it unfold in my mind’s eye.
Another great read from Monica McCallan. She’s shaping up to be a formidable romantic fiction author… definitely, one to watch.
Star Rating: 4
Remy is dreading going home to clear out her grandmother’s house after her death. She doesn’t want to see Fallon, her first love and plans to avoid her at all costs. Except this is a small town and the inevitable happens, but this time Fallon wants a second chance even if it is just a friendship.
But Remy knows deep down that her feelings for Fallon were always much more than just that.
At times I didn’t warm to Remy. I thought she was a little hard on Fallon and still held the same resentment of a teenager instead of seeing what happened between her and Fallon as a teenage mistake.
This was such a sweet story, and I enjoyed the premise. There is something about a small-town romance that just gets me every time. The Last 30% of the story was fantastic and really had me glued to the page. The last chapter, followed by the epilogue, which was excellent and gave me all the feels.
The chemistry between Fallon and Remy was great, and Fallon, in particular, oozed sex appeal. Their flirting made for really great reading and the sex scenes were hot… Damn hot! Also, the quiet, more intimate moments from Fallon and Remy show the other side of them and how their connection wasn’t all sex but something more profound with a stronger connection. It was lovely to watch it unfold in my mind’s eye.
Another great read from Monica McCallan. She’s shaping up to be a formidable romantic fiction author… definitely, one to watch.
Star Rating: 4
September 20, 2018
So I am still reading this book which says a lot because I am reviewing while still trying very hard to not punch my computer.
The use of 'The blonde said this' 'The brunette' 'The girl' after every paragraph is jarring. I've actually taken to just putting the names in for my own sanity.
Secondly, the protagonist is for lack of a better word, a bitch. So far I am having a difficult time wanting her to get with her love interest.
Thirdly, the book starts of interesting and you keep wondering what happened that has made the protagonist so bitter...when you actually find out ..it's like ummm really? And the quick turn around from her bitterness is so unrealistic and stupid just like her reason for being mad in the first place. Frankly, the build up fell flat, like using a vibrator and the battering running out when you were just about to...you get my drift.
Finally, 30 pages in, I already know what's going to happen. No element of surprise, no tension build up, just boring and predictable for crying out loud!!!!!!sigh
The use of 'The blonde said this' 'The brunette' 'The girl' after every paragraph is jarring. I've actually taken to just putting the names in for my own sanity.
Secondly, the protagonist is for lack of a better word, a bitch. So far I am having a difficult time wanting her to get with her love interest.
Thirdly, the book starts of interesting and you keep wondering what happened that has made the protagonist so bitter...when you actually find out ..it's like ummm really? And the quick turn around from her bitterness is so unrealistic and stupid just like her reason for being mad in the first place. Frankly, the build up fell flat, like using a vibrator and the battering running out when you were just about to...you get my drift.
Finally, 30 pages in, I already know what's going to happen. No element of surprise, no tension build up, just boring and predictable for crying out loud!!!!!!sigh
November 8, 2018
This was just such a cute book!
The relationship between main characters Remy and Fallon was so perfect, and they were very suited to one another. Both of them are unique in their own way.
Remy is a very complicated and misunderstood soul, who left behind a crush and has no idea the impact it had on Fallon’s life until she returns many years later and a spark is re-ignited. Their friendship and interactions suggest they have never been apart at times and that really made their story special.
Their story was sweet and well told in this lovely romance. I very much enjoyed reading about them and how Remy came to realise the enormity of what she may lose if she didn’t act soon. A brilliantly written romance, with lots of drama, fun and cute moments to melt your heart.
I really enjoyed it and would recommend this to any reader who likes a well told romance.
The relationship between main characters Remy and Fallon was so perfect, and they were very suited to one another. Both of them are unique in their own way.
Remy is a very complicated and misunderstood soul, who left behind a crush and has no idea the impact it had on Fallon’s life until she returns many years later and a spark is re-ignited. Their friendship and interactions suggest they have never been apart at times and that really made their story special.
Their story was sweet and well told in this lovely romance. I very much enjoyed reading about them and how Remy came to realise the enormity of what she may lose if she didn’t act soon. A brilliantly written romance, with lots of drama, fun and cute moments to melt your heart.
I really enjoyed it and would recommend this to any reader who likes a well told romance.
December 29, 2018
I couldn't get past the 1st chapter. Couldn't stand the way the writer words things. She often would say "the tall girl" "the blonde" "the brunette" the other girl. It made it very frustrating and confusing to read
August 20, 2018
Thank god she pulled it this time writing wise. Her first book is in my dnf shelf because I really got tired of how it was written . Thankfully this one is beaucoup mieux. 😁
Read it!
Read it!
April 26, 2025
I enjoyed this one. Not sure about calling ppl by their hair color but… still a good story with engaging characters.
December 19, 2025
3.8 ⭐️ A warm and cosy sapphic romance.
The story is great but you can tell it’s one of the authors older works as the writing style is rougher but I would still highly recommend this. I couldn’t put it down and the characters are so well crafted and have a whole lot of depth from the get go.
It does have some brief angst, but I did appreciate the small dash because it felt needed for growth on both sides.
I had one issue with this story, that prevented it being a 4.5 and that was simply the writing. For the first 30 pages or so there’s an excessive use of ‘the blonde’ and ‘the brunette’ which feels very Y2K fanfic, but that randomly vanished after the first chapter or two. Some light edits to alter to their names in those chapters would make this a seriously solid read. For anyone this is annoying: please stick with the story. I almost put it down and stuck with it, and those descriptors vanish pretty dang fast at which point the book levels up massively.
The story is beautiful, and gripping, and just perfect to cosy up with during winter. Even with the rougher writing, I loved this story so freaking much.
Rep// lesbian woman MC, sapphic woman MC, sapphic woman SC. Central romance is WLW/Sapphic.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// loss of family member (past), homophobia and slurs (on page, brief), alcohol and drinking, Harry Potter references, sex on page.
The story is great but you can tell it’s one of the authors older works as the writing style is rougher but I would still highly recommend this. I couldn’t put it down and the characters are so well crafted and have a whole lot of depth from the get go.
It does have some brief angst, but I did appreciate the small dash because it felt needed for growth on both sides.
I had one issue with this story, that prevented it being a 4.5 and that was simply the writing. For the first 30 pages or so there’s an excessive use of ‘the blonde’ and ‘the brunette’ which feels very Y2K fanfic, but that randomly vanished after the first chapter or two. Some light edits to alter to their names in those chapters would make this a seriously solid read. For anyone this is annoying: please stick with the story. I almost put it down and stuck with it, and those descriptors vanish pretty dang fast at which point the book levels up massively.
The story is beautiful, and gripping, and just perfect to cosy up with during winter. Even with the rougher writing, I loved this story so freaking much.
Rep// lesbian woman MC, sapphic woman MC, sapphic woman SC. Central romance is WLW/Sapphic.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// loss of family member (past), homophobia and slurs (on page, brief), alcohol and drinking, Harry Potter references, sex on page.
December 11, 2018
I had hoped Back to the Start would be an enjoyable read but the writing let the it down. Most of the story takes place in Remy's head and i found myself skipping pages just to get to some actual dialogue
May 13, 2021
This was really cute and sweet, but I have to agree with a lot of other reviewers about the excessive use of "the blonde" and "the brunette" to describe the 2 main characters. It was a little strange and distracting. Other than that, it was enjoyable.
June 19, 2022
Great love story. MC's are sexy and interesting. I will be reading more of Mccallan"s books.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated wonderfully by Lori Prince.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated wonderfully by Lori Prince.
August 26, 2024
A decent enough romance, not too special not too bad.
January 12, 2026
(January 12, 2026) I read this previously (Nov 2021) on Kindle Unlimited. I was able to listen to the audio version from my local library. I did remember the story. I enjoyed the longing and falling back into the old connections of the characters' friendship. Lori Prince is a great narrator and it helped me keep the characters straight when the author was using the blonde and the brunette as the descriptors.
I enjoyed it more this time around and upped it from my original three star rating.
****************
(November 20, 2021) This is a second chance romance. Remy's family lived with her grandmother her senior year in a small town 30 minutes from St. Louis. In the twelve years since she's left she graduated from Berkley and is very successful in her job in San Francisco. She returns to empty out her grandmothers house so that it can be sold. Of course on day one she runs into Fallon who was her first love. And there is a lot of anger and bitterness on Remy's part about how things ended. While Remy comes off as jaded, nerdy and insecure Fallon is almost perfect. She is genuinely kind and compassionate. She's made personal sacrifices for her family and others. Of course the attraction is still there.
I usually love second chance romances and I really like Fallon and her sister Claire. But everything is told from Remy's POV and she is confused by her baggage much of the time. The author also kept inserting "the blonde" or "the brunette" instead of using their names and I found it really distracting. (I've read another book recently that did that too and it may have been the same author.) I wanted to know Fallon better. It is implied that she is out but they never discuss it. Also a scene when an ex of Remy's show up seems awkward and unneeded. It didn't make me like Remy or understand her any better. An okay read I just wish it had been smoother.
I enjoyed it more this time around and upped it from my original three star rating.
****************
(November 20, 2021) This is a second chance romance. Remy's family lived with her grandmother her senior year in a small town 30 minutes from St. Louis. In the twelve years since she's left she graduated from Berkley and is very successful in her job in San Francisco. She returns to empty out her grandmothers house so that it can be sold. Of course on day one she runs into Fallon who was her first love. And there is a lot of anger and bitterness on Remy's part about how things ended. While Remy comes off as jaded, nerdy and insecure Fallon is almost perfect. She is genuinely kind and compassionate. She's made personal sacrifices for her family and others. Of course the attraction is still there.
I usually love second chance romances and I really like Fallon and her sister Claire. But everything is told from Remy's POV and she is confused by her baggage much of the time. The author also kept inserting "the blonde" or "the brunette" instead of using their names and I found it really distracting. (I've read another book recently that did that too and it may have been the same author.) I wanted to know Fallon better. It is implied that she is out but they never discuss it. Also a scene when an ex of Remy's show up seems awkward and unneeded. It didn't make me like Remy or understand her any better. An okay read I just wish it had been smoother.
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