Backslide

by Nora Dahlia

The author of the “sexy, smart, and sweetly satisfying” (Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Pick-Up returns with a second chance romance perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez! Exes are thrown together at their best friends’ wine country un-wedding and forced to reckon with their past...and lingering sparks.

Nellie Hurwitz doesn’t have a first love. She has a first hate. And she has refused to talk about what happened with Noah since their high school graduation. For two decades, they’ve managed to avoid seeing each other—until their respective best friends, Ben and Cara, plan an intimate vow renewal at a vineyard compound in Sonoma, California.

Nellie is determined to keep ancient history from ruining the trip Cara has worked so hard to plan but close quarters bring up feelings both Nellie and Noah have locked away for twenty years. Even amidst the awkwardness of their forced proximity, the two can’t shake the heady attraction they’ve always shared.

Written in alternating timelines, teenage Nellie and Noah fall together and apart in 1990s New York while in the present day, they wonder whether there is still something real between them. Ultimately, can they find a way to move forward? Or will they backslide and blow things up for good?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Second Chance Romance, Enemies To Lovers

368 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Nora Dahlia is a lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, ELLE, The Wall Street Journal, and Vanity Fair, among others. Nora is also a branded content strategist, book doctor, ghostwriter, and writing coach. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two kids, and enormous cat, Waldo. PICK-UP is her first romance novel.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who fell head over heels for Nora Dahlia's Pick Up, I practically squealed when I got my hands on Backslide. Enemies-to-lovers? Second chance romance? Forced proximity at a gorgeous vineyard? Sign me up! While there were moments that made my romance-loving heart flutter, I found myself wrestling with some frustrations that kept me from fully surrendering to the story.

Let's start with what worked: the delicious tension between Nellie and Noah absolutely sizzled in those flashback scenes. Dahlia perfectly captures that intoxicating, all-consuming rush of first love - the stolen glances, the whispered secrets, the way every touch feels electric. I could practically smell the subway grime and hear the mixtapes clicking in their '90s New York romance. These chapters were so vivid and emotionally raw that I found myself craving even more of their youthful passion.

In the present timeline, though, their reunion felt a bit like watching someone try to rekindle a campfire with damp wood - there were sparks, but they never quite caught into a sustainable flame. Nellie's lingering resentment was understandable (we've all been burned by first loves), but after twenty years, her complete refusal to even discuss what happened - even with her best friend - started to feel less like self-preservation and more like emotional immaturity. Noah, bless him, clearly never moved on, but his grand gestures sometimes tipped into questionable territory rather than swoon-worthy romance.

Now, about those supporting characters... Oh dear. Look, I get that every friend group has That One Dramatic Person, but Lydia and Damien weren't just flawed - they were outright unbearable. Their constant meddling and petty behavior crossed the line from "fun antagonism" to "why would anyone tolerate this toxicity?" There were moments I wanted to reach into the book and shake the main characters for not calling them out more forcefully. A little conflict can spice up a story, but these two left a bitter aftertaste that lingered long after their scenes ended.

That said, there's no denying Dahlia's talent for crafting immersive settings and razor-sharp dialogue. The vineyard setting was so lush I could practically taste the wine, and the unwedding premise was refreshingly unique. When the focus stayed on Nellie and Noah's complicated history and undeniable chemistry, the story truly shone. I just wish their adult selves had shown the same depth and growth as their teenage counterparts, and that the supporting cast had been given more nuance.

Final Thoughts: Backslide delivers some genuinely beautiful moments of nostalgia and longing, but gets weighed down by frustrating character choices. Still, Dahlia's writing remains compulsively readable, and I'll absolutely be first in line for her next book - hopefully one where the side characters are as well-developed as the central romance!

Grateful thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. My opinions are my own, but my enthusiasm for Nora Dahlia's work is 100% genuine! Here's to many more books from this talented author - I can't wait to see what she writes next!

medium.com
instagram
facebook

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡ Synopsis & Rating ♡

This romance novel is all about second chances! It revolves around a female main character named Nellie and a male main character named Noah. They haven’t seen one another in decades! In the past, these two were in a relationship in high school and it ends quickly because of something Noah did. Due to it ending so quickly, they avoided each other at all costs. Nellie ended up hating Noah for what he did to her. They become enemies! This novel has dual timelines, as it goes back to the 1990’s and then to the present. In the present, Nellie and Noah end up seeing each other again, after such a long time. Being in their 30’s now, they both get invited to their best friend’s vow renewal ceremony.

They are now forced to see each other and ultimately start talking about what happened in the past and slowly begin to rekindle. As they slowly begin talking to each other, they try to get over the past and move forward. This book explores themes of forgiving, reckoning with the past, sparks and attraction, the power of memory and character growth! So, will they be able to get over the past and have a happily ever after ending or is the past too much for them and they decide to go their separate ways? Overall, I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars

♡ My Thoughts ♡

This is a fast paced, easy to read book. It is well written, came with a clear thesis and was well paced. It left me feeling satisfied with the conclusion and the overall storyline. I really loved the 90’s nostalgia in it! I really enjoyed the dual timelines. While loving the main characters, I didn’t really care for the side characters.

♡ Who I think would enjoy this book ♡

I think fans of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood would enjoy reading this book! Be sure to check the content warnings!

♡ Thank You ♡

Thank you to NetGalley. author Nora Dahlia and Gallery Books for this electronic arc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

♡ Release Date ♡

This book is expected to be published on October 21, 2025!

♡ Quick Review ♡

╰┈➤ Romance Genre
╰┈➤ Enemies to Lovers
╰┈➤ Dual Timeline
╰┈➤ The Power of Memory
╰┈➤ The Power of Forgiveness
╰┈➤ Second Chances
╰┈➤ Forced Proximity
╰┈➤ Has 90’s Nostalgia

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up to 4 stars, this was such a lovely read! I loved how this was both a romance and a love letter to both New York City and the West Coast. It felt nostalgic and dreamy at the same time.

I looooved the flashbacks (especially as a 90s baby) and it added more emotional depth and believability to the second chance romance of it all. It was touch and go with the MMC/FMC at times but the second half of the book was honestly perfect. Unputdownable and addictive!!! And the chemistry was spiiicy.

I have loved the romance plots so much of both of Nora’s books so far - and I cannot wait to see what else she writes!

Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional second chance romance between two people who seemed destined to fall in love in college only to have things drastically fall apart when life plans go awry. Forced back together for their friends Northern California vow renewal ceremony, Noah and Nellie have to learn to put past grievances aside in order to keep the peace but the more time they spend together, the more they can't help dwelling on long-held hurt feelings.

Will a second chance be in the cards or will things end tragically all over again?? This was a moving dual pov, Jewish romance low on the steam but high on the angst. The audio narration by Teddy Hamilton and Gilli Messer was excellent and I'd recommend it for fans of books like The ex vows by Jessica Joyce. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: fade to black/closed door

[Marcia reading past dark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backslide by Nora Dahlia is a touching second chance romance. Nellie and Noah, high school sweethearts, are surprised to meet each other again at the renewal of vows for their best friends. This charming romcom is told in alternating timelines, revealing their emotion-charged teen relationship and also their present-day tension-filled relationship.

Nora Dahlia is a skilled writer who delivers the full impact of emotions, drama, and nostalgia. It’s a winner of a love story.

[Kerri Satterlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in pretty much one sitting when I couldn’t sleep. I really enjoyed the authors last book Pick Up and I liked this even more. Fast paced writing, shortish chapters and I love that the characters are in their late 30’s

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to win this book from the Goodreads giveaway contest. It sounded so good. It actually was so difficult to decide on a rating because the writing was amazing. There were just major issues with the plot that made the rating drop down. When the flags aren't just red but are on fire, and you are screaming at the main character to run far away from the guy and never look back, not really the best. It reminded me of the love interests from 90s sitcoms where you are supposed to forget every bad thing thing they ever did because 'he likes me, he really, really likes me'. Gag me.
Her friends are even worse than he is. She never told them why they broke. Twenty years later, she still refuses to talk about it. Yet they have no issues being friends with him, inviting him to the same party as her. Even though she has talked for years about how much she hates him but refuses to say why. Decided to set them up or something.

All that being said, the writing drew me in immediately. I couldn't stop reading because I needed to know what he had done (then I was angry after that, knowing this was a rom-com). I will be looking at other books by this author, even though this one wasn't quite right.

[Anna (annasbookstacks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

second chance is typically my favorite trope but this just did not hit 🫩 rtc

[Devan (devsday) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chance romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity in a gorgeous setting? All the makings for a perfect romance. This story follows Nell and Noah who are joining their childhood best friends in Sonoma for a wedding celebration. They dated in high school but haven’t seen each other in twenty years after a devastating breakup. It was nice to read about characters in their late 30’s— we need more of that in romance!! The way she describes NYC and California made me feel like I was there. The story alternates timelines, which can often make me wish I was spending more time in one or the other— but I feel like Nora struck the perfect balance that kept me wanting to turn the page (and stay up way past my bedtime) to find out what was going to happen. So much tension, palpable chemistry and unfinished business between Noah and Nell, and such a satisfying ending. highly recommend!!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books the ARC!

[Sabrina Cozine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book perfect for a pool side read, cute and sweet, but also real

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Backslide put me through it! I was stressed, y'all! But it's the kind of stress that rises through feeling invested. And I felt so darn invested in this love story, even when my blood pressure was through the roof! I know this will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found it was absolutely to my taste. It put my heart through the wringer, but it was worth every burn and swoon! 4.5

I mention this book may not end up being everyone's cup of tea but it's mine, and that actually surprises me because I am not a fan of dual timelines, but it really works here! Firstly because it doesn't happen too often; secondly, when it happens, it's because it's needed. I ended up gaining a lot of appreciation for dual timelines because of this book.

It's not the only trope I've gained much appreciation for lately...

2025 is the year of second chance romances! I actually have never liked second chance romances until I took a chance on a book over the spring and suddenly I've read so many! I gained such an appreciation for this trope and I'm so happy to report Backslide is another entry that's proven me to how well this trope works. This tells the tale of Nellie and Noah, high school sweethearts that ended with much hurt and resentment. Now adults their mutual best friends are celebrating an "un-wedding" to make up for not having a ceremony, and so Nellie and Noah are forced to spend a week's worth of time together for celebrate their best friends. Forced time spent ends up becoming a time of introspection and reflection, and recognizing the flame that still ignites between them.

I wanted to SCREAM with the initial inability of both Nellie and Noah to properly talks things out regarding their past. But as that past became revealed to the reader, more and more I understood the hurt and bitterness that resided in them. Although I felt far more Team Nellie than Noah. I think he harbored most of the wrong, but I do think that's something he comes to learn. What Nellie went through at her age was scary, and she did it on her own. I'd be feeling just as resentful as she were I in her shoes. But I admired the way she also recognized both she and Noah were children in that past, children who stumbled where they now, as adults, can hopefully learn from. Forgiveness is well earned between both parties in this book. It doesn't come easy, but it's worked for through self-reflection.

I initially didn't feel the chemistry between Nellie and Noah, their bitterness superseded all else, but eventually I felt that spark. The ignition of flames between them, and it dazzled. Oh how it dazzled! Even with nursing my own frustration towards certain actions (particularly by Noah), I also found I desperately wanted to see them overcome each and every hurdle. Together.

I will say, I think they could do with far better friends! Thankfully, some toxic friends are left behind by story's end, but I can't say I was a super fan of any of the remaining friends. I particularly didn't like the way they treated Nellie as being the only one in the wrong for choosing her own secrets to keep to herself. But, at the same time, it's incredibly refreshing to see a cast of very flawed characters, where friendships are tested and imperfect. Every bit of this story felt so tangible and real, it's not idealistic, rather it's realistic with a happy ending. And sometimes that's exactly what the doctor ordered.

My heart went on a rollercoaster ride with this story! I experienced its highs and lows with open arms.

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads, a second chance romance I can get behind. I enjoyed this story, but didn’t really love the flashback chapters. I think we could’ve stayed in the present timeframe and just recounted some of the memories, rather than jump back in complete chapters. Regardless, I read through this one super quickly and would recommend the read.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

[Mal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced reader copy.

Nellie Hurwitz should be excited to reunite with her childhood best friends, Sabrina and Cara, at Cara's "un-wedding" to her husband Ben (who also grew up with the girls). The only problem is that going to the week-long affair in wine country means seeing Noah, her first love who broke her heart and whom she hasn't spoken to since she left for college. Once they get to the lavish estate where all the festivities will happen, Nellie and Noah get thrown together over and over, forcing them to eventually face their past.

I enjoyed the dual timelines of the book, taking us back to the pre-cell phone days of New York City, with teenagers who had very little supervision. Both Nellie and Noah are interesting enough characters to follow as teens falling in love for the first time (and when you find out what Noah did to break them up, you really do feel Nellie's pain), but even more compelling as adults who need to learn to get over the childish ways thy viewed their past. Nora Dahlia does a good job of keeping the plot moving and adding snappy dialogue, along with fun secondary characters, into the mix. It's too bad this isn't coming out until the fall because it would be a great book to curl up with on a summer vacation.

Backslide is out October 21, 2025

[Rachel Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nellie is headed to California wine country to celebrate the un-wedding of her best friend Cara to her long-time love Ben. Only she's not exactly looking forward to the trip for several reason - she has recently broken off her engagement, the magazine she works at is folding, and she's going to have to see her high school boyfriend, Noah, who left her heartbroken two decades ago. But she's determined not to let her past ruin Cara and Ben's big event. However, she keeps finding herself in Noah's company and he isn't exactly the person she imagined he would be after 20 years. In addition, Nellie's friends never really got the full story of what went down between the two and are left trying to make sense of what is happening between them now. Can they get over the past and find a real future together?

This dual POV was told in alternating timelines giving the reader a fuller picture of what happened between Nellie and Noah in high school and what they've been up to since. I found myself liking HS Nellie a lot more than current day Nellie and liking current day Noah a lot more than HS Noah. I found it extremely frustrating that these two carried a torch for each other for TWENTY YEARS and couldn't just figure it out earlier. Overall it was a fine enemies-to-lovers story, but I didn't find myself really too attached to the characters or the story and I found all of them a little juvenile for supposedly being in their late 30s. Not sure if that was intentional because the story centered around a group that dated back to high school so they were reverting to their high school selves, but nonetheless I didn't find it interesting or compelling. I loved the depictions of scenery and food and was happy to see the confrontation between Cara and Nellie at the end (which I didn't think was actually coming but was long overdue). I think this might have worked better for me if it had only been ten years since high school and the characters were in their late 20s. If I take away that aspect, it was a good enough but not great story. Would recommend to prolific readers of contemporary romances looking for enemies-to-lovers, dual timeline stories, or stories set in wine country, but probably not one I would recommend generally to all readers as there are better titles out there.

Overall: 3.5/5 rounded up
Spice: 1.5/3

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really torn on this book, there were so many parts I loved, but I also wanted to punch Noah in the face for most of the book. I am glad we got both POV plus what happened back in the day. Noah and Nellie were perfect, until they weren't. They went through some really heavy things at such a young age and their relationship just couldn't survive it. They were first loves, first all the things, but couldn't keep it.
I know when you are young you make some terrible choices, and I was on pins and needles wondering what happened to get them to the place they are now. Why Nellie hated him so much and why what he did was not forgivable then. Well, let's just say, I don't blame Nellie. She was always the one that got away for him, he would go back and do so much differently if he could, but he also felt a type of way about her. (*gives side eye to Noah for these feelings)
All in all I think the book had a great premise, but what happened when they were younger really needed to be talked about way more than it was. There were points where I couldn't understand why she was even speaking to him without the apology she deserved, but that is me. She never truly got over him and it was clear there was still so much love there. I did like their friends an awful lot and it helped round the book out for me. 3.5 stars.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

I do have to laugh at myself—at least I can do that—after reflecting on Nora Dahlia’s Backslide, I found that I argued with this book a great deal. It did get to the point where I started blaming the situations that occurred in the book on my husband, to which he replied, “Why are you mad at me? It’s the character that did this?” Oh, that’s right.

I enjoy a second-chance romance. I have no problems with misunderstandings and OW drama. Bring it on. Nellie and Noah’s story had all of that and more, having dated in high school and reconnecting 10+ years later at their mutual friends' vow renewal. And as these stories go, old feelings never die, but neither do the issues that initially broke them apart.

The story is told going from the past to the present, with the past being in the 90s. And we get to know the third-party characters as well, who played a role in their breakup. But I did get a sense of the immaturity of their relationship back in high school, which ultimately led to their breakup, which made their reconciliation seem relatively quick. All in all, it was an enjoyable, though passionate, read for me.

Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah (sarahs_shelves_sc) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Backslide absolutely stole my heart!

Nellie and Noah found that incandescent first love as seventeen year olds, but their relationship fell apart far too soon, leaving them connected only through their friend group. In the present day, their married best friends host a vow renewal trip and Nellie and Noah come face to face for the first time in decades.

Second chance romance isn't always my favorite trope, but when the author gives us a peek back at their initial love story, I am all in. The flashbacks to the past were utter perfection - I felt the NYC heat, the inability to look away from someone you are intensely attracted to, those butterflies and extreme feelings so unique to teenage love. It was written exceptionally well, and I was hooked from the very first chapter!

In the present day, Nellie has plenty of walls up, and her character made me laugh so many times. She tries her very hardest to keep Noah at arm's length with her grouchy responses and avoidance techniques, but they are pushed together time and again over the course of the weekend, and that push and pull tension was just delicious.

I loved the character arcs and how Dahlia focused on how we change as we grow into adulthood, taking on more responsibilities and guarding our hearts more as the years go by. There were lines that filled me with nostalgia, others that made me feel seen, and also a little bit of spice.

"It's hard to age gracefully. Hard to accept new versions of yourself, when that means saying goodbye to the old versions, the formative ones, the ones that made you you."

Thanks to Gallery for the gifted copy. All opinions are mine.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to follow.

[Avigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prose was exceptional but the plot was too thin. I just do not buy that the couple had enough knowledge of one another to make a commitment.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something particularly poignant about encountering your first love decades later, especially when you've spent twenty years perfecting the art of avoidance. In Backslide, Nora Dahlia's sophomore romance, we're thrust into exactly this scenario as Nellie Hurwitz and Noah collide at their best friends' wine country celebration, forced to reckon with a past they've both tried desperately to forget.

A Dual Timeline That Actually Works

Dahlia employs a dual timeline structure that alternates between present-day Sonoma and 1990s New York, and this narrative choice proves to be the novel's greatest strength. Rather than feeling like a gimmick, the shifting timelines work in tandem to reveal how teenage mistakes can calcify into adult regrets. The past sequences aren't mere flashbacks; they're essential puzzle pieces that explain why present-day Nellie can barely look at Noah without her chest tightening, why every interaction between them crackles with unresolved tension.

The 1990s sequences capture the essence of teenage love with remarkable authenticity. Dahlia doesn't romanticize youth but instead presents it in all its messy, impulsive glory. There are beepers and answering machines, Zima and Alizé, clubs with velvet ropes and strobing lights. More importantly, there are two young people who fall hard and fast, believing themselves invincible until life proves otherwise. The author's decision to ground their relationship in specificity—Noah's baseball aspirations, Nellie's art portfolio, the geography of Upper West Side New York—makes their connection feel lived-in and real.

The Weight of Unfinished Business

What makes Backslide compelling is how Dahlia refuses to let her characters off easy. This isn't a simple case of misunderstood intentions or easily resolved miscommunication. Noah made genuine mistakes as a teenager—abandoning Nellie when she needed him most during a pregnancy scare, kissing another girl at a party out of anger and hurt. These aren't actions that can be waved away with a charming smile and a well-timed apology. Nellie's inability to trust him feels earned, her anger justified.

The present-day sections showcase two adults who've built impressive lives apart from each other. Noah has become an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, while Nellie works as an art director for a magazine. They're no longer the fumbling teenagers who hurt each other, yet those old wounds remain surprisingly fresh. Dahlia understands that first loves leave marks that don't fade simply because time passes.

The Supporting Cast That Elevates

The supporting characters breathe life into the narrative rather than simply serving as plot devices. Cara and Ben, the couple at the center of the un-wedding celebration, provide both comic relief and emotional grounding. Their own struggles with marriage and identity add depth to the story's exploration of relationships over time. Sabrina and Rita offer necessary perspective, while Lydia serves as a reminder of past complications that refuse to stay buried.

Damien deserves special mention as perhaps the novel's most complex secondary character. His friendship with Noah feels authentic in its messiness—he's loyal and toxic in equal measure, the kind of friend you keep out of history rather than present-day compatibility. His presence complicates the central romance in ways that feel organic rather than contrived.

Where the Wine Flows But the Path Gets Rocky

Despite its considerable strengths, Backslide isn't without flaws. The forced proximity trope—Nellie and Noah sharing a suite at the wine country estate—occasionally feels like exactly what it is: a contrivance to keep the characters in each other's orbit. While Dahlia handles it better than most, there are moments where you can see the authorial hand pushing the pieces into place.

The pacing occasionally stumbles in the middle section. Just when momentum builds toward emotional revelation, the narrative pulls back, inserting another obstacle that sometimes feels manufactured. A hot tub scene that should mark a turning point instead becomes another example of Noah's tendency toward self-sabotage, and while this tracks with his character, it tests reader patience.

Additionally, Nellie's professional crisis—her magazine folding, combined with a recent broken engagement—sometimes feels like trauma stacking for dramatic effect. These elements are mentioned but not deeply explored, serving more as background noise to establish her emotional vulnerability than as fully integrated plot points.

The Prose That Carries You Through

Dahlia's writing style deserves recognition. She has a gift for capturing emotion through specific, concrete details rather than abstract declarations. When Nellie describes Noah's presence as feeling "like a live wire," or when Noah notices the "wolf-gray" of Nellie's eyes, these aren't just pretty phrases—they're windows into how these characters experience each other on a visceral level.

The dialogue crackles with authenticity, particularly in the verbal sparring between Nellie and Noah. Their banter walks the line between hostility and intimacy, revealing the complicated truth that you can simultaneously want to throttle someone and kiss them senseless. The author also demonstrates skill in quieter moments, allowing silence and physical proximity to speak as loudly as words.

Questions of Trust and Transformation

At its core, Backslide grapples with a fundamental question: Can people truly change, and even if they can, is it possible to see past who they once were? Noah has evolved from the immature teenager who made devastating choices out of fear and pain. He's responsible, successful, thoughtful. But Nellie can't unsee the boy who left her waiting alone, terrified and abandoned. She can't unknow the feeling of watching him kiss someone else.

Dahlia doesn't offer easy answers. The path to reconciliation is neither straight nor simple. Both characters must acknowledge their roles in their shared history—Noah's betrayal and Nellie's eventual emotional withdrawal. The novel understands that forgiveness isn't a switch you flip but a process requiring genuine reckoning with the past.

The Chemistry Question

For a romance to work, the central couple must generate heat, and here Dahlia delivers. The attraction between Nellie and Noah is palpable from their first awkward reunion at the airport. Every shared glance, accidental touch, and loaded conversation pulses with tension. When they finally come together, it feels like the inevitable collision of two magnetic forces that have been pulling toward each other for decades.

The physical chemistry translates well to the page without overwhelming the emotional journey. Dahlia understands that the sexiest moments often happen in the spaces between—in the slow unzipping of a dress, in hands that linger just a moment too long, in the sharp intake of breath when defenses finally crumble.

The Verdict

Backslide succeeds as both a second-chance romance and a meditation on how we carry our pasts into our present. While it occasionally gets tangled in its own plot mechanics and could benefit from tighter pacing in places, Dahlia's sophomore effort demonstrates growth as a storyteller. She takes risks with structure and emotional complexity that elevate the novel beyond standard romance fare.

This is a book for readers who appreciate romance that acknowledges damage without being overwhelmed by it, who want to believe in second chances while understanding they don't come easy. It's for anyone who's ever wondered about the one who got away, who understands that first loves leave lasting impressions precisely because we're so unguarded when they happen.

The Sonoma wine country setting provides lush atmosphere without overshadowing the central relationship, and the un-wedding celebration framework offers both stakes and structure. Most importantly, Dahlia earns her happy ending. By the time Nellie and Noah find their way back to each other, you believe they've done the work necessary to make it stick.

[Jenna Fullerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first ARC which received from winning a giveaway on Goodreads and excited to be part of the ARC process!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked how the story went back and forth between the present and the past and was told from both MCs POV. The places the characters were at in the story brought me back to my previous travel experiences and were accurately described. I enjoyed reading the growth that both Noah and Nellie had throughout the story. I will definitely be adding the authors other books to my TBR!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. I really enjoyed Nora Dahlia’s debut, Pick Up, last year and looked forward to what came next from her. While Backslide had promise, it was ultimately just ok for me. I know I can love second chance at mutual friends’ wedding in wine country, but I had a hard time feeling invested in this one.

Nell and Noah had a history that was told in third person flashback chapters. Their present was told in dual POV first-person alternating chapters. On the one hand, Nell’s strong feelings of disdain toward Noah at the time of their reunion had a way of making it obvious that, even though they were teenaged first loves, the emotions and ties between them were intense and real. On the other hand, it made it difficult to believe any of that could be resolved in a matter of days without having a real conversation about the root of their breakup and departure from each other’s lives. I think that was what I struggled with most. I don’t believe in their ability to reconcile when they were both holding onto 20 years of unspoken resentment. I could see it beginning to resolve once they finally had some conversations about everything but not in this short amount of time that was available in this story.

I did enjoy the setting and various locations the two of them found themselves in. I liked the moments where the guards, particularly Nell’s walls, were starting to come down. They gave a glimpse of what could have been and what might be if they figured out how to communicate with each other. I also like (some of) the friend group. Sabrina and her wife, Rita, were probably my favorites of the friends. Lydia and Damien, however, felt like caricatures of drama in their antagonistic roles.

I do really like the voice that Nora Dahlia has to her writing and would like to read more from her. Thank you to Gallery for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Margaret Retsema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still my millennial heart!
I was worried about this one at the beginning for two reasons: one, I normally despise time jumps, but the switch between first and third person ended up working so well, and they were rare enough to feel like a genuine memory and not a schtick. Second, the FMC was a real brat at first.

I told myself to wait and see if whatever he did deserved this energy, and when I got there, I felt like her reaction completely made sense. But, and this is a controversial opinion, so did the forgiveness. I can see other readers might not be so forgiving of young Noah.

Nevertheless: this hit a bunch of my favorite tropes: vacation love, enemies to lovers, he (re)falls first, banter/roasting (is there a better name for this?). The side antagonists were so frustrating (in an accurate, well-written, plot-driving way). I swear I could’ve swapped in a few names from my own high school class. And the 2000s nostalgia?? Doc Martens, awkward teenage eye contact, Limp Bizkit references! Youth is wasted on the young!

The spa banter was hilarious, and I appreciated that the characters seemed realistic. They drank and/or consumed, they did dumb stuff, they felt like actual people in their 30s who have lived a little. I also really loved the ending. Both characters had growth and needed to mature a bit. So many romance novelsm rush the HEA, but this one took its time. (ARC offered)

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nellie and Noah fell in love as teenagers but haven't spoken in decades. Now they're both in Sonoma for their mutual best friends' sort-of-wedding, and not only that, they're forced to share a suite for the week. Nellie still hates Noah for something terrible that broke them up, while Noah is hopeful that this might be another shot for them. Meanwhile their friend group alternately tries to help and hinder their reconnection.

You can tell that Nora Dahlia is a travel writer. Her place setting is exquisite and provides the perfect backdrop for a second chance romance.

Thanks to Edelweiss, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Pick-Up, so I was really excited to read this — but unfortunately, Backslide fell a little flat for me.

I enjoyed the flashback scenes; the romance and tension there felt genuine and believable. But the present-day storyline felt more like an attempt to revive something that just wasn’t there anymore. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, so I wasn’t too invested in how things turned out.

Pick-Up felt incredibly unique to me, but Backslide just didn’t have that same spark I was hoping for.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Tanis DeMille · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down!
I really enjoyed Nora Dahlia's debut, but this one fell a little flat for me. The entire concept is right up my alley, but the characters were acting so immature I didn't believe they were meant to be in their late 30s

[Stacy Dibble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! This book is a must read!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books hit like a love song you haven’t heard in twenty years nostalgic, bittersweet, and just a little bit painful. Backslide by Nora Dahlia is exactly that kind of story, a beautifully messy second-chance romance that feels equal parts tender and raw.

Nellie and Noah aren’t the kind of exes who broke up and moved on they’re the kind who left scars. Their story begins in the neon glow of 1990s New York, full of mixtapes, late-night trains, and the kind of first love that consumes you before you know better. Fast-forward twenty years, and they’re reluctantly reunited at a vineyard for their best friends’ un-wedding. Because of course fate has a dark sense of humor.

From the moment they see each other again, I could feel the tension crackle off the page. It’s not just old attraction it’s resentment, regret, unfinished conversations. Nora Dahlia captures that feeling of bumping into someone who once knew every version of you and realizing they still kind of do. Watching Nellie and Noah circle each other, avoiding the past while being dragged right back into it, was excruciatingly satisfying.

What really stood out to me is how human they both are. They’re not perfect or romanticized; they’re complicated, wounded, and still learning how to forgive not just each other, but themselves. The alternating timelines were like two halves of a mirror, reflecting how young love and grown-up love can both be true, just in very different ways.

By the end, I was rooting for them not for a fairytale ending, but for peace. Because sometimes, that’s the bravest kind of love story there is.

[Melissa DeLong-Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this: the tension in the flashback scenes is absolutely iconic and done so, so well. It unfortunately made the present day scenes feel a little lackluster because the flashbacks were SO good. This is setup to be a second chance, enemies-to-lovers story but often felt too opaque in the present day because Nellie was unwilling to even internally dialogue about why she hated Noah so much. It made it really difficult to go alongside her big feelings when there was no explanation for why she felt that way so intensely. I did enjoy this story, and I liked Noah a lot!

*Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!*

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Nora Dahlia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Pick Up so I was really excited to get this ARC.

This story is told in present and past timelines. Normally I find the past timelines to be something to get through but I enjoyed reading about the start of their relationship.

The chemistry and evolution of the character relationship as teenagers was great.

The present timeline was where I struggled. The tension was there but the maturity, communication and growth was lacking.

It was hard to understand Nellie’s POV because she wasn’t sharing what the conflict was so it felt irrational that he did something so terrible and she wouldn’t tell anyone.

I struggled relating to any of the characters - they seemed to be wealthy teenagers and then very wealthy adults. Some of the side characters seem appealing but two of them have zero appeal and I judged them all that they were still in the friend group.