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The Romance Rewind
In this swoony and charming YA romcom with a twist, a 17-year-old goes back in time to relive her relationship and see where it went wrong.
Zadie expected her anniversary dinner with her boyfriend to end with a dreamy prom-posal. Not a breakup and a car crash!
When she wakes up in the hospital, she gets even worse Jason is in a coma. With nothing to do but wait by his side, Zadie is left wondering where the relationship went wrong and if maybe Jason didn’t tell anyone about the breakup?
Suddenly, Zadie is catapulted back to their first date, trapped in a time loop she can’t escape. To make matters worse, Jason’s cousin Marcus is along for the ride, threatening to spill her secret. Can Zadie mend her relationship with Jason before he wakes up, or will Marcus shatter her hopes for a happily ever after?
For fans of The Do-Over and Check & Mate, get whisked away in this heartwarming new romcom abounding with betrayal, twists, and romance tropes.
Zadie expected her anniversary dinner with her boyfriend to end with a dreamy prom-posal. Not a breakup and a car crash!
When she wakes up in the hospital, she gets even worse Jason is in a coma. With nothing to do but wait by his side, Zadie is left wondering where the relationship went wrong and if maybe Jason didn’t tell anyone about the breakup?
Suddenly, Zadie is catapulted back to their first date, trapped in a time loop she can’t escape. To make matters worse, Jason’s cousin Marcus is along for the ride, threatening to spill her secret. Can Zadie mend her relationship with Jason before he wakes up, or will Marcus shatter her hopes for a happily ever after?
For fans of The Do-Over and Check & Mate, get whisked away in this heartwarming new romcom abounding with betrayal, twists, and romance tropes.
304 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱ Ⓘ pub date: june 23rd 2026
𝟐 ✩
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒'𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔.
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
Don’t always fall for a cute cover, you might just end up completely let down once you actually read it. That’s how I felt with this book.
The Romance Rewind follows the main character, Zadie who’s just been in an accident with her recently ex-boyfriend on the night of their one-year anniversary. Confused as to why he broke up with her, she tries to investigate–or as best as she can when the one person she needs information from is in a coma. There’s a sprinkle of magic realism when Zadie finds herself in shared dreams of the past with Marcus, her ex-boyfriend’s cousin. They follow their past selves through the dreams, uncover new secrets, and try to pinpoint the moment her seemingly perfect relationship went wrong.
I had originally settled on giving this a 3-3.25 stars. The reasoning was that nothing much was happening, I was hesitant about the love interest, and wasn’t necessarily sure if I was liking the book or just gaslighting myself into thinking I was. Yes, it was different from the usual romances. But just because a book is unique, doesn’t mean it'll be enjoyable. And just when I was confident about giving it a 3, BAM! Out came that plot twist that instead of being riveting had me confused the hell out. The funny thing is that I had actually just read a review about someone lowering their rating because of the ending, and I can one hundred percent agree with them. Everything was rushed and things were happening too quickly for me to wrap my head around. Some books really piss me off when they’re boring for the majority until suddenly there’s so much commotion and drama and things unfolding in the last few chapters. Whyyyy?? It should be like spreads on toast: an even layer of romance, drama, plot, and the development and leadup to the ending.
Another thing that I found lacking was the romance between Zadie and Marcus. I couldn’t feel the connection between them, and didn’t like how quick they were to jump into a ‘relationship’ when they honestly barely knew each other and their lives had literally just been flipped on its axis. It seemed like there was still so much more that needed to be resolved and talked about before anything else. If it’s a standalone, everything needs to be cleared, clarified, and concluded by the end of the book; not left feeling unfinished. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. Zadie and Marcus were cute, yes. And they did have their moments, but I felt no spark between them, wasn’t giddy when they kissed, and overall felt detached from the book. I apologise and deeply regret being so harsh, but I've come to terms with my expectations. And if they can't be met, then they'll have to get a low rating.
As much as I wanted to love this, I couldn’t. It had its ups, and it had its downs. And sadly, there were more things I disliked about The Romance Rewind than actually enjoyed. It's perfect for fans of The Do-Over (the reason I requested this book in the first place), with a little splash of magic and sweet teenage love. Although I wouldn't willingly read it again, I do recommend if you're looking for a quick and easy read.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
when i saw this on netgalley, i got sooo excited!! the cover is adorable and gives off lynn painter’s ya books which i adore. and a bonus is that it has similar vibes to The Do-Over, a book i am (hopefully) planning to reread for valentine's day. speaking of which, happy early val/galentines my lovesss!! fingers crossed the book is as cute as the cover.
Ⓘ thank you @netgalley and publisher for giving me the chance to read this free arc, i'm very eager to share my thoughts.
Ⓘ pub date: june 23rd 2026
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 9/2/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 10/2/2026
-𝓖
꒰ 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱ Ⓘ pub date: june 23rd 2026
𝟐 ✩
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒'𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔.
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
Don’t always fall for a cute cover, you might just end up completely let down once you actually read it. That’s how I felt with this book.
The Romance Rewind follows the main character, Zadie who’s just been in an accident with her recently ex-boyfriend on the night of their one-year anniversary. Confused as to why he broke up with her, she tries to investigate–or as best as she can when the one person she needs information from is in a coma. There’s a sprinkle of magic realism when Zadie finds herself in shared dreams of the past with Marcus, her ex-boyfriend’s cousin. They follow their past selves through the dreams, uncover new secrets, and try to pinpoint the moment her seemingly perfect relationship went wrong.
I had originally settled on giving this a 3-3.25 stars. The reasoning was that nothing much was happening, I was hesitant about the love interest, and wasn’t necessarily sure if I was liking the book or just gaslighting myself into thinking I was. Yes, it was different from the usual romances. But just because a book is unique, doesn’t mean it'll be enjoyable. And just when I was confident about giving it a 3, BAM! Out came that plot twist that instead of being riveting had me confused the hell out. The funny thing is that I had actually just read a review about someone lowering their rating because of the ending, and I can one hundred percent agree with them. Everything was rushed and things were happening too quickly for me to wrap my head around. Some books really piss me off when they’re boring for the majority until suddenly there’s so much commotion and drama and things unfolding in the last few chapters. Whyyyy?? It should be like spreads on toast: an even layer of romance, drama, plot, and the development and leadup to the ending.
Another thing that I found lacking was the romance between Zadie and Marcus. I couldn’t feel the connection between them, and didn’t like how quick they were to jump into a ‘relationship’ when they honestly barely knew each other and their lives had literally just been flipped on its axis. It seemed like there was still so much more that needed to be resolved and talked about before anything else. If it’s a standalone, everything needs to be cleared, clarified, and concluded by the end of the book; not left feeling unfinished. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. Zadie and Marcus were cute, yes. And they did have their moments, but I felt no spark between them, wasn’t giddy when they kissed, and overall felt detached from the book. I apologise and deeply regret being so harsh, but I've come to terms with my expectations. And if they can't be met, then they'll have to get a low rating.
As much as I wanted to love this, I couldn’t. It had its ups, and it had its downs. And sadly, there were more things I disliked about The Romance Rewind than actually enjoyed. It's perfect for fans of The Do-Over (the reason I requested this book in the first place), with a little splash of magic and sweet teenage love. Although I wouldn't willingly read it again, I do recommend if you're looking for a quick and easy read.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
when i saw this on netgalley, i got sooo excited!! the cover is adorable and gives off lynn painter’s ya books which i adore. and a bonus is that it has similar vibes to The Do-Over, a book i am (hopefully) planning to reread for valentine's day. speaking of which, happy early val/galentines my lovesss!! fingers crossed the book is as cute as the cover.
Ⓘ thank you @netgalley and publisher for giving me the chance to read this free arc, i'm very eager to share my thoughts.
Ⓘ pub date: june 23rd 2026
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 9/2/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 10/2/2026
-𝓖
Read
May 16, 2026This was just a cute fun read and I loved it even more after reading in the author's note that she was inspired by While You Were Sleeping
November 19, 2025
Received early ARC:
I absolutely LOVED the premise, the execution, the twist. Way to go Sarah!! Smart and fiercely creative, The Romance Rewind is the perfect mix of mystery, romance, and heart-wrenching drama.
I absolutely LOVED the premise, the execution, the twist. Way to go Sarah!! Smart and fiercely creative, The Romance Rewind is the perfect mix of mystery, romance, and heart-wrenching drama.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC!
this book was almost a four star read... right up until i got to the ending.
yeah... it pissed me off.
it makes me sad because i enjoyed so much of the novel! i loved zadie and marcus's relationship and i enjoyed the mystery of trying to uncover the truth about jason's reasoning for breaking up with zadie. it was fun, and the co-dreaming made it all the more interesting.
without spoiling, the conclusion of the story made me feel like i had wasted my time with the story, being so invested in the book only for it to be torn away. in the end, i just felt so unsatisfied, like the story had not properly concluded.
what a disappointing ending for what could have been a great book.
this book was almost a four star read... right up until i got to the ending.
yeah... it pissed me off.
it makes me sad because i enjoyed so much of the novel! i loved zadie and marcus's relationship and i enjoyed the mystery of trying to uncover the truth about jason's reasoning for breaking up with zadie. it was fun, and the co-dreaming made it all the more interesting.
without spoiling, the conclusion of the story made me feel like i had wasted my time with the story, being so invested in the book only for it to be torn away. in the end, i just felt so unsatisfied, like the story had not properly concluded.
what a disappointing ending for what could have been a great book.
July 14, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
What the crap did I just read?
I was all set to give it a four star rating. Was it perfect? No, but it was charming in a cringy-teen rom-com sort of way. And THEN the final plot twist cameand I actually wanted to cry. There was quite literally no need for it, and it just made the whole plot go downhill from there. Since this is a spoiler-free review, I don't want to say too much, but just trust me and skip this one!
Content Warnings: Cursing, Kissing (and mentions of more), Divorce, Cheating, Racism, Car Crash, Comas
I liked the characters until the very end, but yeah, the ending just ruined the whole book for me.
What the crap did I just read?
I was all set to give it a four star rating. Was it perfect? No, but it was charming in a cringy-teen rom-com sort of way. And THEN the final plot twist cameand I actually wanted to cry. There was quite literally no need for it, and it just made the whole plot go downhill from there. Since this is a spoiler-free review, I don't want to say too much, but just trust me and skip this one!
Content Warnings: Cursing, Kissing (and mentions of more), Divorce, Cheating, Racism, Car Crash, Comas
I liked the characters until the very end, but yeah, the ending just ruined the whole book for me.
July 9, 2026
The Romance Rewind by Sarah Everett
So this is advertised as great for fans of the Do-Over and Check & Mate, which I loved both of those books. Because of this note, I thought it would be similar to reliving the same day again, groundhog day situation, but she just gets to revisit past events in a dream state.
Pretty much Zadie gets into a car accident with her boyfriend who just dumped her on their anniversary dinner. So she ends up in a weird situation where she revisits certain events and can view it from another point of view. She's able to review her relationship with her boyfriend and see it for the flaws. The fun part is she gets to "haunt" these memories with her boyfriend's cousin.
Since this is a YA Rom-Com it is very cute, sweet, and simple. This is on the shorter side so if you are looking for a quick read this would be great but the ending was very rushed in my opinion. I don't mind the ending but I felt like the author could have made it more satisfying. I just felt like it needed a little more.
Thank you, Penguin Random House for ARC copy.
So this is advertised as great for fans of the Do-Over and Check & Mate, which I loved both of those books. Because of this note, I thought it would be similar to reliving the same day again, groundhog day situation, but she just gets to revisit past events in a dream state.
Pretty much Zadie gets into a car accident with her boyfriend who just dumped her on their anniversary dinner. So she ends up in a weird situation where she revisits certain events and can view it from another point of view. She's able to review her relationship with her boyfriend and see it for the flaws. The fun part is she gets to "haunt" these memories with her boyfriend's cousin.
Since this is a YA Rom-Com it is very cute, sweet, and simple. This is on the shorter side so if you are looking for a quick read this would be great but the ending was very rushed in my opinion. I don't mind the ending but I felt like the author could have made it more satisfying. I just felt like it needed a little more.
Thank you, Penguin Random House for ARC copy.
June 23, 2026
Rating - 3.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
Summery
Zadie is expecting her anniversary dinner to end with a dreamy proposal but instead she gets dumped and ends up in a car accident with her Ex boyfriend Jason. When she wakes up in the hospital, she learns that Jason is in a coma. Then somehow she finds herself reliving their relationship over and over again, stuck in a time loop with Jason's cousin Marcus.
My thoughts
This was such an interesting YA time loop romance! The premise immediately hooked me and I was genuinely invested in figuring out what was happening. I especially loved Marcus, he was easily charming and honestly, he stole every scene he was in 🤭🩷
But the pacing of the book didn't work for me 🫣. Even though its only 300 pages, it felt much longer. As someone who enjoys 500 - 600 page books,I found some parts of the book were really boring 😬.
What really surprised me was the twist. I genuinely didn't see it coming! The last 30% had me completely hooked and I flew through those pages. I absolutely hated what Jason did to Zadie. He was a total douchebag 😏
This is a very YA book. The characters are 17 years and they definitely act their age. If you're looking for mature characters and relationships this may not be the book for you.
Overall, this was a cute read with a really unique concept. While the pacing didn't always work for me, I still enjoyed the time loop storyline.
Thank you, Penguin Random House for sending me the physical ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Summery
Zadie is expecting her anniversary dinner to end with a dreamy proposal but instead she gets dumped and ends up in a car accident with her Ex boyfriend Jason. When she wakes up in the hospital, she learns that Jason is in a coma. Then somehow she finds herself reliving their relationship over and over again, stuck in a time loop with Jason's cousin Marcus.
My thoughts
This was such an interesting YA time loop romance! The premise immediately hooked me and I was genuinely invested in figuring out what was happening. I especially loved Marcus, he was easily charming and honestly, he stole every scene he was in 🤭🩷
But the pacing of the book didn't work for me 🫣. Even though its only 300 pages, it felt much longer. As someone who enjoys 500 - 600 page books,I found some parts of the book were really boring 😬.
What really surprised me was the twist. I genuinely didn't see it coming! The last 30% had me completely hooked and I flew through those pages. I absolutely hated what Jason did to Zadie. He was a total douchebag 😏
This is a very YA book. The characters are 17 years and they definitely act their age. If you're looking for mature characters and relationships this may not be the book for you.
Overall, this was a cute read with a really unique concept. While the pacing didn't always work for me, I still enjoyed the time loop storyline.
Thank you, Penguin Random House for sending me the physical ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2026
Whew, another hit from Sarah Everett! I was a little worried at first- the first quarter of the book didn’t fully lure me in. I wasn’t not liking it, but I felt a bit apathetic. That all changed, thankfully, and I was as immersed as ever!
I enjoyed Zadie as a character, and loved her interactions with Marcus. I also liked that there was a heavy focus on friendships and family dynamics, as well as Zadie’s quest to figure out what her next steps for her future would be. Yes, there’s romance, but it isn’t only romance. I also was kept on my toes by some twists that I definitely didn’t see coming, which I wasn’t mad about. Overall, definitely a win as soon as it hit its stride!
I enjoyed Zadie as a character, and loved her interactions with Marcus. I also liked that there was a heavy focus on friendships and family dynamics, as well as Zadie’s quest to figure out what her next steps for her future would be. Yes, there’s romance, but it isn’t only romance. I also was kept on my toes by some twists that I definitely didn’t see coming, which I wasn’t mad about. Overall, definitely a win as soon as it hit its stride!
March 11, 2026
This is a YA rom-com with a twist, as Zadie has just been broken up with by her boyfriend of one year, Jason, and on the way home they get in a car accident. Jason lands in a coma and Zadie, injured but ok, begins having weird moments that bring her back to the past where she is able to view certain key moments of her relationship with Jason. She feels she may be able to see what went wrong and save the relationship. Along for the ride is Jason’s cousin, Marcus, who also is “co-dreaming” with Zadie in these visions. He is the only one who knows that Jason broke up with Zadie right before the accident and Zadie feels like he is a threat to their relationship. I thought the book was a quick, quirky read. I did enjoy the magic realism aspect of the co-dreaming even if it was a little strange. I just felt like the ending was a little rushed and not as satisfying as it could have been. I still enjoyed the book for what it was; a light, unique, YA romance with a magical element. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this gifted ARC.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this gifted ARC.
June 18, 2026
3.5 stars
Review of arc received from NetGalley.
The moment I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. The cover is so cute, and the blurb had me hooked. I loved the whole time travel aspect, and trying to solve the mystery of why Jason broke up with Zadie.
I was really enjoying this book, until I read the ending. I felt like a lot of questions were left unanswered, and the plot twist didn't make any sense. It felt like it was chucked in just to throw the reader off.
SPOILERS
About 70% in, I thought I had worked out the plot twist - I was convinced Jason was cheating on Zadie with Mo. So I was really surprised and taken aback when the actual plot twist was revealed.
I'm honestly struggling to comprehend the plot twist and what happened in the end. I really enjoyed the time travel aspect and the joint coma dreams... but I don't get how Zadie and Marcus shared the dreams? I think it was a 'gift' from her dad? But I don't see the connection between Zadie and Marcus, except from his feelings towards her.
The romance between Marcus and Zadie felt a little forced. It kinda felt like he just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and Zadie fell for him when she had no one else to turn to. Jason dated Zadie to annoy his cousin, and cheated on her with one of her best friends... yet that whole conflict felt unresolved.
I felt like some of the 'plot twists' felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the story, only tore down the image of characters, such as Zadie's mum's relationship with her colleague. Or the girl Jason was cheating with... I couldn't find any evidence hinting that it could be her (I forgot her name sorry) and it felt like that decision was made purely just to surprise the reader.
Overall, it was an easy read, and I did have a good time. However, I was left disappointed and confused by the ending.
Review of arc received from NetGalley.
The moment I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. The cover is so cute, and the blurb had me hooked. I loved the whole time travel aspect, and trying to solve the mystery of why Jason broke up with Zadie.
I was really enjoying this book, until I read the ending. I felt like a lot of questions were left unanswered, and the plot twist didn't make any sense. It felt like it was chucked in just to throw the reader off.
SPOILERS
About 70% in, I thought I had worked out the plot twist - I was convinced Jason was cheating on Zadie with Mo. So I was really surprised and taken aback when the actual plot twist was revealed.
I'm honestly struggling to comprehend the plot twist and what happened in the end. I really enjoyed the time travel aspect and the joint coma dreams... but I don't get how Zadie and Marcus shared the dreams? I think it was a 'gift' from her dad? But I don't see the connection between Zadie and Marcus, except from his feelings towards her.
The romance between Marcus and Zadie felt a little forced. It kinda felt like he just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and Zadie fell for him when she had no one else to turn to. Jason dated Zadie to annoy his cousin, and cheated on her with one of her best friends... yet that whole conflict felt unresolved.
I felt like some of the 'plot twists' felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the story, only tore down the image of characters, such as Zadie's mum's relationship with her colleague. Or the girl Jason was cheating with... I couldn't find any evidence hinting that it could be her (I forgot her name sorry) and it felt like that decision was made purely just to surprise the reader.
Overall, it was an easy read, and I did have a good time. However, I was left disappointed and confused by the ending.
July 5, 2026
I saw this reviewed favorably by someone that I usually agree with. Not this time. :-) The Romance Rewind is a young-adult romance. It's young-adult dramatic; I struggled to finish.
June 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This was such a fun surprise and exactly the kind of book I needed.
I went into this expecting a cute romcom with a time loop, but I was not expecting some of those plot twists. There were 2 specific moments where I genuinely had to stop and process what had just happened because I did NOT see them coming.
One of my favorite parts was *obviously* Marcus and Zadie. Their dynamic was so entertaining from the start, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve throughout the story. They balanced each other out so well, and I found myself looking forward to all of their scenes together.
This was also such a fast paced read. There was always something happening, which made it really easy to fly through. It's one of those books that you pick up for a few chapters and suddenly you're halfway through.
Overall, this was just a really cute and entertaining story. The romance, the twists, and the time loop element all worked so well together. If you're stuck in a reading slump and need something fun that will keep you turning the pages, I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review !!!
This was such a fun surprise and exactly the kind of book I needed.
I went into this expecting a cute romcom with a time loop, but I was not expecting some of those plot twists. There were 2 specific moments where I genuinely had to stop and process what had just happened because I did NOT see them coming.
One of my favorite parts was *obviously* Marcus and Zadie. Their dynamic was so entertaining from the start, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve throughout the story. They balanced each other out so well, and I found myself looking forward to all of their scenes together.
This was also such a fast paced read. There was always something happening, which made it really easy to fly through. It's one of those books that you pick up for a few chapters and suddenly you're halfway through.
Overall, this was just a really cute and entertaining story. The romance, the twists, and the time loop element all worked so well together. If you're stuck in a reading slump and need something fun that will keep you turning the pages, I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review !!!
Did Not Finish
July 28, 2026DNFed at 42% (skimmed the rest). This is essentially a YA take with a time-bending spin on While You Were Sleeping, but without the charm and chemistry of Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock. While the premise intrigued me, the characters failed to hold my interest, and the story was simply too dull to keep me reading.
Still, my thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, NetGalley and the author for my copy. All opinions are honest and my own.
Still, my thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, NetGalley and the author for my copy. All opinions are honest and my own.
June 23, 2026
The Romance Rewind
I loved this book. It is full of high school angst, beautifully and believably spun. Issues with bullies, colleges, parents, boys, dreams, and best friends are masterfully woven into an amazing story. This author's writing is reminiscent of a young, early-career Jodi Picoult. . Read it.
I received an. ARC from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
I loved this book. It is full of high school angst, beautifully and believably spun. Issues with bullies, colleges, parents, boys, dreams, and best friends are masterfully woven into an amazing story. This author's writing is reminiscent of a young, early-career Jodi Picoult. . Read it.
I received an. ARC from the publisher. The opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
May 17, 2026The plot for this sounded so cute, but I can’t get past the immature characters and am going to have to DNF.
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the arc 🙂
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the arc 🙂
June 28, 2026
The magic of YA books ✨💗
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I started this book after a recommendation from a friend. Im a big romance girlie so i was super excited to start it.
This was nothing like i expected but im entirely obsessed. I loved reading from Zadies pov as she deals with mourning and falling in love all while her world crumbles around her (literally lol). I loved the way i was able to read all of her thoughts as she comes to terms with her feelings changing towards Marcus. Co-dreaming made it so fun to read as we could look through both Zadie and Marcus' memories and watch as they begin to understand them differently.
I genuinely love Marcus and Zadie and i would loveee to see more stories from their universe
5 stars!!
This was nothing like i expected but im entirely obsessed. I loved reading from Zadies pov as she deals with mourning and falling in love all while her world crumbles around her (literally lol). I loved the way i was able to read all of her thoughts as she comes to terms with her feelings changing towards Marcus. Co-dreaming made it so fun to read as we could look through both Zadie and Marcus' memories and watch as they begin to understand them differently.
I genuinely love Marcus and Zadie and i would loveee to see more stories from their universe
5 stars!!
April 27, 2026
2.75 stars
This book is veryyyyy YA to me. I went into this book very blind and was kind of shocked how YA the story is written.
The fmc is very concerned about her image and being the best at everything. Which includes her relationship. We see right away that her whole world crumbles when her BF breaks up with her. I felt like she focused so much on how she was perceived that she did not even seem to really care about her exBF.
The MMC seemed to just be dumped on by her the whole time, making it hard to read their scenes together.
I liked the dream aspect but feel like it was just lost because I didn’t love the immaturity of the FMC.
This book is veryyyyy YA to me. I went into this book very blind and was kind of shocked how YA the story is written.
The fmc is very concerned about her image and being the best at everything. Which includes her relationship. We see right away that her whole world crumbles when her BF breaks up with her. I felt like she focused so much on how she was perceived that she did not even seem to really care about her exBF.
The MMC seemed to just be dumped on by her the whole time, making it hard to read their scenes together.
I liked the dream aspect but feel like it was just lost because I didn’t love the immaturity of the FMC.
June 23, 2026
3.5 stars
July 10, 2026
i hate her name tf is zadie also her bf sucked
March 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC!
The Romance Rewind caught my eye right away with its cute cover and most importantly, the description. I love narratives that explore themes of memory, time travel, and possible "do-overs" and this book checked all of those boxes. At its core, this is a young adult romance that blends coming-of-age themes (romantic relationships and relationships with friends, peers, and family, trust, betrayal, social status, etc.), with a speculative twist.
We follow Zadie, a Black high school senior navigating heartbreak, identity, and figuring out her future. After what she expects to be a celebratory anniversary dinner, Zadie is blindsided when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her. On the drive home, they get into a serious car accident, and when Zadie wakes up in the hospital, Jason is in a coma. In a moment of panic, Zadie doesn't tell anyone that they broke up and instead finds herself trying to uphold the lie of what she wished happened (basically, that they stayed together, in fact, they're stronger than ever! you see, Jason gave her a promise ring, she just lost it in the crash...).
Soon after, Zadie begins experiencing intense migraines that lead to weird, dreamlike episodes where she revisits memories from her relationship with Jason. This time though, she's looking at them from a new perspective, and with the unexpected presence of Jason's cousin, Marcus. Zadie is hopeful that the ability to look back at these memories with a widened lens will help her figure out what went wrong, so she can fix it. However, as she revisits more and more memories, Zadie starts to question whether the relationship was ever what she thought it was.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the "rewind" concept. Although Zadie can't control which memory she gets to revisit and when, she is able to see her and Jason from an outsider's perspective. And having Marcus there to talk through these memories with gives her yet another viewpoint to consider. Zadie is forced to confront the version of the relationship she created in her head and recognize how much of it was based upon what she hoped it was, rather than what it actually was. It's a compelling way to explore how we interpret relationships and interactions in real time versus in hindsight. This structural device points out how much we can miss when we're caught up in the emotions of the moment, especially if we're badly wanting something to work.
Past me could definitely relate to Zadie's complex and sometimes contradictory feelings about herself, her self-worth, and what she wanted versus what she thought everyone else wanted. It reminded me of having to pretend to be someone I'm not or that I was okay when I was anything but. It underscored the difficulty of asking for what you want, recognizing when something isn't right, and believing that you deserve better, ESPECIALLY as a teenage girl. Zadie's struggles with her confidence, uncertainty about her future, and the lingering impact of her father's death all add emotional depth to her character.
The friendships in the story play an important role, emphasizing how complicated those dynamics can be to navigate, and how scary it can be when trust begins to fracture. I also appreciated the inclusion of conversations around race and identity, though I do think there could have been more room to explore that aspect more deeply given how it shapes Zadie's experience. There were a few elements that didn't fully work for me. At times, Zadie's lack of honesty and awareness felt a bit frustrating, even accounting for her age. Some developments were fairly easy to anticipate, which softened the impact of certain reveals. And then the ending felt a bit out of sync and rushed in how quickly everything came together.
That being said, it was a fun, easy, quick, and engaging read with an interesting premise and strong emotional themes. While not everything landed for me, I still enjoyed the concept and the way Sarah Everett explored relationships through the lens of reflection and hindsight. Readers who enjoy young adult coming-of-age stories with a focus on romance, a touch of speculative elements, and sprinkled with possible missed connections and enemies to lovers tropes will want to give this one a go!
The Romance Rewind caught my eye right away with its cute cover and most importantly, the description. I love narratives that explore themes of memory, time travel, and possible "do-overs" and this book checked all of those boxes. At its core, this is a young adult romance that blends coming-of-age themes (romantic relationships and relationships with friends, peers, and family, trust, betrayal, social status, etc.), with a speculative twist.
We follow Zadie, a Black high school senior navigating heartbreak, identity, and figuring out her future. After what she expects to be a celebratory anniversary dinner, Zadie is blindsided when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her. On the drive home, they get into a serious car accident, and when Zadie wakes up in the hospital, Jason is in a coma. In a moment of panic, Zadie doesn't tell anyone that they broke up and instead finds herself trying to uphold the lie of what she wished happened (basically, that they stayed together, in fact, they're stronger than ever! you see, Jason gave her a promise ring, she just lost it in the crash...).
Soon after, Zadie begins experiencing intense migraines that lead to weird, dreamlike episodes where she revisits memories from her relationship with Jason. This time though, she's looking at them from a new perspective, and with the unexpected presence of Jason's cousin, Marcus. Zadie is hopeful that the ability to look back at these memories with a widened lens will help her figure out what went wrong, so she can fix it. However, as she revisits more and more memories, Zadie starts to question whether the relationship was ever what she thought it was.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the "rewind" concept. Although Zadie can't control which memory she gets to revisit and when, she is able to see her and Jason from an outsider's perspective. And having Marcus there to talk through these memories with gives her yet another viewpoint to consider. Zadie is forced to confront the version of the relationship she created in her head and recognize how much of it was based upon what she hoped it was, rather than what it actually was. It's a compelling way to explore how we interpret relationships and interactions in real time versus in hindsight. This structural device points out how much we can miss when we're caught up in the emotions of the moment, especially if we're badly wanting something to work.
Past me could definitely relate to Zadie's complex and sometimes contradictory feelings about herself, her self-worth, and what she wanted versus what she thought everyone else wanted. It reminded me of having to pretend to be someone I'm not or that I was okay when I was anything but. It underscored the difficulty of asking for what you want, recognizing when something isn't right, and believing that you deserve better, ESPECIALLY as a teenage girl. Zadie's struggles with her confidence, uncertainty about her future, and the lingering impact of her father's death all add emotional depth to her character.
The friendships in the story play an important role, emphasizing how complicated those dynamics can be to navigate, and how scary it can be when trust begins to fracture. I also appreciated the inclusion of conversations around race and identity, though I do think there could have been more room to explore that aspect more deeply given how it shapes Zadie's experience. There were a few elements that didn't fully work for me. At times, Zadie's lack of honesty and awareness felt a bit frustrating, even accounting for her age. Some developments were fairly easy to anticipate, which softened the impact of certain reveals. And then the ending felt a bit out of sync and rushed in how quickly everything came together.
That being said, it was a fun, easy, quick, and engaging read with an interesting premise and strong emotional themes. While not everything landed for me, I still enjoyed the concept and the way Sarah Everett explored relationships through the lens of reflection and hindsight. Readers who enjoy young adult coming-of-age stories with a focus on romance, a touch of speculative elements, and sprinkled with possible missed connections and enemies to lovers tropes will want to give this one a go!
July 13, 2026
This book was a fun, mostly lighthearted read. There were some aspects I didn’t love, but I found the time travel to be fun and interesting, the characters somewhat nuanced (and flawed), and the pacing wasn’t distracting.
Zadie frustrated me as a protagonist due to her self-centeredness at times, but I liked her arc about . Marcus was my favorite — his dialogue and some of his actions felt realistic, he had an interesting backstory, and he was a supportive character. While his aloofness and flirting could be annoying, he eventually became my favorite character in the book. Jason, on the other hand, felt pretty shallow. His weaknesses were shown via rewind, but I never fully saw what Zadie was drawn to even before his true nature was revealed (though she does talk about the traits about him that she likes, but I didn’t really connect with Jason at any point). The side characters were okay.
While I like Marcus and Zadie, . I have mixed feelings about the plot twist near the end. *major spoilers, click at your own risk* .
I do feel like a part of the synopsis is misleading. The time travel isn’t a traditional time loop, just a one time rewind. Zadie doesn’t have to go through events over and over again, she just relives specific memories once more with her and Marcus as observers. Still, the rewind aspects were fun to read, and I felt like they added interesting context to Zadie’s relationship with Jason.
Overall, I waffled on whether to give a two star rating or a three star rating. In the end, I decided that the twist and the frustrations I had with some characters didn’t hinder my enjoyment enough to lower the rating, at least at the time of writing this. For the most part, it was a fast paced, entertaining, and engaging read.
Zadie frustrated me as a protagonist due to her self-centeredness at times, but I liked her arc about . Marcus was my favorite — his dialogue and some of his actions felt realistic, he had an interesting backstory, and he was a supportive character. While his aloofness and flirting could be annoying, he eventually became my favorite character in the book. Jason, on the other hand, felt pretty shallow. His weaknesses were shown via rewind, but I never fully saw what Zadie was drawn to even before his true nature was revealed (though she does talk about the traits about him that she likes, but I didn’t really connect with Jason at any point). The side characters were okay.
While I like Marcus and Zadie, . I have mixed feelings about the plot twist near the end. *major spoilers, click at your own risk* .
I do feel like a part of the synopsis is misleading. The time travel isn’t a traditional time loop, just a one time rewind. Zadie doesn’t have to go through events over and over again, she just relives specific memories once more with her and Marcus as observers. Still, the rewind aspects were fun to read, and I felt like they added interesting context to Zadie’s relationship with Jason.
Overall, I waffled on whether to give a two star rating or a three star rating. In the end, I decided that the twist and the frustrations I had with some characters didn’t hinder my enjoyment enough to lower the rating, at least at the time of writing this. For the most part, it was a fast paced, entertaining, and engaging read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Note: There are some things that you might consider spoilers in this review, but I used the spoiler tag were I thought it mattered.
Two stars, and both of those are for Marcus. Truly, he deserved a better book and a better protagonist.
The Romance Rewind has a fun premise, and I've read multiple books with the same basic plot, a girl reliving moments from her relationship to try to find out where things went wrong. The method? Weird dreams coming from headaches after a car accident that leaves said ex in a coma. And her ex's cousin gets to join in on these weird dreams.
Zadie, the main character, is dealing with grief, neglect, and a break up, but instead of feeling layered or someone worth rooting for, she generally comes off and self-absorbed and shallow. Why does she want to go to Princeton? Because she has wanted to since she was like five. No, really. That's the whole reason. Why is she dating Jason? Because he's popular and she's well liked and it makes sense. That's the whole reason. She never really seems to think anything more than "this is what I'm supposed to do."
And then there's Marcus. Why is he also in these time loop memories? You'll find out with like a few pages left in the book, but it will never feel earned. Marcus is however, grounded, warm, caring, and consistently feels real and like someone you want good things to happen for. Honestly, he's the reason this book had any feeling in it at all and both my stars are for him. He carried this book.
The pacing is fine, but there were continuity issues, editing issues, weird sentences or slang that I had to go over more than once, and the lack of emotional payoff make the story feel way flatter than it should. The final chapters try to land some big moments, but none of them feel earned. The last few pages were better, but they didn't make up for how little the 296 pages before them delivered.
The Romance Rewind had potential, but it never delivered. Most of it just feels forced. And every single "reveal" and every moment that should have added some emotional layer to the story is never explained or fleshed out (some being just one or two sentences that are then never brought up again) making the whole thing feel kind of useless. I really wanted to like this one... alas.
Two stars, and both of those are for Marcus. Truly, he deserved a better book and a better protagonist.
The Romance Rewind has a fun premise, and I've read multiple books with the same basic plot, a girl reliving moments from her relationship to try to find out where things went wrong. The method? Weird dreams coming from headaches after a car accident that leaves said ex in a coma. And her ex's cousin gets to join in on these weird dreams.
Zadie, the main character, is dealing with grief, neglect, and a break up, but instead of feeling layered or someone worth rooting for, she generally comes off and self-absorbed and shallow. Why does she want to go to Princeton? Because she has wanted to since she was like five. No, really. That's the whole reason. Why is she dating Jason? Because he's popular and she's well liked and it makes sense. That's the whole reason. She never really seems to think anything more than "this is what I'm supposed to do."
And then there's Marcus. Why is he also in these time loop memories? You'll find out with like a few pages left in the book, but it will never feel earned. Marcus is however, grounded, warm, caring, and consistently feels real and like someone you want good things to happen for. Honestly, he's the reason this book had any feeling in it at all and both my stars are for him. He carried this book.
The pacing is fine, but there were continuity issues, editing issues, weird sentences or slang that I had to go over more than once, and the lack of emotional payoff make the story feel way flatter than it should. The final chapters try to land some big moments, but none of them feel earned. The last few pages were better, but they didn't make up for how little the 296 pages before them delivered.
The Romance Rewind had potential, but it never delivered. Most of it just feels forced. And every single "reveal" and every moment that should have added some emotional layer to the story is never explained or fleshed out (some being just one or two sentences that are then never brought up again) making the whole thing feel kind of useless. I really wanted to like this one... alas.
Read
March 28, 2026The Romance Rewind by Sarah Everett is a delightful, heartfelt young adult rom-com with a clever speculative twist that breathes fresh life into familiar tropes. Published in June 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, this swoony story follows 17-year-old Zadie as she navigates the emotional wreckage of a breakup and a car crash with her boyfriend—only to find herself mysteriously given the chance to rewind time and relive key moments in their relationship.
Everett, known for emotionally resonant YA titles like The Probability of Everything and Some Other Now, excels at blending sharp wit, genuine teen vulnerability, and just enough "what if" magic to keep readers hooked. The premise echoes classic 1990s rom-com vibes—think Groundhog Day meets high school heartbreak—but with modern twists, multiple plot surprises, and a rivals-to-lovers undercurrent that adds extra spark. Zadie's journey isn't just about fixing a romance; it's a thoughtful exploration of self-awareness, miscommunication, betrayal, and what it really means to choose (or re-choose) someone.
What shines brightest is Everett's buoyant writing style and her knack for authentic teen voices. The chemistry between characters crackles with tenderness and tension, and the emotional beats—awkward reconciliations, painful realizations, and sweet "do-over" moments—feel earned rather than contrived. Readers who enjoy quick, engaging reads with humor, heart, and a touch of dreamlike speculation will find plenty to love here. The book captures the dizzying intensity of first loves while gently reminding us that sometimes the real growth happens when we look backward to move forward.That said, the execution occasionally stumbles for some readers: the speculative elements and pacing can feel uneven in spots, and the writing style doesn't always land perfectly for everyone. A few twists might stretch believability, but they add fun energy that fits the rom-com spirit.Overall, The Romance Rewind is a charming, escapist treat—perfect for fans of light-hearted YA with a speculative edge, like The Do-Over or stories full of romance tropes done with heart. It's ideal for summer reading or anyone craving a story that mixes laughter, longing, and a little time-travel magic. Everett delivers another winner that leaves you smiling and maybe even reflecting on your own "what if" moments.Rating: 4/5
A fun, twisty YA rom-com that's equal parts swoony and insightful. Highly recommended for teens and adults who enjoy heartfelt contemporary romance with a clever premise.
Everett, known for emotionally resonant YA titles like The Probability of Everything and Some Other Now, excels at blending sharp wit, genuine teen vulnerability, and just enough "what if" magic to keep readers hooked. The premise echoes classic 1990s rom-com vibes—think Groundhog Day meets high school heartbreak—but with modern twists, multiple plot surprises, and a rivals-to-lovers undercurrent that adds extra spark. Zadie's journey isn't just about fixing a romance; it's a thoughtful exploration of self-awareness, miscommunication, betrayal, and what it really means to choose (or re-choose) someone.
What shines brightest is Everett's buoyant writing style and her knack for authentic teen voices. The chemistry between characters crackles with tenderness and tension, and the emotional beats—awkward reconciliations, painful realizations, and sweet "do-over" moments—feel earned rather than contrived. Readers who enjoy quick, engaging reads with humor, heart, and a touch of dreamlike speculation will find plenty to love here. The book captures the dizzying intensity of first loves while gently reminding us that sometimes the real growth happens when we look backward to move forward.That said, the execution occasionally stumbles for some readers: the speculative elements and pacing can feel uneven in spots, and the writing style doesn't always land perfectly for everyone. A few twists might stretch believability, but they add fun energy that fits the rom-com spirit.Overall, The Romance Rewind is a charming, escapist treat—perfect for fans of light-hearted YA with a speculative edge, like The Do-Over or stories full of romance tropes done with heart. It's ideal for summer reading or anyone craving a story that mixes laughter, longing, and a little time-travel magic. Everett delivers another winner that leaves you smiling and maybe even reflecting on your own "what if" moments.Rating: 4/5
A fun, twisty YA rom-com that's equal parts swoony and insightful. Highly recommended for teens and adults who enjoy heartfelt contemporary romance with a clever premise.
July 7, 2026
Book Title: The Romance Rewind
Author: Sarah Everett
Tropes: Time Loop, Enemies to Lovers, Co-Dreaming, Second Chance (sort of), While You Were Sleeping vibes
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️
🤩 The Vibe:
Magical, messy, and emotionally charged.
Think While You Were Sleeping meets a dream-world time loop. A girl gets dumped, her ex ends up in a coma, and she finds herself stuck in a shared dreamscape reliving their relationship — except the person she’s reliving it with isn’t who she expected. It’s got high school drama, family chaos, a secret she can’t tell anyone, and a slow-burn connection that builds entirely inside a dream. Unique concept, big emotional swings, and a twist you won’t see coming.
👩❤️👨 Main Characters:
Zadie
I wanted to root for her — I really did. She gets dumped and then has to watch her ex in a coma while keeping the breakup a secret from literally everyone. That’s a lot. But the lie she’s telling, combined with everything else going on in her life — her dad, her mom, her friends falling apart — made it hard to connect with her. It felt less like a layered character and more like a character with too much happening at once.
Marcus
Honestly, the highlight of this book. He’s warm, grounded, and carries almost all of the emotional weight in their dynamic. The co-dreaming scenes work because of him. He made me believe in the connection even when the story didn’t fully earn it.
💕 What I Loved:
• The co-dreaming concept — so creative and genuinely unlike anything I’ve read
• Marcus full stop — he’s the reason to finish this book
• The tension of watching Zadie slowly realize Jason wasn’t who she thought he was
• The twist — did NOT see that coming
• The way Zadie and Marcus came together through the dream sequences
🩵 What Didn’t Work For Me:
• Too many subplots — the dad, the mom, the friend drama — it was a lot to track and made it hard to emotionally invest in any of it
• The lie Zadie was telling everyone made her hard to sympathize with early on
• The reveal for why Jason broke up with her felt like a gut punch in the worst way — more frustrating than satisfying
🤔 Final Thoughts:
A concept I wanted to love more than I did.
The co-dreaming time loop is genuinely creative, and Marcus is an incredibly compelling character. But the execution struggled — too many plates spinning at once, a lie that made it hard to root for the FMC, and an ending that tried to do too much too fast. The Jason break up reveal stung more than it should have, and not in a satisfying way.
Author: Sarah Everett
Tropes: Time Loop, Enemies to Lovers, Co-Dreaming, Second Chance (sort of), While You Were Sleeping vibes
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️
🤩 The Vibe:
Magical, messy, and emotionally charged.
Think While You Were Sleeping meets a dream-world time loop. A girl gets dumped, her ex ends up in a coma, and she finds herself stuck in a shared dreamscape reliving their relationship — except the person she’s reliving it with isn’t who she expected. It’s got high school drama, family chaos, a secret she can’t tell anyone, and a slow-burn connection that builds entirely inside a dream. Unique concept, big emotional swings, and a twist you won’t see coming.
👩❤️👨 Main Characters:
Zadie
I wanted to root for her — I really did. She gets dumped and then has to watch her ex in a coma while keeping the breakup a secret from literally everyone. That’s a lot. But the lie she’s telling, combined with everything else going on in her life — her dad, her mom, her friends falling apart — made it hard to connect with her. It felt less like a layered character and more like a character with too much happening at once.
Marcus
Honestly, the highlight of this book. He’s warm, grounded, and carries almost all of the emotional weight in their dynamic. The co-dreaming scenes work because of him. He made me believe in the connection even when the story didn’t fully earn it.
💕 What I Loved:
• The co-dreaming concept — so creative and genuinely unlike anything I’ve read
• Marcus full stop — he’s the reason to finish this book
• The tension of watching Zadie slowly realize Jason wasn’t who she thought he was
• The twist — did NOT see that coming
• The way Zadie and Marcus came together through the dream sequences
🩵 What Didn’t Work For Me:
• Too many subplots — the dad, the mom, the friend drama — it was a lot to track and made it hard to emotionally invest in any of it
• The lie Zadie was telling everyone made her hard to sympathize with early on
• The reveal for why Jason broke up with her felt like a gut punch in the worst way — more frustrating than satisfying
🤔 Final Thoughts:
A concept I wanted to love more than I did.
The co-dreaming time loop is genuinely creative, and Marcus is an incredibly compelling character. But the execution struggled — too many plates spinning at once, a lie that made it hard to root for the FMC, and an ending that tried to do too much too fast. The Jason break up reveal stung more than it should have, and not in a satisfying way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Zadie thought she'd be getting a promise ring during a romantic dinner with her boyfriend after a year they'd been dating, but instead, he dumps her without explanation and they suffer an accident that leaves him in a coma. Still unable to explain what could have gone wrong. But also unable to tell others they were not together anymore. So Zadie continues to pretend to be the ideal girlfriend for him, even after his cousin, Marcus, finds out it is all a lie. Even while Zadie and Marcus somehow end up in a dream world that will show there are more sides to their perfect love story through dreams of their memories together.
For the beginning I was starting to think this was going to be YA While You Were Sleeping, which was great for me because I love the movie, but then the dreams of Zadie's past finally begin. It still isn't really a story about traveling back in time. She does get to see the past, even walk around it, but the lack of means to change it makes for a different story. It felt a little bit like she was in therapy, actually. So if you're here for the change-your-past trope, this is not it. Which was also great for me, because I recently read another YA that was pretty much what this book seemed to be, so I feared I'd up reading a similar story. In the mechanism for the magical realism, this book was quite different at least (unless you see it as a representation of therapy).
But moving on to the book itself, my big problem with it was actually Zadie. She definitely needed therapy, but it wasn't only that. For starters, did she have to vomit every quarter or so? Yuck. And I'm aware her fixation with having the perfect romance with the perfect boy was exactly they point, but I wish she had been more likeable with a more relatable goal. I liked the idea, but the execution was sometimes aggravating.
Once you overcome how insufferable Zadie is, the rest is a good book. I also liked the plot twist near the end. Though that is very risky for any story, I don't think anyone can complain about how it was conducted, which made for a fun effect.
I believe this was my first book by Sarah Everett, and I would love to read her next works. I like her choices, even if I'm not so into the main character in this one.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
For the beginning I was starting to think this was going to be YA While You Were Sleeping, which was great for me because I love the movie, but then the dreams of Zadie's past finally begin. It still isn't really a story about traveling back in time. She does get to see the past, even walk around it, but the lack of means to change it makes for a different story. It felt a little bit like she was in therapy, actually. So if you're here for the change-your-past trope, this is not it. Which was also great for me, because I recently read another YA that was pretty much what this book seemed to be, so I feared I'd up reading a similar story. In the mechanism for the magical realism, this book was quite different at least (unless you see it as a representation of therapy).
But moving on to the book itself, my big problem with it was actually Zadie. She definitely needed therapy, but it wasn't only that. For starters, did she have to vomit every quarter or so? Yuck. And I'm aware her fixation with having the perfect romance with the perfect boy was exactly they point, but I wish she had been more likeable with a more relatable goal. I liked the idea, but the execution was sometimes aggravating.
Once you overcome how insufferable Zadie is, the rest is a good book. I also liked the plot twist near the end. Though that is very risky for any story, I don't think anyone can complain about how it was conducted, which made for a fun effect.
I believe this was my first book by Sarah Everett, and I would love to read her next works. I like her choices, even if I'm not so into the main character in this one.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A magical-realism YA rom-com. Zadie expects an anniversary grand gesture. Instead, she gets dumped… then a car crash. When she wakes up, her ex-boyfriend Jason is in a coma, and everyone believes they’re still happily in love—thanks to a sort of When You Were Sleeping scenario. As Jason’s cousin Marcus threatens to expose the truth, Zadie realizes she has limited chances to fix the situation.
Then the magical element kicks in: Zadie (and Marcus) begin having synchronized dreams, reliving past memories as invisible observers—forced to watch what really happened in her relationship and reconsider everything she thought she knew.
Don’t think things stop here, though: it gets even weirder (and, unfortunately, less believable than this).
😊 YAY for
• A nice, original concept with a fun time-loop hook.
• Cute, engaging main characters. The MMC in particular is well drawn, and I liked how his feelings for the FMC are gradually revealed.
• A light rom-com tone that mostly works for the target audience.
🤔 NAY for:
• Overcomplicated execution. The story leans too hard into layered time-loop/inception-style moments, which sometimes muddle rather than enhance the emotional arc. Retrospectively, the final plot twist made much of the story (read: dreams) stop making sense, IMO, based on how it was built (which is a pity, since this is clearly meant to be the book’s biggest selling point).
• An over-the-top final showdown. The late revelations—where nearly everything the FMC believed about her loved ones turns out to be wrong—felt excessive. Seriously, how can she have gotten everything wrong about literally everyone? At times, it veered closer to emotional whiplash than YA romance.
🌱 Overall comment & note for the author
A cute and heartfelt idea with solid romantic moments, but one that would have benefited from a simpler, more emotionally focused delivery. I enjoyed the premise and characters, even if the execution occasionally went further than it needed to for a YA rom-com.
Then the magical element kicks in: Zadie (and Marcus) begin having synchronized dreams, reliving past memories as invisible observers—forced to watch what really happened in her relationship and reconsider everything she thought she knew.
Don’t think things stop here, though: it gets even weirder (and, unfortunately, less believable than this).
😊 YAY for
• A nice, original concept with a fun time-loop hook.
• Cute, engaging main characters. The MMC in particular is well drawn, and I liked how his feelings for the FMC are gradually revealed.
• A light rom-com tone that mostly works for the target audience.
🤔 NAY for:
• Overcomplicated execution. The story leans too hard into layered time-loop/inception-style moments, which sometimes muddle rather than enhance the emotional arc. Retrospectively, the final plot twist made much of the story (read: dreams) stop making sense, IMO, based on how it was built (which is a pity, since this is clearly meant to be the book’s biggest selling point).
• An over-the-top final showdown. The late revelations—where nearly everything the FMC believed about her loved ones turns out to be wrong—felt excessive. Seriously, how can she have gotten everything wrong about literally everyone? At times, it veered closer to emotional whiplash than YA romance.
🌱 Overall comment & note for the author
A cute and heartfelt idea with solid romantic moments, but one that would have benefited from a simpler, more emotionally focused delivery. I enjoyed the premise and characters, even if the execution occasionally went further than it needed to for a YA rom-com.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Genre 📚: YA Contemporary Fantasy, Romance
Tropes 💁♀️: Time travel, Shared dreams, Right person/Wrong time
Rep ✔️: Black main character, BIPOC and queer side characters
CW ⚠️: Car accident, loss of a loved one, grief, emotionally distant parent, racism, sexism
Rating ⭐️: 3/5
The romance: Zadie has been with her popular boyfriend for about a year, and she suspects he’s going to give her a promise ring on their anniversary. Turns out said boyfriend actually wants to break up with her, and a literal car crash ensues. After waking up in the hospital, Zadie realizes that her boyfriend Jason is in a coma, and no one knows about the breakup but her… and Jason’s annoying cousin Marcus. Then, the rewind: Zadie and Marcus fall into a series of shared dreams, where they’re able to view memories of Zadie and Jason’s relationship. Zadie is glad for the opportunity to figure out what went wrong — but she has no idea why Marcus is along for the ride.
It took a while for the story to get to the shared dreams, but once it did, it was a fun time. Zadie enjoyed watching her relationship play out, while poor Marcus cringed and very much wanted to run away. Honestly, I was cringing along with Marcus, because it was clear that Jason wasn’t the perfect, loving partner Zadie made him out to be. Even when Zadie witnessed this for herself, she couldn’t bring herself to believe that they weren’t meant to be together. The denial was STRONG. At a certain point, though, the red flags were too obvious to ignore, and she finally started rethinking what she wanted. The last 10% of the book was way too chaotic for me, but all in all, I was happy with Zadie’s arc.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Romance Rewind will be released on June 23, 2026.
Tropes 💁♀️: Time travel, Shared dreams, Right person/Wrong time
Rep ✔️: Black main character, BIPOC and queer side characters
CW ⚠️: Car accident, loss of a loved one, grief, emotionally distant parent, racism, sexism
Rating ⭐️: 3/5
The romance: Zadie has been with her popular boyfriend for about a year, and she suspects he’s going to give her a promise ring on their anniversary. Turns out said boyfriend actually wants to break up with her, and a literal car crash ensues. After waking up in the hospital, Zadie realizes that her boyfriend Jason is in a coma, and no one knows about the breakup but her… and Jason’s annoying cousin Marcus. Then, the rewind: Zadie and Marcus fall into a series of shared dreams, where they’re able to view memories of Zadie and Jason’s relationship. Zadie is glad for the opportunity to figure out what went wrong — but she has no idea why Marcus is along for the ride.
It took a while for the story to get to the shared dreams, but once it did, it was a fun time. Zadie enjoyed watching her relationship play out, while poor Marcus cringed and very much wanted to run away. Honestly, I was cringing along with Marcus, because it was clear that Jason wasn’t the perfect, loving partner Zadie made him out to be. Even when Zadie witnessed this for herself, she couldn’t bring herself to believe that they weren’t meant to be together. The denial was STRONG. At a certain point, though, the red flags were too obvious to ignore, and she finally started rethinking what she wanted. The last 10% of the book was way too chaotic for me, but all in all, I was happy with Zadie’s arc.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Romance Rewind will be released on June 23, 2026.
June 23, 2026
Thank you to Sarah Everett, HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing me with an ARC.
I think this is one of those books where my final thoughts can be summed up as: it was not a bad book, it just was not the right book for me.
This book has a really interesting premise. A teenage girl gets the chance to revisit her relationship through a time loop and figure out where things went wrong. It immediately caught my attention, and I thought the time travel aspect added something unique to the story.
The writing was easy to follow, and I never felt like I was struggling to get through it. In fact, I read it fairly quickly. Unfortunately, I never became fully invested in the story or the characters.
I kept waiting for that moment where I would feel emotionally attached to what was happening, but it never quite happened for me. The time loop made the story more interesting, but at times I found parts of it a little too repetitive or a little too awkward for my personal taste. I also never connected with Marcus the way I think many readers will. I know he will probably be a favorite character for some people, but I personally found him a bit too much.
I think part of my experience may simply come down to timing. I have read several very strong romance books recently, and compared to those, this one did not leave the same emotional impact on me.
That being said, I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy YA romance, time loops, second chances, and stories focused on figuring out where a relationship went wrong. It just did not end up being a story that stayed with me after I finished.
Overall, an interesting concept and an easy read, but not a standout for me personally.
I think this is one of those books where my final thoughts can be summed up as: it was not a bad book, it just was not the right book for me.
This book has a really interesting premise. A teenage girl gets the chance to revisit her relationship through a time loop and figure out where things went wrong. It immediately caught my attention, and I thought the time travel aspect added something unique to the story.
The writing was easy to follow, and I never felt like I was struggling to get through it. In fact, I read it fairly quickly. Unfortunately, I never became fully invested in the story or the characters.
I kept waiting for that moment where I would feel emotionally attached to what was happening, but it never quite happened for me. The time loop made the story more interesting, but at times I found parts of it a little too repetitive or a little too awkward for my personal taste. I also never connected with Marcus the way I think many readers will. I know he will probably be a favorite character for some people, but I personally found him a bit too much.
I think part of my experience may simply come down to timing. I have read several very strong romance books recently, and compared to those, this one did not leave the same emotional impact on me.
That being said, I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy YA romance, time loops, second chances, and stories focused on figuring out where a relationship went wrong. It just did not end up being a story that stayed with me after I finished.
Overall, an interesting concept and an easy read, but not a standout for me personally.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and Sarah Everett for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
This book had some high expectations for me, especially being marketed for fans of The Do-Over and Check & Mate, and featuring one of my favorite tropes (similar to Woke Up Like This). While I did enjoy the second half of the book more and thought the plot twists were handled well, it ultimately didn’t fully live up to what I was hoping for.
I think our main characters improved as the story progressed. I liked seeing the FMC grow and appreciated how the MMC supported her through everything. However, it took me about 50% of the book to really connect with them, and by that point, it felt a bit too late for the story to fully win me over.
I really appreciated the representation in this book, and I think the author did a great job portraying certain emotional moments. I also liked that the characters had strong support systems during those scenes, it added a lot of warmth and realism to the story.
The plot twists (yes, multiple!) were fun, and this was a quick, engaging read. The writing style didn’t always fully work for me, but since this is one of my favorite tropes, I still enjoyed the dream/time-travel elements and the conversations that stemmed from them.
Overall, it wasn’t a five-star read for me like some of the comparison titles, but I’d still give it a solid 3 stars.
Thank you again to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and Sarah Everett for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
This book had some high expectations for me, especially being marketed for fans of The Do-Over and Check & Mate, and featuring one of my favorite tropes (similar to Woke Up Like This). While I did enjoy the second half of the book more and thought the plot twists were handled well, it ultimately didn’t fully live up to what I was hoping for.
I think our main characters improved as the story progressed. I liked seeing the FMC grow and appreciated how the MMC supported her through everything. However, it took me about 50% of the book to really connect with them, and by that point, it felt a bit too late for the story to fully win me over.
I really appreciated the representation in this book, and I think the author did a great job portraying certain emotional moments. I also liked that the characters had strong support systems during those scenes, it added a lot of warmth and realism to the story.
The plot twists (yes, multiple!) were fun, and this was a quick, engaging read. The writing style didn’t always fully work for me, but since this is one of my favorite tropes, I still enjoyed the dream/time-travel elements and the conversations that stemmed from them.
Overall, it wasn’t a five-star read for me like some of the comparison titles, but I’d still give it a solid 3 stars.
Thank you again to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and Sarah Everett for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
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