Backward Motion

crossroads #1

by Sydney Rutherford

Life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to.

When a career flameout and crushing breakup deliver the perfect one-two punch, Sam Bryant finds himself back where he never wanted to be: his sleepy hometown of Oakdale, Nebraska.

Mourning his old life, he takes a job working for a local electrician, former classmate and reformed burnout Connor Finnegan. Unlike Sam, Connor never made it out. He’s resigned to the fact that he’ll spend the rest of his life in Oakdale, working for the family business and passing as someone he’s not.

That all changes when Sam reappears and the two discover a shared connection from their high school days. But when a family crisis upends Connor’s world, he must choose between revealing who he really is and giving up Sam to continue living a lie.

"This is a sweet, intimate look at the kind of love that's possible when we embrace ourselves so that others can see us more fully." —Reader review
"This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year." —Reader review

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT, Adult, Romance

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

About the author

Sydney Rutherford is fond of travel, a morally ambiguous protagonist, and the fragility of the human condition. She writes contemporary queer romance with a penchant for noir and currently resides in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Join the mailing list for bonus content and upcoming releases: https://sydneyrutherford.com/newsletter/

Reviews

[Dr Casey MacKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this-- it is a heartfelt small-town romance that manages to engage with serious issues (anxiety/panic attacks, a parent with MS) without becoming bogged down in them or being angsty. Walking that tightrope is difficult and rarely done well. The expert navigation of mental health issues whilst keeping the book lovely and lighthearted reminded me of The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun (although it has been years since I read that one so take it with a grain of salt).

Also, as someone who suffers from chronic anxiety + panic attacks I felt that it was well portrayed without becoming the focus of the story.

Beyond the mental health rep, this had all the ingredients for an excellent small town romance: returning home from the big city, meddling side characters, and other things I won't mention so as not to spoil anything! Oh, and I especially loved Sam's mom! She was such a great balance of supportive, overbearing, funny... just a really excellent and fun character.

This was my first book from Sydney Rutherford but I will def be checking out more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

[aribooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

╰┈➤”life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to.”


It’s been SO SO long since I enjoyed a book THAT much, like literally I read this in few hours because of how good this was….

The story follows Sam, who after a rough time and mental health issues in the big city, decided to come back in his childhood small town Oakdale in Nebraska. At his return, he will reconnect with an old classmate, Connor, an electrician who has a good deal of his own problems.

Two people dealing with her own issues who will finds themselves again, and most of all find each other. I really liked how their relationship was slowly beginning and it felt very natural and good.
I will still stay there was a third act break up, with I don’t always enjoy, but I feel like this was VERY necessary for both characters so they could figure themselves out and make better decisions.
This story focus a lot on mental heath, self discovery, and family issues, which is something a lot of people can relate too and it was really well included with the romance. And most of all, this was very well written!! I didn’t read others book by the author but I’ll definitely make sure to do so!!

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc !

[Zed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backward Motion is such a cute small town romance. As someone who never used to read romance, I am constantly surprised by the types of romances I love and this friends to lovers was such a fun read!

The book also deals with mental health rep, disability awareness and small town bullying.
Sam changes the most throughout this book, slowly realising that his old life was never really want he wanted. Overcoming his fears and anxieties is what drives the book and having Connor introduced in this protective friend role helps Sam to break his barriers.

Connor, while having his own fears and difficulties with his family, still manages to be there for his friends as well as Sam. Connor is such a beautiful soul and has such respect for Sam being able to be himself in high school and through the rest of his life.

The way they work together both literally at the shop and figuratively in their new post high school relationship and even through their ups and downs and coming outs, they still manage to be thinking about each other and not just themselves.

[Demetri Papadimitropoulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love, Panic, and Several Overdue Invoices
In “Backward Motion,” the Road to a Better Life Runs Through an Electrical Shop With Bad Bookkeeping and Surprisingly Good Emotional Management
By Demetris Papadimitropoulos | July 29th, 2026

Degrees, major clients and the right suit for a pitch meeting are meant to assure Sam Bryant that his life is rising. His hands disagree. They begin Sydney Rutherford’s “Backward Motion” trembling in a locked bathroom stall while the presentation meant to prove he can run a major account waits outside, his boss sends threats and his boyfriend calls not to help but to borrow money for drinks with an ex. Connor Finnegan’s hands, meanwhile, strip wire, steady ladders and locate faults behind walls. Sam has left Oakdale, Nebraska. Connor has kept much of it running. Neither man is doing especially well.

Everything Sam once used as proof now embarrasses him: the business degree, the Austin agency, the glossy clients, Felix, a boyfriend highly skilled at appearing desirable from across a room. Panic attacks cost Sam the job; Felix’s selfishness finishes what the office began. Back with his parents, Sam sleeps on a rollaway bed in the childhood room his mother has converted into an Etsy craft studio. She offers to buy him something permanent. He refuses. To Sam, a mattress would be a confession. Oakdale is not merely where he came from. It is the place against which he has measured every adult achievement, which makes returning feel less like geography than exposure.

Meanwhile, Connor runs Finnegan’s Electrical, where the wiring is far better ordered than the invoices. Once Oakdale’s town-certified delinquent, he now restores heat, answers emergency calls and supports the father who still treats him as an apprentice on probation. Ian’s multiple sclerosis has made Connor necessary without giving him much say. Connor carries the equipment, the family bills and most of his father’s anger. He is also closeted. “Remains” sounds almost restful. In practice, he drives elsewhere for sex, edits himself around customers and lets silence perform the introductions he cannot bear to make. Sam has made approval the condition of ambition. Connor has let duty absorb nearly every choice.

Even the office job looks to Sam like a demotion he cannot describe without lowering his voice. He has the status reflex of a man taught that difficulty becomes intelligent only after someone puts it in a deck. Then Connor takes him on service calls. Sam crawls beneath an old farmhouse in borrowed overalls and boots several sizes too large, holding a lamp he later discovers could have stood perfectly well by itself. He learns that electrical work requires diagnosis, memory, patience and the tact to enter another person’s home without behaving as if you own it. Connor watches Sam straighten out the bookings, invoices, overdue accounts and online presence. He had assumed Sam’s résumé meant Sam knew how to live. Sam had assumed an apprenticeship was what happened when college did not.

Time changes hands before affection does. Sam watches Connor trace a fault without tearing open every wall, calm anxious customers and carry technical knowledge his father treats as merely expected. Connor discovers that Sam’s marketing experience can do more than make bad ideas look expensive. Sam builds systems that spare him some evenings and protect the company from the chaos Connor has been carrying home. Connor teaches without humiliation, an almost exotic management philosophy after Sam’s Austin agency. Their courtship begins less with sparks than with accurate accounting. Each man becomes useful to the other without first being used by him, a distinction the novel understands more sharply than many romances that advertise healing as though it were a complimentary service.

Rutherford writes plainly and at a quick conversational pace, happiest when a feeling has an object to attach itself to: legal pads, booking software, pill bottles, quote forms, steel-toed boots, the photo strip Connor hides in his wallet. Connor’s dryness plays well against Sam’s nervous polish. Much of the comedy comes from the gap between how adults hope to appear and what their bodies, parents or borrowed footwear permit. The language rarely strains for display, and its modesty suits the book’s interest in service work and ordinary competence. In the sex scenes, that restraint becomes an ethic. Connor asks. Sam answers. Hesitation is noticed rather than converted into coy suspense, and Sam’s comfort matters more than the choreography.

In other scenes, Rutherford’s wish to be understood becomes repetition. Felix belittles Sam’s sexual insecurity, recasts boundaries as control and treats Sam’s money as though dating him came with a discretionary fund. We see the pattern, revisit it in memory and later hear Sam explain it back to Felix. Rutherford gives us the wound, the scan and, occasionally, the discharge notes. The clarity is useful in a novel concerned with how emotional abuse damages confidence in one’s own perception. It also means that few scenes are allowed to keep a second meaning after the narration has finished interpreting them. A gesture lands; an interior paragraph verifies the landing. The reader is trusted with feeling, but less often with uncertainty.

Perhaps the alternating viewpoints are necessary for that reason. Connor remembers Sam as the openly queer boy who endured Oakdale and escaped into accomplishment. Sam reads Connor’s standing in town as a calm Connor has never felt. Inside Connor’s chapters, fear arrives wearing sensible clothes: his father is sick, the company depends on him, everyone knows everyone, and leaving would not uncouple money from family. Sam’s chapters expose a different discipline. He has accepted stolen credit, staged humiliation and Felix’s contempt because the office, salary and boyfriend looked like evidence that he had made it. The backstory rarely overturns a first impression. It shows the years each man has spent manufacturing one.

At Finnegan’s Electrical, what they give each other can be counted. Sam gives Connor time by organizing the office and bringing overdue accounts under control. Connor gives Sam credit, both literally and in the older sense of believing him capable. The business plot keeps the novel’s middle from becoming a waiting room between kisses: bookings increase, systems improve, Connor gains breathing room, and Sam begins using the very skills he had come to associate with panic and theft. When he collects customer testimonials and nominates Connor for an Oakdale business award, he is not merely boosting the man he wants. He is writing down what Ian has refused to admit. Connor is good at this. His customers already know.

People stand at the ceremony and praise Connor’s patience, reliability and generosity. Ian responds by disparaging Sam and treating his changes to the company as trespass. Connor, attentive in bed and composed on a job site, cannot contradict his father in the room. The failure is worse because Sam has just done for Connor what Connor will not do for him. He has made private knowledge public. He has translated affection into testimony and given the town a record of Connor’s worth. Connor still expects Sam to disappear when recognition becomes personally expensive. Being loved in secret begins to resemble one more unpaid task.

After Sam resigns and ends the relationship, Connor cannot win him back by producing his father as mitigating evidence. Ian is ill. The business is old. Oakdale has excellent hearing. None of that obliges Sam to accept erasure. When Ian is hospitalized, Connor finally tells his mother and father that he is gay, frightened that death might preserve the silence he already hates. Sam comes to the hospital because Connor is in pain. He does not pretend that showing up has settled anything. That distinction matters: care does not revoke the boundary, and compassion is not treated as consent to resume the old arrangement. For a novel inclined toward explanation, these chapters wisely allow action to speak first.

During the final movement, however, trouble starts yielding with suspicious efficiency. Connor’s disclosure is less catastrophic than feared. Ian slowly relents. Their friends receive the couple without scandal. Sam returns to Austin, rejects Felix’s account of their relationship and collects his belongings. The company expands; the families mingle; Sam returns to an abandoned creative project; travel enters the plans. Romance owes no one permanent misery, but the epilogue hands out restoration so widely that homophobia, coercion, illness and financial dependence begin to resemble a backlog a competent office manager might clear by Friday. Satisfaction is part of the contract. Total administrative victory is not.

Ian gets off lightly. Earlier, he is sick, frightened, punitive and loved in the same room. He depends on Connor while keeping him small, criticizing installment plans, receivables and every decision suggesting the company might survive without his hand on it. Connor’s care is neither foolish nor pure. It is love, habit, money and fear sharing one set of keys. The later truce asks Ian to behave better but not really to face the years Connor arranged around him. Felix is thinner by design. Every appearance confirms the same manipulation. He clarifies what Connor is not, but he never changes shape, and Sam’s final refusal therefore feels necessary rather than surprising. The novel is better at showing how these men have injured Sam and Connor than at imagining what might complicate them.

More interesting is the refusal to let either Austin or Oakdale win. Like “Blueberry Boys” by Vanessa North, “Backward Motion” questions the inherited queer story in which departure equals liberation and return equals defeat, though Rutherford is less pastoral and much more interested in receivables, caregiving and the fatigue of looking successful. Austin gives Sam room to be gay and almost none to be uncertain. Oakdale gives Connor scrutiny and obligation, then a handful of people willing to know him differently. The town does not become innocent. It becomes possible. Rutherford’s point is not that home was secretly kind, only that leaving and freedom are not synonyms, any more than staying and surrender must remain so.

In both men’s minds, direction has been confused with progress. Sam believes he has gone backward because he is sleeping beside his mother’s sequins, answering phones at a local trade business and watching former colleagues inherit the work he conceived. Connor believes he has not moved because he still drives the same roads, carries the same family obligations and answers to the same father. Yet Sam’s advancement has been a treadmill with excellent branding, while Connor’s apparent stillness has required constant exertion. Sam has traveled farther. Neither has chosen much. The romance becomes meaningful when choosing, rather than merely enduring or achieving, finally enters the vocabulary of their lives.

The book’s social pressures remain close to the ground. Sam’s panic grows inside an agency that uses humiliation, stolen credit and disposability as management tools. Connor’s paralysis grows inside family care, where the dependable child can gradually lose permission to call sacrifice a choice. Rutherford is also sharp about rank. Sam does not abandon ambition when he stays in Oakdale. He uses the same abilities where he can keep the credit, exercise judgment and refuse the old terms. His recovery still includes medication and the recognition that panic will not vanish because one man is kind to him, but the narrative places its greatest faith in safer work, reciprocal love and a life no longer organized around being impressive. The problem was never that Sam wanted too much. It was that everyone around him had learned to charge admission to his own usefulness.

Rutherford’s directness, warmth and attention to practical life make “Backward Motion” easy to inhabit even when its prose leaves too little unsaid. Its best scenes understand that patience can be erotic, administration can be loving and praise can matter more when it enters the public record. Its weaker ones interpret the characters after they have already made themselves clear, then furnish a future from which nearly every hard edge has been removed. The novel earns 76/100, corresponding to 3/5 stars: substantial in feeling, conventional in language, and more intelligent about the difference between usefulness and exploitation than its tidy conclusion quite knows what to do with.

On the first page, Sam’s hands cannot carry the career he has built. Connor spends the novel repairing other people’s hidden systems while maintaining the dysfunction in his own. By the end, Finnegan’s Electrical belongs to both men, and Oakdale has become neither prison nor consolation prize. The future is cleaner than the past has earned. Still, the correction holds. Forward motion is not distance, rank or escape from witness. Sometimes it begins when two men learn which labor belongs to them, which burden never did, and which old room can finally hold a bed.

[Mark F · Rating 5 out of 5]

My latest read was Backward Motion, the first book in the Crossroads series, by Sydney Rutherford. I was fortunate enough to be given an ARC of this book, but this review is given voluntarily. This is the story of Sam “Sammy” Bryant and Connor “Finnis” Finnegan, two men who grew up in the same small town of Oakdale, Nebraska, went to school with one another, and reconnected when Sam suffered a mental health crisis, sending him back to the town he escaped from ten years prior. He was meant to heal during his time there, but old memories still haunt him, and it wasn’t until he reconnected with Connor, who now runs his father’s business, that he truly began to heal. Once they meet again, when Sam takes a job working for Connor, secrets are revealed and long-held feelings resurface, leading them both to finding their happiness together and the path to saving each other.

First, let me say, I loved this book. Sam and Connor are made for each other, there’s no doubt about that. And both are so deserving of having someone in their lives that truly loves them for who they are, as they are. I thought the witty banter between all the characters was well placed and added an element of humor to a book that was a medium on the angst scale. While I’m not too keen on angst, as it really does strongly affect me, it seems to be a trope found in more and more books of this genre, so I’m gradually getting used to it. And as long as that angst leads to a HEA, I’m satisfied. And speaking of characters, this book had a wonderful cast of them, with Sam and Connor, and their friends, especially Brian, as well as Sam’s mom and Connor’s mom. And Brian’s advice to Connor, when talking about his fear of coming out, “Is it worth you having to pass on these amazing possibilities---someone like Sam?” Thank you, Brian.

And though I’m not fond of the third-act breakup trope, I’ll generally look past that if there’s a HEA waiting for me at the end. Besides, in this instance, Sam and Connor came to their senses quickly enough. That said, I did want to lock them both into a room and say, “Listen, you were both made for each other. You know that. I know that. I’m not letting you out until you’ve worked out your issues. Trust me, it’s worth it. Now, get to work.”

On the negative side…I was slightly disappointed with the ending. It was more of a light HEA, as there were no, “I love you’s” exchanged, merely “I think I’m in love with you”. I would have liked an epilogue showing us more of a further glimpse into their future, and I would say my thoughts about this were a testament to the author’s wonderful character development. Because of that, I’ve become so interested in their lives and wanted to know that their happiness will continue. But, who knows, one of the future books in this series may cover that. One can hope. Side note: Upon finishing this book, I immediately pre-ordered the next in this series, called On Equal Footing.

The spice level was about a 2 out of 5, which is fine with me. It was enough to express their passion for each other without going over the top. Taking all things into account, I loved this book, rating it a 9 out of 10, rounded to a 5 for a 1-5 scale. Oh, and that cover! I describe it as simple yet beautiful, and love it as well. I always appreciate a good illustrated cover rather than when an author just uses one or two shirtless dudes whose looks don’t match the characters’ descriptions as written in the story.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Sam and Connor’s story. After a panic attack cost Sam his high profile job, he is back home in Nebraska, living with his parents, and in limbo, no work, nothing. At the encouragement of his father, he applies for a receptionists job at an electrical company, and the owner is someone he knew in high school. Sam was the only out gay kid in his school, and Connor was the kid who goofed off and always got in trouble. Now, Connor has taken over the running of the company from his father, and really needs some help in the office so he can go on calls. The two decide Sam will work on a trial basis, they click, Connor admits he is in the closet to Sam, and a physical relationship begins alongside the work one. Both men have mental and emotional hangups from the past, so things do not always go smoothly, and there are outside pressures, too, which impact their growing bond. The question becomes whether each is in a place to give the other what he needs, and if not, where do they go next. Characters are interesting and realistic, the backgrounds of each and the small town they live in rings true, and the problems and choices they face are real. I was totally invested in both getting their heads on straight, owning up to what caused the problems between them, and figuring out a way to resolve those issues and create a future together. Brian, one very supportive friend, was an endearing character in his own right, a stay-at-home dad with a precocious 4 year old and an infant, a man with clear priorities, sound advice when needed, and a close friend of, and to, both Sam and Connor. I did get frustrated at times with the negative self-talk from both, but it was all part of the process and needed to get dealt with in order to strengthen their relationship and move on. The book had humor, tension, sadness and spicy times, it held my interest, and left me feeling very satisfied at the end. I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review from one happy reader.

[Nick Hanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read *You & Me* by Tal Bauer directly after this, and although I know the comparison isn’t entirely fair, it really highlighted just how different two books with very similar plots and themes can feel.

This book was a slow and somewhat plodding read for me. Everything felt muted and, honestly, a little boring. I had a hard time getting invested in much of anything at the beginning, including the romance. I don’t think the author did a terrible job; there just wasn’t anything especially vibrant about the world or the characters that stood out to me. In other books, a character might experience overwhelming joy, fury, or crushing depression. Here, almost every emotion felt very light and subdued.

The book is also packed with stereotypical plot devices and romance tropes. If there were a checklist somewhere, this one would probably hit most of them: homophobic dad, cheating ex-boyfriend, closeted romantic lead, third-act breakup. It felt like a cookie-cutter romance from ten years ago, where almost everything that happened was expected and, at times, frustratingly cliché.

Additionally, I didn’t find the main character, Sam, particularly likable. He repeatedly throws out surprisingly mean one-liners while his love interest is basically a sugary-sweet angel. There were even moments where it felt like the author gave the love interest an occasional mean comment just to balance their personalities, but those lines often felt completely out of character.

There were several points where I almost DNF’d, and the first sex scene was definitely one of them.

“You can choke me, but just don’t spit in my mouth.”

The story did improve quite a bit in the second half, though. Somehow, I eventually connected with the characters, and the ending was genuinely sweet and comforting. I’m not sure I would recommend the book because getting through the first half was such a struggle for me, but overall, I did end up liking it. I’d also be interested in trying something else by the author.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book title is aptly named... you have to go back before you can move forward.

Sam was being taken advantage of both at work and in 'what he thought' was love. Work people step over him for their own gain, and he kept getting thrown under the bus. His lover is stepping all over him and not consider his feelings. All that adds up so much that he had a breakdown. Going back to his childhood bedroom where his mom turned into a craft room was the last thing he thought he'd be doing. But here he is... back to the homophobic small town.

Sam ran into the high school drop out who is hiring, well... a job is better than no job, right? Thru him Sam reconnected with some old acquaintances that turns into friends. And while they still make sly comments, over time, Sam gotten stronger. He can withstand it better, let it roll off his back because he knows who he is. Meanwhile, he had fallen for Connor, but he's not ready to be out, and you can't force someone to come out if they're not ready....

This is a good story of personal growth, are kids more sensitive? Maybe, but there's no shame here, as a matter of fact, author is showing there are healthy ways to get out of that pit you feel so alone in. There's good supportive family and friends that lets you be your true self. There's ways to grow past it, everyone's journey is different but if you have a good head on your head and do the heart/hard work, it'll all come together.

I like this one, the pacing is good, the story line moves along but not dwell or linger. So proud of Sam's growth to himself and know how to think to give Connor the space he needs. And Connor knows that he can provide a safe space and that's why these two are so adorable even though they're in a small judgey town.

Thanks NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
🌶️2.5/5

I am honestly reviewing this book as an ARC provided to me by NetGalley.

This book is about Sam and Connor. Sam's dealing with some mental health issues in Houston at his high-stress job. And heads back home after a breakdown. He starts working for Connor, an old acquaintance from HS. Not really a friend....though, in their small town, they were definitely aware of each other.

Their relationship grows and is a nice progression throughout the book. Connor makes Sam realize he really can and should be valued, not deal with the past he's had in relationships. And Sam helps Connor to learn to live as his true self, for himself, no one else.

I loved their story. I found it totally believable that someone who wanted out so badly, went to the big-ass city and decided after years of struggle and stress that mental health was more of a priority for them and decided small-town living with a changing tide in that town was the place they need to be. That's after living in both myself, so I can relate.

There's definitely some breakdowns and ensuing growth that happens with them, but I believe it was necessary for the plot.
There's some family discord that happens throughout. Some very negative and fairly abusive verbal reinforcement for Connor. But I like how this story has growth all around.

Pairing: M/M
POV: Dual, first person
OM Drama: only to start, not in their relationship
Cheating: not them, prior partner
HEA: yes
tropes: co-workers, electrician, small town
triggers: mental health, panic and anxiety attacks, cheating partner, manipulative and degrading partners, verbally rough/abusive parents, MS-parent, homophobic language/attitude

[Stacey T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy-to-read MM romance that explores mental health. Sam never expected to end up back in Oakdale, Nebraska, living with his parents, but sometimes life takes unexpected turns. After an anxiety attack causes him to lose his job and break up with his boyfriend, Sam feels lost, but he decides that leaving the house might be a good first step. When he applies for a job at a local business, he runs into an old classmate and starts to see that life doesn’t always have to be so overwhelming. Connor is surprised when Sam wants to work for him at the family electrical business, which he now manages because his father is ill. As old feelings come back and Connor opens up about his sexuality, the two start a new relationship. However, keeping it a secret puts their bond to the test. When a medical emergency happens, both have to decide whether to keep hiding, move on and start over, or realize that what they need is already right in front of them.
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I enjoyed how the story brought together family and mental health themes. Many people can relate to feeling like their lives should follow a certain path and seeing setbacks as failures, but these moments often help us grow and change, even if we don’t notice it right away. The characters felt real, and I appreciated how they grew and supported each other, often checking in about their feelings. The presence of family and friends made the story feel even more genuine. I do wish there had been more about their future at the end, but overall, it’s a good story that many readers will enjoy. I’ll be looking for more books by this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Musingsonbooksandmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Netgalley and this review is my honest opinion. My thanks to Netgalley and the Author for the opportunity to review.
Backward Motion by Sydney Rutherford is Book one in the CrossRoads series. Sam returns home to Oakdale to put himself back together following several very painful setbacks and soon meets his future boss/former school friend, Connor when he applies for an admin job. The two quickly reconnect and develop a close friendship which becomes something deeper. Oakdale carries a lot of memories of past wrongs/ pain for both as well as an uncertain future, because while Sam is out and Connor is not and that brings further complications.
I really enjoyed reading this story and the writing and world building was so immersive I almost felt as though I was part of their friendship group. My heart really hurt for Sam as he struggled with anxiety and the fall out from the loss of a high-pressured job and leaving an abusive relationship. Meeting Connor was such an important step for Sam’s journey as it helped him to see what a healthy relationship looked like and see how a loving and non-toxic connection worked. The mental health representation was really well written and his journey through therapy and his progress fit well into the storyline, but it wasn’t his whole story or character arc. Similarly, Connor was just such a good person, his care and attention towards Sam was really touching. He had never left Oakdale and seeing him struggle with his past and present and navigate a difficult relationship with his father really added to the emotional depth of the story. I liked the fact that at different times during the story and Sam and Connor leant on the strength of the other and it wasn’t one sided. Both grew as individuals and as couple and while there were bumps along the way, their happy ending was hard fought and well earned. As a couple they had a strong connection and good chemistry with moderate spice.
I adored Sam’s mum and their mutual friend Brian, and it was clear that Sam and Connor, had a really good support network in Oakdale, which it helped to ground the small -town setting. Sydney Rutherford is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

[QueerPageTurner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Hat Publications & Netgalley - thank you so much for letting me read Backward Motion in advance of the publishing date. What a treat it was to gobble this up!

This is a sweet, intimate look at the kind of love that's possible when we embrace ourselves so that others can see us more fully. The ways we grow and change over the years. It's a story of homecoming and family, courage and boundaries, and of course, love.

Connor is so sweet, genuine, generous, and caring. His patience and respect for Sam is what so many of us crave. A true consent king. A balm for Sam's anxiety and the abuse Sam endured from his ex (and all his prior sexual partners).

Case in point from Connor: "I want you to know that I'm listening. Don't be afraid to speak up with me. You have a right to be heard..."

These two together are wholesome and soft to sink into, though the few spicy scenes are well-done and sexy. (That first topping scene for one of the characters was RAWR.)

When I lived in a big city on the east coast of the U.S., the gay bars I frequented with my friends were often packed with Felix's - cruel, catty, mean-spirited, and entitled. Moving to a smaller city on the west coast opened my eyes to how different queer culture can be depending on where you are - it's not a monolith. That's reflected in Sydney Rutherford's story in a way that felt real and lived in.

This is a simple, quiet, emotional story. If that's what you're looking for, you'll love Backward Motion.

[Joshua Bennett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one just wasn't for me, and that's disappointing because I was genuinely excited by the premise.

*Backward Motion* by Sydney Rutherford opens with a concept that immediately pulled me in, but after the first chapter it felt like we'd been dropped into an entirely different story. I actually went back to check that I hadn't skipped a chapter because the opening setup seemed to vanish almost as quickly as it was introduced.

The dialogue makes up the majority of the book, but it never really came alive for me. It often felt flat, clunky, and lacking emotional weight. There was very little insight into the characters' thoughts, feelings, or even their actions, which made it incredibly difficult to connect with anyone. I need that emotional investment to really enjoy a story, and unfortunately I never found it here.

The pacing didn't help either. The plot moves so quickly that it often felt chaotic rather than exciting, with perspective shifts that lacked clear transitions. More than once I found myself flipping back a page or two to work out who was speaking and where we were in the story. "Whiplash" is probably the best way to describe the reading experience.

It's always frustrating when a book has a premise that feels full of potential but doesn't quite deliver on it. I kept hoping things would settle into a rhythm and I'd find my footing, but that moment never came. Sadly, this one was a miss for me.

[Kristen Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy free from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

This book was a very sweet, small town romance that also explores some difficult aspects of mental health. Sam unfortunately finds himself back home, living with his parents. He went through a breakdown after trying to navigate his high stress job and difficult relationship dynamics. He starts working for Connor for something to do, to get himself off back out there.

Connor and Sam went to High school together, but they were not friends. Their relationship continues to grow as Sam learns more about the business and starts offering up some new ideas for improvement. As they continue to grow closer, Connor continues to struggle to hid the feelings he has always had for Sam. But in this small town, his secrets are much easier to keep than to show people who he truly is.

The growth of Sam and his progression of dealing with his anxiety and panic attacks was well done. He is learning to create boundaries for not just people in his life but also himself. While Connor continues to work on his fear of being seen and judged. Trying to not let anyone down. I enjoyed getting to experience their own growth as well as how they came to trust each other as the became more and more important to one another.

I would enjoy getting more about them, perhaps in the next book, we will have a couple moments from them.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was rather adorable and just what I needed to change it up. I’m not typically one that reads small-town romances since many of them are predictable like Hallmark movies, but I very much enjoyed this one.

“Backward Motion” follows Sam and Connor. Sam’s a big marketing exec in Texas, but after a failed presentation due to a panic attack and a toll in his mental health due to an abusive boyfriend, he decides to head back home to Nebraska to take a break from life. After so long of doing nothing at this parents, he goes out to find a job which leads him to Connor. Turns out they went to high school together and both living with their own demons. Connor is running his family’s electrician business, and doing the best he can to make his dad proud. Known as the rebel back in high school, there’s much more to Connor than anyone knows. But as Sam and Connor begin working together, those layers are slowly unwrapping, leading to a relationship that makes you all fuzzy inside.

This book is filled with feel-good moments that’ll make you laugh and swoon. I absolutely loved Connor and his patience with Sam throughout the book. He truly cares for him and becomes a safe place for Sam. As for Sam, he learns that people can change from high school and the world isn’t all bad…even if it is a small town. Like I said, this book was a cutesy read and a little different from typical small town romances. If this is your vibe, definitely check it out!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam is burnt out and comes home to stay with his parents, Connor has a bad boy history that no-one wants to let him forget, neither set of parents really understand their children, nor that they are now grown men. Sam and Connor uncover secrets, grow deep feelings and find their way forward against the challenges they meet as the story unfolds.
Ex schoolmates in a small town reconnect after years, misunderstandings, slow burn and first times. Mental health issues sensitively and well described and managed as well as toxic relatives (unintentional) with good intentions but total misunderstanding and therefore appearing unsupportive.
Overall I loved it, not too short, clear mental images of the characters and situations. In parts it made me laugh, cry and not want to put it down.
My usual test for a book is:
• are the characters believable…yes
• would I read it again…yes
• would I recommend as a first MM read…yes
Its a lovely feel good read with difficult issues sensitively handled.
I have read other books by this author and love her HEA’s and hope there are more books set in Oakdale.

[M H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of an advance copy from NetGalley. No incentive was provided in exchange for my honest opinion.

For me the central theme of this story is expectations. Parental, sibling, significant other, and self. The story focuses on what happens when we change from what's expected, with the 2 main characters struggling to navigate their respective lives under scrutiny.

Sam has flamed out spectacularly, the demands of a toxic career path and relationship abuse have left him paralysed by anxiety and self-doubt.

Connor is hogtied mentally by a sense of duty not to come out so as to not upset his invalid father. Rooted in a misguided notion of penance for the transgressions of his youth.

Put these two together and watch sparks fly. This has a frequent but not distracting spice level. The dialogue is bright, and the author clearly did their research on a number of topics to make the story believable.

Overall, 4*

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Backward Motion
When failing to do an important presentation at work due to a severe panic attack and breaking up with his boyfriend Sam has a nervous breakdown and now a shadow of himself he returns to his home town to live with his parents .
Needing to find work he takes a job as an office assistant to a former classmate Connor who after his father was diagnosed with MS has taken over running the now one man company.
Sam has always been out and proud whereas Connor dressed as a goth in school and was regarded as a troublemaker. The developing relationship between these two starts slowly but the depth and emotion is well described and makes for a wonderful story between these two who both deserve to be happy, with some drama this an emotional story is well told and makes for a great read with depth and other characters that really add much to this book.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

[Nicole Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars ⭐️

I enjoyed this book, especially once Sam and Connor finally got together. Their relationship was much more enjoyable after they became a couple, and I found myself much more invested in the story.

My biggest issue was the pacing. The first 35% felt repetitive, with a heavy focus on Sam's mental health struggles that made the story feel slow and in a circle. I also thought their relationship developed a little too quickly and not at all…

Connor's conflict with his father also felt unresolved. After being portrayed as homophobic throughout the book, his sudden acceptance didn't feel earned and everyone being okay with because he’s sick doesn’t sick right with me.

Finally, I felt there were too many side characters and subplots that didn't add much to the overall story and took focus away from Sam and Connor.

Despite those issues, I still enjoyed the book and think readers who enjoy emotional contemporary romance will find a lot to like here.

[Jack Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backward Motion by Sydney Rutherford. When a career flameout and crushing breakup send Sam Bryant back to his sleepy hometown of Oakdale, Nebraska, the last thing he expects is to reconnect with former classmate Connor Finnegan. While Sam is trying to figure out what comes next, Connor is stuck living the life he never really wanted, until Sam’s return forces him to question just how long he can keep hiding who he truly is.

This was such a sweet little romance! I loved the way Sam and Connor were naturally drawn to each other and how their relationship slowly builds over time. There’s something really lovely about watching two people reconnect and realise there’s more between them than either expected. A cosy, heartfelt read with plenty of small-town romance vibes and characters you can’t help but root for.

Thank you to the Sydney, NetGalley and Black Hat Publications for the opportunity to read and review this book

[SNik · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in series (Crossroads). Small town. Former classmates. Boss/employee. Mental health representation. Slow burn. Dual POV.

Sam is back home living with his parents and trying to recover from a nervous breakdown caused by his high pressure job and terrible relationship. Connor has always wanted to leave home but is stuck running his family’s electrician business, and hiring Sam as his office manager has him yearning for a different life.

As former classmates that now have a chance to connect, Connor and Sam were sweet together, Connor with his easy-going patience and Sam with his intelligent caring. Unfortunately, there are some difficult family members for both Connor and Sam, and Connor is in the closet which causes friction. I really appreciated Connor’s attentiveness to Sam, and Sam’s wanting only the best for Connor, and although there were some parts of the story I would have liked to see more of, overall I enjoyed this story. 4.25

[Bookish_Behaviours · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first ever ARC and it was such a good experience. I applied to read the ARC on NetGalley and they said yeah, go ahead - Not sure why? But thanks, I loved it.

This book is electrician x burnt out corporate professional that returns to his hometown to recuperate (after a mental breakdown) while his parents take care of him. But this also forces him to process the trauma from all the bullying he experienced growing up there as a kid.

I loved how soft the MMCs were and that they were written in a way that made them feel real and flawed. I think that's what will make this book stand out and makes it worth reading. The small town vibes also work so well here. In a way, this felt like a really GOOD Hallmark movie.

Definitely worth a read! My only complaint is that (on the Kindle version) there were no indicators for when flashbacks scenes were happening, which sometimes lead to some confusion and made me have to re-read some parts.

[Karen Bowness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet, wonderful story and I loved every minute of it!

Sam returns home to his small country town after going through some really heavy stuff. I really liked the way his anxiety was explained and the flashbacks to the horrible way he was treated by his ex were done really well (I hate Felix!)

Sam ending up working for Connor, a friend from high school, seemed like fate. The two of them hit it off instantly. Their chemistry was perfect and I found myself just wishing for their HEA. Though Connor’s journey is different to Sam’s, they both have a lot of baggage to get through.

I loved all the extra characters too! Sam’s mum was just wonderful, as was Connor’s, and I think every man needs a friend like Brian - he was awesome! Some heavy topics covered, but all done with care. Just a beautiful story all round.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a few recent misses on ARCs, I was very glad to find this story engaging from page one. It's a sweet (and spicy) tale about finding your own version of success. I cared about both the MCs, though I thought Sam crossed a line in nominating Connor for an award when Connor had explicitly told him not to. I'd have liked to have seen that misstep addressed more completely, particularly given the way consent (or lack thereof) was a factor in Sam's backstory.

There were a few stray non-Americanisms ("candy floss," "in hospital," etc.) that made me wonder why the author chose to set this book in the US, but on the whole I thought the setting worked well.

Overall, I gobbled this up and will gladly read more from this author.

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Sara Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Enjoyable read :)

A severe panic attack forced Sam back to his parents house and he found himself in need of a job An ad in the paper led him to a former classmate in need of an office assistant.

Conner took over his father's electricial buisness after he was diagnosed with MS.

I loved seeing their connection grow and develop into a relationship. Conner had to decide if he was ready to let the world see the real him.

Both MCs stuggled with the next steps in their lives.

Things that prevented me give a higher review.

*Sam's sister, Georgia, was pushy and rude.

*Sam's reaction to Conner not being ready to come out to people. This was frustrating because Sam was so supportive to being with.book for free.

[aplace_inthesun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backward Motion is a gentle book about two gentle guys. A small town romance - not exactly friends to lovers, more opportunities missed really.

Sam goes back to his home town to recover from an emotional break when he sees a job opening at Connor’s electrical business. They’re ex school mates and Connor gives Sam a trial.

The book is about this pair exploring a newfound friendship and growing attraction. It’s about Sam’s growth in not people pleasing and Connor’s living his truth. Both have people that challenge them at different times, and the book looks at these issues across both their pints of view.

Some stilted parts that could be a little smoother but the reader can’t but help wanting the best for these two!

Thanks to the publisher for the ebook through Netgalley

[Stache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy Courtesy of NetGalley

Oh my, the tropes in the book were so good. Closeted blue collar tradesman who recently acquired his dad’s business and overworked and under appreciated corporate gay who fled his small town.

Truly enjoyed seeing the growth and development of Sam and Connor’s relationship with all of its ups and downs.

Now I want to be like Sam and quit corporate America and find my blue collar man from high school.

There was a lot of sexual growth and anxieties that went on, that are relatable and charming. Felix needs to go to therapy bad.

Excited to read the Brandon and Mike spin off from Sydney!

[Lauryn Retzlaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town romance featuring a story about overcoming fears and hardships. Finding your way in the world are realizing that a place you once disliked may have slowly changed into your home.

Sam and Connor's story is about a relationship of discovery and growth. Learning that the right person may have been closer than you think. Their understanding of each other and knowing what the other needs, even if it is hard for them, truly portrays a healthy adult relationship. The story includes the path to acceptance as queer person and covers the struggles of mental health/anxiety.

A great story!

P.S. I hate Sam's sister

[Peyton (pageboundpeyt) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

What a Hallmark movie-esque delight of a book. I loved this so much!

Backward Motion follows people-pleasing Sam, fresh off a stress-induced breakdown, as he moves from the big city (Austin) back to his small hometown in Nebraska. There, he reconnects with Connor, an old classmate from high school, and the two quickly find common ground and start to build a relationship. Their dynamic is so, SO sweet: Connor shows up for Sam in ways his ex never did, and Sam helps Connor come out of his shell and into himself. I had the best time coming along on their journey! It had me laughing, kicking my feet, and even tearing up at points.

The writing itself is solid, although the tone and language definitely gives away that the author isn't from the US. That said, it didn't bother me too much - the overall quality and the story itself more than made up for it.

While this book is, at its core, a tooth-rotting romance, it's also a wonderful display of what it means to grow up, to reconcile the past with the present, and to accept who you used to be while also allowing yourself to become someone new.

[luizzzza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book with interesting characters (especially Brian, a sweetheart in every way), but I didn't buy the message the author was trying to convey. There is no such thing as a "different" or "funny" way of showing love or affection; if someone's words and actions hurt you and they know it but keep doing it anyway, they don't care about you.

PS: If my boyfriend—whether we were out as a couple or not—let a family member or friend of his be rude to me, either in public or in private, I would break up with him and never go back. You deserved better, Sam.