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Back To Us
A woman forced to return to her hometown. A man she thought disappeared long ago. A love story that could make or break them both.
Indy Stone is a well regarded professional therapist with her life all planned out. She's spent her life trying to escape her dysfunctional upbringing in Peach Valley. But when fate intervenes and causes her to return to her hometown with a huge responsibility on her shoulders, she never expects it to change her entire life.Through all of her hard times, there was always one bright spot in Peach Valley, but he disappeared years ago. Or did he?
BACK TO US is a stand alone contemporary clean romance with no cliffhanger. If you like a true love story with flawed, yet lovable, characters, you'll enjoy this feel-good romance!
Indy Stone is a well regarded professional therapist with her life all planned out. She's spent her life trying to escape her dysfunctional upbringing in Peach Valley. But when fate intervenes and causes her to return to her hometown with a huge responsibility on her shoulders, she never expects it to change her entire life.Through all of her hard times, there was always one bright spot in Peach Valley, but he disappeared years ago. Or did he?
BACK TO US is a stand alone contemporary clean romance with no cliffhanger. If you like a true love story with flawed, yet lovable, characters, you'll enjoy this feel-good romance!
186 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2016
474 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hanna
98 books2,869 followersHey there! Before I tell you all about myself, can I invite you to join my private Rachel's Readers Facebook group? That's where my readers hang out, discuss my books, participate in giveaways and learn about new releases.
You can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rache...
So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.
I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!
I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
You can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rache...
So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.
I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!
I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 25, 2025
BACK TO US is not the first book by Rachel Hanna that I have read and I’m so happy I got a chance to read this heart warming story. BACK TO US is going to make you want to run to Peach Valley and help these people out! Rachel Hanna is a fantastic author and you can’t go wrong with anything she writes. This is one of those novels that is hard to step away from. Rachel Hanna managed to captivate me with her storytelling. I love how her characters feel completely real and are not cookie-cutter or perfect. She broke my heart with them over and over again.
BACK TO US is a wonderful story full of faith and redemption. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to stop. Indy and Dawson were childhood friends until the day his mother sends him away. Years later, Indy is divorced and returns home to Peach Valley to take care of some unexpected business when she runs in to Dawson. Their conversations had me giggling out loud but sometimes they also broke my heart. If there were ever two people who needed each other, these two are it! I’m not going to say anything else about them because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone.
Rachel Hanna will quickly become one of my favorite authors. She made me feel so many different things while I was reading her heart tugging story. One minute I’m giggling and the next there is a huge lump in my throat. The themes she weaves in are wonderful reminders that we only have this one life to live. Also, we need to remember to follow our dreams and not be afraid of what others might think. All of the characters are flawed in different ways, but you will find yourself cheering for them throughout BACK TO US. I just wanted to reach in the pages and give them all hugs. The end of the story is filled with redemption, love and a renewed sense of hope, which rounds out this lovely story perfectly. I can’t wait to read more by this wonderful author.
BACK TO US is a wonderful story full of faith and redemption. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to stop. Indy and Dawson were childhood friends until the day his mother sends him away. Years later, Indy is divorced and returns home to Peach Valley to take care of some unexpected business when she runs in to Dawson. Their conversations had me giggling out loud but sometimes they also broke my heart. If there were ever two people who needed each other, these two are it! I’m not going to say anything else about them because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone.
Rachel Hanna will quickly become one of my favorite authors. She made me feel so many different things while I was reading her heart tugging story. One minute I’m giggling and the next there is a huge lump in my throat. The themes she weaves in are wonderful reminders that we only have this one life to live. Also, we need to remember to follow our dreams and not be afraid of what others might think. All of the characters are flawed in different ways, but you will find yourself cheering for them throughout BACK TO US. I just wanted to reach in the pages and give them all hugs. The end of the story is filled with redemption, love and a renewed sense of hope, which rounds out this lovely story perfectly. I can’t wait to read more by this wonderful author.
April 12, 2025
This was a super cute, quick read! I loved the childhood friend romance storyline and the main character’s childhood memories/nostalgia in Peach Valley (both good and bad, which made it feel realistic). It bothered me that the love interest’s name is Dawson, the same as in Rachel Hanna’s Seagrove series. The camping crisis toward the end felt dramatic, but it also tied up well in end. Overall I really enjoyed this and it’s in my top 5 favorite Rachel Hanna books!
October 23, 2016
A truly beautiful love story
The childhood of Indie Stone could only be described as dysfunctional and unfortunately that of her friend Dawson was worse. They were only neighbors for a short few months but during that time they were each other's best friends. I suspect that Indy was Dawson's only friend. Then life just seemed to go wrong. Andy's older brother was a drug addict in her young life a roller coaster ride of big emotional events. Dawson's mother barely remembered that she had a child other than to keep her secrets. She finally sent him away that year the Indy was 12.
Now Indy is a counselor, divorced , with a nice life and home on the shore until she received a letter from a former high school.friend, now and attorney requesting in the strongest terms that she come back to her hometown and meet with him as soon as possible. What follows is a journey that you will want to join. The story of Indy and her family and friends is beautiful and happy and sad wonderful and terrible with a happy ever after ending. This author, in this story, reminds me a bit of author Luanne Rice; complex characters, events and emotions.
The childhood of Indie Stone could only be described as dysfunctional and unfortunately that of her friend Dawson was worse. They were only neighbors for a short few months but during that time they were each other's best friends. I suspect that Indy was Dawson's only friend. Then life just seemed to go wrong. Andy's older brother was a drug addict in her young life a roller coaster ride of big emotional events. Dawson's mother barely remembered that she had a child other than to keep her secrets. She finally sent him away that year the Indy was 12.
Now Indy is a counselor, divorced , with a nice life and home on the shore until she received a letter from a former high school.friend, now and attorney requesting in the strongest terms that she come back to her hometown and meet with him as soon as possible. What follows is a journey that you will want to join. The story of Indy and her family and friends is beautiful and happy and sad wonderful and terrible with a happy ever after ending. This author, in this story, reminds me a bit of author Luanne Rice; complex characters, events and emotions.
January 25, 2022
Amazing book
I have been reading a lot of Rachel Hanna books and this one really touched me. I truly believe that everyone should read this book. It has you smiling, laughing, crying. But you come away feeling happy.
I have been reading a lot of Rachel Hanna books and this one really touched me. I truly believe that everyone should read this book. It has you smiling, laughing, crying. But you come away feeling happy.
March 31, 2025
3 3/4 enjoyable fluff read to pass the time.
March 4, 2017
I loved this book. I cried through most of it though.
March 1, 2025
If you want to read something light, pleasant, and good enough to hold your attention, then "Back to Us," by Rachel Hanna, would be a good choice. I did a lot of cooking today, listening to the audiobook of this novel from start to finish while trying to create a dish my mother made 40 years ago. (No recipe, just my memory of what might have been in it...and then I veganized it.). The characters in the book were great company as I did all the prep work, put it all together, and then tackled the clean up. I was not expecting great literature, and it was not that, at all, but I was ok with that. Not every book has to have great, ever lasting importance. Sometimes, a simple escape from our own loves, and some light entertainment, is all we want.
Indy had a tough childhood. Her brother, Danny, became a drug addict, and her sister, Amy, sometimes bullied her. Her parents divorced. At age 12, Indy befriended Dawson, a boy who lived very near by, whose home life was worse than hers. One day he was simply gone, and his mother told Indy that she sent Dawson far away, to some kind of reform school claiming he was a bad kid. She never saw him again. Fast forward several decades, and now Indy is back in the little town where she grew up, only to lean that Dawson was back, too. The connection is still there, especially for Indy and Dawson. She is divorced and not interested in anything long lasting. He is suffering from PTSD, but knows he still has feelings for Indy. Meanwhile, a coworker of hers is wooing her, which has Dawson feeling some jealousy, even though Indy is not interested in the other man, who really is just a good friend and coworker.
Things changed when childless Indy's world is turned upside down. She "inherits" a little girl, and comes to learn how much she was missing by not having children. This little girl becomes everything to her. Indy decides that staying in her little hometown makes sense, as it is a good place to raise the child. I loved watching Indy and her new "ward" build a mother/daughter relationship, strengthened by all the losses each had suffered before knowing one another.
A camping trip changes everything in so many ways, and is pivotal to sealing certain pathways to happiness. I will admit that I got teary eyed at one point towards the end of that camping trip, and then cheered for a happy ending.
This is a very tame book, one teenaged girls could read, though it might not interest them. Some reviewers have referred to it as a "clean" romance. I am giving it 4 stars for taking me away from the horrors in our world right now, transporting me to a small town where the problems were manageable, and the ending was sweet.
Indy had a tough childhood. Her brother, Danny, became a drug addict, and her sister, Amy, sometimes bullied her. Her parents divorced. At age 12, Indy befriended Dawson, a boy who lived very near by, whose home life was worse than hers. One day he was simply gone, and his mother told Indy that she sent Dawson far away, to some kind of reform school claiming he was a bad kid. She never saw him again. Fast forward several decades, and now Indy is back in the little town where she grew up, only to lean that Dawson was back, too. The connection is still there, especially for Indy and Dawson. She is divorced and not interested in anything long lasting. He is suffering from PTSD, but knows he still has feelings for Indy. Meanwhile, a coworker of hers is wooing her, which has Dawson feeling some jealousy, even though Indy is not interested in the other man, who really is just a good friend and coworker.
Things changed when childless Indy's world is turned upside down. She "inherits" a little girl, and comes to learn how much she was missing by not having children. This little girl becomes everything to her. Indy decides that staying in her little hometown makes sense, as it is a good place to raise the child. I loved watching Indy and her new "ward" build a mother/daughter relationship, strengthened by all the losses each had suffered before knowing one another.
A camping trip changes everything in so many ways, and is pivotal to sealing certain pathways to happiness. I will admit that I got teary eyed at one point towards the end of that camping trip, and then cheered for a happy ending.
This is a very tame book, one teenaged girls could read, though it might not interest them. Some reviewers have referred to it as a "clean" romance. I am giving it 4 stars for taking me away from the horrors in our world right now, transporting me to a small town where the problems were manageable, and the ending was sweet.
August 23, 2023
An older standalone (October 2016) by Rachel Hanna that made its way to the top of my “books of interest” list. I’ve read one other book (a Christmas holiday story) by this author.
A childhood friendship that mysteriously ended when Dawson disappeared overnight without a word to his best friend, Indy. Years later, in a shocking and unexpected encounter, they are reunited in the small town where it all began. Both a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of second chances, love and resilience.
I don’t want to spoil the story for other readers, so I’ll leave you to find out what happens next and how it all shakes out.
A short (188 pages) read that quickly kicks in the emotions and tugs the heartstrings with a tale of dysfunctional families and the effects on children. Sometimes it only takes a moment to connect with another person who will profoundly affect us – those are truly the extra-special and defining moments in our lives.
November 4, 2024
Back to Us by Rachel Hanna is a heartwarming standalone novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is filled with relatable characters and emotional depth, making it easy to get lost in the lives of the protagonists. Rachel Hanna has a way of crafting stories that feel like a warm hug, and Back to Us is no exception. The pacing was great, and I loved seeing the characters’ growth throughout the book. It’s the perfect mix of romance and heartfelt moments, making it a very satisfying read. I gave it 4 stars and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a feel-good story with a touch of drama and love.
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July 19, 2022I'm working my way through all of Rachel Hanna's books. They're not really my style, but I'm trying to give them a shot.
If one of them females in my life were to get involved with Drake, I'd advise them to run. Horrible childhood, PTSD... All untreated. Nothing dealt with. And he's telling her that he's loved her since the brief period when they were adolescents?! Big red flag.
And that little girl went to calling this stranger "mom" unrealistically fast.
The book wasn't written poorly, but it definitely wasn't well thought out. I can't give it any stars.
If one of them females in my life were to get involved with Drake, I'd advise them to run. Horrible childhood, PTSD... All untreated. Nothing dealt with. And he's telling her that he's loved her since the brief period when they were adolescents?! Big red flag.
And that little girl went to calling this stranger "mom" unrealistically fast.
The book wasn't written poorly, but it definitely wasn't well thought out. I can't give it any stars.
March 11, 2022
Favorite
I am not sure how I missed this book, I thought I had read all of Rachel Hanna's books... But, now I have and this one is my favorite. And I have LOVED them all, but this one really got to me. This story between Indy and Dawson, their childhood, their pasts, their reunion, their future, this is a book I will read more then once! Book is full of real characters, deep heartfelt souls... I just loved it!
I am not sure how I missed this book, I thought I had read all of Rachel Hanna's books... But, now I have and this one is my favorite. And I have LOVED them all, but this one really got to me. This story between Indy and Dawson, their childhood, their pasts, their reunion, their future, this is a book I will read more then once! Book is full of real characters, deep heartfelt souls... I just loved it!
June 16, 2017
Amazing book
This is one of the best books I have read this year!! Absolutely amazing. The storyline was wonderful and grabbed my attention from the first page! I loved the characters, their storyline was wonderful and the word pictures were great!! I have read many of Rachel Hanna's books, but this one was the best!
This is one of the best books I have read this year!! Absolutely amazing. The storyline was wonderful and grabbed my attention from the first page! I loved the characters, their storyline was wonderful and the word pictures were great!! I have read many of Rachel Hanna's books, but this one was the best!
July 8, 2023
hard to put down
I am hooked and this book is just as good and hard to put down as all the others I have read this summer.
Great plot with some twists and turns not knowing how it will turn out but picking how you hope it ends.
I am hooked and this book is just as good and hard to put down as all the others I have read this summer.
Great plot with some twists and turns not knowing how it will turn out but picking how you hope it ends.
August 18, 2023
A Good Return
This is one of Ms Hanna’s stand alone books. I totally enjoyed this story of 2 people reuniting after many years have passed. The characters are very likable. And again we get to see a happy ending again. I look forward to finding more books that Ms.Hanna wrote.
This is one of Ms Hanna’s stand alone books. I totally enjoyed this story of 2 people reuniting after many years have passed. The characters are very likable. And again we get to see a happy ending again. I look forward to finding more books that Ms.Hanna wrote.
December 19, 2023
This one was such an amazing story of resilience, family and coming home. Childhood friends find themselves in the same town after years and reconnect. One of those friends comes back home to raise her niece and I fell in love with her character as she tried to make a life for her. Great story.
September 11, 2024
Sweet short story that's funny, and serious at other times. I've read reviews where some compare to a Hallmark movie and to be honest, I've never seen those movies, so no comment. I did enjoy this book, as Rachel Hanna 's reads are always great.
November 16, 2024
I wanted to love this more than I did. I think my issue is it was over before it got started. I wish this had been a 2-3 book series and not just one short novel. It was a quick read. So when it was over I was left wishing for more.
February 18, 2025
I read this based on a recommendation from the author via email. I’m not a fan of books where it goes back and forth between present day and other times. That being said, I did like how this one eventually flowed and truly enjoyed it.
August 14, 2025
I loved this sweet romance about true love always winning out. Childhood friends find their way back to one another and through a few perils find their future. It was light, quick, and just a fun listen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2018
back to us
easy reading story. made me feel like I was there in their lives. memories of growing up in the 50's were there. only part I didn't like was the flash backs. v
easy reading story. made me feel like I was there in their lives. memories of growing up in the 50's were there. only part I didn't like was the flash backs. v
August 20, 2018
One of the best books I have read in awhile. I loved dawson and indy. I read it too fast though. I now want more of their story.
January 10, 2019
An excellent book. Great characters with a wonderful story to tell
January 29, 2022
Fabulous Love Story.
It is a very interesting love story. Sweet, emotional story about two lives that start as children and grow into love.
It is a very interesting love story. Sweet, emotional story about two lives that start as children and grow into love.
March 29, 2022
great read
As always another great book by Rachel. Make sure to try the rest of her books they will not let you down.
As always another great book by Rachel. Make sure to try the rest of her books they will not let you down.
June 21, 2022
Too simple and very predictable. Nothing special about it.
June 26, 2022
Have tissues handy!!!!
December 19, 2022
Great book, great story. I love all of Rachel's book but this one really touched my heart. It is one of my favorites. I have now read all of Rachel's books. I can't wait till her next one.
May 24, 2023
This is a very good read. Hearts that are broken are healed. Heartwarming read. Romance, friendship, trials, healing, righting of wrongs. Must read.
June 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I wish it was longer. After reading The Book Club on Waverly Lane, and how much I loved that book, I wanted to read something else by Rachel Hanna. I am so glad I did.
November 30, 2024
Audiobook. Lovely clean romance!. True love from long ago school days. She comes home for Christmasand he is still there
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews