Rewind It Back Audiobook – Windy City Series, Book 5

It was one of those rainy Portland afternoons when the world outside my window felt gray and introspective—perfect for curling up with an audiobook that promised both nostalgia and healing. That’s how I found myself swept into Liz Tomforde’s Rewind It Back, headphones on, coffee in hand, heart nowhere near ready for what was coming. As someone who has both cherished and mourned a first love, this story pulled me back to all those “what if” moments we keep tucked away but never quite forget.

Rewind It Back isn’t just a hockey romance; it’s a deeply honest exploration of heartbreak, hope, and the awkward beauty of coming home—not to the place you left behind but to the person you once were. Hallie Hart is immediately compelling: bold in her ambitions yet quietly carrying bruises that no one else seems to see. Her return to Chicago is meant to be about chasing dreams, not old ghosts—but fate (and some real estate) have other plans. The forced proximity trope can sometimes feel contrived, but here it works organically—Hallie redesigning Rio DeLuca’s house becomes so much more than a job; it’s a renovation of history itself.

I connected with Hallie on such a visceral level—the exhaustion she feels from pretending old wounds don’t ache anymore is so authentic. There are glances across hallways and unspoken words that remind me vividly of being young and afraid to admit how much someone mattered. The emotional realism Tomforde writes with made me remember my own missed chances; those little heartbreaks still tender beneath layers of growing up.

And then there’s Rio—oh goodness, Rio! On paper he could have been another brooding athlete stereotype, but instead he emerges as vulnerable and achingly loyal underneath his tough exterior. His internal dialogue—the regret, longing, humor—makes him feel like someone you’ve known forever (or wish you had). His six-year emotional time-out since Hallie left resonates painfully; it’s easy to believe this man would memorize every moment just for another shot at love.

The house they rebuild together is such a rich metaphor—it stands for all their unfinished business: busted walls patched over with new memories or raw honesty finally allowed sunlight after years in shadow.

The narration deserves its own standing ovation. Nia Serge captures Hallie perfectly: equal parts strength and tenderness (her delivery during moments of self-doubt had me blinking back tears). Jason Clarke gives Rio depth—the yearning practically vibrates in his voice—and their dual POV chemistry elevates every interaction between these two wounded souls. Every sigh felt earned; every banter-laced argument dripped with subtext only people with shared history could wield against each other.

My only complaint? Sometimes the pacing lingers perhaps too lovingly over their pain—but honestly, that slowness also makes the eventual payoff incredibly rewarding. If anything, it mimics how real healing happens: not quickly or neatly but through repeated effort and vulnerability.

By chapter 18 (you’ll know why), I was emotionally done—in the best way possible. Rewind It Back didn’t just make me root for Hallie and Rio; it nudged open doors inside myself I thought were long closed. For fans of second-chance romance—with actual stakes—and anyone who ever wondered “What if we tried again?” this audiobook will wreck you…and then help patch things up gently afterwards.