2.5⭐️ I love a good friends-to-lovers story but this one unfortunately fell flat for me. The miscommunication is heavy in this book. I think a dual POV would have helped tremendously but all we have is the FMC’s which is very repetitive. I didn’t find myself invested in any of the characters and didn’t really feel any chemistry between Rosie and Mitch. Overall a solid premise but just not executed in a way that held my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rosie and Mitch are in their 30s, have been friends for over a decade and Mitch convinces Rosie to be each other’s “fallbacks” if either of them haven’t “the one” by Christmas…biggest problem? Rosie has been hopelessly in love with Mitch for YEARS!

The ‘fallback’ trope is a very interesting storyline that I’ve seen in movies or in TV shows so exploring it through the lens of a book was great. I enjoyed Eleanor Goymer’s style of writing.

It’s a very sweet rom com. A mix of ‘will they won’t they,’ ‘slow burn’ and ‘friends to lovers.’ It’s a fun and easy read. It was VERY predictable but the author did a great job of inserting some bumps in the road to temporarily throw you off course.

I really appreciated following characters in their 30s who have already established independent and successful lives for themselves, outside of romantic relationships. I also really appreciated the topics of having children and that it’s such an individual choice despite societal standards.

The hardest thing for me about this book was just the lack of communication from Rosie. She spent most of her time complaining to her friends (not Mitch) and not taking their advice?! As such a successful and smart woman I found a lot of her choices to be quite annoying. Her not being able to open up to Mitch about her feelings and, in turn, acting like a bit of a child was the opposite of who were meant to believe she is as a woman. Taking her eye off of work and her friendships because she’s upset about a boy?! But, again, that is just human emotions and who hasn’t been there? It would’t have been much of a story without her refusal to admit her feelings right?!

Thank you to NetGalley & One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

I think readers who enjoy drama and (in my opinion) toxic characters will enjoy this, but this book just was not for me.

I found the characters immature, selfish, and not easy to connect with considering their ages. While the premise was interesting and had one of my favorite set ups for a romance (friends to lovers), I feel like a majority of the book was spent with our 2 main characters finding ways to hurt the other despite being "best friends". There were also serious events that were inserted throughout that made the story feel disconnected for me and like we were just trying to beat our FMC down repeatedly.

By the time our MCs decided to have a true conversation about their feelings or lack thereof, I was no longer invested in their relationship and was just frustrated/annoyed. Had their conflict surrounded something more mature or understandable, I could handled some of the drama, but overall this just fell a little flat for me.

*I received this book (Via eArc by Netgalley) for free from the Publisher ( Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter) in exchange for an honest review*

I cannot believe how fast I read it. It gave be the style of romance that I enjoy. I do like the whole pact thing but it gives me that unnerving feeling of what if Mitch finds someone else very much like the film, My Best Friend's Wedding. I am glad it lead a different direction. I understand that both of them make mistakes thats part of life. But at the same time Rosie is trying to figure out whether he is gonna follow thought which can be nerve racking to say the least. If you love the movie My Best Friend's Wedding and the novel People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry with a splash of Beth O'leary's writing style this is the book for you. Overall I very much enjoyed this novel and a wonderful debut it was. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC and I am instantly gonna purchase this when it releases.

I think these two are cute together but it took too long. I was close to just throwing my phone and forgetting all about this book. As much as it was cute, it was the same amount of terrible. They are both so whiney and annoying. The FMC is alwayssss crying about something. I literally couldn't stand her.

I will say, the first like, 10% of this book had me all the way in. As soon as the deal was set in place though and as soon as Mitch started immediately bringing up kids, I was lost. From that point forward, I just felt such a disconnect with the characters. I understand that we learn more as the story progresses, but it felt so abrupt for him to suggest the plan with such a little timeframe for it to happen. It very much wasn't giving that the characters were 30. It read as though they were fresh out of college or even in college. Some of their conversations and actions and thoughts just felt very immature. I really wish we would have been able to get more of Mitch's inner thoughts or something, but ultimately, this book just fell for me. I think that it could definitely be other people's vibe though because I know that the role reversals between the MMC and the FMC are definitely popular with readers. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an hoenst review.

Mitch and Rosie are friends that decide to be each other's fallback if they aren't in a relationship with other people by Christmas. For Rosie, this is an opportunity for her to meet someone to get over Mitch or actually be with him. A funny, friends to lovers romance that makes you believe in the beauty of connection.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this one. I was somewhat invested past the 50% mark, but I wasn't really connecting with the characters throughout the story. As much as I enjoyed reading about successful women, specially on the science field, I felt like the main love interest was the most pretentious character I have read about in a while. I didn't see his appeal at all, not even when we get to know him a little better. Miscommunication is not my favorite trope and although it wasn't the worst scenario I have seen, it was not the best either. Despite not being my favorite book, I have to say that I enjoyed the writing.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
The fall back was such a cute light romance! This would make a really cute rom-com 😊

-Friends to lovers

The beginning was a bit slow. I loved how you saw the characters grow. But loved the middle and the twist the writer gave toward the end! Would have loved an epilogue on this book to see where their lives ended up! This is 3 stars for me. I’m not mad I read it and I would recommend it to a friend. I will definitely be following for anymore books Eleanor Goymer writes 😊

The Fallback is about Rosie and Mitch, flatmates turned best friends, who eventually make a pact to be each other's fallback in the event they don't find someone special by a certain date. I really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters as many of them were quirky and funny. Unfortunately, the main characters weren't as loveable. Both Rosie and Mitch seemed immature and selfish, despite being professionals in their 30's. Rosie was especially hard for me to like because she seemed overly emotional and unable to handle any issue that arose without guidance or assistance from her friends or family. And Mitch's character seemed to change from confidant, happy, and charming, to aloof and egotistical, to thoughtful and caring. He seemed to be all over the map and I couldn't ever really tell what kind of guy he was. In romance books, I want to love both main characters and cheer them on throughout the book, but that didn't happen in this case. While I appreciated the London setting and the supporting characters, not to mention the beautiful cover, overall the book fell flat for me as I struggled to connect with characters, writing style, or plot.

Thank you to One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was slightly frustrating to read, as while I love the role reversal when it comes to characters tropes, the characters often make choices or have opinions that are confusing or downright annoying. I think it's fine to have an unlikable protagonist, but we have to at least understand why they make the choices they make, which wasn't always evident in The Fallback. It felt very conflicting. The prose was good though, and the core idea is there.

Very cute rom-com about Rosie and Mitch who become flatmates first as Rosie is beginning a new job and needs a place to stay and Mitch needs a roommate. Each go on dates they meet--often online--but they continue to be friends, until one day Mitch suggests they be each other's "fallbacks" if neither of them are married as he assumes they both want children at some point. She agrees, thinking it's a cute and funny idea. As the reader, we go on several disastrous dates with each of them as they ponder what the other will think, but of course deny their own feelings. It's clever, witty and a good romp through dating in the modern world.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is everything I enjoy, women in stem, romance, best friends to lovers. It should check all the boxes. However the rambling inner monologue and too much dialogue had this book dragging for me.

I loved the idea of Rosie, however Rosie fell flat to me. How could this confident woman with a PhD butcher two weeks worth of data? How does she not notice what email she forwarded? Then how does she just sit around refusing to fix it? She makes a feeble attempt with the data but she chooses lunch with her mom, and a drink with Ben? Overall I was very disappointed in her character.

For a leading man, Mitch was very much absent.

I feel like a dual POV would have been beneficial to this story. Having Mitch confront his feelings about Rosie through a dating discovery with the other women would have been a more compelling story than Rosie’s rambling doubt stricken inner monologue.

DNF at 32% for me. I do not think this was a terrible book, it just did not hold my interest. I was going to stop at 25% but thought I would give it a little bit further. I think it would help if there was dual point of views, or if there was more action between the main characters and less narration.

This book took me a while to get into but once I did, it was great! The characters were so fresh and real. I loved the romance and thought it was such a good romance read. Definitely add this one to your list.

Having a "backup" person is something I only ever see in books, and so the concept is so fun. I loved the friendship between Mitch and Rosie, which made everything feel very natural and well-paced. I don't normally love flashbacks in general, but this was an exception to the rule and were fun.

They have been best friends since college. She came to town to work in the lab and she needed a place to stay. He needed a roommate fast. The first time they met, they instantly clicked together and have been best friends and secretly in love with each other since then.

He has a very unrealistic view of dating and is always with someone, but it never works out. She gave up on dating altogether.

Then he comes up with a crazy idea. They both have to make an effort to date and if they don't find anyone by the time of the Christmas office party, they will get a family together.

The change shakes up their relationship at its core. The more they look around the more obvious it becomes that what they are looking at is at their noses. But the path from best friends to HEA is anything but straightforward.

I liked the characters, the storyline (it's one of my favorite tropes), and the ending... but I had the hardest time connecting to the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an arc copy of The Fallback by Eleanor Goymer.

I was really intrigued by this book, not least from that lovely colourful cover that just shouts out summer evenings drinking cold ciders whilst watching the sky change colour. Two friends, Rosie and Mitch, who make a pact to find a significant other by Christmas… or be one another’s ‘fallback’ and begin plans to have baby together. However, Rosie has been secretly in love with Mitch for a decade…

Generally I’m not a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, though I have read some good ones recently and wanted to give it a try. This book proved to me exactly why that trope isn’t a favourite. Rosie just looks, quite honestly, a bit pathetic, pining after Mitch, hating his multiple girlfriends that look nothing like her, and giving up on dating entirely. Mitch, meanwhile, isn’t even that likeable. I think he’s regularly insensitive to Rosie’s feelings, and because there weren’t even that many scenes between the two of them, I couldn’t get to know him enough to get to like him.

The pacing is way off in this book too. I started out so interested in Rosie’s job as a scientist, and her family and friends. But then we just saw too much of that part of her life, and too many discussions about Mitch with other people… and not nearly enough time with Mitch himself. I saw zero connection above friend level until about 75% of the way through, and like… that’s a long time to wait when you’re reading a romance novel. Because of this I felt no sparks between them, and couldn’t see the romantic element.

So whilst the concept is a good one, I didn’t much enjoy the execution. Less friends and family time and more Mitch-Time would have elevated it.

If you like a super slow paced romance, you might enjoy this more than I did!

I loved the idea of this and was so excited to sit down and start reading, but I had a hard time getting into it. I loved the flash backs but the rest was a bit of a miss for me.

"The Fallback" by Eleanor Goymer is a delightful debut novel that expertly blends romance and societal expectations. Rosie and Mitch, best friends who agree to be fallbacks for each other in case they don't find partners by Christmas, lead a charming story with a gender-reversed twist on traditional roles. Goymer skillfully navigates their evolving relationship, drawing readers into their world against the backdrop of London. There were some frustrating moments when you just wanted to lock the characters in a room, but overall the book is a heartwarming and engaging read overall.

Thanks to One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.