Backward Motion
Crossroads, Book 1
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Pub Date Aug 1 2026 | Archive Date Jul 31 2026
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Description
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.
Advance Praise
"This is such a sweet story about finding yourself in the place you least expect." — Early reader review
"I could not put the book down, once I started the story I had to finish it in one sitting! Highly recommended." — Early reader review
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781067015961 |
| PRICE | $3.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 295 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 30 members
Featured Reviews
Librarian 1075010
A cute and cozy small town romance that also has themes of growth, learning to love oneself and amazing representation for mental health.
Reviewer 1505181
Backward Motion is a heartfelt small-town romance about two people finding their way back to themselves while learning to lean on each other. I loved the way Sam and Connor’s relationship developed naturally, with both characters helping each other grow past the expectations and struggles that had been holding them back. Their connection felt genuine, and the focus on healing, acceptance, and building a life that feels authentic made this a really satisfying read.
Julia W, Reviewer
This book was a pleasant breath of fresh air. The MCs had great depth, felt real, and the story didn’t feel rushed or slow in any spots.
Sam and his internal battles and struggles felt very relatable and his mental health was written really well.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something sweet and not overly dramatised.
Librarian 1015623
Just a really sweet, low-angst story. I enjoyed both of the main characters, the different challenges they had to overcome, their communication, and the 'returning to your childhood hometown" setting. It's a great beach read -- it wasn't too deep or heavy, but it was just a nice, enjoyable summer book - the writing was solid & the plot hung together well. I like these guys. I'd read another stury set in this town / with this group of people.
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