Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison is the second book in the Heartstrings series, a follow up to the cozy sensation First Time Caller. In this second installment, Delilah Stewart, a relentlessly positive rising star in local TV weather, and Jackson Clark, the radio station’s meteorologist, are forced to report together on a historic snowstorm in Baltimore. When Delilah’s hotel room mysteriously gets canceled, she and Jackson have to share a room for a week, trying to remain professional while desperately resisting the attraction between them as their on air chemistry starts to blur into something much more personal.
This book was the perfect companion for curling up under a blanket, grabbing a cup of tea, and fully dousing myself in mushy feelings while learning an absurd amount of meteorology terminology. A perfect mix of forced proximity, workplace romance, and happy pixie girl meets broody anxious boy who had to grow up too fast, And Now, Back to You is a cozy romance you shouldn’t miss if you’re in the mood for slow burn tension, snowed in vibes, and characters who you can’t help root for.
Read our full summary and review of And Now, Back to You below. This post contains spoilers.
And Now, Back to You
Description
Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover the snowstorm of the century, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.
Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal. If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With an undiscovered chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.
But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains, stay in the mountains?
Tropes
- One Bed
- He falls first
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Workplace Romance
Review
Who's your favorite Heartstrings couple?
Who's your favorite Heartstrings couple?
Overall Impressions 😊
What a wholesome, cozy experience. The Heartstrings series does just that, tugging at the strings of your heart. I adored the main couple, the 90s-esque radio and TV setup, the forever cherished one bed trope, and two people who are just falling for each other while learning how to support each other in the process.
This is what a modern romcom looks like. I was smiling happily most of the time and occasionally on the verge of tears as Jackson and Delilah deal with problems that feel very relatable and understandable. Overall, this delivered exactly what I look for in a lighthearted romantic comedy, and And Now, Back to You absolutely understood the assignment.
Perfect For Fans Of… 🧭
If you’re looking for a cute, cozy romance that’s lighthearted with real emotional moments, this one’s for you. It gives When Harry Met Sally energy in a fresh, media centered setup, and Jackson’s anxiety paired with Delilah’s forced positivity brings a modern spin to a beloved romcom dynamic.
If you’re looking for a good palate cleanser and enjoy cozy contemporary romances like If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia, Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, or Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, this one’s likely for you. It has strong banter, an almost absurd amount of weather puns which I loved, and an absolutely mushy atmosphere that makes it feel like the kind of book you read while it’s raining outside or during a full blown snow day.
Characters 👥
I’m usually turned off by toxic positivity, manic pixie girls. They can feel very pick me and try too hard. But I thought Delilah was a fresh, positive take on that archetype. She doesn’t give pick me energy. She’s unapologetically herself, and that’s enjoyable. She’s not particularly my kind of FMC, I like my main characters jaded and bitter, lol, but I appreciate reading other kinds of characters. I thought her positivity and dedication to being successful and to the people she loved were well portrayed.
I absolutely adored Jackson. His anxiety representation and the “eldest daughter” energy he gives by becoming the caregiver to his sisters, along with his quiet confidence, were so relatable. I was smitten with him instantly.
I loved that they supported each other. Couples who become teams against the world are my favorite contemporary romance pairings, and Delilah and Jackson delivered on all fronts. Their relationship felt like two adults choosing each other, not just falling into each other.
I found Jackson’s sisters, Adeline and Penelope, charming. Gianna and Marc were a bit more cartoonish comic relief, but they fit the tone of the story.
And we’re getting Maggie and Orion’s book next, right? Because we absolutely need that.
Plot 🗺️
The pacing is good, not too fast but not too slow either. I was hesitant about Jackson and Delilah spending the entire book in a room, but the interludes from the Baltimore crew, with Aiden, Lucie, Penelope, Adeline, and even Grandpa Gus, gave the story enough dimension so it never felt claustrophobic.
I was apprehensive about reading about weather the whole time. I learned quite a bit about meteorology thanks to Jackson, and I appreciated Delilah’s community involvement storylines quite a bit. The snowstorm wasn’t just aesthetic, it actively pushed the characters together and forced conversations that probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
It’s a romcom, so it’s more about the couple, which absolutely delivered, than the plot, which was occasionally cartoonish, looking at you, third act snow plowing guy. Either way, I liked this quite a bit.
The B plot with Keith wasn’t super interesting to me. I wasn’t sure if I needed that conflict, but it worked out in the end and gave us some good scenes with the whole crew together, so I’ll take that.
Thankfully, there is no dramatic third act breakup. Instead, the real tension comes from Delilah’s fear that she might just be an escape for Jackson, and her worry that she’s somehow too much for him. That conflict felt grounded and emotionally honest, and it tied the story together in a way that felt earned rather than manufactured.
Writing Style and Narration ✍️
This felt quirky and original. I loved the bits with the Post it notes, Jackson being an absolute mother hen, the text messages from the twins, and all the well timed comedic relief placements we received. It absolutely put the comedy in romcom.
I’m a sucker for the main male character’s POV, especially if he falls first, and Jackson’s devotion to Delilah from the get go was DELICIOUS. Getting inside his head made the emotional stakes hit harder, especially with his anxiety and protective instincts woven throughout his chapters.
I also loved the interludes between chapters, whether it was text message chains, broadcast snippets, or other random inserts that weren’t from either narrator. It felt like a smart way to expand the world beyond the one hotel room we were stuck in most of the time, and it kept the structure from feeling repetitive.
Synopsis
Thanks for visiting Bookish Goblin! 🧙♂️📖 What brings you here today?
Thanks for visiting Bookish Goblin! 🧙♂️📖 What brings you here today?
Jackson and Delilah, Weather Together
Jackson Clark works for the same radio station as Aiden, the host of Heartstrings, and he handles the weather reports. He is deeply passionate about meteorology and takes it very seriously. When they were young, Jackson’s mother was kind of flaky and absent, constantly traveling. Because of that, his twin sisters, Penelope and Adeline, depended on him heavily. Eventually, he got full custody of them, and now he is their primary caregiver.
Jackson just wants to report on the weather and focus on storms and lightning. He does not like rule breakers or people who do not adhere to schedules. For example, Delilah Stewart, the weather reporter from the news station across the street, who never parks correctly and is walking chaos. She presents the news in weird costumes, seems endlessly chipper, and keeps getting into clumsy accidents. She is everything that disrupts his carefully structured world.
When his manager, Maggie, asks him to join her for a meeting at the radio station, Jackson learns that a huge snowstorm is coming and that he and Delilah are going to report from the location together. At the same time, Delilah’s boss, Keith, clearly does not like her. Even though she is talented and came out on top in an audience assessment at the station, Keith has been giving her assignments meant to humiliate her.
There’s Only One Bed at the Inn
Jackson and Delilah meet at a coffee shop to discuss boundaries before the trip. Delilah promises to be on her best behavior and avoid causing issues for Jackson. Jackson says he will try to be more flexible. With that, they agree to report on the snowstorm together. Jackson gets nervous speaking on camera, while Delilah thrives on being part of the community.
They drive to Garrett County together, sharing a car. They are attracted to each other but try to stay professional. During the drive, they open up. Jackson explains how he took custody of his sisters because their mother is unreliable. Delilah shares that her mother was a prodigy violinist who abandoned her, and her grandfather raised her. He has Alzheimer’s. She does weather on television so he can see her every day.
When they arrive at the hotel, Delilah’s room has been mysteriously canceled, likely because of Keith. With everything booked due to the storm, Jackson insists they share a room for the week because he does not want her stranded.
Inside the room, Delilah snoops through Jackson’s toiletries and finds a Best Father’s Day Ever gift from the girls. They sleep in the same room but do not touch.
An Unconventional Cure for Stage Fright
Over the next few days, they continue reporting and spending time together. When Delilah showers while Jackson is FaceTiming Penelope and Adeline, the twins see her and realize they are sharing a room. Aiden also notices and texts Jackson. Jackson explains they are only sharing a room because her reservation was canceled.
Before one broadcast, Delilah pulls Jackson into an alcove to calm his performance anxiety. To distract him, she kisses him. He steadies almost immediately and delivers his best weather report yet.
As the assignment continues, they grow closer. They talk about their shared experiences with unstable parents. Jackson tells her she has a light inside her that he admires. He feels dimmer by comparison but drawn to her warmth.
During another live broadcast, Jackson asks Delilah to kiss him again to calm his nerves. Unaware that they are live, and Marc panics when everyone hears them. Even so, they keep going.
Not long after, Keith calls Delilah and dismisses the coverage as a puff piece, belittling her efforts. Overwhelmed, she sneaks out to go sledding. Jackson follows. They sled, fall, and kiss in the snow.
Back in the room, Jackson tries to take things further. Delilah worries she is only an escape for him while he is away from his responsibilities. She asks for space, and he respects it.
Later, the twins ask Jackson if they should add Delilah to the family group chat. He says not yet.
Keith cancels their next broadcast, claiming to prioritize hometown coverage, but it is clearly an attempt to sideline Delilah. Jackson, Marc, and the rest of the station team take over the broadcast themselves. Social media explodes over Jackson and Delilah.
Absent Parental Figures
Soon after, Adeline calls, upset that Camille is not attending a female leadership lunch. Jackson struggles with not being able to replace their mother. He steps into the hallway to take the call alone, which hurts Delilah, but later he explains everything. Delilah offers to speak to Adeline since she understands maternal abandonment firsthand.
When they return to Baltimore, Jackson is excited that Delilah wants to build a life there. They sleep together.
Not long after, a power line goes down, and they help people during the storm by distributing blankets and supplies. Jackson says he wants their relationship to be something real and lasting, but Delilah hesitates, still afraid of being temporary.
Then Delilah gets a call that her grandfather has fallen and is heading to the ER. Jackson drives her through the storm. Her grandfather is stable and in good spirits. He asks about Jackson.
Jackson stays with her that night.
The next day, Jackson shifts his focus back to Adeline and Penelope. He pulls back slightly from Delilah, even though he wants to be with her. The girls encourage him to pursue her properly.
And Now, Back to You Ending Explained
Around the same time, Camille wants to reconnect with the twins. Jackson tells them the decision is theirs. They worry that saying yes means losing him, and he reassures them it does not. Camille takes them for ice cream and behaves more like a friend than a parent. Jackson supports the girls having a relationship with her but chooses not to have one himself.
Maggie offers Delilah creative control over weather and feature segments because Keith is jealous of her popularity. Delilah declines because her grandfather relies on seeing her daily, and with his Alzheimer’s worsening, she does not want to remove that stability.
Meanwhile, Jackson is promoted to Production Director.
That night, he goes to Delilah’s house. They sleep together again and officially commit to being a couple.
Things escalate at the station when Keith moves Delilah to Sunday feature broadcasts instead of daily weather. She confronts him, and he admits he resents her popularity. During her final weather segment, Delilah quits live on air.
Jackson finds her sitting in the parking lot after hearing from Aiden and the others. Before they can fully talk, Penelope calls to say Adeline has run away after Camille ghosted them.
They search the city and eventually find Adeline sitting alone on a bench. Before going home, Delilah tells the girls about her own mother abandoning her. They bond over it.
The next day, friends gather to help Delilah figure out how to get her job back. She speaks to Eva Monroe, the TV stations director, and explains Keith’s abuse of power. Eva decides it is time for Keith to retire.
Delilah is reinstated.
After that, Jackson and Delilah confess their love.
In the epilogue, the girls spend time with Grandpa Gus, who is more forgetful now but teaches them chess while they teach him TikTok dances. Jackson has a ring and is waiting for the right moment. Delilah knows. She feels secure and loved.
Spicy Chapters 🌶️
How Spicy is And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison : 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 33
Get swept up in the storm ❄️☕
And Now, Back to You is the kind of romance you read when you want to feel warm and mushy in the best way. It’s soft, it’s funny, it has weather puns and a grumpy guy who falls first and never looks back.
I’d happily read whatever B.K. Borison writes next, especially if we’re really getting Maggie and Orion’s story.
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