“I'd rather be messy with you, than have perfect with anyone else,”― BK Borison, And Now, Back to You

And Now, Back to You is a fun romance that takes place in Baltimore. BK Borison’s writing style quickly engages the reader and takes you on a fun (and sometimes ridiculous) journey. The story is the second installment in the Heartstrings series. Whereas First Time Caller, the first book, was inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this book includes touches of When Harry Met Sally throughout the narrative. Unfortunately, while the first book added a sense of “magic” (and if you’ve read it—and you should—you know exactly what I mean), the When Harry Met Sally integration didn’t work as well here. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the wrong aspects of the Nora Ephron classic were used, but the execution wasn’t the strongest.

The narrative focuses on two meteorologists: Jackson, who was introduced in the first book and is described as extremely type A with a bit of undiagnosed anxiety, and Delilah, a fun-loving, sunshine personality who has about as much grace as a toddler. The two are sent on assignment to Deercreek, Maryland, to cover a record-breaking snowstorm. Over the course of the story, and after getting snowed in together, they begin to soften toward each other and realize they might actually be perfect for one another.

The story is fun and, at times, believable. This helps the reader root for the characters and imagine that something like this could actually happen. However, the disappointment lies in the characterization. In an effort to fit the grumpy-sunshine trope, the two main characters feel like exaggerated extremes in an awkward way. Delilah is so relentlessly positive that it comes across as though she’s hiding something—which, to be fair, she is: her grandfather has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and she feels the need to stay positive for him. Jackson, meanwhile, leans heavily into type-A stereotypes: the Post-it notes, the extreme cleanliness. He even delivers a version of the famous neurotic line Sally gives at the beginning of the diner scene—except instead of pie preferences, Jackson goes on about potatoes. Unfortunately, this moment, one of the few clear nods to When Harry Met Sally, doesn’t land well.

The movie inspiration is a great marketing tactic, but it needed stronger execution. When Harry Met Sally is considered one of the greatest romantic comedies, and if a story is going to deliberately reference it, it needs to do so with care. There were opportunities to strengthen this connection: for example, having the main characters cross paths throughout their lives before becoming friends, incorporating the iconic line, “When you find the person you want to spend your life with, you want that life to start as soon as possible,” or including more of the vignette-style storytelling about how couples meet. There are small nods—Jackson’s Rolodex, the characters watching a movie simultaneously—that evoke the charm of When Harry Met Sally, but they don’t feel fully integrated into And Now, Back to You.

Lastly, it’s admirable that BK Borison tackles some difficult subjects. It’s always commendable when authors don’t shy away from heavier themes. However, the issue here is the sheer number of them. In a romance, it’s expected that the main characters will have emotional baggage, but this felt like too much. The story touches on Alzheimer’s, child abandonment, adoption, workplace harassment, and anxiety. While all of these topics are important, the story would have been stronger if it had focused on fewer of them with greater depth.

Overall, the story is cute and keeps you immersed in BK Borison’s world—which, regardless of individual book critiques, is a place readers are excited to return to. This installment was a bit of a letdown compared to the first book in the Heartstrings series, which likely contributed to my high expectations going in. That said, there’s a third book coming out in early 2027, and regardless of my feelings about And Now, Back to You, I’ll absolutely be rushing to pick it up.