The Fallback

I'm fascinated by the concept of a back-up person, so Eleanor Goymer's delightful debut 'The Fallback' was reading catnip for me. At its heart this book both a slow-burn romance, and an exploration of society's expectations that everyone must be partnered up and have kids.

Scientist Rosie's ordered life is thrown into disarray when her best friend Mitch proposes they become in each other's fallback to have a kid if neither of them find a serious partner by Christmas. But what if Rosie is secretly in love with him and is undecided about kids?

Rosie and Mitch are the sorts of characters you'd want to be friends with and would be tempted to lock them in a room to deal with their feelings! Rosie is a dedicated virologist who loves data. Mitch is carefree, working as a science journalist after passing his PhD by the skin of his teeth thanks to Rosie. For Rosie, Mitch is her person, but she's unwilling to risk their decades-long closeness to express how she feels given Mitch dates an assortment of women who are her antithesis.

Despite being 34 she's also ambivalent about having kids. She's not outright childfree but she's in no rush either. In a gender reversal, it's Mitch who wants a family, yet, paradoxically, breaks up with his girlfriends as soon as they get serious (wonder why). Rosie was a bit frustrating by allowing Mitch to steamroll her into the plan, so I was pleased when she finally voiced her thoughts. Given kids are a relationship dealbreaker, I had no idea how this would be resolved so I was pleasantly surprised. If I had any quibbles, I'd have liked to have seen Rosie date someone who'd be a real contender in addition to that return of a blast from her past, just to up the stakes more.

Coupled with descriptions of Rosie and Mitch's London haunts (it made me want to go back!), I was utterly charmed. I am looking forward to reading more of Eleanor Goymer's next books to see how her storytelling develops

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

An intriguing and gripping story, I loved the characters and can't wait to read more by this author.

This is a really cute, swoonworthy debut from Eleanor Goymer. Mitch and Rosie's strong friendship really helped the chemistry between them seem even more real, I loved the push and pull between them and was left feeling really satisfied at the end of the book.

The book itself is really well written and I loved the flashback scenes, I really looked forward to them.

Overall, a really great debut! I can't wait to see what else Eleanor Goymer may provide for us in the future :)

This was such a cute read and I absolutely enjoyed it! I love the idea of a fallback and how the story unraveled. The characters were nice and likable!

Add this to the list of my favorites! LOVED this. It made me laugh so much, and I fell in love with these characters!

The Fallback by Eleanor Goymer is an adorable novel and a great beach read!! Best friends Mitch and Rosie agree that if they haven't met someone special by Christmas they would be each other's fallback. But what will happen if one of them falls for the other? Or if they really do find someone special? Will this be the end of a wonderful friendship? A great novel for a cozy evening by the fire, a fun day at the beach or just anytime you want a fun read! Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Mitch and Rosie are easy to like characters and it is lovely to read something other than the ‘typical’ gender roles, with Rosie being the one less keen to have children.
I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read, really enjoyable and I would recommend to anyone!

"The Fallback" by Eleanor Goymer is a delightful debut that combines a slow-burn romance with a thoughtful exploration of societal expectations around relationships and family. The story revolves around scientist Rosie and her best friend Mitch, who propose to become each other's fallback for having a child if they don't find serious partners by Christmas.

The characters of Rosie and Mitch are endearing, making them relatable and easy to root for. Rosie, a dedicated virologist, is a lover of data, while Mitch is a carefree science journalist who owes his PhD success to Rosie. The dynamics of their friendship add depth to the narrative, especially as Rosie grapples with her hidden feelings for Mitch.

What sets this book apart is its gender reversal, with Mitch desiring a family while Rosie remains ambivalent about having children. The author skillfully weaves the complexities of their relationship, keeping readers engaged with the push and pull of emotions. The stakes are raised when Rosie finally voices her thoughts on the proposed plan, adding tension and depth to the story.

The London setting adds charm to the narrative, making readers nostalgic for the city. The writing captures the essence of the characters' haunts, creating a vivid backdrop for their story.

While the book has strong foundations, there are some quibbles. It could have benefited from Rosie dating a real contender, adding more stakes to the story. Additionally, Rosie's initial reluctance to voice her thoughts might frustrate some readers, but her eventual expression of feelings is a satisfying turn.

Despite these minor issues, the book is engaging and well-crafted. Eleanor Goymer's portrayal of a STEM field protagonist and the friends-to-lovers trope is commendable. The miscommunication and secret pining elements resonate realistically, especially when emotions evolve between friends. The risk of jeopardizing a long-standing friendship is a genuine concern that adds depth to the narrative.

However, there are some character flaws that could be addressed. Rosie's emotional stuntedness and use of the silent treatment may make her less likable. Mitch's demanding and manipulative behavior, especially in the creation of the fallback plan, requires more redemption in the end. The resolution seems to brush off their issues rather than providing a more substantial resolution, hinting at potential challenges in their future.

In conclusion, "The Fallback" is an engaging read with good bones, and Eleanor Goymer's storytelling shows promise. The push and pull of the story, combined with the friends-to-lovers trope, keep readers intrigued. With a focus on character growth, especially in handling emotions and communication, future works by the author could further enhance the storytelling experience.

This was such a cute friends to lovers book! I was rooting for them the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

I loved this! Really great to see a super intelligent protagonist who still can’t quite get that one part of her life sorted out, and the complicated feelings about what other people in your life are doing. Thanks for the review copy!

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.

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 enjoyed this story. The main characters had great chemistry and you could tell from the beginning they were meant for each other.

The journey they went on with Mitch having numerous girlfriends and Rosie focusing on her career was enjoyable.

The idea that Mitch came up with of them being each others fallback was a bit far fetched with the way he described it but when a female character described it it didn't seem so crazy!

It reminded me of one day which I love and I enjoyed the ending.