In the crowded landscape of young adult contemporary fantasy, Rewind to Us by Molly Morris stands as a refreshingly authentic exploration of love, regret, and the courage to be vulnerable. Morris, who previously captured readers’ hearts with This Is Not the End and Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet, delivers her most emotionally resonant work yet—a story that seamlessly blends magical realism with the raw, messy reality of teenage relationships.
A Premise That Hooks From Page One
Dixie Mulligan’s summer plan is deceptively simple: tell her best friend Sawyer that she’s in love with him. What makes this declaration complicated isn’t just their months-long radio silence following a spring break disaster, but the magical inheritance that runs in Dixie’s family—the ability to Rewind moments in time and give them a complete do-over.
Morris crafts a compelling magic system around the Mulligan family’s time-manipulation abilities. The concept feels both fantastical and grounded, with bureaucratic elements like Impact Reports and family websites that add surprising humor and authenticity to the supernatural premise. The author’s attention to detail in building this magical framework—from Frank’s questionable web design skills to Grandma’s video rental store serving as Rewind headquarters—creates a world that feels lived-in and believable.
Character Development That Cuts Deep
Dixie emerges as a protagonist whose flaws feel genuine rather than manufactured for plot convenience. Her struggle with identity as the daughter of famous actors Charlie Roman and Mich creates authentic tension throughout the narrative. Morris expertly captures the isolation that comes with celebrity, showing how Dixie’s fear of being reduced to her parents’ fame drives her to compartmentalize her life. The way she hides this massive part of herself from Sawyer for four years creates a believable foundation for their relationship’s fractures.
Sawyer Cook, meanwhile, avoids the typical “perfect love interest” trap that plagues many YA romances. His hurt and anger feel proportional to Dixie’s betrayal, and his relationship with Claire serves as more than just a jealousy plot device—it represents his genuine attempt to move forward after being abandoned. Morris writes their friendship-to-romance progression with remarkable nuance, showing how easily miscommunication can derail even the strongest bonds.
The supporting cast adds richness without overwhelming the central relationship. Bunny emerges as more than comic relief, serving as both Dixie’s moral compass and the catalyst for her eventual growth. Kate’s antagonistic relationship with the Rewind concept provides necessary skepticism, while Harvey’s fake-dating subplot offers unexpected depth and explores themes of authenticity versus performance.
Thematic Resonance Beyond the Romance
While the central romance drives the plot, Morris weaves in broader themes that elevate the story beyond typical genre expectations. The exploration of privilege and celebrity culture feels particularly relevant, examining how fame can become a barrier to genuine connection. Dixie’s struggle to be seen as herself rather than as her parents’ daughter resonates with anyone who has felt reduced to a single aspect of their identity.
The book’s treatment of family dynamics adds another layer of complexity. The revelation about Dixie’s parents’ marriage and her father’s career choices provides insight into how family secrets shape our understanding of ourselves and others. Morris doesn’t offer easy answers about forgiveness or family loyalty, instead presenting a nuanced view of how love and disappointment can coexist.
Narrative Structure and Pacing
Morris employs a three-part structure that effectively builds tension while exploring the consequences of the Rewind. The “Before the Rewind” section establishes the emotional stakes with careful pacing, allowing readers to understand the depth of Dixie and Sawyer’s connection before revealing the full extent of their falling out. The revelation that Dixie never actually showed up to their Central Park date hits with devastating impact precisely because Morris has spent so much time building their relationship.
The “After the Rewind” section showcases Morris’s skill at maintaining tension even when readers know the outcome. Rather than simply showing a “fixed” timeline, the author explores how changing one moment ripples outward, creating new problems while solving others. The complexity of unintended consequences feels authentic rather than contrived.
Writing Style and Voice
Morris’s prose strikes an ideal balance between accessibility and emotional depth. Her dialogue captures the rhythm of teenage conversation without falling into caricature, and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple moments—like Sawyer painting Little Dixie’s hair orange—demonstrates mature storytelling instincts.
The integration of text messages and social media feels natural rather than gimmicky, serving the story’s emotional beats while reflecting how modern teenagers actually communicate. Morris particularly excels at showing rather than telling emotional states, allowing readers to experience Dixie’s anxiety and hope alongside her.
Areas Where the Magic Falters
Despite its many strengths, Rewind to Us occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambitious premise. The explanation of how Rewinds work sometimes feels inconsistent, particularly regarding who remembers what and when. While this doesn’t derail the story, it creates moments of confusion that could have been avoided with tighter world-building consistency.
The celebrity subplot, while thematically important, occasionally feels disconnected from the main narrative. Certain scenes involving Dixie’s parents’ fame serve the plot more than the character development, creating pacing issues in an otherwise well-structured story.
Additionally, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped. Claire, in particular, remains more of a plot device than a fully realized person, which diminishes the impact of the love triangle elements.
The Emotional Payoff
Where Morris truly succeeds is in delivering an emotionally satisfying conclusion that feels earned rather than convenient. The resolution doesn’t rely solely on the magical Rewind but requires Dixie to make genuine changes and take real risks. Her growth from someone who hides behind secrets to someone willing to be vulnerable creates a character arc that resonates beyond the romantic plot.
The final revelation about Bunny’s use of his own Rewind adds layers to the story’s exploration of love and sacrifice, showing how sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is the power to make their own choices.
Comparative Context in YA Literature
Rewind to Us shares DNA with time-travel romances like The Time Traveler’s Wife and contemporary YA hits like Eleanor & Park, but Morris carves out her own niche by grounding the fantastical elements in recognizable teenage experiences. The book feels more emotionally honest than many YA romances, avoiding the melodrama that often characterizes the genre while still delivering the emotional satisfaction readers crave.
Similar Reads to Explore
If Rewind to Us captured your heart, consider these complementary titles:
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – Another exploration of memory, time, and the power of being remembered
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – For contemporary romance with depth and humor
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Celebrity culture and hidden identities
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – First love with authentic emotional complexity
- This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel – Family secrets and unconditional love
Final Verdict
Rewind to Us succeeds as both a satisfying romance and a thoughtful exploration of identity, privilege, and the courage required for genuine intimacy. While the magical elements sometimes overshadow the character development, Morris’s emotional intelligence and authentic voice make this a standout addition to the YA contemporary fantasy genre.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers about love and forgiveness. Instead, Morris presents a story where growth requires genuine effort, where second chances must be earned, and where the most powerful magic might just be the willingness to be truly seen by another person.
For readers seeking a romance that trusts them to handle complex emotions and nuanced character development, Rewind to Us delivers a deeply satisfying experience that lingers long after the final page. Morris has crafted a story that honors both the transformative power of first love and the hard work required to build lasting connections—magical Rewinds optional.
