I would like to that the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. I struggled with this book. It just wasn't for me, maybe I'm the wrong age group for this book.

This had everything that would normally make me absolutely adore a book, but it unfortunately was a miss for me.

Feeling like it’s time to get settled down, Mitch asks his bestfriend Rosie to be each other’s fallback if they both fail to find “the one” by Christmas.

From the very beginning, it felt to me like it was dragging. I also didn’t really care for either of the main characters, which made it way harder to get through this. I feel like we got way too much of Rosie, and absolutely nothing about Mitch, when I feel like a double POV could’ve been interesting here.

I do think it had its good moments and others might actually really enjoy this, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me.


Many thanks to One More Chapter & Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

While on paper this seems like a book I would like, mutual pinning, friends to lovers, and falling for the fallback, unfortunately I was not a big fan of this book. The mutual pinning was very frustrating in this, as it was over the course of 10 years. I also found the characters both to be very flat, I did not connect with either of them. I will end by giving a Kudos to the author for her first novel being published, which is incredible.

‘The Fallback’ by Eleanor Goymer is an interesting romance novel in which academic Rosie, who works in a clinical trials lab at a London university and is in her mid-thirties, agrees with her best friend Mitch that they will be each other’s “fallback” if neither of them meet “The One”. Complications and emotions ensue as Rosie reflects on her ambitions, resurrects her dating app profiles and tries not to let her preoccupation with figuring out her feelings impact her work.

I really enjoyed the fact that Rosie worked in STEM and the realism of the different paths Mitch and Rosie took after their PhDs (industry - journalism - for him and academia for her). Rosie’s colleague Nadia and her family, including her sister-in-law Jasmine, were excellent characters full of compassion, flaws and enthusiasm who provided a wonderful support network for Rosie. I also think the exploration of the disappointments of modern dating and the introspection about the right time to settle down and have children made the novel meaningful and thought-provoking.

I questioned some of Rosie’s decisions and wanted to scream at her near the end of the book when she behaved so passively in a situation that should have sparked quick action! I also wish that we’d heard Mitch’s point of view as without his side of the story, I didn’t warm to him at all and thought he was pretty inconsiderate at times… making it difficult to root for the central couple!

This felt like a three star read for me overall - relatable and at times wonderfully romantic with great themes of the importance of a support network, but without the loveable lead characters that would have elevated the novel and given me butterflies.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Harper Collins, One More Chapter via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love a romance but this just wasn’t it. I found it full of too much drama & the characters were incredibly toxic. They were immature & I just couldn’t connect with them. Mitch’s character and personality was all over the show! One minute he was caring & happy, the next he was really egotistical.

When it comes to this one, my heart and head are competing.

It follows friends Rosie and Mitch and their back-up plan: if the two are still unable to find their soulmate in four months, they'll settle down together and have a baby. An absolutely fun premise, but from the get-go I was hesitant of Mitch. And it didn't really improve.

While I did feel their connection, especially with the mix of flashbacks showcasing their friendship, I didn't think this was an especially healthy romantic relationship. Everything seemed to revolve around Mitch and his desires, with Rosie sort of just adjusting her mindset to match. On top of that, their communication was terrible.

Having said that, it was definitely entertaining. I loved the incorporation of Rosie's career—she's a woman in STEM! And the writing was truly wonderful, super fast paced and engaging. Even though this wasn't a total win, I would not hesitate to read from this author again.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this!
I would give this a solid 2.5-3 stars. I do love a friends to lovers trope, a 'fallback' pact is just so fun, and UK based writing is my absolute favorite. There's something spectacular about British banter. I'm also a PhD myself, so seeing Rosie's career develop in research was interesting.
I didn't think the chemistry between Mitch and Rosie was really all that strong, so for me this was just ok. I found myself skimming a lot to get to the 'good' part and then just not feeling as connected to their Happily Ever After as I should be. Good, but not great.

The premise of this book was really interesting to me. Rosie, unsure of settling down and having kids, getting persuaded into a friendship-pact that if neither find the "one" they would have a baby together. Obviously, this doesn't work out as planned, and the miscommunication trope was big in this one. I loved how Rosie's character develops and seeing her friendships and support system dynamics. Mitch, to me, seemed like he did genuinely have feelings for Rosie but in hiding so, made her feel second place to others. And I didn't love that. Overall, really liked the book and characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with this e-arc.

2.5 stars
I wanted to love this book, but it fell short for me. It progressed too slowly, the characters didn’t have a ton of development, and I just couldn’t get into it.

I really wanted to love The Fallback, it seemed like it would definitely but something I enjoyed, but unfortunately just didn't work for me and I didn't connect well with the characters

This book was very cute and enjoyable but nothing special.

The main characters, Rosie & Mitch, were both adorable. Especially Mitch. Their miscommunication for so many years, while understandable, seemed so silly in the end. They're both adults, in professional jobs, yet they can't be honest with each other??

It all comes together in the end, of course, but I think so much more could've been done with the story and characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In Eleanor Goymer's delightful romantic comedy, "The Fallback," the lines between friendship and love blur for Rosie and Mitch as they navigate a unique pact to find their soulmates. This charming novel is a perfect read for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella, offering a whirlwind of emotions and plenty of laughs

This was a friends to lovers story. Although the book is well written and I liked the author’s style I and not sure I connected with the two leads enough to get invested in their love story. More interactions between them through the story would have probably sold me on it. 3 🌟

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were very complex and the setting was gorgeous. I loved the little details, to me they really make the story. I would definitely recommend!

dnf 39% in and then skimmed the ending.

Nothing happened. The 114 pages I read could easily have been cut down to 60. It might just be me being too impatient for this book, idk. 39% in and Rosie still have not gone on a date with someone. Everything just dragged, it was way too slow paced for me. I usually don’t have a problem with owd or omd but if one of the mc’s sleep with someone else? Immediately no. And I’m not sure about this since I didn’t keep reading but it seemed like the mmc had sex with someone else 40% in. If it get’s worse? No idea.

I did not like Mitch at all. He didn’t pay any attention to the fmc, what she wanted or what she said. How she reacted to things he said went completely unnoticed by him. He assumed she wanted a child even though she’d never said she does. He didn’t know things about her he should have known as her best friend of many years. His personality was that of an overeager puppy trying every trick in the book to get the piece of candy.

Rosie was a moron. Like the most insanely stupid and selfish person ever. You’re telling me a grown woman considers having a baby with her best friend just so they’ll always have some sort of relationship? My girl is not even sure she wants kids. EVER. Willingly having a baby you don’t even know whether you want or not is so absurd I don’t even know what to say.

I was not a fan of this. It was well written though.

I really enjoyed The Fallback! I love friends-to-lovers romances and this was a sweet one. Rosie and Mitch's story is heartwrenching and heartwarming in turns and I enjoyed the ride,

I was very excited for the idea of this book, of friends being a fallback for each other if they can’t find love. I loved the setting of academia and the unique things that come along with being a woman in STEM. The stories of the friendships and family dynamics were enjoyable and well written. Unfortunately I really struggled to get through this book. Maybe it’s because I’ve never wistfully pined over someone or maybe the main characters weren’t written in a way to make me invested in liking them, or wanting to root for them, but it fell flat. Good enough for a light read if you know going in it’s not going to be the best book you read this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins / UK for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I am a sucker for a "backup plan"...ever since My Best Friend's Wedding with Julia Roberts I've loved this idea and notion that people make these plans and some even follow through on them...at least in our beloved fictional realm!

This was so cute and well executed...I loved it from start to finish.

Cute book. Strangers to lovers to friends to fallback plan. It always takes the something other than the norm to change the situation.Mitch was an instalove kind of guy where Rosie was fine being single. They just needed that push to pull the wool from their eyes. Fun read! Thank you NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

‘The Fallback introduces readers to a friends-to-lovers romance set in London, marking the debut novel for author Eleanor Goymer. The story revolves around scientist Rosie, whose life takes an unexpected turn when her longtime best friend Mitch ‘suggests they become each other’s "fallback" plan, agreeing to have a baby together if they don't find serious relationships by Christmastime. Unbeknownst to Mitch, Rosie harbors secret feelings for him.

I always enjoy reading a story that showcases a woman in STEM, and virologist Rosie, is a good example of this. However, I found that Rosie's recurring self-involvement and lack of professional confidence became frustrating over time. Conversely, Mitch's role as the one longing for a child provides an interesting twist, although his increasingly pushy behaviour when it came to this raises questions about his character and overall I found him to be quite unlikable.

The love story between Rosie and Mitch kicks off with a charming meet-cute in a London pub. Despite this promising start, the chemistry between them is lacking, leading to a slow-burn romance that feels rushed in its conclusion. Additionally, the abundance of miscommunication and withheld information between the best friends was a consistent theme throughout – this is not a favourite trope for me.

Overall ‘The Fallback’ had a solid premise with the potential to be a compelling story, however the execution falls short of expectations. Despite this, the novel offers a cute and easy read for those seeking a light-hearted romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for this eARC.