The Backup Plan

Alice hasn't been back to Lake Tahoe since the deaths of her adoptive parents eight years ago. She returns to deal with an inheritance from her recently deceased guardian uncle, alongside two estranged childhood friends who were also his wards. Mason and Knox are firefighters who remained in Lake Tahoe and maintained their close bond over the years. The trio must work together to renovate their uncle's lakeside resort property while confronting their shared past and complicated dynamics. The forced proximity ignites both old tensions and new attractions as they tackle building repairs, business decisions, and their unresolved feelings. Their uncle's final wishes push them to face difficult truths about family, forgiveness, and second chances. This romance explores themes of found family, healing from loss, and the courage required to trust again. The Lake Tahoe setting serves as both a beautiful backdrop and metaphor for the characters' journey from emotional isolation to connection.

Readers praise the chemistry between Alice and Knox, calling their banter natural and entertaining. Many highlight the balance of humor and emotional depth, particularly in handling themes of grief and found family. The dual timelines showing the characters' past and present connections resonates with romance fans. Common criticisms include a slow start and predictable plot elements. Some readers note the story takes too long to develop momentum. A few reviews mention that secondary characters could be better developed. What readers liked: - Authentic dialogue - Complex emotional layers - Dog character scenes - San Francisco setting details What readers disliked: - Pacing in first third - Formulaic romance tropes - Limited subplot resolution Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (19,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (5,800+ ratings) BookBub: 4.4/5 (900+ ratings) "Perfect blend of humor and heart" appears frequently in positive reviews, while critical reviews often cite "takes too long to get going" as their main complaint.

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🌟 The Backup Plan features Lake Tahoe as a prominent backdrop, an area where author Jill Shalvis actually lives and frequently incorporates into her stories. 💝 This book is part of the larger Sunrise Cove series, which includes "The Family You Make" and "The Friendship Pact" as companion novels. 📚 Author Jill Shalvis has written over 50 contemporary romance novels and is a New York Times bestselling author multiple times over. 🏆 The book explores the theme of found family, specifically through three former foster kids who reconnect as adults—a recurring theme in Shalvis's work that resonates with many readers. 🎯 The main character, Alice, is an insurance risk assessor—a unique occupation choice that Shalvis researched extensively to accurately portray the profession's complexities in the story.