Again and Again Back to You by Andrea Ezerins
If you were presented with a chance to go back into your past to rekindle a romance with the one that got away, would you take it? Andrea Ezerins explores this tantalizing question in a coming-of-age historical romance tale that contains elements of magical realism. Again and Again Back to You is a thought-provoking novel that explores the power of first love and the extraordinary lengths we might go to recapture it.
This story chronicles Marta and Kevin’s journeys into adulthood as they grapple with the hardships of life while coping with lingering memories of first love. It is Brunswick, New Jersey, 1969 when Marta Carini meets Kevin Dixon for the first time in first-grade class. She immediately falls for his bright blue eyes and wavy blond hair. She keeps her secret crush to herself — that is until they coincidentally meet in the nurse’s office years later.
For the first time in the eight years since they have been attending the same school, the two have an actual conversation, and they realize how comfortable they are with one another. In the weeks that follow, Marta and Kevin’s growing bond turns from friendship to romance.
Love Given a Second Chance
Marta and Kevin enjoy their blissful romance for one perfect year, until Kevin’s family relocates to Vermont, shattering their dreams of a future together. The separation is heart-wrenching for both, and despite their best efforts to maintain their long-distance relationship through letters and calls over the years, their connection gradually fades away. Life moves on, and so do they — Marta marries a stable and reliable man, and Kevin marries a woman who brings balance to his life. However, neither can fully move past their first love.
In 2003, fate intervenes through Cholan, a spiritual guru who can spiritually teleport people back to their past. Through Cholan’s intervention, Marta and Kevin are granted a second chance to reconnect. Here, Ezerins seamlessly weaves elements of magical realism into the story. The question remains: will Marta and Kevin be brave enough to confront their fears and rediscover their love or will the responsibilities of adulthood ultimately prevail?
Emotional and Lyrical Writing
Ezerins’s writing style is superb in Again and Again Back to You. Through its creative plot, vivid imagery, emotional depth and lyrical quality, this compelling tale will capture your attention through a genuine portrayal of love, pain, regret, and the possibility of second chances.
For example, the raw portrayal of Marta’s despair after Kevin moved away — “the hollowness is a physical pain, and it feels as if her insides are being scraped out by a metal spoon”— made me cry. Ezerins captures the progressive growth of the characters through the effective use of language and voices as she switches the narrative from the perspectives of teenagers to those of adults, showcasing how creatively talented she is as a writer.
Relatable and Inspirational Story
At some point in our lives, most of us (if not all) have had to deal with the sting of missed chances and the frustration of not acting when we had the perfect opportunity presented to us. Marta’s internal battle over missed opportunities — “… and she couldn’t muster up the courage to grab it — just like when she wasn’t able to get up from the chair when her father picked up the phone. … unbelievable; she was about to finally rewrite that part of her life, and instead she just heaped another regret on top of the original one” — echoes the all too familiar feeling of overwhelming regret.
I applaud Ezerins for creating such unbelievably relatable and endearing characters like Marta. I also loved the addition of characters like Jason and Daisy, who were a pleasant surprise to me. Marta and Kevin’s encounters with these two made this story much more relatable to real life.
This novel will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you think. If you long to free yourself from self-imposed limitations or lack the courage to take necessary action to help you better your life, Again and Again Back to You will inspire you to take the first step.
Check out the Book Trailer for Again and Again Back to You here:
Andrea Ezerins grew up in a small town where she was raised on a small hobby farm. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Connecticut, and went on to spend thirty years working in the insurance industry. She finished Again and Again Back to You, a labor of love, thanks in no small part to the pandemic and an empty nest, where distractions suddenly were reduced to only a spoiled German shepherd and the many bluebird families that nest in her boxes. Andrea has two daughters and identical twin sons. She resides in Hebron, Connecticut, with her husband.
