Available now in paperback and ebook, Back Strokes is the perfect summer read for anyone who has ever lost their way only to discover that the answers were waiting back where they started.
🏡 About the Novel
After a prank at his prestigious Chicago music conservatory nearly ends his academic career, twenty-two-year-old pianist Crawford Paul returns to his sleepy Northern California hometown for what promises to be a dull, forgettable summer. With his scholarship in jeopardy and his future uncertain, he reluctantly takes the only job he can find: escorting a glamorous seven-year-old, Isabella, to her swim lessons at a local community pool.
What Crawford doesn’t expect is to meet Nina, a fiercely stylish nanny who finds kids exhausting and Crawford mildly tolerable. Nor does he anticipate the growing mentorship with the aging owner of a record store—someone who reignites Crawford’s passion for classical music and encourages him to pursue his truth through the piano once more.
As Crawford navigates love, friendship, grief, and second chances, he begins to realize that everything he thought he had to leave behind might just be what he was searching for all along.
✨ A Word from the Author
“Back Strokes started with a simple idea,” said Wren Valentino. “What happens when someone returns to the place they were desperate to escape, only to find that what they were chasing was always within reach—if they’d only been brave enough to look? Crawford’s journey is personal to me. I wanted to write a summer romance that didn’t shy away from the complications of life—illness, identity, missed chances—but still offered hope, beauty, and love at its core.”
💙 Themes of the Novel
Beyond romance, Back Strokes explores:
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A poignant subplot involving a beloved supporting character battling cancer
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The enduring impact of intergenerational friendship and mentorship
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The redemptive power of music and artistic self-expression
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The courage it takes to face your truth—and follow your heart
Whether you're looking for a heartfelt LGBTQ+ love story, a tale of self-discovery, or simply your next great summer read, Back Strokes is ready to dive into your heart.
📖 Get your copy today in paperback or ebook wherever books are sold.
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