Though published prior to The Same Backward as Forward, The Inheritance Games takes place after the events of this novel and follows Hannah Ronney’s daughter, Avery, as she attempts to navigate a series of puzzles in the Hawthorne mansion. These puzzles were laid out by Tobias “Toby” Hawthorne, a coprotagonist/narrator in The Same Backward as Forward, who plans to give Avery the Hawthorne estate if she succeeds.

The Same Backward as Forward fills in the backstory regarding the love story of Toby and Hannah. In particular, where the larger Inheritance Games series primarily focuses on puzzles and the complex dynamics of the Hawthorne family, this novel shifts its attention toward the emotional and psychological background of Toby. Hannah’s perspective was previously explored in the novella Games Untold, which serves as a companion to this novel and introduces her backstory, outlining the moments that shaped her protective instincts and sense of duty. By introducing Toby’s perspective, The Same Backward as Forward expands the world of Hawthorne Island and deepens readers’ understanding of the character interplay and their perspectives on one another.