This workplace rom com had a lot of promise but ultimately just did not move quickly enough to keep me invested.

I wanted to enjoy "Circling Back to You" by Julie Tieu, but unfortunately, it didn't click with me. It was honestly a struggle to read. Cadence and Matt were difficult to like, and their chemistry felt non-existent. While the book had potential with interesting story elements, the execution fell flat.

Cadence, the main character, was confusing. At first, she seemed shy and reserved, minding her own business. But then, in the next chapter, she transformed into someone who didn't take nonsense from others and even badmouthed people. It was hard to understand her. People can have different sides, but Cadence's character didn't make sense. Moreover, she lacked any meaningful character growth. If anything, she became more irritating as the story progressed.

Then there's Matt, who said things that rubbed me the wrong way. He was meant to be passionate and hardworking but came across as whiny and annoying. Like Cadence, he didn't undergo any significant character development. He remained the same from beginning to end, which could be seen as consistent.

One positive aspect was the inclusion of both characters' Asian heritage and their cultural references throughout the book. Aside from that, the story felt dull and uninteresting to me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

I want to thank the publisher and netgalley for this copy of the Arc.


I loved loved this book.

It's startd off as a office place romance of two colleagues Cadence and Matt who sit next to each other. He is all charm and she is all numbers. When a new opprtuniry in realty takes Cadence takes them both to San Francisco, the story devolves into something else entirely and the proximity starts to up the temperature.
Matt, for obvious reason was my favorite but Cadence is a badass throughout.

This book was just ok. I didn't particularly like Matt, he was a bit whiny to me. The first half of the book was a bit slow and I had a hard time getting through it.

I liked the two main characters a lot actually but the storyline didn't keep me as engaged as usual.

I would highly recommend Circling Back to You to anyone looking for a moving and thought-provoking exploration of love, identity, and the human experience. It's a beautifully crafted novel that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page

<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

Gahhh! I wanted to like this more! I knew what I was getting into, workplace romance, fake dating, secret pining, yep, I'll eat it up. I did find some funny/sweet moments, but overall it just wasn't there for me. The connection fell flat, and I really had a hard time sinking into the story.

I did not like these characters... ugh. i also found this to be sort of boring and not as fun as other workplace romances I had read before. From the beginning when I am not into characters and a storyline, I kind of check out but i always have to finish a book. This was one of those situations.

Super cute workplace romcom! Cadence and Matt go from friends to lovers as they balance their careers and family life. Their cute banter makes it a fun and easy read, even when the more serious parts come about. You can see how their relationship grows, as they support each other through complicated family dynamics. Their love is sweet and this was a very enjoyable read!

A fun, cute workplace romance. Friends to love is rarely appreciated enough, in my opinion, and adding the fake dating trope sealed the deal for me. Candace and Matt each had their own issues as well as their workplace issues that stood in the way of them sealing the deal with their relationship, but you did root for them the whole time.
Both characters, and their relationship, was refreshingly realistic.

I did not finish this book, I DNFed it around 40 percent. Nothing was inherently wrong with it but absolutely nothing stood out. I wasn't attached to the characters or the plot. This could be for someone else but not me.

This was a fun read. you could tell the characters each liked each other but because of work just kept getting in the way of themselves and wanted to be cautious. Each has family issues which we can all relate to and watching these characters deal with that and deal with feeling with each other and being co-workers was interesting.

I really enjoyed this workplace, friends-to-lovers story! Their relationship and the challenges they faced were realistic, and I loved that we got to explore these characters' family relationships!

Julie Tieu is definitely an author I'm going to keep my eyes on, since I've now enjoyed both of their books!

The Donut Trap was really good so I was kinda expecting more from this one, but I was disappointed. I'm always a fan of the fake dating trope but here it just felt weird after 40% like I didn't understand why they had to fake date after one point. And the plot started dragging a bit in the second half and it was hard to keep my interest.

The story is well-written and engaging, with relatable characters and a realistic portrayal of modern-day relationships. Cadence and Matt's relationship is built on a foundation of trust and friendship, making it easy for readers to root for them as they navigate the challenges that come with their evolving feelings for each other.

Overall, "Circling Back to You" is a delightful romance novel with a satisfying ending. It is a perfect read for those who enjoy heartwarming stories of friendship, family, and love.

Friends to lovers with a fake dating trope? You got me! This read I really enjoyed! There’s something about a work place romance that has a hold on my heart. Where this book fell a bit short for me was the quick intro. I feel like the characters and everything was moving too fast for me to be able to wrap my head around. I also didn’t connect well with Cadence. She just turned me off a bit with her attitude towards the end. Overall, could have used some more character development in terms of both main characters.

Well this one was just okay. It has a typical friends to lovers troupe which I usually love, but it didn’t move me as other have. It was a bit predictable and the characters didn’t were too serious. Sorry, it just was okay.

I really enjoyed Julie Tieu’s Donut Trap but this one was just— meh. I didn’t really feel anything for the main characters and kept waiting for those butterflies in my gut. While I usually enjoy workplace romance and the banter and longing that come with it, this was just a bit flat for me.

3/5 stars

Workplace Romance with a bit of cute banter. Our main characters are Matt and Cadence who work at the same reality office. Everything was just ok. I started getting a little bored, and the romance just wasn't my favorite. I would say this is a great book for those who don't read a lot of romance or for someone who needs an in-between book. Overall, everything was very average but still a decent romance