Cait’s Review of “Circling Back to You” by Julie Tieu

By: Cait Marie

Blurb

Cadence Lim has transformed from behind-the-scenes number cruncher to an integral part of the sales team at Prism Realty. But despite moving up the corporate ladder, her complicated relationship with her estranged elderly father weighs heavily and she can’t seem to shake the desire for a new beginning.

At least Cadence can always lean on her favorite co-worker and co-conspirator, Matt Escanilla. A top broker with an unsuccessful love life, the forever single Matt is constantly being nagged by his loving Filipino family to settle down.

Their relationship takes a turn when a business trip lands them both in their hometown and Matt enlists Cadence as a pretend girlfriend for a family gathering. The new after-hours setting forces the two friends to see each other in a new light, and their previously buried feelings rise quickly to the surface. When competing promotions threaten to separate Cadence and Matt, these office besties must work together to round up their ambitions and families to pursue their overdue romance.

Review

This was another audiobook I picked on a whim, and I’m so glad I did. I really, really enjoyed this one. It was fun and light, which is exactly what I needed.

Cadence and Matt start as really good work friends, and their friendship is pretty adorable. Matt keeps insisting they’re best friends, and she tries to deny it, but it’s clear that they are. It was also clear that they both harbored secret feelings for one another, even if it hadn’t come right out and said it.

When they both end up on a work trip together, we really get to see this relationship bloom. Cadence is dealing with family things, and Matt is wanting to get his family off his back about settling down. They step up for each other and quickly realize there is a mutual attraction.

This is an adult romance with some steamy scenes. It’s not overly graphic, and it’s only a few short parts, but it is there.

Like I said, this was a fun book. It was easy to read, or rather listen to, and I loved seeing them grow together. The pacing was great, the characters and plot all felt well developed, and I wasn’t ready for it to be over. I am absolutely going to go read Tieu’s other book, The Donut Trap. I actually already have it and didn’t realize it was the same author until after I finished this one!