If Julie teau writes I devour. Please tell me how much better an office romance could get? The diversity, but the banter and angst and the tensionnnnn. Too damn good.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It's not making it to my all-time favorites, but it kept me turning the pages. It's about Matt and Cadence, two pros at a top-notch real estate firm in San Francisco. Matt's the charming broker, Cadence the sharp analyst. They start off as great work buddies, and slowly, there's a spark. Alongside figuring out their feelings, they also face some work and family challenges.

If you're into stories where office colleagues slowly fall for each other, this one's got that vibe (it's more of a 'friends-to-lovers' deal, not 'enemies-to-lovers'). Plus, it's cool to see diverse characters with interesting family traditions. And for those who like a backdrop of San Francisco/LA, and stories with big families and caregiving, this book checks those boxes. The dual narration from both male and female perspectives adds a nice touch.

Now, about the pace - it kicks off fast, like you've skipped a few chapters. I'm usually not into long-winded beginnings, but here, I felt a slower start might've added more. As for the characters, Cadence was hard to pin down. She started off as shy and then turned pretty blunt and bossy, which made it tough to see the chemistry with Matt. Matt, on the other hand, was sweet but lacked a bit of depth.

So, if you're into a slightly unconventional rom-com with a realistic 'are we or aren't we dating' plot, give it a whirl. Just don't expect too much fire from the romance department!

Work friends to lover romance, fake dating, multi cultural big family. This is my first book by this author and pleased to say I enjoyed this book.
We have our FMC Candence and our MMC Matt, both working for the same real estate company and for their own reasons find themselves in there hometown where both their family resides. Eventually both work together on a job that helps them discover more about their family and themselves.

I will say that at the start of the book I felt thrown into the story and I was playing catch-up for the first couple chapters. While the two characters have known each other before the start of the book the first interactions could have fooled me, Candence to me was someone I had to learn to like she was unnecessarily mean to Matt and even her dad, sure were told that her father made mistakes while she was growing up but where we see the dad in the story his just an adorable little old man.
I will say after the first couple chapters and knowing the characters and the dynamic I really enjoy this book. Ending was sweet solid three stars.

I love a workplace romance and I love a fake girlfriend situation so this had all the tropes for me. Julie Tieu doesn't miss and wrote such a fun and flirty romance with Circling Back to You.

I loved this book!!! I was literally laughing out loud in some parts. 10 stars for Matt and Cadence. Friends to lovers romance plus workplace romance yes please! I finished this book in 1 day. So happy we had multiple POVs. The cover of this book is so cute love the colors. The relationship between Matt and his grandmother is so precious. Quick, cute, rom com.

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.

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.