Publishers Weekly
04/11/2022
Opposites attract when two coworkers fake a relationship in this endearing, unabashedly tropey rom-com from Tieu (The Donut Trap). Mutually pining from the start, Cadence Lim, a straitlaced analyst for Prism Realty, and Matt Escanilla, the firm’s cheeriest broker, end up forced to share a single hotel suite while on a business trip that could make or break Matt’s upcoming promotion. Workaholic Matt is under pressure to settle down from his beloved grandmother, so when she overhears Cadence in the background of a phone call, Matt allows her to believe that Cadence is his girlfriend. Cadence agrees to play the part at an upcoming Escanilla family gathering—and when their attraction gives way to a passionate night, they decide to try a real relationship. All is frothy and easy, until Cadence gets a job offer in a different city. Matt’s not prepared to do long distance, and Cadence doesn’t want to sacrifice her career for a man. It’s a significant and grounded conflict, but Cadence and Matt’s obvious chemistry and light banter make it clear these two will pull through. Cadence and Matt’s very different, but equally loving, family backgrounds only enhance their romance. This breezy outing is sure to please. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (June)
From the Publisher
For the rom-com fans, you can never go wrong with a Julie Tieu book.” — Buzzfeed
"Endearing, unabashedly tropey...Cadence and Matt’s very different, but equally loving, family backgrounds only enhance their romance. This breezy outing is sure to please." — Publishers Weekly
"A workplace romance whose likable, well-developed Asian American protagonists have layered, realistic backstories. The dialogue is witty and insightful, with plenty of entertaining banter. Topics of grief, family relationships, and workplace harassment bring depth to the fast-paced, well-written storyline." — Library Journal
"Circling Back to You is the perfect friends to lovers workplace romance. Tieu has created two relatable and complex characters who completely stole my heart. Cadence and Matt's relationship is so realistic, I felt like I was watching two of my best friends fall in love! Tieu delivers a lovely and sweet romance I can't wait to read again and again." — Falon Ballard, author of Lease on Love
“Julie Tieu’s debut is a sweet and sparkly love story about figuring out what you really want out of life and having the courage to go for it. Many readers will relate to Jasmine and her post-college struggles as she attempts to find love and a new job outside of her family’s donut shop. I loved her family and the way they supported each other, even when they didn’t always understand each other. This realistic, donut-filled romance is such a treat.” — Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting For Tom Hanks
"The Donut Trap is a fun romance as delicious as a perfectly glazed donut, but beneath the sweet romance, it's also a richly developed story about the diaspora experience and the overwhelming sense of aimlessness that so often comes after graduating college. It's an important coming-of-age story about walking the fine line between forging your own path and not disappointing the parents who have given up everything for you. Expect to cry and laugh, all while craving donuts!" — Jesse Q. Sutanto, Author of Dial A for Aunties
"Donut miss this tasty treat! Julie Tieu is going on my auto-buy list. Her writing is as fresh and warm as a newly baked glazed. You need this book now." — Meg Cabot, author of the Little Bridge Island and Princess Diaries series
"A sweet, heartfelt romance about following your own path and following your heart. This relatable story is perfect for anyone who's ever felt uncertainty of who they are and where they belong." — Suzanne Park, Author of Loathe at First Sight and So We Meet Again
“This book gave me extreme heart eyes. The Donut Trap explores the post-college doldrums in a real and refreshing way, with a cast of charming characters, a sharp sense of humor, and a romance sweeter than frosting. A delectable debut!” — Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk
“A sweet treat of a debut. Jasmine grapples with the messiness of her own family’s dilemmas as she balances their wishes against her desires. Can she find love on her own terms and do what it takes to save the day? Donut miss this book!" — Roselle Lim, author of Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop
"While Jasmine and Alex’s swift romance is adorable, Jasmine's post-college struggles and feelings of uncertainty carry Tieu's thoughtful debut. The Donut Trap isn't just a tale where a boy meets a girl, and they fall in love. It’s a family story in which Tieu perfectly builds tension between Jasmine and her parents as she tries to find her own path." — Booklist
"A sweet romance coupled with a bittersweet examination of what we leave unsaid as adult children, Circling Back to You will delight fans of Tieu’s first book and gain her more enthusiastic readers as her talent continues to grow. Tieu’s sophomore novel establishes her as one of the bright new voices in contemporary romance." — Elizabeth Everett, author of A Lady's Formula for Love
"Tieu’s writing really shines is in her explorations of complicated family dynamics—particularly for the American-born children of Chinese refugee parents—and overwhelming post-college ennui. The dialogue between Jasmine and her parents is often funny and sharp, and Tieu tackles their fraught relationships with understanding and warmth. Though Jasmine is desperate to leave Sunshine Donuts, readers will no doubt feel the opposite." — Kirkus
“While the sweet romance between Jasmine and Alex is at the core of The Donut Trap, Jas's very real family issues give it heart. Jas's failure to meet her parents' expectations, her struggles to communicate with them, and the way it impacts not just their relationship but every aspect of her life: these are all major plot points, not just details thrown in for authenticity's sake. The Donut Trap explores these issues from a place of empathy, and it comes together to create a quick rom-com read with satisfying depth.” — Popsugar
"A charming workplace romance, Tieu's talent lies in imbuing simple, everyday moments with romantic magic. Relatable, down-to-earth, with a strong family side plot and grumpy-sunshine vibes, Circling Back to You is feels like the perfect escape from the work-from-home doldrums". — Alison Cochrun, Author of The Charm Offensive
Rachel Lynn Solomon
This book gave me extreme heart eyes. The Donut Trap explores the post-college doldrums in a real and refreshing way, with a cast of charming characters, a sharp sense of humor, and a romance sweeter than frosting. A delectable debut!
Meg Cabot
"Donut miss this tasty treat! Julie Tieu is going on my auto-buy list. Her writing is as fresh and warm as a newly baked glazed. You need this book now."
Falon Ballard
"Circling Back to You is the perfect friends to lovers workplace romance. Tieu has created two relatable and complex characters who completely stole my heart. Cadence and Matt's relationship is so realistic, I felt like I was watching two of my best friends fall in love! Tieu delivers a lovely and sweet romance I can't wait to read again and again."
Booklist
"While Jasmine and Alex’s swift romance is adorable, Jasmine's post-college struggles and feelings of uncertainty carry Tieu's thoughtful debut. The Donut Trap isn't just a tale where a boy meets a girl, and they fall in love. It’s a family story in which Tieu perfectly builds tension between Jasmine and her parents as she tries to find her own path."
Suzanne Park
"A sweet, heartfelt romance about following your own path and following your heart. This relatable story is perfect for anyone who's ever felt uncertainty of who they are and where they belong."
Roselle Lim
A sweet treat of a debut. Jasmine grapples with the messiness of her own family’s dilemmas as she balances their wishes against her desires. Can she find love on her own terms and do what it takes to save the day? Donut miss this book!"
Kerry Winfrey
Julie Tieu’s debut is a sweet and sparkly love story about figuring out what you really want out of life and having the courage to go for it. Many readers will relate to Jasmine and her post-college struggles as she attempts to find love and a new job outside of her family’s donut shop. I loved her family and the way they supported each other, even when they didn’t always understand each other. This realistic, donut-filled romance is such a treat.”
Jesse Q. Sutanto
"The Donut Trap is a fun romance as delicious as a perfectly glazed donut, but beneath the sweet romance, it's also a richly developed story about the diaspora experience and the overwhelming sense of aimlessness that so often comes after graduating college. It's an important coming-of-age story about walking the fine line between forging your own path and not disappointing the parents who have given up everything for you. Expect to cry and laugh, all while craving donuts!"
Elizabeth Everett
"A sweet romance coupled with a bittersweet examination of what we leave unsaid as adult children, Circling Back to You will delight fans of Tieu’s first book and gain her more enthusiastic readers as her talent continues to grow. Tieu’s sophomore novel establishes her as one of the bright new voices in contemporary romance."
Popsugar
While the sweet romance between Jasmine and Alex is at the core of The Donut Trap, Jas's very real family issues give it heart. Jas's failure to meet her parents' expectations, her struggles to communicate with them, and the way it impacts not just their relationship but every aspect of her life: these are all major plot points, not just details thrown in for authenticity's sake. The Donut Trap explores these issues from a place of empathy, and it comes together to create a quick rom-com read with satisfying depth.
Library Journal
04/01/2022
In Tieu's (The Donut Trap) second novel, Cadence Lim and Matt Escanilla are coworkers at Prism Realty. While Matt is an extroverted broker with top sales, Cadence works behind the scenes, crunching and analyzing data for Matt and the other brokers. There's always been a bit of chemistry between them, but they're not even friends outside of work…until they're sent to San Francisco to meet with a high-profile client. Both have family in the City by the Bay. Matt is close to his large, extended family and is looking forward to seeing them. For Cadence, the trip coincides with the anniversary of her mother's death, an event which further distanced her from her brother and father. An argument with her father pushes Cadence into Matt's hotel suite for the remainder of their trip, and the forced proximity breaks down the barrier between the coworkers. Is this just sex? Or can their relationship outlast the business trip? VERDICT A workplace romance whose likable, well-developed Asian American protagonists have layered, realistic backstories. The dialogue is witty and insightful, with plenty of entertaining banter. Topics of grief, family relationships, and workplace harassment bring depth to the fast-paced, well-written storyline. A solid addition for libraries, especially those that want to diversify their romance collections.—Heather Miller Cover
Kirkus Reviews
2022-04-27
When a guarded real estate analyst and her flirty co-worker find themselves working together to land a lucrative client, they realize their feelings might be more than a simple cubicle crush.
Analyst Cadence Lim is used to taking risks at work, but she's vowed never to risk her heart for top-selling broker and serial bachelor Matt Escanilla. For the five years that Cadence has worked for San Francisco’s Prism Realty, gorgeous Matt has been a welcome reprieve in an office where she is constantly passed over for promotions. His small favors and coffee runs have become a staple of her day, as have the butterflies she feels every time he sticks his head over her cubicle. Much to Cadence's chagrin, her close friendship with Matt has even sparked a flurry of office nicknames for them, including “Asian Jim and Asian Pam” after the characters from The Office. While Cadence would love to ditch her icy exterior and just date Matt, she refuses to invest her heart in a relationship she knows won’t last. Matt is one meeting away from sealing a deal with elusive entrepreneur Percy Ma, and he’s a shoo-in for a promotion to his and Cadence’s hometown of Los Angeles, also known as the land of Cadence’s unresolved family drama. Yet when their boss ensures that a trip to LA to meet Percy can work out well for both of them, Cadence and Matt soon find themselves devoid of any HR restrictions to hold their attraction at bay. Tieu’s second novel, after The Donut Trap (2021), is at its best when the slow burn is still sizzling. Once Matt and Cadence embrace their desires, the passion falls flat and their credibility as best friends feels questionable. Cadence often seems more aggravated than charmed by Matt’s immature behavior, calling him “annoying,” “irritating,” and “a baby” on multiple occasions. Matt’s grating selfishness and Cadence’s constant aversion to friendliness dampen their union, and readers may find it difficult to root for a relationship so fraught with inertia.
A friends-to-lovers slow burner that fizzles when the romance hits.
