Review by Booklist Review
In Tieu's sophomore romance novel, following The Donut Trap (2021), Cadence Lim has carved her way up to working as a high-level analyst at Prism Realty in San Francisco. While her professional life is thriving, she can't say the same about her personal experiences. Her relationship with her family is fractured with grief years after her mother's death, and she doesn't visit them in Los Angeles as often as she should. A bright spot in her life is her coworker Matt Escanilla, one of Prism's top brokers. Their back-and-forth banter and his morning-coffee deliveries bring a smile to Cadence's face no matter how much she denies it. When her trip to Los Angeles to finally visit her family turns into a two-week work trip with Matt, Cadence must navigate between communicating with her family and a budding romance with Matt. The love story develops too abruptly, but Cadence and Matt's playful exchanges are a joy.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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)
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Review by Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
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. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
