What do you think?
The Circuit
Same industry. Wrong feelings.
Ana:
I'm ambitious. Unstoppable, most days. I built my career without help — six years, no shortcuts.
Then I corrected a CEO and my heart did something my career never once allowed it to do.
For months I told myself it was coincidence. Same cities. Same rooms. Sometimes the same bed.
It was never coincidence. But it was easier to say that than the truth.
My work is everything I have. I am not going to let my heart spend it.
James:
I don't get corrected. Not by competitors, not by regulators, not by my own board.
Then she stood up in a room full of people and told me my numbers were wrong.
She didn't apologize. She was right.
I've built a career on precision and self-control. Neither one worked on her.
I told myself the circuit kept putting us in the same room. That was convenient. It was never the truth.
The truth was simpler, and harder to admit: I could have stopped booking those flights. I never did.
I've never once managed to stay away from her. I stopped pretending I could.
Ana:
I'm ambitious. Unstoppable, most days. I built my career without help — six years, no shortcuts.
Then I corrected a CEO and my heart did something my career never once allowed it to do.
For months I told myself it was coincidence. Same cities. Same rooms. Sometimes the same bed.
It was never coincidence. But it was easier to say that than the truth.
My work is everything I have. I am not going to let my heart spend it.
James:
I don't get corrected. Not by competitors, not by regulators, not by my own board.
Then she stood up in a room full of people and told me my numbers were wrong.
She didn't apologize. She was right.
I've built a career on precision and self-control. Neither one worked on her.
I told myself the circuit kept putting us in the same room. That was convenient. It was never the truth.
The truth was simpler, and harder to admit: I could have stopped booking those flights. I never did.
I've never once managed to stay away from her. I stopped pretending I could.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2026
About the author
Chiara York
1 book6 followersI've always had a big imagination. As a kid I made up stories for my family and friends, particularly for my grandmother, whether they asked for one or not. Writing them down took a lot longer — it took me years to find the courage and the time to actually sit down and do it.
By day I work in sales, always in motion, always talking or writing my way through a conversation with someone. I started reading contemporary romance in 2021 and got hooked: slow burn, he-falls-first, forbidden tension, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, all of it. Ana Huang and T.L. Swan are a big part of why I fell so hard for the genre, and why I eventually decided to write the books I always wanted to read.
When I'm not writing (or reading), you'll probably find me at home with my husband and daughter, planning the next trip, out on a paddleboard, or at the gym.
By day I work in sales, always in motion, always talking or writing my way through a conversation with someone. I started reading contemporary romance in 2021 and got hooked: slow burn, he-falls-first, forbidden tension, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, all of it. Ana Huang and T.L. Swan are a big part of why I fell so hard for the genre, and why I eventually decided to write the books I always wanted to read.
When I'm not writing (or reading), you'll probably find me at home with my husband and daughter, planning the next trip, out on a paddleboard, or at the gym.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 7, 2026
This book had all of my favorite tropes. I recommend reading this book.
Tropes:
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Slow burn
Professional rivals
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Slow burn
Professional rivals
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
August 9, 2026
The Circuit (2026): Chiara York
“Because she deserves someone who is all the way in. Not mostly in. Not in with conditions. All the way.”
Wholesome female friendships always make me happy and this one was no exception. The way Monica stood up for Ana in her absence? 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 My mind has already been imagining James doing the mild threatening when Monica brings someone home. He fit in so perfectly with Ana’s friends, she was absolutely right in saying that he would love them because he sure does.
One of my absolute favourite scenes in this one was when Ana picks out a gift for James’s sister and doesn’t forget to include his niece. Of course he had to have that epiphany after such a gesture! ♥️
“Do you know how rare that is? To have someone want you so much that another man looking at you makes his jaw do that?”
“Because she deserves someone who is all the way in. Not mostly in. Not in with conditions. All the way.”
Wholesome female friendships always make me happy and this one was no exception. The way Monica stood up for Ana in her absence? 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 My mind has already been imagining James doing the mild threatening when Monica brings someone home. He fit in so perfectly with Ana’s friends, she was absolutely right in saying that he would love them because he sure does.
One of my absolute favourite scenes in this one was when Ana picks out a gift for James’s sister and doesn’t forget to include his niece. Of course he had to have that epiphany after such a gesture! ♥️
“Do you know how rare that is? To have someone want you so much that another man looking at you makes his jaw do that?”
August 5, 2026
I love a good happily ever after. They feel harder and harder to find these days.
This book was incredible! I enjoyed every minute of it. Ana and James are both so calculated and logical, but love has a way of ignoring even the best laid plans. Watching all of their carefully crafted rules slowly unravel was one of my favorite parts of the story.
A few tropes:
• Forced proximity
• Slow burn
• He falls first
• Billionaire CEO
• Same-industry romance
The Circuit is Book 1 in The Girlfriends Series, and I already can’t wait to pick up Book 2!
This book was incredible! I enjoyed every minute of it. Ana and James are both so calculated and logical, but love has a way of ignoring even the best laid plans. Watching all of their carefully crafted rules slowly unravel was one of my favorite parts of the story.
A few tropes:
• Forced proximity
• Slow burn
• He falls first
• Billionaire CEO
• Same-industry romance
The Circuit is Book 1 in The Girlfriends Series, and I already can’t wait to pick up Book 2!
Did Not Finish
August 4, 2026DNF
I really wanted to like this one but I could not get through the writing style. It was stiff and choppy, with an incessant staccato rhythm that made sinking into the story difficult. The dialogue felt formal and odd, and pulled on excessive description and repetition to fill the gaps.
The author also had an odd habit of introducing and referencing character names as if we knew them already, to the point I had to check to see if there was a previous book I had missed. The context of the person and the relationship would come after, and it left brief confusion and annoyance trying to parse out what was going on.
From there, the author also has a bit of a crutch with using similes and "the way" to frequently describe something. It's meant to be poetic but it pulled me completely out with how excessively it was used.
Unfortunately, all of these things compounded into this being a frustrating read that I chose to DNF.
I really wanted to like this one but I could not get through the writing style. It was stiff and choppy, with an incessant staccato rhythm that made sinking into the story difficult. The dialogue felt formal and odd, and pulled on excessive description and repetition to fill the gaps.
The author also had an odd habit of introducing and referencing character names as if we knew them already, to the point I had to check to see if there was a previous book I had missed. The context of the person and the relationship would come after, and it left brief confusion and annoyance trying to parse out what was going on.
From there, the author also has a bit of a crutch with using similes and "the way" to frequently describe something. It's meant to be poetic but it pulled me completely out with how excessively it was used.
Unfortunately, all of these things compounded into this being a frustrating read that I chose to DNF.
August 3, 2026
I had the absolute privilege to read Chiara York’s debut novel: The Circuit. If you’re a fan of work rivals, he falls first, slow burns and forced proximity…this is the book for you.
Throughout the book, readers are able to watch as James and Ana, two professional and ambitious workers who just can’t stop thinking about each other after meeting at a conference, fall in love. This book was different from others I’ve read in the past (in a really good way)! Yes, I’ve read these tropes before. Chiara York really brought them to life! But this book really focuses on inner dialogue- how the characters are feeling, what exactly they think about the other, and how their relationship is developing. I loved the dialogue between the characters but the inner thoughts really kept me interested.
The characters were relatable and interesting. The plot was really fun and I lived for the slow burn. I definitely recommend checking this book out!
Throughout the book, readers are able to watch as James and Ana, two professional and ambitious workers who just can’t stop thinking about each other after meeting at a conference, fall in love. This book was different from others I’ve read in the past (in a really good way)! Yes, I’ve read these tropes before. Chiara York really brought them to life! But this book really focuses on inner dialogue- how the characters are feeling, what exactly they think about the other, and how their relationship is developing. I loved the dialogue between the characters but the inner thoughts really kept me interested.
The characters were relatable and interesting. The plot was really fun and I lived for the slow burn. I definitely recommend checking this book out!
August 8, 2026
ARC reader review.
Ana and James kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the book with their sizzling chemistry and painful slow burn. James 'An interesting perspective' Vance, tall man with back tattoo and he's a Billionaire but unravels completely under her presence. And Ana, the perfect independent woman we all admire, she got under James's skin just after their first encounter. I loved how they created memories in different cities, sometimes sharing the same beds. Though I felt the ending was a bit average and their love confession scene could've been better. Also sometimes the writing felt repetitive and honesty I couldn't feel the emotional bonding between the main leads, there were better bond between Ana and her girls than she had with James. Overall I liked it. The spice was great. A good book.
Ana and James kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the book with their sizzling chemistry and painful slow burn. James 'An interesting perspective' Vance, tall man with back tattoo and he's a Billionaire but unravels completely under her presence. And Ana, the perfect independent woman we all admire, she got under James's skin just after their first encounter. I loved how they created memories in different cities, sometimes sharing the same beds. Though I felt the ending was a bit average and their love confession scene could've been better. Also sometimes the writing felt repetitive and honesty I couldn't feel the emotional bonding between the main leads, there were better bond between Ana and her girls than she had with James. Overall I liked it. The spice was great. A good book.
August 4, 2026
I recently finished watching The Good Wife on Paramount+ and was immediately looking for a fun tension filled workplace romance. The Circuit was an easy choice that did not disappoint.
I personally love a good forbidden romance with an MMC, James, who supposedly does nothing wrong but gets corrected by the attractive FMC , Ana, who just so happens to work in the same industry.
There was so much tension between James and Ana from the start. It doesn’t help that James hates the company Ana works for, but he just can’t seem to stay away from her.
They obviously give in to the pressure, but want to keep things professional so they create ground rules to avoid losing their careers. The only issue is feelings are developing as they go from city to city.
Release Date: August 7th, 2026
Thank you Chiara York for allowing me to read and eARC of your novel for an honest review!
I personally love a good forbidden romance with an MMC, James, who supposedly does nothing wrong but gets corrected by the attractive FMC , Ana, who just so happens to work in the same industry.
There was so much tension between James and Ana from the start. It doesn’t help that James hates the company Ana works for, but he just can’t seem to stay away from her.
They obviously give in to the pressure, but want to keep things professional so they create ground rules to avoid losing their careers. The only issue is feelings are developing as they go from city to city.
Release Date: August 7th, 2026
Thank you Chiara York for allowing me to read and eARC of your novel for an honest review!
September 3, 2026
The Circuit
Honestly, I'm glad I have finally discovered an author that handles a romance the way I like it: slowly building the connection between the two main characters.
✨️ Plot: We have a beautiful dual POV through which you can see how each character deals with their relationship and professional life. Ana Marcovici is a sales director in a Bucharest company. She leads a strict life - everything is black and white, so the professional Ana does not meet the personal one. But everything changes when she meets James Vance. A CEO of a famous UK based company, James is bewildered when Ana corrects him during one of his presentations.
From then on, the two share various memorable moments during conferences (a little game of cat and mouse) until their feelings grow into something both cannot ignore. It's a book heavy with description, but I felt it definitely enriched the storyline: helping you create the characters' universe.
✨️ Love: Their relationship slowly builds in time, however due to their professional lives (both are aware how Ana would be regarded if anyone in their line of work would find out) they initially build a set of rules in place. The book also includes a "he fell first" theme, though I personally felt they were both quite smitten. The love scenes were build quite nicely: you have a certain amount of spice, but not too much that you start analysing the validity of them or your level of vanilla. 🤣🤣🤣
✨️ Characters: The author is a pro at building the characters' world and I believe it was the perfect balance between the side characters and main characters: you have enough info to shape the secondary characters' personality - enough to realise their influnce on the main characters' lives and I dare say enough for us to become attached to them, as the author intends to continue the series with Monica as the main character in the next romance.
✨️ Overall: It was a very nice read, one that made me gasp in public a little too often and one that actually made me feel satisfied at the end. There's nothing better than a well-built romance with a positive ending. I am quite grateful to have been part of this ARC team and hopefully, I can read Chiara York's next book as well. Looking forward to the next story.
Honestly, I'm glad I have finally discovered an author that handles a romance the way I like it: slowly building the connection between the two main characters.
✨️ Plot: We have a beautiful dual POV through which you can see how each character deals with their relationship and professional life. Ana Marcovici is a sales director in a Bucharest company. She leads a strict life - everything is black and white, so the professional Ana does not meet the personal one. But everything changes when she meets James Vance. A CEO of a famous UK based company, James is bewildered when Ana corrects him during one of his presentations.
From then on, the two share various memorable moments during conferences (a little game of cat and mouse) until their feelings grow into something both cannot ignore. It's a book heavy with description, but I felt it definitely enriched the storyline: helping you create the characters' universe.
✨️ Love: Their relationship slowly builds in time, however due to their professional lives (both are aware how Ana would be regarded if anyone in their line of work would find out) they initially build a set of rules in place. The book also includes a "he fell first" theme, though I personally felt they were both quite smitten. The love scenes were build quite nicely: you have a certain amount of spice, but not too much that you start analysing the validity of them or your level of vanilla. 🤣🤣🤣
✨️ Characters: The author is a pro at building the characters' world and I believe it was the perfect balance between the side characters and main characters: you have enough info to shape the secondary characters' personality - enough to realise their influnce on the main characters' lives and I dare say enough for us to become attached to them, as the author intends to continue the series with Monica as the main character in the next romance.
✨️ Overall: It was a very nice read, one that made me gasp in public a little too often and one that actually made me feel satisfied at the end. There's nothing better than a well-built romance with a positive ending. I am quite grateful to have been part of this ARC team and hopefully, I can read Chiara York's next book as well. Looking forward to the next story.
August 27, 2026
ARC Review: The Circuit by Chiara York ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Circuit was a really pleasant surprise for me. It’s a workplace romance with a slow-burn relationship, ambitious characters, strong chemistry, and a surprisingly fun setup that takes the characters across different cities.
I was hooked pretty early on. The chemistry between Ana and James was definitely one of my favourite parts of the book. Their dynamic was written so well, especially the tension that came from both of them trying so hard to keep things professional while their feelings were clearly becoming anything but professional.
Ana was a character I really liked. She’s smart, ambitious, independent, and genuinely proud of the career she has built for herself. I especially appreciated that her career remained important to her throughout the story rather than simply disappearing once the romance took over.
And James… James. 😌He is definitely the man of the book for me. I loved watching his feelings for Ana slowly develop into something much deeper than he initially wanted to admit. The little moments where he noticed things about her, cared for her, or was simply there when she needed him were some of my favourite moments.
The slow burn worked really well for their relationship. The whole “let’s set rules” situation was honestly hilarious because, as a reader, you already know those rules are doomed. 😂 The tension between them was easily one of the strongest parts of the story, and when everything finally started coming together, it was worth the wait.
I also really enjoyed the friendship between Ana and the girls. Their bond added so much warmth and humour to the story, and I loved how supportive they were of one another and how readily they showed up for their friends. Those friendships felt like an important part of Ana’s life rather than just something placed in the background.
That said, the book wasn’t completely perfect for me. There were moments where I felt the story became a little stretched, and some of the technical/workplace terminology made certain sections feel slower than I would have liked. At times, I found myself wishing the story would move along a little faster.
But overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Circuit. The story was good, the chemistry was SO good, the characters were easy to root for, and the romance delivered the slow-burn tension I was looking for.
Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐️
I’d definitely recommend The Circuit to readers who enjoy workplace romances, slow burns, strong chemistry, ambitious characters, and a hero who falls harder than he planned to. ❤️ Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Circuit was a really pleasant surprise for me. It’s a workplace romance with a slow-burn relationship, ambitious characters, strong chemistry, and a surprisingly fun setup that takes the characters across different cities.
I was hooked pretty early on. The chemistry between Ana and James was definitely one of my favourite parts of the book. Their dynamic was written so well, especially the tension that came from both of them trying so hard to keep things professional while their feelings were clearly becoming anything but professional.
Ana was a character I really liked. She’s smart, ambitious, independent, and genuinely proud of the career she has built for herself. I especially appreciated that her career remained important to her throughout the story rather than simply disappearing once the romance took over.
And James… James. 😌He is definitely the man of the book for me. I loved watching his feelings for Ana slowly develop into something much deeper than he initially wanted to admit. The little moments where he noticed things about her, cared for her, or was simply there when she needed him were some of my favourite moments.
The slow burn worked really well for their relationship. The whole “let’s set rules” situation was honestly hilarious because, as a reader, you already know those rules are doomed. 😂 The tension between them was easily one of the strongest parts of the story, and when everything finally started coming together, it was worth the wait.
I also really enjoyed the friendship between Ana and the girls. Their bond added so much warmth and humour to the story, and I loved how supportive they were of one another and how readily they showed up for their friends. Those friendships felt like an important part of Ana’s life rather than just something placed in the background.
That said, the book wasn’t completely perfect for me. There were moments where I felt the story became a little stretched, and some of the technical/workplace terminology made certain sections feel slower than I would have liked. At times, I found myself wishing the story would move along a little faster.
But overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Circuit. The story was good, the chemistry was SO good, the characters were easy to root for, and the romance delivered the slow-burn tension I was looking for.
Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐️
I’d definitely recommend The Circuit to readers who enjoy workplace romances, slow burns, strong chemistry, ambitious characters, and a hero who falls harder than he planned to. ❤️ Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
The Circuit surprised me in the best way. What begins with the feel of a workplace or billionaire romance gradually becomes something much more layered,,about desire, ambition, ethics, vulnerability, and the choices we make when feelings become impossible to ignore....
Chiara York’s writing is easily one of my favourite things about this book. The prose is measured, elegant, and emotionally intelligent.So much is conveyed through pauses, glances, conversations, and everything the characters choose not to say.
James and Ana are the heart of the story for me.❤️❤️ Their chemistry is undeniable, but what makes them compelling is that their connection isn't built on attraction alone.
Their professional rivalry, emotional hesitation, complicated choices, and gradual vulnerability make their relationship feel surprisingly mature and believable.
Ana’s internal conflict especially stayed with me. Her struggle between career, ethics, and what she actually wants gives the romance real emotional weight. James, meanwhile, becomes increasingly interesting as his feelings move beyond fascination and into something much deeper.
I also loved the supporting characters and friendships. They bring warmth and humour to an otherwise emotionally intense story.
And that ending? ❤️ It felt earned. After all the restraint, uncertainty, and emotional distance, seeing James and Ana finally arrive at a place where they could simply choose each other was incredibly satisfying.
The Circuit is much more than a romance about two people falling for each other. It’s about learning when to stop managing your feelings and start being honest about them.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy mature workplace romance, emotional slow burns, strong character development, and beautifully understated writing.
Chiara York’s writing is easily one of my favourite things about this book. The prose is measured, elegant, and emotionally intelligent.So much is conveyed through pauses, glances, conversations, and everything the characters choose not to say.
James and Ana are the heart of the story for me.❤️❤️ Their chemistry is undeniable, but what makes them compelling is that their connection isn't built on attraction alone.
Their professional rivalry, emotional hesitation, complicated choices, and gradual vulnerability make their relationship feel surprisingly mature and believable.
Ana’s internal conflict especially stayed with me. Her struggle between career, ethics, and what she actually wants gives the romance real emotional weight. James, meanwhile, becomes increasingly interesting as his feelings move beyond fascination and into something much deeper.
I also loved the supporting characters and friendships. They bring warmth and humour to an otherwise emotionally intense story.
And that ending? ❤️ It felt earned. After all the restraint, uncertainty, and emotional distance, seeing James and Ana finally arrive at a place where they could simply choose each other was incredibly satisfying.
The Circuit is much more than a romance about two people falling for each other. It’s about learning when to stop managing your feelings and start being honest about them.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy mature workplace romance, emotional slow burns, strong character development, and beautifully understated writing.
August 25, 2026
✨️arc review✨️
🥰😭🥰
The opening was good, it starts off the way the book continues throughout, giving a sense of the vibe of it, and makes you want to continue to read.
In this book we meet Ana, a successful woman on The Circuit, and James, the CEO of a rival company.
They meet and from there their ability to remain professional unravels as they try and figure out the logistics of separating professional from personal and managing to have both.
I enjoyed the friendship between the women, the relationships that Ana and James had with their families, and I wanted everything to work out well for them, it's well written and gets you emotionally invested.
I would love to walk around buildings with Ana and James and hear their thoughts on it all.
I would also like a dress that requires three separate HR meetings!
Ana - soaking
James - wrecked
I loved the thoughtful gifts from Ana every time she travelled, that the reasons behind the purchases were given, and how well she knows her friends, what they'll like, who they'll like, how they'll assess, arrive at opinions, and make conclusions.
I loved James talking about buildings and his feelings growing, that he was more than competent in both the corporate and construction worlds, the tea set, and taking the ice cream, Sardinia and sarmales, forty vases, the not begging and the wreckage that comes.
Anyone who has had love and romance in their lives will relate to this book.
I only wish I'd known more about their industry before reading it. I kept trying to look things up.
I absolutely need to read The Arrangement now.
Many thanks to @swipethebook.pr and @chiarayork.author for giving me the opportunity to learn about Ana and James's lives.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🥰😭🥰
The opening was good, it starts off the way the book continues throughout, giving a sense of the vibe of it, and makes you want to continue to read.
In this book we meet Ana, a successful woman on The Circuit, and James, the CEO of a rival company.
They meet and from there their ability to remain professional unravels as they try and figure out the logistics of separating professional from personal and managing to have both.
I enjoyed the friendship between the women, the relationships that Ana and James had with their families, and I wanted everything to work out well for them, it's well written and gets you emotionally invested.
I would love to walk around buildings with Ana and James and hear their thoughts on it all.
I would also like a dress that requires three separate HR meetings!
Ana - soaking
James - wrecked
I loved the thoughtful gifts from Ana every time she travelled, that the reasons behind the purchases were given, and how well she knows her friends, what they'll like, who they'll like, how they'll assess, arrive at opinions, and make conclusions.
I loved James talking about buildings and his feelings growing, that he was more than competent in both the corporate and construction worlds, the tea set, and taking the ice cream, Sardinia and sarmales, forty vases, the not begging and the wreckage that comes.
Anyone who has had love and romance in their lives will relate to this book.
I only wish I'd known more about their industry before reading it. I kept trying to look things up.
I absolutely need to read The Arrangement now.
Many thanks to @swipethebook.pr and @chiarayork.author for giving me the opportunity to learn about Ana and James's lives.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 8, 2026
Looking for a fun, light, international romance? The Circuit may just check all your boxes!
Ana is constantly jetting off to amazing European destinations as part of her work in “the circuit,” and she’s a total girl boss in every city she visits. But when a question she asks during a panel catches the CEO of a major company completely off guard, it sets the stage for an epic will-they-won’t-they romance spanning some of the dreamiest cities in Europe (think Sardinia, Barcelona, Paris, Athens, and more)!
I absolutely adored the strong female friendships that served as an anchor for Ana throughout the story. And the coolest part? This is book one of four, so we’ll get to watch each of these beautifully developed friends find their own match!
Other things I loved were the dreamy travels (obviously!), the he-falls-first romance, intriguing side characters, delightful text chains, and the way the book explores how women and men can experience relationships and their consequences very differently in corporate settings.
It took me a little while to fully settle into the writing style, but once I did, this was such a quick and enjoyable read! I’m especially intrigued to see where Monica’s story goes next, because she was easily my favorite character.
Thank you to Chiara York for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Ana is constantly jetting off to amazing European destinations as part of her work in “the circuit,” and she’s a total girl boss in every city she visits. But when a question she asks during a panel catches the CEO of a major company completely off guard, it sets the stage for an epic will-they-won’t-they romance spanning some of the dreamiest cities in Europe (think Sardinia, Barcelona, Paris, Athens, and more)!
I absolutely adored the strong female friendships that served as an anchor for Ana throughout the story. And the coolest part? This is book one of four, so we’ll get to watch each of these beautifully developed friends find their own match!
Other things I loved were the dreamy travels (obviously!), the he-falls-first romance, intriguing side characters, delightful text chains, and the way the book explores how women and men can experience relationships and their consequences very differently in corporate settings.
It took me a little while to fully settle into the writing style, but once I did, this was such a quick and enjoyable read! I’m especially intrigued to see where Monica’s story goes next, because she was easily my favorite character.
Thank you to Chiara York for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 16, 2026
4.5 stars!!!
Wow wow WOW. First of all, I would like to thank to the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of her newly released debut novel “The Circuit”.
This book absolutely blew me away! Talk about a well done, slow-burn. The tension between James and Ana is off the charts. It truly has a slow build up and you can see how the relationship progresses over time. These two work in the same industry, attend the same international conferences and are almost always in each others orbits. They’re technically professional rivals but as their relationship shifts, boy does it get juicy.
I personally loved both the MMC and FMC in this book, i genuinely loved how hardworking, ambitious and structured Ana’s character is. She truly represents a hard working, strong and intelligent woman - I believe we need to see more books with FMC’s like Ana. James was also ambitious, strong-willed and a go-getter. He was also a good man as a whole and I appreciated seeing a non-toxic MMC who truly values their partner and sees them for who they truly are.
All in all, I would 100% recommend this book to everyone. It’s such a well written book, an enjoyable read and most importantly, has a true slow burn romance!
Obsessed is an understatement.
Wow wow WOW. First of all, I would like to thank to the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of her newly released debut novel “The Circuit”.
This book absolutely blew me away! Talk about a well done, slow-burn. The tension between James and Ana is off the charts. It truly has a slow build up and you can see how the relationship progresses over time. These two work in the same industry, attend the same international conferences and are almost always in each others orbits. They’re technically professional rivals but as their relationship shifts, boy does it get juicy.
I personally loved both the MMC and FMC in this book, i genuinely loved how hardworking, ambitious and structured Ana’s character is. She truly represents a hard working, strong and intelligent woman - I believe we need to see more books with FMC’s like Ana. James was also ambitious, strong-willed and a go-getter. He was also a good man as a whole and I appreciated seeing a non-toxic MMC who truly values their partner and sees them for who they truly are.
All in all, I would 100% recommend this book to everyone. It’s such a well written book, an enjoyable read and most importantly, has a true slow burn romance!
Obsessed is an understatement.
August 26, 2026
📚💖 ARC REVIEW: The Circuit by Chiara York 💖📚
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest and free review 💕📚
I love a good happily ever after 🥹❤️ The Circuit gave me exactly the romance fix I was looking for!!
Ana and James completely pulled me in!! They’re both ambitious, intelligent, and very determined to keep things logical and professional 😎 which is hilarious because, that lasted about as long as we all knew it would! Love clearly had other plans 😂
They had rules, boundaries, and a plan… and I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of that go straight out the window🤣🔥
And the chemistry?! 🔥🔥🔥 The slow burn had me hooked, and James falling first was EVERYTHING😍 Give me a billionaire CEO who is completely composed until Ana walks into the room, and suddenly all logic goes out the window😂👀
I especially loved getting inside their heads and following the little shifts in their thoughts and feelings as their relationship developed🥰 Ana is smart, independent, and ambitious, and I loved that she stayed true to herself while navigating her career and her growing feelings for James.
Their professional rivalry and undeniable attraction made for such a fun combination 💕🔥
The supporting characters and friendships also brought plenty of warmth and humor to the story which I loved☀️😂
✨ Tropes:
💼 Workplace romance
⚔️Professional rivals
🏠 Forced proximity
⏳🔥Slow burn
😍 He falls first
🚫 Forbidden romance
💰 Billionaire CEO
The Circuit is Chiara York’s debut and Book 1 in The Girlfriends Series, and if this is what she’s bringing for book one… I’m already ready for Book 2 👀📚
Overall, this was a fun, spicy, swoony slow burn with great chemistry, ambitious characters, plenty of tension, and a happily ever after that left me smiling 💖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you love workplace romance, professional rivals, forced proximity, and a man who falls first and falls HARD… add this one to your TBR 🥰🔥📚
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest and free review 💕📚
I love a good happily ever after 🥹❤️ The Circuit gave me exactly the romance fix I was looking for!!
Ana and James completely pulled me in!! They’re both ambitious, intelligent, and very determined to keep things logical and professional 😎 which is hilarious because, that lasted about as long as we all knew it would! Love clearly had other plans 😂
They had rules, boundaries, and a plan… and I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of that go straight out the window🤣🔥
And the chemistry?! 🔥🔥🔥 The slow burn had me hooked, and James falling first was EVERYTHING😍 Give me a billionaire CEO who is completely composed until Ana walks into the room, and suddenly all logic goes out the window😂👀
I especially loved getting inside their heads and following the little shifts in their thoughts and feelings as their relationship developed🥰 Ana is smart, independent, and ambitious, and I loved that she stayed true to herself while navigating her career and her growing feelings for James.
Their professional rivalry and undeniable attraction made for such a fun combination 💕🔥
The supporting characters and friendships also brought plenty of warmth and humor to the story which I loved☀️😂
✨ Tropes:
💼 Workplace romance
⚔️Professional rivals
🏠 Forced proximity
⏳🔥Slow burn
😍 He falls first
🚫 Forbidden romance
💰 Billionaire CEO
The Circuit is Chiara York’s debut and Book 1 in The Girlfriends Series, and if this is what she’s bringing for book one… I’m already ready for Book 2 👀📚
Overall, this was a fun, spicy, swoony slow burn with great chemistry, ambitious characters, plenty of tension, and a happily ever after that left me smiling 💖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you love workplace romance, professional rivals, forced proximity, and a man who falls first and falls HARD… add this one to your TBR 🥰🔥📚
August 8, 2026
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for free, and this is my honest review.
A sharp, addictive slow‑burn workplace romance fueled by ambition, tension, and two people who should absolutely know better.
Chiara York delivers a sleek, intoxicating story about Ana Marcovici—self‑made, relentless, and determined never to lose—and James Vance, the billionaire CEO who’s used to being the smartest man in every room. The moment Ana corrects him onstage, their dynamic snaps into place: charged, competitive, impossible to ignore.
Their rule‑bound arrangement is deliciously doomed from the start. City after city, meeting after meeting, the lines blur, the rules crumble, and the feelings slip in—quiet, then undeniable. The chemistry is razor‑sharp, the tension expertly paced, and the emotional payoff lands with satisfying clarity.
A compelling 4‑star read for fans of forced proximity, he‑falls‑first energy, and romances where ambition collides with desire in all the best ways.
A sharp, addictive slow‑burn workplace romance fueled by ambition, tension, and two people who should absolutely know better.
Chiara York delivers a sleek, intoxicating story about Ana Marcovici—self‑made, relentless, and determined never to lose—and James Vance, the billionaire CEO who’s used to being the smartest man in every room. The moment Ana corrects him onstage, their dynamic snaps into place: charged, competitive, impossible to ignore.
Their rule‑bound arrangement is deliciously doomed from the start. City after city, meeting after meeting, the lines blur, the rules crumble, and the feelings slip in—quiet, then undeniable. The chemistry is razor‑sharp, the tension expertly paced, and the emotional payoff lands with satisfying clarity.
A compelling 4‑star read for fans of forced proximity, he‑falls‑first energy, and romances where ambition collides with desire in all the best ways.
August 8, 2026
Wow wow WOW, the yearning!!
I LOVE a slow-burn, forbidden romance filled with unbearable tension and yearning. And this one delivered.
Usually in billionaire romances, the FMC is an assistant or a damsel in distress, but not Ana. She’s smart, cunning, ambitious, and at the absolute top of her career. She’s not about to let the competition distract her… even if that competition happens to be James.
Tall, broody, and infamous in the industry, James is pretty hard to ignore.
I quite literally read this book in ONE DAY. Once I started, I could not put it down. The tension, the banter, the forbidden romance… I was hooked.
4 stars because wasn’t any plot twist that would make me keep me thinking back to this book which is what I look for in a 5 star read. I also found that the inconsistency in the font was really bothering me and the overuse of corporate jargon was a bit much. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others in a heartbeat!
I LOVE a slow-burn, forbidden romance filled with unbearable tension and yearning. And this one delivered.
Usually in billionaire romances, the FMC is an assistant or a damsel in distress, but not Ana. She’s smart, cunning, ambitious, and at the absolute top of her career. She’s not about to let the competition distract her… even if that competition happens to be James.
Tall, broody, and infamous in the industry, James is pretty hard to ignore.
I quite literally read this book in ONE DAY. Once I started, I could not put it down. The tension, the banter, the forbidden romance… I was hooked.
4 stars because wasn’t any plot twist that would make me keep me thinking back to this book which is what I look for in a 5 star read. I also found that the inconsistency in the font was really bothering me and the overuse of corporate jargon was a bit much. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others in a heartbeat!
August 11, 2026
If you’re looking for a forced proximity romance with a sprinkle of forbidden romance, then look no further🤩 The Circuit is a story between a company CEO and a Sales Director that keeps finding themselves in the same conferences in different cities.
What I love about this book:
✔️The way James and Ana’s relationship took place across different cities in the circuit makes the story so fun
✔️Every single character in this story has a different personality which makes it all the more interesting. I really like how Ana, when in a professional setting, is always clean and composed, but when she’s outside of work, she lets her hair down and allows herself to have fun
✔️The side characters make this story so much more wholesome, I love how Monica, Guilia and Sofia are always there for Ana. Monica especially, is my favourite😍
Thank you Chiara York for the ARC, I had really enjoyed this story🫶🏻
What I love about this book:
✔️The way James and Ana’s relationship took place across different cities in the circuit makes the story so fun
✔️Every single character in this story has a different personality which makes it all the more interesting. I really like how Ana, when in a professional setting, is always clean and composed, but when she’s outside of work, she lets her hair down and allows herself to have fun
✔️The side characters make this story so much more wholesome, I love how Monica, Guilia and Sofia are always there for Ana. Monica especially, is my favourite😍
Thank you Chiara York for the ARC, I had really enjoyed this story🫶🏻
August 16, 2026
I’m quite sad that it wasn’t as good as i hoped. The overall story has potential but it is lacking in so many areas. The story i jumpy and hard to follow. We don’t really get to know the characters. She’s cold and very one sided. He’s a bit of a predator sometimes and i don’t know how they bonded throughout the book because it’s not written out. We jump from city to city and they exchange like two words with each other and those exchanges are no where near sweet. So i don’t know where or how this relationship came to be. Very underdeveloped characters and storyline unfortunately….
August 8, 2026
Story not for impatient readers.
The protagonists' relationship progresses in an interesting way, from strangers raising interest in each other, to taking steps to see each other, minimal communication, to finally saying and doing something to let each other know about their feelings. This all takes months across Europe, with one exception. It's a shame they had to hide their connection, and the pressure of it couldn't hold. What is one willing to do, maybe sacrifice, to be with the person one loves?
I like the heroine getting souvenirs for her friends.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The protagonists' relationship progresses in an interesting way, from strangers raising interest in each other, to taking steps to see each other, minimal communication, to finally saying and doing something to let each other know about their feelings. This all takes months across Europe, with one exception. It's a shame they had to hide their connection, and the pressure of it couldn't hold. What is one willing to do, maybe sacrifice, to be with the person one loves?
I like the heroine getting souvenirs for her friends.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 10, 2026
ARC Review🤩
“Some things are worth the complication”
Ana and James meet a couple of times, until it’s not a coincidence anymore. The tension across the room, a well though touch in a crowded place, the interesting perspectives they have in their field… Their chemistry is everything and more🔥
There is something so captivating about two successful main characters and I loved reading Ana and James explore what their rival/workplace romance meant for them in their own spaces and careers.
“Some things are worth the complication”
Ana and James meet a couple of times, until it’s not a coincidence anymore. The tension across the room, a well though touch in a crowded place, the interesting perspectives they have in their field… Their chemistry is everything and more🔥
There is something so captivating about two successful main characters and I loved reading Ana and James explore what their rival/workplace romance meant for them in their own spaces and careers.
August 22, 2026
🌟 ARC Review 🌟
I was lucky enough to be part of the ARC team to read this book before its release, and below are my honest thoughts!.
Review:
Ana is a solid BA FMC who knows what she wants and where she is going in life, and has made her own way in her career. James was a brick wall of a man who fell first and fell hard for Ana. The way he loved her and proved it? Ugh, such a good read, HEA, and overall book!
I was lucky enough to be part of the ARC team to read this book before its release, and below are my honest thoughts!.
Review:
Ana is a solid BA FMC who knows what she wants and where she is going in life, and has made her own way in her career. James was a brick wall of a man who fell first and fell hard for Ana. The way he loved her and proved it? Ugh, such a good read, HEA, and overall book!
August 8, 2026
✨ This was such a fun, tension-filled workplace romance! Ana and James had chemistry from the very beginning, and I loved watching two incredibly career-driven people try to convince themselves that they could keep their attraction under control. Spoiler: they absolutely could not. 😂
✨ What I loved:
✔️ Ana was such a strong FMC. Their first interaction, where she corrects him, immediately set the tone for their relationship.
✔️ James completely won me over. He’s confident and successful, but what I loved most was how clear he was about his feelings for Ana.
✔️ THE TENSION. The decision to create rules for their relationship made everything even more entertaining because we all knew those rules weren’t going to survive for long. 😂
✔️ Ana’s friendships were another highlight for me. I loved the supportive female friendship dynamic, and the girls brought some much-needed warmth and humor to the story.
💭 What I wished for:
👉🏻 There was also quite a bit of industry-related discussion, and I’ll admit some of it completely went over my head 😂.
Plot - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Design - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enjoyed - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨ What I loved:
✔️ Ana was such a strong FMC. Their first interaction, where she corrects him, immediately set the tone for their relationship.
✔️ James completely won me over. He’s confident and successful, but what I loved most was how clear he was about his feelings for Ana.
✔️ THE TENSION. The decision to create rules for their relationship made everything even more entertaining because we all knew those rules weren’t going to survive for long. 😂
✔️ Ana’s friendships were another highlight for me. I loved the supportive female friendship dynamic, and the girls brought some much-needed warmth and humor to the story.
💭 What I wished for:
👉🏻 There was also quite a bit of industry-related discussion, and I’ll admit some of it completely went over my head 😂.
Plot - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Design - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enjoyed - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 7, 2026
The circuit was a fun read and I was completely invested in it. It was addictive!!!! James and Ana are my favorites now. Their chemistry felt effortless and I loved how naturally their relationship developed. I also liked the balance between romance and work. I found myself looking forward to what was happening next. Absolutely loved the groveling part.
August 8, 2026
ARC REVIEW ❤️🔥
Considering I've never read a book from this author before, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book
The way the tension was written was EVERYTHING 💖 and I really loved the relationship between the MCs and their surrounding friendships- especially the FMC's girlies 🩷
Considering I've never read a book from this author before, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book
The way the tension was written was EVERYTHING 💖 and I really loved the relationship between the MCs and their surrounding friendships- especially the FMC's girlies 🩷
August 20, 2026
💼 ARC Review — The Circuit by Chiara York 💼
This book was such a pleasant surprise. I went in expecting a typical workplace romance, but The Circuit ended up feeling a lot more layered than I expected.
James and Ana had me invested from the very beginning. The chemistry, the tension, the slow burn… yeah, I was there for all of it. 😂 I especially loved their internal thoughts and the way we got to see exactly what was going on in their heads while they were trying so hard to keep things professional.
Ana was definitely a highlight for me. She was smart, ambitious, independent and genuinely proud of everything she had worked for. I loved that her career mattered to her and that she didn’t just drop everything for the romance. And James… he fell HARD. 😂 I absolutely loved watching his feelings for Ana slowly turn into something much deeper.
Also, the whole meeting-in-different-cities situation was such a fun setting for their relationship. And the little moments where James took care of Ana when she was clearly running on empty? Loved those. Give me a man who notices the little things. 🥹
The tension between them was honestly the best part. The whole “let’s set rules” situation had me laughing because we all knew those rules were absolutely not going to survive. 😂
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Ana’s friendships. They added so much warmth and humour to the story.
This is a slow burn, so definitely go in expecting the tension to BUILD. And when it finally pays off? Worth it.
Overall, a fun, spicy, emotional workplace romance with ambitious characters, lots of chemistry and a debut that definitely left me wanting more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was such a pleasant surprise. I went in expecting a typical workplace romance, but The Circuit ended up feeling a lot more layered than I expected.
James and Ana had me invested from the very beginning. The chemistry, the tension, the slow burn… yeah, I was there for all of it. 😂 I especially loved their internal thoughts and the way we got to see exactly what was going on in their heads while they were trying so hard to keep things professional.
Ana was definitely a highlight for me. She was smart, ambitious, independent and genuinely proud of everything she had worked for. I loved that her career mattered to her and that she didn’t just drop everything for the romance. And James… he fell HARD. 😂 I absolutely loved watching his feelings for Ana slowly turn into something much deeper.
Also, the whole meeting-in-different-cities situation was such a fun setting for their relationship. And the little moments where James took care of Ana when she was clearly running on empty? Loved those. Give me a man who notices the little things. 🥹
The tension between them was honestly the best part. The whole “let’s set rules” situation had me laughing because we all knew those rules were absolutely not going to survive. 😂
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Ana’s friendships. They added so much warmth and humour to the story.
This is a slow burn, so definitely go in expecting the tension to BUILD. And when it finally pays off? Worth it.
Overall, a fun, spicy, emotional workplace romance with ambitious characters, lots of chemistry and a debut that definitely left me wanting more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.25⭐️
I know it is a romance first, but I found myself wanting to replicate Ana and James’ travels. Maybe read each part of The Circuit as you travel it! Oh the billionaire dreams I have.
While stuck on my Canadian couch, I was transported on a journey and James’ love of architecture helped bring more of it to life.
Ana is a strong, confident and knows her business. Enough to publicly correct a CEO on a point in his presentation.
There is some spice in this story. I found it to be quite similar spice for the most part, but fun spice either way.
I found the writing a little bit stilted, at the beginning, but somewhere along the way it grew on me and I stopped noticing it.
Overall an enticing romance that takes you through The Circuit on a wobbly path to love.
We, also, get more! Looking forward to the next in the interconnected, but completely standalone, series.
I know it is a romance first, but I found myself wanting to replicate Ana and James’ travels. Maybe read each part of The Circuit as you travel it! Oh the billionaire dreams I have.
While stuck on my Canadian couch, I was transported on a journey and James’ love of architecture helped bring more of it to life.
Ana is a strong, confident and knows her business. Enough to publicly correct a CEO on a point in his presentation.
There is some spice in this story. I found it to be quite similar spice for the most part, but fun spice either way.
I found the writing a little bit stilted, at the beginning, but somewhere along the way it grew on me and I stopped noticing it.
Overall an enticing romance that takes you through The Circuit on a wobbly path to love.
We, also, get more! Looking forward to the next in the interconnected, but completely standalone, series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chiara York’s debut novel, The Circuit, is one of the most tension-filled slow burn romances I’ve ever read. There are three main characters in this book: Ana, James, and Tension. You could cut it with a knife it was so palpable.
Ana and James follow each other (sometimes accidentally, other times not) across Europe as their respective jobs take them from conference to conference, always in the same room but rarely the same conversation. They are incredibly similar characters: both highly logical and analytical, both priding themselves on being perfectly poised and perfectly professional at all times. Their problem? Their instant chemistry threatens to ruin that. Oh, and also Ana works for James’ academic rival and also he is a CEO while she is not and misogyny hangs over her like a black cloud because, let’s face it, people are always looking for an excuse to say that a woman didn’t work for what she has. If they can say she slept her way into a sale, they will.
When their chemistry and its resultant tension becomes too much, they decide to give in but only under six very strict rules, the most important of which requires them to keep their relationship to themselves and act purely professional when in public. Of course, it’s a romance; those rules aren’t going to hold!
What results is more tension, a little heartache, and an eventual realisation that maybe love is the most important thing of all! (But also it helps if you made your billions before you turned forty. Don’t go following James, people!)
At times, I found Ana and James incredibly frustrating. Their analytical voices meant that they recalled each interaction like a process. They gave a summary, then the breakdown. They denied their own feelings, both regularly speaking about how they ‘file’ details and emotions away as “irrelevant”. As a reader who so clearly sees that their chemistry is not going to fizzle out, you want to knock some sense into them both and ask why on earth they’re being so difficult?! But you can’t, because you’re a reader and they’re fictional characters and they have to make their own way there. And they do! So that’s our prize. They both take the ‘idiots to lovers’ trope to the next level, even though they’re both highly intelligent people. Sometimes, the smartest cookies are also the ones who don’t see what’s right in front of them.
There is a lot of industry talk in this book and I didn’t understand any of it, so I did feel a little not-smart myself at times. I didn’t really need to know though; the point was that Ana knew and James knew and they made their right decisions at the right times.
Ana has a close group of girl friends that we’ll meet more of in later books. She speaks of them in the same way throughout the book, fitting them into very specific boxes that can, at times, leave you with a lot of questions about who they are outside of being Ana’s Friends. Giulia and Sofia, in particular, gave off a slightly mysterious/‘we’re not seeing all there is to these characters’ vibe, so I’ll be interested to learn more about them in their own books. Ana’s friends are constantly there for her, and I’d be interested to see how they talk about her in their own books. We don’t get much background on Ana, and never meet her family although her parents are mentioned, so I’d like to learn more about her in later books.
If you’re looking for a very tense slow burn with great chemistry and a man who really yearns, The Circuit could be the book for you.
Ana and James follow each other (sometimes accidentally, other times not) across Europe as their respective jobs take them from conference to conference, always in the same room but rarely the same conversation. They are incredibly similar characters: both highly logical and analytical, both priding themselves on being perfectly poised and perfectly professional at all times. Their problem? Their instant chemistry threatens to ruin that. Oh, and also Ana works for James’ academic rival and also he is a CEO while she is not and misogyny hangs over her like a black cloud because, let’s face it, people are always looking for an excuse to say that a woman didn’t work for what she has. If they can say she slept her way into a sale, they will.
When their chemistry and its resultant tension becomes too much, they decide to give in but only under six very strict rules, the most important of which requires them to keep their relationship to themselves and act purely professional when in public. Of course, it’s a romance; those rules aren’t going to hold!
What results is more tension, a little heartache, and an eventual realisation that maybe love is the most important thing of all! (But also it helps if you made your billions before you turned forty. Don’t go following James, people!)
At times, I found Ana and James incredibly frustrating. Their analytical voices meant that they recalled each interaction like a process. They gave a summary, then the breakdown. They denied their own feelings, both regularly speaking about how they ‘file’ details and emotions away as “irrelevant”. As a reader who so clearly sees that their chemistry is not going to fizzle out, you want to knock some sense into them both and ask why on earth they’re being so difficult?! But you can’t, because you’re a reader and they’re fictional characters and they have to make their own way there. And they do! So that’s our prize. They both take the ‘idiots to lovers’ trope to the next level, even though they’re both highly intelligent people. Sometimes, the smartest cookies are also the ones who don’t see what’s right in front of them.
There is a lot of industry talk in this book and I didn’t understand any of it, so I did feel a little not-smart myself at times. I didn’t really need to know though; the point was that Ana knew and James knew and they made their right decisions at the right times.
Ana has a close group of girl friends that we’ll meet more of in later books. She speaks of them in the same way throughout the book, fitting them into very specific boxes that can, at times, leave you with a lot of questions about who they are outside of being Ana’s Friends. Giulia and Sofia, in particular, gave off a slightly mysterious/‘we’re not seeing all there is to these characters’ vibe, so I’ll be interested to learn more about them in their own books. Ana’s friends are constantly there for her, and I’d be interested to see how they talk about her in their own books. We don’t get much background on Ana, and never meet her family although her parents are mentioned, so I’d like to learn more about her in later books.
If you’re looking for a very tense slow burn with great chemistry and a man who really yearns, The Circuit could be the book for you.
August 10, 2026
Review of advance copy received from author
I was really excited starting this since I was given the ARC but sadly this story wasn’t for me. I do think someone else could enjoy this more than me though.
This is for sure a business/office romance! I feel like there was more business talk than romance throughout the book. Ana Marcovici is an anti-fraud sales director while James Vance is an imposing telecom CEO. You hear a lot about their work life. For someone who is not in this line of work, it is a little hard to follow so then there is a bit of a disconnect to the story. From this though, we find Ana and James bond over architecture which honestly is a cool thing to bond over. I almost wish it was detailed into the story a bit better because this is one of the main things these characters can connect to other than their line of work.
Which brings me to connection. This storyline has no emotional connection. If you are looking for pure physical connection, then this story may be for you. The characters barely speak to each other. There is not a lot of dialogue throughout this whole book. They “observe” each other a lot and figure out what the other character is thinking. Other than the architecture they don’t connect over anything. It almost feels like they don’t know each other, especially switching POVs. You’ll be reading in Ana POV and then switch over to James, and the emotions are described completely differently than what the last chapter was saying. I also think there was too much forced proximity between these characters. Almost every chapter they were forced to be in the same room. It felt like it kept happening just to have that trope in here.
We travel with our characters through over 10 European cities. Although this had to do with their line of work it felt like too much. It did not connect to their story that much other than some of the places depicted something important in their relationship. I think it was lots of traveling for no reason.
I will say I did really enjoy the friendship between Ana and her best friends. This was a nice addition to the story. I almost just want a book based on these girls and their friendship. I really liked Monica as a friend. I will like to see her book done especially because I am guessing with her personality there will be less about her work.
The writing style and switching plots too fast made this book confusing to read for me. Characters' names would be referenced and we really weren’t introduced to them yet. I would get confused who was talking or what was going on. Sadly, this book isn’t my cup of tea but I think someone who might understand the business side may enjoy this better than me.
I was really excited starting this since I was given the ARC but sadly this story wasn’t for me. I do think someone else could enjoy this more than me though.
This is for sure a business/office romance! I feel like there was more business talk than romance throughout the book. Ana Marcovici is an anti-fraud sales director while James Vance is an imposing telecom CEO. You hear a lot about their work life. For someone who is not in this line of work, it is a little hard to follow so then there is a bit of a disconnect to the story. From this though, we find Ana and James bond over architecture which honestly is a cool thing to bond over. I almost wish it was detailed into the story a bit better because this is one of the main things these characters can connect to other than their line of work.
Which brings me to connection. This storyline has no emotional connection. If you are looking for pure physical connection, then this story may be for you. The characters barely speak to each other. There is not a lot of dialogue throughout this whole book. They “observe” each other a lot and figure out what the other character is thinking. Other than the architecture they don’t connect over anything. It almost feels like they don’t know each other, especially switching POVs. You’ll be reading in Ana POV and then switch over to James, and the emotions are described completely differently than what the last chapter was saying. I also think there was too much forced proximity between these characters. Almost every chapter they were forced to be in the same room. It felt like it kept happening just to have that trope in here.
We travel with our characters through over 10 European cities. Although this had to do with their line of work it felt like too much. It did not connect to their story that much other than some of the places depicted something important in their relationship. I think it was lots of traveling for no reason.
I will say I did really enjoy the friendship between Ana and her best friends. This was a nice addition to the story. I almost just want a book based on these girls and their friendship. I really liked Monica as a friend. I will like to see her book done especially because I am guessing with her personality there will be less about her work.
The writing style and switching plots too fast made this book confusing to read for me. Characters' names would be referenced and we really weren’t introduced to them yet. I would get confused who was talking or what was going on. Sadly, this book isn’t my cup of tea but I think someone who might understand the business side may enjoy this better than me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up for Goodreads
🌶️🌶️/5
The Circuit is a solid debut that combines workplace rivals, billionaire romance, and plenty of chemistry. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but I still had a good time with it.
Ana is a sales director who has worked incredibly hard to build her career and sees her job as the most important part of her life. James is the billionaire CEO of a competing telecom company. Technically they’re rivals, but they keep crossing paths at industry conferences, and it’s obvious from the start that the chemistry is there. Because of their competing companies, and Ana’s concerns about how a relationship with James could affect her professional reputation, they do their best to stay away from each other…until they can’t.
I really liked Ana and James, both individually and together. They’re two ambitious people who have always put their careers first, only to start questioning whether that’s really enough. I loved watching them slowly let each other in. They try to convince themselves they can keep things as a friends-with-benefits arrangement, but this is a romance novel, so we all know how that ends. Their secret rendezvous were some of my favorite parts of the book, and it was fun watching their feelings grow into something more.
If I’m being honest, (and this could be a me thing) my biggest struggle was the writing style, especially in the beginning. It took me a while to adjust because many of the sentences are very short, and the pacing of the prose sometimes felt a little abrupt or stilted. Once I settled into the author’s style, though, I barely noticed it anymore, and the story flowed much more naturally as the story progressed. I’d encourage readers to stick with it because I do think it improves as the book goes on.
The spice is definitely there, although I did find those scenes became a bit repetitive after a while. They weren’t bad by any means, I just wished there had been a little more variety.
Overall, I think this is a really good debut. If you enjoy workplace romances, billionaire MMCs, secret relationships, and two career-driven people figuring out there’s more to life than work, I think this one is worth checking out.
⭐️ thank you to Chiara York, for this ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.
🌶️🌶️/5
The Circuit is a solid debut that combines workplace rivals, billionaire romance, and plenty of chemistry. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but I still had a good time with it.
Ana is a sales director who has worked incredibly hard to build her career and sees her job as the most important part of her life. James is the billionaire CEO of a competing telecom company. Technically they’re rivals, but they keep crossing paths at industry conferences, and it’s obvious from the start that the chemistry is there. Because of their competing companies, and Ana’s concerns about how a relationship with James could affect her professional reputation, they do their best to stay away from each other…until they can’t.
I really liked Ana and James, both individually and together. They’re two ambitious people who have always put their careers first, only to start questioning whether that’s really enough. I loved watching them slowly let each other in. They try to convince themselves they can keep things as a friends-with-benefits arrangement, but this is a romance novel, so we all know how that ends. Their secret rendezvous were some of my favorite parts of the book, and it was fun watching their feelings grow into something more.
If I’m being honest, (and this could be a me thing) my biggest struggle was the writing style, especially in the beginning. It took me a while to adjust because many of the sentences are very short, and the pacing of the prose sometimes felt a little abrupt or stilted. Once I settled into the author’s style, though, I barely noticed it anymore, and the story flowed much more naturally as the story progressed. I’d encourage readers to stick with it because I do think it improves as the book goes on.
The spice is definitely there, although I did find those scenes became a bit repetitive after a while. They weren’t bad by any means, I just wished there had been a little more variety.
Overall, I think this is a really good debut. If you enjoy workplace romances, billionaire MMCs, secret relationships, and two career-driven people figuring out there’s more to life than work, I think this one is worth checking out.
⭐️ thank you to Chiara York, for this ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.
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