The Comeback

I met Lily Chu at an author event in September where I bought her latest book The Stand-In (which is still on my TBR) but when this previous book became an Audible Originals monthly pick, I quickly snapped it up.

The Comeback was a light and easy listen that has romance, family dysfunction, solid character development and a bit of social commentary about diversity and issues growing up Asian in a white-centric country like Canada.

The story centres around Ari a career-driven lawyer who has stress from her demanding job, pressure from her parents to succeed and complicated family dynamics t'boot. Jihoon is Ari's roommate Hannah's cousin, and he comes to live in Hannah's room while she's away - much to the initial chagrin of Ari. Jihoon has his own secrets, and I thought the reason he was hiding out in Toronto gave the story a unique twist that I wasn't expecting. 

I enjoyed the sweet chemistry between Ari and Jihoon but did the conflict of should they/shouldn't they go on a bit long? Yeah, it did for me. And was the ending a little abrupt? Also, yup. But in the end, this was a cute listen that shows the importance of balance in your life, standing up for yourself (in work and family life) and finding love in the unlikeliest of places.

Narration: Phillipa Soo will be added to my list of Amazing Audiobook Narrators.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Lily Chu

Genre: RomCom, Canadian

Type and Source: eAudiobook from Audible.ca

Narrator: Phillipa Soo

Publisher: Audible Originals

First Published: July 14, 2022

Book Description from Audible.ca: 

Who is Ariadne Hui?

• Laser-focused lawyer diligently climbing the corporate ladder
• The "perfect" daughter living out her father’s dream
• Shocking love interest of South Korea’s hottest star

Ariadne Hui thrives on routine. So, what if everything in her life is planned down to the minute: That’s the way she likes it. If she’s going to make partner in Toronto’s most prestigious law firm, she needs to stay focused at all times.

But when she comes home after yet another soul-sucking day to find an unfamiliar, gorgeous man camped out in her living room, focus is the last thing on her mind. Especially when her roommate explains this is Choi Jihoon, her cousin freshly arrived from Seoul to mend a broken heart. He just needs a few weeks to rest and heal; Ari will barely even know he’s there. (Yeah, right.)

Jihoon is kindness and chaos personified, and it isn’t long before she’s falling, hard. But when one wrong step leads to a world-shaking truth, Ari finds herself thrust onto the world stage: not as the competent, steely lawyer she’s fought so hard to become, but as the mystery woman on the arm of a man the entire world claims to know. Now with her heart, her future, and her sense of self on the line, Ari will have to cut through all the pretty lies to find the truth of her relationship...and discover the Ariadne Hui she’s finally ready to be.