BACK to ONE by Antonia Gavrihel – Contemporary Romance, Family Life, Audiobook

Antonia Gavrihel shows off superb storytelling and narration skills in her audiobook, Back to One, where passion, family, and, most importantly, friendship clash in an emotionally intimate slow-burn romance.

When Catherine Leigh meets famous actor Kyle Weston at a Hollywood party, an unbreakable bond snaps into place. But, while Cate and Kyle each acknowledge this intense connection, their life situations make a courtship impossible. Cate is happily married, and Kyle’s career leaves him with little time for any personal ties.

The two vow to take romance off the table and love each other as best friends—or at least try to.

Cate and her young family help reinvigorate Kyle’s strained relationship with his son Scott, while Kyle revives Cate’s acting career. This surprisingly wholesome romance focuses on the support that two true friends can give each other, and how it forms a strong foundation to lean on during difficult times.

Back to One, Gavrihel’s debut novel, was quickly followed up with three additional books in the series of the same name. This audiobook version brings even more vibrancy to her work.

The audiobook’s dynamic and engaging character voices highlight Gavrihel’s entertainment background and family ties. She’s obviously comfortable in front of a microphone as she breathes life and emotion into each one of her characters.

A captivating audio adventure from a perfect light beach read, Back to One delivers the feeling of a summery getaway no matter where readers are when listening to this engaging tale of star-crossed lovers. Gavrihel’s exceptional imagery and narration transport readers from Hollywood to Montana and New Orleans to Aruba.

The greatest strength of this novel are the characters who bond and conflict with the perfect blend of drama and realism.

The story’s villains are unsympathetic troublemakers motivated almost exclusively by lust or greed. Their schemes provide unending fuel for dramatic fire and leave the reader hoping their karma will come back to haunt them.

The two incorruptible main characters stand out amidst their unethical antagonists. Cate is both flirtatious and innocent, reliant on the overprotectiveness of her older brother and Kyle to maintain her dignity and safety. Kyle fills the role of a self-identified player who feels guilty about not being there for his son while traveling for work.

Gavrihel uses familiar romance tropes, infusing them with the atypical conflict of two lovers who attempt to put their true feelings aside for the sake of the other people in their lives.

What makes the two characters unique is the care they show for their families and their genuine, though at times strained, commitment to platonically loving each other.

Readers’ interest will be piqued with the ever-present question of whether or not their commitment to being friends will persevere despite their true feelings for each other. This sweet twist makes Back to One a perfect romance for readers who want some feisty drama and a bit of steamy tension, but nothing graphic, which can be a tough combination to find in contemporary adult romance.

Ultimately, Antonia Gavrihel’s Back to One is an emotional romance that provides a unique perspective on the ties between friendship and love—and how difficult it can be to suppress the latter. Gavrihel’s impassioned narration and tension within the story create a compelling audiobook that’s nigh on impossible to pause.