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Not Safe for Work
Rival engineers dabble in personal chemistry while at a tropical company retreat in this smart, zippy romcom.
Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.
Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?
Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.
Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?
341 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
509 people are currently reading
39602 people want to read
About the author
Nisha J. Tuli
18 books4,820 followersVisit my website to sign up for my newsletter and download a bonus chapter from Rule of the Aurora King!
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Nisha J Tuli is a USA Today and international bestselling author. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, became a BookTok hit, selling over a million copies and finding its way into the hands of A-list celebrities.
When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found in the gym or the kitchen (to eat, not to cook) or maybe knitting scarves to survive a Canadian winter. She lives in Manitoba with her husband, their two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed.
---
Nisha J Tuli is a USA Today and international bestselling author. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, became a BookTok hit, selling over a million copies and finding its way into the hands of A-list celebrities.
When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found in the gym or the kitchen (to eat, not to cook) or maybe knitting scarves to survive a Canadian winter. She lives in Manitoba with her husband, their two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,160 reviews
May 12, 2025
Book: 3.5 stars! ⭐️
Audio: 4 stars! ⭐️
Huge thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC via NetGalley 💌
Okay sooo… it wasn’t bad per se but I definitely went in with higher expectations. Like, I was READY to be obsessed, and while it delivered on some levels, it didn’t exactly knock me off my feet.
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli, narrated by Soneela Nankani, was honestly such a vibe-y workplace romcom with a much-needed dose of brown girl boss energy.
Let's talk tropes (because duh):
🌺 Enemies-to-lovers
☀️ Forced proximity
🌺 Workplace romance
☀️ Only one bed
🌺 STEM rep (engineering queen alert!)
☀️ Woman of color in a white man’s world
🌺 Chronic pain rep
☀️ Slooooow burn (like painfully slow)
🌺 Protective MMC who’s secretly soft
☀️ Banter & angst combo pack
Tris was a STRONG lead. Smart, bold, tired of the BS, and not afraid to stand up for herself—honestly loved that for her. She carried this story. And I mean that literally and emotionally. I cheered every time she snapped back at sexist workplace nonsense.
But Rafe? Hmm... okay hear me out—he’s hot, sweet, and has forearms (which apparently is a thing now??) BUT he felt kinda flat to me. Like, I got more out of his family drama than him. I just wanted a little more depth, you know? Not just hot-and-mysterious energy.
The chemistry though? YES, they’re spicy but in a super slow-burn way—like, we’re crawling to the fire here. It took forever to get there but once it did? Whew. And the tension? Delicious. That one bed? Tragic (for them), hilarious (for us).
The audio performance by Soneela Nankani? Chef’s kiss. She made Tris’s frustration and sass SO real and gave life to even the most awkward tension moments.
What stood out the most?
The setting = literal paradise. Hawaii vibes, sun, water, awkward hotel situations... gimme all of it.
And also—THE CALL OUTS. Like, Nisha really said let’s expose corporate patriarchy and I was so here for it. The author note about her own experience? Heartbreaking. And powerful.
That said, some pacing issues dragged the middle, and I wanted more evolution from Rafe and their relationship outside of lust. I also wish the conflict resolution hit harder. Like girl, you deserved a SCENE, not just a half-apology and some sunshine.
Butttt the ending was cute, the epilogue gave me the warm fuzzies, and I smiled closing the last chapter.
Final thoughts?
A fierce brown woman in STEM navigating a sexist workplace with a lot of sass, a hot co-worker she swears she hates, and one bed in paradise?? YUP, that’ll always get me to click “Request.”
3.5 stars from me!
Would recommend with tempered expectations and a craving for slow burn, smart girls, and sun-soaked chaos.
CW:
– Sexism
– Racism + racial microaggressions
– Nonconsensual touching
– Mention of leaked intimate photo
– Blackmail
So yeah... Not perfect, but definitely a fun ride.
Now someone get me a piña colada and an enemies-to-lovers retreat ASAP.
Audio: 4 stars! ⭐️
Huge thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC via NetGalley 💌
Okay sooo… it wasn’t bad per se but I definitely went in with higher expectations. Like, I was READY to be obsessed, and while it delivered on some levels, it didn’t exactly knock me off my feet.
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli, narrated by Soneela Nankani, was honestly such a vibe-y workplace romcom with a much-needed dose of brown girl boss energy.
Let's talk tropes (because duh):
🌺 Enemies-to-lovers
☀️ Forced proximity
🌺 Workplace romance
☀️ Only one bed
🌺 STEM rep (engineering queen alert!)
☀️ Woman of color in a white man’s world
🌺 Chronic pain rep
☀️ Slooooow burn (like painfully slow)
🌺 Protective MMC who’s secretly soft
☀️ Banter & angst combo pack
Tris was a STRONG lead. Smart, bold, tired of the BS, and not afraid to stand up for herself—honestly loved that for her. She carried this story. And I mean that literally and emotionally. I cheered every time she snapped back at sexist workplace nonsense.
But Rafe? Hmm... okay hear me out—he’s hot, sweet, and has forearms (which apparently is a thing now??) BUT he felt kinda flat to me. Like, I got more out of his family drama than him. I just wanted a little more depth, you know? Not just hot-and-mysterious energy.
The chemistry though? YES, they’re spicy but in a super slow-burn way—like, we’re crawling to the fire here. It took forever to get there but once it did? Whew. And the tension? Delicious. That one bed? Tragic (for them), hilarious (for us).
The audio performance by Soneela Nankani? Chef’s kiss. She made Tris’s frustration and sass SO real and gave life to even the most awkward tension moments.
What stood out the most?
The setting = literal paradise. Hawaii vibes, sun, water, awkward hotel situations... gimme all of it.
And also—THE CALL OUTS. Like, Nisha really said let’s expose corporate patriarchy and I was so here for it. The author note about her own experience? Heartbreaking. And powerful.
That said, some pacing issues dragged the middle, and I wanted more evolution from Rafe and their relationship outside of lust. I also wish the conflict resolution hit harder. Like girl, you deserved a SCENE, not just a half-apology and some sunshine.
Butttt the ending was cute, the epilogue gave me the warm fuzzies, and I smiled closing the last chapter.
Final thoughts?
A fierce brown woman in STEM navigating a sexist workplace with a lot of sass, a hot co-worker she swears she hates, and one bed in paradise?? YUP, that’ll always get me to click “Request.”
3.5 stars from me!
Would recommend with tempered expectations and a craving for slow burn, smart girls, and sun-soaked chaos.
CW:
– Sexism
– Racism + racial microaggressions
– Nonconsensual touching
– Mention of leaked intimate photo
– Blackmail
So yeah... Not perfect, but definitely a fun ride.
Now someone get me a piña colada and an enemies-to-lovers retreat ASAP.
May 20, 2025
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒏𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
I freaking love a work romance and even more when they pull the “let’s take this to a resort” card so the tension follows into a whole new setting. I AM HEEEERE FOR IT. And this one delivered.
I had the chance to listen to the audiobook while reading the eARC, and let me tell you: Soneela Nankani SLAYED. She made me feel like I was watching a full-on rom-com. The vibes were immaculate. Every bit of sarcasm, every ounce of anger, and every moment of pouting was perfectly brought to life through her voice. I could feel exactly what Trishara (the FMC) was going through tbh AUDIOBOOK?? NO NOTES 😮💨🔥 I enjoyed the way Trishara would just oogle him all the time but then be like "I wasn't staring" because ladies and gentlement that's me lol
Now let’s talk about the book itself. Trishara noticing how her company consistently favors white men over qualified women and POC it hit hard. As someone who has worked in corporate as a women and hispanic (where english is my second language), this reality felt all too familiar. The rom-com undertone brought humor, but underneath all that? There were so many moments it made me want to scream “YEAH, F**K YOU KHAKIS!!” at the top of my lungs.
I adored Trishara. In the workplace, she’s seen as “too bold,” “too loud,” someone who needs to “tone it down” but honestly, she’s a queen 💅✨ I would die for a work bestie like her. At the start, you can see her light has been dimmed, and watching her rediscover her fire was EVERYTHING. I rooted for her so hard ❗❗
AND THE ROMANCEEE okay, you don’t understand. I already love a workplace setting, but take them out of the office and drop them in a resort?? You know things are about to pop off. And boy, did they. Their enemies-to-lovers banter was gold. It started off as harmless sarcasm… then someone would cross that blurry line into flirt territory… and suddenly the air was thick with tension. MAMAAAAA I COULD NOT STOP READING 😏
I enjoyed that not only was Trishara having issues with her job, but Rafe as well so it wasn't as one sided as you thought (even though Tris is obviously a different level in the work climate) still you can also feel for him. At the end both character development makes you want to stand up and applaud like YES YOU BOTH ARE DOING AMAZING.
I recommend this book if you ever worked in corporate you would just get it!!! Period.
Why wasn't it a 5 star for me? Well please take this with a grain of salt, but Trishara was describing Rafe smile in every other chapter and.. I swear I was about to break his smile so she could stop talking about it asdvbgfrd
tropes:
🌺 enemies to lovers
🌺 work place romance
🌺 first single POV
🌺 only one bed
🌺 forced proximity
Thank you Forever Publishing for my eARC and Hachette Audio for my ALC
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ got the eARC and ALC this is gonna be epic i just know it!!!!!!!
I freaking love a work romance and even more when they pull the “let’s take this to a resort” card so the tension follows into a whole new setting. I AM HEEEERE FOR IT. And this one delivered.
I had the chance to listen to the audiobook while reading the eARC, and let me tell you: Soneela Nankani SLAYED. She made me feel like I was watching a full-on rom-com. The vibes were immaculate. Every bit of sarcasm, every ounce of anger, and every moment of pouting was perfectly brought to life through her voice. I could feel exactly what Trishara (the FMC) was going through tbh AUDIOBOOK?? NO NOTES 😮💨🔥 I enjoyed the way Trishara would just oogle him all the time but then be like "I wasn't staring" because ladies and gentlement that's me lol
Now let’s talk about the book itself. Trishara noticing how her company consistently favors white men over qualified women and POC it hit hard. As someone who has worked in corporate as a women and hispanic (where english is my second language), this reality felt all too familiar. The rom-com undertone brought humor, but underneath all that? There were so many moments it made me want to scream “YEAH, F**K YOU KHAKIS!!” at the top of my lungs.
I adored Trishara. In the workplace, she’s seen as “too bold,” “too loud,” someone who needs to “tone it down” but honestly, she’s a queen 💅✨ I would die for a work bestie like her. At the start, you can see her light has been dimmed, and watching her rediscover her fire was EVERYTHING. I rooted for her so hard ❗❗
AND THE ROMANCEEE okay, you don’t understand. I already love a workplace setting, but take them out of the office and drop them in a resort?? You know things are about to pop off. And boy, did they. Their enemies-to-lovers banter was gold. It started off as harmless sarcasm… then someone would cross that blurry line into flirt territory… and suddenly the air was thick with tension. MAMAAAAA I COULD NOT STOP READING 😏
I enjoyed that not only was Trishara having issues with her job, but Rafe as well so it wasn't as one sided as you thought (even though Tris is obviously a different level in the work climate) still you can also feel for him. At the end both character development makes you want to stand up and applaud like YES YOU BOTH ARE DOING AMAZING.
I recommend this book if you ever worked in corporate you would just get it!!! Period.
Why wasn't it a 5 star for me? Well please take this with a grain of salt, but Trishara was describing Rafe smile in every other chapter and.. I swear I was about to break his smile so she could stop talking about it asdvbgfrd
tropes:
🌺 enemies to lovers
🌺 work place romance
🌺 first single POV
🌺 only one bed
🌺 forced proximity
Thank you Forever Publishing for my eARC and Hachette Audio for my ALC
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ got the eARC and ALC this is gonna be epic i just know it!!!!!!!
May 20, 2025
જ⁀➴ 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (5/20/2025): Happy publishing day to Not Safe for Work!
𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓
This was my first read ever by Nisha J. Tuli and it did not disappoint! I thought Not Safe for Work was a super cute and fast read and it was a slow burn for sure. I love how she brought attention to the issues as a woman in a male-dominated career/field and unfortunately, is still relevant today.
If you're a romance reader who likes seeing the tropes, here they are straight from Nisha J. Tuli's Instagram:
Trishara Malik is at a crossroads. After leaving her previous job in the environmental engineering sector to join a different company, WMC Purcell, as the first woman of color at the company's Chicago branch, she's deciding to call it quits real soon. After being turned down time and time again for promotions, no recognition on projects or her work ethic, not to mention the blatant nepotism within the company's walls with her boss's son, Rafe, and his cousin, Rory, getting promoted and praised for the bare minimum. However, fate has other plans for her when she and Rafe are selected to go on the company's first-ever leadership retreat, where she will spend a week in paradise networking, getting a tan, and reading her smutty romance novels. She doesn't think she'll run into Rafe in a giant hotel like this, but when a booking error comes up and both have to share the honeymoon suite together, how could she possibly survive a week in paradise when her supposed-to-be nemesis might not be the villain in her story?
First off, I want to say that we NEED more female representation in STEM and medicine. Nisha J. Tuli did a fantastic job at bringing these issues to light, especially when women are in a male-dominated workplace and field such as engineering. It absolutely sucks that women have to work twice as hard to get the same recognition as their male counterparts and may even have to look the other way and pretend to tolerate male co-workers and their potentially inappropriate behavior because their job puts food on the table and pays their bills. The author's note at the beginning of the ARC saying that some of this was based on her own experiences as an engineer is just utterly heartbreaking. No person should ever feel uncomfortable in their place of work. We need to do better.
Let me say this: I LOVE Tris's character. She was headstrong, fought for what she wanted, and wasn't afraid to ask for it either. Her witty comebacks and banter with Rafe had me chuckling. She has a lot of past baggage and is fully aware of the implications that come with being a woman in a male-dominated career, not to mention a woman of color, no less. She keeps her walls high and isn't afraid to put a guy in his place, and I loved that. I love it when a woman makes a guy eat his own words. She justifiably loses her temper a few times in the story, and I applaud her for that because if I were her, I would've lost my marbles, too.
Rafe Gallagher, our MMC, uh...I feel like he needed a lot more depth to his personality aside from the fact that he's hot. He's clearly not stupid if he's an engineer, and buddy definitely has to have more brain cells up there. He's really sweet and protective of Tris when sleazy guys at the retreat try to make a move on her, and he has hobbies outside of his job. He's a decent human being, so why did I feel like he was so...one-dimensional? I feel like I didn't really get to know him as an MMC aside from his family drama, which he talks about extensively with Tris. We get bits and pieces here and there about Rafe's hobbies, but I feel like a majority of his character arc/development was centered around his family drama and trying to overcome that rather than developing his relationship with Tris. (Side note: he's also got a filthy mouth on him hehe.)
As for Tris and Rafe together...they are one HOT couple. Like, I can't stop staring at the cover art. I love the dress Tris is wearing, and Rafe holding her high heels?! Adorable. The lust and physical attraction and chemistry were there for sure, and their teasing was off the charts. I mentioned this earlier, but I thought it was nice that Rafe was trying to protect Tris from the other guys who didn't have the best intentions in mind. The slow burn was a slow burn for real; the spice doesn't hit until the last bit of the book. I don't care whether or not a book is spicy, but I just wanted to include that there in case someone wanted to know. The epilogue was also so stinking adorable. I'm glad justice was served, and Tris and Rafe both got what they wanted in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this rom-com debut from Nisha J. Tuli, and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for the genre next, if she chooses to do so! I can't wait for this to officially come out in the world and everyone can enjoy what this book has to offer.
P.S. There is also a VERY subtle reference to Nisha J. Tuli's Artefacts of Ouranos series in the book! I didn't get it at first since I haven't read the series, but I saw a blurb about a specific scene from the series on her Instagram page while I was looking up the tropes to include in my review and everything clicked. If you know, you know, but it won't affect your overall understanding of the book. Tris just really likes romantasy novels.
P.P.S. If you're one of those people who make a playlist for books, I suggest adding "Too Much" by Dove Cameron to a playlist for this book. I feel like the song is super Tris-coded!🎶
𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓
Trigger warnings: sexism, racism (including racial microaggressions), nonconsensual touching, mentions of a past incident where an intimate photo was leaked and shared, blackmail
𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ARC #3 of the week! (I'm on my ARC grind right now if you couldn't tell lol). I'm so excited to start this. Workplace romance but make it in a STEM setting and it's enemies-to-lovers? Sign me up. I haven't read Nisha J. Tuli's fantasy series yet but I heard it's really good so this is my first book by her! Hopefully, her romance debut is just as amazing as her other books!✨
(Also, the MMC being named Rafe? I'm not going to be able to picture a guy named Rafe as anything else other than Drew Starkey from Outer Banks. Oops.)
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (5/20/2025): Happy publishing day to Not Safe for Work!
“Tris, you are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. You challenge me. You understand me in a way no one else ever has. You make me laugh, and you make me feel things I’ve never felt before. And even if you send me away, it will be worth it because then, at least, I’ll have finally told you that I love you.”
𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓
This was my first read ever by Nisha J. Tuli and it did not disappoint! I thought Not Safe for Work was a super cute and fast read and it was a slow burn for sure. I love how she brought attention to the issues as a woman in a male-dominated career/field and unfortunately, is still relevant today.
If you're a romance reader who likes seeing the tropes, here they are straight from Nisha J. Tuli's Instagram:
જ⁀➴ ♡ Women of color (South Asian FMC)
જ⁀➴ ♡ STEM setting (engineering!)
જ⁀➴ ♡ Rivals-to-lovers
જ⁀➴ ♡ Forearms
જ⁀➴ ♡ Only one bed/only one pillow
જ⁀➴ ♡ Hawaii!
જ⁀➴ ♡ Workplace romance
જ⁀➴ ♡ Both have been down bad but won't admit it to themselves
જ⁀➴ ♡ Banter and angst
જ⁀➴ ♡ Chronic pain rep (migraines/headaches)
Trishara Malik is at a crossroads. After leaving her previous job in the environmental engineering sector to join a different company, WMC Purcell, as the first woman of color at the company's Chicago branch, she's deciding to call it quits real soon. After being turned down time and time again for promotions, no recognition on projects or her work ethic, not to mention the blatant nepotism within the company's walls with her boss's son, Rafe, and his cousin, Rory, getting promoted and praised for the bare minimum. However, fate has other plans for her when she and Rafe are selected to go on the company's first-ever leadership retreat, where she will spend a week in paradise networking, getting a tan, and reading her smutty romance novels. She doesn't think she'll run into Rafe in a giant hotel like this, but when a booking error comes up and both have to share the honeymoon suite together, how could she possibly survive a week in paradise when her supposed-to-be nemesis might not be the villain in her story?
First off, I want to say that we NEED more female representation in STEM and medicine. Nisha J. Tuli did a fantastic job at bringing these issues to light, especially when women are in a male-dominated workplace and field such as engineering. It absolutely sucks that women have to work twice as hard to get the same recognition as their male counterparts and may even have to look the other way and pretend to tolerate male co-workers and their potentially inappropriate behavior because their job puts food on the table and pays their bills. The author's note at the beginning of the ARC saying that some of this was based on her own experiences as an engineer is just utterly heartbreaking. No person should ever feel uncomfortable in their place of work. We need to do better.
Let me say this: I LOVE Tris's character. She was headstrong, fought for what she wanted, and wasn't afraid to ask for it either. Her witty comebacks and banter with Rafe had me chuckling. She has a lot of past baggage and is fully aware of the implications that come with being a woman in a male-dominated career, not to mention a woman of color, no less. She keeps her walls high and isn't afraid to put a guy in his place, and I loved that. I love it when a woman makes a guy eat his own words. She justifiably loses her temper a few times in the story, and I applaud her for that because if I were her, I would've lost my marbles, too.
Rafe Gallagher, our MMC, uh...I feel like he needed a lot more depth to his personality aside from the fact that he's hot. He's clearly not stupid if he's an engineer, and buddy definitely has to have more brain cells up there. He's really sweet and protective of Tris when sleazy guys at the retreat try to make a move on her, and he has hobbies outside of his job. He's a decent human being, so why did I feel like he was so...one-dimensional? I feel like I didn't really get to know him as an MMC aside from his family drama, which he talks about extensively with Tris. We get bits and pieces here and there about Rafe's hobbies, but I feel like a majority of his character arc/development was centered around his family drama and trying to overcome that rather than developing his relationship with Tris. (Side note: he's also got a filthy mouth on him hehe.)
As for Tris and Rafe together...they are one HOT couple. Like, I can't stop staring at the cover art. I love the dress Tris is wearing, and Rafe holding her high heels?! Adorable. The lust and physical attraction and chemistry were there for sure, and their teasing was off the charts. I mentioned this earlier, but I thought it was nice that Rafe was trying to protect Tris from the other guys who didn't have the best intentions in mind. The slow burn was a slow burn for real; the spice doesn't hit until the last bit of the book. I don't care whether or not a book is spicy, but I just wanted to include that there in case someone wanted to know. The epilogue was also so stinking adorable. I'm glad justice was served, and Tris and Rafe both got what they wanted in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this rom-com debut from Nisha J. Tuli, and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for the genre next, if she chooses to do so! I can't wait for this to officially come out in the world and everyone can enjoy what this book has to offer.
P.S. There is also a VERY subtle reference to Nisha J. Tuli's Artefacts of Ouranos series in the book! I didn't get it at first since I haven't read the series, but I saw a blurb about a specific scene from the series on her Instagram page while I was looking up the tropes to include in my review and everything clicked. If you know, you know, but it won't affect your overall understanding of the book. Tris just really likes romantasy novels.
P.P.S. If you're one of those people who make a playlist for books, I suggest adding "Too Much" by Dove Cameron to a playlist for this book. I feel like the song is super Tris-coded!🎶
𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓𓇼 𖦹*• ༄ 𖤓
Trigger warnings: sexism, racism (including racial microaggressions), nonconsensual touching, mentions of a past incident where an intimate photo was leaked and shared, blackmail
𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ARC #3 of the week! (I'm on my ARC grind right now if you couldn't tell lol). I'm so excited to start this. Workplace romance but make it in a STEM setting and it's enemies-to-lovers? Sign me up. I haven't read Nisha J. Tuli's fantasy series yet but I heard it's really good so this is my first book by her! Hopefully, her romance debut is just as amazing as her other books!✨
(Also, the MMC being named Rafe? I'm not going to be able to picture a guy named Rafe as anything else other than Drew Starkey from Outer Banks. Oops.)
May 17, 2025
1.5 Stars – Not safe for my patience, apparently
No one is more disappointed than me. I went into Not Safe for Work expecting a fun, steamy enemies-to-lovers workplace romcom with a tropical twist, but what I got felt more like a solo rant with a side of immaturity.
The "rivalry"? Almost nonexistent. With no outside perspective (or POV from Rafe), her personality grated on me fast—and never really recovered.
The writing felt a bit undercooked, and the characters came off more juvenile than compelling. Honestly, I only pushed through because it was an ARC—I hovered over the DNF button more than once. The ending and epilogue especially tipped into cringe territory.
That said, the one part I genuinely liked was when Trishara stood her ground about workplace discrimination. That felt authentic and powerful—like the story could have had real weight. I just wish the rest of the book matched that tone.
🎶“Work Bitch” – Britney Spears
🎶"Busy Woman" – Sabrina Carpenter
No one is more disappointed than me. I went into Not Safe for Work expecting a fun, steamy enemies-to-lovers workplace romcom with a tropical twist, but what I got felt more like a solo rant with a side of immaturity.
The "rivalry"? Almost nonexistent. With no outside perspective (or POV from Rafe), her personality grated on me fast—and never really recovered.
The writing felt a bit undercooked, and the characters came off more juvenile than compelling. Honestly, I only pushed through because it was an ARC—I hovered over the DNF button more than once. The ending and epilogue especially tipped into cringe territory.
That said, the one part I genuinely liked was when Trishara stood her ground about workplace discrimination. That felt authentic and powerful—like the story could have had real weight. I just wish the rest of the book matched that tone.
🎶“Work Bitch” – Britney Spears
🎶"Busy Woman" – Sabrina Carpenter
May 17, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✧
ೀ⋆ arc review
after reading trial of the sun queen, i was a bit skeptical going into this one because of the genre switch, but i am here to say that nisha j. tuli can indeed write a killer romcom. this book follows trish, a woman in a male dominated company, who is one of the few selected for an opportunity for an internship program. the reward is a business trip to hawaii- but there’s a catch; she must go with her workplace rival, rafe. although this book is marketed as enemies to lovers, i found that i never felt that strong hatred that makes up most enemies to lovers situations. i do think this is on the unique side though, because the author jumps right into the main plot almost immediately. the character development and interactions were written beautifully, and i did feel a strong connection to the characters. as a woman, the struggles that trish faces are relatable, and i think it’s important for women to know they are not alone.
features-
- workplace romance
- enemies to lovers
- romcom
- one bed
- women in stem
- slow burn
- touch her and die
~ post read ~
i am here to confirm that nisha j tuli can indeed write a killer romcom.
full rtc
~currently reading~
he’s a 10, but he’s your workplace enemy. okayyy i see you 👀
thank you to netgalley and forever publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review <33
~preread~
saw this one on netgalley in read now, and i was like “why not??”
i loved trial of the sun queen, so hopefully this hits too 🤞🤞
ೀ⋆ arc review
after reading trial of the sun queen, i was a bit skeptical going into this one because of the genre switch, but i am here to say that nisha j. tuli can indeed write a killer romcom. this book follows trish, a woman in a male dominated company, who is one of the few selected for an opportunity for an internship program. the reward is a business trip to hawaii- but there’s a catch; she must go with her workplace rival, rafe. although this book is marketed as enemies to lovers, i found that i never felt that strong hatred that makes up most enemies to lovers situations. i do think this is on the unique side though, because the author jumps right into the main plot almost immediately. the character development and interactions were written beautifully, and i did feel a strong connection to the characters. as a woman, the struggles that trish faces are relatable, and i think it’s important for women to know they are not alone.
features-
- workplace romance
- enemies to lovers
- romcom
- one bed
- women in stem
- slow burn
- touch her and die
~ post read ~
i am here to confirm that nisha j tuli can indeed write a killer romcom.
full rtc
~currently reading~
he’s a 10, but he’s your workplace enemy. okayyy i see you 👀
thank you to netgalley and forever publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review <33
~preread~
saw this one on netgalley in read now, and i was like “why not??”
i loved trial of the sun queen, so hopefully this hits too 🤞🤞
June 19, 2025
Enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes set in a luxurious Maui resort—nope, I’m not talking about White Lotus (this isn’t a dark comedy-mystery), but rather a perfectly swoony romance that every reader should escape into for a delightful break from daily stress.
This was a one-sitting, popcorn-read that I breezed through with ease. The story follows Trishara Malik, a young, ambitious engineer who has been working at WMC Purcell for five years following a traumatic experience at a failed startup that left her heartbroken and humiliated. Unfortunately, her current workplace isn’t much better—she loses out on a promotion to her boss’s entitled son, Rafe Gallagher, her arch-nemesis and workplace pain-in-the-neck. She deals with constant mansplaining and the inappropriate behavior of Rafe’s cousin Rory, while quietly dreaming of better opportunities elsewhere.
Just when things look bleak, Trishara is selected for an elite company leadership retreat—on the tropical paradise of Maui! But there’s a catch: Rafe will be there too. Still, she’s determined to use the trip to network and secure a coveted training opportunity in New York. She can ignore him for three weeks… right?
Except she didn’t count on a mix-up that results in one room, one bed. Now trapped in each other’s personal space, Trishara tries to keep her cool around the maddeningly charismatic man she secretly kind of has a crush on. But as the retreat unfolds, she begins to see a different side of Rafe—a man frustrated with his own family dynamics, aware of the workplace injustice she faces, and maybe not the smug jerk she always thought.
What if Rafe doesn’t hate her at all? What if their undeniable chemistry isn’t just a fluke? And most importantly, can Trishara risk her already-bruised heart for a second chance at something real?
Overall: This is an entertaining and thought-provoking romance with strong themes of workplace equality, earning a solid 3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars from me. “Aloha” to this charming escape—I’m excited to read more from this author!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This was a one-sitting, popcorn-read that I breezed through with ease. The story follows Trishara Malik, a young, ambitious engineer who has been working at WMC Purcell for five years following a traumatic experience at a failed startup that left her heartbroken and humiliated. Unfortunately, her current workplace isn’t much better—she loses out on a promotion to her boss’s entitled son, Rafe Gallagher, her arch-nemesis and workplace pain-in-the-neck. She deals with constant mansplaining and the inappropriate behavior of Rafe’s cousin Rory, while quietly dreaming of better opportunities elsewhere.
Just when things look bleak, Trishara is selected for an elite company leadership retreat—on the tropical paradise of Maui! But there’s a catch: Rafe will be there too. Still, she’s determined to use the trip to network and secure a coveted training opportunity in New York. She can ignore him for three weeks… right?
Except she didn’t count on a mix-up that results in one room, one bed. Now trapped in each other’s personal space, Trishara tries to keep her cool around the maddeningly charismatic man she secretly kind of has a crush on. But as the retreat unfolds, she begins to see a different side of Rafe—a man frustrated with his own family dynamics, aware of the workplace injustice she faces, and maybe not the smug jerk she always thought.
What if Rafe doesn’t hate her at all? What if their undeniable chemistry isn’t just a fluke? And most importantly, can Trishara risk her already-bruised heart for a second chance at something real?
Overall: This is an entertaining and thought-provoking romance with strong themes of workplace equality, earning a solid 3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars from me. “Aloha” to this charming escape—I’m excited to read more from this author!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
May 20, 2025
HAPPY RELEASE DAYY!! Saw the cover and immediately put it in my 2025 tbr.
This was such a fun, chaotic ride! Tris and Rafe’s “hate” felt a little forced (girl, you’re definitely noticing his abs too much for enemies), and some parts were a bit immature but honestly, I didn’t even mind. The Hawaii setting, the banter, and the ridiculous honeymoon suite mixup kept me laughing and fully entertained. Perfect if you want a romcom with swoony vibes and a little bit of chaos!
Thank you netgalley for the arc 💗
This was such a fun, chaotic ride! Tris and Rafe’s “hate” felt a little forced (girl, you’re definitely noticing his abs too much for enemies), and some parts were a bit immature but honestly, I didn’t even mind. The Hawaii setting, the banter, and the ridiculous honeymoon suite mixup kept me laughing and fully entertained. Perfect if you want a romcom with swoony vibes and a little bit of chaos!
Thank you netgalley for the arc 💗
May 8, 2025
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
Publication date: 20th May 2025
Thoughts
This was an absolute delight to read. I loved it so much that I'd watch a movie with this plot ( but you'd have to copy them to the T ) I loved the couple dynamic so much; who doesn't love a layered MMC (?) - I think I'm a sucker for MMC's who have a soft side; literally way to my heart 😂 their dynamic aside I also enjoyed how the author wrote the MMC when it came to their miscommunication in the past, he would actually explain what he meant when he said certain things or acted a certain way, this was such a refreshing plus in terms of character development. The FMC was witty and smart there's nothing not to love about this character except for the parts where she obviously caught feelings her thoughts were a bit exaggerated and over the top -- might just be a me thing lol but I did find myself thinking "pull yourself together girl" at some parts 😭 overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend!
Tropes
▪︎ Rivals to lovers
▪︎ Slow burn romance
▪︎ Only one bed
▪︎ Women in STEM
▪︎ Angst and banter
▪︎ MMC who secretly loves to bake
Plot Summary
Trishara Malik is an engineer passed over for a promotion in favor of her workplace nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. When they’re both sent to a career-defining leadership retreat in Hawaii, a booking mishap lands them in a honeymoon suite with only one bed. As they battle it out in team challenges, sparks fly and Tris starts to realise her so-called enemy might be something much more.
Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
Publication date: 20th May 2025
Thoughts
This was an absolute delight to read. I loved it so much that I'd watch a movie with this plot ( but you'd have to copy them to the T ) I loved the couple dynamic so much; who doesn't love a layered MMC (?) - I think I'm a sucker for MMC's who have a soft side; literally way to my heart 😂 their dynamic aside I also enjoyed how the author wrote the MMC when it came to their miscommunication in the past, he would actually explain what he meant when he said certain things or acted a certain way, this was such a refreshing plus in terms of character development. The FMC was witty and smart there's nothing not to love about this character except for the parts where she obviously caught feelings her thoughts were a bit exaggerated and over the top -- might just be a me thing lol but I did find myself thinking "pull yourself together girl" at some parts 😭 overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend!
Tropes
▪︎ Rivals to lovers
▪︎ Slow burn romance
▪︎ Only one bed
▪︎ Women in STEM
▪︎ Angst and banter
▪︎ MMC who secretly loves to bake
Plot Summary
Trishara Malik is an engineer passed over for a promotion in favor of her workplace nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. When they’re both sent to a career-defining leadership retreat in Hawaii, a booking mishap lands them in a honeymoon suite with only one bed. As they battle it out in team challenges, sparks fly and Tris starts to realise her so-called enemy might be something much more.
Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC
April 25, 2025
I absolutely adored this book!!
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was amazing, it made everything an even better experience. I genuinely enjoyed it!
Trishara is an engineer who's really starting to feel the burnout at WMC, having to deal with privileged man who don't see her as an equal, passing her over for promotions she deserved. But then they offer her the opportunity to attend a corporate leadership retreat in Maui, she feels there is a chance, even though she has to go with the boss's son Rafe, her nemesis. They never got along, but after a booking error forces them to spend the next three weeks sharing the same room, that might change. She gets to see different sides of him and things slowly get heated..
I loved their banter and the tension was perfection. It really made the book for me. I was having so much fun, giggling and kicking my feet!! The pacing was perfect for me.
Also, I really liked how the struggles Tris had to endure were presented. I was so mad at the way she was treated at times and so proud at how she handled it at the end. And Rafe, he was adorable, I loved him so much.
I will never be okay with a lack of communication, but sometimes I can give it a pass. In this case, it didn't ruin my experience that much. And I really hate when there's other people. It drove me mad, but I still had a great time!
It was a perfect romcom, and the one bed trope is always a plus!
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Hachette Audio for providing me with an ALC.*
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was amazing, it made everything an even better experience. I genuinely enjoyed it!
Trishara is an engineer who's really starting to feel the burnout at WMC, having to deal with privileged man who don't see her as an equal, passing her over for promotions she deserved. But then they offer her the opportunity to attend a corporate leadership retreat in Maui, she feels there is a chance, even though she has to go with the boss's son Rafe, her nemesis. They never got along, but after a booking error forces them to spend the next three weeks sharing the same room, that might change. She gets to see different sides of him and things slowly get heated..
I loved their banter and the tension was perfection. It really made the book for me. I was having so much fun, giggling and kicking my feet!! The pacing was perfect for me.
Also, I really liked how the struggles Tris had to endure were presented. I was so mad at the way she was treated at times and so proud at how she handled it at the end. And Rafe, he was adorable, I loved him so much.
I will never be okay with a lack of communication, but sometimes I can give it a pass. In this case, it didn't ruin my experience that much. And I really hate when there's other people. It drove me mad, but I still had a great time!
It was a perfect romcom, and the one bed trope is always a plus!
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Hachette Audio for providing me with an ALC.*
November 24, 2025
Nisha J Tuli's first contemporary romance and she absolutely nailed it!
I’ve been a fan of the author’s writing since reading the Trial of the Sun Queen in 2023 - “that bitch took my soap” will forever be one of the best opening lines - I was so excited when she announced she was writing a contemporary romance!
Here is what I think you should know…
I had a smile on my face the ENTIRE time I was reading this book (well except for the few shocking moments, Hannah, I’m looking at you, in the bathroom… why are people like that?)!
I read this in a single day - started in the afternoon, hunkered down of the sofa and devoured 70% of it, realized it was time for bed, hopped under the covers and kept on devouring!
Sometimes when I binge a book in a day it tends to drag at some point, usually around the 60% mark as I hit exhaustion, BUT THIS BOOK?
NO LULLS, just perfect pacing from start to finish.
The tension and banter in this book are so top tier! I needed them to kiss already! This is SLLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWW burn and if I’m being completely honest I kinda wanted it to be slightly less so - but i’m a greedy b*tch and wanted as much banging as possible from Nisha J. Tuli, as she writes some of the best spice I've read!
I loved the workplace dynamics and the addition of real-world aspects relating to the struggles of a woman of color in STEM. I’m a sucker for a STEM FMC.
This has some of your favorite tropes/microtropes and its executed with such skill in a way that doesn’t feel overdone.
(skip the next chunk if you think tropes are spoilers…)
Only one bed
Rivals-to-lovers
He takes care of her/makes her feel safe
forbidden love
obsessive and possessive MMC
forced proximity
Oh! I loved the meta nod to Trial of the Sun Queen. It made me giggle!
With all the spectacular this book has to offer there were a few things that weren’t my favorite…
There is a heavy focus on physical attraction in this book and usually this is a huge turnoff for me, but I will say it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel overly lusty - it’s balanced with non-physical attraction and tender moments of getting to know each other. It feels pretty realistic, because you know, sometimes a person is just that f-ing hot. That said it’s still heavy on physical attraction and some may find this skews a bit insta-love. minor spoiler
Some might also find some of the relationship dynamics and lack of communication at times, frustrating - but again, there has to be drama in a romance to save it from being boring. I just prefer my drama to come from areas not related to lack of communication.
And the most minor silly thing that drove me nuts about this book is… The obsession with him not smiling at her - it was excessive. but me even mentioning it is just petty so take that as you wish.
🌶️ - Damn this author knows how to write some spice! It’s pretty mild in this though, definitely explicit language but the scenes are all fairly short. Ch 22, 23, 24, 25.
Audio Narration: 4/5 Solid narration. The pace at which the narrator speaks is a little on the slow side. 1x sounds slowed down, not a huge deal since speeding up is always an option but ideally 1x would sound/feel a bit more natural. More importantly the pausing feels natural and inflictions aren't overdone. Easy to listen and one I would definitely recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
4.5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |
I’ve been a fan of the author’s writing since reading the Trial of the Sun Queen in 2023 - “that bitch took my soap” will forever be one of the best opening lines - I was so excited when she announced she was writing a contemporary romance!
Here is what I think you should know…
I had a smile on my face the ENTIRE time I was reading this book (well except for the few shocking moments, Hannah, I’m looking at you, in the bathroom… why are people like that?)!
I read this in a single day - started in the afternoon, hunkered down of the sofa and devoured 70% of it, realized it was time for bed, hopped under the covers and kept on devouring!
Sometimes when I binge a book in a day it tends to drag at some point, usually around the 60% mark as I hit exhaustion, BUT THIS BOOK?
NO LULLS, just perfect pacing from start to finish.
The tension and banter in this book are so top tier! I needed them to kiss already! This is SLLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWW burn and if I’m being completely honest I kinda wanted it to be slightly less so - but i’m a greedy b*tch and wanted as much banging as possible from Nisha J. Tuli, as she writes some of the best spice I've read!
I loved the workplace dynamics and the addition of real-world aspects relating to the struggles of a woman of color in STEM. I’m a sucker for a STEM FMC.
This has some of your favorite tropes/microtropes and its executed with such skill in a way that doesn’t feel overdone.
(skip the next chunk if you think tropes are spoilers…)
Only one bed
Rivals-to-lovers
He takes care of her/makes her feel safe
forbidden love
obsessive and possessive MMC
forced proximity
Oh! I loved the meta nod to Trial of the Sun Queen. It made me giggle!
With all the spectacular this book has to offer there were a few things that weren’t my favorite…
There is a heavy focus on physical attraction in this book and usually this is a huge turnoff for me, but I will say it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel overly lusty - it’s balanced with non-physical attraction and tender moments of getting to know each other. It feels pretty realistic, because you know, sometimes a person is just that f-ing hot. That said it’s still heavy on physical attraction and some may find this skews a bit insta-love. minor spoiler
Some might also find some of the relationship dynamics and lack of communication at times, frustrating - but again, there has to be drama in a romance to save it from being boring. I just prefer my drama to come from areas not related to lack of communication.
And the most minor silly thing that drove me nuts about this book is… The obsession with him not smiling at her - it was excessive. but me even mentioning it is just petty so take that as you wish.
🌶️ - Damn this author knows how to write some spice! It’s pretty mild in this though, definitely explicit language but the scenes are all fairly short. Ch 22, 23, 24, 25.
Audio Narration: 4/5 Solid narration. The pace at which the narrator speaks is a little on the slow side. 1x sounds slowed down, not a huge deal since speeding up is always an option but ideally 1x would sound/feel a bit more natural. More importantly the pausing feels natural and inflictions aren't overdone. Easy to listen and one I would definitely recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
4.5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |
Want to read
December 17, 2024I've only read fantasy from Nisha J. Tuli so this one is different... sounds really good though!
Anticipated Release - May 2025
╰⪼ 🍭Rivals to Lovers
╰⪼ 🍭Only One Bed
╰⪼ 🍭Slow Burn
╰⪼ 🍭Women in STEM
╰⪼ 🍭Angst on top of Angst
╰⪼ 🍭Tiny Bit of Obsessiveness
╰⪼ 🌶️Spicy
Anticipated Release - May 2025
╰⪼ 🍭Rivals to Lovers
╰⪼ 🍭Only One Bed
╰⪼ 🍭Slow Burn
╰⪼ 🍭Women in STEM
╰⪼ 🍭Angst on top of Angst
╰⪼ 🍭Tiny Bit of Obsessiveness
╰⪼ 🌶️Spicy
May 4, 2025
okay so to be honest, there were a few too many things that threw this book off for me. pretty early on i could tell this wouldnt be the book for me but i tried to follow through, though for the longest that maybe it was just the narration (which still played a part in my grievances, i was not a fan) but it wasnt totally her fault.
i think having two characters pushing thirty with the emotional intelligence of a toenail is where the majority of this book went wrong. all of the bones of the book are there, a fun setting, women in stem, coworkers trapped in one room with one bed for a week. i mean all great and fun things, but when your characters behave like they are in high school it negates all of the potentially great other things. i also dont think this should be advertised as enemies/rivals to lovers when they are both clearly obsessed with each other from the get go, i mean rafe is literally all trish ever talks about and im supposed to believe its because she hates him?
unfortunately the only things i really liked about this one was the setting and a few of the side characters
i think having two characters pushing thirty with the emotional intelligence of a toenail is where the majority of this book went wrong. all of the bones of the book are there, a fun setting, women in stem, coworkers trapped in one room with one bed for a week. i mean all great and fun things, but when your characters behave like they are in high school it negates all of the potentially great other things. i also dont think this should be advertised as enemies/rivals to lovers when they are both clearly obsessed with each other from the get go, i mean rafe is literally all trish ever talks about and im supposed to believe its because she hates him?
unfortunately the only things i really liked about this one was the setting and a few of the side characters
August 31, 2025
➸ 5 stars
𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to netgalley and forever publishing for the advanced readers copy!!
okay i LOVED this book!!! i had so much fun reading it and was just so giggly and giddy the entire time!!! i love tris, i love rafe, and i adored them together!!!! a manhater and a silent yearner!! i just loved their banter and seeing them build their trust and break down walls was everything!!! i loved their growth throughout this book and the epilogue made me so happy!!! i just simply feel in love with this book and these characters! this was my first book by nisha j tuli and im definitely excited to try out her other books!! i’ll be immediately be purchasing a shelf trophy of this book <3
“I’ll follow you anywhere, Tris.”
“It lights up his face, and he’s truly never been more beautiful. I can’t stop staring. I can’t believe he kept this from me for so long.”
“He’s been there for me in ways I never realized, supporting me and standing in my corner. He makes me feel beautiful and alive and like I can conquer the world.”
“Rafe, why did you draw me?”
“Because I draw things that are beautiful to me.”
𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to netgalley and forever publishing for the advanced readers copy!!
okay i LOVED this book!!! i had so much fun reading it and was just so giggly and giddy the entire time!!! i love tris, i love rafe, and i adored them together!!!! a manhater and a silent yearner!! i just loved their banter and seeing them build their trust and break down walls was everything!!! i loved their growth throughout this book and the epilogue made me so happy!!! i just simply feel in love with this book and these characters! this was my first book by nisha j tuli and im definitely excited to try out her other books!! i’ll be immediately be purchasing a shelf trophy of this book <3
“I’ll follow you anywhere, Tris.”
“It lights up his face, and he’s truly never been more beautiful. I can’t stop staring. I can’t believe he kept this from me for so long.”
“He’s been there for me in ways I never realized, supporting me and standing in my corner. He makes me feel beautiful and alive and like I can conquer the world.”
March 31, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I haven’t read any of Nisha J. Tuli’s fantasy books, but I’ve seen many positive reviews that when I spotted this stunning cover and found out it was her first contemporary romance, I knew I had to read it. Unfortunately, my first experience with this author didn’t go well.
The FMC is an engineer who faces injustice at her workplace. The promotion she deserves goes to her boss’s son—her enemy—and she also receives inappropriate propositions from one of the company’s executives.
I appreciated that the author touched on important issues like women in STEM and workplace sexism, especially for women of color, because these topics are still relevant.
However, I struggled to connect with Trishara because of her behavior. She acted quite immaturely. Rafe was polite and kind to her, but she constantly criticized him and dismissed his suggestions. Meanwhile, she kept thinking about how sexy he was, eavesdropping on his private conversations, and discussing them with her friend.
This book also reminded me of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and felt predictable to me. Maybe if I’d read it five years ago, I would have enjoyed it more.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓forced proximity
✓enemies to lovers
✓woman in STEM
✓only one bed
✓workplace romance
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t read any of Nisha J. Tuli’s fantasy books, but I’ve seen many positive reviews that when I spotted this stunning cover and found out it was her first contemporary romance, I knew I had to read it. Unfortunately, my first experience with this author didn’t go well.
The FMC is an engineer who faces injustice at her workplace. The promotion she deserves goes to her boss’s son—her enemy—and she also receives inappropriate propositions from one of the company’s executives.
I appreciated that the author touched on important issues like women in STEM and workplace sexism, especially for women of color, because these topics are still relevant.
However, I struggled to connect with Trishara because of her behavior. She acted quite immaturely. Rafe was polite and kind to her, but she constantly criticized him and dismissed his suggestions. Meanwhile, she kept thinking about how sexy he was, eavesdropping on his private conversations, and discussing them with her friend.
This book also reminded me of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and felt predictable to me. Maybe if I’d read it five years ago, I would have enjoyed it more.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓forced proximity
✓enemies to lovers
✓woman in STEM
✓only one bed
✓workplace romance
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 25, 2025
4.5⭐
What!! When did this end! I need more of Rafe and Trish 😭 😭 😭 😭 This was so cute and adorable 🥹 I loved EVERYTHING from the plot to the characters and the issues discussed. Their tension and bickering is top notch, this solidified my opinions about choosing a partner who shares your interest not the partner who complete you. I prefer we laugh and cry together than just him being the grump to my shiny-ness or the dark of my shadow. And the narration is fantastic
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 22, 23, 24, 25
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Just received this ALC from Netgalley and Hachette Audio ❤️ hope I enjoy it 🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
What!! When did this end! I need more of Rafe and Trish 😭 😭 😭 😭 This was so cute and adorable 🥹 I loved EVERYTHING from the plot to the characters and the issues discussed. Their tension and bickering is top notch, this solidified my opinions about choosing a partner who shares your interest not the partner who complete you. I prefer we laugh and cry together than just him being the grump to my shiny-ness or the dark of my shadow. And the narration is fantastic
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 22, 23, 24, 25
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Just received this ALC from Netgalley and Hachette Audio ❤️ hope I enjoy it 🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
December 22, 2025
3.90⭐️
despite the fact that I read this in a day I do, still have some complaints.🥀
the "rivals" part bordered on immature at times and I felt the characters acted childish.
on the up side the tension between them was palpable and the angst hit. another thing I enjoyed was the discussion of misogyny and racial microaggressions that the fmc went through and how she managed to overcome them.
this was an overall good read or at least that's how I feel after reflecting on it for a month.😝
(this was read in june, review was originally posted august)
╰┈➤And it's at that moment I realise I'm in love with Rafe Gallagher.
despite the fact that I read this in a day I do, still have some complaints.🥀
the "rivals" part bordered on immature at times and I felt the characters acted childish.
on the up side the tension between them was palpable and the angst hit. another thing I enjoyed was the discussion of misogyny and racial microaggressions that the fmc went through and how she managed to overcome them.
this was an overall good read or at least that's how I feel after reflecting on it for a month.😝
(this was read in june, review was originally posted august)
╰┈➤And it's at that moment I realise I'm in love with Rafe Gallagher.
May 11, 2025
I GOT MY FIRST ALC!! OR EVEN ARC IN GENERAL. THANK YOU NETGALLERY AND HACHETTE AUDIO
I am not sure if I am gonna do this right or not but I am too giddy rn🤭
First of all, I received the ALC for this book and I was very excited to start it. I started it before, like, you know, my exams—my final Semester exams—and I really needed a booster with all the current situations going on in India. So yeah, I was very excited. This book is a workplace romance, and I hadn’t read one in a long time.
The story follows Trishara Malik, an engineer navigating a toxic, male-dominated corporate environment at WMC, where gender bias and nepotism are very much alive. She’s passed over for promotions and constantly undermined, but she’s strong-willed, opinionated, and not afraid to speak up. Then comes Rafe Gallagher, the charming, witty, art-loving son of the VP—and Trishara’s competitive rival.
So, there’s a three-week retreat to Hawaii where she, her co-worker Rafe Gallagher (who is also the VP’s son), and many other employees from different branches of WMC go. It has a very beachy vibe, and I was enjoying it. There was SO much alcohol in this book—I was literally laughing. Like, does their liver not get rotten with that much alcohol consumption? It was very funny to me.
The vibes were great. I was loving the atmosphere and the characters. I like layered characters—who doesn’t? Rafe was definitely layered. He likes baking, he likes art, he’s witty and charmingand he has a dirty mouth on him🤭. I WOULD KILL TO HAVE THIS BOOK IN RAFE'S POV. Trishara is also a great character. She’s ready to stand up for injustice, she’s outspoken, and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind—and I really liked that.
The work environment at WMC was honestly so bad. They seriously need to work on that. I was so happy with that last email Trishara sent to all the employees—it was hilarious. I was like, “Damn girl, you’ve got some balls!” Also, the way she blackmailed her boss in the beginning? So funny.
Now, the whole “one room” situation between Rafe and Trishara was not very realistic. Like, come on. In such a big hotel, there’s no spare room? Really? And them getting the honeymoon suite was just the cherry on top. But still, the comedy and their interactions were entertaining. Their relationship wasn’t limited to just flirting—they were competitive, bantering, and had their own kind of chemistry.
This book is supposed to be a slow burn, but I don’t think it really was. It all happened in three weeks. Yes, they knew of each other for five years, but they were never really close—just competitors. So suddenly saying “I love you” at the end of those three weeks? Yeah, not very realistic. Slow burn was there—like they kissed at 65%, and they were banging at 75%. So maybe? But in retrospect, I wouldn’t really call it a slow burn. Though I still enjoyed it.
The middle felt a bit repetitive. But I loved the side characters—Lan, Gabriel, and even Molly. I love female friendships!
If you’re looking for good Indian rep, though—you won’t find much in this one. It doesn’t go beyond the name and a random samosa mention to give you the desi-ness you might be craving.
Also, the audiobook was great. The narrator had such a good vibe to her. She was very lively with her narration and expressed emotions really well.
~~~~~
Reading this because king of envy isn't doing anything for me and I am just SO excited🤭
First of all, I received the ALC for this book and I was very excited to start it. I started it before, like, you know, my exams—my final Semester exams—and I really needed a booster with all the current situations going on in India. So yeah, I was very excited. This book is a workplace romance, and I hadn’t read one in a long time.
The story follows Trishara Malik, an engineer navigating a toxic, male-dominated corporate environment at WMC, where gender bias and nepotism are very much alive. She’s passed over for promotions and constantly undermined, but she’s strong-willed, opinionated, and not afraid to speak up. Then comes Rafe Gallagher, the charming, witty, art-loving son of the VP—and Trishara’s competitive rival.
So, there’s a three-week retreat to Hawaii where she, her co-worker Rafe Gallagher (who is also the VP’s son), and many other employees from different branches of WMC go. It has a very beachy vibe, and I was enjoying it. There was SO much alcohol in this book—I was literally laughing. Like, does their liver not get rotten with that much alcohol consumption? It was very funny to me.
The vibes were great. I was loving the atmosphere and the characters. I like layered characters—who doesn’t? Rafe was definitely layered. He likes baking, he likes art, he’s witty and charming
The work environment at WMC was honestly so bad. They seriously need to work on that. I was so happy with that last email Trishara sent to all the employees—it was hilarious. I was like, “Damn girl, you’ve got some balls!” Also, the way she blackmailed her boss in the beginning? So funny.
Now, the whole “one room” situation between Rafe and Trishara was not very realistic. Like, come on. In such a big hotel, there’s no spare room? Really? And them getting the honeymoon suite was just the cherry on top. But still, the comedy and their interactions were entertaining. Their relationship wasn’t limited to just flirting—they were competitive, bantering, and had their own kind of chemistry.
This book is supposed to be a slow burn, but I don’t think it really was. It all happened in three weeks. Yes, they knew of each other for five years, but they were never really close—just competitors. So suddenly saying “I love you” at the end of those three weeks? Yeah, not very realistic. Slow burn was there—like they kissed at 65%, and they were banging at 75%. So maybe? But in retrospect, I wouldn’t really call it a slow burn. Though I still enjoyed it.
The middle felt a bit repetitive. But I loved the side characters—Lan, Gabriel, and even Molly. I love female friendships!
If you’re looking for good Indian rep, though—you won’t find much in this one. It doesn’t go beyond the name and a random samosa mention to give you the desi-ness you might be craving.
Also, the audiobook was great. The narrator had such a good vibe to her. She was very lively with her narration and expressed emotions really well.
~~~~~
Reading this because king of envy isn't doing anything for me and I am just SO excited🤭
April 28, 2025
Big thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a free copy of "Not Safe For Work" for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.
This was incredibly funny. I found myself giggling out loud. It's a really good read to kick off your summer! The narration was exactly how I envisioned Trishara's voice. She also killed it doing Rafe's narration!
So, think dream (work) vacation with your office nemesis, but make him a 10 out of 10. Sprinkle in some forced proximity and a whole lot of tension, and there you have it! This book. 💥
While this is a rom-com, I think it really puts into perspective how women feel in a male-dominated workplace, especially women of color. I love how Trishara "stuck it to the man" and took no shit from those chauvinistic men she called her bosses.
Rafe was a really good man. The biggest green flag. 💗 You should just read and see for yourself.
This was incredibly funny. I found myself giggling out loud. It's a really good read to kick off your summer! The narration was exactly how I envisioned Trishara's voice. She also killed it doing Rafe's narration!
So, think dream (work) vacation with your office nemesis, but make him a 10 out of 10. Sprinkle in some forced proximity and a whole lot of tension, and there you have it! This book. 💥
While this is a rom-com, I think it really puts into perspective how women feel in a male-dominated workplace, especially women of color. I love how Trishara "stuck it to the man" and took no shit from those chauvinistic men she called her bosses.
Rafe was a really good man. The biggest green flag. 💗 You should just read and see for yourself.
May 27, 2025
Come for the romance and tropical backdrop, stay for Rafe’s forearms and Trishara’s snarky, hilarious inner monologues…
***
“If a fairy godmother arrived to grant me three wishes right now, one would be x-ray vision. How? How did I go from hating Rafe Gallagher with every drop of my soul to desperately wishing we were both naked?”
***
“”Ladies first,” he replies. “That is so sexist.” “Then I’ll go first.” “No, you won’t.” He makes an exasperated sound, and at this point, I don’t care who goes first, I just want to see how far I can push before he ends up rocking himself in a corner.”
***
“If a fairy godmother arrived to grant me three wishes right now, one would be x-ray vision. How? How did I go from hating Rafe Gallagher with every drop of my soul to desperately wishing we were both naked?”
***
“”Ladies first,” he replies. “That is so sexist.” “Then I’ll go first.” “No, you won’t.” He makes an exasperated sound, and at this point, I don’t care who goes first, I just want to see how far I can push before he ends up rocking himself in a corner.”
May 3, 2025
This story was a fun, fast-paced read with just the right amount of slow-burn romance. I especially appreciated how it highlighted the challenges women still face in male-dominated careers.
That said, the characters did feel a bit immature at times. For their age, I expected more open, honest communication instead of some of the childish antics. Still, I couldn’t help but enjoy their playful banter, it added a lightness that made the story more entertaining.
Even though the FMC got a little swoony over the MMC pretty quickly, the romance unfolded at a steady pace, which worked well for the slow-burn dynamic. Overall, this was a super cute audiobook that I’d recommend to the right audience, especially those who enjoy witty dialogue, workplace drama, and a bit of sass with their love stories.
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Hachette Audio for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
That said, the characters did feel a bit immature at times. For their age, I expected more open, honest communication instead of some of the childish antics. Still, I couldn’t help but enjoy their playful banter, it added a lightness that made the story more entertaining.
Even though the FMC got a little swoony over the MMC pretty quickly, the romance unfolded at a steady pace, which worked well for the slow-burn dynamic. Overall, this was a super cute audiobook that I’d recommend to the right audience, especially those who enjoy witty dialogue, workplace drama, and a bit of sass with their love stories.
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Hachette Audio for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
May 19, 2025
2 ⭐️ Cute premise, but I didn't like the execution
WHAT TO EXPECT
✨ contemporary romance
✨ Maui resort setting
✨ co-workers at a retreat
✨ insta-lust
✨ rivals-to-lovers
✨ one suite/bed
✨ slow burn
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ denial of feelings
✨ MISCOMMUNICATION
✨ ex-girlfriend drama
✨ HEA
✨ FMC of Indian descent
✨ women in STEM facing discrimination
✨ complicated family dynamics
✨ single pov
My Thoughts:
I was fine with the first 20% of this story, since we were setting the stage, meeting the characters, and I was curious to see where it would all go. But once they got to Hawaii, it went downhill for me. The romance between Trishara and Rafe was way too messy, and not in a fun or meaningful way. It was heavy on the lust, but light on actual connection. I never felt emotionally invested in the couple. Their back-and-forth dynamic felt more childish than compelling, and the constant denial of feelings and miscommunication wore me out and became extremely frustrating. Then the ex-girlfriend drama, which had been brewing in the background, finally came to a head, and that was the last straw for me. Rafe's ex literally looks at Trishara and says, "I guess you're pretty for an Indian girl". . . I'm sorry, what the f*ck?! Absolutely horrible to say that, but then the fact that this is the woman Rafe was dating for years and has been friends with his entire life??? What does that say about him??? I honestly lost so much respect for him at this moment.
Something else that irritated me was that fairytales or romance books were mentioned quite a few times throughout the story. It started off feeling playful, but they were brought up so often that it was just too much. What was initially a cute touch ended up being overused and feeling excessive.
The only things I’ve liked about this story was that it takes place in a fun tropical setting, and the fact that Trishara is a woman of color in STEM and brings attention to/confronts how she’s been discriminated against, harassed, and passed over for less-qualified men due to nepotism.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
WHAT TO EXPECT
✨ contemporary romance
✨ Maui resort setting
✨ co-workers at a retreat
✨ insta-lust
✨ rivals-to-lovers
✨ one suite/bed
✨ slow burn
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ denial of feelings
✨ MISCOMMUNICATION
✨ ex-girlfriend drama
✨ HEA
✨ FMC of Indian descent
✨ women in STEM facing discrimination
✨ complicated family dynamics
✨ single pov
My Thoughts:
I was fine with the first 20% of this story, since we were setting the stage, meeting the characters, and I was curious to see where it would all go. But once they got to Hawaii, it went downhill for me. The romance between Trishara and Rafe was way too messy, and not in a fun or meaningful way. It was heavy on the lust, but light on actual connection. I never felt emotionally invested in the couple. Their back-and-forth dynamic felt more childish than compelling, and the constant denial of feelings and miscommunication wore me out and became extremely frustrating. Then the ex-girlfriend drama, which had been brewing in the background, finally came to a head, and that was the last straw for me. Rafe's ex literally looks at Trishara and says, "I guess you're pretty for an Indian girl". . . I'm sorry, what the f*ck?! Absolutely horrible to say that, but then the fact that this is the woman Rafe was dating for years and has been friends with his entire life??? What does that say about him??? I honestly lost so much respect for him at this moment.
Something else that irritated me was that fairytales or romance books were mentioned quite a few times throughout the story. It started off feeling playful, but they were brought up so often that it was just too much. What was initially a cute touch ended up being overused and feeling excessive.
The only things I’ve liked about this story was that it takes place in a fun tropical setting, and the fact that Trishara is a woman of color in STEM and brings attention to/confronts how she’s been discriminated against, harassed, and passed over for less-qualified men due to nepotism.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
March 26, 2025
this was entertaining but a bit too immature for me personally 😭 between them going into their thirties, being in a work setting/work trip, and lack of actual development (both relationship and personally but i’ll get to that in a sec) i won’t really be thinking about this again. i would recommend for a QUICK read because i finished this in about two solid sittings.
honestly i feel like we never got to know our fmc. she had things that she was hiding from us the reader that never fully get explored? to their potential? which i found odd and it was so so very romance focused that i wanted more of them as individuals tbh. he had more depth/development outside of their relationship!!
thank you to netgalley and forever for the arc!!
honestly i feel like we never got to know our fmc. she had things that she was hiding from us the reader that never fully get explored? to their potential? which i found odd and it was so so very romance focused that i wanted more of them as individuals tbh. he had more depth/development outside of their relationship!!
thank you to netgalley and forever for the arc!!
Read
August 11, 2025Corporate rivals to lovers with lots of competitiveness and hot abs and only one bed at the expensive corporate retreat. It's well written and seems a good example of its genre; I just wasn't in the mood for rich-people romance. Very much an 'it's not you, it's me' DNF.
April 26, 2025
i love hot people!!!!! someone told me that this was the most me book they’ve ever read and i’m letting that go to my head. when you see a woman in stem with a hot nemesis, i hope you think of me <3
May 14, 2025
Audiobook Review: Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
🎧 Narrated by the incredibly talented Soneela Nankani 💫
I was granted early access to the Not Safe for Work audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review—and WOW, what a ride! 🎢 First of all, HUGE thank you to NetGalley, the brilliant Nisha J. Tuli, and Hachette Audio | Forever publishing 🙏💖 I initially requested this one because I was OBSESSED with the gorgeous cover 🎨🔥 (bookstagram ads were haunting me in the BEST way), so to say I was thrilled to get access is an understatement!
This book had me hooked from the jump. Trishara Malik is EVERYTHING. 💁🏽♀️✨ She’s a whip-smart, hilarious, self-assured woman of color who radiates confidence, ambition, and heart. She knows her worth 💼💪 and even though she’s been overlooked at WMC Purcell—hello, blatant nepotism 😤—she continues to rise.
The setting? A corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii 🌴🌺. The stakes? A career-defining opportunity. The catch? She has to share a honeymoon suite with her long-time nemesis and boss's son, Rafe Gallagher 😳😏 Talk about forced proximity at its finest!
What I loved was the journey—Tris’s personal growth 🌱, the sizzling tension with Rafe 🔥, and the slow unraveling of past assumptions. Yes, he’s a "smoldering eleven" 😍 but more importantly, there’s real depth to his character. The banter, the chemistry, the vulnerability—it all worked SO well. This rivals-to-lovers setup had just the right amount of spice 🌶️ and sincerity 💕.
I’m a sucker for tropes like forced proximity + adversaries to lovers, and this book delivered on both with wit and heart 🫶. Tris’s story felt empowering and genuine, with just enough messiness to feel real.
Soneela Nankani’s narration? Phenomenal. 🎤 She brought every character to life with such richness and emotional clarity—I was fully immersed.
Mark your calendars for May 20th 📅—this is a release you won’t want to miss. I’m already recommending it to all my fellow book lovers, especially those who crave romcoms with heart, heat, and a heroine worth rooting for 💗📚
Well done, Nisha! 👏 Frame this one—it deserves it.
🎧 Narrated by the incredibly talented Soneela Nankani 💫
I was granted early access to the Not Safe for Work audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review—and WOW, what a ride! 🎢 First of all, HUGE thank you to NetGalley, the brilliant Nisha J. Tuli, and Hachette Audio | Forever publishing 🙏💖 I initially requested this one because I was OBSESSED with the gorgeous cover 🎨🔥 (bookstagram ads were haunting me in the BEST way), so to say I was thrilled to get access is an understatement!
This book had me hooked from the jump. Trishara Malik is EVERYTHING. 💁🏽♀️✨ She’s a whip-smart, hilarious, self-assured woman of color who radiates confidence, ambition, and heart. She knows her worth 💼💪 and even though she’s been overlooked at WMC Purcell—hello, blatant nepotism 😤—she continues to rise.
The setting? A corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii 🌴🌺. The stakes? A career-defining opportunity. The catch? She has to share a honeymoon suite with her long-time nemesis and boss's son, Rafe Gallagher 😳😏 Talk about forced proximity at its finest!
What I loved was the journey—Tris’s personal growth 🌱, the sizzling tension with Rafe 🔥, and the slow unraveling of past assumptions. Yes, he’s a "smoldering eleven" 😍 but more importantly, there’s real depth to his character. The banter, the chemistry, the vulnerability—it all worked SO well. This rivals-to-lovers setup had just the right amount of spice 🌶️ and sincerity 💕.
I’m a sucker for tropes like forced proximity + adversaries to lovers, and this book delivered on both with wit and heart 🫶. Tris’s story felt empowering and genuine, with just enough messiness to feel real.
Soneela Nankani’s narration? Phenomenal. 🎤 She brought every character to life with such richness and emotional clarity—I was fully immersed.
Mark your calendars for May 20th 📅—this is a release you won’t want to miss. I’m already recommending it to all my fellow book lovers, especially those who crave romcoms with heart, heat, and a heroine worth rooting for 💗📚
Well done, Nisha! 👏 Frame this one—it deserves it.
May 17, 2025
Phew. This is the SLOWEST of slow burns that will have you melting until the main characters figure themselves out and fall into their “just one bed”. Let me tell you though-it’s so worth sweating it out! The writing is witty, thoughtful and engaging and will make you root for both main characters. There is some super insightful commentary in the plot as well, and you will want to kick your feet and giggle when the ice gets broken between Tris and Rafe. Even if a bit predictable, that is what is so endearing about the book-you know where it’s going, you trust you’ll get there, and you’ll enjoy the ride while you wait. I am so looking forward to picking up Tuli’s Artifacts of Ouranos series soon! Thank you to Forever pub for the ARC.
May 20, 2025
”Tris, you are the most amazing women I’ve ever met. You challenge me. You understand me in a way no one else ever has. You make me laugh, and you make me feel things I’ve never felt before. And even if you send me away, it will be worth it because then, at least, I’ll have finally told you I love you.”
This is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint at all. I had such an amazing time listening to this book! The banter and the tension between both of the characters was so done well. The vibes and the atmosphere was everything in this book. The narrator has done such an amazing job in telling this story, her narration was phenomenal! I highly recommend the audiobook for this! The amount of time I found myself giggling over what Rafe was saying. Did I find Trishara annoying at times? yes I did. I say that’s the reason why it’s not rated higher but I learned to get pass that.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
—————————————-
ೀ preread ᡣ𐭩
Can I just say that this month is going by so quickly like the days are honestly flying away from me. Therefore I thought that I had more time to get to this arc but I don’t. So here’s me dropping all my currents reads to listen to this arc
May 19, 2025
what happens when you get sent on a work trip with your hot work nemesis? fall in love ofc.
nisha’s contemporary debut had me giggling and kicking my feet. their hate to love, work nemesis to lovers dynamic was delicious. the reveal when we find out rafe is a softie FOR HER i was squealing. i loved the setting and work trip shenanigans so much.
this book tackles tough topics like workplace discrimination and i thought nisha handled it with such grace. i was fuming for trishara and rooting for her every step of the way.
🎧 soneela nankani read for trish and she did such a great job bringing her character to life! i really enjoyed this on audio and would def recommend it.
i wish this was dual pov so bad. i needed to see rafe’s thoughts about hannah and all the phone calls anddd i wanted to see him yearn for her!!!
thank you forever and hachette audio for the gifted copies!! 🫶
nisha’s contemporary debut had me giggling and kicking my feet. their hate to love, work nemesis to lovers dynamic was delicious. the reveal when we find out rafe is a softie FOR HER i was squealing. i loved the setting and work trip shenanigans so much.
this book tackles tough topics like workplace discrimination and i thought nisha handled it with such grace. i was fuming for trishara and rooting for her every step of the way.
🎧 soneela nankani read for trish and she did such a great job bringing her character to life! i really enjoyed this on audio and would def recommend it.
i wish this was dual pov so bad. i needed to see rafe’s thoughts about hannah and all the phone calls anddd i wanted to see him yearn for her!!!
thank you forever and hachette audio for the gifted copies!! 🫶
May 16, 2025
Everything about Not Safe for Work was fine—right down the middle, classic workplace romcom with miscommunication and a third-act breakup. That's also somewhat the issue here. I don't necessarily feel like books need to break the mold or shake the table, and I am very open to books containing WOC/POC taking on tropes and situations white characters have operated within forever, but I also wasn't expecting it to feel so barebones.
I think both Trishara and Rafe could have been developed more/better. Rafe keeping contact with his ex throughout the entire book was very off-putting, and it didn't come across that he was a nice guy who was letting someone down easy, it came across as someone with a complete lack of interpersonal boundaries, especially when paired with the dynamics between his dad and cousin. Trish was a bit of a pushover in this respect, and I wished she demanded more for herself in literally every aspect of her existence because she was so deserving. But ultimately both Trish and Rafe being extremely passive and non-communicative wore me down. This is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, which I struggle to buy for contemporary contexts but I also fully don't buy for them at all. They both very clearly liked each other and held up some wall between them for some odd reason, and then once they let on that they liked each other it was balls to the wall in record time. There wasn't much build up or angst or tension, so even the spice felt kind of unengaging.
This is my first Nisha J. Tuli book and I overall did enjoy her writing style and the themes discussed within, such as white female complacency in patriarchy, corporations smothering Black and POC hires in the workplace, sexual harassment, etc. But I didn't connect to these characters, so the story ultimately didn't click with me. However, I look forward to reading more from Tuli!
The narrator was a little stiff/robotic at times, and I think Trish would likely read much warmer if this book is consumed via ebook or physical copy, but the narration was by no means bad—just not my favorite.
Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC and ARC!
3 ⭐️s
2 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 05/20/25
I think both Trishara and Rafe could have been developed more/better. Rafe keeping contact with his ex throughout the entire book was very off-putting, and it didn't come across that he was a nice guy who was letting someone down easy, it came across as someone with a complete lack of interpersonal boundaries, especially when paired with the dynamics between his dad and cousin. Trish was a bit of a pushover in this respect, and I wished she demanded more for herself in literally every aspect of her existence because she was so deserving. But ultimately both Trish and Rafe being extremely passive and non-communicative wore me down. This is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, which I struggle to buy for contemporary contexts but I also fully don't buy for them at all. They both very clearly liked each other and held up some wall between them for some odd reason, and then once they let on that they liked each other it was balls to the wall in record time. There wasn't much build up or angst or tension, so even the spice felt kind of unengaging.
This is my first Nisha J. Tuli book and I overall did enjoy her writing style and the themes discussed within, such as white female complacency in patriarchy, corporations smothering Black and POC hires in the workplace, sexual harassment, etc. But I didn't connect to these characters, so the story ultimately didn't click with me. However, I look forward to reading more from Tuli!
The narrator was a little stiff/robotic at times, and I think Trish would likely read much warmer if this book is consumed via ebook or physical copy, but the narration was by no means bad—just not my favorite.
Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC and ARC!
3 ⭐️s
2 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 05/20/25
April 29, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️
ARC read 2/28-3/2/25:
Thank you to Nisha, her publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Not Safe for Work!
This book was such a fun, bantery rivals to lovers story! The FMC and MMC have been trying to one-up each other for nearly 5 years. They both attend the same work retreat where, at the start, nothing has changed. But slowly we see their hard exteriors melt away and a relationship develop.
I know it’s part of the story, but I didn’t love that it felt like the MMC kept stringing along his ex-girlfriend instead of being honest with her up front. I could see why the FMC was rightfully not trusting of a relationship with him until he broke it off for good.
The book also addresses themes that many women face in the workplace, such as being a woman in a male dominated field, sexual harassment, racism, and other micro aggressions. I have personally experienced many of these things myself and could relate heavily to the FMC.
If you’ve ever been a woman in a male dominated field or had a work rival (even if it didn’t turn to lovers) I highly suggest you pick this book up and enjoy the ride. And ya know, even if you’ve never experienced those things, pick it up for the banter and one-liners alone! 🙂
ALC listen 4/28-4/29/25:
They tapped a new-to-me narrator, Soneela Nankani, to read this novel. I am so glad they chose someone whose ethnicity matches that of the main female character. I strongly feel representation is important for things like this. She did a phenomenal job! I wasn’t thrown off when she used her “male voice,” like you sometimes are when there’s only one narrator for male and female characters. I plan to look up other books she had narrated.
1.5/5 🌶️
ARC read 2/28-3/2/25:
Thank you to Nisha, her publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Not Safe for Work!
This book was such a fun, bantery rivals to lovers story! The FMC and MMC have been trying to one-up each other for nearly 5 years. They both attend the same work retreat where, at the start, nothing has changed. But slowly we see their hard exteriors melt away and a relationship develop.
I know it’s part of the story, but I didn’t love that it felt like the MMC kept stringing along his ex-girlfriend instead of being honest with her up front. I could see why the FMC was rightfully not trusting of a relationship with him until he broke it off for good.
The book also addresses themes that many women face in the workplace, such as being a woman in a male dominated field, sexual harassment, racism, and other micro aggressions. I have personally experienced many of these things myself and could relate heavily to the FMC.
If you’ve ever been a woman in a male dominated field or had a work rival (even if it didn’t turn to lovers) I highly suggest you pick this book up and enjoy the ride. And ya know, even if you’ve never experienced those things, pick it up for the banter and one-liners alone! 🙂
ALC listen 4/28-4/29/25:
They tapped a new-to-me narrator, Soneela Nankani, to read this novel. I am so glad they chose someone whose ethnicity matches that of the main female character. I strongly feel representation is important for things like this. She did a phenomenal job! I wasn’t thrown off when she used her “male voice,” like you sometimes are when there’s only one narrator for male and female characters. I plan to look up other books she had narrated.
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