What do you think?
Rate this book
Bad For Business
One hot night. Zero expectations. But nothing in the Big Easy stays easy for long...
Bea Davies has a make her cooking history show a hit, land a TV deal, and prove her ex wrong about "wasting her potential." A wild night with a sexy stranger? Not in the plan-but she deserves one last fling before diving into her new life in New Orleans.
Kota Nishikawa likes control, routine, and keeping his personal life strictly separate from work. His one-night stands are carefully selected tourists who disappear by morning. No complications, no connections. Until Bea walks into his office as his new coworker.
Now they're sharing a tiny workspace, competing for the same grant, and fighting an attraction that refuses to fade. He thinks her cooking show is frivolous; she thinks his rigidity is maddening. Yet beneath their hostility simmers the same chemistry that once led them to break every rule.
As Bea's career takes off and Kota's carefully constructed walls begin to crumble, they'll have to decide what's more maintaining their comfortable isolation or risking it all for a chance at a love that was never part of the recipe.
Bea Davies has a make her cooking history show a hit, land a TV deal, and prove her ex wrong about "wasting her potential." A wild night with a sexy stranger? Not in the plan-but she deserves one last fling before diving into her new life in New Orleans.
Kota Nishikawa likes control, routine, and keeping his personal life strictly separate from work. His one-night stands are carefully selected tourists who disappear by morning. No complications, no connections. Until Bea walks into his office as his new coworker.
Now they're sharing a tiny workspace, competing for the same grant, and fighting an attraction that refuses to fade. He thinks her cooking show is frivolous; she thinks his rigidity is maddening. Yet beneath their hostility simmers the same chemistry that once led them to break every rule.
As Bea's career takes off and Kota's carefully constructed walls begin to crumble, they'll have to decide what's more maintaining their comfortable isolation or risking it all for a chance at a love that was never part of the recipe.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2025
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 28, 2025
**thank you Track PR for the gifted copy of this book!**
I love, love, LOVED this book! The combined family trauma, the diverse representation, the one night stand-to enemies-to lovers....all of it!
The New Orleans setting made it so fun, especially as there was history tied into it. This story was not just set in New Orleans, it was a part of the story.
Watching our main characters slowly show their vulnerable parts and begin to open up to one another was beyond satisfying. It was a rough road at times, their insecurities were both big and the heartbreak was real, but it made that HEA all the sweeter.
I would read this book again in a heartbeat!
overall: highly recommend
spice: open door
I love, love, LOVED this book! The combined family trauma, the diverse representation, the one night stand-to enemies-to lovers....all of it!
The New Orleans setting made it so fun, especially as there was history tied into it. This story was not just set in New Orleans, it was a part of the story.
Watching our main characters slowly show their vulnerable parts and begin to open up to one another was beyond satisfying. It was a rough road at times, their insecurities were both big and the heartbreak was real, but it made that HEA all the sweeter.
I would read this book again in a heartbeat!
overall: highly recommend
spice: open door
August 29, 2025
⭐ 4.5
🌶️ 1
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 1, 14, 28
📚 Tropes/Themes: grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, workplace romance, one night stand, bi FMC, AAPI MMC, interracial, opposites attract, snarky banter, rivals to lovers, nemesis to lovers, fuck it,
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Triggers: mentions of parental death, abandonment
🛍️ Available: now
💬 Another fabulous book by Sarah Chapman!!! I've been (not so) patiently waiting for Sarah's next book after reading the masterpiece that is her debut, Between the Lines (I will forever rec this book, it's so good) and I can confidently say Bad For Business was worth the wait.
The story drew me in quickly, and there's an emotional depth to it which I don't really have the words to accurately describe. It's the same depth I felt from Between the Lines.
It's not often that I think a book that advertises itself as enemies to lovers really actually fits the bill, but I feel like this one really did. And it's not just enemies to lovers but it's also rivals and nemesis (nemeses?) to lovers because Kota is just so deliciously grumpy in his traumatized way.
One thing I noticed is that in most books it's clear who I'm "voting" for as my favorite or when there's a conflict of interest, but with this one I had a hard time. Both MCs are incredibly well written with a lot of depth to them. I like Bea a lot because she's sweet, authentic and endearing and not bitchy like Kota. And yet at the same time, I feel similarly as Kota about influencers, find him more relatable and I felt like it was no contest between them who's grant application held more merit (obvs Kota 😂)
I guess if I was FORCED to choose I'd say Kota was my fave MC.
Other notable mentions about the book is how the dialogue between any two characters is FANTASTIC, the 90s references, and THE EMO MUSIC REFERENCES (no shame I went feral when I saw those because that was my entire college soundtrack)
I also have to give a very special shout out to the bitch eating crackers mention 😂. Although in the book its "idiot eating crackers", but I've always known it as bitch eating crackers. Either way it made my whole day.
I only have two minor complaints- I wish there had been more spice, and even though I knew it was coming, I still feel like the fuck it moment didn't have enough build up to it. It didn't totally make sense to me. But literally everything else about this book is perfection 🤌🏼
🌶️ 1
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 1, 14, 28
📚 Tropes/Themes: grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, workplace romance, one night stand, bi FMC, AAPI MMC, interracial, opposites attract, snarky banter, rivals to lovers, nemesis to lovers, fuck it,
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Triggers: mentions of parental death, abandonment
🛍️ Available: now
💬 Another fabulous book by Sarah Chapman!!! I've been (not so) patiently waiting for Sarah's next book after reading the masterpiece that is her debut, Between the Lines (I will forever rec this book, it's so good) and I can confidently say Bad For Business was worth the wait.
The story drew me in quickly, and there's an emotional depth to it which I don't really have the words to accurately describe. It's the same depth I felt from Between the Lines.
It's not often that I think a book that advertises itself as enemies to lovers really actually fits the bill, but I feel like this one really did. And it's not just enemies to lovers but it's also rivals and nemesis (nemeses?) to lovers because Kota is just so deliciously grumpy in his traumatized way.
One thing I noticed is that in most books it's clear who I'm "voting" for as my favorite or when there's a conflict of interest, but with this one I had a hard time. Both MCs are incredibly well written with a lot of depth to them. I like Bea a lot because she's sweet, authentic and endearing and not bitchy like Kota. And yet at the same time, I feel similarly as Kota about influencers, find him more relatable and I felt like it was no contest between them who's grant application held more merit (obvs Kota 😂)
I guess if I was FORCED to choose I'd say Kota was my fave MC.
Other notable mentions about the book is how the dialogue between any two characters is FANTASTIC, the 90s references, and THE EMO MUSIC REFERENCES (no shame I went feral when I saw those because that was my entire college soundtrack)
I also have to give a very special shout out to the bitch eating crackers mention 😂. Although in the book its "idiot eating crackers", but I've always known it as bitch eating crackers. Either way it made my whole day.
I only have two minor complaints- I wish there had been more spice, and even though I knew it was coming, I still feel like the fuck it moment didn't have enough build up to it. It didn't totally make sense to me. But literally everything else about this book is perfection 🤌🏼
June 29, 2025
As far as style of writing goes, I have no problems with it. My main problem is the MMC is a jerk a lot in the book. It's a book about redemption and over coming past trauma. But Bea is a better person than I would be.
If you like feeling all the feels, then this is for you.
If you like feeling all the feels, then this is for you.
December 2, 2025
“I would certainly not call it a romance. I would call it an unfortunate circumstance in which our clothes have come off twice. There’s been nothing romantic about it.”
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of Bad for Business. This is a purely voluntary and honest review.
Oh my goodness, this book! There were moments where I was internally screaming at the characters, others where I was laughing along with them, and even moments where I was sobbing hysterically *for* them! As an enemies to lovers, forced proximity/shared office romance featuring an incredibly hot MMC and an equally hot (bisexual queen) FMC, it kind of couldn’t go wrong for me in all honesty.
I loved the character depth and the amount of growth they each exhibit throughout the storyline. My favorite part of a book is connecting to the characters in a way that makes me feel as if I am growing right along with them, and this one absolutely did that. Kota’s journey specifically was so raw and honest. The way it was written made you want to run over and hold him, even when just chapters ago you wanted to scream and yell at him for being so oblivious.
There were parts of the plot that felt a little predictable, but also plenty of surprises and moments where you think you had it all figured out but maybe you didn’t. I think this book is for anyone looking to pick up their next (mildly) spicy contemporary romance, bonus points if you love: office romances, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, LGBTQ+ representation, and New Orleans.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of Bad for Business. This is a purely voluntary and honest review.
Oh my goodness, this book! There were moments where I was internally screaming at the characters, others where I was laughing along with them, and even moments where I was sobbing hysterically *for* them! As an enemies to lovers, forced proximity/shared office romance featuring an incredibly hot MMC and an equally hot (bisexual queen) FMC, it kind of couldn’t go wrong for me in all honesty.
I loved the character depth and the amount of growth they each exhibit throughout the storyline. My favorite part of a book is connecting to the characters in a way that makes me feel as if I am growing right along with them, and this one absolutely did that. Kota’s journey specifically was so raw and honest. The way it was written made you want to run over and hold him, even when just chapters ago you wanted to scream and yell at him for being so oblivious.
There were parts of the plot that felt a little predictable, but also plenty of surprises and moments where you think you had it all figured out but maybe you didn’t. I think this book is for anyone looking to pick up their next (mildly) spicy contemporary romance, bonus points if you love: office romances, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, LGBTQ+ representation, and New Orleans.
November 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I love a one night stand turned into new co-worker trope. The past heartbreak/trauma for both MCs really pulled at my emotions. I loved Bea so much and I was rooting for her the whole time.
thank you so much to Sarah Chapman and IRIS for the gifted book to read and review!
thank you so much to Sarah Chapman and IRIS for the gifted book to read and review!
November 21, 2025
This book is so cute and emotional. It’s sheds light on something a lot of people are probably scared of. Do you avoid love so no one can hurt you or do you love them even though they could? The banter and chemistry between them is so good I couldn’t put it down.
August 19, 2025
ARC read!
Bad For Business was such a fun and addictive read! Sarah Chapman delivers a witty, engaging story that had me hooked from the start. We get introduced to Bea who starts her new life in New Orleans. Then following Kota who is very structured in his life, someone that is all business and no play when it comes to work. A dual POV makes a story easy to follow and gave a deeper look into both sides of their personalities and relationships. The banter was sharp, the chemistry undeniable, and the push-pull tension made it impossible to put down. And honestly, I’m a sucker for a good one night stand turned something more story; Tinder date gone right. 🔥🔥🔥
What really stood out to me was how layered the characters were—flawed, funny, and real. Bea and Kota had such a great dynamic, and watching their growth throughout the story was so satisfying.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read, and if you love witty workplace romances filled with banter and sass, Bad For Business is definitely worth picking up!
Bad For Business was such a fun and addictive read! Sarah Chapman delivers a witty, engaging story that had me hooked from the start. We get introduced to Bea who starts her new life in New Orleans. Then following Kota who is very structured in his life, someone that is all business and no play when it comes to work. A dual POV makes a story easy to follow and gave a deeper look into both sides of their personalities and relationships. The banter was sharp, the chemistry undeniable, and the push-pull tension made it impossible to put down. And honestly, I’m a sucker for a good one night stand turned something more story; Tinder date gone right. 🔥🔥🔥
What really stood out to me was how layered the characters were—flawed, funny, and real. Bea and Kota had such a great dynamic, and watching their growth throughout the story was so satisfying.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read, and if you love witty workplace romances filled with banter and sass, Bad For Business is definitely worth picking up!
November 14, 2025
Huge thank you to Iris society and Sarah Chapman for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest, non spoiler review as well as being part of an upcoming book tour! I am rating Bad For Business a 4.5 stars!
This is my first ever read by Sarah Chapman and honestly….it did not disappoint! The concept behind Bea and Kota already gave me a promising feeling as I was so excited to read a rivals to lovers/enemies to lovers type of story and Bea and Kota gave us exactly that! Their relationship had so many curveballs in it from the very beginning and it kept me interested the entire length of the story. Since this is a new author to me, I didn’t know what to expect when it came to characters but I was delighted to see that Bea and Kota carried such emotional depth and relatability to them that quickly made them become some of my favorite characters. As their story continued to unfurl, you can’t help but understand the choices that they make as they battle their own fears and insecurities which makes them feel all the more real.
Bea and Kota are the epitome of enemies/rivals to lovers as it can clearly be seen in all of their moments together. The banter was bantering and the tension was pretty intense as well. Kota was the type of character that wanted to push Bea away to avoid any future heartbreak that he is used to feeling during his past and Bea…Bea turned out to be very mature and took her time with Kota in order to fully understand him. There wasn’t any cringy sort of drama between them and I loved seeing how they both became each others biggest support. “The course of true love never did run smooth” and that is exactly how Bea and Kota are. Things may have been rocky for awhile but they overcame everything and finally found the happiness they both deserved. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and will want to check out more books from this author in the future!
This is my first ever read by Sarah Chapman and honestly….it did not disappoint! The concept behind Bea and Kota already gave me a promising feeling as I was so excited to read a rivals to lovers/enemies to lovers type of story and Bea and Kota gave us exactly that! Their relationship had so many curveballs in it from the very beginning and it kept me interested the entire length of the story. Since this is a new author to me, I didn’t know what to expect when it came to characters but I was delighted to see that Bea and Kota carried such emotional depth and relatability to them that quickly made them become some of my favorite characters. As their story continued to unfurl, you can’t help but understand the choices that they make as they battle their own fears and insecurities which makes them feel all the more real.
Bea and Kota are the epitome of enemies/rivals to lovers as it can clearly be seen in all of their moments together. The banter was bantering and the tension was pretty intense as well. Kota was the type of character that wanted to push Bea away to avoid any future heartbreak that he is used to feeling during his past and Bea…Bea turned out to be very mature and took her time with Kota in order to fully understand him. There wasn’t any cringy sort of drama between them and I loved seeing how they both became each others biggest support. “The course of true love never did run smooth” and that is exactly how Bea and Kota are. Things may have been rocky for awhile but they overcame everything and finally found the happiness they both deserved. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and will want to check out more books from this author in the future!
November 11, 2025
4.5 Stars rounded up.
Thank you to IRIS for sending me a copy of this book as part of their book tour.
Bea and Kota’s story was so good! I stayed up way too late reading because I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the idea of them going from a one-off Tinder hookup to coworkers the next day, and the chaos that followed because it threw Kota for a loop and disrupted his carefully crafted facade.
Both characters had so much depth, and you could sense how deeply their pasts affected them. I quickly fell for Kota, even when he was intent on being cruel to Bea to stop her from getting too close and leaving him as well. His fears and anxieties felt incredibly relatable, and his actions made perfect sense once his story unfolded.
I really admired Bea’s ambitions and how she managed to rise above Kota’s jerk behaviour. She was incredibly patient with him, and I loved that she was able to forgive him once she uncovered the real reason behind his actions.
Their banter and tension were great while they argued and played off each other, creating a few fantastic spicy moments. The ‘fuck it’ moment was especially satisfying.
Once they began breaking down each other’s walls, their relationship was filled with sweetness and support, and I felt that Kota truly managed to redeem his actions.
The road to their relationship may have been full of bumps, but I believe it was well worth the journey to get there.
Thank you to IRIS for sending me a copy of this book as part of their book tour.
Bea and Kota’s story was so good! I stayed up way too late reading because I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the idea of them going from a one-off Tinder hookup to coworkers the next day, and the chaos that followed because it threw Kota for a loop and disrupted his carefully crafted facade.
Both characters had so much depth, and you could sense how deeply their pasts affected them. I quickly fell for Kota, even when he was intent on being cruel to Bea to stop her from getting too close and leaving him as well. His fears and anxieties felt incredibly relatable, and his actions made perfect sense once his story unfolded.
I really admired Bea’s ambitions and how she managed to rise above Kota’s jerk behaviour. She was incredibly patient with him, and I loved that she was able to forgive him once she uncovered the real reason behind his actions.
Their banter and tension were great while they argued and played off each other, creating a few fantastic spicy moments. The ‘fuck it’ moment was especially satisfying.
Once they began breaking down each other’s walls, their relationship was filled with sweetness and support, and I felt that Kota truly managed to redeem his actions.
The road to their relationship may have been full of bumps, but I believe it was well worth the journey to get there.
November 25, 2025
Bad for Business takes the reader along for a ride with Bea and Kota in the city of New Orleans. This story gave us two people with strong personalities, big dreams, and fears about love and being hurt.
Their first meeting was a fun and cute conversation with instant attraction which led to a hot one night stand. My biggest surprise was seeing Kota's personality flip from being sweet on the first night to the most irritable guy possible when they end up being new coworkers, even if the spicy tension was still there. I didn’t like Kota for the majority of the story because I couldn't figure out why he needed to be so rude to Bea. The author kept us guessing and then made my heart open up to Kota again when she shared more insight into what caused him to be so guarded. Kudos to Bea for not backing down and standing up to him while he fought her on everything, all while she continued to chase her dreams. The latter part of the story was redemption as Kota opened up and I enjoyed reading how they navigated this new part of their life as individuals and as a couple, and how they both ended up fighting for what they wanted!
Thank you to Sarah R. Chapman and Iris Influencer Society for this ARC copy!
Their first meeting was a fun and cute conversation with instant attraction which led to a hot one night stand. My biggest surprise was seeing Kota's personality flip from being sweet on the first night to the most irritable guy possible when they end up being new coworkers, even if the spicy tension was still there. I didn’t like Kota for the majority of the story because I couldn't figure out why he needed to be so rude to Bea. The author kept us guessing and then made my heart open up to Kota again when she shared more insight into what caused him to be so guarded. Kudos to Bea for not backing down and standing up to him while he fought her on everything, all while she continued to chase her dreams. The latter part of the story was redemption as Kota opened up and I enjoyed reading how they navigated this new part of their life as individuals and as a couple, and how they both ended up fighting for what they wanted!
Thank you to Sarah R. Chapman and Iris Influencer Society for this ARC copy!
November 20, 2025
Bad For Business was a cozy romance read with angst and tension. The one-night-stand-turned-co-worker trope kept the pages turning, and Bea and Kota’s enemies-to-lovers tension kept me hooked. The New Orleans setting added richness weaving history into the story. The banter was witty, the chemistry undeniable, and the push-pull tension kept me turning pages.
The enemies-to-lovers tension between Bea and Kota was engaging and full of curveballs that kept me invested. Their relationship wasn’t built on grand declarations, but on patience, vulnerability, and the willingness to face their fears adding to the emotional depth embedded in this book. Kota’s grumpy, guarded nature clashed perfectly with Bea’s determination and warmth, creating a dynamic that felt authentic and compelling.
My only critiques are that I wanted and expected more spice, and the enemies-to-lovers “f—k it” moment fell a bit short for me and didn’t have quite the buildup I hoped for. Even so, the emotional depth and character growth made this a heartfelt, engaging romance.
Thank you to IRIS and Sarah R. Chapman for allowing me to read this as an ARC!
The enemies-to-lovers tension between Bea and Kota was engaging and full of curveballs that kept me invested. Their relationship wasn’t built on grand declarations, but on patience, vulnerability, and the willingness to face their fears adding to the emotional depth embedded in this book. Kota’s grumpy, guarded nature clashed perfectly with Bea’s determination and warmth, creating a dynamic that felt authentic and compelling.
My only critiques are that I wanted and expected more spice, and the enemies-to-lovers “f—k it” moment fell a bit short for me and didn’t have quite the buildup I hoped for. Even so, the emotional depth and character growth made this a heartfelt, engaging romance.
Thank you to IRIS and Sarah R. Chapman for allowing me to read this as an ARC!
August 7, 2025
Just finished this one in the early hours of the morning because I could. not. put. it. down.
I absolutely adored Bea as the FMC. I saw myself in her so much and her sense of humor was so on par with my own that I was laughing out loud consistently throughout the book. Which made the banter between her and Kota top notch. I was giddily smiling when they were flirting...and the office scene? The heels? 🥵 If you know you know. 😉
I loved that the spice didn't take away from the story line at all and only added insight to the characters as they grew through the story. They both had to overcome their past and unresolved trauma in order to truly love each other completely. And although it was an extremely bumpy road, their love was stronger for it!
New Orleans was always Bea's dream....but Kota became her happily ever after. 💖
I absolutely adored Bea as the FMC. I saw myself in her so much and her sense of humor was so on par with my own that I was laughing out loud consistently throughout the book. Which made the banter between her and Kota top notch. I was giddily smiling when they were flirting...and the office scene? The heels? 🥵 If you know you know. 😉
I loved that the spice didn't take away from the story line at all and only added insight to the characters as they grew through the story. They both had to overcome their past and unresolved trauma in order to truly love each other completely. And although it was an extremely bumpy road, their love was stronger for it!
New Orleans was always Bea's dream....but Kota became her happily ever after. 💖
November 19, 2025
Thank you to Iris Influencer Society and Sarah Chapman for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Who doesn’t love a book that combines social media and food? Honestly this book was such a fun experience to read. I was laughing and grinning the entire time that I read it and not to mention swooning because of every single freaking quote that had such a beautiful and emotional meaning behind them.
There is something wholesome about Bea and Kota’s relationship that had me devouring this book the second I picked it up.
If you guys need a palette cleanser from all the Romantasy books, pick this up.
Who doesn’t love a book that combines social media and food? Honestly this book was such a fun experience to read. I was laughing and grinning the entire time that I read it and not to mention swooning because of every single freaking quote that had such a beautiful and emotional meaning behind them.
There is something wholesome about Bea and Kota’s relationship that had me devouring this book the second I picked it up.
If you guys need a palette cleanser from all the Romantasy books, pick this up.
November 19, 2025
Thank you so much for iris influencer society and Sarah Chapmanfor gifting me a physical arc in exchange for my non spoiler review! This was my first book from Sarah and I enjoyed every bit of it! I love a good contemporary romance especially with these tropes. The characters had so much depth and you could really understand their thoughts and feelings along the way. I was rooting for them the entire time. The banter between the two was well done and lots of tension. I loved how Bea was patient with Kota and gave him the benefit of the doubt. It was a rollercoaster with the two of them but when they finally let their walls down they found true happiness
November 22, 2025
Review of Bad for Business by Sarah R. Chapman
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities and Sarah R. Chapman is a delight of a human, so jumping into this book was a no brainer for me! Sparks fly between a TikTok food historian and a guarded art teacher when their one-night
stand turns into an unexpected daily collision of passion and professional tension. With workplace romance, enemies to lovers, one night stand, and forced proximity tropes set in a historically rich city, what else could I ask for? There's spice and humor, representation and healing, and lots of quirky fun! Definitely recommend this for lovers of contemporary romance!
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities and Sarah R. Chapman is a delight of a human, so jumping into this book was a no brainer for me! Sparks fly between a TikTok food historian and a guarded art teacher when their one-night
stand turns into an unexpected daily collision of passion and professional tension. With workplace romance, enemies to lovers, one night stand, and forced proximity tropes set in a historically rich city, what else could I ask for? There's spice and humor, representation and healing, and lots of quirky fun! Definitely recommend this for lovers of contemporary romance!
November 17, 2025
Oh this pulled at my heartstrings! This was such an emotional but beautiful read! I enjoyed this beautiful book so much! Sarah has such a talent for writing such beautiful words. Kota had a lot of growth to work on within the book and Bea was just such a beautiful soul that needed her own growth. She had such a grace about her that you can't help but be enthralled by her. The way she loved Kota was beautiful and the spice was so sexy! The tension between them was so addictive and explosive! These two are honestly the cutest!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews