Office Hours

by Ummni Khan

Feminist scholar Aamanee Haq is starting her first university teaching job, an opportunity that fills her with both giddiness and anxiety. But when prospective student Xavier Thorn, the handsome CEO of a booming tech company, requests a meeting, it’s pure hate…at first office hours.

Xavier has enrolled in her gender studies course in order to quell the criticism his company has been facing during a series of sexual harassment complaints and Aamanee is outraged at his arrogance and alpha male energy. For his part, Xavier finds Dr. Haq to be instantly irritating, with her careful observance of preferred pronouns and habit of launching into a social justice lecture no matter the situation. And yet, both of them can’t deny an overwhelming, undeniable attraction, one that confuses, distracts, and, of course, turns them on. The problem? Their chemistry goes against the campus sexual harassment and abuse policy, a policy that Aamanee herself helped draft. With her job in danger, can they keep it all together, or are they just going to burn it all down?

Sexy, smart, inclusive, and laugh-out-loud funny, Office Hours is the erotic romance novel that speaks to this very moment, for those of us navigating not just our own dating lives, but also the wider culture that seeks to define desire, even when it resists categorization.

280 pages, Unknown Binding

Expected publication September 7, 2027

Reviews

[Lochi's Library · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A return to academia, featuring lectures and office hours, had me feeling like I was being transported back to my post-secondary years. If you want romance with several thesis topics sprinkled in like bridging patriarchal hegemony, retaining female independence without hindering pleasure, and, yes, exploring a power dynamic then clock in to Office Hours.

Ummni Khan uses Office Hours as a vessel for teaching, albeit somewhat heavy-handedly through Aamanee, a feminist scholar and professor. This book isn’t for the casual romance reader; this is my precursor you’ve got to be locked in. The woven-in themes, well-researched theories, and facts gave me flashbacks to my lecture halls and time on campus.

While there’s a resurgence of romance (we won’t know the exact effects of this wave on society for years to come), I think Khan captures a flicker of it. The cover art and the copywriting in the blurb are outstanding. However, I don’t necessarily consider Office Hours a romance; it exists in a space of its own. It’s heavily intertwined with prose suited for academia, and the subject matter does takes precedence over the romance.

Xavier, (a tech CEO taking a women’s studies class), challenges Aamanee’s theories with a simple counterpoint: Do all the theories, key terms, and more really hold up in reality? In contrast, Aamanee's journey is something you watch with interest as a character that shrinks but also rises. What I will say, without a doubt this is a timely read (simply look at the Cornell 7 case, something I know Ummni would totally be able to dissect, seriously I would love to be her student). While reading, yes “the professor speak” doesn’t always translate well into the genre in which it’s being presented, but the intention? I will wholeheartedly praise.

The main thing I wanted to highlight is that the emotional beats are missing. We often cut away from really important story and character-arc moments instead of sitting with them. Office Hours has the bones of something great. However, a scalpel is needed, along with a nudge to rewrite and rework certain elements.

Even with everything I’ve highlighted, I’m happy with the book for what it attempts to bridge.

Thanks to ECW Press! Once again, happy to support a Canadian publishing house that continues to deliver fresh, diverse reads.

[☆Laura☆]

Aamanee Haq es profesora de estudios de género y feminismo y lo último que necesita es tener problemas con Xavier Thorn, un exitoso CEO que está acostumbrado a conseguir lo que quiere. Después de un escándalo en su empresa relacionado con el acoso sexual, se ve obligado a tomar una clase de Aamanee para mejorar su imagen pública. Sus encuentros se convierten en una constante lucha de opiniones, ya que ninguno parece dispuesto a darle la razón al otro.

Sin embargo, la tensión no tarda en convertirse en algo más difícil de ignorar. Ella sabe que involucrarse con alguien como él podría poner en riesgo su carrera y todo lo que ha construido, especialmente cuando las reglas de la universidad no permiten una relación así. Pero cuanto más tiempo pasan juntos, más complicado se vuelve mantener las cosas bajo control.


_____

Con la sinopsis sabía que Xavier me caería mal, pero esperaba que conforme avanzara la historia el cambiara y fuera un mejor hombre y se diera cuanta de sus errores al tratar a las mujeres como objeto. Lamentablemente no fue así y no tengo idea que le vio Aamanee .

[Rina · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

a brown Muslim protagonist with no white washing of culture to be accessible to caucasian readers?? SIGN ME UP

this was a cute read. i loved our fmc and how she struggles to feel comfortable in her own skin and the workplace. too often do brown girls feel displaced and awkward. but the author did a fantastic job of making it feel poignant when such depictions usually tether on the side of getting annoying to read.

the mmc was good too. he definitely had personality outside of the romance and I liked some of his quips.
i do wish this novel went thru 1 more round of editing to make some parts feel less like a lecture on gender studies. The author is definitely knowledgeable and deeply understands the field which it why it sometimes comes off as info dumping.
Other than that it’s a popcorn read

[Julia Bozza · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

This was quite a read I have such mixed feelings. On the one hand I felt it was so well written and did a really good job of educating its readers about gender studies. At the same time, I felt like the “education” almost overtook the story and outweighed the plot. Instead of deeply emotional moments I felt like I was reading a lecture instead. I also felt like it was almost TOO politically correct, to the point that sometimes it felt like it was poking fun which maybe was the point but it didn’t seem like it? That being said, I thought the way they explained a lot of concepts was very interesting and enhanced my OWN knowledge, it was definitely very well written!

[colby · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

aamanee haq is a first year professor teaching gender studies and xavier thorn is a ceo of a tech company unwillingly taking this class to clean up his company’s image.

the way this book talks about feminism and intersectionality—it is apparent that the author is well versed in these topics. you not only read about a gender studies course, you feel like you are taking the class yourself. it made me think about my own feminism and how i not only could be a better feminist, but also learning about feminism as a whole

dr haq’s character is what made this book for me. xavier i eventually came around to liking which i think really shows his growth from taking the class.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this cover is amazing!

The pacing and writing is well done and I enjoyed the authors style. The atmosphere of book is perfect for an academia vibe.

My biggest issue was the MMC. He was a man who needed to be told women are people which is not a great starting point, but held the promise for great development. Not the case.

However, Aamanee is delightful. I love her vibes, her dialogue and her presence. She saved this book.

Overall, I would still recommend if you’re looking for a delightful FMC and academia vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Sarah Mano · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

I loved and felt for Aamanee, the way she punished herself though was understandable bring a a child of immigrants but truly tough to see for her. When Brenda said to her how it sounds like catholic guilt more than feminism thinking was all I was thinking too.
And Xavier was a great example of what we would love to see men learn and do better to men! I love how he stood up for her and I love how feel fell so hard for her too!!!
But damnnnnnn I couldn’t stand Alistair one bit, personally I could see how he was an actual ally, the way he treated and guilt Aam in one to many ways got got to me so much 🙃

[Slovestoread · Rating 1.75 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book did not hit the mark. I liked Aamanee, but I felt like Xavier was acting a bit childish for my liking

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own