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Not Safe for Work
Not yet published
Expected 20 May 25Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 10:03:49
25 copies available
U.S.ԻCanada only
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?
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 20, 2025
23.7k people want to read
About the author
Nisha J. Tuli
21books3,673followersVisit 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 an international bestselling author of glittering fantasy worlds, steamy rom-coms, and kissing scenes full of angst. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, went on to become a BookTok hit, finding its way into the hands of A-list celebrities like Katherine Heigl.
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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Nisha J Tuli is an international bestselling author of glittering fantasy worlds, steamy rom-coms, and kissing scenes full of angst. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, went on to become a BookTok hit, finding its way into the hands of A-list celebrities like Katherine Heigl.
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 1,302 reviews
May 6, 2025
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’� 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒏𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’� 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒏’� 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’� 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｡ꪆ� ˚� 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｡ꪆ� ˚� got the eARC and ALC this is gonna be epic i just know it!!!!!!!
February 18, 2025
~
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 🤞🤞
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 🤞🤞
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
May 7, 2025
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 💗
April 10, 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.
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.
February 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. will be officially published on May 20th, 2025!
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 being 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 comes 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 was her, I would've lost my marbles.
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 a MMC aside from his family drama 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 than developing his relationship with Tris. (Side note: he's also got a filthy mouth on him.)
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 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.
3.5 stars
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.
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-𝓇𝑒Ю𝒹: 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.)
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 being 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 comes 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 was her, I would've lost my marbles.
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 a MMC aside from his family drama 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 than developing his relationship with Tris. (Side note: he's also got a filthy mouth on him.)
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 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.
3.5 stars
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.
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-𝓇𝑒Ю𝒹: 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.)
April 28, 2025
4.5⭐️ | | |
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.*
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 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�
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.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬:
✓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.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬:
✓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 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
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.
May 6, 2025
ARC REVIEW 🌷
3 �
Not Safe for Work sets the stage for a fun, steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with a tropical twist, and while the premise was promising, the execution didn’t fully work for me.
I appreciated the focus on Trishara’s experience as a woman of color in a male dominated field it gave the story a layer of substance often missing in romcoms. However, I found it difficult to connect with both Trishara and Rafe. Despite being in their late twenties, their dynamic often felt immature. Instead of meaningful conversations, they leaned into childish rivalry, which made their sudden shift to romance feel abrupt and underdeveloped .🤷
The chemistry between them didn’t fully come through it felt more like it was told than shown. After years of distance and just a few days of intimacy, their love story didn’t feel earned. That said, the setting was beautifully described and genuinely immersive I felt like I was right there on vacation with them.🩷
While I would’ve loved a duet narration for a story like this, the single narrator still gave a great performance. Unfortunately, the emotional tension and romantic spark I was hoping for didn’t quite land.
Thank you again to Hatchette Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and provide my honest thoughts.🫶
3 �
Not Safe for Work sets the stage for a fun, steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with a tropical twist, and while the premise was promising, the execution didn’t fully work for me.
I appreciated the focus on Trishara’s experience as a woman of color in a male dominated field it gave the story a layer of substance often missing in romcoms. However, I found it difficult to connect with both Trishara and Rafe. Despite being in their late twenties, their dynamic often felt immature. Instead of meaningful conversations, they leaned into childish rivalry, which made their sudden shift to romance feel abrupt and underdeveloped .🤷
The chemistry between them didn’t fully come through it felt more like it was told than shown. After years of distance and just a few days of intimacy, their love story didn’t feel earned. That said, the setting was beautifully described and genuinely immersive I felt like I was right there on vacation with them.🩷
While I would’ve loved a duet narration for a story like this, the single narrator still gave a great performance. Unfortunately, the emotional tension and romantic spark I was hoping for didn’t quite land.
Thank you again to Hatchette Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and provide my honest thoughts.🫶
May 5, 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
February 12, 2025
Okay, this was a fun read and I think it shows how good of a writer Nisha is cause this was so different from her fantasy books. This book reminded me of early Ali Hazelwood books with the rom-com in stem vibes. This leaned into the comedy aspect with a tall mmc with rock-hard abs that hurt the fmc when she bumped into it. So the fmc is a biracial woman working in STEM in a male-dominated office and company. They are invited to a company retreat where due to a mix up the fmc has to share a room with the CEO's son who is her enemy. Just to add in this room there is only one bed so you know how that goes.
I liked how lighthearted the book was, at times the characters could be immature but it was fun. the tension and banter between the MCs was so good and I was rooting for them. It was also steamy but not immediately. The intersection of the fmc being BIPOC and a woman in this field was interesting and I liked the humorous way that was addressed in the book. Overall this was a fun and cute read. Thank you Forever for this arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- STEM romance
- Biracial fmc
- Rivals to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Only one room and bed
I liked how lighthearted the book was, at times the characters could be immature but it was fun. the tension and banter between the MCs was so good and I was rooting for them. It was also steamy but not immediately. The intersection of the fmc being BIPOC and a woman in this field was interesting and I liked the humorous way that was addressed in the book. Overall this was a fun and cute read. Thank you Forever for this arc for an honest review.
Read for:
- STEM romance
- Biracial fmc
- Rivals to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Only one room and bed
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!!
May 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley & Forever for allowing me to read this ARC.
Not Safe for Work will be published on May 20th. Full disclaimer, I have never read a book by Nisha J. Tuli as Romance and Thriller are my main genres. But I was really curious about this one since it's bee hyped by author Julie Soto on Instagram and got a blurb by Abby Jimenez. Trishara Malik is determined to prove herself at a corporate retreat in Hawaii, but her plans are derailed when she’s forced to share a honeymoon suite with her workplace rival, Rafe Gallagher. As they compete for a coveted executive training spot, Tris starts to see a different side of Rafe—one that challenges everything she believed about him. With her career and heart on the line, she must decide if he’s truly her enemy or something much more.
I really wanted to love this one, but it fell flat for me. It leaned too heavily on tropes—the broody hero, the one-bed situation—without bringing anything fresh. Since we only get the FMC’s POV, the MMC’s thoughts and feelings remain a mystery, making it harder to connect with their dynamic.
That said, I have to give major credit to the cover designer and illustrator—the artwork is absolutely stunning! It immediately catches the eye and makes you want to dive into the story. A beautifully designed cover like this definitely adds to the book’s appeal!
----
Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC
Narration: Soneela Nankani
Listening speed: 2X
I absolutely loved the narrator’s deep, rich voice—it added so much depth to the story. She brought the characters to life and kept me completely hooked from start to finish. Her performance made the listening experience truly immersive!
Not Safe for Work will be published on May 20th. Full disclaimer, I have never read a book by Nisha J. Tuli as Romance and Thriller are my main genres. But I was really curious about this one since it's bee hyped by author Julie Soto on Instagram and got a blurb by Abby Jimenez. Trishara Malik is determined to prove herself at a corporate retreat in Hawaii, but her plans are derailed when she’s forced to share a honeymoon suite with her workplace rival, Rafe Gallagher. As they compete for a coveted executive training spot, Tris starts to see a different side of Rafe—one that challenges everything she believed about him. With her career and heart on the line, she must decide if he’s truly her enemy or something much more.
I really wanted to love this one, but it fell flat for me. It leaned too heavily on tropes—the broody hero, the one-bed situation—without bringing anything fresh. Since we only get the FMC’s POV, the MMC’s thoughts and feelings remain a mystery, making it harder to connect with their dynamic.
That said, I have to give major credit to the cover designer and illustrator—the artwork is absolutely stunning! It immediately catches the eye and makes you want to dive into the story. A beautifully designed cover like this definitely adds to the book’s appeal!
----
Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC
Narration: Soneela Nankani
Listening speed: 2X
I absolutely loved the narrator’s deep, rich voice—it added so much depth to the story. She brought the characters to life and kept me completely hooked from start to finish. Her performance made the listening experience truly immersive!
April 26, 2025
𝘼𝙇𝘾 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮!
A͟u͟d͟i͟o͟ n͟a͟r͟r͟a͟t͟i͟o͟n͟: 5/5🌟
The narrator did an AMAZING job. Her pronounciations, expressions and way of delivering the speech was on point. Although I would've enjoyed it more if it was a duet narration, she still carried the book effortlessly and that's what matters. This was my first audiobook experience and definitely won't be my last.
A͟b͟o͟u͟t͟ t͟h͟e͟ b͟o͟o͟k͟:
Okay so hear me out. The book wasn't actually that bad. This represented internalised misogyny and the shit women have to deal with on a regular basis in various work fields, especially the male dominated ones. However, it wasn't that good of a representation either. It felt like that aspect was there just because and not for the purpose of showing readers something. Did that make sense to you? Idk I just feel like that aspect of the story didn't impact me as much as it should have.
The story between Trish and Rafe was a boring one and that made me drop my rating. I couldn't really feel the tension or chemistry between them. I feel like we didn't get to see their relationship develop on a deeper level. It all seemed 'only talk and no show' to me. And then suddenly, they realised they were in love with eachother after 5 years of nonchalance and a few days of sleeping together. 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁? The 'rivalry' between them seemed pretty childish to me too, considering they were pushing 30.
Another teensy thing that bothered me is the fmc obsessing over her romance novels. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those too or I wouldn't be here. But the thing is, lately almost 𝗮𝗹𝗹 books have an fmc with this trait and now it just gives me the ick. I don't want to read a smutty romance book only to find out the fmc reads another smutty book inside 𝗺𝘆 book. You feelin' me?
All in all, this book was average at best and to be completely honest, it's pretty basic and nothing life changing to rave about so idk if I would recommend it to anyone.
A͟u͟d͟i͟o͟ n͟a͟r͟r͟a͟t͟i͟o͟n͟: 5/5🌟
The narrator did an AMAZING job. Her pronounciations, expressions and way of delivering the speech was on point. Although I would've enjoyed it more if it was a duet narration, she still carried the book effortlessly and that's what matters. This was my first audiobook experience and definitely won't be my last.
A͟b͟o͟u͟t͟ t͟h͟e͟ b͟o͟o͟k͟:
Okay so hear me out. The book wasn't actually that bad. This represented internalised misogyny and the shit women have to deal with on a regular basis in various work fields, especially the male dominated ones. However, it wasn't that good of a representation either. It felt like that aspect was there just because and not for the purpose of showing readers something. Did that make sense to you? Idk I just feel like that aspect of the story didn't impact me as much as it should have.
The story between Trish and Rafe was a boring one and that made me drop my rating. I couldn't really feel the tension or chemistry between them. I feel like we didn't get to see their relationship develop on a deeper level. It all seemed 'only talk and no show' to me. And then suddenly, they realised they were in love with eachother after 5 years of nonchalance and a few days of sleeping together. 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁? The 'rivalry' between them seemed pretty childish to me too, considering they were pushing 30.
Another teensy thing that bothered me is the fmc obsessing over her romance novels. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those too or I wouldn't be here. But the thing is, lately almost 𝗮𝗹𝗹 books have an fmc with this trait and now it just gives me the ick. I don't want to read a smutty romance book only to find out the fmc reads another smutty book inside 𝗺𝘆 book. You feelin' me?
All in all, this book was average at best and to be completely honest, it's pretty basic and nothing life changing to rave about so idk if I would recommend it to anyone.
May 3, 2025
4.5 � This was so good!!! From the first chapter I was hooked and flew through this read. I looove rivals to lovers and this was perfect!!! Workplace rivals that can’t stand each other have to spend 3 weeks in Hawaii together? Forced proximity? He is disgustingly down bad??? (Complimentary) I ate it up!! I loved the fmc Tris and how confident and badass she was but also felt like she was really relatable in the way that she second guessed her worth and felt like she tried too hard. And Rafe!!! The sweetest mmc who just wanted to see Tris appreciated the way she deserved. Ugh what a man!! The Hawaii setting was obviously so fun, the tension, banter, and angst were off the charts!!! They literally had me giggling to myself. I loved the representation and the diversity within the workplace discussion. I thought nisha did a great job with that and loved her being blunt, calling it like it is. And as a headache/migraine girlie, it meant a lot to see that represented in our fmc!! This was such a perfect summer read with the perfect amount of depth and humor. Highly recommend picking it up on release day, may 20 🫶🏼
April 24, 2025
4.5⭐️ BUT ROUNDING UP
After reading Nisha J Tuli’s romantasy books, I already knew she could write an incredible romance & dynamic story, & this was NO exception!!
I loved the representation of Tris as a woman in STEM right away & just the representation of how so many women, especially WOC, get lost in the boys club of these corporate companies. I LOVED how she advocated for herself
And don’t even get me started on Rafe 😍 I loved how he had so many soft parts to his personality & how we learned about him throughout the story. Him & Trishara are truly the perfect match 😍
& I loved the ending so much 😭😭💗
Thank you to Nisha J Tuli, Forever Publishing, & NetGalley for the advanced copy!!!
After reading Nisha J Tuli’s romantasy books, I already knew she could write an incredible romance & dynamic story, & this was NO exception!!
I loved the representation of Tris as a woman in STEM right away & just the representation of how so many women, especially WOC, get lost in the boys club of these corporate companies. I LOVED how she advocated for herself
And don’t even get me started on Rafe 😍 I loved how he had so many soft parts to his personality & how we learned about him throughout the story. Him & Trishara are truly the perfect match 😍
& I loved the ending so much 😭😭💗
Thank you to Nisha J Tuli, Forever Publishing, & NetGalley for the advanced copy!!!
February 28, 2025
A great contemporary romance debut from Nisha J. Tuli!
I love Nisha’s fantasy book so when I heard about this book I was beyond excited.
I really enjoyed seeing all aspects Tris’s story unfold. We get to see her heal from her toxic past relationship, fight against unfair treatment in her workplace, and fall in love with a kind hearted man. One thing about Nisha is she’s going to write a strong FMC that does not back down! With that being said this definitely felt more like Tris’s story rather than her and Rafe’s love story, but honestly, I’m that that upset about it. I will always appreciate a resilient, bada** FMC and Nisha J. Tuli will always provide that!
The ending of this book had me CHEERING from my bed. I couldn’t be happier with the results of this book and wouldn’t complain if we got to see a sprinkle of Trishara and Rafe in a future contemporary romance from Nisha. Just a little cameo PLEASE!
Arc review
I love Nisha’s fantasy book so when I heard about this book I was beyond excited.
I really enjoyed seeing all aspects Tris’s story unfold. We get to see her heal from her toxic past relationship, fight against unfair treatment in her workplace, and fall in love with a kind hearted man. One thing about Nisha is she’s going to write a strong FMC that does not back down! With that being said this definitely felt more like Tris’s story rather than her and Rafe’s love story, but honestly, I’m that that upset about it. I will always appreciate a resilient, bada** FMC and Nisha J. Tuli will always provide that!
The ending of this book had me CHEERING from my bed. I couldn’t be happier with the results of this book and wouldn’t complain if we got to see a sprinkle of Trishara and Rafe in a future contemporary romance from Nisha. Just a little cameo PLEASE!
Arc review
Shelved as 'arc-tbr'
February 18, 2025˚ ༘♡ pre-read:
thank you to readforever for an arc copy of this, I CAN'T WAIT I mean look at that cover?????
thank you to readforever for an arc copy of this, I CAN'T WAIT I mean look at that cover?????
March 31, 2025
As someone who is a big fan of Nisha's fantasy writings, I was really curious if she would crossover to romcoms successfully. And I'm happy to say, she did. "Not Safe For Work" is about two rival engineers who get stuck doing the one room trope during a conference in Hawaii. It was cute, it was funny, and it's a perfect beach read this summer. I felt a chemistry between our two main characters and ended up reading this book quite quickly. Also love any book with women in STEM. I hope Nisha writes more romcoms in the future, they will be automatic buys from me.
May 7, 2025
4.5 🌟! Full ARC review to come 💜
Overview:
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?
Review:
This was such a fun and EASY read. You know how sometimes each page read feels like a struggle and a feat? This one just breezed by! I found myself laughing out loud in a room by myself while reading. Rafe is just *chefs kiss* for an MMC, and Tris is very sassy, if not a bit over the top. I loved peeling back the layers from both of them and learning more about their lives behind the scenes and beyond the assumptions that Tris has made during her tenure at work!
Lots of great representation in this novel, including mental health, LGBTQ, women of color, and women in STEM. It’s quite trope-y, but if you enjoy these tropes, you should definitely check out Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli when it releases on 20 May 2025!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overview:
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?
Review:
This was such a fun and EASY read. You know how sometimes each page read feels like a struggle and a feat? This one just breezed by! I found myself laughing out loud in a room by myself while reading. Rafe is just *chefs kiss* for an MMC, and Tris is very sassy, if not a bit over the top. I loved peeling back the layers from both of them and learning more about their lives behind the scenes and beyond the assumptions that Tris has made during her tenure at work!
Lots of great representation in this novel, including mental health, LGBTQ, women of color, and women in STEM. It’s quite trope-y, but if you enjoy these tropes, you should definitely check out Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli when it releases on 20 May 2025!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2025
A quick paced, flirty workplace rom-com that features (my favorite) enemies-to-lovers trope. I enjoyed how it tackled diversity and being a woman in corporate America, balancing out the seriousness of that with the fun and sexy dynamic of the romance. Tris and Rafe were amazing characters, and I especially liked the female friendships featured here.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
the hate to love tension was out of control
thank you forever and hachette audio for the gifted copies!! full rtc 🫶
thank you forever and hachette audio for the gifted copies!! full rtc 🫶
March 4, 2025
I think this is great for fans of The Hating Game and a perfect book to read on vacation. I really enjoyed the representation we got with Trishara's character and insight into her work life as well. I did think the middle was a little repetative but overall it was an easy to get into, light and spicy romance read.
Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my ARC!
3.5/5
Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my ARC!
3.5/5
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