WHOA. I adored this one.

This is just one of the sweetest and swoon-worthy contemporary romances I have read in a long time. Going into this book I was expecting a sweet and steamy romcom, and this book delivered on all of that while simultaneously delivering a big emotional punch as well.

How To Fail at Flirting follows Naya and Jake, who meet by chance and develop a really strong connection (but I wouldn't call it instalove). A its heart this book is about two people trying to make it work despite external complications and trauma from past relationships.

This one has definitely cured the contemporary romance slump I've been in. One of my top reads of the year - just a delightful read!

5/5. Highly recommend. A+.

TW: Domestic violence

Really enjoyed this story of a typical overachieving college professor who is urged by friends to let loose and live a little. She has a list of things she "should" do to live life a little more fully. None of them come naturally to her, which is part of what makes this book so much fun to read. Great characters keep you caring about what happens.

I don't know how to articulate my feelings towards this book. Nuance is not the author's strong suit, we are in Naya's head at all times and it gets very claustrophobic beyond the times it is is intentional. I think this will be the first of #meToo in romance in which you are so ingrained in the characters struggle and anxiety. Not sure if fans of typical new adult and modern romances will enjoy this one, I found it triggering.

Oh wow, did I love this book. The depictions of how Naya felt when near her abuser were authentic and compelling. I loved how she worked through that and found love again. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I devoured this book y’all, like seriously in one day. It was sooooo good. I absolutely loved Naya’s character and how she learned to love again and let go of all the pain in her life. BUT Jake was my favorite throughout the book. The fact that he loved her through all her broken moments made my heart so happy. I also loved how the author made both of the characters really funny and quirky. It was refreshing to read 🧡
There were some pretty heavy topics in this one but the author did an exceptional job with them. The story flowed well and yes it was predictable but I still throughly enjoyed it. Did I mention that it had some super and I mean S U P E R steamy scenes (fans myself) 😂

Overall if you’re into romcoms I HIGHLY recommend you get your copy when it releases on December 1st, 2020

Professor Naya Turner is up for tenure and her department is up for possible trimming. In addition, her best friends have given her a to-do list that includes hooking up with someone so she can get over her last boyfriend who abused her.

Naya has agreed to meet up with her friends at a local bar, but when neither one is able to join her, she finds herself flirting with a handsome, funny, charming man (Jake) who is in town for a wedding.

This is a fast-moving story that includes a look at some of the convoluted workings of academia, compromising relationships and romance. Alert, it includes quite a few sex scenes.

I was provided an ARC of How to Fail at Flirting from Netgalley and I enjoyed reading it. I loved the shorter chapters a lot. As a mom of a 6 year old who interrupts me every minute, the short chapters were fantastic. The plot was pretty unique. It wasn't just a sweet romance, there was a subplot of abuse from her past (trigger warning). The only thing I wish it had more of was a sense of urgency. I wasn't emotionally connected to the characters and even with that sketchy subplot, I just didn't "feel" like I would have liked.

A brilliant contemporary romance, HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING is full of humor (banter and puns), heat (sizzling passion and the relationship development), and heart (the characters and plot). Naya, the heroine, is so likable and relatable and our hero, Jake, is completely adorable and swoon-worthy. I simply adored this debut and can’t wait for December and I'm looking forward to what Williams is writing next.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of How To Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams.

I want to start off by saying that I absolutely loved this book, but there should be a content warning in my review, this book deals with domestic violence, emotional abuse and physical assault.

I thought this book was so beautifully written, especially when it came to Naya's inner monologue, i think it was extremely important to bring attention to how domestic abuse survivors deal with the trauma in their every day lives, even if it may be the smallest task. I think that was a huge eye opener to be and really pulled on my heart strings. I wanted to reach into the book and give Naya a hug myself.

On the happier side of the novel, it starts off as Naya being forced by her two best friends to end her dryspell, and on her first night out Naya meets Jake. Jake is ultimately the perfect man, or so we all think at first. Of course Naya is worried about her job and everything that could go wrong with a relationship so the book takes us through the trials and tribulations of Naya finding her voice and being confident in who she is and not let what has happened to her cause her to fear life.

Although there are many cheesy parts to this book, I think it is one of the things that makes it great. After Naya has been through so much in her dating life she is able to bounce back and be herself joking and laughing with Jake.

I highly recommend this book to any one who likes a steamy romance, with a little more drama than I had originally expected. I can't wait for this book to hit the selves I think it is going to be a favorite this winter.

Let me begin by stating that I am not a contemporary romance reader, they just aren't what I choose to read very often. So, I am not certain what compelled me to read this book, but I am glad I did.

I expected a feel good easy read and, while this book was an easy read, I was surprised to discover that this wasn't just "fluff". The author tackles subjects such as abusive relationships and the mental trauma it causes the victim, inequality in the workforce, racial issues, and much more.

Naya is introduced as a shy, broken, character, but we get to see her discover her strength and begin heal. Jake may be a bit too perfect, even if he does have a small amount of baggage. While their relationship starts as an attempted one night stand, the reader gets to watch it blossom into a love match. I will warn, there is a LOT of sex in this book, but overall it was a good read.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not quite sure why I requested it because I feel like the synopsis doesn't do it justice, but I'm glad I did. It was a great rom-com for someone who enjoys rom-coms.

I liked that this book wasn't just a straight-forward love story. The author touched on topics such as abusive relationships, bigotry, racial ignorance, and women in the workforce. Although these weren't main topics, they were discussed from time to time.

The love story was the main topic in the book. We get to know Naya throughout the book as she explores a new relationship with a handsome stranger, Jake, and struggles to overcome a past abusive relationship. Naya was an interesting character because we are told how shy and sweet she is at the beginning of the book, but we really get to know her as an empowered woman with Jake. I love that we get to see different facets of her personality and her overall change towards the end of the book.

As for Jake...I would read this book a hundred times over just for him. I was so skeptical at the beginning because I was like 'Oh. They met at a bar. Typical.' But I really loved getting proved wrong when it came to him. Jake is a wonderful dreamboat that we all need in our lives.

Fair warning. This book contains a lot of sex with most scenes being fairly descriptive. It was a little much for my taste. I could have done without most of it and wished there could have been more storyline rather than just sex, but it is what it is.

Overall, I enjoyed the humor, the insightful topics, and Jake. *Sigh* Jake...I recommend this book for those looking for a nice rom-com to curl up with to escape the winter cold.

I like a book where the reader is aware that the couple is in love before the couple does. How to Fail at Fliritng is that book with humor to spare! I wish this book were available for my library patrons to read right now. It is uplifting and helps the reader to belive that the world will go on insipte of what is going on in the real world right now.

This book was a very big surprise in the way it handles certain themes that I really wasn't expecting. It's a fun and sexy read, no doubt. But it also does bring forth the topic of domestic abuse and harassment and how women can feel that trauma in many ways--especially a continued harassment from predators whom they date and work with. The importance of making a point of that improper power balance and the reason why some women do not come forth with informing people of that injustice is such an important thing that this book presents.

This was very cute. I really loved Naya, and how a lot of the story was focused on her healing. It took me 30 pages or so to really get into this, but once I was in I was in. I would definitely recommend this one.

To be fully transparent, I will say Denise Williams was one of my fellow finalists in the 2019 Romance Writers of America® (RWA®) Golden Heart®. However, the review to follow is 100% based on my honest reaction to this delightful multicultural romantic comedy. How to Fail at Flirting was a fresh, energetic, and relatable tale with an engaging plot and charming characters. It piqued my interest from page one and kept me hooked all the way to the end.

And don’t even get me started on Jake. Hooollleeee epic level of book boyfriend awesomeness. I fell hard for Jake right off the bat. I’m talking insta-book-boyfriend love here, people. For real. He is the sweetest, funniest, most adorkable hottie I’ve run across between the pages of a book in far too long. His puns made me giggle, his genuine personality and caring heart made me swoon, and his complete lack of an exaggerated sense of self-worth is… beyond refreshing. I love that he was a bit of a late bloomer and is so adorably blind to his smokin’ hot bod.

Also, the conflict in this book was so genuine. I fully believe suspension of disbelief is part of fiction. To some degree, all fiction requires some form of it from its readers. However, when an author is able to create a realistic plot that doesn’t require an excessive amount, my readerly pom-poms come out. And Williams definitely succeeded in just that with this story.

Finally, I have to mention how much I adored the leading lady. I’m not usually a fan of single POV stories, especially in my romance. I really like to understand both sides of things, but I think this particular story worked so well as a single POV because of my previous point. It’s believable. The characters’ reactions aren’t overblown, the conflict is relatable, and the resolution doesn’t just happen. (No, I’m not going to spoiler any details, promise!) I appreciate that both characters have to work for their HEA. That’s all I’ll say.

I would so, so highly recommend this to every reader of women’s fiction, romance… heck, even just fiction in general. It’s such an enjoyable read that I can see readers from all different genres finding a great deal to love about this book!!

Denise Williams debut novel is a delight! Naya is a sympathetic character trying to overcome trauma. The romance has surprising depth.

Dr. Naya Turner teaches math education at a university in Chicago. After three years as single-pringle, she has an adorably cheesy meet-cute at a bar. Enter Jake. At her friends' prodding, Naya throws three years of caution and self-protection into the wind, and she and Jake have a whirlwind of an evening of gin, ferris wheels, terrible jokes, ...and vomiting next to the super hot guy back in his hotel room. Naya makes her escape, but she can't get Jake out of her mind. And he can't get her out of his mind. The two start a long-distance relationship despite the fact that his company is consulting on Big Changes that are to happen at Naya's university and despite the fact that Naya has a secret 18-wheeler of baggage: her previous boyfriend emotionally and physically assaulted her and sometimes raped her. Is the fabulous sex worth it? Can these two who seem to just "click" survive despite these massive hurdles?

Before I begin sharing my opinion of this romance, let me say first and foremost that while I love romances, especially the current trend of contemporary romances, I am not the audience for this book. The relationship between Naya and Jake starts off of sex. I know that this happens, and it is quite common. And I applaud women who are sex positive and take control of their own sexual pleasure, but I am not an overly sexual person, so I had a very hard time stepping into Naya's shoes in this story. In fact, I almost DNF'ed it several times because I couldn't stand the one-stand-ness of it.

However, the positive portrayal of Naya's journey to healing from the trauma of her relationship with Davis is important. We need more stories-- especially in the romance genre-- that can act as windows and mirrors for the domestic abuse survivors and those who are currently experiencing domestic abuse so that receive the strength necessary to get out.

A small point of contention: Jake is too perfect. He's got the abs, the flat stomach, the money, the prestige, and a little bit of baggage with his separated-and-in-the-divorce-process-wife.

Diverse reads:
- Naya is Latina and African-American.

HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING by Denise Williams is the romance novel I didn’t know existed. Obstacles to love are real and not contrived by miscues or miscommunications that would be solved if people took two minutes to open their mouths and talk. The relationship between the heroine and her man feels genuinely compatible and the sex scenes are all the more fun and raunchy because both parties are comfortable with their bodies and communicate what they want. People are called on their BS and use actual therapists to work through issues that arise. The suHowToFailAtFlirting by Denise Williams is the romance novel I didn’t know existed. Obstacles to love are real and not contrived by miscues or miscommunications that would be solved if people took two minutes to open their mouths and talk. The relationship between the heroine and her man feels genuinely compatible and the sex scenes are all the more fun and raunchy because both parties are comfortable with their bodies and communicate what they want. People are called on their BS and use actual therapists to work through issues that arise. The supporting cast of characters is funny and warm and real. And the description of a past and predatory relationship is scary and appropriately recognized for the abuse it is.
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Denise Williams is a smart new voice in romance that has made me fall in love with this genre again after years of keeping my distance. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

Realizing she's spent the last few years funneling all of her time and energy into her career, a career that is now under the microscope for looming cuts her her university, Dr. Naya Turner decides to give some harmless flirting a chance when she meets a cute stranger at a local bar. What is one night of testing her limits?

But this cute stranger turns out to be kind of her perfect match, but also someone who holds the fate of her department in his consultant company's hand.

As Jake and Naya flirt with becoming something more, at the risk of her career, Naya's abusive ex also threatens to upend any progress she made healing from her emotional and physical scars.

An emotional romance perfect for fans of Helen Hoang's The Bride Test or Farah Rochon's the Boyfriend Project, be prepared for all the feelings. I loved Naya and wanted to wrap her in clouds.

CW: domestic violence, in the past and present, gas lighting, physical assault, emotional abuse.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reading copy.

This book was the perfect combination between sweet romance and serious romance and I loved reading every second of it. The romance between our hero and heroine Naya and Jake was absolutely sweet to read and it was amazing to read the way they connected so well.

Both Naya Turner and Jake Shaw have to deal with the people in their past that had led them to be closed off so when Naya’s friends, Felicia and Aaron convince her to create a list of “To-Do’s”, Naya is pushed to check it off. The first one: having a one night stand. Naya is a professor and Jake is a consultant and both of them connect with their own nerdy creativity that shows the instead attraction toward each other.

I gave this book a five star rating for the way it showed that romance isn’t always all about the cheesy moments. However, while there were the adorable cheesy one-liners, it was nice to see the hard work they put into to really develop their relationship. They both weren’t looking for anything serious but the instant attraction the first time they met was amazing and the banter that they experienced that day made me fall in love with both Naya and Jake.

They were both really understanding toward each other’s past when they finally told each other and it wasn’t like the typical, “Your past is bad and I can’t like you anymore” but rather a “I will be by your side” moment between the two. Even though their work got in the way a few times they didn’t let that bother them too much and worked it out no matter the situation.

I love that when they were having difficult times, it was actually Naya that groveled to earn Jake’s love back and that instead of our hero groveling for the love of our heroine, it was our heroine groveling to our hero. I feel like it was well written when Naya was trying to win Jake back and how even when Jake was attempting to ignore Naya, he still came to her rescue when she was caught in a sad and tough situation. That was something that showed how much they loved each other and how much they believed and trusted each other.

I have absolutely fell in love with both Naya and Jake and I’m so happy to have been able to receive the ARC for this book.