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.

3 years ago, Naya got out of an abusive relationship with a colleague. Since then she has exited the dating scene, and turned down her volume, much to the chagrin of her friends. When Naya meets Jake in a bar the attraction and chemistry is instant, the jokes are corny, and the action is steamy. Things aren't all good in Naya's life though, her abusive ex-starts texting her vague threats and consultants are being brought into work to determine what departments could be cut. When Naya realizes Jake is one of those consultants things get complicated.

I enjoy romances set in academia, and How to Fail at Flirting held true to that pattern. The college isn’t the main setting, but Naya's job is a major plot thread. The story is moderately steamy, the characters are believable and even likable, but be forewarned that the story deals with intimate partner violence and is full of triggers. Naya is a survivor of IPV and professor in a struggling department when she meets Jake and tries for a one night stand with less than stellar results. After falling into a relationship they realize she works at the college that Jake's firm is consulting with. I don’t want to give away the whole plot, which of course has its ups and downs and is full of conflict and happily ever after. But I will say that Naya's struggles with anxiety, fear, lack of trust and other consequences of her abuse are realistic and painful to read. I wanted to stop reading but also wanted her to have a happy ending so I stuck with it, and was happy I did. I definitely enjoyed this one, but it wasn’t a fun, easy, beach read.

This book (my first by Denise Williams) was good. Not great, but definitely good. But before I get into the nitty-gritty a warning:

This book deals with not only physical abuse but also mental and sexual. The synopsis does mention an abusive ex but it doesn't give a proper trigger warning that we, as readers, not only get graphic flashbacks but also present events. So, if you are someone who is sensitive to that topic, please be warned.

Okay, back to the review.

Like I said, this was good. The writing was for sure solid, but the problem I had was that the male character was a bit too perfect. It was like the antithesis of an alpha male and although I don't mind that, I couldn't really find flaws. To me, that's boring. I also didn't appreciate the insta-love/lust. I tend to have a strong negative reaction when I smell that trope coming and this one presented it right away. There was also a bit too much side drama that I think stole from the overall theme and could have gone without.

I will say that I enjoyed Naya's growth through the book where she goes from someone who doubts herself from past trauma to a strong woman. I think we need more stories like that and for once it wasn't solely because of her new male partner. That definitely came from within.

I will say that I enjoyed it enough to read further stories from this author.

As always, thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I was pleasantly surprised by some of the content of this novel! The story is about a college professor who was previously in an abusive relationship that has stunted her ability to trust again. It has been years since her last conquest and her best friend tries to push her out of her comfort zone to have a one night stand. There are a few erotic sections of the novel which was unexpected but well written; I'm glad the author didn't shy away from the description during those sections. The characters are relatable and you experience emotions along with the main them. There is a nice epilogue so you aren't left hanging or wondering much at the end of the novel but the epilogue leaves room for a sequel if the author chooses. I would definitely recommend this book and will be on my website review.

Ugh, y'all, the dad jokes in this book got me. Let's chat about it.

How to Fail at Flirting actually reminded me a lot of Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date in terms of the pacing and the long-distance relationship, though Denise Williams' book dives into some much deeper themes, including domestic violence and the intersections of racism and sexism in higher education.

Despite not being the biggest fan of instant attraction or insta-love couples, I really enjoyed Naya and Jake's banter throughout this novel, particular their nerdy puns. I also really felt for Naya during the last part of the book when all of her issues came to a head. The pacing was a taaaad slow for my taste; it took almost one-third of the novel to get to the central conflict and then we didn't see much action on that front until the last quarter of the book. Nevertheless, it was a nuanced, sweet, and quite! steamy! romance.

Content warning: There are graphic depictions of intimate partner violence (including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse).

I was so excited to read this romance, and it did not disappoint!! Naya (like papaya) is such a compelling protagonist, and I found myself rooting for her to overcome her personal history and turn up her volume again.

Admittedly, I have a soft spot for nerdy love interests, and Jake was SWOONY to the max. The cast of supporting characters added wonderful depth to this already rich story. But my favorite part was the dialogue. Oh, the witty banter in this book! It was so fabulous, I couldn’t get enough. Eager to read Williams' next novel!

This book really took me by surprise and grabbed me with all the serious issues it tackles (including domestic abuse), but at the same time, still being a fun, laugh out loud read. Naya is so relatable that I found myself nodding and saying, oh, yeah, been there, done that awkward thing. I was rooting for her and Jake the whole way through. But what took me by surprise was what a master Denise Williams is at writing jack-assery. I felt such an intense amount of hatred for the character Davis that my husband found me yelling at the book, and I wanted to do bodily harm to Davis (I'll spare you the details :). But it shows how much this book grabbed me and kept me there and I give it a 100 stars!

4 crazy what a story stars
This book was nothing what I was expecting. Professor Naya Turner is refreshing lead character for many reasons. One is because she is awkward and real.

The story was unique. This one was. a real page turner!

A hilarious, sweet, and fun book that helped me forget about all of my stress! I can’t decide what I loved more: the humor or the overall dynamics between the characters. I’m so excited to read anything Williams writes next!

Naya and Jake have a meet-cute in a bar after Naya gets setup by her friends to let her hair loose and live a little. After making a list of things that will help her accomplish, she manages to check off things with the help of Jake. It starts out hilarious with a pre-sex vomit scene which every girl loves to have (NOT!). But Jake and Naya stick it out through more awkwardness like Jake being brought into her job to evaluate her school’s budget, eek! There’s break ups and make ups but in the end, Naya and Jake find their happily ever after. WARNING: Abuse.

HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING is a love story full of hope and raw emotion. The depth of vivid detail creates a cinematic picture of what’s happening on the page. More than anything, you want to root for Naya and Jake, even when they are unsure of how they feel or what is happening around them. The relationship complexities are palpable and left me breathless at times, mostly because Naya’s experience is so relatable. Be prepared for flirting that will make you laugh and maybe cringe (but in a good way) and steamy scenes that sizzle with electric chemistry.

Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Naya Turner is a workaholic. She's spent the last few years with her volume "turned down" so she can slip under the radar. When her close friends joking make her a checklist to get her out of her shell, no one expects her to do anything on the list, least of all Naya. Naya meets Jake at a bar and what starts as a one-night-stand gone wrong could be the best thing that's ever happened to either of them. Naya is still struggling with issues caused by her abusive ex, and it doesn't help that she keeps seeing him around and he starts contacting her again. The question is, can Naya overcome her past and trust Jake?

This is by far the best contemporary romance I've read in a long time. The characters are so multi-dimensional, and the plot is flawless. This book tackles a LOT of issues that I wasn't expecting, and it does them all justice. I don't have a single criticism of this book, and I can't wait to see what else Denise Williams writes.