Gorgeous and interesting romance with a very fun protagonist pairing and interesting vibes with the whole political backdrop. 5 stars. tysm for the arc

3.75 stars rounded up

My Sweet Home Alabama, second chance romance loving self ATE THIS BOOK UP. If you’re a fan of romcoms but add an element of depth to it, you need to check this one out.

ALSO can we talk about the writing style for a hot second cause oh my lanta it was stunning. Dare I say almost lyrical?!? So don’t mind me checking out this author’s backlist next year cause it’s now a must for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Flirting with Disaster.

I was really excited to get an early copy of this book because I enjoyed Nina Kumar's debut, Say You'll Be Mine, a lot and it is a Sweet Home Alabama retelling. And this novel is one of my favorite tropes: second chance romance. But it bumped up against three of my romance craft icks which diminished my enjoyment quite a bit.

Meena is the daughter of Indian immigrants who had immense pressure placed on her by her parents to succeed in all things, especially after her sister had a baby out of wedlock in college. She is now a successful lawyer in DC who is contemplating a run for office with her boyfriend but there is one problem: she is married to a man she hasn't seen in six years. Meena and Nikhil got married on a drunken night in Las Vegas after several few months of dating and were married for a year before things fell apart. Now Meena needs a divorce to move on with her life and goals so she heads to Houston to get Nikhil to sign the papers. But as she arrives at the house they used to share, a hurricane rolls in, forcing her to shelter in place with the man she never wanted to be with again.

I want to start with the things I liked about this book before we dig into my icks. I enjoy Naina Kumar's writing style. I think she does a good job of capturing a character's voice and paces conflict well. I also appreciate the work she put into creating the secondary characters in this book– they felt fully formed and integral to the story.

Ok, on to the icks! I'm going to bullet them for ease of communication:
- Tense: The bulk of this book is told in 1st person, present tense (not my favorite but I can deal with it). But when Kumar covers things that happened in the past, she slips into 1st person, past tense but there are no breaks or any kind of indication we are in dual timeline. The past timeline is slotted into the present in a way that didn't work for me.
- POV: Second chance romances almost never work for me in single POV, especially the marriage in trouble trope. If you're going to have two people who broke up because they couldn't communicate, I need to be in both of their heads. And in this case, Meena was so obsessed with how right she was and how wrong Nikhil was until 76% of the way through the book, it was almost infuriating. Anyone with eyes could see that they way she hid him from her family made him feel inferior to her but her internal monologue was so self-absorbed. If this book had been dual POV, it would have been a min 4 star read.
- The OG Breakup: My #1 rule for second chance romances is I need to fully understand and buy the reason for the original break up. That was not the case here and I think it was tied directly to the POV issue above. I just didn't think there was enough there to end a marriage and that's probably because I couldn't see into Nikhil's thoughts.

I'm giving this book 3 stars because it was fine and I like Kumar's sentence-level craft, but I really think this could have been an outstanding book had it been constructed like a more traditional second chance romance.

This was such a sweet and emotional romance about second chances and finding where your heart truly belongs. Meena's return to Texas to finalize her divorce from Nikhil takes an unexpected turn when the hurricane forces them to confront their past. The chemistry between them felt real, and the storm serves as a perfect backdrop for their journey back to each other.

The story also does a great job of weaving in Meena's Indian American identity and the balance between family expectations and her personal ambition. It added some depth to the romance. While some of the plot was predictable, there were so many heartfelt moments that I really really loved.

A great read for anyone who loves second chance romances with a little bit of drama.

Meena has achieved the life she always dreamed about - working in Washington, D.C. as a lawyer on the hill and about to launch a political career alongside her boyfriend, Shake. Only one thing stands in her way - she's technically still married. When she returns to Houston to get her ex-husband, Nikhil, to sign divorce papers, she's so focused on moving on that she doesn't realize she's traveling into Houston just prior to a major hurricane. Meena finds herself stuck in Houston and in the house she and Nikhil moved into after their elopement in Las Vegas. As they face the storm together, Meena is reminded of all the things that made her fall for Nikhil, but she also knows that she left to pursue her own dreams. Once the storm has passed, she'll have to choose whether to return to D.C. and chase her political dreams with the man who fits easily into those dreams or whether to chart a new path for herself alongside the man who her heart can't deny.

This is a sweet second-chance romance reminiscent of the movie "Sweet Home Alabama." Meena and Nikhil were madly in love until their dreams for the future and miscommunication tore them apart. Not quite enemies-to-lovers, this is still a story about two people who clearly love each other but have hurt each other in the past enough that they have to rebuild and earn each other's trust again. Can each of them do that without sacrificing their own aspirations for the careers they've worked so hard for?

Overall: 4.5/5 rounded up
Spice: 2/3

Thanks to my friends at Dell Romance for the free ARC of this book! All thoughts are my own!

I think this book is so good! The writing is really well done, and I loved the way they gave us glimpses of their relationship before they separated. I felt like they were both great characters with dreams and goals and lives. I’m just not sure I really see them together. It’s part of why second chance romances are hard for me. I need them to be able to grow separately and together, but they just struggled the whole way through to talk to each other about anything real. I know they had perceived their relationship differently, and I know there were things that they didn’t know about each other. It is what makes it so rewarding once they finally sort it out, I just wish it hadn’t taken as long as it did to resolve.

They struggled to communicate the whole way through, which I understand is part of the whole plot anyway. It just made it really hard for me to believe they’d ever learn to communicate. I loved the way they resolved it, though. They both apologized and talked it though, which was nice. It was just really difficult for me to root for them up until that part. Their chemistry was good, and I definitely believed they love each other. I just think I would’ve liked more growth communication-wise from them both before the last thirty pages.

I loved that Nikhil always loved Meena. When she comes back to their house to convince him to sign the divorce papers, it’s clear he still cares for her. The little touches all over the house were so precious and sweet. I loved that he asked her to stay with him. I know I talked about them not really communicating, and they didn’t when it came to the heavy stuff, but he made it clear how he felt for her even when they were fighting. Their love was never a question. They clearly loved and cared about each other the whole way through, and I adore them both.

I loved the way this book seamlessly integrated real topics and issues into the story. Meena wants to serve her community and the people around her, and the way that Naina wrote it all into the book was amazing. Don’t tell me books aren’t political, especially romance, when we see with this book how easy it is to include those things.

I do plan to reread this book, mostly because I want to see if my opinion on their communication skills. I did really enjoy reading this book, and I’m very excited to read more from Naina Kumar!

Naina Kumar’s Flirting with Disaster is an angsty second chance romance between a married couple trapped together by a hurricane. This is a reimagining of Sweet Home Alabama, but set in Houston during a hurricane with Indian American protagonists. I have somehow never watched Sweet Home Alabama, so I don’t know where it tracks and where it diverges. I can tell you that it’s a good read. It’s out January 14.

Meena plans to fly into Houston, get her estranged husband to sign the divorce papers he has been ignoring, fly back to DC and get her relationship with her boyfriend, and their shared political ambitions, back on track. Unfortunately, she has failed to notice that Houston is preparing for a hurricane, which will make landfall that evening. She’s stuck. With her husband. Who she hasn’t seen or spoken to in years. By the way, if you think it’s unrealistic that someone would not know a hurricane was headed towards the city they were about to visit, I have lived in DC and complete lack of awareness about what’s happening outside the sphere of interest is a common characteristic of DC lawyers and lobbyists.

The book is all from Meena’s perspective so everything we know about Nikhil is filtered through Meena. Kumar gives us enough so that we know Nikhil is still deeply in love with Meena, while also letting us understand why Meena doesn’t see it. As they ride out the storm together, we see the things that drew them together and drove them apart. Meena grapples with the way her parents’ conditional love has driven her ambitions and begins to understand that Nikhil struggled with his own insecurities. Usually, I prefer dual point of view romances, but Kumar made the correct call here. If we were allowed into Nikhil’s head, we would lose a lot of the tension.

There’s a point about a third of the way in where Kumar lays out the problem and the solution. The emotions are often raw, but always grounded in character growth and development. Can Meena and Nikhil trust each other with their soft spots and work together? This is a romance, so the answer is yes. The joy is reading along as they figure it out. I knew after reading Say You’ll Be Mine that Naina Kumar is an author to watch. Flirting with Disaster is a confident second book.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Dell and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I wasn't sure I needed a retelling of Sweet Home Alabama even though I liked the movie, but I enjoyed Naina Kumar's previous book, so I went with it. And it turns out I definitely needed a retelling of Sweet Home Alabama. Between the present day and flashback scenes, Kumar infused so much emotional depth into Flirting with Disaster. I loved both Meena and Nikhil and fully understood the reason for their relationship breaking down 6-7 years ago despite wanting to bonk their heads together and tell them to talk to each other. I wish the relationship with Meena and Shake had resolved a bit quicker, but it still worked. While reading, I had a giddy feeling in my stomach and a dopey smile on my face for so much of this book, which is exactly what I want out of romance.

If you’re looking for an epic romance, this is the book for you. It’s an endearing story reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, Sweet Home Alabama. This heartwarming story of second chance love is the best way to end my reading year. I’m so grateful for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Flirting With Disaster is a Indian American retelling of Sweet Home Alabama that will have you falling for the second chance trope all over again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
•Miscommunication
•Second Chance Romance
•Estranged Marriage
•Forced Proximity

Meena hasn’t seen her husband in years, yet for some reason he refuses to sign the divorce papers. In order to move on with her life and her dreams of running for office with her current partner, she needs to finalize her divorce and close the married chapter of her life. Frustrated and willing to wait no longer, she hops on a flight back to Houston. Little does she know, a hurricane is heading that way too. Meena finds herself stuck in her old home with her soon to be former husband, Nikhil, riding out one heck of a storm. Will being stuck in their old home stir up old feelings? Will their stubbornness to keep each other safe rekindle the old red hot flame they once shared? Find out on January 14th!

I LOVED this story, it had many tropes that I love and some that I didn’t but they were executed so well I couldn’t help but enjoy them. As a Sweet Home Alabama reimagining, it felt familiar while being completely new at the same time.

The chemistry between Meena and Nikhil was felt through the page from the very beginning to the very end. The author built these characters in a way that felt so authentic, with their own insecurities and internal struggles that were realistic and relatable. Meena- the one who can never escape her parents high expectations. Nikhil- the one who feels like he’ll never be enough for Meena and her big dreams. Causing their marriage to unravel at the seams.

The writing itself was so beautiful and raw, I was a wreck! I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I have been wanting to read Naina Kumar’s debut novel “Say You’ll be Mine” for months now! So when I got the opportunity to read, flirting with disaster, I went into it headfirst. I did not read the synopsis because I wanted to be surprised… so imagine how surprised I was when I realized this was a Sweet Home Alabama reimagining!! I was instantly hooked! I love that Meena was this headstrong determined lawyer from Washington DC going home to her small town estranged husband. Such a contrast to the life she was living in DC. Nikhil was also (initially) so perfect to me. He was so supportive and instantly you could tell he still had feelings for Meena. But as the story goes on, you see where their marriage fell apart. Nikhil has his flaws and Meena is obviously not perfect either. One of the main tropes in this is miscommunication. It’s done well in this story but it’s still a trope that I dislike. Despite that I feel like this story benefited from the miscommunication trope. Meena and Nikhil love each other, but they tried to do what was best for each other by not being together. Although I feel like the ending was a little rushed, I overall enjoyed this book and I’m excited to see what Naina has in store for the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Pub Group - Ballantine Dell for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

Meena plans to run for office in alongside her boyfriend Shake. The one thing stopping her plans is that her estranged husband won't sign the divorce papers. When she goes to rectify this situation, she and Nikhil are stranded at their old home as a hurricane hits.

Oh, my dear goodness. I absolutely adored this book. It gave off such Sweet Home Alabama vibes, which is such a classic rom com. And the Gilmore Girls references? Chef's kiss!

The love that Meena and Nikhil had was tumultous, but beautiful. Yes there was miscommunication, but it was done in such a realistic way. You couldn't help but to root for them. The ending had me crying.

This novel would be perfect for those who love forced proximity, second chances, and feel good stories.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine & NetGalley for this ARC. All views and opinions are my own

Meena hasn't seen her husband, Nikhil, in years. She returns to Texas to ensure he signs their divorce papers. While there, a hurricane hits, and she's trapped at his (their) house.

I was rooting for Meena and Nikhil so hard! I absolutely loved the Sweet Home Alabama vibes. It reminded me a little bit of The Notebook too. I would say it was open door but pretty mild.

I freaking loved this book! I really enjoyed Naina's debut, and somehow this one was even better. The tension and the pining are so on point, with the storm providing the perfect backdrop for both. I thought the couple's issues were so real and relatable, and I loved their honest and frank conversations with one another. A stellar second chance romance!

Wow!! I wasn’t expecting to be so blown away by the depth of emotional complexity that is Nikhil and Meera!!

Naina Kumar’s debut novel was all the cutesy falling in love story whereas this sophomore novel is pure angst, emotional depth and complexity. While I loved the first, I was more captivated by this one.

Meera and Nikhil are a second chance romance, with a generous helping of angst, and the bane of my existence as a therapist - miscommunication 🤌🏽. Their story is set to the backdrop of the legendary Houston hurricane season that traps them in the house they bought together with nothing to do but survive and finally talk to one another.

Loved the pacing and the sprinkling of past moments into present! Just absolutely amazing book and a refreshing romance story to end the year!

Rounding up my rating, because I was aware of the roadblocks in Sweet Home Alabama when I dove into this (lol), and the bulk of it is very good. First and foremost, I loved the angst and the way our hero had obviously been PINING for his girl. We only get the black cat heroine’s perspective, but it was clear how much the sweetheart of a hero loved his wife. There are layers of insecurity and miscommunication between them, which resulted in years of separation without either moving to dissolve their marriage. They’re finally forced to confront the situation in the middle of a hurricane, which makes for some fantastic forced proximity, lots of tension, and a shortened timeline that requires them to open up in a way they never have. Yes, the heroine is the kind of prickly pear that will drive some readers crazy, but she is easy to like once you understand her motivations. And, yes, the love triangle was not my favorite (just like it wasn’t in the movie!), but it was obvious where things were heading. I loved the emotional intimacy and quiet complexity of the story, which makes for an engaging, layered read.

The story follows Meena, a woman who needs a divorce. She moved to DC to pursue her political career several years ago, and it’s there that Meena met Shake. They have the sort of relationship that began as friends and colleagues before slowly shifting into an amicable partnership, built on a foundation of their political ambitions. The only problem? They can’t move forward as a DC power couple if Meena is still married to another man… and she was never motivated to file for divorce until Shake ended their relationship. Hoping for a quick divorce from the man she hasn’t spoken to in years, Meena heads home to Texas. Unfortunately, her timing is terrible, and Meena is stuck with her husband (Nikhil) during a hurricane. The two must work together to make it through the storm unharmed, and that leads to them finally clearing the air about why their marriage fell apart.

I’ve got mixed feelings about the plot of Sweet Home Alabama, but it’s a movie that I’ve always enjoyed overall, so I was willing to take a chance on this – especially given how well regarded Kumar’s debut was. And the writing quickly won me over, an introspective blend of women’s fiction, second chance romance, and “it’s always been you” swoons. Meena has got such a tough exterior, but I loved getting to know her better – revealing her vulnerability is exactly what she needed to do. The same could be said for Nikhil, though I loved him from the start. There’s something about a man who has never wavered in his love, and you could really feel that from Nikhil. I loved the forced proximity and the timer the hurricane puts on their reconciliation. They fell apart the first time because they were wrapped up in their own insecurities, and I liked watching them slowly tear down those walls. Sure, I wish Shake wasn’t part of the picture, but he wasn’t present in the story all that much, and I knew about him going in. Kumar does a fantastic job of taking inspiration from the classic movie, while still creating something fresh and new.

The way that their past was woven into the story was really well done. It's such a shame that they weren't able to make it work in the past but they still love each other so much. He was driving a bit crazy for a while because I just wanted him to open up but I understood him. They are gonna struggle a bit but they are meant for each other.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I loved Naina's Say You'll Be Mine, but sadly this one let me down a little. I loved the premise of it as a retelling of Sweet Home Alabama, and for the first 25 - 30% I was eating it up. Sadly as the book progressed I felt like so many different things were happening and different pieces were at play that I did not feel like I was getting a good overall vision of the story. My friend mentioned how much better this would have been as dual POV, and I agree and honestly think that would have added a lot to the story. I also would have liked some clearer breaks between current day and the flash backs. I read this as an ARC, and there was no indication that the time we were in was changing. That may be something that is changed it the final publication, but I really would have liked some sort of signaling for that. I also do not feel like the story telling was consistent throughout the book. There were some places I was able to create clear mental images of what was going on, but there were several places were I felt like I was getting facts of a story told to me by a friend versus reading a book. There were some wonderful moments in the book, and I will pick up another book from this author again, but I did not love this book like I was hoping to.

Meena is flying home to Houston to convince her husband, Nihil, to sign their divorce papers. Meena left after only six months of marriage, when she passed the bar and moved to DC. Years later, she has a successful career and thinks she is ready to move on. When she gets to their old house, Nihil and Meena are stuck together as a hurricane quickly approaches. The story of their relationship, what worked and what tore it apart, was well written. The characters had both depth and held my interest. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Such a fun romance! As soon as I heard the pitch for this one, I was sold. I was kicking my feet and flying through the pages. Great chemistry and I really loved the characters.