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.

We get to read about a second chance/marriage-in-trouble love story. 
I like how the use of the natural disaster to provide an intense forced proximity which leads them to have emotional conversations. I appreciated how careful and empathetic they are with each other.  We also get a a love triangle but I don't want to spoil it.  This is a must romance read. 
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Dellfor the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

Meena is a high powered lawyer in DC, with ambitious goals to run for office with her ex boyfriend (who she anticipates getting back together with). The problem? Meena is still married to Nikhil, her first love who she married in Vegas. Since Nikhil won't sign the papers, Meena flies to Houston to talk it out and get the job done...only to find out that a hurricane is about to hit and her best and safest option is to hunker down with her, well, husband. Memories are dredged up and feelings return (were they ever gone?). The fight that was their tipping point resurfaces and neither are sure if signing the divorce papers is the right choice.

💭 I'm a sucker for second chance romance, and this was no exception! I loved the "hurricaned in" aspect, and Nikhil was just such a genuinely good guy, impossible not to like him. I also really liked that Meena didn't just concede and put her career and ambitions aside - not there isn't some give and take in any healthy relationship, but both truly wanted what was best for the other and to see their dreams come to fruition. Their miscommunication when they were younger led to their demise, but as they grew and changed they found each other again. Always love a "it's always been you" trope, too!

I flew through Naina Kumar’s debut earlier this year, so I was super excited to get my hands on this follow-up. For some reason I thought this was supposed to a spin-off to Say You’ll Be Mine, following secondary characters’ romance, but this story seems to have no relation to that book.

Marriage in crisis can be a tricky trope to pull off well, but I thought Kumar did a good job of it, utilizing flashbacks (rarely yet just enough) to show the couple’s early days, as our protagonist recalls the small moments now in the present. There was a nice build-up and slow reveal of the issues in their relationship, which I found to be very realistic and complimentary problems. I could tell that Meena and Nikhil—despite their whirlwind marriage—genuinely cared for each other, drawn towards each other based on their aspirations, desires, and morals. And as they work on their communication, they eventually put their pride aside long enough to share and work on their seemingly disparate aspirations together.

My one small problem with this was I thought we were told too little about Meena’s family. For such an impactful relationship, I remained confused by the dynamic especially between Meena and her sister and Ritu; in fact, for most of the book I didn’t realize that Ritu was Meena’s college-aged niece. Maybe I missed those details, but what counts is however lacking I found the familial relationship, the rebuilding and foundations for the romantic relationship was incredible.

4 Stars

I really enjoyed Flirting With Disaster! I think it’s a very well done sophomoric release from Naina Kumar, whose previous book Say You’ll Be Mine I also liked. And the cover is so cute!

Our story follows Meena, a high-powered attorney, working on Capitol Hill, who flies home to Houston to convince her estranged husband, Nikhil, to sign divorce papers after years of no-contact. Her plans of a quick trip are derailed when a hurricane hits Houston and she’s forced to seek shelter with Nikhil in the home they used to share.

If you are a fan of the movie Sweet Home Alabama, I think you’ll enjoy this! The setting is fresh (Texas in a hurricane) while still having one of my favorite tropes! My one issue which I also had with Kumar’s previous book was there was a lot of unnecessary miscommunication that got on my nerves! Overall, I was pleased though and would still recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine for the ARC of Flirting With Disaster in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! Sweet Home Alabama was probably where I got my love of second chance romance from so this book was perfect for me! This had all the elements that make a second chance romance book great. The angst was everything. I was really rooting for our main characters throughout.