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Flirting with Disaster
Author: Naina Kumer

Thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Publishing for my copy of this read! I kept seeing it everywhere on social media and I needed to read it asap! It was the perfect book for me right now. 💕. Meena and Nikhil eloped in Vegas on a whim, and now years later she is ready for her divorce. She was not expecting a hurricane to hit while she is with him, and to be stranded in the home they had originally built to live in together. As they navigate helping neighbors through the storm, and making sure they have all the essentials to survive, Meena must face the life she almost had and decide if she really is ready to give it up for good. This book is not like it necessarily, but for all the girlies begging for books like Twister this one fits the bill with the storm aspect at least. I loved it so much! Small town, second chance romance.. what’s not to like! Meena and Nikhil were adorable. I loved the story and definitely want to read more by this author! Thank you for the copy.

i think this was a nice homage to sweet home alabama! loved it but i did find meena kind of annoying, which hindered my enjoyment of the book :')

Like any millennial, I have rewatched Sweet Home Alabama approximately 11,000 and while I know that Melanie Carmichael would never have been able to get away with everything in the internet age, there is something nostalgic about the idea of keeping the connection to the version of yourself when you were young and idealistic - and someone who believed in you, even then.

I loved this book as soon as I realised that the main character, Meena, was a public interest lobbyist who also was interested in running for office, I was on her side. I really enjoyed that Kumar is thoughtful about the fact that running for office is a combination of ego and a desire to change the world - most of the people who do the smallest, most important changes, are people whose names will never be known. I also really appreciated that the conflict between the main characters was realistic to the issues you experience when you're young - when you're not yet totally comfortable with yourself, it is far too easy to subscribe your insecurities and challenges to your partner.

Finally, it was great to see Indian-American characters in a Houston setting, and I really appreciated that Meenha's love interest back in DC, Shake, was both also Indian-American as well, and that he had a completely understandable perspective of wanting to keep the supportive, if less than passionate relationship and real partnership that he and Meenha had developed.

I would really recommend this book to anyone who loves the books of BK Borison or Hannah Bonham-Young.

Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar 🌀🔥❤️ 3.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good one! I loved the characters-especially their names. That said, I couldn’t stop picturing Meena’s ex-boyfriend as Shek from Love Is Blind Season 1! Haha.😆

I really enjoyed when Nikhil called Meena by her full name-it added a sweet, personal touch. This book definitely had Sweet Home Alabama vibes, except instead of a fashion designer, Meena is an aspiring politician who worked hard to pass the bar and become a lawyer. Nikhil’s devotion to her reminded me of Jake’s love for Mel.

After years apart, Meena returns to Houston to finalize her divorce from Nikhil, her once-loving boyfriend whom she impulsively married in Vegas. Nikhil, a skilled contractor, is preparing for an incoming hurricane, and circumstances force Meena to hunker down with him for several days. As they ride out the storm together-going so far as to embark on a rescue mission through snake-infested floodwaters-old feelings resurface. Nikhil cares for her, reminding Meena why they were drawn to each other in the first place. But Meena’s fear of disappointing her parents and her aspirations to run for office—complicated by an ultimatum from her ex (divorce Nikhil, or they’re really over)-cloud her judgment.

While I liked Meena’s emphasis on family and values, I did think she made some frustrating decisions. I also loved the Houston neighborhood setting and Nikhil’s close-knit group of friends. The subplot involving Meena’s sister-who had a baby young, and now that niece is a college graduate-was a nice touch.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but some aspects of the narration made Meena look clueless instead of letting the audience discover surprises alongside her. Like, of course the necklace around Nikhil’s neck had their wedding bands-duh!

I also noticed Flirting with Disaster was the January pick for The Local Romantics book club at Next Page Books in my hometown, which is kind of cool!

I definitely want to check out Kumar’s first book, Say You’ll Be Mine, eventually.

3.75 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This was my first time reading a book by Naina Kumar. Generally, 2nd chance romances are not my favorite trope, but I love the idea of getting caught in a hurricane with your SO. This book was fun, with great nods to the current political climate and how hard it is to fight the good fight on capitol hill. I liked the depths of the fmc. I struggled some with why the relationship fell apart in the first place, it felt like just ridiculously bad communication- not my favorite device for splitting people. All in all, enjoyable read.

2.5/5 - honestly it kinda feels like a toxic love, they don’t really know how to communicate and I get that it makes it more realistic but it was really frustrating as a reader because it just felt repetitive. The mmc would show that he cared but bc it was a relationship from years ago, it didn’t feel realistic. There are some aspects of Intentional love within the story which I enjoyed. Honestly it was two insecure people getting together, I think they needed to grow and develop a little bit more before getting into the relationship. I enjoyed the themes of trying to please family through actions and feeling bound by what others think about you. The brown representation was EVERYTHING. Second chance romance! For some context, I loved the author’s previous book Say You’ll Be Mine and had high hopes for this one too. It didn't show any of the positives of Indian culture and rather only showed the high pressures faced because of community.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback. Flirting With Disaster reminded me of Sweet Home Alabama. It was a cute idea and was a nice quick read. I think the main characters could have had a little bit more chemistry, given the fact that they are supposed to have been in love/still in love... It seemed like there was a spark missing, or something. I did enjoy this read and loved how quick the story went... It wasn't too drawn out for the information given, like some of the books I have been reading lately. 3 stars, but would recommend to anyone who loved Sweet Home Alabama and wants a quick romance read.

This book was a challenge to suspend my disbelief. The hurricane plus breaking the phone was a little too convenient for me. I thought I would like it because of the cute setup, but it wasn't enough to carry thr stop.

If you absolutely love second-chance romance and go into it for the fun, this might be for you!

Short synopsis: Meena needs to divorce her husband, but a hurricane is forcing them toward.

My thoughts: This is a loose retelling of Sweet Home Alabama, and I ate it up! For a little while, both characters were a bit unlikable, but them both redeemed themselves in such a good way! I grew to really adore Meena and Nikhil and watching them compromise for each other.

There were so many things to love about this story; the canoe trip through the flood, the only one closet moment, the drunk in Vegas wedding, and of course the ending grand gesture scene.

I did a mix of audio and physical reading of this, and I was so mesmerized by the narrator Soneela Nankani did such an amazing job of bringing these characters to life!

Read if you love:
* Marriage in Crisis
* Second chance romance
* Sweet home Alabama
* Forced proximity
* Only one closet

When I heard 𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 was a reimagining of 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘮𝘢, one of my favorite rom-coms, I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, I was let down.

If you haven't seen the movie, fashion designer Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) gets engaged to the NYC mayor's son (Patrick Dempsey), and has to return home to her Alabama town to get her high school sweetheart, Jake (Josh Lucas), to sign divorce papers after he's refused for years. While there, she realizes how much she's missed the life (and man) she left behind.

Here's why the book didn't work for me:
👩🏽 The story is told solely from the POV of Meena (Melanie) which made it feel very surface. Hearing from Nikhil (Jake) would have given the story more depth.

🚫 There wasn't much chemistry between the characters.

🗣️ The reason Meena and Nikhil broke up but stayed married without talking was due to a miscommunication that could have been easily resolved (especially since Meena is a lawyer - why would she leave it hanging?) and lacked the emotion of the film.

🙄 The plot required so much suspension of disbelief. Meena plans to spend a day in Houston to get the papers signed but a hurricane traps her for much longer. How does she have enough clothes? She breaks her phone and can't communicate with anyone back home, but what lawyer travels without a computer? It was all too convenient for me.

I did appreciate the South Asian representation and there were some sweet moments in the story. The audiobook narration by Soneela Nankani was also excellent.

I've seen rave reviews for this one so maybe if I wasn't such a fan of the movie, I would have enjoyed the book more.

Thanks to Ballantine and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

very cute and fun! i love a second chance romance and this was no different. a lovely take on sense and sensibility for a new generation.

DNF 70% I grew bored with the lack of conflict. It’s tough to write a second chance romance! I needed higher stakes here

Some books just feel like home, and Flirting With Disaster was exactly that for me! Having lived in Houston for almost half my life, I’ve experienced a few storms like the one described in this book. The way Naina captured the raw intensity of a hurricane—the tension, the forced stillness, and the moments of reflection it brings—was so authentic, and reading this while the rain hit my window this past week was TOP TIER!

From the very first page, I was hooked!!! Meena’s story had me completely in my feels, devouring every page to uncover her past and how her and Nikhil’s connection unraveled over time.

Not only was this a story about second chance love—it’s about balancing ambition, identity, and the undeniable pull of what once was. Meena’s internal tug-of-war between her past with Nikhil and her future with Shake felt raw, honest, and oh so human, and I loved how both men represented different sides of what she wanted in life. I loved watching Meena truly find herself and begin to letting go of the expectations her parents had placed on her from such an early age.

Naina’s writing is stunning—beautifully descriptive, fast-paced, and packed with emotion that had me hooked!!!

This is a MUST READ for anyone who loves second-chance, forced proximity, self-discovery, and accidental marriage!

Sweet Home Alabama is one of my all-time favorite rom-coms so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. The yearning and pining was STRONG on both sides here -- but if you aren't a fan of the miscommunication trope these two will have you pulling your hair out for sure.

Meena and Nikhil accidentally got married in Las Vegas seven years ago. Despite it not being in either of their long-term plans, they are secretly thrilled and excited. But just a year later, they separate -- Meena heading to DC for her lobbying firm job after passing the bar exam and Nikhil staying in Houston working on his construction business. Meena is still heartbroken that Nikhil let her go without a fight, and now she has to return to Houston to get Nikhil to sign the divorce papers she's been sending so she can announce her political, and romantic partnership, with her on and off again boyfriend so they can achieve their dream of running for office together.

But Meena arrives in Houston just as they are bracing for a major hurricane, meaning she is stranded with Nikhil in the house they both used to call home. This forced proximity will give them more than enough time to hash out the details of their separation and be honest about the feelings they have been avoiding for years. But maybe closure isn't what they want after all...

Emotional and a fresh homage to the movie! I really enjoyed this and will definitely continue to look forward to future works from Naina Kumar!

Overall, cute and quick read. Nothing to run to add to your tbr about, but still liked it. Wish it had a little more depth & wished FMC wasn’t so lax about her casual love triangle. Cute but just okay. Thanks Berkley and NetGalley for my digital ARC!

As someone who has never seen Sweet Home Alabama, I enjoyed the concept of this book. It did take me quite a while to finish though as I took a hiatus from reading as it did not keep me entertained the whole time. I think the characters to me were not the most compelling and the story seemed a little predictable.

This is a very raw and emotional second chance romance. I think it's realistic in the messiness that is our emotions and thoughts and being flawed humans overall. That being said, it wasn't my favorite. 🫣

I wanted to love it, but the miscommunication six/seven years later was driving me crazy. I understood that the younger version was less mature, but I was frustrated with the present-day characters. I was especially irritated with Meena. She was so stubborn and ignored all of the obvious signs. Then, she still takes a while to own up to her own flaws and mistaken way of thinking. The way she told Nikhil about Shake was also so messed up. I understand that she's a flawed, realistic FMC, but I kept thinking Nikhil deserved better.

Sweet Home Alabama…. but make it a hurricane. And Texas!

Meena’s burgeoning career as one half of a DC power couple is going great. The only problem? If she wants to take the next step - running, together, for political office with her boyfriend - she’s going to have to go home to Texas and get her estranged husband, Nikhil, who she hasn’t seen for years, to sign divorce papers. She can be in and out, and back to her life, in a matter of hours. Except a hurricane has other ideas.

We’ve got second chance romance, forced proximity, and too many miscommunications to count. Neither Meena nor Nikhil thinks the other person thinks they are the right fit — Meena thinks she’s too ambitious and driven to not disappoint her parents, and Nikhil won’t want her high-powered DC life; Nikhil thinks he’s not career-driven enough and Meena is embarrassed at his job and lack of degree.

There are quite a few things here that I often dislike in a romance (references to climate change and DC/politics stories by people who clearly don’t have much experience with either) I found myself cheering for this earnest couple who simply weren’t ready for one another when they first got together. [author:Naina Kumar} continues to be an author I look forward to reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a born and raised Texan and have gone through my fair share of natural disasters in my community both here and in Louisiana (when I lived there for a bit) I was unsure how I would feel about reading a hurricane being part of the story. Now I don’t have to think about it any further because this book was done just perfectly.

Meena and Nikhil get hitched in Vegas after a whirlwind of a night out celebrating Meena’s accomplishment of passing the bar. They are both young and in love and hopeful of having a future together.

Yet reality happens and we are fast forwarded 7 years to the present day of Meena returning to Houston to get the divorce papers signed so she can move on with her life in Washington DC. She is trying to live up to what will make her parents happy and maybe even herself?
Nikhil is the strong silent type and will do anything Meena asks of him, if it makes her happy. He’s never stopped loving her and maybe she didn’t stop loving him either?

While trying to figure out the next step in both their lives, a hurricane hits Houston and forces them to lean on one another to help rescue a neighbor and boarding up a blown out window in their house.

The tension was there throughout the book and I was on the edge of my seat to see what happens next. I did enjoy the whole book as a whole and I would recommend reading the epilogue!

I really would like a story of Meena’s older sister. And her HEA.

Overall a great second chance romance book. I loved it and am mad at myself that I took so long to finish it.

Would I recommend? Yes!
Would I re-read? Yes I would especially if we get her older’s sisters’ story.

I am not usually a big fan of second chance romance but when I saw that this was compared to Sweet Home Alabama I knew that I needed to give it this one a go. I loved this story. It was so relatable and felt really genuine. I felt that the characters had a strong connection and that despite the years apart that connection never faded it any way. I was glad when Nikhil finally told Meena how he really felt, so that she could really have the reality check that she needed to reflect on where they wen't wrong and how she contributed to the downfall. I liked how this ended and felt that it was perfect without being completely neat and tidy.