
Member Reviews

Interesting, and unfortunately all too true, rom-com highlighting issues that women in STEM face every day. After having the best stats over the past 5 years, Tris has been passed over for promotion. Finally offered a 3 week program in Hawaii, she accepts. And the other person attending from her office is the boss's son. Lots of heat building up to spice in the second half. The best part of her happily ever after includes a white hot email that scorches.

This romance was a trope-happy story, and I was here for it! It is not often that a book can overload on the tropes and make it work, but Nisha did! The enemies-to-lovers, workplace, forced proximity in paradise (and a few other tropes along with them) worked seamlessly together to create a fun, steamy romance that had me hooked! Rafe and Trishara had spectacular chemistry, and their enemies-to-lovers energy was off the charts!
I loved the Hawaiian setting in the resort. It provided a lot of opportunity for romantic entanglements (both good and bad!0 and Nisha used those opportunities well! My only hangups in the book were that the relationship between Rafe and Tris was very focused on the physical (though not entirely, to Nisha's credit), and the reason for the forced proximity seemed a little far-fetched to me. Rafe's previous relationship also frustrated me to no end, but I suppose that was the point.
That being said, the book was very well written as far as prose go, and I loved Trishara's development especially in terms of her career and ambition. I absolutely loved how her character arc ended in terms of her job. All in all, it was such a fun book, and I enjoyed the read a great deal. It is a great summer read: lighthearted and spicy with plenty of fun!

NOT SAFE FOR WORK is Nisha J Tuli's first CR and I do hope it won't be her last. (Side note: get on her romantasy series!) I enjoyed everything about this book (except one thing I'll get to) and the pacing was great. Tris is a firecracker FMC and then there's Rafe, who you can't help but be drawn to as he exudes energy and charisma. However as the book unfolds, we get to see another side of Rafe through Tris's eyes but also through his actions, showing him to be more than, better than, the man Tris wants/needs him to be (the book is single pov which, while not my favorite, works for this book). I found the setting and setup to be unique and certainly central to the story. It's like a 21st century house party with forced proximity (for my HR lovers) as they are on a business retreat (of sorts) in Hawaii.
Tuli does an excellent job with the chemistry and sexual tension between these two. Lawd it was thick. The tension. Among other things. My only complaint is that I felt totally called out bc I do not know how Tris didn't climb that Rafe tree DAYS before she did. There were so many moments and opportunities to jump on it, him, and she held back. HOW!?!??! What kind of superpower self-control does she have? I'm weak. I would have taken advantage of all those opportunities and really maximized my time. But I realize that Tris had to hold off for "romance reasons" or else this book would have been about 100 pages. Or just them banging their way through the island. Also acceptable.
Anyway, this is the long way of saying, if you haven't picked this up yet, you really should. Thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub for this extremely fun read. It was like a mini-getaway of a read.

I was really curious to see how I would vibe with this author and their genre shift! I love a remote setting, dislike to like and workplace romance. But I really struggled connecting with the characters and the romance. It was a struggle to finish this one. I have to say that I'm jealous that my boss will never send me on a two week vacation on a beautiful island.

Great romance book, can’t believe it’s the writers first adventure into the romance world. The banter is great but the growth of the FMC is the best part of the book.

A rivals to lovers office romance with STEM background. The STEM aspect isn’t too deep, it’s more like exposing the experience of women in male-dominated field.
Tris was once an ambitious and high-spirited engineer, until her workplace of 5 years dimmed her fire. She was ready to give it all up and move on, but then she’s selected for a leadership retreat program in Hawaii. Unfortunately her insanely-gorgeous-11-out-of-10 nemesis, Rafe, was also selected, and despite wanting nothing to do with him, they seemed to be always in close proximity.
On the surface, it was fun. The banter was good, the pining and tension were so palpable I could almost touch it. Tris & were the epitome of “I thought they hate me so I cope by giving them hard times” even though they’re always into each other. I love both of them equally, they’re like stunning couple that just make sense together, you know? But oh my GOD Rafe what a man you are!!!!!
Tris’s girl gang was also precious I’d like to read more of their story please. Especially Molly!! But I won’t be complaining for Lan & Gabrielle’s.
The only thing that held me from giving it higher rating is the fact that they’re ridiculously set up to be always around each other. Tris could be anywhere doing anything and when she looked around, there he was. She could be minding her own business but then there’s a shadow looming over her and there he was. But other than that, I really enjoyed the book.

I would willingly read Nisha J. Tuli’s grocery wish. So when NSFW was announced, I was over the moon! And an arc in my inbox? *Cue the excitement.*
NSFW follows engineer Trishara Malik as she’s recruited to go to a leadership retreat alongside her work nemesis, Rafe, the boss’s son. Tuli writes my favorite heroines, and that held true in NSFW. From the character’s emotional depth, to her badassary and love for desserts-at the end of the novel, I WANTED Tris as a friend. Irl.
And the slow burn between her and Rafe? At a resort? During team building exercises?
The obsession with forearms?
Yes, I hear you Tris. I stand with you.
*Swoon.*
The resort vibes go so hard in this novel. It was the perfect setting for a romance novel. From the moment they arrived in Maui, I felt like I was there. I could taste the lava cake. Feel the Hawaii breeze on the cozy balcony where Rafe and Tris always met up. Wanted to be at Trivia night by the ocean—all of it, YES PLEASE.
Anyhow, this book was a 24-hour treat. Please read it.

Rivals-to-lovers, coworkers chosen to attend a company retreat in Hawaii, a hotel mix-up assigned them to the honeymoon suite.
Nothing ground-breaking here, nothing horribly problematic, just your standard romcom. The writing and pace were quick/engaging enough that this was a one-sitting read for me, but this won't be one I'll return to.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.
This book was pretty good and I liked it initally. However, I felt that the romance was rushed and the book had too much insta-love. Still I would consider reading more by this author in the future. I did enjoy the audiobook narration by Soneela Nonkani.

This book ended up being a like, not a love for me. It was a well-written, steamy romance with likable characters, a dreamy vacation setting, and enough snarky banter littered throughout that I was thoroughly entertained. Tris is a strong female main character, a badass engineer trying to make it in a workplace stacked against her. Rafe is a gorgeous, sensitive yet strong male main character, who is appropriately obsessed with Tris. They end up at a three week training course in Hawaii for their company. We’ve got STEM careers, workplace rivals, and only one bed, which is just the best!
For me, a rivals to lovers book should be angsty and full of pure loathing at the beginning, slowly turning to love as we learn more about the characters as they interact with each other. That was what was missing from this book. The hate at the beginning of this book was a little wobbly, with both characters kind of disliking each other but not with any sort of convincing resolution. This book was single POV, but kind of seemed like it was edging on dual POV without actually committing to it. Like we just knew too much about both of the characters, and the anticipation of the main characters finding out what we all knew would happen from the very beginning just wasn’t there for me.
This is my first book by Nisha J. Tuli, but her collection of fantasy books is impressive. I would absolutely read one of her other books, and would still encourage you to give this one a try! Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the eARC!

I love Nisha, and I was excited to try this romance from her. Unfortunately, I didn't love it. I think Nisha truly shines in her romantasy. This was good, but I think her fantasy's are better.
I've narrowed down why I didn't really like it to 3 main reasons.
1. I don't love workplace romances, I think this solidified it for me.
2. I didn't connect with the main character - I can recognize that she can be totally relatable to some people, but people is not me.
3. The characters did not act their age. They are supposed to be in their 30's but they act a lot younger.
I am still giving this 3.75 stars, I enjoyed it and giggled at the romance interactions at times.

I really had so much fun with this. You definitely have to suspend disbelief because this entire plot is a giant HR nightmare, but I was living for it. I liked the rivals to lovers aspect, and how it kind of felt like summer camp for adults. I loved how much realism was sprinkled throughout in regards to misogyny in the workplace (ESPECAILLY for women in STEM). I ate this up and binged it in one day. So good.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for sending this audiobook and eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Not Safe for Work is sharp, spicy, and bright in all the right ways. Nisha J. Tuli delivers a workplace romance that doesn't play by the usual rules—think simmering tension, whip-smart banter, and a heroine who owns her ambition without apology. The chemistry crackles from page one, and the modern, messy, and oh-so-relatable setting makes every twist feel grounded. There's depth beneath the heat, too, with thoughtful exploration of power dynamics, personal growth, and the cost of being a woman navigating male-dominated spaces. Tuli nails the balance between steamy escapism and emotional resonance. It's bold, empowering, and doesn't hold back.

This was a fun, trope filled romance with real life issues and one bed! Nisha J Tuli gives romance readers exactly what they want. If you loved The Spanish Love Deception or books by Ali Hazelwood, I think you will love this too. This is definitely a solid read and makes the read think about the world around them while also still being an escape from the daily grind of current life.
I will say that while I think I enjoy Nisha 's fantasy series better, she has a solid grasp of contemporary romance and I can't wait to see what else she does in this genre.
Lastly, I will say that I had super high hopes for this book and while it fell short of perfection for me personally, that has more to do with my personal preferences than Nisha's storytelling and writing. Definitely recommend.

I binge read this book in just a couple sittings and WOW. I am obsessed with Trishara and Rafe! Their banter was a 10/10. I was laughing kicking my feet so much throughout this book. And the tension?! Off the charts HOT from the very beginning of the book! I was expecting a fun little workplace vacay romance but this was so much more! Snaps for Tris standing up for herself and other women in male dominated fields! She is THAT girl and we love her for it! And I'll never get over how supportive her and Rafe are with each other's careers & dreams 🥹 I could just melt into a puddle from how sweet these two are together (if not, I'll definitely melt from the inferno of their tension & chemistry). This is the perfect beach read for your summer vacation this year!
Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing for sending me an early copy!

Not Safe for Work delivers everything you could want in a modern romance: sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and a heroine you’ll root for from page one. Trishara Malik is ambitious, relatable, and refreshingly honest about the exhaustion that comes with being a woman of color in a corporate world stacked against her. Her voice is fierce, funny, and emotionally authentic, making her journey feel both personal and universal.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Tris and Rafe crackles with tension, and their forced proximity setup in a Hawaiian honeymoon suite adds just the right amount of chaos and charm. Rafe isn’t your typical office rival—he’s thoughtful, layered, and a perfect match for Tris as the story peels back their history and misconceptions. Watching them go from bitter rivals to vulnerable allies is immensely satisfying.
Beyond the romance, this novel shines in its commentary on corporate politics, burnout, and what it means to fight for your seat at the table without losing yourself in the process. Nisha J. Tuli writes with warmth, wit, and a keen eye for the nuances of modern ambition.
Final verdict: Not Safe for Work is a powerful blend of romance, resilience, and self-discovery. It’s equal parts heart and heat, and an absolute must-read for anyone who’s ever had to fight to be seen.

Many thanks to Forever for the physical review copy of this one, which came out on May 20th.
I very much appreciated that Not Safe for Work is a single POV story, which was definitely the right choice for this particular setup. Not knowing what Rafe is thinking really adds to the tension of the slow burn in the best way.
The banter between the main characters is also spot-on, and I enjoyed several of the side characters, as well. This is a slower burn with many great tropes, including workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers, and only one bed. However, once the spice enters the chat, it delivers. There are a few solid spicy scenes that were well-written enough not to make me cringe.
Tris has chronic migraines, which were handled really well in the story. I did kind of expect them to be a bigger part of the plot, but in retrospect, I like that Tris just has her migraines and her meds and that's just that. As someone with chronic migraine myself, that's pretty much the role it has in my life, too. So ultimately, it felt like really solid rep that shows how chronic illness, when well managed on the right regimen, can become pretty commonplace for someone who's used to it.
While many characters were well-written and I loved Tris' friend group, a few of the side characters felt a bit like caricatures, which always bugs me a bit. In particular, Rafe's ex-girlfriend Hannah has like five seconds on the page and feels like such a stereotype, which was a bit of an interesting choice.
Finally, I liked how both Rafe and Tris find their way to what they want out of their career over the course of the book. Both of them supporting and pushing each other feels like a natural part of this progression and makes the ending even more satisfying that just a romantic HEA.
In all, Not Safe for Work is a really solid, well-written romance. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, and/or only one bed, along with a bit of spice, this is definitely one you don't want to miss.

DNF 10%
I found the main character to be incredibly childish, when (what I assume will be) the love interest asks what she's reading, and he is her coworker, she responds something along the lines "You can borrow it when I'm done, maybe you'll learn how to please a woman" Excuse me?
The dialogue is weird and I don't find it enjoyable enough to continue.

Such a cute book! I loved the banter between Rafe and Trishara, it was so much fun. 🤭
Also loved the sparks that I could feel between the two of them all the time they were together. 😍
I could've read a lot more about them. ❤️
Loved the ending we had and I'm glad we got to see them a bit in the future but not that much at the end. ❤️

Overall, this was a 3 star read for me and that pains me to conclude because I LOVED certain aspects of this book! The FMCs inner dialogue often cracked me up and Tuli excelled at writing scenes with sizzling tension. However, the overall romance plot didn't all weave together satisfactorily for me and part of the big ending grand gesture really irked me. A great concept, including important themes, with mediocre execution.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!