Honestly, the epic ending chapters were my favorite part of this book. It took me a while to read, but I’m so glad I made it there.

I know this was a very personal story for the author, and I so appreciate the light she has shone on the difficulties of being a woman of color in a white male-dominated work space.

Rafe was so romantic, and I really appreciated seeing the different facets of him as well.

For me, personally, the story focused too much on their sexual tension and the physical aspects of their relationship. I would have liked for the book to lean a little more into developing Tris and Rafe’s emotional connection. But I’m sure there are many others who will disagree with me!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I love a workplace romance and there were definitely fun moments in this book but it didn’t completely work for me. I felt a little crazy being trapped inside Trishara’s POV for this entire book because she was so hot and cold on the MMC. I found her assumptions and actions towards Rafe throughout the book to be quite juvenile. The narrator of the audiobook was a bit too theatrical for my taste which really made Trishara feel very young and dramatic. There were also a lot of cliché tropes in this one that feel so overdone.
That being said, I did love the representation of women in the work force competing against men who have worked half as hard as the women in their peer groups!

Thank you to Forever, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC and ARC of this book <3

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for the advanced reader and listener copies of this book!

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Not Safe for Work is the perfect summer read - a spicy and sassy romcom with plenty of forced proximity and tension between work rivals. Trishara is a woman in STEM who is constantly fighting to climb the ladder, against the current of white male privilege and nepotism in her workplace. She is wildly intelligent but finds her career to be stagnant despite devoting 5 years of her life to her company. She then finds out that she is being sent to a company retreat for 3 weeks in Hawaii. The catch? She ends up being paired up with her workplace nemesis - Rafe Gallagher - a tall, broody, and extremely attractive man who happens to be the son of the owner of the company. Even better - they end up forced to share a room together. Even better than that? There’s only one bed. Wherever could this lead us? 😇

Trish is my favorite kind of FMC - intelligent and driven, yet friendly and kind, with a sassy mouth who isn’t afraid to bite back. And Rafe is, of course, misunderstood and is actually a sweet, sweet man under the surface. It’s clear that they have been attracted to each other for years, but neither of them have ever had the courage to act on anything. We then end up with the perfect set up - 3 weeks on an island together with perfectly orchestrated forced proximity. The only one bed trope gets me every time and this was no different. The tension between these two could have been cut with a knife and I was SO here for it. Rafe is cool, calm, and collected on the surface. But underneath it all, he is down BAD for Trish and has been for a while. His sketchbook??? I died. His filthy mouth??? I was unwell. I don’t fault Trish for folding immediately any time he would look her way.

I also loved that Trish and Rafe bonded over their unhappiness in their jobs and it felt like they both helped each other so much in getting the courage to take a leap and make some really big changes in both of their lives, respectively. They truly seem like each other’s perfect match. I absolutely loved their banter.



SPOILERS BELOW:

My two biggest gripes with this book were based on the miscommunication between the two main characters. It was so obvious that Trish and Rafe were obsessed with each other. Admittedly, I was frustrated by the fact that Rafe kept entertaining his ex Hannah with the way he kept answering her dozens of calls while he was on this trip. He could have easily stood his ground and set a firm boundary with Hannah and told her to leave him alone. And conversely, I was also annoyed by the fact that Trish couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Rafe and Hannah were broken up despite him saying time and time again that he didn’t want to be with Hannah, and the fact that he very plainly and directly said that he wanted to be with Trish. She let her insecurities make decisions for her on multiple occasions which in turn lead to a mini 3rd act break up that would have been totally avoidable had he just set a firm boundary and she put her foot down and talked to Rafe about how she was feeling.

Despite all of this, I absolutely LOVED the way that Trish stood up for herself and send the mass email to the entire company, dragging all of the higher ups who wronged her. I was cheering so hard for her with this and it was the perfect resolution to her work conflicts. I felt so proud when she got her new job and started climbing the ranks almost instantly. And the resolution between Rafe and Trish was so cute and wholesome, I absolutely ate it up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the #gifted copy of this book.

Summary: Trishara has dreamed for the last five years of being the first woman of color to break through the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell. But she has been passed over so many times for promotions and raises that she is losing hope and interest in the company. She is overjoyed to find out she has been selected for a corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. The only problem is that her nemesis and son of the boss, Rafe is also going on said retreat. Her goal is to stay as far away from him as possible until they discover there is only one room booked for them for the entire 3 weeks. But as their time on the island continues, Trish starts to wonder if Rafe is the villain in her story after all, or has he always been in her corner?

Dani's Thoughts: I fell in love with Nisha's writing in her Artefacts of Ouranos series, and I could not wait for her jump into contemporary romance. I enjoyed this story because Trish and Rafe had the best banter, sizzling tension, and a beautiful story from enemies to lovers. Trish's demands of her boss after being picked for the retreat were hilarious and set up her road to deciding what was best for her life. I love the friends she made while at the retreat because they had each other's backs from day 1. It was fun watching Trish and Rafe begin to understand each other in a new light and how Rafe was always there when she needed him most.

And finally, Hannah take a hike!!!

Read if you love:
🤓Workplace Romance
🛏️One Bed
💜Work Retreat
🏝️Hawaii
💜Women in STEM
❤️‍🔥Nemesis to lovers

The tension in this STEMinst romance was excellent. And I was very happy with the ending. Definitely recommend for anyone who likes workplace romances.

This is the perfect summer read! This is my first book by Nisha J. Tuli and it definitely did not disappoint. Trishara and Rafe are two workplace enemies who are forced to share a room during a company retreat in Hawaii. When I tell you the banter between Tris and Rafe was off the charts. I’m such a sucker for when the romance starts to blur the lines and we dive right into flirting territory.
Tris was a fantastic fmc! She’s smart and witty and the exact kind of person you want as your best friend. Rafe..my sweet Rafe. Rafe is everything you want in a mmc. He’s a charming, smart, protective guy with a soft side to him.
If you like reading about women in STEM and the classic one bed trope this is 100% the book for you.

This book was a fun read with a fun setting. I will say a company that can send a group of people from all over the country to Hawaii for 3 weeks, wow! But overall I did enjoy the enemies to lovers trope. The one suite room mistake did seem like an HR nightmare.

Not Safe For Work had no business being THIS DAMN GOOD. No, actually, it did. Nisha J. Tuli is a genius and I loved this contemporary debut of hers.

I highlighted so many lines in this book. I couldn't get enough of the banter and inner thoughts of Tris. One of my favorite thoughts was, "I am dirtier than a cafeteria food fight..." and honestly, it brought me back to her Trial of the Sun Queen.

There were a lot of tropes but they were pulled off brilliantly. I loved Rafe's caveman attitude. He's sensitive and caring, but we can all (safely and temporarily) toss our feminism out the window for him.

I was so disappointed in the board-member at the end. Telling Tris to overlook it. Fuck that shit. I'm so glad Nisha made Tris stand up to that nonsense. I was so proud of her by the end of the book.

Five out of Five stars. So good! Nisha was already an auto-buy author, but her foray into contemporary will have me slamming my credit card down when she announces a release.

Note: I tandem read the ebook and audiobook.

I am obsessed with this book. I started the audiobook this morning and finished before I even got home from work. I could NOT stop listening, and that is in part due to the narrator. She was fantastic! The storyline kept me engaged from start to finish. Woman of color in engineering? ABSOLUTELY. Rafe and Trishara being absolutely obsessed with each other? I could not get enough!!!

I also love that this dealt with difficult topics, including the struggles that women, and especially women of color, face in male dominated fields, sexism, racism, and sexual assault/harassment. All of these topics were dealt with beautifully.

I’m only docking 0.25 because Rafe should’ve just blocked Hannah earlier LOL.

This was my first read from this author and I really enjoyed it! Trishara and Rafe are our MC’s featured in this enemies to lovers rom-com and the tension between these two is very evident. Even more so when they are moved from the office over to a Maui resort, where they are in attendance for a work competition. During their stay, which involves one bed 😏, we get great banter, confessions, and some spicy time 🔥 Definitely a book I’d recommend, especially to all my workplace romance girlies.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and to Nisha for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In all sincerity, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a contemporary romance book from Nisha J. Tuli. I’ve always been a fan of her romantasy books, and the fact that she was diving into romance was very intriguing.

That being said, I loved this book. As a woman in a man’s world myself, I empathized with the issues Trishara faced in this book. It can be a cruel world for women in a man’s world out there, and Tris handled it with a grace that I hope I can emulate.

This book was cute, flirty, and the growth that the main characters went through was refreshing.

Brava, Nisha!!

This isn’t just a steamy office romance—it’s a layered, thoughtful exploration of ambition, bias, and the complicated line between rivalry and attraction. Trishara Malik is a powerhouse of a protagonist, navigating corporate politics and burnout with equal parts vulnerability and fire.

Rafe Gallagher is the perfect foil—yes, he’s the boss’s son, but he’s also unexpectedly nuanced, and watching the tension between him and Tris shift from icy contempt to undeniable heat is deeply satisfying. The enemies-to-lovers arc is both fun and emotionally grounded, and Tuli never shies away from the reality of being a woman of color trying to climb the corporate ladder.

I especially loved consuming this story as an audiobook—the narration brought extra life to the snappy dialogue and slow-burn tension, making the tropical retreat setting even more immersive. It's a smart, sexy, and surprisingly heartfelt listen.

The pacing drags slightly midway through the retreat, but that’s a small bump in an otherwise compulsively enjoyable ride. If you like your romcoms with bite, banter, and a bit of boardroom drama, this one's a must.

Though it wasn't as STEM focused as I was expecting, I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the free electronic Advanced Reader Copy.

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: Not Safe for Work

♾️ ⭐️

Trishara Malik is an ambitious, intelligent, and talented engineer. After years of being overlooked and undervalued at her firm, she’s all but given up aspirations to advance. Everything changes when she’s nominated for a prestigious work retreat to Hawaii which could open doors for her career. The only problem? Her work nemesis is also joining. Even worse? They’re forced to share a honeymoon suite.

After a life changing breach of trust, she keeps her heart guarded. During this trip, she starts to see sides of Rafe she never knew existed. Could her impressions of him be wrong?

Tropes:
📊BIPOC STEM FMC
💪🏻Forearm Daddy
✂️Rivals to lovers
🗄️Workplace romance
🫂Forced proximity
🛏️Only one bed/pillow
🗣️Epic banter
🔥Slow burn 🌶️

I’ve been a longtime fan of Nisha’s Romantasy books and jumped at the chance to read this debut contemporary romance. I can unequivocally attest that Nisha is a rom-com genius! This book is *utter perfection*.

I was immediately enamored by Tris— her sass, confidence, and quirky humor. Oh and Rafe is, in fact, a 12 out of 10. Broody, protective, witty, thoughtful, and full of sweet surprises.

Tris finds Rafe frustratingly handsome but he’s always been cold towards her when he’s not trying to outdo her at work. Their heated workplace rivalry escalates as they’re trapped on a Hawaiian resort…sharing a honeymoon suite and every team session. Cue the most delightful sad h0rny!

This story also highlights struggles in a workplace mired with nepotism, double standards, and discrimination.

I laughed so hard that I cried and swooned over each tender moment. I loved seeing both Tris and Rafe’s confidence blossom in life and love.

With exquisite banter, dizzying tension, and a delicious slow burn, Not Safe for Work is the most fun workplace romance I’ve ever read!

Thank you to the author and Forever for the ARC copy. This is my honest and voluntary review

This book made me so happy. Not Safe For Work blends sharp social commentary with a sizzling, healthy workplace romance in a way that feels empowering, real, and ridiculously fun.

Trishara is a powerhouse—ambitious, witty, and deeply relatable as she fights against the pervasive sexism and racial bias in her corporate world. I loved how the book didn’t shy away from portraying the very real challenges women (especially women of color) face in male-dominated industries. It never felt like a token issue—it was essential to the story, handled with nuance and authenticity.

Now for the romance. Trishara and Rafe are absolute FIRE. Their chemistry crackles from the start, and I was completely invested in watching their rivalry morph into mutual respect, understanding, and eventually, a genuinely equal and emotionally satisfying relationship. The forced proximity/honeymoon suite trope was a delight, and the banter was top-tier.

What I appreciated most, though, was how healthy their dynamic became. They disagreed, miscommunicated, and wrestled with their baggage—but always in a way that felt mature and growth-oriented. No toxic drama, just real people figuring things out.

This is hands-down my favorite Nisha J. Tuli book yet—and I’ve read nearly all of them. Sharp, romantic, and wonderfully validating. I’ll be recommending this one for a long time.

Not Safe for Work is my first Nisha J. Tuli book AND WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO FINALLY READ HER WORK??????? I did not know Nisha got down like this and this book was so freaking HOT. I essentially had bi-panic the entire time and would've killed to be the meat in a Rafe and Tris sandwich. I adored every second of this read and can't wait to read it again in a few months! The chemistry was palpable and I was sucked in from the beginning. Rafe's character development was a joy to witness and Tris's growth and revenge email made the story even better. Not only did I love Rafe and Tris together, but the epilogue was everything a closure loving girlie like me needs. Absolutely no notes, Not Safe for Work was fabulous and my newest obsession.

Thank you to Forever, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

Not Safe for Work was a fun, fiery enemies-to-lovers romcom that brought workplace drama and tropical tension together in the best way.
Trishara was a smart, driven protagonist who had every right to be frustrated—after years of being overlooked and underestimated at her company, watching her nemesis (and the boss’s son!) Rafe get the promotion she deserved was infuriating. So, when she ends up on a career-making retreat in Hawaii—with Rafe, no less—I knew I was in for a tense, slow-burn ride.
Their banter was sharp, the chemistry undeniable, and the forced proximity setup (hello, honeymoon suite mishap!) added the perfect layer of awkward hilarity. As Tris started to see a different side of Rafe—one that wasn’t so smug and might’ve even been rooting for her all along—their connection felt surprisingly tender and earned.
The author also did a great job weaving in themes of burnout, representation in corporate spaces, and the emotional toll of always having to prove yourself. That depth made the romantic payoff feel more meaningful, even if the pacing dragged a little in the middle.
Overall, this book was witty, warm, and packed with tropical tension—I had a blast reading it. Perfect for fans of workplace rivals and reluctant romance in paradise.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute storyline, I loved the Maui setting and the steamy parts were great. However, I did not connect with the characters at all. Specifically, the FMC was extremely whiny and I was ready to send her back to the mainland within the first few chapters. I think a romance, especially a rom-com should make the reader either laugh out loud or cry (ideally both) and this book did neither for me.

3.5 stars

I actually really enjoyed this book and I loved the authors writing style. I devoured it in a single day because it did keep me interested. I think I’d love to read more contemporary romances by this author, especially a friends to lovers because I think she would write some amazing yearning there.

However, I did have some issues with some of the plot and characters. We never see the FMC be professional so it doesn’t actually surprise me that she didn’t get promoted if she talks to people at work the way she talks to the MMC or if she talks to him that way in front of coworkers, I wouldn’t promote her either. And the MMC constantly answering the phone when his ex calls is so frustrating. And when we meet the ex and she says such a horrible racial micro aggression to the FMC?? It’s just unimaginable to me that a woman could so easily say something like that to a near stranger and her partner just not comprehend that she is a terrible person especially when they have known each other nearly their whole lives! I also think in an enemies to lovers romance, sometimes they are just so mean and cruel to each other that I wonder how they can just let that go. Personally I am too soft to fall for someone who said such heinous things to me.

The plot had me thinking too much about the HR implications involved. A company booked a single room for opposite sex employees, ignores calls, and the MMC just stays there instead of rooming with his father or any of the many men he already knows?? When clearly this is an uncomfortable situation for the FMC? The boundary stepping is concerning and just IMAGINE if she wasn’t actually into him? The legal case would be intense. I probably shouldn’t read workplace romances as an HR person lol

So it was hard for me to let go of some of the HR issues and the character flaws. But genuinely I did enjoy the book even if it doesn’t sound like it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

tropes:
🌺 dislike to lovers
🌺 work place romance
🌺 first single POV
🌺 only one bed
🌺 forced proximity

This is my first book by Nisha J Tuli and god I am surprised with how well she has written this book. The entire storyline revolved around how Trishara as a biracial engineer is witnessing subtle moves of discrimination against her at work but now the time has come when she is picked alongside her nemisis to go on a retreat which might open doors for future opportunities. There is a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding between them all because of Trish.

One thing didn't sit right with me is as someone who wanted to be treated as par with fairness had so many prejudices against Rafe.

Rafe is a sweetheart though I wish he communicated his feelings better to everyone.

The whole stuck in the same room/suite which being in a professional trip is well done.

I enjoyed the book.

“What I meant was it’s hard to believe in you’re an introvert because you shine in every room you enter”