Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Not Safe for Work comes out on May 20th, 2025.
This was a fast read with a good slow burn. Some topics that appeared:
• Indian lead character
• Women in STEM
Women in male dominated fields and the struggles that
entails
•Racism/microgressions
(Slight) enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
So much more
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The last 2-3 chapters were the most interesting for me, unfortunately. I did think the plot and dialogue was a bit lacking. It's more of a descriptive writing, so most copy is about Trishara's (the lead) observances and thought process. I was left with desiring more. Hoping to read more of her books.

What a spicy, contemporary romance from Nisha J. Tuli!!!
I first found her through Artefacts of Ouranos series and then read her other fantasy books. I was so excited to get to review this one as well!
The story is filled with sizzling tension, laugh-out-loud moments, and a fantastic romance!!! Nisha's book provides a narrative that is empowering and multi-faceted, exploring themes of ambition, self-worth, and the challenges of navigating professional and personal desires.

4⭐️
3🌶️

Tish + Rafe

women in stem
rivals to lovers
workplace romance
ONE BED
banterrrrr


omg this story sucked me in, I could NOT PUT IT DOWNNNN!

there is nothing I love more than a strong FMC, who is a lil mean to the MMC. And Tish was just that. She would call him on his BS and the banterrrr. GAH, I LOVE THESE TWO.

the location, the competition, the FOREARMSSSS, the spiceeeeee!

I loved it alll!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Read Now copy!

As a fan of Nisha J Tuli's romantasy, I was eager to see how she’d tackle a romcom, and Not Safe for Work did not disappoint. It quickly became one of my favorite reads! The slow burn and the intense chemistry between the main characters were absolutely electric. The author has a true knack for writing top-tier banter that kept me hooked. The pacing was spot-on, and the story flowed seamlessly. I ended up binge-reading this in a single day and enjoyed every second of it. The ending was the perfect finish – a total cherry on top! I absolutely loved how she wrapped it all up and would be thrilled to see more romcoms from her in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book was SO well written it blew me away. Everything was done perfectly from the development of characters, the pacing, and the spice ( 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5). I really appreciated the detail the author put into highlighting the struggles women face in the workplace and the main character Tris responding in such an empowering professional way. There were so many moments where I was like YES QUEEN. She really allowed herself to feel the pain but also to find her inner strength and come back swinging.
The romance had me squealing and kicking my feet. Their banter was top tier and again, because of how well this was written, their moments together really drew you into the book and it felt like the outside world just disappeared. Communication was not always their strong suit, but you could feel the tension and slow burn in every page from both Rafe and Tris.
I cannot wait to buy this when it releases and I am definitely recommending it to everyone I know 💁🏻‍♀️

This was a fun, quick read and a refreshing departure from Nisha J. Tuli’s usual fantasy works. Not Safe for Work follows Trishara (Tris), a determined woman navigating the challenges of working in STEM in a male-dominated office. When she’s invited to a company retreat in Hawaii, a reservation mix-up leaves her to share a room with Rafe, the CEO’s son and her professional rival. To add fuel to the fire, there's only one bed.

Tuli skillfully highlights the challenges Tris faces in a male-dominated environment, making her character's journey feel both authentic and empowering. Like, can we please applaud that email Trish sent? And let's not forget about the tension between Trish and Rafe. It adds a fun layer of complexity, blending romantic sparks with professional rivalry. The slow-burn romance is filled with witty banter, conflict, and some truly heartwarming moments. One of my favorite moments was the storm scene, where Rafe really shows his caring side for Tris, marking a pivotal moment in their relationship.

However, while the chemistry between Trish and Rafe is undeniable, the ending felt a bit rushed. The progression from enemies to lovers to "I love you" didn’t give me enough time to fully appreciate their emotional journey together. That said, I did appreciate how Rafe respected Tris' wishes and took the time to sort out his own baggage, which did help his case.

Overall, Not Safe for Work is an engaging and entertaining read with a compelling mix of romance and real-world issues. Whether you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers tropes, one bed trope, or looking for a relatable story about a woman breaking barriers in a tough industry, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will start this to say that I was really excited for this, having just finished Nisha's Artefacts of Ouranos series last week. The series blew me away.

So, it is with sadness that I say this did not. There were definitely things I enjoyed about it, but the things I didn't were just too prevalent.

First, Tris is her own worst enemy and really seems to set herself up for uncomfortable situations. I believe that being a woman in an office dominated by men can be difficult. I mean, I was a young woman in an office who had catty older women make my life difficult, so I get it. There is a difference between someone treating you poorly and you looking for things to be offended by, though. Tris did a lot of that, as she just figured every "white" man was a misogynist and racist.

Which does bring me to something else... Every single male in this book, except Rafe, was overtly misogynistic and racist. It was like stepping into Mad Men, but ten times worse. It made it hard to take any of it seriously when it was so over-the-top.

I could consider those things just part of a trope, or the author using the book a bit as a way to vent, except that Tris was so damn wishy washy, I got whiplash. She hates Rafe for no real reason, as we don't really get much besides her being a bitch to him, and accusing him of being a "nepo baby" who only got the job because his dad is an executive. Her attitude towards him seems hypocritical at best, but downright hostile in a way that feels really uncalled for at worst. She was obsessed with Rafe, but "hated" him, and keeps flipping hot & cold basically until 90% in.

Tris also reads quite a bit like a high schooler, not a woman pushing 30. I constantly wanted to scream at her to just TALK to Rafe about things, rather than acting on her assumptions. She also led guys on, while making them out to be the awful ones. She accepts a date with a guy after deciding he is boring and misogynistic, feels like he is an idiot for not understanding her signs of not being interested, and then kisses him at the end of the date. It seemed mostly like a way to make her seem "powerful" and also make Rafe literally keep challenging a physical fight with the guy.

Rafe was some kinds of amazing for putting up with it all, understanding that that is just who she is. He was the adult in their relationship, and I did enjoy seeing him getting to be happy. I wanted more of him, and perhaps getting to read from his point of view would have helped balance it all out. I feel like maybe there was just too much Trishara.

This was a quick read, though, with some great spice once it finally happens. It's the kind of book that does hook you and keep your interest throughout.

I think that perhaps it was too personal of a subject for the author though, leading to some heavy-handedness. I don't doubt she's experienced some idiocy, and understand the importance of shining a floodlight on toxicity. I just feel like the message gets buried and blurred to nearly a caricature here.

I absolutely loved this! The romance was great but also the serious topics involved in the story that woman go trough were so real. I really liked the relationship between Tris and Rafe, also I loved the fact that he was a baker.

Smart and steamy rivals to lovers romance is a winner! I came to Nisha J. Tuli via the Artefacts of Ouranos series and I knew she would hit it out of the park with this funny, sexy story of company frenemies forced to share one room at a company leadership retreat. Sparks fly and both characters show real emotional depth and growth during the story, I ate this up!

It's confirmed, Nisha can write killer romcoms! I loved the Artefacts of Ouranos series, so I jumped on this the second I saw it. It's definitely going up there as one of my favourite books of the year. The amount of highlights I have could fill an entire journal.

NSFW was romantic and fun while also addressing sexism, racial microaggressions, and harassment that occurs in the workplace. I loved Tris. She was a complete badass. She was strong and empowered and strived to do what was right all the while navigating the barriers of the male-dominated work industry. I love that she stayed true to herself even while people around her were pushing her to become someone she didn't want to be. I also thought the chronic migraine rep was done very well. It was really relatable and did a good job of showcasing how debilitating they can be.

The build up between Rafe and Trishara was great! I love a good slow burn and this hit, and surpassed, the mark. The tension was there and their banter was nothing short of perfection. This had me smiling the whole way through.

Also, Tris has impeccable taste in books!

I could talk about this book for hours, but in order to keep it spoiler free I'll stop here. I highly recommend checking this out once it's released!

“He’s Lucifer, wearing the disguise of a Ralph Lauren model.”

A fun, flirty, feminist fantastic! This workplace retreat romance is largely set in Hawaii, where two workplace rivals are forced to share - are you ready for it - One. Room.

Forced proximity? ✔️
Rivals to lovers? ✔️
Secret down bad smitten kitten? ✔️
“God, your ego is the size of Canada.” ✔️

More please!

Not Safe For Work (heed the name 👀) will get your blood pumping for more reasons than one (I sure had some violent thoughts towards her male coworkers). “Why are men?” indeed.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and Canadian extraordinaire Nisha J. Tuli for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. Not Safe For Work comes out on May 20th.

"Not Safe For Work" by Nisha J. Tuli is an engaging contemporary romance that perfectly balances humor, depth, and empowerment. As a woman in STEM myself, I found the author’s forward particularly inspiring and authentic. Tuli's personal experiences in the field bring a realness to the story, especially through the main character, Trishara, who is strong, snarky, and refreshingly confident.
Trishara is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for. Her journey through a male-dominated industry, while dealing with corporate challenges and personal growth, resonates deeply. I loved how she stayed true to herself, “sticking it to the man” in her own unapologetic way.
The romance between Trishara and Rafe is another highlight. Initially, Rafe seems like the typical cocky rival, but as the story unfolds, his vulnerability and self-doubt reveal a multi-dimensional character who feels much more relatable. Their chemistry is electric, and the banter between them is filled with wit and sass, making their dynamic both fun and engaging.
The Hawaiian resort setting adds another layer of charm, with the forced proximity between the characters creating a believable and well-paced romance. The timeline feels natural, and the slow burn between Trishara and Rafe makes their connection all the more satisfying.
Overall, Not Safe For Work is a wonderfully layered romance that mixes humor, empowerment, and authentic character development. It’s a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys romance with depth, relatable characters, and a little bit of sass. I highly recommend it and look forward to its release on May 20, 2025!

Loved this book!!!!! The plot was great, I felt like I was at a resort just from reading it. Super cozy read with great characters. My only issue was with Hannah- Rafe talked about how she was great and was his close childhood friend but from the 5 seconds of interacting with Tris, she pretty much seemed like a sucky human being? So that made me question Rafe as a person, just a little. But other than that, I loved this book and will probably reread it.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! It was fun and easy to read. It was the perfect addition to my Friday night paired with wine and a warm blanket. My only complaint is I tend to dislike references to pop culture in my books ie Taylor Swift (even tho I love her) but that’s just me and regardless, it had me giggling and kicking my feet. Girl- go get your man!!!

I loved this book! Something that did make me struggle with this is that Trishara was originally written as such a strong and bold female character, yet it seemed that as soon as she got over her rivalry with the male lead, it seemed she was "tamed". She lost the spark and drive that brought her originally so far. Putting this idea aside, the book was very cozy and displayed a corrupted system that needed to be fixed, making it obvious that Trishara would be the one to change it. I liked the tension between the two characters and it moved at a steady pace.

Wow. This book was incredible. You can feel the heart that Nisha poured into it. She doesn't shy away from the reality of what it's like to work in an industry that mainly cis het men. Tris is a breath of fresh air in the romance world. There were moments I expected her to zig and zag we went.

This seems like it would be a straightforward rivals to lovers. Tris and Rafe have been poking at each other for five years. Rafe got the promotion she was perfect for. He is the example of nepotism gets the job done. When Tris is the "diversity pick" for a leadership retreat, she and Rafe get stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. You'd think the one bed would change something, but it's the forced proximity and conversation that changes the tides for Tris. When they are able to step back from the toxic work environment they are used to being in, they meet each other as people. Flaws and all.

As the retreat continues, we peel back the layers of these two to observe who they are. The hopes and dreams they've had shattered. The walls they've built up to protect themselves. The pressure that people and society as a whole put upon them. They give each other the strength to move forward on their own terms.

I appreciated that Nisha warned us from the beginning that it's a slow burn. It helped curb the frustration I normally feel during one. The promise of the burn kept me satisfied.

What made this book so spectacular for me was how it was grounded in the problems of the world. We saw the sexism that Tris dealt with. We saw the awful positions she was put in, both by people who were taking advantage of her and by people who encouraged her to stay in the broken system. Sometimes the best way to win is to stop playing the game. We watch Tris remind herself of what she wants, and what she deserves.

Nisha is an author who understands the romance genre. She trusts the tropes and knows how to create something unique within them. Her spice is on point, and I cannot contain my glee at her obsession with forearms. If you've read her other works, she even threw in an Artefacts of Ouranos easter egg.

Go read this book. I cannot wait for it to be out in the world. Congrats, Nisha!!! It's amazing!!!

This book was such a good time! The representations were wonderful, the banter was spot on, and the storyline was interesting. The characters were perfectly developed, and the story felt realistic. Love reading about a woman in STEM! I would read other romance books written by Nisha J Tuli!

TLDR: The perfect swoony workplace romance full of banter and pining, set against a luscious Hawaiian backdrop, in which two characters find love as well as their wings to fly.

This. Book. Was. Amazing.

Nisha J. Tuli has achieved romcom perfection with Not Safe For Work. Aside from the swoony, banter-filled romance, the characters are so well developed and well endearing that it’s impossible to not love them. Trishara is the embodiment of today’s women in STEM; she is competent, qualified, highly intelligent, and sick of the status quo. Her strength and bravery was so inspiring and I loved being inside her head. Rafe, the leading man, really stole my heart when he started opening up to Trish, and I am certain he will steal yours as well.

The romance is everything I love about rivals to lovers. There’s banter, fighting as foreplay, heated looks across rooms, forced proximity, and that delicious element of “idiots in love.” Nisha did an amazing job of building their chemistry and letting it smolder! The slow burn payoff was intense.

I absolutely recommend this book for contemporary romance readers, especially for those that enjoy workplace romances such as The Hating Game!

I'm not sure what this book was trying to be, but it ended up being a mess.

From the first page the heroine, Trish, is unlikeable - but not in the way that endears her to the readers. She's been passed over for 4 or 5 promotions and I'm not sure it was nepotism so much as her shitty attitude. When she's offered a spot at this leadership retreat her first reaction is "why did you pick me?" girl please. And then! One of her demands for going is a new set of luggage...and she went about bought LV luggage and lost any of the respect I still held for her.

But onto the retreat where the reader gets more time with Rafe and these two are forced to share a suite - he has no redeeming qualities either. It's not enemies to lovers, it's unbearable people stuck in a suite for 3 weeks not doing company activities they were sent there to do. These two behaved more like high-schoolers than working professionals. There was also too much insta-lust instead of Rafe and Trish getting to know one another.

I just couldn't get into these two together, couldn't wait to be out of Trish's head, and didn't believe any of her behavior was plausible as a professional.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the e-ARC!

I liked this! I think it's perfect for fans of The Hating Game and a perfect book to read on vacation. I really enjoyed the representation we got with Trishara's character and insight into her work life as well. I did think the middle was a little repetative but overall it was an easy to get into, light romance read :)

Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my ARC!

3.5/5