Okay, I reaaaaally enjoyed this. I am not a woman in STEM, but I was fist pumping, “hell yeah, girl”-ing my way through this entire book. I adored Tris’ characters and loved that Molly, Lan, and Gabrielle had depth to them as her best friends/side characters. AND RAFE. UGH. Okay he pmtfo with the whole Hannah situation, but I understood how it moved the plot forward. I just feel like Rafe would know better than that? Idk that’s neither here nor there. But what is DEFINITELY HERE is Tuli’s larger critique of the patriarchal systems that exist in the workforce, but centering the experience of an Indian woman in a STEM field was *chef’s kiss*. I had visceral reactions to so many scenes: the awkward, claiming touches from a man who is, at best, acquaintance-adjacent, the internal battle with imposter syndrome, the scene at launch with PAUL, the moment with Hannah in the bathroom. SO many moments resonated with me, and I love Tuli for it.

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli is an absolute knockout of a romance—smart, sizzling, and impossible to put down. Thank you to Forever Publishing for the gifted ARC. This gem hits shelves on May 20, and you’re going to add it to your TBR ASAP.

This is the kind of romcom I love: a slow burn that turns red-hot with open-door spice, fantastic women-in-STEM representation, and all the delicious enemies-to-lovers tension. Trishara and Rafe are rival engineers who’ve been butting heads for years, and when they’re forced to share a honeymoon suite during a leadership retreat in Maui, sparks (and tempers) start to fly. Rafe is smoking hot, and the chemistry between these two is off the charts.

What made this story stand out was how it explored ambition, burnout, and the experience of being a woman of color in a corporate setting, all while delivering a fun, funny, and steamy romance. The banter, the tension, the payoff -- it was everything. I devoured it and will absolutely read anything Nisha J. Tuli writes next. Don’t miss this one!

A fun vacation read that’s a great slow burn, work rivals to lovers - we love the tension🤌🏻. It's the kind of story that needs to be read by the pool, sunglasses on, and a delicious drink in hand so you can soak up all the vibes. While still a romance it does deal with some heavier topics such as multiple toxic work environments and workplace harassment especially in male dominated fields but it feels absolutely relatable (unfortunately). Overall a great contemporary romance debut for Nisha!

Nisha J. Tuli's 'Not Safe for Work' is a refreshing and empowering addition to the contemporary romance genre. Set against the lush backdrop of a Hawaiian corporate retreat, this novel masterfully blends the allure of a slow-burn romance with poignant commentary on workplace dynamics, particularly the challenges faced by women of color in STEM fields.

Trishara Malik, a dedicated engineer, has spent years striving for recognition in a male-dominated industry, only to see her efforts overshadowed by nepotism and systemic bias. When she's unexpectedly selected for a prestigious leadership retreat, it's both a chance to rejuvenate her career and a test of her resilience - especially when she discovers she'll be sharing accommodations with her workplace rival, Rafe Gallagher, the boss's son.

Trishara is a standout protagonist - intelligent, assertive, and deeply relatable. Her journey reflects the real-world struggles many women face in professional settings, making her victories all the more satisfying. Rafe, initially perceived as the embodiment of privilege, reveals layers of complexity as the story unfolds. Their evolving relationship, marked by sharp banter and genuine connection, is both entertaining and heartfelt.

Beyond the romance, Tuli delves into significant themes such as racial and gender inequality, micro aggressions, and the importance of self-advocacy. The novel doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of corporate politics, but it balances these moments with humor, warmth, and hope.

I loved this one! For me, I’m always looking for banter in between couples, and this was perfect! The tension was so good, and I couldn’t put it down. There’s very few books that I want to binge, but this was one of them. I read A LOT of romance books, and this one was top tier!

i am a fool for a broody man with the softest side ever

arc rating & review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟

ok wow! i loved nisha’s other series trial of the sun queen, and i was just a little apprehensive about this because of the genre change but she knocked it out of the park!!! this was so good omgggg.

rafe had my toes CURLING. i loved how their rivalry was real and it was passionate. it was a hate to love but the entire time we knew they were so down bad. the line between love and hate is very thin 🙂‍↕️ but it actually felt like they were rivals and their tension just built and built until it bubbled over. I love a book when they don’t even KISS until like 70% through. and the spice!!!! UNREAL!
again. a man whose soft but also so broody and protective will win me over 10/10 times. and RAFE! this man had the softest of soft sides and i was foaming at the mouth everytime he spoke.

the fmc was also extremely relatable. this is much more then a fun romance in hawaii, it’s about the glass ceiling, being passed over because you’re a woman, being passed up because you’re a woman of color, being used and shamed for being the opposite sex, i mean i could go on for hours. what our fmc goes through in this is every woman’s worst nightmare in cooperate america and just america in general. she was sweet but also fierce and guarded - for good reason. and the friendships/found family was such a nice little sprinkle added in.

overall this was a really good book. it flowed well, the romance felt natural and the conflict towards the end made sense and was more believable then most. it was short but also the right amount of page length.
overall i had a wonderful time reading this. so much so i finished it in two days 🤭

thank you netgalley & nisha for the early copy 🤍

This workplace romance gets out of the office and had me wondering how I can be invited to the next Corporate Leadership retreat.

The characters are fantastic. The story centers on Trishara, who feels stuck, passed over and burnt out when she’s selected to go to her company’s exclusive leadership retreat in Hawaii. The only catch is that she has to go with her work nemesis, Rafe, the guy who took the job she deserved (and just so happens to be the son of one of the company execs). What follows is an enjoyable series of mix-ups, teambuilding exercises, tests and events that kept me entertained from start to finish.

While this is a slow burn, there is definitely an emphasis on the burn here. These two have chemistry that jumps off the page. But as much as I enjoyed the romance storyline, I felt like the career character arc was also so well-done for both Trishara and Rafe.

I LOVED the audiobook experience. Narrator Soneela Nankani captured the chemistry between these two so amazingly. Worth the listen, even just for the variety of ways she has Rafe say Trishara’s name. Her delivery is as nuanced as the text and complements Nisha J. Tuli’s writing beautifully.

But my absolute favorite element was how the author weaved in these different smiles from Rafe throughout the book. It’s little details like that that are threaded through the pages that make a story extra special, in my opinion. This had me swooning, laughing, steaming and smiling all throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Forever and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read a copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I picked this up expecting spicy workplace enemies-to-lovers antics with a side of tropical chaos—and while it delivered on the snark, steam, and “oh no, there’s only one bed” energy—it also punched me square in the face with real-world truth bombs I didn’t see coming.

Trishara Malik? ICON. She’s smart, sharp-tongued, and absolutely done with being told to “tone it down” at work (girl, crank it up). After getting passed over for a promotion in favor of her boss’s nepotism-poster-child son, Rafe, she’s basically one HR meeting away from snapping. But instead, she gets shipped off to a leadership retreat in Maui (tragic, I know), where she plans to network her way to freedom. Only catch? Rafe is there too. Oh, and they’re sharing a room. With one bed. Naturally.

Let me just say: the enemies-to-lovers simmer in this book is chef’s kiss. The banter? Lethal. The sexual tension? Tangible. The way sarcasm melts into flirting and suddenly you’re rooting for this walking red flag with a redemption arc? Yeah. Been there.

But plot twist—it’s not just about the spice. This book goes there, shining a big ol’ spotlight on corporate racism, sexism, and the exhausting hoops marginalized employees jump through just to get what mediocre white men are handed on a silver platter.

Rafe might’ve started off as the smarmy heir to the corporate throne, but he surprised me. Turns out he’s got depth, daddy issues, and maybe even a soul. Watching both him and Trishara grow—separately and together—was honestly so satisfying. By the end, I was feral, emotional, and googling leadership retreats in tropical locations just in case.

Bottom line: if you love slow burns, sharp-tongued heroines, reformed golden boys, and a little justice served with your steam, this one’s a must-read. Nisha J. Tuli? Consider me obsessed.

I received an ARC of this book and really enjoyed it! It's different than the normal fantasy books by Tuli, and was a really fun romance novel. The characters were likeable, the storyline was enjoyable and I read this in just two days. It was a nice change from Tuli's "usual" novels and I hope she writes more stories like this one!

3.75⭐️

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I did like it but didn’t love it.

This story follows Trishara and Rafe as they both attend a company leadership workshop for 3 weeks in Maui. They’ve worked together for 5 years and seemingly loath each other but now have to share a room (and a bed 🤭). In close quarters walls come down and sparks start to fly.

There are a lot of things I like about this book. I related to Tris a lot as a a women of color in tech myself. The challenges she faced, the disappointment and harassment are unfortunately very real in the space and I’m glad to see them represented in this book. She’s also a very funny character. I loved her monologues and sharp quips. And we really get to see her take charge of her life over the book.

For spicy book readers: I’d give this 3🌶. It is a slow burn but the tension is so good and there are lots of smutty things in the last 35%.

My biggest issue was that the romance didn’t feel strong enough. Both of these characters give mixed messages throughout the book. Lie one second Tris is like I hate him and the next she would love to lick him 🫣. There was lust for sure but I wanted to see more of the love. It also feels like they glazed over a lot of important conversations: her health (didn’t like how Rafe talked about her meds), his not to past (why is Hannah not blocked?1), the work environment they were in, etc.

I think part of it is that this is single narration from Tris’ POV so we never get that “I’m obsessed with her” inner monologue from Rafe. Also, this book takes place over around 4 weeks but they’ve known each other for 5 years; there’s off page history that builds more familiarity.

Overall, I liked it and I am glad I read it. I don’t think I ever reread it.

I received an advance copy of this book from Forever Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Forced proximity on a beautiful island? Sign me up! Not Safe For Work follows Trishara Malik, an engineer at WMC who has spent years battling sexism and nepotism in the workplace. When she’s selected alongside the boss’s son, Rafe, for an all-expenses-paid training in Hawaii, she jumps at the chance, even if it’s clear she’s only there to check a diversity box. But when a booking mix-up forces her to share a room with Rafe, she starts to realize he might not be as bad as she thought.

This book was adorable while still tackling some heavy, important themes. Trishara is a strong, independent woman, and it was empowering to see her consistently stand her ground. Her chemistry with Rafe was electric, and I appreciated that she didn’t compromise her values for the sake of romance. My only complaint is that they seemed to have the same argument a few too many times but overall, this was a fantastic read.

Throughout my entire read, I kept thinking about the author’s note in the beginning. Nisha wrote “If you ever find yourself thinking, ‘people wouldn’t do or say that,’ I can assure you they do, and they did.” Nisha mentioned working as an engineer in her early twenties, and as a result, this book is her most personal. Reading this story really hit home with how much women have to fight for their place at the table in the business world. Thank you Nisha J. Tuli for sharing some of your experiences.

Wow! This was my first book by Nisha and I absolutely LOVE it! The tension, and build up for Trishara and Rafe is perfection!

I just love Nisha's writing and her characters. Strong, smart female leads are badass. And then the tension between Rafe and Tris, it's sizzling!!! 🥵 Rafe is a master of dirty talk. I loved how empowered Tris was about her sexuality. And she's she is just damn funny!!! If Nisha writes it, you can be sure i'm gonna read it!

If you like:
- Slow Burn
- Forced Proximity
- Workplace Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- One Bed
- Good Banter
- BIPOC Women in Stem

Thank you so much for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

🎧 Audiobook narrated by Soneela Nankani

This was my first Nisha J. Tuli book, and let me just say—I am officially on board. Not Safe for Work is a smart, sharp, emotionally charged rom-com that blends sizzling chemistry with real-world grit, and I devoured every minute of it.

Let’s talk audio first: Soneela Nankani absolutely slayed. Her narration brought Trishara to life in such a vibrant, nuanced way that I felt like I was watching a Netflix rom-com in surround sound. Every sarcastic jab, every frustrated sigh, every dreamy ogle of Rafe’s face? Chef’s kiss. No notes.

Now the story? Also no notes… okay, maybe one, but we’ll get there.

Trishara is bold, brilliant, and burnt out by the corporate BS that too many of us know all too well. Watching her navigate a world that constantly asks her to dim her light—because she’s a woman, a woman of color, too loud, too much—was painfully relatable and deeply empowering. The way she fights to reclaim her fire? Absolutely queen behavior. 👑✨

And Rafe. Oh, Rafe. Our hero with the all-too-perfect smile that Trishara mentions about 437 times (we get it, girl—he’s cute!). He’s more than a pretty face, though. Their dynamic is enemies-to-lovers gold with banter so sharp it could cut glass. And when the setting shifts from workplace tension to resort retreat with only one bed, you KNOW things are about to get deliciously complicated. And they do.

What I loved most is that this book didn’t just drop a rom-com into corporate hell for the laughs—it dug into the very real disparities and toxic dynamics of the workplace, especially for women and people of color. And it didn’t just ask you to root for love—it asked you to root for Trishara to find her power again. I was fully cheering.

The romance? 🔥
The commentary? 🔥
The vibes? 🔥
That quote?

“There’s nothing unmissable about you… There isn’t anywhere you could go where everyone wouldn’t notice you.”
Yeah. It lives rent-free in my heart.

📚 Why not a full 5 stars?
I had to knock a half-star purely because if I had to hear about Rafe’s dreamy smile one more time, I was about to march into the book and tell him to frown on purpose.

Tropes you’ll love:
🌺 Enemies to lovers
🌺 Workplace romance
🌺 Single POV
🌺 Only one bed
🌺 Forced proximity
🌺 Healing + found strength

If you’ve ever worked in corporate and wanted to scream into the void about the khaki-pants crowd—this book is for you. Add to your TBR and thank me later.

I have read some of Nisha J. Tuli’s fantasy books, and she knocks her contemporary romance debut out of the park with NSFW! The author writes in the disclaimer that “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦.” While the book is fiction, Tuli’s lived experiences weave authenticity in to the story that makes it hard to put down.

In a genre focused heavily on common tropes and plot lines it can be hard to stand out, but NSFW is able to do so with its witty writing and ability to tackle serious themes in a romcom setting. I love how Trishara refuses to accept the status quo as “just the way things are” and fights back against those who treat her poorly as a woman and person of color working in a white male dominated world. And I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I will just say that Rafe is ∞/10. He is not who he first appears to be, and he has to fight against his father’s expectations of him. And while he likes things sweet in the kitchen, his mouth is dirty (IYKYK 🥵).

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲: workplace romance, forced proximity, only one bed, enemies to lovers, BIPOC women in STEM, combatting racism/sexism/nepotism, mental health/chronic illness rep, he draws her 🥹, slow burn to spicy

Thank you to Forever for providing me with copies of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks for this ARC/ALC. The story overall follows a spicy and swoony workplace romance. I loved the balance of the reality of women of color in a male dominated profession with the navigation of that relationship in office dynamics. Rafe the MMC also we get a glimpse of his actual passions and how they often don’t fit or match what the family business always wants and the pressures faced when trying to conform to societal pressure. I would have loved to explore that a little more as well! Overall a fantastic read and I would recommend picking up the audiobook if you are an audio reader!

I am a fan of Nisha J. Tuli & overall enjoyed this contemporary romance. Her writing is fun, intelligent & witty. The banter was on point. The characters felt relatable. I appreciated the FMC being in STEM & standing up.for herself in a male dominated field. The slow burn & angst had great pacing. This is a quick, fun read with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed & slow burn elements. I absolutely loved Rafe. Tris could be a little annoying, and sometimes the writing fell flat and trite in the descriptions. Rafe did make me clutch my pearls a few times though. Lol

I read Nisha J. Tuli’s Artefacts of Ouranos series and fell in love with her writing. I was so excited to receive an ARC of Not Safe For Work. I love an enemies to lovers romance, but I just don’t think this book was for me. Our two main characters, Rafe and Trishara, both work at an engineering company, and are selected for a corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. The novel touches on themes of sexism in the workplace, specifically within the field of engineering, as well as a desire to break the glass ceiling. I am all for female empowerment/feminism, but I don’t like books that constantly draw attention to these issues in moments that feel unnecessary. There were times where the author would consistently drop in feelings of sexism in scenes where it felt unrelated. I understand wanting to weave this narrative into the overall plot, but I found it to be a bit distracting from the call to action for equality in the workplace, especially in a male dominated field.

I also felt that the main characters didn’t have a lot of personality to them. Trishara felt very immature to me, and while I didn’t mind Rafe, we only got to see a large part of his personality and passions at the end of the novel. I usually enjoy enemies to lovers and don’t mind a workplace romance, but the banter between these two felt very childlike for characters in their 30’s.

The budding romance between Rafe and Trishara did carry the story for me. I wasn’t too interested in the engineering retreat and the activities that they participated in at the retreat. I was here for the romance and the slow burn. This book is definitely a slow burn, filled with lots of banter and longing lools. It does have an insta-love quality to it, but I expected that out of a workplace romance.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I was entertained, but I found it difficult to believe in the characters and their romance story. This book is lighthearted and a fun beach read, while also touching on more difficult topics, like women in STEM. It wasn’t my favorite romance, but I still enjoyed it and will continue to read Nisha’s books in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Ok, this is an excellent workplace romance. It’s also set at a resort during a 3 week training. Trishara and Rafe end up in the same room. So add on some extra forced proximity.

I loved Trishara. Here professional progression is great. Seeing her rediscover her spark and recognize her worth. It was frustrating to see how she is treated as a woman in the field.

I loved seeing Trishara realize that the rivalry with Rafe has morphed into desire. And when they cross that line. Phew. The romance was slow. They inch towards each other getting to know each other more outside of work colleagues.

This was very engaging and very entertaining and I really enjoyed.

Thx Hachette Audio for the advanced listeners copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a Nisha STAN and was so excited to read her first contemporary romance after several fantasy novels! I really enjoyed this- enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. Nisha of course included South Asian rep in her FMC as well as chronic illness (the FMC suffers from migraines). The characters' relationship moved a little quickly for me from enemies to lovers, it was almost abrupt. But overall, I really enjoyed this, and the setting was really fun!