I really loved the migraine/headache representation in this one! It was a more series romcom and I am here for it. She is amazing at romantasy and romance!

if you're looking for a steamy, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, workplace romance - you've come to the right place!

What I loved:
-Women in stem representation! 👏🏼 always. Nisha did tackle the sexism and racism that WOC often face in the workplace environment. Despite our FMC being smart, capable, and having experience, she gets passed over for yt men time and time again. Her burnout is so real and relatable.
-The banter between our two main characters was so witty and quick. The tension between these two... phewww 🥵
-Rafe being quiet, but protective was the perfect combo. His little moments of possessiveness were just the right amount.
-The audiobook narrator was perfect and truly brought this book to life.

What just didn't translate as well for me:
-Some of the scenes were just a little too immature for me.
-I don't know if its because I work corporate but some of their scenes where they *both* forgot they were in a professional setting took me out of the story.
-I wish we got a little more from Rafe and that his character was a bit more flushed out but I still ended up loving him by the end.

All in all, I still recommend the book and had a fun time reading it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Forever Publishing, and Hachette Audio for the eARC and ALC.

First of all thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Book Group as well as Nisha J. Tuli for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ANYWAYYY- let’s jump into this. So I have a true problem with contemporary romance and it’s that I’m scared it won’t be as great as Romantasy is. And more often than not- it’s not. Now Nisha J Tuli has written a favorite series of mine so I know my girl can write. Like truly she’s amazing. So I took the leap reading the book and by the grace of the Netgalley gods I got the audiobook too. Y’all I finished this book in less than 48 hours. I genuinely loved the rivals to lovers trope played so well here and dare I say it…the comedy 🙈 I really liked it (honestly idk how I’m writing this as myself anymore).

Tris is my girl, she had a confidence that surprised me and made me envious, but it made sense being in a male dominant career. As someone who unfortunately has been in Tris’s situations, we live in a patriarchy and this is the norm. I loved how Tris addressed issues and did it without Rafe. Rafe was the back up singer in this book and I was so glad for it. He gave me golden retriever vibes as soon as he got a taste of what he could have. Rafe opening up? LOVEEEE. The plot is romance so it was predictable, but def with a twist I didn’t see. Now keep that all in mind and imagine how hot it was hearing it via audio. I loved the narrator and I think she’s the same who did Nisha’s other series. Regardless 10/10! I really loved this novel and will be recommending it to everyone!

✨Tropes✨
⭐️ Women in STEM
🌙 Chronic Pain Rep
💫 Rivals to Lovers
⭐️ Workplace Romance
🌙 Banter & Angst
💫 Forced Proximity

This was so delightfully swoony and did such a good job of setting up a fantastic job with setting up a vacation/workplace romance. Nisha J Tuli hit it out of the park with her contemporary debut.

Pick up Not Safe for Work if you love:
Workplace rivals to lovers
Only one bed
Women in stem
He falls first
and possibly my favorite microtrope
"corporate woman sticking it to the old boys club"

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for my ARC.

As a brown girl in STEM who suffers from chronic migraines, I feel so seen 🥹. This was an incredibly fun, flirty, and sexy romcom that hits on such important topics. A must read sizzling summer romance! That delicious slow burn tension of when will they was so freaking good. Rafe was a cinnamon roll covered in green flags and he barreled through Tris’s walls one rolled up shirt sleeve at a time 😂. THOSE FOREARMS. I get it I really do. And damn that man has a mouth 🥵.

Tris, I raged with her, giggled with her, and rooted for her. The way “pretty for an Indian girl” had my blood boiling immediately because of course I’ve heard it before. That epic clap back at the end to her toxic company is the stuff of legends 👏🏽.

Eternal thanks to Forever Publishin for the ARC!

very cute and very spicy! and very predictable, but sometimes that's exactly what I'm looking for in a light-hearted romance!

3.5 stars

Fans of Trial of the Sun Queen will definitely enjoy this foray into romantic comedy by Nisha J. Tuli.

What I loved:
- Women in STEM
- Drawing attention to the inequalities given to women of color in STEM
- The writing style
- Tris taking up all the space she deserves to

I wished there was a little more Hawaii in it. I know it's a fancy work retreat, but I was going in anticipating being able to reminisce about Hawaii, and I didn't get any of that.

Overall, it's a fun read and a solidly good time.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Read This Book If…you need a good beach read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli

Genre: romance
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: Chicago and Maui
POV: single, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: rivals to lovers, workplace, forced proximity, one bed, slow burn

My Thoughts:
This was such a perfect vacation read! The setting was gorgeous and this spin on workplace rivals was so much fun!

We love reading about women in STEM, but we hate the misogyny and racism Trishara had to deal with. A few moments had my eyes bugging out with how terrible they were.

Buuuuuut the romance made up for it! Rafe is so messy and these two had amazing tension! There was tons of banter and plenty of steam, although not a ton of deep emotional connection.

If you’re looking for a fun beach read, make sure you pick this one up!

Memorable Quote: “I want someone who makes me feel a little like I’m…burning in the best kind of way.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

Thank you NetGalley for the free earc in exchange of an honest review!

I absolutely love this author! Her books are easy to read and always captivating from the very first page. Not Safe For Work was so fun with the setting, rivals to lovers, and women in stem vibes. She executed it beautifully. The only reason it wasn’t a 5 star for me is that there was some moments where the banter got a little cringey and I also wished that Rafe had a bit more depth. This could’ve been solved by writing a dual POV, but aside from that I really enjoyed this one!

4/5 stars!

I want to thank Netgalley and Forever for an e-arc as well as the acl edition of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am a sucker for any enemies to lovers work place romances since I watched Set It Up and this book scratched that ich I've had since. Tish was a delight and being in her head was so nice. The tension was wall climbing and the smut was really good. Rafe was really cute and I am a sucker for the microtrope that takes place in this book... idk if it a spoiler but it is one of my favorites...

This book taking place in Hawaii was so amazing! I need to book a flight with my work enemy on a company retreat immediately!

I also really enjoyed a headstrong bipoc fmc!!! this touches on actual things that go on in the workplace and targeting women especially women of color!!! and it was done with grace. I really enjoyed getting an advanced copy of this book and i am looking forward to a paperback to annotate.

To add the ALC!! was amazing and just as fantastic as the book. Perfect!!!! Read for Summer!!!!

Thank you forever, hachette and netgalley for my #gifted copies of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The representation. The problems so many women face. I think this was so well done to showcase so much of that. I loved that she was a fellow woman in STEM.

Y’all know I love a good enemies-to-lovers. The banter, the tension. Give it all to me. I loved Rafe and Trishara. They were flirty and fun and the tension between these two could be cut with a knife. I also really enjoyed the slow burn here!

Favorite quotes:
“I want someone who makes me feel a little like I’m...burning in the best kind of way”

“Maybe the universe wasn’t ready yet. Maybe we needed this place and this moment first.”

This one is out May 20th and should definitely be on your radar!

Not Safe for Work was such a fun, spicy, and entertaining book! It is an enemy to lovers romance novel that really felt like enemies to lovers. A lot of times the enemies to lovers trope doesn't work because the characters aren't enemies! In this one, they are true work rivals who cannot stand one another. Add in a work retreat/competition in lovely Hawaii, a room mix up, and one bed?! I laughed out loud reading this one and felt for the MC, Tris. Being the only WOC in her workplace, the microaggressions, the boys club atmosphere, and her simply overlooked felt real. There are heavy topics mentioned in this book but they are all handled with care and concern. I loved reading a romance from a WOC and seeing Tris being confident in herself. 4 sold stars!


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun quick rom-com!

Coworkers, Trishara and Rafe, compete with one another at a retreat in Hawaii to win a 1-year leadership training in New York, but here is the thing: Tris SWEARS Rafe is her mortal enemy.

The build up of their angst was steamy for sure. Individually, there was so much to appreciate too. I LOVED seeing a woman of color crushing it in the STEM field. Tris didn't back down, she spoke her mind, and she shut down condescending remarks from the men around her. That representation and strength were wonderful to see. Rafe, her rival, had great banter and he also had a dirty mouth which I think some will appreciate. ;)

Overall, it was a light, funny, steamy rom-com! Definitely recommend this as a beach read!

Thank you Forever & NetGalley for this ARC!

When I tell you I devoured this book! Yes, it's a spicy romance, but it's also about a woman of color in STEM who has been knocked down and passed over for promotions too many times. Trishara is a stunning FMC. I'm obsessed with her!!! When you read some of the things Tris has had to deal with in her place of work, you will be raging. I was invested in the relationship between Tris and Rafe, but the added storyline of Tris reclaiming her confidence was so amazing.

Ugh and then you have Rafe. This man gives me heart eyes. We love a MMC who can be sweet, spicy, and everything in between. I thought he was the perfect counter to Tris. I loved their banter, friendly-ish competition, and the words that came out of his mouth-- my god!

This is the authors first contemporary romance book, but I see that she's written many fantasy/romantasy books and now I want to read her entire catalogue.

This book might be your next good read if you:

-Think DEI initiatives help foster a better and more efficient work environment
-Love a strong FMC who finds her voice
-Are into dirty talk
-Don't mind an excruciatingly slow burn in your romance books

I love Nisha Tuli's fantasy books and I am delighted to say that I also love her romance books!

This book has great pacing, tension building that made me scream into my pillow, and a great spicy payoff. I was impressed that she managed to write a book that is simultaneously light-hearted while addressing the sexism and racism that a BIPOC woman working in STEM faces. I loved not only the romantic payoff but also the payoff of Trishara letting herself be angry about the stuff she is dealing with at work.

I usually don't love workplace romances (I've spent plenty of time in toxic offices - I don't need to visit them in my books) but she beautifully side steps this issue but having it take place during a work retreat in Hawaii. Work drama but it's in a gorgeous tropical resort? Yes please!

I hope she continues to write in this genre, because I will absolutely read it!

Thank you to Nisha Tuli and Forever Publishing for this ARC!

This book is a witty and steamy workplace romance that delivers on charm, chemistry, and a strong female lead. I especially appreciated the women in STEM representation—it’s refreshing to see a smart, ambitious heroine holding her own in a male-dominated field.
The banter and slow-burn tension kept me hooked, and the dynamic between the main characters was full of energy. That said, the relationship drama driven by miscommunication became a bit frustrating at times. Some of the conflict felt avoidable, which took away slightly from the emotional payoff.

Still, it’s an engaging, spicy read that stands out for its bold protagonist and fun, flirty tone. I definitely recommend it.

I've read almost everything by Nisha J Tuli. This is her none fantasy romance. I enjoyed the growth of the main characters especially with them learning what is holding them back but also realising their own goals, worth and wants.
This is looking at a business that is very male dominant that turns a blind eye to questionable behaviour and very little diversity, making the work place toxic.
But a romance does blossom from this once they over come their fears, challenges and the boxes they got put it.
Can't wait to see what's next from Nisha J Tuli. And I just love her writting style.
There is some spice from about half way into the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli is a first person-POV contemporary interracial romance. Tris is an engineer who has been looked over for multiple promotions and leadership opportunities despite her excellent performance. When she and Rafe, the boss’ son and Tris’ rival, are both given a spot to earn a spot at a leadership retreat in Maui, Tris is determined to ignore him. Until there’s a mix-up at the hotel and the two now have to share a room the whole three weeks.

I’m a fantasy romance fan and this is my first Nisha Tuli book. I have yet to get to any of her romantasy series, but have fully intended to dive into her work for a while, so when I saw this was available, you best believe I snatched it up. I totally get why she’s so beloved in the romance/fantasy romance community. She’s now an autoread author for me. The slowburn yet high heat of Tris and Rafe is very hard to pull off and Nisha Tuli does so wonderfully. Rafe and Tris having a five year history certainly does help, but it could have fallen flat very easily.

Besides the romance, Nisha Tuli goes into her own history in STEM and explores racism, sexism, and sexual harassment in the field as well as how some women claim to be for empowering women in business and then don’t stick up for others and let the boy’s club continue. None of this detracts from the romance and even works well with it as Rafe is the boss’ son and his cousin has a history of being problematic on social media. Rafe himself never dismisses Tris’ experiences and is even hyper-aware that he is getting chances because he’s the boss’ son and Tris isn’t because she’s an Indian-American woman.

My favorite part was when Tris discovered Rafe’s more sensitive side and his actual interests, with her fully supporting him and even encouraging him to pursue those interests. She doesn't care that it’s not in STEM and he might fail; she cares that he’s happy. After Rafe’s previous relationship, I think that was really important for Rafe and I think it’s important for us as readers to see. We still push this idea that men have to be the breadwinners and that they need to derive happiness from earning a lot of money when men have every right to pursue their passion (as long as they aren’t hurting anyone) as anyone else does. I love that inclusion and I love how it flips the gender script.

Content warning for sexual harassment, microagressions, racism, and sexism

I would recommend this to fans of contemporary romance with characters in STEM and readers looking for a romance that tackles gender binaries and sexism

The way I fell in love with Tris and Rafe!! They were constantly trying to one up each other without realizing they were both hiding feelings. All it took was a work trip where they’re stuck sharing a room to realize there’s more to their competitiveness. Ahhh, the slow burn was SLOW but sooo good! And Tris being a badass in the end - girl that email was perfect 👏🏼 I honestly loved how this book showed how it is being a woman of color in a male dominated field.

This is perfect for The hating game fans like me. Also the vacation / retreat reminded me of the unhoneymooners. Also the indian origin character 💓
✨ workplace rivals to lovers
✨ Vacation / work retreat
✨ One suite / one bed
✨ Women in STEM
✨ Indian origin FMC
✨ MC has a secret IG account
✨ Wedding crashing and other shenanigans
✨ Single PoV
✨ Spice rating 3/5

It was funny and steamy. I loved the golden retriever-ish MMC and the feisty FMC.
Trishara's interactions with Rafe, her friends and others were so lively.
I love how the author unapologetically presented the hardships faced by women in STEM and basically every workplace. The book shows how internalized the discrimination is, and how authorities turn a blind eye towards such issues and refuse to bring any modifications unless absolutely necessary and sometimes for the wrong reasons.