4.5/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️

Thank you to Nisha, her publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Not Safe for Work!

This book was such a fun, bantery rivals to lovers story! The FMC and MMC have been trying to one-up each other for nearly 5 years. They both attend the same work retreat where, at the start, nothing has changed. But slowly we see their hard exteriors melt away and a relationship develop.

I know it’s part of the story, but I didn’t love that it felt like the MMC kept stringing along his ex-girlfriend instead of being honest with her up front. I could see why the FMC was rightfully not trusting of a relationship with him until he broke it off for good.

The book also addresses themes that many women face in the workplace, such as being a woman in a male dominated field, sexual harassment, racism, and other micro aggressions. I have personally experienced many of these things myself and could relate heavily to the FMC.

If you’ve ever been a woman in a male dominated field or had a work rival (even if it didn’t turn to lovers) I highly suggest you pick this book up and enjoy the ride. And ya know, even if you’ve never experienced those things, pick it up for the banter and one-liners alone! 🙂

This is a playful, light hearted story where accidental rivals become lovers. Tuli brought her usual a-game with writing, plot, and character development. It was a fun read that was devoured quickly.

This was really cute and I loved the characters. I love this author’s writing in any genre she does!!

Nisha j tuli is an amazing author and she never disappoints. This book was amazing! The book handles tough topics and prejudices really well. I highly recommend!

I really loved this book because most workplace romances that highlight misogyny don't end up doing much about it. The main character in this one goes out with a satisfying bang and makes a change/difference, it just felt refreshing to see. There's also migraine rep but I was hoping for a bit more, however I as a reader might just suffer from them differently. Still awesome to see disability rep and a woman in STEM in romance books!!

Nisha can write absolutely any genre but what she does really damn well is torture us with the absolute BEST slow burns to ever grace literature.

And the ANGST? The tension? Did I mention the angst?? The yearning?

RAFE THE MAN YOU ARE 🥵

And TRIS?? 😍 Listen, I too haven’t dated in over a year and the idea of letting someone back in when most men are..yup. Needless to say, this book resonated with me like no other. And Tris may not be the FMC of a fantasy book but she is one hell of a badass!!

Speaking of badass FMC, we get a cameo from the Artefacts of Ouranos series (yup yup) and when I tell you I screamed I was so excited!!

3.5 stars

Not Safe for Work was a cute, fast-paced read, and while romance sits at the forefront of the story, there is an emphasis on the FMC’s experiences as a woman of color in a male-dominated environment.

Trishara was an easy character to love. Her personality jumps off the pages and is almost a little too relatable. Her quick comebacks had me giggling and thinking same. She’s an admirable character, not letting anyone scare her into remaining compliant. It frustrates me to no end that her situation is very common in this day and age. Knowing the author drew from real-life scenes she witnessed or experienced made me livid. Things need to change.

With Rafe, I had a hard time with his character. He felt very flat, lacking any real depth to him. We learn a few of his hobbies and his deal with his family, (that he’s a twelve out of ten), but they weren’t enough to let us really see who he is underneath the surface. Unfortunately, this made the romance not as convincing for me. There were some spicy scenes (although, it’s a slow burn, so you’ll have to wait until toward the end), and Rafe’s got a filthy mouth I know a lot will appreciate, but it would’ve been more enjoyable if I understood his character better and that spark between them would’ve stronger.

If you're looking for a light-hearted, comical story with some steamy moments and banter, this might be perfect for you.

Thank you to Forever for an e-ARC of this book!

3.5 Stars

Tris has been going nowhere the last five years at her job at WMC. She is constantly being passed over for promotions that she's more than earned but this company fails to recognize her talent in favor of nepotism and white men from the "khaki" club. She also has a rivalry going with a beautiful man who she can't get out of her mind. Her company finally decides to let her play (only due to them trying to APPEAR more diverse) and sends her and her rival to Hawaii for a three week company retreat where they will be tested and measured for a once in a lifetime training program. Only one problem, the executive assistant screws up their room assignment and they have to share one room, GASP!

Let's start with what I liked about this book. One, the FMC is pretty bad ass, you kind of have to be as a woman engineer in a male dominated field. She doesn't take any BS from the men either, she constantly stands up for herself. She has a killer fashion sense and is gaga for desserts and indulging whenever she pleases. I liked that the MMC, Rafe, was more interested in his baking career than being what his father wanted him to be. He was always wanting her to feel safe and he stood up to the misogynistic dogs in the office. He's much more soft than he was originally projected to be. I'm always down for the man to be stupidly in love with the woman before she can even tell and getting to see all the little subtle hints he throws her. I really loved the plot of the book, it was entertaining and I liked pretty much all of the significant events that happen along the way in this HEA.

Unfortunately there were just some things that didn't fly for me. I just didn't feel like the story was really fleshed out enough for me to enjoy it fully. We are told ALOT of things and not shown. We are told that Tris and Rafe have this great rivalry going on but it's never really shown except for some narrowed eyes and smirks and one argument scene. Where are the shouting matches, the competing presentations? I was hoping for more of a Hating Game style of rivalry. Also why does Hannah keep calling?!?! I was totally with Tris on this, that went on way too damn long before Rafe's light bulb came on. The pacing felt really fast too, I've had pacing problems with another Nisha book so this just might be her thing. I did just kind of buckle in towards the middle and didn't feel it as much as I did in the beginning but I will probably not try another of her books for a while.

Not Safe for Work was nice workplace romance that just needed a little bit more oomph for me but overall it was enjoyable. Thank you so much to Forever publishing for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Spice in chps: 22, 23, 24, & 29

‼️‼️TW|CW‼️‼️
- Revenge porn mentioned
- Sexual harassment in the workplace
- Abuse of power in work place
💕💕Tropes💕💕
- Rivals to Lovers
- Work place romance
- He falls first
- One bed
- Slow burn
- “Fuck it”
❤️❤️Quotes that stole my heart❤️❤️
- “I said that wrong. What I meant was it’s hard to believe you’re an introvert because you shine in every room you enter.”… “There’s nothing unmissable about you. That’s all I meant. That there isn’t anywhere you could go where everyone wouldn’t notice you.”
- I’m so far in over my head that I’m standing at the bottom of the sea.
- “I’m sorry. I keep saying everything wrong around you. What I said there, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant a guy like that will never appreciate how amazing you are. How smart and funny and bright. A guy like that only wants a notch on his bedpost. He’ll never understand you.”
- I’m tumbling through a black hole that’s sucking me into a void of nothing, but I close my eyes and cannonball straight into its heart. I’ll deal with the fallout later.
✨✨Onto the Review✨✨
Thank you Forever friends Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
The FMC Trishara (Trish) works at WMC Purcell and is their only woman of color, she is getting ready to call it quits after working there for 5 years and getting overlooked time and time again for promotions that she is more than qualified for when she is sent on a work trip to Maui for a leadership retreat.
The MMC Rafe starts out as your regular nepo baby getting everything handed to him in the workplace including being given a promotion that Trish deserves and as a reader I kind of didn’t like him at first in solidarity with Trish. Later in the book you learn that there is more to Rafe and that he doesn’t want everything that his father (a person in corporate at WMC) is pushing him towards and that he would rather be a baker and you feel bad for him and start to love him.
I adored the banter between the characters, beware though this is a slowburn they do not kiss until 60% into the book but it is well earned for both the reader and the characters.
I also enjoyed how Nisha J. Tuli represented a woman in STEM and the issues they might encounter in what is a male dominated field. Nisha writes in a message at the beginning of this book that some of the issues Trish faces in the book is base on some real life experiences the author had which was very sobering to think of.
If you’re looking for a rom-com with a strong willed FMC definitely go pick this book up! “Not Safe to Work” comes out May 20th!

I’m so glad I got to read this after having read this authors fantasy work!
I love when authors branch out to new genres!
The story was fun and engaging.
I love enemies to lovers though I wish all the crappy people got their dues. Alas, powerful people tend to stay powerful 🥴
I loved the main characters, the only thing that killed me was the MMC not putting his foot down with his ex. Come on dude 😂

As a huge fan of Tuli’s Artefacts of Ouranos series, I was so thrilled to receive an arc (these are my own opinions), for her newest book.
Not Safe for Work is a tension filled rom com following two work rivals who suddenly find themselves stuck in the same room for a work retreat.
Trishara is our phenomenal and intelligent FMC who despite being an amazing worker in her field of engineering, is constantly passed over for promotions thanks to the sexist and racist nature of a white male dominated field.
Rafe is her rival, her mortal enemy. He got the position that she had been aiming for, thanks to some good old fashioned nepotism, and they’ve been at each others throats ever since.
When these two end up having to share a room thanks to a “booking mishap”, tensions run high. And it’s beginning to seem that this rivalry is not all it seems to be.
I absolutely adored how this story played out. Some great tension filled moments, sweet gestures and standing up for what you believe in and know is right. Rafe and his forearms can fight for me anytime haha
Overall, I love Tuli’s writing and this book was no exception. She knows how to write a slow burn romance and is definitely an auto buy author for me at this point.

Ok Nisha J Tuli, I see you! 👀 She said I can do more than just fantasy, watch this. And did not disappoint!!

I was already hooked when you hit me with the rivals to lovers… but then you jump started the entire thing with a one bed trope??? I’m sat.

This book was funny, adorable, and had me kicking my feet! The pacing was absolutely perfect, the slow burn took a tiiiiiny bit longer than I would have preferred but was well worth the wait and build up! The spice is mild, but it’s good 😮‍💨

Per usual with contemporary romance, I’m just not a fan of the lack of communication issue in the relationship. I know it’s a common one to write but I’m just still not a fan. But that’s just my preference!

Cannot recommend this cute book enough, it’s such an easy read to just sit down and devour one day!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

4.25 ⭐️ This was a fun, cute read! The story is a work place rivalry romance where the FMC & MMC both are sent on a work retreat… and get stuck in the same room… with one bed…. 😂 though I know this would absolutely never fly in real life it was still a fun time! The FMC is also a woman and person of color in the STEM field and the author does a great job on touching on the racism, sexism and micro aggressions faced in a male dominated field. The FMC also had chronic migraines, it is mentioned a few times but I wish the author did a little bit more with it, it felt more mentioned in passing than showing action. As someone who suffers from chronic migraines, it was nice to see that mentioned in the story! Overall, it was a good time! I laughed out loud at some parts and then was giggling, giddy during the romance!

This was a very fun read! I had only known Nisha from her work in the fantasy romance genre but this was an awesome time! Coming from a background of engineering and being a woman myself, I deeply resonated with Tris’s experiences and it just enhanced the reading experience tremendously for me. I loved the writing style and the pacing as well. I can see this being a huge hit for romance lovers!

If you’ve read anything by Nisha J Tuli, you know she does not disappoint - expect nothing less with Not Safe For Work.

In this velutinous and witty romance debut, Trish - a BIPOC woman disgruntled by her stagnant tech career - wins a coveted spot on an exclusive work retreat at a scenic beach resort. The kicker: her office nemesis is the only other person from her team invited. Forced proximity, competitive tension, and undeniable chemistry keep you turning the pages.

I loved everything about this story. Tuli balances comical prose with the very real frustrations women — especially BIPOC — face workplaces of all kinds, all while delivering a spicy, slow-burn romance. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, but what stood out most was Trish herself. From the moment I met her, I was rooting for her. Her introspective stream of consciousness shifts effortlessly between vulnerability, sharp humor, and righteous anger — a protean reflection of how so many of us navigate workplaces that weren’t built with us in mind.

Beneath her confidence, though, lies a history of trauma that shaped how she shows up — at work and in relationships. Watching her confront those wounds, unlearn her own self-protective patterns, and rewrite her approach to love made her journey just as rewarding as the romance itself. Some of the microaggressions she faced mirrored my own experiences, making her growth feel even more personal and powerful.

For lovers of Kimberly Lemming’s humor, and Tia Williams’ deep relationships, this is a must-read. It has earned a permanent spot in my beach bag — the perfect vacation companion.

This was so much fun! I could not put it down. I love a good enemies to lovers / rivals to lovers. Throw in a vacation setting and just the tension between Tris and Rafe, this was great!

I loved how this also touched on work place dynamics and what it means for a female person of color in a corporate setting with microaggressions etc. I believe it was based on the authors actual experiences once upon a time. No spoilers but that email that Tris sends? AMAZING. 👏

Fans of Christina Lauren’s The Paradise Problem or Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen will def enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book.

This book was a lot of fun and the banter was hilarious! I've read Tuli's two other series and had to be careful not to expect a fantasy story line in this one. It was definitely different but the characters were interesting and fun! The male lead was sweet and unexpected! I enjoyed this book, and it was a fun standalone read!

- Slow Burn
- Only one room
- Enemies to lovers
- Strong female lead

thank you to forever for the e-ARC

3.75 rounded up

this was overall a very enjoyable romcom with some believable and needed commentary on workplace sexism a la ali hazelwood steminist books. a fun concept, relatively likable leads, and not too much of annoying tropes to dissuade my overall enjoyment. the plot was extremely predictable, but this is not really a bad thing in the genre. my gripes are to do with the portrayal of our FMC’s feelings towards her workplace nemesis/love interest. for me, it crossed the line of believability to be consistently told how lust-worthy he was to the extent that our FMC could not control herself or focus. and we got so many descriptions of how he looked and smelled, which for me was a bit much. but I’m not sure this would be a problem for everyone.

Thank you for Forever and NetGalley for opportunity to read this eARC! This review is my honest opinion and spoiler-free.

‘I rub my face with my hands and groan. Why are men?’
Yesss, Trishara! I found myself constantly rooting for her during aggravatingly relatable male interactions. Loved the representation of a strong female in the STEM field. Tuli always has a badass lead in her romanatsy series; I’m so glad that translated over to romcom!

The banter was great, the situations so relatable, the spice was on point. The transition from rivals to lovers was a little quick, but that’s pretty typical for the genre.

Overall this was a fun read, great vibes, 4/5 stars!

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the gifted eARC! I always appreciate the opportunity to read early. All reviews are always my honest opinion!

Not Safe For Work falls into an overlap of tropes that I’m not usually a fan of - contemporary enemies to lovers and workplace romance. But with all the hype and some trusted friends’ love of Nisha J. Tuli, I picked up this ARC. I am SO glad I did!

The usual pitfalls in these tropes weren’t present, and that was made clear very early on. Our FMC Tris has a number of reasons to be on guard with our MMC Rafe, from past workplace romance-turned-trauma to current workplace micro-aggressions, nepotism, and sexism under Rafe’s father and uncle’s leadership. Rafe, thankfully, is likeable and the conflicts between them definitely seem more like bickering and pranks than anything substantially hurtful. Rafe is a good guy and it shows very early on that regardless of their specific dynamic, he respects Tris and women in general.

Our main point of conflict (Hannah. Rafe’s ex) became something cyclical, as did the general mistrust Tris had towards Rafe even as he started to open up and be vulnerable (often at her request). What I did appreciate was the fact that at every step of the way, Tris would (albeit internally) admit her hypocrisy where necessary and question her own attachment to her grudges. Rafe eventually admits that his own habits of avoiding Hannah, trying to appease people, etc were a problem, but in my opinion it took far too long. These things were the main points that brought down my rating.

What I appreciated though, was the overall story’s look at how women are treated not just in STEM but in corporate America. How even with an older mentor-like woman “supporting” them, women are encouraged to accept certain amounts of mistreatment to “succeed”, and are told to put aside a desire to change the status quo. This paired with the journey that Tris finds herself on, the tug of war between wanting to succeed in a place where she has invested so much time and knowing she deserves better, really spoke to me. Rafe’s role as “one of the good ones” but being unable to fix the issues at play for Tris was also so realistic. I appreciated that there was no magical “fix” for the environment Tris was in, because truly that is the way it is in real life, especially with “DEI” being demonized in American political culture right now. Sometimes the best thing someone can do for their health and safety and success, is leave for somewhere more aligned with their values.

The romance in this story was a bit too fast paced for me, which is a typical issue in Enemies to Lovers in contemporary - the pacing is either too slow and the book too short, or too fast with a third act break up. In this case it was the latter, but I did enjoy the tension and appreciate the specific hang-ups that Tris still had from her last relationship. It did make sense why even when the sexual tension boiled over, she was hesitant, especially with Hannah at play. I just wish there was more book, that the trip truly felt like three weeks of drawn out forced proximity boiling over - at some points it felt a tad rushed.

All in all, I really enjoyed this read, I rated this 4 stars. I can’t wait to pick up more of Nisha J. Tuli’s work, I hope she continues to write more contemporary romance in addition to fantasy!