I loved every single thing about this book. The love story was swoony, heartfelt, and addictive. The characters were so well-written, and their journey together was beautiful. I can already tell this will be a book I revisit whenever I want to feel all the feels.

Starts with a bang, turns into a slow burn! And you will be rooting for Rohit. He is so gosh darn loveable, which absolutely irks Cynthia. As the CEO's daughter, she thought she would inherit the company, and she absolutely deserves to. Miscommunication and assumptions lead her dad to choosing Rohit as the up and comer, and Cynthia is rightfully upset, I was infuriated for her! Her frustration is taken out on Rohit, who is clueless - but can't forget their one night together. I loved the forced proximity of their shared "project" and the ways Rohit slowly earned trust and broke through Cynthia's defenses. I loved the diverse cast of characters, the workplace setting, and the funny and lighthearted moments - girl's night, conference room donuts, crayon candles, an MLM scheme - spicy, romantic, empowering, and tons of fun!

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of “Honey and Heat” by Aurora Patil in exchange for an honest review.

Cool, commanding Cynthia Kumar has all the qualities of a stellar CEO. She’s driven, ambitious, smart, and dedicated. She’d be the perfect successor for her father at the family-owned company. Unfortunately, her clueless father cannot see this and one night, Cynthia overhears him say that he’s picked out the perfect person to take over once he retires. Someone other than Cynthia. Uncharacteristically intent on drinking away her upset, she heads to a local bar where she instead meets Rohit Patel. Their immediate and incendiary chemistry leads to a wild night.

Rohit cannot believe his luck. He’s managed to land a well paying job despite not having finished his MBA, and now he’s had an incredible night with the woman of his dreams. Except, when he heads off for his first day on the job, he learns that Cynthia is the CEO’s daughter and for reasons he doesn’t understand, she loathes him.

They spend the next year locked in a weird stasis. Rohit does his best to ingratiate himself with everyone at the company, because he needs job stability to help his family with serious expenses at home. Cynthia, having figured out that Rohit is her father’s chosen heir, naturally resents that all her hard work is constantly overlooked, in favor of a dude who just waltzed in off the street.

They do not discuss their night together, but neither has forgotten it. In fact, Rohit is pretty much smitten from the start and no matter what she says or does, he doesn’t waver. He doesn’t let on how he feels, but once he met Cynthia Kumar, all other women have disappeared.

Overall, the story is excellent. This author knows how to write complex characters without making anyone into a villain caricature, even Cynthia’s clueless father. There are several female characters whose ambition and drive might make them unlikeable at times, including Cynthia, but the author balances those qualities with flashes of vulnerability, letting them find new ways of relating to each other.

The author also intuitively understands that the best, most satisfying romance pairings are not just opposite, but complementary. They fill in each other’s gaps and inspire positive change. Cynthia and Rohit are great examples. They are both weighed down with family obligation and expectation (or lack thereof in Cynthia’s case) but in different ways, their relationship triggers satisfying developments.

Recommended for readers who want well-written, strong female characters and the men who would walk on hot coals for them, for readers who enjoy family politics stories with positive resolutions, and for stories that really invest in developing female friendships.

interesting and fun romcom. Cynthia is an awesome FML, and Rohit is, if a bit flat at points, a ML with some great chemistry with Cynthia. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you to Berkley for the free book.

I read this book too quickly because now I’m so sad it’s over, it’s literally perfect. The FMC has been working her whole life to take over the family business when she finds out it was never destined to be hers, the boys club is going to the MMC, ya know the best one night stand she’s ever had now back in her life 🤭 this one is for the women who have always wanted to be loved BECAUSE of their drive and directness, not in spite of and boy does this man fall first.

Lovers (well one night lovers) to rivals to cohorts to lovers all in one. Cynthia's always expected to inherit the reins of her father's construction company so she's shocked when he picks Rohit. Or maybe more deeply disappointed, She's got issues with her family to be sure. Rohit is a happy guy who secretly likes her a lot. A crisis means they need to work together and so they do. Fans of this genre know there will be a breakup, some miscommunication, and, well, no spoilers but IYKYK. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read,

3.5 !!

I love a workplace romance, even more so when it's a (one-sided) rivals to lovers!

Cynthia was determined to become the successor for her father's business, only to be replaced by Rohit, her one night stand.
Rohit was the PERFECT lovable MC. He was down bad for Cynthia, and honestly sometimes that's all I need in a quick romance story. I wasn't in LOVE with Cynthia as an FMC, but I personally struggle with FMCs who are a little too closed off. Sometimes Cynthia was a little mean and that would take me out.

Overall, a quick romance that was fun to read!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Honey and Heat by Aurora Palit completely swept me off my feet. The romance is sizzling, but what really hooked me was the emotional depth of the characters. They feel so real and vulnerable. I loved the slow-building tension and how the story balances passion with heartfelt moments. It’s the kind of book I couldn’t put down and will be thinking about long after I finished.

4.25 stars - This was absolutely adorable! The writing was really good and I liked the pacing and never felt bored once while reading. Both Cynthia and Rohit were great characters - I loved the dual POV. I really felt for Cynthia, I understood how hard you have to work in a male dominated field/workplace and constantly strive for perfection and respect. I could feel her struggles and could see why she had so many walls up and tried to do everything alone. I loved how she slowly started to let Rohit in throughout the course of the book and learned that relying on others and getting help doesn't mean she failed or won't be seen as competent.

Rohit was also so sweet and he was so earnest and kind. HIs struggles with his family and how difficult it must be to be alone in a new country was represented well and I loved how gone he was for Cynthia. Their relationship together was a delight - the fact that they both found a soft and safe place with each other was beautiful.

The only thing I didn't like was that some of the conflicts that were layered throughout the book, Cynthia with both of her parents mainly, were resolved way too quickly. Particularly, Cynthia's dad turned around with one simple conversation which seemed a bit unrealistic and they never had a real talk as to why they had their initial fall out.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I'm so glad I discovered this author and will absolutely be reading more from her. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

Honestly I’d leave it to Aurora to make me actually enjoy a workplace romance because Honey and Heat was the best one I’ve read yet.

I’m a huge fan of Sunshine and Spice, the first book in this interconnected series, and couldn’t wait for Cynthia’s book. I love the attention that is given to Naomi and Cynthia’s friendship and how our characters prioritize their friendships just as much as their romantic relationships. I also found it so cute how Cynthia’s “Ice Queen” persona was quickly unraveled by Naomi before any men entered Cynthia’s life. I appreciate the way her character is written without making her persona a cliche.

Rohit’s character might be one of my favorite MMCs ever written. Not only is he DOWN BAD for the ice queen herself, his green flag behavior in sharing his troubles with her, seeking her help, and prioritizing their bond made him such a loveable character. His identity as an immigrant is explored with tact and care and I think his and Cynthia’s chemistry felt very natural. Also, his name is Rohit and he loves romcoms. I see what you did there, Aurora 😂 (Rohit was the default name for an MMC in 90’s Bollywood romances lol)

Most of all, I really appreciated how central labor was to the plot. The workers at Cynthia’s dad’s company organized themselves and “whistle blew” unfair labor practices and I think these are importing narratives to frame in fiction, especially in romance!

I’d recommend Honey and Heat to fans of Sunshine and Spice, folks who enjoy Desi romance that’s not very trope-heavy, and anyone who likes 90’s romcoms!

Okay so Honey and Heat was good, but not great for me 😕

The setup had everything I usually love.. workplace rivals to lovers, family drama, all that or whatever. But Cynthia…. idk she was just hard to root for in the first half or so. She stayed lashing out at Rohit when half her issues were really with her dad and job.. and I meannn trust me I get the ice princess vibe but sis was just borderline mean fr. She did have character growth by the end though, so I’ll give her that.

Rohit on the other hand was a full golden retriever MMC. Sweet, supportive, goofy, caring, and absolutely down bad. I love a he falls first MMC, and he carried this story for me. Honestly, if it wasn’t for him.. I probably wouldn’t have finished not even gonna lie.

The romance itself was cute at times, but some things just didn’t hit. The third act breakup was very much predictable, and it kind of felt like pacing dragged randomly throughout.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read, it just didn’t blow me away. But if you like messy workplace dynamics and a sunshine MMC who worships the ground the FMC walks on, you’ll still find something to enjoy here for sure.



Thank you so much the NetGalley, Aurora Palit, and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

First, thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for this ARC

“Everything about you is improtant. Everything about you matters”

First, work place romances are such a hit and miss for me but I actually REALLY REALLY liked this one.
The plot is pretty simple on the surface….girl meets boy at a bar they have a one night stand and then they end up working together. But once you dig deeper you will find out there is so much more to the story and to Cynthia and Rohit.
Cynthia is trying to prove herself to her father that she can be trusted with the family business and Rohit comes in as her father’s right hand man as the successor. Rohit had his own story and why he needs this job to go well so he wasn’t giving it up that easy, not even for Cynthia.
The banter is so great. AND THE SPICE! It had such an appropriate level of spice and where it MAKES SENSE! Which I appreciated a lot.

“I wanted to say I love you first”

It’s the classic headstrong woman meets cutie sunshine boy. Enemies to lovers. Workplace romance.

Had to knock down a star because a lot of the main plot points just got moved on from only to come back to randomly and solve them in the end out of no where. Just felt like a lot wasn’t happening for parts of the book.
Over all, I actually really liked it and would SO recommend this cutie novel!

“It’ll never be too late for us”

Thank you to Berkley Romance & Netgalley for the eARC!!

4 stars!!

you guys this book was everything i wanted out of a workplace romance and MORE!!! i absolutely adored it!! this was a one night stand to workplace rivals to lovers and i was instantly hooked!!

i loved Cynthia so much. she is strong, fierce & confident. the banter & relationship she had with Rohit was everything to me!!! i loved how down bad & obsessed Rohit was with Cynthia, and the YEARNING??? no like i love him so much!!! i also thought he was just overall the cutest cinnamon roll mmc, like he literally loves & recites his favorite rom com movie one liners by heart!!!

Their relationship after the start was a little bit of a slow burn but the tension was incredible!! I loved seeing them learn to work together & end up falling for each other fully.

I also really enjoyed the characters individual development. I loved seeing Rohit learn that it's okay to ask for help & not have to carry everything alone and be able to lean on his family/friends/Cynthia for support too.

I 1000% recommend picking this one up on it's release day, especially if you are a fan of workplace romance!

A sweet, workplace romance filled with yearning and longing, Aurora Patit’s Honey & Heat is a delightful read!

Cynthia is a no-nonsense high achiever who’s dreamed of being named her father’s successor. She puts up with people consistently underestimating her and her contributions, despite always being well-researched and three steps ahead. When she discovers that after 15 years of work at Kumar Constructions her father plans to name another as her successor, she’s infuriated. And to make matters worse, the replacement is the man she just spent an incredible night with.

Ruhit is a hard-working, charismatic man who feels like he’s finally getting his big break. He just got a dream job with an understanding mentor and he’ll be able to continue supporting his family in India while being able to breathe just a little. But when he meets the woman he planned to pursue after falling just a little, the hopeless romantic in him is torn. What does can he do when the woman of his dreams is so close, yet so unreachable?

Deliciously tension and real-life work problems fill the page as readers enjoy this heartfelt and sexy book!

How often do you really communicate what you want?

Do you blame someone for not understanding something if you never explained it to them?

Aurora Palit's characters ponder that in 'Honey and Heat.'

Cynthia is working in a man's world and forced to be an ice princess to deal with the 'old boys club' running her father's business. She's desperate to be taken seriously and feels constantly beaten down.

She breaks one night, and it leads to a steamy one-night stand with a man she could connect with... until she sees him again working with her father.

Rohit follows her lead, and they spend a year barely interacting and never acknowledging the connection until they're forced to work together. As they learn more about each other and about what they aren't telling people.

It's an eye-opening journey about love from friendship to family to romance. And the key role that communicating your needs and wants plays in any successful relationship.

DNF…I tried my best to give this book a chance, but sadly I don’t think this author’s writing style is for me. Both main characters are extremely unlikable. The guy is too much of a doormat. The girl is too tough to the point where I couldn’t stand her and hated how she treats the guy. I couldnt finish this one

Thanks to Netgalley & Berkley Publishing for the
E-ARC! Loved so much! Great banter & loved the writing style. Fun representation throughout. Will read more from this author.

“Honey and Heat” by new author to me, Aurora Palit is a sweet and fun read. I loved the banter between the two main characters, Cynthia and Rohit. The story kept me engaged until the very end. You have successful and competitive heroine who has what it takes to become head of her father’s business…that is until her father chooses someone else. Rohit, who happens to be her father’s choice, was also her one-night stand who he believes should be the person to spend the rest of his life with until he learns she is the daughter of his boss. Wild and crazy but oh so cute and enjoyable to the very end. Who says that workplace rivals can’t turn into attraction and love. I do love workplace romance, love/hate romance, and rivals to lovers’ tropes.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and thank Berkley Publishing for granting this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publishing: September 16, 2025
Pages: 368

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read! The banter and tension between Cynthia and Rohit kept me engaged from the very start. Both characters are strong and independent, which made their interactions compelling and entertaining. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the dialogue is sharp and playful.

That said, I did feel like I wanted a little more from the story. Certain points dragged, and the romance leaned a bit into insta-love territory, which pulled me out of the moment occasionally. Still, there’s plenty here for romance fans to enjoy. It’s a light, engaging, and heartfelt story that balances humor, tension, and sweetness.

this is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. i’m a sucker for a rivals to lovers in a workplace especially this one because the banter and being forced to work together!!!! i really loved our main characters. cynthia is a strong fmc who pushes to be the best she can in the male dominated business her dad run’s. rohit moves to Canada from India to pursue a job that’ll provide for his family and take care of them and he likes romcom movies!!! the character development and growth between the two of them was well-written.

cynthia always wins, she’s successful, competitive, and knows she has what it takes to be the heir to her father’s multimillion dollar business. that’s until her father chooses someone else, her one-night stand. rohit just landed the opportunity of a lifetime and feels his life is on track with the woman he just spent the night with until he finds out she’s this new boss’s daughter and she now hates him. soon after, the company falls under scrutiny and both are determined to restore the tarnished reputation and work together.

tropes: rivals to lovers, workplace romance, desi romance, canadian setting, mlm takeover, golden retriever mmc, black cat fmc, he falls first