🎧First off, thank you Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.🎧

4⭐️ - in the words of Maddy, “Is this f***ing play about us?”. I swear other than the beautiful man obsessed with me, I feel like I have lived the FMC’s experience!

One of my most anticipated reads/listens of 2025.

My general thoughts:
I had a lot of fun with this one! It had that really specific 2000s rom com feeling. A little cheese, but it did not feel over the top. It was just the right amount. There were so many parallels to my own life, this hit a little too close to home!

Trishara is a woman of color working in a male dominated industry in the corporate world. Having been passed off for endless promotions, dealing with many micro-aggressions, and with the workplace sexual harassment on top - she’s at her wits end. Annnnd with immigrant parents who worked to give their kids a better life, all of this felt like it was my life. She ends up in a career she’s not quite sure she has real passion for, other than knowing she’s good at it. Check, check, check - that’s all me! I also stumbled into a career in the corporate world, been passed upon promotions, not particularly satisfied with the career path other than I know what I’m doing, immigrant parents, woman of color.. I could go on. For me, it was almost tough to read at some times given the parallels to my life.

That being said, the banter, the chemistry, the tropical setting… made for an excellent romcom. This book felt similar to the movie “set it up” on Netflix - mainly in the way there’s fighting but heaps of chemistry!! It was such a sweet read.

I had very high expectations for this story given how much I enjoyed Nisha’s romantasy series (Artefacts of Ouranos). I was most definitely happy with her writing in this - she has that same witty, confident, and strong FMC and that’s my favorite type of character to read. I think the only reason I couldn’t get to a 5 star rating is I felt the book was a bit too long. There definitely seemed to be a slump where not much was happening, and got a bit repetitive. With a small trim to this story I think this would’ve been a 5 star read for me.

Either way, I had so much fun - and that’s a requirement for this category. Looking forward to more contemporary from Nisha!!

🎧Audiobook specific notes🎧:
-This is single POV and solo narration
-Soneela Nankani is the ideal narrator for this one. The narrator space (like the romance category in general) tends to lack diversity so I am really happy a woman of color was selected to narrate this FMC!
-Soneela had an excellent performance, great pacing, and impressive character voices. She is always an instant-listen for me.
-Despite this being solo POV I think having a male narrator for Rafe’s parts (a partial duet) would’ve really elevated the experience. On its own, the audiobook is good but I think in this case I could see this tipping to 5 stars with a partial duet.

FINE. I LOVED IT

I ate this story up with a spoon. I need it immediately optioned for a movie so I can have it playing on repeat. I have obnoxiously recommended it to everyone I've met and I do not anticipate myself stopping anytime soon. This is a fun, fast work place rivals to lovers like The Hating Game at a work retreat. I loved the narrator. Def a great title for either print or audio!

Thank you so much to Nisha J Tuli and Forever Publishing for this immensely cute and spicy break from my current fantasy reads. I received this title as an ARC but I attest that my opinions are left honestly and voluntarily.

4.25/5. Releases in audio 5/20/25.

Heat Index: 7/10

—workplaces rivals to tropical retreat roommates tooooooo

—being a woman (especially a woman of color) in the workplace is very hard, actually

—stupid sexy coworkers

—broiling tension

The Basics:

Trishara (Tris for short) is frustrated by the fact that she hasn't moved up the corporate ladder in five years at WMC Purcell—especially when the promotion she wants goes to the boss's son, Rafe. The balm is supposed to be getting selected for a work retreat in Maui (that comes with the possibility of winning a spot in a coveted executive training program) except... Rafe is going to. And an error has them in the same hotel room. She can't stand him, and the feeling seems mutual. But here's the cold, hard truth: They're also kind of obsessed with each other.

The Review:

I was drawn to this book because of the cover, which is Most Excellent and promises a fun and sexy time. And you know what? It delivers on that promise! This is a fairly straightforward tale of work people who really dislike each other, and by "really dislike each other" I mean "dislike how much they want to bang each other", which is a lot. But Tuli adds in some very real commentary about the state of women in the workplace, and the added challenges for women of color like Tris. By no means does it overshadow the romance, but it adds stakes and acknowledges in a reality that makes the story feel more authentic (and it's based on Tuli's own experiences).

We're almost immediately swept away to Tris and Rafe's work retreat adventures, which have that tinge of "oh, everyone have fun, but only in a work-y way, and we are watching" that anyone who's worked in a corporate setting will recognize. It's the perfect way to cause friction for our leads, naturally competitive people who also aren't immune to the implications of sharing a honeymoon suite in Hawaii.

You might not be surprised to discover that Rafe... has been pining. And boy, is it a good pining. The dams take a while to fully break here (I'd categorize this as a moderate slow burn) but once they do? OOF. His longing is on full display. But Tuli is very smart about how she unveils Rafe's feelings—I feel like I got the perfect amount of Snarky Rake-y Arrogant Guy, and Grade A Piner.

Tris is a really likable heroine, smart and skeptical without being too jaded, hopeful enough to get swept up the moment and sweet enough to really experience the full spectrum of emotions when it all comes crashing down. And, like. She's definitely not immune to Rafe's charms, despite her practicality. I personally love seeing a practical heroine get swept away in the moment.

This is very much a character-heavy book, and I don't know that there are a ton of twists and turns that will surprise you—it has its serious moments, but it's very slice of life, and doesn't hit on much that's super dark. It read to me the way a really good romcom movie would feel, and I'm also a bit of a sucker for a "vacation"-style romance. I mean, while we're at it—Hollywood, this would in fact make a really good romcom! I would like to see it!

One thing I do appreciate here, too, is that while neither Tris nor Rafe make seriously heavy mistakes, mistakes are made. And they're owned. They don't have to be malicious to be harmful, and that's acknowledged and made up for. It's something I don't think we see enough of in these books that we're supposed to see as "real". That acknowledgement made me like them as a couple even more.

The Sex:

Like I said, this is somewhat of a slow burn, and Rafe and Tris don't give in for a good while. Once they do, though—it's great. Rafe really wants to outdo a certain Device Tris brought along on her trip. Will he? I mean, you've gotta read the book for that.

And the scene where they sneak away from a certain session? Nisha! Hello??? (I was very happy.)

The Conclusion:

A breath of fresh air, this is what I want when I read a more lighthearted contemporary romance. It's light while having serious emotional stakes, and it has more than its fair share of swoon. Perfect for summer!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun twist on the workplace romance trope with the perfect title, Tuli ensures that the romance never forces our MCs to lose control of their careers and encourages them to take ownership over their futures. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

3.75 stars, rounded to 4 since we can't do partial stars on this platform.
This had that enemies to lovers and forced proximity vibe that is so fun!
The chemistry between the FMC, Trishara, and the MMC, Rafe, was great.
This was my first book by Nisha J Tuli and I am now a fan!
Female representation in a male dominated field - this is so relevant today!
STEM - I love that we saw this in the book! Women of color - this will always be needed!! Workplace romance is one of my favorite tropes.
There is also chronic disease/chronic pain representation, as someone in the medical field who deals with this - it was done so well!!
This book is such a GEM.
All of the ingredients for a great Rom-Com are here!
Put this book on your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

4.5 stars.

A spicy workplace romance with a fiery FMC and a seriously handsome MMC? Give it to me! The sass, the banter and the spice - oh my god. I loved the authors fantasy series but this was just next level. I love that both MCs have depth, there’s more than meets the eye in both and throughout the book it addresses favouritism and struggles of a female in such a male dominated workspace. Also loved the narration! It brought it to life!

I enjoyed several things about Not Safe For Work. Tuli did a great job representing being a woman and a marginalized group in a traditionally white-dominated male field. I appreciated that the author talked about the sacrifices and pressure to perform and how Tris felt constantly overlooked because of her identity. I thought the sexism she faced in the workplace was believable and felt like something I am sure happens to women daily.

Additionally, I did appreciate the slow burn in this book. It takes careful crafting not to have the characters jump each other as soon as they’re alone, especially with forced proximity, and this worked well for me.

I enjoyed the Indian (Southeast Asian) rep. The author did a good job of displaying both macro and microaggressions. I also appreciated that the MMC, Rafe never commented specifically on her skin tone. Instead, he repeatedly said she was beautiful, attractive, etc., and he was crazy for a dress/ skirt.

The spice when we got there was fun, and I am always a fan of stating what you want in the bedroom and a man who wants to please. I prefer it when narrations are a breather during certain parts, but I felt the narration handled it well overall.

Where this book didn’t work for me was staying in the main female character's head the entire time. For example, I thought the emphasis on her being single for a year was a bit silly, and I don’t believe that that should be seen as a character flaw. She was self-shaming for something that felt normal to me, and her friends encouraged her that it was “bad” not to have sex for a year. No thanks.

Also, I need to state that alcohol should not be used as a treatment for headaches. And certain forms of hormonal birth control cannot be used in those with migraines. I wish this had been addressed better.

Unfortunately, I think the narration by Soneela Nankani made me more irritated at the main female character. Did she feel a bit whiny, maybe? I could not put my finger on the exact thing that was bothering me, as the performance was well done, and I appreciated the touches of emotion. The anger especially was appropriate, and I enjoyed that the narrator explored those emotions. I could feel the effort the narrator put into the story. I would listen to another book narrated by the narrator, perhaps not the same author.

I think that this book would appeal to those who love true enemies to lovers and I did enjoy the Hawaii setting. Unfortunately, it just didn’t click for me.


3-3.5

If some serious banter that includes bickering, competitiveness and chemistry through the roof does it for you....then you have found your next read right here!

I LOVED this book! Trishara is a really relatable FMC, trying to put out strong and confident on the outside but dealing with so much inside. This is also not just a work place romance, but covers some important issues woman find themselves in when trying to climb the ladder in many fields. I found I was invested in the story and our two main characters very quickly!

Rafe, our MMC, is delicious 😋! He seems like one thing, but once we get deeper he is so much more and swoon worthy on top! This is a slow burn, that's a little painful in a good way 😂. When the slow burn breaks, it is holy hotness!

This book has everything! Secret moments of sharing things they have never told anyone else, one bed, longing, banter, tension and after all that amazing spice. The romance is perfection, the underlying story of an awful workplace environment and reconnecting with yourself adds alot of depth. Highly recommend!!!

The narration is brilliant!!! Soneela Nankani does an incredible job and I loved the fact that when she said the Chapter she kept the emotions rolling over from what happened in the previous chapter. It helps you stay in the story and I wish other narrators would do this. The audio was really immersive and whilst I had never heard this narrator before I'm definitely going to keep an eye out! The characters were brought to life and it was perfection.

Thank you netgalley for this ALC, I loved every minute of this and will be looking into this authors other books!

3.75 stars

This was a spicy workplace enemies to lovers. I enjoyed the banter and tension build up between the main characters. I love that our fmc is smart. I think the author handled sensitive topics, as sexism and racism well. Our kick a** fmc really was a great example to illustrate this climate. I did think some of the scenes probably wouldn't happen at a work event, and other kinda far fetched things. Overall I really enjoyed this sweet story.

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.

Arc Review: #NotSafeForWork Thank you @nishajtwrites @hachetteaudio and @netgalley for the opportunity to review the Audiobook version of Not safe for Work.

I rated this cute Romcom 4⭐️.

First I want to say the Narrater did I great job at reading with emotions, really bringing the audiobook to life. Her voice is also rather enjoyable to listen to!

Second, I may not agree with some of the views of the book but I liked it regardless!

Right away I felt like we connected with the characters. And we really got to know them throughout the book and see their personal growth. Tris is a very strong independent woman. And Rafe is a very hardworking, and loyal man.

We see their witty banter and competitiveness with each other through out the book. We get slow burn, rivals to lovers, one bed, forced proximity, workplace romance & more!

This was easy to follow along to. I finished it in 1.5 days! It was fun and cute. It made me laugh a few times.

I had a great time reading it. And I’m excited for others to be able to experience it as well on release day May 20th, 2025!

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"

Soneela Nankani does an amazing job with the narration and I highly recommend the audio version.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for my ALC.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. It was a classic enemies-to-lovers but in the unique setting of a corporate retreat.

Tuli did a great job with the snappy banter between Tis and Rafe with tons of sexual tension woven in.

Sadly the workplace harassment facet of the story was way too believable (I've kept documentation emails, too.). But it just added that much more to an already excellent story.

I listened to an advanced listener copy of the audiobook, and narrator Soneela Nankani did a great job. She's easily one of my favorite narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced listener copy of this book.

This is a totally bingeable “goes down easy” 🍹contemporary romance!

First off, I loved the author’s note at the start of the book where she says this is her most personal book and some of it inspired by things she saw and experienced early in her engineering career.

Tris, our FMC, is a standout employee at her male dominated firm. She is chosen to attend the company retreat in Hawaii. A booking error at the resort has her sharing the honeymoon suite, with Rafe, the owner of the company’s son, and her workplace nemesis.

What you’ll find:
🌴Workplace romance
🌴Enemies to lovers
🌴Forced proximity
🌴Slow burn
🌴A little spicy 🌶️🌶️
🌴Female friendship
🌴Diversity/women’s issues in the work place

**Narration on audio was really well done by Soneela Nankani

First off let me just say that I'm not a contemporary romance girl. That being said, I really enjoyed this story. There was the slowburn romance that typically draws me to my romantacy genre and just enough sultry spice too. Tuli, does a wonderful job creating believable characters that struggle with life and work just like normal people . The narrator drew me in to the story with her different accents for all the characters and kept me.engaged in what was going on. A nice, quick feel- good read with a strong FMC.

The narrator did such a good job for this book and the audio made me laugh and fall even more in love with this book than I already was!

Nisha J Tuli can do it all. This book had me cracking up nonstop. The yearning between the characters was so good. Rafe was overprotective and possessive and it was done in the best way, I also loved that he stuck up for Tris at every single point even when she didn’t know. Trishara aka Tris is a complete badass who is smart and funny and sticks up for what it right. This book is full of women empowerment, and also touches on expectations for men that they might not have for themselves. I absolutely loved this book and all of the characters. Please pick this one up especially if you love a good romcom, this will be the perfect beach read!
Thank you Hachette audio for the ALC!

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 👏🏽.

I can be picky with romance audiobooks but the narrator was AMAZING!! I mean I listened to it all in one sitting. She captured Tris’s fiesty character and Rafe’s flirty one so well. Honestly even if you’re not an audiobook person, I’d recommend trying this one. It’s so entertaining.

Eternal thanks to Forever Publishing and Hachette Audio for the ARC and ALC!

Rafe and Tris were a solid duo of enemies-to-lovers classic miscommunication, mutual pining, and romance. I loved, loved, loooooved the female empowerment that was ever present in this book with a focus on standing up for oneself in a heavily male-centered industry. It was a good little love tap in the face to the patriarchy and that was epic.

Not Safe for Work is amazing. Not only did I enjoy the story written by Nisha Tuli, the narration by Soneela Nankani was great. Trishara was a great strong character and Soneela Nankani was able to bring her character to life. I could not stop listening to Trishara and Rafe's story. The spice was great. I enjoyed the STEM aspect of the book.

Can't wait to read/listen to more Nisha Tuli books and narration by Soneela Nankani.