Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint! Not only is there enemies to lovers, workplace relationship, there is also the one bed trope! This book was sexy and fun, while also touching on the struggles of females in a male driven career and minorities in the workplace.

*ALC Review*

I really enjoyed this story. From the get go I was hooked - you could tell there was more below the surface than either character was willing to admit.

Trishara (Tris) is a badass in the male dominated engineering world. I loved how she constantly stood up for herself and made her worth known to those who questioned her. She pushed to get fairly compensated and to have the company make up for their shortcomings in the past. I admired her so much when she picked herself and really stood on business.

Rafe was obviously obsessed with her and it was crazy to me that Tris didn’t see it! He was adorable, even when pushing her buttons and getting under her skin. It was clearly a form of foreplay for him and I was here for it. His aspirations beyond his father’s company was awesome and it was disheartening that his family wasn’t supportive of his dreams and instead pushed the family business.

I loved their banter and their barbs at each other, but when they finally realized the underlying spark things really changed. Their connection was electric and I could really feel it when listening to the story.

I enjoyed the audio performance and the narrator did a fabulous job. It kept me engaged and entertained the whole time, and she made it easy to feel the emotions throughout the story. I would definitely recommend this audio to those wanting a good summer read!

Thank you Nisha, NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC! 💛

Book Review: Not Safe for Work
🔥 Tropes: Enemies to Lovers • Only One Bed • Workplace Romance

Not Safe for Work dives into some seriously important conversations—especially around how women, particularly women of color, are treated in corporate environments. The book doesn’t shy away from calling out how companies tokenize employees based on race or gender just to improve their image, and I really appreciated that raw honesty.

Tris is a powerhouse. Watching her stand up to the sexism and racism she faces at work was empowering and made me root for her every step of the way. And Rafe? Let’s just say the tension between them is chef’s kiss—hot, intense, and oh-so-spicy.

The book starts off a bit slow, and I did feel like the pacing dragged in the beginning. But once you hit the halfway point, it’s like flipping to an entirely different book. Drama, spice, and plot twists galore kept me hooked through the end.

Also, the epilogue? Absolute perfection. It wrapped everything up so neatly and answered all the lingering questions.

If you love a messy, bold, and sexy workplace romance with a strong message underneath, this one’s worth checking out.

I loved most of this book, but then felt like it went on too long. Cute story but lots of character development!

This book was entertaining, but it was not without problems. I enjoyed Trishara's growth as a character and engineer. From a stylistic perspective, the inner monologue dragged a little at times. While I am not a woman in STEM, I am a woman in a male dominated field and I cannot get over how openly the coworkers at this retreat were hooking up/flirting. There was no professionalism. If two of my coworkers just met and were flirting at a bar on company time everyone would talk about it and not in a positive way. I thought the setting was very unrealistic. Also, from an HR perspective, there is no way a company of that size would allow the room-sharing to happen. Imagine the lawsuit. If you are going to write a book about a woman's struggles in a male dominated industry, the behavior at conferences has to be addressed in a realistic way, otherwise it just impacts how believable the rest of the book is. Like genuinely, if it wasn't tanked before, Trishara's chances (and possibly Rafe's, but he has the benefit of nepotism and the patriarchy) of being selected for the retreat would have plummeted once a conference room full of her coworkers heard her having sex. Also, there were so many metaphors. I listed to the audiobook and started skipping ahead 30 seconds once I heard the FMC say one metaphor.

My major problem in this book came from the Rafe/Hannah drama. Specifically, Rafe mentioned early on in the book that he loved Hannah, but he was not IN LOVE with Hannah. He said she was a wonderful person and would make someone very happy someday. He sang her praises and presented the situation as "two great people who aren't great together". Then, we actually meet Hannah for the first time at the end of the book and she makes a blatantly racist comment to Trishara. Something that cannot simply be excused. I had a really difficult time reconciling the fact that Rafe was presented as a forward-thinking, Liberal King but he spent years of his life being best friends with/dating someone who was openly racist. There was no moment where Trishara told him what Hannah said, but if you have known someone closely for years you cannot be genuinely surprised they would say something so openly racist to someone they don't really know. Rafe had to have known Hannah was racist. If that's what Hannah has said in a women's bathroom to Rafe's coworker what has she said to Rafe in private over the years?? What has he tolerated for the sake of keeping his mother's life drama-free?? That interaction, specifically the failure of Rafe to ditch Hannah years ago given that she's openly racist AND him starting the book by stating that she genuinely is a good person left a bad taste in my mouth for Rafe's character.

This was a romance that did not necessarily stand out. It was a good book, but once the MMC and FMC started getting along. It was kind of Insta love. I did like how the FMC was not afraid to speak her mind.. It wasn’t bad just nothing too original.

A great summer romance with just the right amount of spice . The story line has me intrigued the narrator did a great job .

Let me start by saying that this is an HR reps nightmare and to truly enjoy this book, you have to let go of reality a little bit in regards to that, but once you do, you are going to have fun!!

This book is sexy and fun but here is where I think the narration falls short: it felt like the book was supposed to be funnier/snarkier, especially in regards to the banter between our main characters and that humor did not come through and therefore, there were times when I then struggled with the book - I really think if that had shifted a bit, this book would be closer to 5 stars instead of 4 stars.

Trishara and Rafe were DOWN BAD for each other and I am glad we could see a bit of self awareness in the story and narration.

A solid 4 star book for me.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very much enjoyed this audiobook! The book shines a light on the disadvantages of women/POC in corporate America while also delivering a very sexy, sweet romance.

I nearly dnf'd this, and maybe I should have. There are so many similes. It felt like every paragraph included one, and some didn't even make sense. I. One sentence Tris says Rafe smells like moonlight (wtf) and the next she says he smells like sunshine. What does that mean? What does either of those smell like and how does he smell like both? That probably seems small but there were so many I couldn't ignore it. Not to mention that their rivalry is so 'intense that it becomes absurd. I think its supposed to give that feeling where little boys tease and annoy the girls they like, but these people are supposed to be grown. The characters all felt like caricatures. I don't feel like I really knew anyone, and besides being hot and smart their attraction seems basic. I wanted to like this, but it just wasn't for me.

Narration - I want to begin the review by saying I absolutely loved Soneela Nankani as Trishara's narrator. The book is in a single POV and is read by Soneela Nankani in the entirety, but she managed to make the cast sound distinctive by her narration. She also fits Trish completely - she brought every single nuance of Trish to life - her frustration, her amusement, her little jabs and funny moments - all her feelings and emotions were felt very accurately and it enhanced my reading experience a hundred fold. Her pacing was perfect and not for a single moment did I feel like I wasn't in Trish's head. Soneela was perfect.

Story - The story didn't hook me up. If it wasn't for the ALC and the narration, I am not sure I would have finished the book. One of the biggest drawback for the story is that Trish is an Indian FMC yet the representation was severely lacking. There was nothing about her ethnicity that added value to the overall plot and as an Indian reader it was sad to see. There were several opportunities to atleast give a nod to Trish's culture - for example, Trish being a huge dessert lover could mention any indian dessert by name, but it almost felt like the story would stay the same if she wasn't Indian. Her struggles would be explained as much by workplace sexism as well.

The physical chemistry between Trish and Rafe was there but their emotional connection was severely lacking. This is one of the books which might have been better with dual pov because the first 50 percent of the book comes across as just lust from the FMC Instead of what I assume was supposed to be sexual tension. Their physical chemistry does pick up later on but their romance - the soft, tender or emotional side of it falls flat. The other woman drama has so much page space but no details in the end. Everything is resolved off page and despite the confession in the last chapter, I felt no connection to Rafe and Trish or their love story as a reader.

The story was hardly a 3 ⭐ for me but the narration saved it. I reccomend this book more as an audiobook than as an ebook/paperback.

Thank you hachette audio and netgalley for the ALC.

**3.75 stars

Thank you to Nisha J. Tuli and Forever for the eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I go into the details of my review, I did enjoy this book. I loved Rafe. He had so many layers and really tried to do the right thing so many times, even if we don't learn everything he's done over the years until later in the book. I also really loved the female friendships. Supporting one another, but also calling each other out when it was needed. I also really enjoyed the diversity of this book.

This book, while a fun rivals to lovers romance, also deals with some heavy topics. The FMC is a woman of color that works in a male dominated field, and a big part of the plot is her experiences as a woman and a woman of color in engineering. It touches on racism, nepotism, misogyny, sexism, sexual harassment, and different types of toxic relationships (between partners [not the MCs with each other], parents).

But with all of that, and understanding her experiences have shaped who she is now, I did not like the FMC until WAY later in the book. She has every right to be bitter, but that bitterness made her mean. And not just to the MMC, which is part of their flirting dynamic, but to others who get in the way of them bickering. And that part is just glossed over. She says sorry and it's never mentioned again. I would have liked more development of her character seeing how her experiences have caused her to treat others over the years, and not just pushing them away because she's scared to get hurt. But besides that, I liked her character growth and her getting her spark back.

The audiobook has a single narrator, Soneela Nankani, and I liked her. She brought both Trish and Rafe to life really well. I never once was taken out of the book because of how she chose to voice any of the characters.

Overall, it was a good book. And I liked the way the FMC stood her ground throughout the book. I also enjoyed the ending. It was realistic while still giving you the HEA you want from a romance.

This book was everything I wanted in a workplace romcom and more! From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The banter between Trishara and Rafe is electric in the best, most chaotic way.

I loved those early scenes where they were constantly messing with each other, giving each other the wrong time for meetings, etc. It was completely immature and petty, yet adorable. It reminded me of middle school, when people would whisper, “He’s mean to you because he likes you,” and that trope pays off beautifully.

The enemies-to-lovers tension is top tier. Rafe, despite being the boss’s son, is no corporate golden boy. He’s layered, vulnerable, and secretly obsessed. Like, he literally draws pictures of her in his journal. DEAD. I was kicking my feet.

The tropical retreat setting adds the perfect environment for all the delicious forced proximity and every challenge they face together ups both the stakes and the chemistry.

Watching Tris navigate the toxic workplace dynamics as a woman of color in a white, male-dominated engineering firm is powerful and important. This isn’t just a love story—it’s a feminist one, showing the grit it takes to break through the glass ceiling while refusing to shrink herself for anyone, Rafe included.

Read this if you love:
- enemies to lovers
- workplace romance with a tropical twist
- one bed
- witty banter
- strong, female main character

This was an instant favorite. I want to reread it already.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC! The narrators were absolutely amazing, the author's writing was amazing, and it will be a book I 100% recommend to anyone and everyone! I will be sharing some videos and a review on my TikTok, @bookedwithemmal

Thank you to NetGalley for offering me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for a honest review


Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I ate this book up!!!
This was my very first Nisha J. Tuli book and boy I am so glad it was!
Trishara is such a captivating FMC.
Strong
Independent
Smart
Beautiful
As a woman who works in a corporate setting myself, I felt so connected to her. I have been in some of the situations she has found herself in and it is so amazing reading her POV. I also love the aspect that she still fell in love. Not to mention the MMC was soooooo 🥵 and the smexy scenes ooff so well written *chef's kiss* 🤌🏼
I loved it a woman who is strong but still able to fall in love!
I am now officially a Nisha fan!

Unfortunately I did not love Nisha Tuli’s debut romance. I found both main characters to be immature and frustrating. The Hannah situation didn’t have enough closure (or at all?) and I was hoping to see more about Tris’s headaches since they were brought up frequently. I struggled to understand why Tris and Rafe fell in love. There was chemistry but I wasn’t sure why.

Engineer Trishara Malik is selected as the token diversity pick for a company leadership retreat in Hawaii along with her work rival, Rafe Gallagher, who happens to be the boss’s son. A mix-up with rooms leads to the pair sharing a suite with only one bed. The three week retreat sees them mixing with employees from other offices and exploring the island. As they spend more and more time together the attraction, which has always been lurking beneath the surface, grows.

I had the opportunity to hear Nisha discuss this book at a stop on here book tour so I know this was a very personal book for her. The work aspect of the book felt very real but I found the romance to be lacking. I had to turn my brain off entirely about the workplace aspect because so much of the book was a giant HR violation. The book suffered greatly from its single POV. I liked Trishara just fine but Rafe was just meh the whole time. I was endlessly frustrated by the man and his lack of a spine. I was honestly not rooting for them to end up together. I love the cover and wish I liked the book more. I listened to part of the audiobook and through Soneela Nankani did a great job of bringing the book to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ALC and to Lovebound Library for hosting Nisha on her book tour.

Perfect summer read! Absolutely loved the work enemies to lovers slow burner. The narrator was amazing! 10/10 recommend the audiobook version.

The narrator for this book was really good. I thought she really brought the story to life.

I liked the story okay. I felt like it was about 100 pages too long though and got bogged down in some unnecessary descriptions. But the storyline was good and I liked the ending a lot.

The beat part of this book was the workplace harassment representation. I hope this causes some people to stand up for themselves and their rights.

I received an advanced copy of this through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Real Rating 3.5

I’m not gonna lie….. this helped solidify that I don’t actually like enemies to lovers books lol And it actually wasn’t his fault for once. Because being in her head and her saying he did XYZ when I knew she didn’t give him a chance to explain BECAUSE SHE WAS MEAN made me skin crawl. Stop making me agree with men lol But I DID love the feminist aspect of this. It wasn’t all bad, but I didn’t exactly have fun either if that makes sense.

Ok so the feminist aspect was her being in Tech and a woman. And Lordt I got so mad listening to all the BS she was going through. I was so annoyed with every single person. And I just KNEW that the person she was trying to get with was bad news. I’m so glad the author didn’t let her slip up just to make that other person mad. I was begging her not to touch him and making faces like she could hear me from here. In this aspect, I was so happy that she was such a strong and smart woman and showed that women in Tech deserve respect and people should treat them as such.

The thing I didn’t agree with was the way she was so frustrating to him but had no idea what his side was. I mean I get it, he was the bosses son. but did you even listen to him about anything when his dad was around? He didn’t even ACT like he liked his dad? I was so confused. Like did I read it wrong? I was so annoyed that she made me side with a man. Because why? And I hate to be a tad bit spoilery, but the sketchbook scene?! That made me crazy lol You don’t play with anyone’s art and creativity. And being all in his business when you’ve been so mean this whole time was weird. And then you just TOOK IT?! Absolutely effing not. I have cussed people out for reading some of my writing before I was ready to post the review or whatever I was writing. Idk, maybe it’s just me, but you don’t do that to someone. That’s why he said a yt woman’s name when you asked lol

The romance was cute once it finally got there. So basically like the Epilogue. I wish we had more time with them liking each other because I wanted her to redeem herself. But in that last chapter she was sweet and he was the golden retriever he had always been. And I was so proud of them. They definitely made it so that they could both get what they wanted. I love to see love win!

I keep trying enemies to lovers because I always think it’s something that I’m doing wrong. But anytime one makes me feel like the dude was in the right it makes me mad lol I think this one was a little too far out there for me. If you like enemies to lovers tho, give this one a try. You will like it more than I did.

Absolutely loved this story. All the tropes are perfect. One bed. Secret crush.

I love that his passion was baking that is such an underrated thing especially for men so when it came out he loved baking it flat out made me happy.

The way she quit her job in the end. Chefs kiss. I will also be writing a good read review. There will be no spoilers but mentions of the names.

I genuinely enjoyed this audio book. I could not stop smiling.