A cute rival story, turn into romance. It kinda dragged but overall, I enjoyed it. I would probably recommend it to anyone who likes fluffy romances

Corporate, women of color will probably relate to this a lot. Full of cliches that would normally work for a romance novel but the lack of communication/ miscommunication and overwhelming back and forth of the FMC’s internal monologue was a tad too much.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! Nisha was a new to me author and I would definitely read more from them!
This was a well single narration audiobook. I typically go for dual or duet but I think Soneela did a wonderful job!

This was a fun workplace romcom set at a workplace retreat. I did enjoy the characters but wanted a little more spark between the two. Absolutely no notes on the narration though!

Not Safe for Work is a sexy, sigh worthy romance that will leave you packing your bags for your own Hawaiian vacation - and also a commentary on how tough it is to be a woman of color in a male dominated corporate industry. It is a beautifully woven love story while simultaneously highlighting the very real and very exhausting realities of what work places can be like and how difficult it can be for a talented, promotion worthy woman to get the recognition she deserves. It handles tough topics like workplace misogyny, nepotism, and sexual harassment - while also giving the reader some panty dropping, leg shaking scenes that leave you gasping for more. Overall - it’s a masterpiece. I would read this over and over again - and I look forward to diving into more from the author.

The narrator is perfect - and I enjoyed the way they bring the story to life. I did this exclusively as an audio, and I felt like it elevated the story completely. You can easily listen at higher speeds too - which is a plus when you’re on the precipice of spice and need to get them there quicker lol

“𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒆𝒏.”

This was my first Nisha J. Tuli book, and I went in without reading the synopsis or listed tropes. However, I've seen a few reviews mentioned it's enemies to lovers which got me intrigued. Found out it’s actually marketed as rivals to lovers, which definitely gives a different kind of tension.

My biggest takeaway was the audiobook narration. Soneela Nankani brought this story in the best way. Her delivery nailed the sarcasm, emotion, and chemistry between the leads. Her performance added layers to the character that I’m not sure I would’ve picked up on from the text alone. She genuinely made the experience more enjoyable.

As for the story I normally love single POV, but this is one of the rare times I found myself wishing it had been dual. Tris, the FMC is emotionally reactive and often contradicts herself. She keeps saying she hates the MMC while obsessing over him, and not in a cute, slow-burn kind of way. It felt more like lust overload mixed with heavy denial. The constant swing between “I hate him” and “I want to take off his shirt” half of the book was exhausting. If the lusting had been dialed down, it might have felt less frustrating. Her inner monologue felt juvenile at times, and her professional behavior was all over the place. I don’t mind messy or reactive characters, but only when their actions feel purposeful. In this case, it just didn’t quite work for me.

Rafe on the other hand was decent, he’s a secret cinnamon roll. Of course he's flawed, but I liked him and felt bad for him half the time. Her reactions to him felt so extreme and unprovoked, it made the dynamic feel uneven. Like I've said, I don’t mind flawed characters, I even liked them unhinged, but here it felt too much and unbalanced.

Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the story as much as I hoped, but I have no doubt other readers will enjoy it.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!

𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Not Safe For Work is a great rom-com with some class-A tropes. Enemies to lovers, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity, and Only One Bed (one of my favorites). Also, minority rep!! The story itself was also an enjoyable read. Trishara and Rafe are coworkers on a company retreat where they accidentally get booked in the same room, the honeymoon suite. Tons of slow-burn that lead to some scenes that are, well, NSFW lol. The audiobook was great, the narrator enhanced the story and brought the characters to life. I highly recommend this one, and it’s already out, so get yourself a copy or place a hold at your local library. You won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Pub, and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Not Safe for Work ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5)
Tropes: Workplace romance, slow burn and many more
When Trishara is picked to attend a three week retreat in Hawaii, she’s shocked. What doesn’t shock her is that the boss’s son Rafe is also selected.

First off, a big shoutout to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC audiobook! 🙌 I thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster this book took me on. Picture this: paradise, stuck in the same hotel room for three weeks, and oh, there's only one bed. Classic summer read vibes, right? 🌴 The way racism and sexism were woven into the story was handled incredibly well. It was acknowledged as a serious issue but didn't hijack the entire plot. The banter is witty and flirty which had me smiling until I closed the final page.

This audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani. She gave Tris just the right amount of strong but vulnerable in her delivery.

After reading other reviews I did expect to be utterly obsessed with this book but it didn’t quite align with the hype I’ve been seeing online. Rafe, our MMC, was lacking some depth and frustrated the hell outta me for how he was handling a situation. I also feel like the conclusion needed more oomf behind it.

My favorite takeaway: The term 'Khakis' for your average male business bro. Definitely adding that to my vocab. 😂

Audiobook ARC (my very first one!!)
#bookstagram #bookreview #ARC #romancegirly #bookish #workplaceromance #netgalley #notsafeforwork

Tris is so effortlessly funny, strong, and beautiful. Rafe is just so sexy, broody, and kind.

They are a beautiful pairing and true workplace rivals. Their banter was hilarious and them together was hot AF.

He has a dirty mouth and she has a filthy mind, a perfect blend I must say.

I really felt and related to Tris in many ways, especially with the backhanded compliments thrown at her. I admire her headstrong approach. I definitely bashed heads with her on a few occasions but in the end I couldn't help but love her.

Their story was captivating and hilarious. This was my first audio book and I was listening to it in public, let's just say a few people probably thought I was insane smiling and laughing to myself.

I have an obsessing with this book and these two. Was it messy, yes. Was he mean for no reason and I still liked him? yes.

I really liked not safe for work but this audio didn’t do it for me . It was hard to connect with the characters.

Loved physically reading this book though!

Not Safe for Work had a great premise and a gorgeous cover, but the execution didn’t work for me. I was expecting a steamy, fun workplace romance with some tension and depth, but the rivalry was barely there, and the characters felt more immature than compelling. I struggled to connect with the FMC, and the constant swooning over the MMC got old fast. It made it so difficult to see this as enemies or rivals to lovers since the FMC couldn’t think a full thought without objectifying the MMC in her head first. That said, I really appreciated the moments that addressed workplace discrimination and women in STEM!

Not Safe for Work is a smart, slow-burn workplace romcom packed with sharp banter, real stakes, and one seriously awkward room assignment. Trishara is an engineer who's had enough of being overlooked, talked over, and passed up—for the boss’s son, no less. So when she lands a spot at an elite company retreat in Maui, it feels like a shot at something better. Small problem? Rafe Gallagher, her office nemesis (and the guy who stole her promotion), is going too.

And thanks to one very unfortunate booking error, they’re sharing the honeymoon suite.

Trishara’s determined to stay focused on her career goals, but forced proximity, team-building tests, and a surprising side of Rafe start to chip away at her defenses. The guy isn’t just the golden boy—he’s self-aware, genuinely supportive, and clearly into her. Their dynamic is packed with tension, slow-burn energy, and yes, a little well-earned steam once it finally tips over.

The setting is paradise, the dialogue crackles, and watching Trishara and Rafe navigate trust, ambition, and attraction is everything you want in a romcom with bite. If you're into enemies-ish to lovers with one bed, workplace politics, and women in STEM fighting for their space, this one checks every box.

🎧Soneela Nankani was a great fit for Trishara—her voice matched the character in a way that felt really natural. Even as a single narrator, she handled the rest of the cast well, especially Rafe and the side characters, with distinct voices that were easy to follow. The pacing, tone, and production all worked to keep the story engaging. I’d definitely be interested in listening to more of her work.

Thank you @nishajtwrites, @booksparks, @readforeverpub @hachetteaudio and @netgalley for the gorgeous #gifted book, ALC and ebook ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

this audiobook was absolutely freaking fantastic.

I listened into it throughout my entire workday and honestly could have picked up a listen that was more fun than this. I think it’s perfect for summer, it was hot, it was flirty, it was meaningful!!

highly recommend this workplace romance with A LOT of forced proximity 🥰

Workplace enemies… to lovers? 😏 Yeah, you know the deal around here.

Stuck together for weeks at a picture-perfect resort for a corporate retreat? Yes please. Tension? Off the charts. Banter? Chef’s kiss.

Now let’s talk about Trishara Malik — certified badass, no notes. She’s fierce, flawed, and completely magnetic. Total girl crush energy. 🔥

And Rife? Whew. You think he’s just a smug snack, but surprise — he’s a nine-course dessert with a secret soft center. Delicious in every sense.

This book serves spice, swoon, and just enough workplace chaos to keep things interesting — plus a side of “smash the patriarchy” for good measure. 👏

Enemies to lovers with real depth? Sign me up every. single. time.

Rating: 3/5
Spice:2/5

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, workplace

Thoughts: So the book wasn’t as bad as some reviews make it sound but it wasn’t anything that knocked my socks off. This was just okay. Would I recommend this book to someone maybe, if they are looking for a low angst not so smutty book and just cute. But overall there was moment that it delivered and others that just felt like it could be better.

Things I Loved:
I loved that Tris wasn’t a weak FMC when it came to standing up for what she believed and standing up for herself. Now I did wish that her boldness for standing up for herself would have translated with her feeling for Rafe. Like I could see why she was so hesitant and closed off based off her previous experience but I felt like she let those feeling go way to long and it really turned me off from liking her more.

Rafe wasn’t very memorable to be honest. I hated that he didnt stand his ground with his ex and even when finding out what tris went through with her past relationship he still didnt put a stop to his ex girlfriend.

I felt their chemistry lack luster it was a bit more of hate to insta love because I didnt see the evolution to loving each other.

So if you like a slow burn, low angst, strong bipoc representation , and light and fluffy then yes hands down would recommend.
Thank you @Netgalley for this arc

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* Work enemies to lovers
* FMC Glass ceiling buster in male dominated field
* Forced proximity (one suite only)
* And only one bed 🤭
* Great summer read setting in Hawaii
* Touch her and ☠️
* Slow burn romance

Thank you to NetGalley, Nisha Tuli, and Hachette Audio and Forever publishers for the eARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I like the author’s intro about her own experiences and background for writing this book. It really sets the tone for this book as a work of heart for her.

This is a slooowwww burn and they have many opportunities to act on their attraction until they actually do! And when they finally do, it is very steamy!

The FMC Tris is very fun and I love all the times she heavily describes just how hot Rafe is. She’s confident in a field that doesn’t really accept women like her. She’s vulnerable with Rafe and I really enjoyed when both of them finally were more open with each other.

The narrator is wonderful! Her voice changes for each character is distinct, funny and very fun to listen to. I felt like she had a great pace and really made me feel how the FMC was feeling with lots of emotion and snark when she needs it.

Their first kiss was wonderful as he admits he sees her for so much more than just lust. His admission about how he feels about her was so swoony and genuine…until he ruined it.

It takes a while longer, but that wedding crashing makes it allllll better. 🤭 The spice is spicing once they give in! Their chemistry is hot and they can’t get enough of each other.

What happened to Tris before was terrible, and it’s good to see that Rafe understands her hesitation and wants to protect her. Wish we got to see the role play though!

I didn’t like how long Tris had to deal with the mystery of Rafe’s ex girlfriend Hannah. That bothered me throughout the book how much he wouldn’t tell her and wouldn’t just block her. It clearly was keeping them from being anything more, even though it seemed that’s what Rafe wanted pretty early on.

I was devastated when she is crestfallen and outraged meeting those Rory and Diane. I was just as shocked as Tris. And then she sees Hannah right after?! I was gutted right along with her. It was such a devastating chapter but I had hope.

So when she gives her all staff resignation letter, it was SO BRAVE and bold of her. I 👏🏻 am 👏🏻 HERE 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it!!!

And his declaration of love for her while on a live video baking for her was beautifully unexpected and I loved it so much! The epilogue was the love and life they both deserved together and I adore them together! It beautifully ties everything after such a painful experience for Tris occurred not long ago. They lift each other up and pursue their dreams as a couple and it’s a wonderful ending for them 🥰

3.5⭐

A thank you to NetGalley and HachetteAudio for the audiobook ❤️

Would love to start this off by saying I found the narration great. Personally, I felt that the narrator's voice didn't really suit the FMC but that's just a personal opinion. She still did a good job and she managed to differentiate the characters with her voice well!👍🏻

Onto the plot, I found the setting intriguing, coming from someone who is also a person of colour. The FMC is smart, bold, strong and confident, and I admire her for it. She isn't afraid to stand up for herself and make sure her voice is heard. 💪🏻 On the other hand, I loved how protective our MMC was! 😭 Like at first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like him but he turned out to be so sweet and he won me over quickly 🤭

While I loved their banter, some of their arguments were quite immature which made me want to smack them both.🤣 Their romance was still very sweet and the spice was 😍😳🤭

Also, can I just say that I absolutely love the cover? Gorgeous! ❤️

Overall, this was a great read. I really liked how it all wrapped up and the epilogue was the perfect cherry on top🍒

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. Listening to the audiobook was a great experience. The narrator did an excellent job, bringing the characters and story to life. This book is an enemies-to-lovers romance set in a competitive workplace, with a healthy dose of humor and a strong FMC.
I really enjoyed Trishara—she’s sassy, confident, and unwavering in her beliefs, which made her such a compelling lead. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and the spice factor definitely adds some heat to the story. If you’re considering the audio version, the steamy scenes are included, but they’re not awkward to listen to, so it’s still an enjoyable experience overall.
Perfect for when you're looking for something light, fun, and a bit fiery!

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Nisha J. Tuli for my copy of Not Safe for Work in exchange for my review.
This book was overall pretty good. Slow at the start but once it started getting into the nitty gritty it was fantastic. A great mix of slow burn, enemies to lovers and spice. It does have a miscommunication trope which is usually not my favourite but works for this story. I enjoyed the narrator for this audiobook so much too and will be keeping an eye out for more of her stuff.

FMC/MMC- 28/29
Spice- 🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
Women in STEM
Forced Proximity
Tropical getaway

Format: Audiobook
*Audiobook feedback listed under the main story review.

Tris and Rafe are workplace enemies at an Engineering firm where Rafe is a bit of a nepo baby. We later find out they both felt an instant connection when they first met, but became rivals over a misunderstanding. Miscommunication trope is my least favorite and enemies tropes is my second least favorite so I was off to a great start😂 However, what I dislike about enemies is the duration and level of animosity most authors write for the sake of what they deem “tension”. This book doesn’t have that and although it’s a tension filled slow burn, there are a lot of really great moments as the relationship starts to change. They also have pretty good banter. I liked both characters a lot. I felt myself wishing one character would say something and they did, or act a certain way and then they would. It was very rewarding. The last hour of this was a dramatic emotional ride and probably my favorite of the whole book. If you’ve ever wanted to verbally light a job you hated on fire 🔥 as you walked out, chapter 28 is for you! 💕

Although not something I felt very strongly about, check trigger warnings if you’re sensitive to themes of sexual harassment, cheating or micro aggressions. It’s not gratuitous and important to the story for sure.

The only thing I was annoyed at in the story itself was what some would consider Other Woman Drama. Nothing physical ever happens and Rafe doesn’t hide it (mostly), but as their relationship continues to grow he still communicates with his ex. She calls and texts him multiple times..he steps out to speak with her, etc. He says they are broken up but because she’s been a longtime family friend he hasn’t set firmer boundaries and wants to wait until they get home to do so. Although explained, and did lend additional drama to the story it was sort of annoying given that he knew how much Tris’ trust was betrayed with a cheating ex. I got over it in the end though and would still recommend.

Audio feedback: this book is single narrated and I did actually like this narrator. I listened mostly at 1.5 speed and that was perfect for me as when I first started I felt like she may have been a bit slow. I didn’t give it long before I switched though so you may not feel the same. There isn’t a large difference between the female characters of the story and the same for the males, but I was still able to clearly follow them all and it didn’t bother me at all. I don’t like if the MMC sounds too much like other male characters but this one had enough slight difference it didn’t bother me. The only thing that I didn’t enjoy as much was that Tris has a spunky and sometimes snarky personality (loved!) especially in interactions with Rafe and often times she would have internal dialogue that was narrated that I actually couldn’t tell if it was said out loud or in her head. Sometimes I would realize it was in her head and wish she’d said it out loud LOL. It definitely dwindled as the book went on so that was good.

Overall a super cute romance with some real life themes that I found enjoyable to listen to on audiobook and would recommend if that’s your cup of tea.

Thank you to Hachette audio and NetGalley for early access to provide an honest review. I actually checked this book out from my library in physical copy and didn’t need the ARC but I saw a couple reviews that mentioned that even though this is single narrative (I know everyone loves dual narration for romances and I’m usually the same) that it was a really good narration and even better on audio so I thought I would request it instead of physical read.