4.5. Usually I have my audiobooks at 2.5x speed or 2.25x speed but for this one 3x speed was just fine which is something because I only use 3x speed when I have a physical book while listening to an audiobook. Wish I had the physical book because there were quotes and lines and wanted to highlight.

I am a sucker for a good workplace romance and Not Safe for Work absolutely delivered everything I wanted and more.

The story follows Tris Malik, an engineer who has spent years being constantly passed over while her rival (and son of the company’s boss) Rafe Gallagher gets handed the promotion she deserves. Tris gets an amazing opportunity to attend a leadership retreat for three weeks in Hawaii. Naturally, things don’t go as planned and she ends up having to share the honeymoon suite with Rafe — in classic rom-com fashion, you know there is only one bed.

I loved the banter and connection between Tris and Rafe. The burn was slow but it was well worth the wait. This book was so fun and felt truly authentic to some of the struggles women in the workforce deal with. While this is a rom-com, it’s important to note some important themes including workplace and sexual harassment, white male privilege and nepotism, and women of color in the workforce, to name a few.

Tropes:
Workplace rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
One bed
Slow burn

Huge thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. Narration done by Soneela Nankani who truly did a fantastic job on the audiobook.

Honestly a great listen!

I absolutely adored this book!!

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was amazing, it made everything an even better experience. I genuinely enjoyed it!

The banter between our MCs was honestly great and the tension… oooof!!
The 2 things that really make or break a book for me and it was all in all fantastic!!! It was honestly eye opening to see the struggles our FMC went through not only as a female but as a POC but also seeing how our MMC treated her & stood by her was just so heart warming!
Miss-communication or lack of communication can always be an annoyance for me in some reads but I felt like here it really works and made the book even better!

Always nice to listen to a fun romcom, and having one bed trope is always a perk if you ask me haha

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC!!

A million out of ten! (You’ll get that when you read this 😉) I have been squealing and kicking my feet non-stop through this book!
The pining, the flirting, the banter, the romance, and finally the spice- absolutely top tier. I’m one of those people that loves a friend who pushes and challenges me and to see it in a romance was so cool. Rafe is officially my favorite contemporary romance book boyfriend. I don’t want to give away his secret, but this man’s passion?! Dream man for real. And I, too, have a thing for really great forearms. I also loved the themes of representation and shifting mindsets about pushing against the status quo in white, male dominated fields that had such an influence on Tris & Rafe’s story and in Nisha’s own personal life story.
Soneela Nankani did an amazing job narrating. I was was totally drawn in, and despite listening to a lot of dual and duet narration lately, felt like she carried it perfectly and then some!
I can’t recommend highly enough! I found myself driving slower, or talking the longer walk home to sneak in more listening time.

Omg I loved this!!! It was the perfect combo of office romance and summer vacation romance. It kind of reminded me of Spanish Love Deception in a good way!! I love my Indian queen Trishara she was iconic. Loved the way she handled herself and the tension but bickering with Rafe 10/10. Also, a big one she actually communicated her feelings I feel like so many romances have miscommunication even if small that doesn’t progress until it unravels at the end. I feel like here it was all well communicated while still having unknowns. Everyone needs to go read this asap!

3.5 stars for the book, 5 stars for the audio!
The narration was very very good and kept me interested when the plot slowed down forwards the middle of the book. Trishara is a strong female lead, and Soneela Nankani’s portrayal of her is spot on.
I originally requested this book because the blurb reminded me a bit of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game, and I definitely felt similar vibes from this story! The chemistry between Trishara and Rafe is filled with delicious tension. However, Rafe as a character didn’t feel as dynamic as Trishara. I wouldn’t go so far as to say his family drama felt stereotypically negative, but it’s close. I needed a little bit more from his character besides the fact that he’s hot. Overall, I enjoyed the slow burn of it all and when the spice finally hit in the last bit of the book, I was satisfied. Would recommend overall!

The narration was very good! It is a very easy read!

This book is a ssslllloooowwwww burn, but when it starts burning, it burns!
The tensions & bickering between Trish & Rafe is top notch, it had me giggling listening to it! The struggles Trish faces are struggles that women face every single day and those struggles are portrayed so well in NSWF. I absolutely love Trish. She is a badass woman who sticks up for herself & was so done being treated poorly. She is definitely a woman to want to be like.

This was my first Nisha book and it will not be my last! I love her writing style. It is extremely easy to read and I love books like that! Diving into her fantasy series head first!

This audiobook is everything. The actors, the characters, the banter and representation. Absolutely chefs kiss. I ata this up in one setting

I really enjoyed this book and I thought that the fmc was strong, driven, and whipsmart. I don't entirely believe if the mmc was worthy, but they had great chemistry that went from work rival to lovers after a good slow burn build up. I liked how the book tackled and addressed workplace issues with the ingrained patriarchy and nepotism, giving her a chance to force accountability for bad actors.
The narrator was great and portraying the character and her strengths.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook copy!

This is my first book by this author and i'll be honest this book made me not want to check out their other work. I found this book to have two of the most immature leads i've read in a while. I can get behind a workplace rivalry with a bit of spice but this just felt like a pissing match that went in the other direction. I was into the first half but as i kept reading it just devolved more for me. I sped read through to the end just to see if the ending could save it and it did not. I cannot outright recommend this but if you try it and love it then thats great.

Trishara Malik is a woman of color and engineer working in the corporate men's world of WMC. Rafe is the boss's son and her professional rival. He also happens to be incredibly attractive, not that Trishara is trying to notice. Trishara and Rafe are chosen for a corporate retreat in Maui, but complications arrive when they are forced to share the honeymoon suite.

As Nisha J. Tuli notes in the beginning of the novel, Trishara's experiences in business as a woman of color are based upon her own personal experiences when she worked as an engineer in her 20's. The sexist comments and attitudes Trishara endures are, unfortunately, all too believable. The light Tuli shines on what women have to endure in the professional world is what really sets Not Safe for Work apart from other contemporary romance novels.

Not Safe for Work reminds me a lot of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (the movie is one of my favorite rom-coms). The dynamic between Trishara and Rafe is more rivals-to-lovers as opposed to enemies-to-lovers, so it isn't too much of a stretch when they start to catch feelings for each other. The chemistry between Trishara and Rafe is fantastic, and both of them are incredibly likeable. Any woman who has dealt with bias, sexism, or discrimination can identify with Trishara. Some of the reprehensible things she hears in this novel are literally jaw dropping.

Soneela Nankani does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. If you're interested in reading Not Safe for Work, I highly recommend listening to it on audio.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever (an Imprint of Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for the audiobook advanced reader's copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book! Nisha can do no wrong in my opinion, but as her first contemporary romance book - I was blown away. I loved the characters, the setting and the prose. I will definitely be picking up any future romances from her. Thank you for the audio ARC!

Thank you to Forever & Hachette Audiofor the Advanced Reader Copy. This review is left voluntarily.

I’ve been a big fan of Nisha J. Tuli and truly adore her as an author. Her writing has brought me joy with multiple spots in my top reads of the year and I went into Not Safe for Work fully expecting it to be another favorite. As someone who spent nearly a decade working at a big tech company, I was excited to see that setting on the page—particularly through the lens of a woman of color. I was hoping for a story that would reflect the quiet (and not-so-quiet) misogyny, the exclusion from the boys’ club, and the professional gaslighting I’ve experienced myself. In many ways, the book does touch on those themes—but unfortunately, the reading experience just didn’t land for me the way I’d hoped.

I typically enjoy a prickly heroine, but Trishara’s anger was always close to the surface bordering on explosive when things didn’t go exactly to plan. She often seemed to expect people to read her mind, while giving no grace in return. That imbalance made it hard for me to understand her. The book is told from her perspective, so I knew what she was thinking but her lack of empathy or ability to read a room was hard.

The romance between Trishara and Rafe was also hard for me to track. Their hot-and-cold dynamic swung so wildly that I occasionally wondered if my bookmark hadn’t synced or if I’d missed something important. I so wanted them to just sit down and talk it out, there was so much miscommunication. I picked up and put down the book hoping that it was just my mood. Which led me to I read the book both via ebook & eventually enjoying the audio once I was approved, I was trying to find my sweet spot. Narrator Soneela Konkani did a wonderful job bringing the world to life and I will look for more of her works.

That said, I know many readers have loved this book, and I fully believe this might just be a “me” issue. I wanted so badly to fall for this story the way others have, especially because Nisha’s previous work has meant so much to me. But Not Safe for Work just didn’t work for me.

Still, I’ll absolutely be picking up her next book—and cheering her on every step of the way.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the audiobook of Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli which was narrated by Soneela Nankani! The cover captivated me & my friends were raving so I was happy to start my listen as well!

First of all, this was Tuli's debut romance book (she has written romantasy), and she did a phenomenal job!

I LOVED Tris and Rafe. The slow burn was SLOWWWW, but when it HIT. *fire* I loved how not only did we get to see how the romance played out, but Tuli included how Tris dealt with sexism and racism in the workplace/life. Rafe was definitely swoon worthy! Tris was a force to be reckoned with, and I loved every minute of her not putting up with the status quo.

Soneela Nankani did an amazing job with the narration! I love the emotion and banter that was brought to life by her amazing storytelling ability and performance!!

Fast paced, fun, and steamy – this new extension to Nisha's genre portfolio was a good read! The pacing felt a little off at times and missed a bit of the tension pre-trip for me, but past that I enjoyed it. There wasn't a character that I disliked (that I wasn't meant to obviously) and I loved Rafe and Tris' dynamic toward the end of the book.

Narration was a little slow for me, but with the speed up feature was just fine!

Thank you to Hachette Audio | Forever and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

i absolutely adored this book. It was such a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. The main characters had such amazing chemistry and I really loved how they were written. If youre looking for a cute romance with a bit of spice, this is it.

Love this! Tuli is the queen of nemesis to lovers. The hatred was intricate and believable with a firm conflict that propelled the story forward. The FMCis a great representation of what its like to work in a male dominated field and I loved they way that was wrapped up at the end.

🏞️🌴🌺 Not Safe for Work - Nisha J. Tuli - REVIEW 🌺🌴🏞️

🌴 ARC and ALC review
🌴 First of all huge thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC via NetGalley

🌺 When it comes to audiobooks, I always feel the need to talk about the narrator.
Soneela Nankani did such an amazing job that I was instantly enamored by the book.

🥥 It is not my first Nisha J. Tuli book, but this one was different, mainly because I've only read fantasy books by her before this one.
I did go into the book with high expectations but ALL OF THEM were met.

🌴 The book is an workplace slow burn romcom sprinkled with tropes like Enemies-to-lovers , Forced proximity, Only one bed and many more to name.
All in all it was the perfect combo to make me give it 4 stars!

🌺 What you should also know is that there are some not-so-savory themes present in the book, such as Racism, Nonconsensual touching or Blackmail...

🌴 Now let's talk about the best part of the book: Trishara and Rafe!
They were amazing and I lived that this is a slow burn romance and we get to know more about the two of them before they form a couple.

🥥 The banter is next level and more than once I had to stop the audiobook to have a laugh because they were bringing me to the brink of tears

🌺 Overall: 'Not Safe for Work' is an entertaining book with amazing characters that is perfect for the summer!

✨ Book Rating: 4 Stars
✨ Age Rating: 18+
✨ Genre & Tropes: Workplace Romance, Romcom, Slow Burn, Enemies-to-lovers , Forced proximity, Only one bed
✨ Spicy Chapters: 22, 23, 24, 25

📖 Book: 3.5 stars ⭐️
🎧 Audiobook: 4 stars ⭐️

Huge thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the audiobook ARC via NetGalley.

This was my very first ARC, and honestly, I feel so grateful to have received it through NetGalley. It was a great experience overall, and I’m glad this was the book that started my ARC journey!

Not Safe for Work is a quick, engaging read that mixes workplace problems, romance, and deeper emotional themes. The story follows Trisha, a young Indian woman working in a very male-dominated and toxic firm. Through her journey, the book explores the reality of sexism, racism, and being constantly underestimated — and what it means to stand up for yourself and reclaim your worth.

The romance was sweet and full of chemistry. Trisha and Rafe have a strong physical attraction, but there’s also emotional depth in how they support and believe in each other. I wouldn’t call this a super spicy book (maybe 2.5 to 3 out of 5 on the 🌶️ scale), but it has enough tension and angst to keep romance lovers invested. I especially appreciated how the emotional connection came first — there was space for the relationship to grow beyond the physical. I do wish we’d had dual POVs — the story focuses solely on Trisha’s perspective, which I understand given the themes, but it might’ve helped me feel more connected to both characters.

What stood out to me the most were the emotional themes. The way Trisha is treated at work is frustrating and real — and her character arc is one of strength and realization. I loved seeing a woman of color at the center of this story, and I appreciated the representation and honesty in how her challenges were portrayed. It’s a blend of romance and women’s fiction, and it leans into both sides really well.

Now the audiobook? Amazing. Soneela Nankani was phenomenal — her performance brought the story to life and made it so easy to stay hooked. Even though it’s a single POV, she did a fantastic job with all the voices, especially the male lead’s. Her voice and interpretation were enough to make everything feel real and engaging. I honestly don’t think I would’ve stayed as connected to the book without her performance — it really elevated the whole experience.

Overall, I’d say this is a great pick for readers who love:
🌺 Enemies to lovers
🌺 Workplace romance
🌺 STEM rep (engineering)
🌺 Woman of color as FMC
🌺 Only one bed
🌺 Forced proximity
🌺 Protective MMC
🌺 Banter & angst

It was a really solid debut ARC for me — not a life-changing favorite, but definitely a good read I’m glad I picked up.

And again, thank you NetGalley — I’m truly grateful for this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for sending me this audiobook.
Trishara and Rafe’s “hate” felt a little forced at times, and some parts leaned a bit immature but honestly, it was still a really fun listen. The Hawaii setting was amazing, and the author really knows how to bring that perfect holiday vibe to life.
And I have to say, the audio narrator was fantastic ! It felt like watching a romcom unfold in your ears, totally immersive and easy to get wrapped up in.
Perfect for a summer read!