Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley and Denise Williams for the [gifted] ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Professor Naya Turner is so focused on killing it at her job, that well… the rest of her life has been neglected. After her friends create a to do list to help her reclaim her life, Naya ditches her cardigan for a night out on the town. She meets a handsome stranger who is in town on business, he seems like the perfect guy for her to practice flirting with. But Jake and Naya have undeniable chemistry and they can’t seem to stop texting each other…

I adored this book! I tore through it in a day because I just couldn’t get enough of Jake and Naya. They have the best cheese puns and dad jokes that left me smiling as I read. Their chemistry was great and the issues that their relationship faced were realistic and not unreasonable.

Naya’s personal growth throughout the book had me rooting for her. The reactions and trauma from her past abusive relationship had me wanting to just give her a massive hug and find her a therapist. I loved how supportive Naya’s friends and Jake were once they learned about the abuse she’d suffered.

If you’re a fan of romances with real life issues, then definitely pick up this one!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3550427287?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIQvpvBgeKz/

I was pleasantly surprised at How to Fail at Flirting. Initially I thought the book was just another rom-com; however, there is so much more between these pages. This was a one evening read for me. I couldn’t put it down! Williams’ writing style is really good and her character dynamics are natural. Naya and Jake’s story had me going through a whole range of emotions. The first two-thirds of the book ranges from sexy, humorous, and light hearted. The quirky banter with the occasional dad joke and pun thrown in made me smile as much as the romance. Though there is a lot of sexy and light hearted romantic moments, the reader catches glimpses of some sinister parts of Naya’s life, more specifically a past toxic and severely abusive relationship that threatens to destroy her. The last third of the book is very intense. Overall, I highly recommend the book.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Berkley, for the opportunity to read and review How to Fail at Flirting.

Denise Williams’ debut How to Fail at Flirting had me awash in feelings when I finished it in the early hours of Sunday. This shining book offers so much—from the quirkiness of its characters to its shrewd assessment of academia to its sexiness, its sensuality, & its sweetness.

Math education professor Dr. Naya Turner’s friends tell her her volume has been lower since her last relationship—a relationship which the reader learns was abusive. Her friends make a list of things they want her to do to bring back her more adventurous side, sparking her to start a convo with the guy next to her when her friends can’t show up to their proposed night out.

Jake is a “hot nerd” & they meet over & over again while he’s in town, each of them openly not revealing personal details to the other.

But Jake has a closer connection to Naya than either of them knows, a connection that raises her stress as people discuss the worth of her department & her non-tenured position is considered possibly dispensable.

How to Fail at Flirting is smart & bold & adorkable. It turns out that while virtual school math has me all I enjoy it very much when the heroine & hero have an appreciation of numbers. I love a professor heroine, especially one who jokes with a hero about the sexy appeal of an empty email inbox.

The book’s observations about academia feel astute & also true to my own experience as a grad student & there’s a scene where one of the leads wants to take care of the other one during a bout with illness which I know is catnip for some of us.

Before you proceed with this one, know that past abuse is a not small part of the storyline, and that the ex in question does make a violent re-appearance in the story.

Also there’s a twist in here that might bother some. I thought it was handled well but wanted to mention it...very vaguely ;) .

This is one of those romances with two really nice people & I was rooting for their happiness, for everything to work out, for them to be together forever, & my heart really enjoyed the experience. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Denise Williams writes next!

4 ⭐️. How to Fail at Flirting is out now. Thanks to Berkley Publishing & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

A very cute book. It was just what I needed. A feel good romance with the right elements of steam. I actually miss reading it now that I have finished. It was an amazing read and I cannot wait for more from this author. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Every once in a while you come across a romance that is so much more than a romance. One that will take heavy matters and serious topics into account and turn them into one intense but satisfying story.

Williams has managed to do that in her debut novel and succeeded in doing so brilliantly.

Riddled with heart pounding moments, both good and bad, How to Fail at Flirting will keep you on your toes and turning the pages. Romance lovers do not want to miss out on this one.

Special thanks to Berkley Publishing, Berkley Romance, and Netgalley for sending me an e-Advanced Reader's Copy! Receiving this copy did not affect my rating or review.

Trigger Warnings: Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse, mention/action that can lead to Rape.

The Good: The characters, specifically Jake (the male lead/love interest), Felicia (Naya's BFF) Tyson and Eric (Jake's best friends). Jake's corny dad jokes, and quirky, nerdy personality made me swoon from the beginning. Felicia immediately felt like my best friend with her takes no shit attitude and being the friend that Naya needed. And finally Tyson and Eric who starred in my absolute favorite chapter of the book. They both have Jake's best interest at heart and it shows. Plus they're the cutest couple!

Next, the romance, between Jake and Naya gave just the right amount of tension and steam mixed with moony woo woo moments (yes I just said that lol).

Finally, the second half of the book bumped the story up a rating for me. The pace picked up and the inevitable blowout scene felt genuine and authentic. I also appreciated that Naya seeks out counseling and therapy to deal with the PTSD and trauma she has from a prior abusive relationship. And lastly, Jake and Naya's issues with each other are not just magically resolved in the end.

The Bad: The lack of trigger warnings almost made this a DNF for me. I love that contemporary romance tackles difficult subjects and experiences. However, I wish we were forewarned.

Next, the pace which to be quite frank dragged for the first few chapters, slowly began to pick up and level out as the story progressed. But it wasn't until the halfway point, that it felt consistent.

Finally, I felt disconnected from the main character Naya throughout the story. Although I'm usually able to empathize with a character or personality different from mine, apart from her trauma, it was very difficult for me to connect with her. While some characters felt three-dimensional, Naya unfortunately, felt two-dimensional.

Overall, if you're a fan of contemporary romance and aren't triggered by the warnings I gave, I definitely feel like you may enjoy this.

TL;DR - READ. THIS. BOOK. It's smart, funny, sexy, filled with diverse leads and side characters, and has a little bit of a thriller aspect to it. There are also some deeper threads that deal with past domestic violence and a focus on therapy. I'd highly recommend this perfect romance! CW for: previous domestic violence, assault.

Naya Turner is in a bit of a slump - she's a college professor one year from tenure in a program that is not super successful to the larger college. Due to a past abusive relationship, Naya is self-conscious and hides herself and her body away. Naya decides to work on getting back out there and a chance encounter with the funny, dad-joke telling nerd Jake helps her take those steps. But as her relationship with Jake progresses, complications arise that could destroy Naya's career.

I loved Naya, so much. She is extremely strong, extremely smart, knows what she wants but has been through extreme trauma in a previous relationship. Seeing her open up, speak her mind, and challenge herself was really beautiful. Jake made me laugh: I love a good dad-joke and he was a great cinnamon roll hero. The struggle between them felt really real - they both had significant baggage that impacted the way they entered into their relationship. I also loved the racially diverse characters and the extremely supportive secondary characters. This book made me laugh many times (will post a quote after pub day!).

I do want to make sure folx are aware of the content warnings. As I said, Naya was in a previous abusive relationship that has a thread throughout the book. There are definitely some triggering moments and folx shouldn't go into this unaware. I do think it adds to the story but it is still hard to read.

Overall, this is a must read. I hope you enjoy!

Thank you to Berkley for my copy to review!

“I don’t want to have sex with a random guy I meet in a bar or because he swiped right. I want a connection.”

Denise Williams’ debut novel, How To Fail At Flirting far exceeded expectations on so many levels. From the well constructed main character Naya and her supporting cast to the thoughtful plot building, to the fire romance and suspense that was paced so well. I loved every page!

In the book we come to know a main character who I easily consider a heroine after having survived a traumatically mental and physical abusive relationship (trigger warning: there are flashes of domestic violence and abuse throughout the book). At the urging of her friends and her desire to have a second chance at love and romance, Naya’s life changes one night when she meets Jake at a bar and they hit it off immediately. Only what she prepares to be a one-night stand becomes so much more than she even believes she can handle. Very well written and highly recommended for those who enjoy a really well put together romance novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 12/1/2020

"How to Fail at Flirting" opens with Naya, a professor struggling with trauma from her past, promising her friends that she'll try to get out of her comfort zone. One of the things on her list is to have a one-night stand, and almost immediately after making this pledge, Naya meets Jake at a bar. He's visiting from out of town, but they have an instant connection that turns into a longer relationship. Jake is kind, encouraging, and supportive to Naya. Two factors complicate things: Jake's job is a possible conflict of interest for Naya's job; and Naya's abusive ex-boyfriend is back in her life. I appreciated that "How to Fail at Flirting" took on some serious topics, but to me, it meant that the book was all over the place. I wish the author had spent a little more time introducing readers to Naya before she met Jake, and the plotline involving her ex-boyfriend sometimes felt more like a thriller. There was also a fair amount devoted to Naya's job. The different parts of the book didn't always match up well, and while the writing was good, I didn't find this to be an engaging read.

📚 Book Review 📚

Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for a review!
I have seen this title around for a while and was thrilled when I was able to read it early. It was a great romance read, and Denise Williams is from Iowa which makes me even more excited to promote this book!

What I Liked: As is true with all romance reads, chemistry is a must. The chemistry between Jake and Naya jumped off the page. They were also two “nerdy” people and those are my kind of people. 😂 The one liners and jokes between the two had me laughing out loud. Also, the steam level was perfect 🔥. (I loved in her acknowledgments she told her kiddo they’re never allowed to read it).

What I Struggled With: Not much. I always have to kind of suspend belief for fast pace timelines. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it!

If you’re looking for another great romance read, I definitely recommend this one!

Major TW: book deals heavily in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is hands down my FAVOURITE ROMANCE this year! I loved everything about it so I’m not going to break it down into ‘like’ and ‘didn’t like’ sections - because the only thing that bothered me was the slower start at the beginning - otherwise it’s just pure gold.

This book is a great mixture of silly puns and serious at the same time. I laughed and cried my way through and didn’t look back. Once this picked up I couldn’t put it down.

I LOVED Naya, the main character. She is a hero, hands down. She is a survivor of physical, mental, and sexual abuse from her past partner. The pain from her past is dealt with well and you can see how hard it is for Naya to trust anyone when she meets Jake. She’s spent so much of her time focusing on her career that she doesn’t take care of herself, her needs, and her healing from her past relationship.

The sex between Jake and Naya was S T E A M Y. Whew! Fantastic tension and chemistry not to mention female empowerment.

I 120% recommend this book! I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

I’m telling you - if you are looking for one more great romcom in 2020 - THIS IS IT!!! AND I’m announcing that I have found my official book HUBBY!!

Naya (like papaya) is out of the flirting game and has created a checklist to get back in. When she meets Jake at a bar, they have an immediate connection and those boxes quickly get checked off!

Both characters were funny in the nerdiest, most endearingly normal way. The “cheesy” puns and jokes had me literally LOLing. Their easy connection came across in a big way. They were both professionals in their thirties and acted that way - there was no silly drama and except for one situation, no overdone miscommunications. You had two mature people who knew they cared about each other, figuring out how to best make it work. There was also more serious side plot of domestic/intimate partner violence and I loved how the author handled Naya’s growth through that - the guy didn’t save the day, she worked through it herself!

Thank you @nicwillwrites and @berkleypub for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It is out NOW!

This was a wonderful romance book to finish off the month of November for me! It was just such a surprise and I am so glad that I read it.

Naya’s character was such a breath of fresh air. She likes to stay in her comfort zone and is extremely career oriented. Well, then her friends challenge her to try something new. Next thing we know, she is ditched at a bar and in walks Jake. Jake told her he was in town for a wedding but we find out later that there was more to that story! There were a few times in the book that I gasped but it all ended well. Jake is definitely a candidate for book boyfriend but, since @emmyloves_books has already claimed him as her book husband, I’ll let her have him!

I liked this one so much that I broke my book buying ban for it. I wasn’t even halfway through and I pre-ordered a physical copy! Go pick it up ASAP!

How to Fail at Flirting by @nicwillwrites
📚🍷👯‍♀️
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy from @berkleypub and it was exactly what I needed! Give me alll of the cheesy romance.
4.5 stars
Three words that come to mind when I read this book- Fun, sexy and refreshing. The book flew by with moments that had me laughing and swooning. I loved the banter of the characters and the little jokes only they would find funny. Jake and Naya were two very mature couples in this contemporary romance (which honestly is hard to find these days). I loved the character growth with Naya, who is living in the aftermath of an ex boyfriends abusive behavior. Jake is the perfect nerdy book boyfriend.
This is the perfect book to have you believing that everything happens for a reason.

This is the first book I've read of Denise Williams and (Spoiler alert!) I can't wait to read more! First, let's talk about Naya, she's maybe my favorite romance protagonist ever. Naya has been through a lot which makes her pretty closed off especially to romance, but as she opens up to Jake (and in turn us the readers) we see this passionate, intelligent, and funny woman come to lie. I don't blame Jake at all for falling in love with her because I did. You just can't help it.

Jake was also just amazing and dorky that from the get go I was rooting for the two of them. While I was expecting a quick sexy read, I was once again hit with characters who had depth and a story that deals with deep issues. I do love the way Williams writes, which had me enthralled with the characters since the very first chapter.

Overall, a wonderful sexy romance with characters you can't help but love.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
Content warning that this book deals with an abusive relationship and the trauma and shame that exist even after the relationship is over. The main character revisits memories from this relationship, and it also comes back into the present. I thought that the author handled this really well.
I really enjoyed this one! Naya was a realistic, flawed, and human character. She was funny and nerdy, but she also struggled with her insecurities in a believable and realistic way. I appreciated her character growth through the novel.
Jake was such a sweet character. He was also nerdy and he had some pretty bad dad-level jokes. He and Naya were really good together. Their relationship developed really well and I loved their chemistry and the ease that they seemed to have with each other. They did have some ups and downs in their relationship which kept it feeling real.
Overall, this was a funny, sweet, cute, and steamy read that handled a topic like domestic violence and trauma from it in a realistic and well-done way. I’d definitely recommend this one for romance lovers, and for readers who like to see the character growth of a strong female character who works towards overcoming past traumas.

[Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this OwnVoices romantic novel, scheduled for release on 12/01].

After the end of an abusive three-year relationship, Dr. Naya Turner retreats into her shell, determined to keep her head down and focus on furthering her career. She doesn't allow herself to want anything more from her life until she learns that her flailing department is on the university's chopping block. To help get her mind off the impending doom, her friends encourage her to tackle a new to-do list, one that includes enjoying a night out on the town with a charming, mysterious stranger. Never expecting to see him again, Naya even gives him a fake name! However, when they both wake up in the morning and learn the magic of the previous night hasn't worn off, they decide to see where things go, until they learn that Jake's job has a direct affect on Naya's future. Will they be able to put aside their professional differences for the sake of their future?

While the novel was an enjoyable, engaging read for the most part, I'm not entirely sure it was a cohesive ride from start to finish. It is also not quite the feel-good romantic story that the synopsis or the title suggests. I assumed that there would be more flirting fails and blunders but they were limited to brief moments. The first third of the novel plays out like a familiar movie montage, which is nearly always one of of my favorite scenes. I felt the characters had the most chemistry here - that shy, awkward banter that you have when you meet someone new and are trying to gauge if you're on the same page - but it slowly faded the further I got into it. We are privy to more and more conflicts during the middle of book, which is where I felt some of the lulls that stopped the momentum of the story. The final third of the novel is where I felt we lost most of the romance. Throughout the book, we learned about Naya's former relationship so it wasn't a surprise that things ultimately came to a head here. There are numerous trigger warnings that future readers should be aware of: partner abuse, revenge porn, gaslighting, an attempted rape that is supposed to serve as a catalyst for a reconciliation, which I found uncomfortable. I'm not sure if the novel knew what it wanted to be, if that makes sense. It felt unbalanced.

Nonetheless, I liked the book. There were some wonderful scenes between the characters and their friends, the steam level, the way they were determined to make the romance work. I would definitely give the writer's future books a try.

This book really appealed to me, but I was also pleasantly surprised by its depth. Naya is an intelligent and strong female main character. I adore her two best friends and their journey to try to get Naya back into dating. This book has the perfect amount of laughs and fun moments, but I loved how honest they were about the effects that trauma has on one's confidence and ability to trust again.

More reviews can be found at www.readandwright.com and @readandwright on Instagram.

How to Fail at Flirting was one of those books that I saw the cover of and immediately needed. I knew it was a book I’d love and I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint! It only exceeded my expectations.

This book has everything I want in a romance: a dreamy love interest, an independent female protagonist, and a dash of something more—in this case, a character who is moving through the trauma she experienced in a past relationship.

We were so happy to have the author, Denise Williams, on Read It Or List It! She is the real deal and talking about her book with her brought Ashley and I so much joy. Thank you to Berkley Romance for my advanced copy of How to Fail at Flirting! All thoughts are my own.

What I Liked:

The Character of Naya—I loved that Naya was a professor! It was such a fun perspective to read. I also loved being in her head as she worked through the trauma from her relationship with Davis. The small nuances, things that we wouldn’t necessarily think of as triggers, are really important for people to read if they have not experienced intimate partner violence. It’s even important for those who have to read, to see themselves represented and to know they are not alone.

Max—Max was a dreamy delight! As we say on the podcast, I didn’t find their connection to be cheesy or unbelievable because Max was such a sweet character. All of his actions made sense!

The ARC—I loved the arc the characters experienced together that we do not move on from trauma, but rather move through it. I think that Max and Naya provide the right amount of support and fun for each other while they experience real love and partnership for the first time in their adult lives.

What Didn’t Work:

This is VERY small, but I simply wish that the content warnings were shared at the beginning of the book. This is a publishing issue, not an author issue.

TW/CW: intimate partner violence, scenes that depict this violence, mention of infidelity

Character Authenticity: 4.5/5 Steam Rating: 3.5/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for my copy.

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams is exactly the kind of read I have been craving this year. It’s that perfect blend of rom-com fun and weightier, more dramatic moments that makes for such a satisfying multi-layered read.

How to Fail at Flirting follows Naya Turner, an education professor at a local university who finds her job in jeopardy because of possible budget cuts. Since she left an abusive relationship, Naya has 100% thrown herself into her work, so she is devastated to hear her job may be in trouble. In need of a distraction, Naya lets her friends convince her she needs to get out into the world of dating again. Naya’s looking for a no-strings hookup but instead, she meets Jake, a man that she really just clicks with. Everything about him seems perfect, that is until she finds out what he does for a living and that it could directly impact her own career in a negative way. Can Naya and Jake find a way to overcome their conflict or is their relationship doomed before it ever gets started?

I really loved and admired Naya so much. She’s smart, sassy, passionate about her teaching career, and she’s also brave and resilient. After learning about her horrible experiences at the hands of an abusive ex, I was rooting so hard for her to find true happiness. I wanted her to go to that bar, have a blast completing every item on the hilarious list of dating dares her friends had given her, and then find a wonderful man who appreciates her for the strong woman she is.

I also adored Jake, the man Naya meets at the bar. Jake is handsome, eloquent, kind, and he has a great sense of humor. He has also recently gotten out of a bad relationship, so he’s a little reluctant about putting himself out there in the dating pool as well, that is until he meets Naya and can’t deny his attraction to her. I loved watching their relationship slowly develop and was heartbroken as soon as I realized there was a real possibility that his job might prevent them from finding happiness together.

The twist with Jake’s job possibly threatening Naya’s job made what was already a compelling read truly unputdownable. I just had to know if Jake and Naya were going to get a happy ending. If you enjoy stories that feature loveable characters with undeniable chemistry whose happy ending is threatened by unforeseen circumstances, How to Fail at Flirting is a must-read.