A flirtation at a bar with a handsome stranger turns complicated when Maya finds out that Jake is part of the team that is tasked with making cuts at the university where she is a professor- and her department might be first to get the axe. See, complicated.
But also compelling- Naya and Jake can't resist each other. Can they navigate work challenges, fledgling relationship hurdles, and the resurfacing of Naya's manipulative, abusive ex? Readers will have a delightful time finding out!

I loved this book! I’ve been excited to read this book since I saw the first review of it. What a perfect love story! While the beginning was very typical. Make a list of all the things you want to do and work to check it off, meet the guy in a bar, etc, etc. But what it leads to is anything but typical. These two fall right away but not without reservations and baggage. While you see the faults in both Naya and Jake but they are both so lovable that you’d forgive almost anything they mistakenly do.

I love that Naya is a professor. This book turns into a bit of a workplace romance there for a minute and I was on the edge of my seat! Naya and Jake’s banter is everything - their flirting (much unlike the title suggests) is on point. And you feel the anticipation throughout the novel even after the couples first time. I love these two together. I love that the cautious one is Naya and Jake works tirelessly and patiently to win her over and convince her to give them a chance. These characters have so many redeeming qualities and I hated to have it end. Go run and read this book when it comes out. I will be reading this one again and again. Pub Day is: December 1st.
Thanks so much NetGalley for my copy!

Triggers: Emotional & Physical Abuse, PTSD, Therapy

After escaping a damaging relationship, Naya decided shut out the world and throw herself into her work. Living her low key life was easier, but lonely and not very fulfilling. Armed with encouragement and a list of dares from her friends, she puts herself out there and met a wonderful man. However, being with Jake could destroy her professionally, and she was left to choose between her career and someone who could be the love of her life.

I shed so many tears as I read this book. There were sad tears for everything Naya had suffered, tears from laughter as Naya stumbled back into the dating pool, and tears of joy when she reclaimed what "he" stole from her. I wasn't expecting this book to tackle such a weighty subject, but Williams impressed me with how well she blended the heavy and the light as she deftly navigated Naya's healing journey.

What started as a silly dare turned into something so important for Naya. Though she was able to get out of an abusive relationship, she did so with many scars. Her ability to trust others and herself was damaged. Though it was a slow uphill climb, Naya began to gain more confidence in herself thanks to the support of her two best friends and Jake. I will admit, I loved so many aspects of this book, but Naya's comeback really resonated with me. I was excited for her and cheered her on the entire time, and I was truly happy every time something finally went her way.

Yes, Naya was a survivor, and it was amazing watching her restored to the technicolor version of herself, but I also adored seeing her fall in love. It was hard to believe that she and Jake would work out given the early beginnings of their romance, but they were simply brilliant together. They were goofy and sweet and sizzling at times too. There was something special about the connection between them, and I felt like I had a personal stake in the fate of their relationship. Jake was spectacular, not perfect, but perfect for Naya. He was attentive, sweet, caring, and basically the opposite of Naya's ex, which was the most important thing.

I am sure you won't be surprised to hear that I finished this book with tears in my eyes, but they were due to the overwhelming happiness I was experiencing. HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING was the total package for me. It was funny and sweet, heartbreaking and heartwarming. It made me laugh and cry, rage and swoon. So, thank you, Denise Williams, for this wonderful story.

This is an insta-love story, but with so many important storylines (domestic abuse, mental health, job insecurity), I was ok with skipping a drawn out courtship. Naya and Jake meet at a bar when her friends stand her up, but after they encouraged her to meet new people, so she is open to his advances.
Naya has removed herself from the world after years of abuse (mental and physical) at the hands of her ex, who was also a higher-up at the university she works at. The story addresses her reassertion of self, and Jake thankfully isn't the panacea.
I really liked the story until the standard breakup fight - because Naya fully loses the thread after finding out information about her department; information that she assumes is coming from the moment she hears the university is bringing in a consulting firm to assess profitability. I completely understand an emotional reaction to confirming that your job is in jeopardy, but because she had anticipated the news much earlier in the book her reaction doesn't match the pragmatic character we'd been following until this point.
Still an interesting romance with hard hitting topics, I just wish the characterization had remained consistent throughout the story.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an early copy for review.

I completely loved this book. Naya and Jake meet each other in a bar. They are not looking for anything special but that is exactly what they get. Naya is going through some issues in her personal life as well as professional life. She needs to loose up and Jake is just the guy for the job

OMG this book has a little bit of everything awesome in it!

It starts off light and happy, and you think you're just reading about a shy woman in he early 30s getting out there and accidently finding the man of her dreams when she meant to have a one night stand. Their banter is hilarious and the first night goes horribly askew from the intended course and it's hilarious. But then the author starts dropping in some heavier content and that's when this book really gets a hold of you and you're stuck figuring out ways to read it while at work.

This book just really works. I mean, Jake almost sounds like the perfect man. And all his fake librarian side girlfriends amused me...probably because I'm a librarian. lol Sure he made some mistakes and he's working through the consequences, but he is almost the funny, perfect, swoon worthy man we all know isn't real. Yet his little flaws that made me believe he could be based on the real thing.

Naya is a woman trying to recover from an abusive relationship and get back out there thanks to her two best friends' encouragement. But she has more backbone than even she believes and eventually she stands up for herself when it counts. She is very believable as a character and you watch her struggle to get out of her comfort zone. You get to watch her grow. It's a wonderful, realistic, beautiful thing and it makes me just want to hug her...but I guess I'll have to settle for hugging my phone, which contains the book. Not weird at all...

Put them together and its hot in the bedroom. This book has smut if you want some smut. But it's not a smut book. This book has moral fiber. This book makes me want to gift it to friends. And because it's funny, and smutty, and preaching understanding of people in their different life situations, and romantic....it just so harmonious that you could hand it to a lot of different people for a lot of different reasons.

This is what I would call a gateway book. That's what it is. You could use this book to move people into so many different genres if you do it right. You could use this book to get someone reading if you know their preferences.

The point is, I really like this book because it has so many facets working together to create a story with depth, instead of a light little fluff read like I admittedly thought it would be. I appreciate a book that gets me invested in its characters and gives me something to think about, even if it is a little heavy. I think the way Denise Williams delivered that content was brilliant and a near perfect balance of seriousness and humor.

Conclusion

Brilliantly written, totally loved it. Will be recommending to friends when it's released.

Trigger warnings: Mentions of sexual abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse and one scenario with rather graphic physical abuse.

Loved the cheesy banter between the two main characters. Definitely dad-joke level! On a more serious note, I thought Williams incorporated the topic of intimate-partner violence into the story well, which seems difficult to do in an otherwise fun and flirty book.

This was the kind of book that just floated me along in reading it, even if it dealt with some pretty serious topics. I thought it nicely balanced the gravity and fear related to the abuse plotline with the sweetness of the main relationship, though readers who have concerns about abuse/domestic violence material might want to take care. There was something about the writing that never quite made me feel fully invested in the characters, and the Gretchen plotline seemed to trail a little, but there are a lot of cute texts and funny puns, and fun, comfortable dating moments, and I liked the equilibrium in the relationship - it didn’t get 100%, but it did hit a lot of entries on my romance checklist!

I loved everything about this book. I couldn't read it fast enough -- simply needing to spend more time with these characters, and wanting to know what would happen next -- and yet, when it was over, I wasn't ready to say good bye; I wanted to continue living in this world.

Romance has a reputation for being "predictable" -- ie, we know that the characters will have a happy ending, because that's the very definition of the genre. And yet, for all its use of beloved tropes, How to Fail at Flirting kept me on my toes. Everytime I thought I'd guessed the upcoming "twist," I was proven wrong. I found myself delightfully, constantly surprised by the twists and turns this book took -- and I loved every minute of it!

And for all its light-hearted humor and steamy romance, this book carries some weight. Because while she is rediscovering herself and falling in love with Jake, Naya is also still reeling from the damage done by her abusive ex. All of the elements felt so perfectly balanced, though. Romantic comedy and sexy love scenes; beautiful friendships, a wonderful blossoming relationship, the struggles of an academic career; consequences of escaping an abusive relationship. Williams finds a way to fit all this pieces together so wonderfully, and the result is a book that truly knocked my socks off. Definitely one of my top reads of the year!

This review will be posted at Shelf Awareness shortly after publication date. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
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Professor Naya Turner's friends challenge her to break out of a rut in How to Fail at Flirting, Denise Williams' comedic, sexy debut romance. Naya has spent the last three years avoiding romantic entanglements, instead focusing on her career and trying to heal from an abusive relationship. One night, fueled by alcohol and just the right amount of peer pressure, Naya takes a chance with Jake, a stranger in town for a wedding. Except it turns out that Jake isn't only in town for a wedding and what was supposed to be a one night stand turns into two nights, just a few days and... maybe forever?
How to Fail at Flirting is full of cheese puns, situational humor, chemistry and sweetness, but it also tackles the lasting, often invisible scars of abuse. Williams delivers on the humor readers will expect from the take-a-risk checklist premise, but deftly balances it with heavier subjects. Entirely from Naya's point of view, the story digs deep into Naya's insecurities and challenges as a woman of color in academia and the difficulties of balancing career and personal goals. Though the story focuses mostly on the central romantic relationship, Naya's best friends provide levity and support, giving readers an outside look at how Naya's self-image is limited by her past experiences. Williams gives readers characters and a relationship to root for, even if they're not perfect, and an antagonist who's downfall they'll eagerly anticipate. Sweet but not saccharine, How to Fail at Flirting is escapism grounded in reality.

This book should definitely have TWs for domestic abuse, gaslighting, and a moment where rape is threatened.

This book was okay. I didn't LOVE it, but it was a very quick read, so I appreciated that.

I really liked Jake a lot, but struggled with Naya. I assume that has to do with her background. I felt like the author protrayed her support system well, and also just the fallout from being in an abusive relationship. I think the character was well written, I just had a hard time committing to liking her.

Overall, it's a nice romance with some deeper themes. If you're interested in diving in with your romance reads I recommend this book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advanced readers copy of this novel.

How to Fail at Flirting is just the perfect rom-com the world needs right now! Denise William’s debut novel has all the feels - and will make you feel everything right along side female lead Naya.

Naya is a professor at a University in Chicago who has a troubled past. Her last relationship was an abusive one, which she thankfully got out of, but not without taking baggage with her. So when her best friends create a check list for her to get back out there - she takes them up on the offer and winds up meeting Jake her first night out.

What follows is Naya’s journey to reclaim her old self - while confronting her ex and falling in love with Jake. Readers will laugh with their witty humor, and fall in love with them too.

Perfect for any rom-com, Women’s Fiction, Chick-lit loving reader!! I can’t wait to see what else Denise Williams writes.

This story address some serious issue such as domestic violence , but the main characters Naya and Jake were so cute . I love their banter and how they bring out the very best in each other .
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Their relationship warms my hearts and I was cheering for them all the way . I love their relationship with their friends , it’s Great to see non toxic friendships. I’m so happy Naya was able to overcome and find her voice to stand up for her This story address some serious issue such as domestic violence , but the main characters Naya and Jake were so cute . I love their bangers and how they bring out the very best in each other .
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Their relationship warms my hearts and I was cheering for them all the way . I love their relationship with their friends , it’s warms my heart to see non toxic friendships. I’m so happy Naya was able to overcome and find her voice to stand up for her self and seek the help and support she needs.
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This book is super relatable , it tugs at the heart and leave you wanting to draw closer , and love on your people .

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This book is super relatable , it tugs at the heart and leave you wanting to draw closer , and love on your people .

This is a cute story. A nice uplifted when you’re in a slump and need a chuckle.

Do you know how to flirt? Are you proficient at it?

Compare your skills to the skills in this story!

Major thanks to Berkeley and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
content warnings: domestic violence, assault, abuse

This book is everything one can wish for in a contemporary romance -- flirty, complex, and cute. There is a real and lively chemistry between the two main characters and their banter is witty and cheesy in a self aware way. The deeper aspects of the book are great as well. Williams pays great attention and care to the lingering impacts of domestic violence and abuse on survivors as individuals and in future relationships.

Some of the plot was slightly unrealistic to me, but not in a way that held me back from thoroughly enjoying the story.

After her monstrous ex tried to destroy her emotionally and professionally, Naya threw herself into her academic career to the exclusion of all else. Her last two friends challenge her to get out of her rut by assigning her a checklist of social activities. Naya throws herself into a fling with the cute and funny Jake, who ticks all her boxes. Repeatedly. But ethical issues, problematic exes, and Naya's wounded psyche conspire to impede the growth of their relationship from hookup to something deeper. Combines a steamy romance with an empowering tale of growth and recovery.

The title and cover art may convey a sense of fluffiness but this romance strikes a perfect balance between sexiness, struggle, and strife. With the requisite HEA it is a complete winner.

I absolutely LOVED this book 🥰 “How To Fail At Flirting” by Denise Williams is an incredibly well written and powerful story that brings so much more to the table than your typical romance story/rom-com. Full of amazing characters and broaching heavy topics such as domestic violence, harassment and racism, this book will draw you in from the very beginning and will be difficult to put down.

The characters in this story were complex, real, raw and hard not to fall in love with. I adored Naya and found her incredibly relatable on a personal level. She was the perfect female protagonist and I admire her strength, growth, and vulnerability. Jake is absolutely wonderful and I loved his goofy dad jokes, his pure love and adoration for Naya, their amazing chemistry and hilariously witty banter. Felicia and Aaron are amazing friends to Naya, whose fierce love and unwavering loyalty to her were undeniable. Aspects of Davis’s character were triggering to me on a personal level, and I found great admiration and strength in Naya’s ability to stand up to him and having the courage to break free of living in fear of him.

Going into this book, I wasn’t expecting it to be as intense as it was. That being said, Denise Williams does an incredible job at handling the heavy topics portrayed in this book and balancing them with moments of encouragement, support, steam, passion and healing. Everything about this story was realistic and nothing felt fluffy or “too good to be true.”

“How to Fail at Flirting” is such an important story and is one of my favorite books of 2020. It was exactly what I needed at this time and I definitely look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for gifting me this incredible eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I reviewed this book for Library Journal. They will published the review after the editing process. Please check with them for the final text.

I loved this book so much! It is so well-written. It had me from the first few pages and never let me go. Naya and Jake are amazing together and I couldn't stop reading. The humor, the steam, the very real issues, the genuine emotion this story brings is one you won't forget and I need to get the physical copy too! Pre-order this book, add it to your wishlist, and tell your friends. This is one you don't want to miss!!