I like my romance with a component of strong character development and real challenges, and this worked super well for me. I loved the chemistry between Meena and Nikhil and enjoyed the way the story between their past and present unfolded. I also enjoy a realistic obstacle that doesn’t require the woman to sacrifice everything to be with a man. Overall, fast paced, enjoyable, and engaging romance! I love this author.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Read this if you like:
•the movie sweet home Alabama
•second chance romance
•only one closet
•forced proximity

This book IS SO GOOD. I binged so hard. I love the movie Sweet Home Alabama so was stoked when I heard this being a loose retelling. Meena lands in Houston not realizing a huge hurricane is coming for Houston so she can get her estranged ex to sign the divorce papers. She hasn’t talked to him in 6 years. When she shows up, he’s knee deep in hurricane prep and they get stranded together which forces them to talk. The tension in this book is sooo good. Thank you Dell for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing - Ballantine and Naina Kumar for thr ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meena needs a divorce. She spontaneously married her husband Nikhil seven years ago. They separated six years ago when Meena moved to DC to become a lawyer on Capitol Hill. Since then, she entered into a relationship with Shake, whom she intends to marry and run for office with. He won't propose until she's divorced from Nikhil (good man). So, Meena travels to her home state of Texas to see Nikhil again after all this time, get the divorce and get on her same-day return flight.

Mother Nature has her own ideas. A hurricane hits while Meena is there, leaving her stuck at Nikhil's house, where they used to live together. Nikhil is just as sexy, charming and kind as Meena remembers, but he still refuses to give her the divorce. After several days of forced proximity, Meena realizes she has an important choice to make about the man she loves in Texas and the life/job she loves in DC.

This book had so many of the things I love: second chance romance, forced proximity, small town/big city. As we learn more about Meena's family and how her life with Nikhil was, we begin to see that there are two sides to every story. In other reviews, I read that this was a modern-day retelling of Sweet Home Alabama, and while there were some similar elements, I think this story was much deeper than that one. Now, I'm not hating in Sweet Home Alabama; it's a sweet movie. I just feel like these characters were much more three dimensional and very well written. The internal conflict Meena experiences throughout, and the growth she has as a character are extremely well done.

Finally, I felt sad for Shake. Even though the love he and Meena shared was "lowercase l, love" I'd love a sequel where he gets his HEA.

Flirting with Disaster is an electric, deeply emotional second-chance romance that delivers all the heat, humor, and heart fans of this trope could ever want. This story of love rekindled amid literal and metaphorical storms grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. The auhtor masterfully balances the intensity of Meena and Nikhil’s relationship with tender moments, delivering a novel that’s impossible to put down.
Meena is a fierce, high-powered lawyer, and her ambition and independence shine through every decision she makes. She’s on a clear path forward, poised to move on with Shake, a perfectly stable and ambitious match—until she returns to Texas to finally tie up loose ends with her estranged husband, Nikhil. Their chemistry is palpable from the moment they reunite, and when a hurricane traps them together in their old home, the tension rises to a fever pitch. The storm outside becomes the perfect backdrop for the whirlwind of emotions between them as memories, long-buried feelings, and old wounds resurface.
The author writes both characters with depth, making it easy to see why Meena once fell for Nikhil. His charm, his warmth, and his quiet strength bring a different perspective to Meena’s ambition and drive, creating a dynamic that’s as endearing as it is fiery. Their interactions—full of humor, passion, and vulnerability—make you root for them even as they navigate the complicated waters of a shared past and uncertain future.
The story explores themes of ambition, cultural identity, and the courage it takes to confront both yourself and the choices you've made. The author brilliantly uses the hurricane as a metaphor for the unpredictability of love and the chaos of emotions that come with facing the past. It’s a reminder that love doesn’t always follow logic or fit into plans, and sometimes, second chances are worth the risk.
Flirting with Disaster is a romance with all the elements of a classic rom-com but with fresh perspectives and an undeniable authenticity. The author has crafted a story full of laughter, longing, and heartfelt introspection. This book will sweep you off your feet and make you believe in the power of true love, no matter the obstacles. Perfect for anyone looking for a love story that’s both modern and timeless!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was described as Sweet Home Alabama with a hurricane, and that is pretty spot on. Meena and Nikhil for married on a whim in Vegas several years ago. Fast forward ahead, after being away for several years, Meena goes to Houston to get her husband Nikhil to sign divorce papers, but has no clue that a hurricane is about to hit. She ends up being stuck starting with him to ride out the storm. I won’t give any spoilers, but it’s such a sweet story, I couldn’t put it down, and I just adored it.

Wow. I really loved this. Who would've though a second chance, forced proximity due to hurricane would be this good! It did remind me a bit of Sweet Home Alabama, and I love that movie so that was a plus. Meena and Nikhil were two lovely main characters that just needed to learn to communicate better with each other and be more showing of their love. I loved their growth and realizations of where they went wrong in their story and being willing to talk and surrender to their flaws and grow from them. Definitely will be on the look out for this when it comes out.

Do you love forced proximity? Second chance romance? Slow burn? CHEMISTRY? ROMANCE? Then this is THE book for you. Wow! 4.5 stars!

The writing in this book was really excellent. Detailed enough to get a point across but not so detailed that we lost the plot. There was really only one setting for 70% of the book but it never felt that way at all. I was so taken with the characters and their development and all of the disasters it didn’t even matter. This book covered a lot of tropes but they all weaved together flawlessly. I’m serious, it was so well done.

Our main characters had off the page chemistry. They had depth and I could feel the emotion from both of them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this would work out the entire time. I also really liked that the author took her time to conclude their story in a way that felt right for both of these characters. They had some growing up to do and some communication issues to conquer, and it was delicately and perfectly timed in the story. Really beautiful work.

I may be biased but Sweet Home Alabama is my all time favorite movie, and I loved the little nods to the movie throughout this story. It was an inspiration but the author really took the movie and made this story Meena and Nikhil’s. Which was so sweet.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House- Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I will definitely read more by this author!

This is my first book by this author and I found it really enjoyable. This is a second chance romance between two people who get married in Vegas and grow apart. The FMC returns to Houston to secure a signature on divorce papers right as a major hurricane is hitting the area, trapping her with her soon-to-be ex-husband for longer than expected. The story tugged at a lot of heart strings and I thought the relationship between the two characters was very well developed over the story. There were some time jumps in the beginning chapters that were hard to follow for me in the beginning. Those ended pretty quickly but did color my initial opinions about the book. I would definitely read more from this author in the future.

Content flags: Hurricanes, flooding, natural disasters

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Cute! Fun! Flirty! Everything I wanted from a romcom. I caught myself smiling so widely at some point during my read and I realized this book is amazing. Listen, it will not be easy as it has angst and sadness layered with the child-of-immigrant guilt but it will be all worth it.

Flirting With Disaster is another gem from Naina Kumar! I’ve loved both of her books that I’ve read, and this one is a standout. As a big fan of Sweet Home Alabama, I enjoyed this clever, modern reimagining that adds so much depth and heart to the classic storyline.

The story follows Meena, a high-powered Capitol Hill lawyer, who returns to her Texas hometown to finalize her divorce from her husband, Nikhil. But with a hurricane looming, Meena and Nikhil find themselves trapped together, forced to confront their shared past. As the storm rages, Meena is reminded of everything she once loved about Nikhil—his small-town charm, kindness, and undeniable chemistry with her. Torn between him and her steady, ambitious new boyfriend, Shake, Meena must decide where her heart truly lies.

The chemistry between Meena and Nikhil is captivating, and Kumar’s exploration of second chances, ambition, and Indian American identity adds so much depth. This novel strikes the perfect balance between humor, romance, and introspection. If you’re a fan of small-town romance with all the charm and complexity of a rom-com, Flirting With Disaster is a must-read!

4.5 - I really liked this book! Second chance romances for me can sometimes be hit or miss but this one was so tender and filled with the perfect amount of longing and tension. You could tell immediately that these were two people who desperately wanted to be together but were pulled apart through misunderstandings and the fact that they were young and dumb and just wanted to be there for each other so badly but did it in ways that inadvertently hurt the other person. Meena and Nikhil's growth in the story was done really well and the chemistry between them was felt throughout the book. I liked the ending even though I do think they both could have benefited by going to couples therapy to learn how to help each other and communicate

Overall, I really liked this story and would honestly read anything that Naina Kumar writes. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thanks to NetGalley & Dell for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.


I went in reading this book super excited that it was similar to Sweet Home Alabama and set in Houston during a hurricane! While I absolutely loved Nikhil, the Gilmore Girls references and who could ever forget Alan!? The FMC Meena was just unlikeable imo. I felt like Nikhil really bent over backwards for Meena without her giving back much. Never introducing her family to Nikhil was really crappy imo especially when he was providing most of everything for her. This book did have my crying in some parts just at things that they could have had if only Meena hadn’t been so afraid of her parents. Poor Nikhil. I was glad to see her growth towards the end but I feel like it was a little too late for me.

With that said, I did absolutely love this authors debut book Say You’ll Be Mine.

Flirting with Disaster is an honest and emotional second-chance romance with a marriage couple. Coming from an Asian family, I can very much relate to Meena's experience with her family's expectations. A stable career and having good financial stability can define how successful you are in an Asian household and I understand how Meena felt her parent's love is conditional based on her success in career and finding a good partner and therefore, she put a lot of her pressure on yourself to become who her parents want her to be and also finding a partner that her parents would be proud of. I enjoyed seeing Meena and Nikhil coming back together and communicate with each other of what went wrong with their relationship six years ago. In the present day, they have changed and grew up as different people. The only thing I find lacking in the story is their chemistry. I wish there were more heartwarming moments that lead to them falling back in love with each other or even having Nikhil's POV to see what's in his head. Overall, I like reading this book and would give it 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley, Dell Romance, and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Flirting with Disaster was a beautiful, heartwarming second chance that I couldn’t get enough of! It’s been years since Meena has seen her husband Nikhil, and now that she’s ready to run for office alongside her partner, she needs a divorce—but a hurricane traps her with her ex husband and she’s forced to reexamine if her plan is what she really wants. First, the fact that this was a Sweet Home Alabama retelling was just everything! Plus a second chance/forced proximity, I mean that has everything for it in my book! Meena is such a wonderful and relatable lead. She’s driven and ambitious, and afraid to be less than the expectations on her. Her struggles and doubts with Nikhil were so intimate and genuine. And Nikhil is so broody and intense and sexy, their angst and chemistry just flew off the page. It was funny and heartbreaking and intense. It was an honest love story with two imperfect people who just wanted to be seen. The writing was striking and lovely and I just really didn’t want this book to end!

Sweet Home Alabama is one of my favorite movies. I absolutely loved this retelling!

Flirting with Disaster has some of my favorite romance tropes:
- Forced proximity
- Second chance romance
- Accidental marriage
- All the tension

Meena and Nikhil are seriously couples goals. They are both such relatable characters and I loved how much they grew over the course of the novel. A heartwarming and cozy read!

Thank you to Netgalley, Dell Romance, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
- forced proximity
- Vegas wedding
- second chance romance

Flirting with Disaster is a light hearted read dealing with issues of forgiveness and family expectations. Meena separated from her husband soon after their marriage in pursuit of a career in politics. However, in order to move forward in her career she needs to return home to get her divorce finalized unbeknownst to her in the middle of an incoming hurricane. Stuck with her husband during the hurricane feelings that had been set aside begin to resurface. I think the biggest takeaway from this read was the importance of communication and unconditional love. I enjoyed reading their journey back to one another.

“Oh, no. I'm not staying here. I'm not staying here with him. There's no way. We won't survive it. I'd rather take my chances with the hurricane.”

☔️🛶🛠️🧰🗳️🌀💜

Loved this one. I’m a sucker for angsty second chances. Put it together with forced proximity due to a hurricane, and a mutual love for Gilmore Girls? Sign me up.

Loved Meena. Will totally vote for her in her next election 🫡

Thank you to Random House, Dell and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this authors book Say You’ll Be Mine & was excited to read another one of her books! I even watched Sweet Home Alabama to get the vibes! Another banger! I enjoyed this one so much, another knock out the park for Naina Kumar

This contemporary romance loosely follows the premise of a beloved rom-com: Meena and Nikhil were married in a moment of lovestruck spontaneity, but after trying to make their marriage work for a year, they separated. It's been 6 years, and Meena is ready to move on with her life, but Nikhil hasn't signed the divorce papers she sent him. She goes to Texas to convince him, not knowing that a hurricane is on the horizon and there's no way she can leave. Thus ensues a delightful stuck-here-with-you second chance romance.

First, let me say that I've never actually watched Sweet Home Alabama and only know the basic premise, so maybe that works to my advantage since I had no preconceived notions about the story. That said, I really enjoyed this! It was an interesting (and timely) look into what it can be like weathering a hurricane, there were some funny parts without detracting from the seriousness of the situation, and I love a good "stuck together" trope. Seeing Meena and Nikhil grow, both in the present and from their past selves, was really satisfying. I especially loved the evolution of Meena's relationship with her family and watching her realize how that relationship has affected her choices throughout her life. Part of me wishes that we had a chance to read Nikhil's point of view, but I at least appreciate that about halfway though he gets to share his perspective, in a manner of speaking. Overall this was a very sweet read.

My thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this title.

Such a beautiful second chance romance that felt too short! Meena and Nikhil are just meant to be, but with the miscommunications between them they drifted apart. It took forcing them together during a hurricane to work a lot of their issues out. Ultimately a lovely story about saving a marriage and building the life you truly want.