“You’re my home, Meena. Out of all the places I’ve lived, I’ve only ever felt at home with you.”

Meena and Nikhil got married on a whim in Vegas seven years ago but unfortunately, they separated when Meena moved from Houston to DC to pursue her career ambitions as a lawyer. Now she’s back in Houston to finalize her divorce before she can take a big step in her career with a potential new partner. However, she gets stuck with her estranged spouse during a hurricane. Will she be able to accomplish her mission of getting him to sign the divorce papers so she can move on?

Flirting With Disaster is Naina Kumar’s sophomore novel and I absolutely loved it!

A reimagining of Reese Witherspoon’s Sweet Home Alabama, this angsty, second chance romance grabbed my attention from the first page! I devoured it in 2 days, staying up late last night because it was such a bingeable read!

I appreciated Meena’s ambition and drive to create policy change. Her complicated relationship with her family as a child of South Asian immigrants. The pressure. The expectations. It was all too relatable.

Furthermore, I loved Nikhil’s ability to repurpose and rebuild things with his architectural skills. The way he supported Meena. It was very heartwarming. I was rooting for them!

The story is narrated only from Meena’s POV but it never felt like we were missing Nikhil’s POV. I appreciated how there were no flashbacks or dual timeline - we found out about their past through Meena’s memories. Why they separated felt realistic.

I loved how the forced proximity allowed them to rediscover why they fell in love with each other in the first place. The way their past resentments came to the forefront, which allowed them to openly and honestly communicate about what went wrong in their relationship was masterfully done in my opinion.

Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was really excited by the premise of a second chance at love and being forced together by a hurricane—it had so much potential. However, the book fell a bit flat for me.

The main character (FMC) was stubborn and somewhat self-absorbed, which made it hard to connect with her. She didn’t seem to have a clear understanding of what she truly wanted, and it made her frustrating to follow at times. Additionally, the blend of the present and past was confusing. There weren’t clear distinctions between the time frames, which left me trying to piece things together more than I should have.

The chemistry between the characters, unfortunately, didn’t come through as strongly as I had hoped. I found it lacking, which made the romantic tension less engaging. I also wish we had the story from the male main character’s (MMC’s) perspective. It would have added more depth and understanding to his side of the story, which felt a bit one-dimensional through the FMC’s viewpoint.

That said, I did appreciate the author’s attempt to explore the challenges faced by Indian-Americans. One aspect that stood out was how the FMC initially referred to her sister, making it seem like she had gone through something tragic or shameful, like death or drug use, only for it to be revealed that she had gotten pregnant. This framing felt unnecessarily demeaning and gave the impression that the FMC thought she was above her sister—a reflection of societal pressures within some Indian-American families. The idea that if you don’t become a doctor or lawyer, you’re a disappointment, was highlighted well, but it could have been handled with more nuance.

While there were some important themes, overall, the story didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.

4 ⭐️

Did you love the movie Sweet Home Alabama? Did you love the movie The Notebook? Well you've come to the right book to get a mash up story. The storyline follows a little bit of Sweet Home Alabama and The Notebook. 2 characters meet, fall in love, end up married, miscommunicate, and need to find a way to make it work.

Meena and Nikhil were young when they first got together. They had and have trouble communicating which left to their demise. Years later, Meena returns to where she and Nikhil left off to get that divorce. Mother nature has other plans which leads these 2 to having some broken conversations.

I enjoyed Meena and Nikhil but I really wanted to just bop them both. They were both saying a lot but not hearing it. They wanted to make the other person happy but wouldn't listen and ugh. I was a little exhausted by the end of the book and them not figuring out how to communicate.

This was a quick read and I did enjoy it. I think Allan was a great added character and he made me giggle. I very much enjoy a happy ending.

*thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the eArc. Review contains my own thoughts and opinions*

meena and nikhal elope and get married. They are married for about a year. Once she passes the bar , she heads to DC. This is a 2nd chance at romance and figuring things out. She comes out to Houston with divorce papers and ends up in storm with Nikhal and they are navigating this time together .

Um...could this be one of my top romances of 2024?? (Out January 14, 2025) As soon as I was finished with Say You'll Be Mine, my request for this arc was approved. I'm grateful to be able to finish one and start the other in the same day. This pacing was perfection and the characters were loveable (they are my friends now).

Meena and Nikhil's second chance at love starts off as not that at all...After 6 years of not seeing one another, Meena flies to Houston to get him to finally sign the divorce papers, not realizing there is a hurricane brewing in the gulf. This book!! Firstly, I love that Naina Kumar loves Houston as much as I do. The people here are amazing, and the depiction of what Houston looks like during a hurricane was accurate and a little comforting. Since this book is set during flooding and an emergency lockdown, we spend soooo much time with our main characters. I could feel every day they were stuck together, every moment they worked through something. Unlike Say You'll Be Mine, this book's POV is in first person - while this sometimes frustrates me, I find Meena's maturity made her emotional journey a lot more relatable and entertaining. I truly want (need) to find more mid 30s romances.

Okay confession, I am also a Sweet Home Alabama fan and loved the mirrored relationship in this book! These two...they loveeee each other and they just needed some time to find their way back. I highly recommend this book to romance readers! And I'm officially a part of the Naina hive.🫡

I really enjoyed this book. The main characters Nikhil and Meena were just amazingly written. I absolutely loved this book. I always love a good second chance type situation! This is the first novel that I have read from this author, and I was not disappointed. I will be looking forward to reading more from Kumar. Thank you Net Galley ARC!

Imagine Sweet Home Alabama but with a hurricane thrown in!

Meena’s back in Texas to finally get divorced from Nikhil, her ex she once ran off to marry in Vegas. She’s moved on with Shake, a super successful lawyer who totally matches her Capitol Hill lifestyle. Everything’s going as planned... until a hurricane hits, and Meena and Nikhil are forced to hunker down together in their old house.

The storm outside is just a backdrop to the brewing storm inside. As the winds pick up, so do the feels—Meena starts remembering why she fell for Nikhil in the first place.

What makes this book a total winner is the perfect blend of heartwarming moments and stormy drama.

If you love second-chance love stories (especially ones with a little chaos), you’ll love this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for this free ARC!

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book (Thank You!!) and I love love LOVED this book. Meena and Nikhil are just 🫠💜😩. This was such a sweet second-chance romance. If you watched Sweet Home Alabama a hundred times like I did, you’re going to LOVE this. This is the author’s second novel (Say You’ll Be Mine being the first). I’ve loved them both. She’s officially an auto buy for me now.

A second-chance romance inspired by the movie, "Sweet Home Alabama."
The story follows Meena and Nikhil, who married, but separated when Meena left to pursue her political aspirations in D.C. Now Meena is romantically ready to move on with someone that will help establish her as one half of a political power couple, but her husband Nikhil never signed their divorce papers. Meena intends on making a turn-and-burn trip to Texas to finalize the divorce, but a powerful hurricane in the Gulf forces her to hunker down with her husband in the home they once shared.

The progression of the storm coinciding with the building tension between Meena and Nikhil is very effective. The hurricane is depicted accurately and is a perfect foil to heighten their chemistry. The storm also provides a way for the characters to reflect on their relationship and reconnect, and I loved their tender moments of honesty. We get fragmented glimpses of Meena and Nikhil’s past through a flashback in the beginning, and through their present-day conversations, but I wish I had more material to convince me of their motivations and actions. When the “real” reasons of their six-year separation came to light, it left me feeling a little unconvinced and underwhelmed.

Meena’s professional journey and representation as a second-generation American adds depth to her character. The enormous pressure that Meena feels to succeed from her parents and fear of failure impacts all aspects of her life, including the relationship she has with her sister. I enjoyed Meena’s care for her home state, and the professional growth and redirection of her political career to what she truly desires- helping her community.

Nikhil is extremely likeable, easy to root for, and is perfect rom-com material. Despite the hurt he feels, it’s obvious that he still cares deeply for Meena, and his personal struggles and feelings of inferiority were heartbreaking. His likeability did make me frustrated with Meena, and did villainize her a little bit, because his role in the dissolution of their relationship seems minor compared with hers.

Meena and Nikhil’s growth both individually and in their relationship ends on a high note, with a few unexpected outcomes that make it unique. Fans of the movie that inspired the story, and those that love a pining man that builds things like Noah in the Notebook, will love this book. Readers that enjoy forced proximity and the resulting tension will love the hunkered-down-during-a-hurricane setting.

This was my first Naina Kumar and honestly I liked her writing style. I believe it’s very much a me problem, and I hate to say it but I’m a bit bored and am soft not finishing it.
I may come back to it later.
Sometimes I find myself confused if we’re in the present or past and I think this would be such a great story to tell from both characters point of view…maybe that would keep me engaged. The angst is great. I will continue it, just taking a bit of a break….

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Being stuck in a house waiting out a hurricane with your husband you haven’t seen in 7 years, trying to get him to sign divorce papers truly sounds like my worst nightmare but it has all the aspects for a wonderful second chance romance!

I loved Naina’s debut Say You’ll Be Mine and I’ve been desperate to read her second book after reading an excerpt! I love second chance romance and this one was so charming, sweet, and emotional.

I think the setting works really well for this story because of the forced proximity due to the hurricane allows these characters to come back together and examine their past relationship dwelling on what went wrong and allowing themselves to remember the good times they had. It also allows them the chance to realize that they still know each other and still miss each other even if they’ve been denying it for a while.

I loved Nikhil’s character. He was quiet, patient, supportive, and sweet and he cared so much for his community which really endeared me to him. He was such a sweet man and although we didn’t get his pov you could tell how much he still loved Meena. I love how he provided, took care of, and supported her. He truly just want we her to succeed and be happy. I just wish we would’ve gotten a little bit more of his backstory but he was a character that I was really rooting for.

Meena was also a really likable character even though she made some questionable choices I understand her motivations and empathize with her. Her character is riddled with this belief that she has to succeed in order to please her family and in having these beliefs she’s very determined to pass the bar exam. When she ends up failing this causes her relationship to be placed on the back burner and her singular focus is on passing the exam. I think her story is something you can really relate to if you’re a people pleaser or a child of immigrants who have these really high expectations that you’re expected to meet. In trying to meet there expectations she lost herself in the process.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the love that Meena has for her state and her community. Coming from Texas I completely understand her sentiments. Texas is not perfect by any means, but it’s also my home and it deserves love and care and support and someone who wants to help and promote positive change. Seeing Meena realize she can and wants to make a local change was such a special aspect of this book.

Meena and Nikhil‘s relationship broke down due to lack of communication and insecurities, which comes along with being young and the family dynamics they grew up in. I think that Naina did a really good job of showing that the characters know what went wrong and have the ability to fix them in this second chance. Even if they’re still stumbling and making mistakes, I felt like I left this book knowing they the ability to make this relationship work because of their love and understanding of one another.

I only wish we got more of the beginning of Meena and Nikhil’s relationship because I think this book relies on the fact that the reader knows this couple has a loving relationship and in knowing that we believe this tension and this yearning.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I love the way that Naina writes. It’s very easy to read, and I also think that she writes yearning and this tension and introspection really well. I’ll definitely read anything that she writes in the future and this is worth a read, especially if you like second chance romance or Sweet Home Alabama!

had read the author's other book and liked it so was excited to dig in for another.

premise: she's worked hard to build the life she's always dreamed of: high-powered advocacy lawyer in dc and she's about to launch a run for office with her political beau. just one thing stands in the way. after six years away, she's back in houston to confront her estranged husband to sign the divorce papers. it was supposed to be a quick trip in and out but her plans get derailed when a hurricane rolls through. she has to shelter in place with her estranged husband in their old house. the forced proximity makes them confront their past as they ride out the storm.

this is sweet home alabama or the notebook when rachel mcadams sees grown up bearded ryan gosling in the house he built. all the pining! all the flashbacks of sweet sweet romantic memories! everything unsaid speaking volumes between them. this author does slow burn and character development so well.

trying to give some highlights of moments i really enjoyed without spoilers:
○ he watches cspan for her and she watches hgtv for him
○ he loves gilmore girls, but is incorrectly team logan
○ the james marsden character here is nicknamed shake as in the villain of love is blind chicago shake (except he is not a villain in this book).

I liked it for the most part but it didn’t quite hit the feels the way second chances romance do.

I felt like it was too focused on the technical details of the hurricane. Like Nikhil could’ve been a doomsday nut with the way he was prepped and I couldn’t get that perception out of my head - a person preparing for the end of the world, what with the boarding up windows, crates of supplies, generator, radios. Most of that has to do with how detailed the hurricane was. Part of the allure could’ve been the unpreparedness of the hurricane and ‘safe’ disaster striking. The hurricane became a character but not an endearing one.

Then I felt like the chemistry wasn’t there nor the angst. It seems like Nikhil was ready to get back but never attempted to reach out? If he was open to it, then it was only a conversation to be had. Then Meena felt a bit unrealistic with hiding the relationship from her friends and family and how she kept her marriage a secret for seven years.

***ARC received in exchange for review

The inspiration for this book is so fun! Who knew going through a hurricane with someone could be so hot? The forced proximity was perfect for these two characters. The pacing, dialogue, and characters were amazing! I loved every second reading this book. I can’t wait for it to hit shelves!

Would you want to be trapped in a hurricane with your estranged husband, the one who broke your heart seven years ago and you haven’t seen since? Neither does Meena! But when she shows up in Houston with divorce papers so she can finally move on with her life, she has no choice. The storm’s already moving in, the roads are flooding, and there’s nowhere else to go. So she and Nikhil prep the house—and try to mentally prepare themselves to be stuck together.

The tension emanates from both of them. Attraction, heartbreak, hurt feelings, past misunderstandings, so much said and unsaid. As they’re forced to spend time together, Meena starts remembering the good times, why she loved Nikhil so deeply, how he affects her and gets her like no one else. She also feels some of the same frustrations that pushed them apart, and realizes their breakup might not have been entirely Nikhil’s fault…

I loved them both! Their insecurities and lack of communication occasionally frustrated me, but those issues played well into the story and drove them to finally come around to each other. And when they did, it was magic! Also loved the single POV for this book. A dual POV might have given us more transparent insights into Nikhil’s thoughts; however, the author did a fantastic job of leaving a little mystery yet giving us plenty to know where he stands.

Overall, a beautifully written and heartwarming love story, billed as a Sweet Home Alabama retelling. Highly recommend!

Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for my advance ebook. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this ARC of Flirting with Disaster.

I have read Naina Kumar's debut book, Say You'll Be Mine. This book captures Naina's ability to write wonderfully developed character narratives. The story centers around Meena, an ambitious lawyer, and Nikhil, a down-to-earth construction worker. Their relationship is built on a precarious time for both and make for compelling read. Meena pursues her career in D.C., which leaves her and Nikhil on a permanent hiatus until she returns to Houston to settle the relationship. Meena returns to Houston only to be trapped with Nikhil during a tropical storm. I love the second chance romance aspect. I think forced proximity worked well here. Both Meena and Nikhil have very nuanced stories as South Asian Americans. I love seeing those rich cultural values and conflicts at play.

LOVED reading this sweet story about second chances! Meena and Nikhil wake up in Vegas, and realize that they are now married! Not really knowing if they are ready for the commitment, they decide to make a go of it. Six years later, we find that their differences in their future plans have caused them to be separated emotionally and geographically. The divorce papers are prepared but not signed. This story is about Meena's visit to her hometown of Houston to get Nikhil to sign the papers during a week that a hurricane hits Texas. It's about how both come to reevaluate their marriage, their current lives, and their future plans. It's about digging deep into what really matters now.

Kumar's writing is so pleasant to read, and the story is full of love and a little romance. I read it in record time, and loved the ending. Highly recommend for a fun beach vacay read!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Flirting with Disaster.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

I enjoyed this and it has many of the same pros and cons as its inspiration, sweet home Alabama. I do hate when a woman gives up her dreams for a man, even if it’s sweet and under the guise of love or discovering something new about herself- I’m always suspicious.

But the fun parts were straight up delightful and I loved this new and fresh take on the second chance romance with your husband!

I adored this retelling of Sweet Home Alabama which is one of my favorite rom coms. The forced proximity during a storm was right up my alley! I thought the miscommunication between Meena and Nikhil actually worked when I usually do not love that. Like I understand why they didn’t discuss their thoughts and feelings.

Naina Kumar had one of my favorite books of this year, so when I heard about Flirting With Disaster, I was immediately sold. It did not disappoint! I absolutely adored this second chance love story in the vein of Sweet Home Alabama.



Meena is a high powered attorney on Capitol Hill, considering a political run. However, in order to this, she has to get divorced from her husband Nikhil, whom she married after a wild night in Vegas years ago. They’ve been separated for six years, but haven’t actually gone through with the paperwork. Meena flies down to Houston to take care of it, but arrives just in time for a hurricane. As she hunkers down with Nikhil, she is forced to spend time with the man she fell in love with so many years ago. As sparks fly and truths come out, Meena has to make decisions about what she wants to do and who she wants to be with.



I couldn’t put this one down! I loved both Meena and Nikhil so much. I appreciated the growth of each character, especially with communication. The forced proximity - a la the closet - really worked well for this one. Their chemistry was off the charts! I also appreciated how the audience got a firsthand view into Meena’s thoughts as she worked through her familial baggage, shame, and her struggles to conform to her parents’ expectations for her. I would have loved to see a dual POV with more Nikhil, but still really enjoyed this one!



Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine/Dell for the ARC!