Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
- Rivals to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Women in STEM
- Only one bed
- Slow burn
Now listen. I’ve always loved me some Nisha J. Tuli writing and I did love this in a far different way than her romantasy works.
Nisha has always written complex characters, especially with her FMCs. Trish has trauma. Do you hear me? TRISH HAS TRAUMA. Of course she wants to lean into these feelings with Rafe but her trauma from a previous entanglement mentally stops her from doing so. Hence we get the ‘will they, won’t they’ vibes.
I liked Rafe but I feel like he could’ve been a stronger MMC. He’s just kind of quiet and broody but not in the sexual tension way. Do I think he’s enamored with Trish? 100% yes. I just like my MMCs to be a little more vocal about their pining. We get there eventually though! At least he’s got a filthy mouth 🥵
Personally, I really appreciate the way Nisha went about writing misogyny, racism, and micro aggressions into the story. It was believable in my experience. I don’t think that any woman in any corporate job hasn’t experienced or heard these kinds of things being said and done. It was so cathartic to see Trish not put up with any of it and really stand her ground.
All around I know this book won’t be for everyone because it does require a bit more awareness than most romance/romance-com books.

Did one of my favorite romantasy authors just become one of my favorite rom‑com/contemporary romance authors? I think they did because I had a BLAST reading this book.

What you get if you read this book: workplace besties, rivals-to-lovers, a SLOW burn that’s well worth the wait, all the angst and tension you could ever wish for, a golden retriever MMC who knows how to turn up the heat, and a strong, independent female lead carving her place out in a male‑dominated field—and so much more. I could go on forever.

I adored the FMC, Tris, in particular. She was feisty, strong‑willed, independent, smart, and self‑aware, and she allowed herself to be vulnerable. I also loved how Tuli showed the challenges of being a woman in a male‑dominated field—something that’s still all too relevant today. Tris was never afraid to call out the men in her life who treated her as less than just because of her gender, and I really loved that. I also appreciated how Tuli depicted the kind of behavior in STEM careers that can completely upend a woman’s life, affecting her both physically and emotionally. And back to the lighthearted fun: Tris and Rafe’s banter had me chuckling constantly, and even when their stubbornness drove me crazy, I couldn’t help but root for them.

I also really liked the MMC. There was one aspect of his recent past that was following him around that I really did not love, but I think it led to some important growing pains for both characters—and they came out better for it, in my opinion.

Additionally, I don’t know what it was about the workplace vacation setting, conflicts, or circumstances that had me so into this read, but whatever it was, I ate it up.

Overall, this story was super cute, spicy, and fun. It had relatable characters with depth and the ability to bring out your feels, and it kept me turning pages from start to finish. This book has solidly confirmed my love and adoration for Tuli’s writing and has basically guaranteed that I’m going to pick up anything she writes. 😂🤌🏻

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read and e-ARC of "Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli, publishing May 20, 2025.

You NEED to read this when it comes out. I was so into this story and read it so fast.
Key things to note:

ONE BED.
Work retreat to Hawaii
Rivals to lovers
DRAMA
COMEDY
ROMANCE
Women in STEM
South Asian representation
chronic pain representation

I really enjoyed this book so much and can't wait for it to be out in the world for everyone to check out!

I enjoyed this! Tris and Rafe had great chemistry and I loved the forced proximity of the shared hotel room. However, the progression of their relationship felt really fast and lacked emotional depth. I found myself missing the slow burn of them coming to really understand each other. There were glimpses, but a lot of the connection felt surface level. Still a great time!

I wanted to love this one so bad, especially with the representation of a southeast asian woman in STEM but everything about it fell incredibly flat. Trishara's immaturity got old fast and nothing new was done with the tropes (enemies to lovers, one bed) that I felt bored throughout the majority of this book.

Rafe and Trishara's romance came out of nowhere and felt like whip lash.

Absolutely fantastic! As the first dabble in contemporary romance, Nisha killed it. The way she writes complex characters makeS her stories so easy to get lost in.

Trishara is a constantly looked over employee, at a company where your name opens doors, even if you aren't qualified. Rafe is the boss's son, and someone Tris has seemed off limits and her nemesis. After dealing with the absolute lowest of the low of the men available, Tris is uninterested in any inter-company dating - even if Rafe is a "twelve out of ten". Then they are thrust together, with one bed, and they figure out the animosity is mostly misunderstanding.

I appreciated the soft, caring side of Rafe in contrast to the ever-vigilant "protect my heart at all costs" of Tris. And the BANTER 🤌🏼 Nisha's ability to write banter is top tier.

If she writes it, I will read it.

I did also love the hat tip to the revenge blowjob 😍 I'm obsessed with the Artefacts of Ouranos series so I loved seeing that.

*Thank you Forever for remembering how much I love her writing and allowing me the opportunity to read early*

thank you netgalley for the arc of this book. i saw a few of my fave authors recommending it, so i’m so glad i was able to read it early!

i was thoroughly entertained while reading this!! workplace enemies to lovers will always be DELISH!! the tension, the forced proximity, and the eventual softening that gets me every time. and tris and rafe?? they delivered on ALL fronts. the banter? electric. the tension? perfectly unbearable. every interaction had me grinning.

also, i love seeing trishara being this badass engineer in a heavily male-dominated field and truly not taking shit from anyone. she knows her worth, she knows she’s better than the men who underestimate her, and she proves it every time. it was so satisfying watching her put people in their place while still being vulnerable in the moments that mattered.

and sweet angel rafe. rafe needs to be protected at all costs. the way he sees tris, respects her, and supports her even when they’re at odds? ugh my heart!

overall, this was such a fun, satisfying read. the romance was top-tier, the characters were so fun, and i didn’t want it to end. highly recommend!!

Not Safe for Work - Nisha J. Tuli

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

IF NISHA WRITES IT, I'M READING IT! I DEVOURED Tris and Rafe's story! Picture this.. a highly intelligent woman in stem, and a spoiled silver platter “douche” of a man get sent on a work trip to Hawaii for team building and meetings and what not BUT they end up being put in ONE room that they have to share for the entire duration of the trip! Mind you these two people hate each other, so obviously there’s tension. 😉 With a mix of loathing, angst, booze, forced proximity, WHAT COULD GO WRONG! Absolutely nothing. It all went exactly right and I devoured every. Single. Moment. Of it! One of my fave romcoms to date! Rate even has a sweet little secret that I wasn’t expecting but adored non the less. This book also represents how the real life is for todays woman who work in predominantly male dominated spaces. There’s equal parts relatability as there is comical relief and steamy fun! I absolutely loved reading NSFW and I hope you do too! 🫶🏻

What to expect:
-Women in stem
-Work place romance
-One bed/ one room
-Rivals to lovers
-Forced proximity
-Slow burn

This was SUCH a genuine delight of a read - I devoured this in one sitting and left no crumbs (though it did make me want desserts).

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Tris and Rafe’s relationship is FRAUGHT with tension of all kinds. Neither of them can get a good read on the other (though it is clear to us as the reader that they both are super into each other, obvi), and as we all know I am always down for a MMC who is typically composed and confident and turns into a bit of a bumbling mess around the object of his affections. A cutie little blushing mess???? Sign me UP babes.

And Tris would burn the whole world down - probably literally, honestly - for the people she cares about - and that includes herself. Being surrounded by members of the good ol’ boys club who are offended by a woman (a woman of color, no less!) being rightfully confident in her capabilities, appearance, and sense of self has made her unshakably strong, capable, and filled with abundant rage. And for that I love her.

Not only is Rafe willing to stand up for Tris even before they’re friends - he’s also willing to let her stand up for herself (and for HIM!!!!). They both want someone to feel safe around (get it??? SAFE around) and to be able to let their guard down for different reasons. And when their competitive spirits start hitting a little too close to home for both of them, it’s just enough to put a crack in the walls they’ve put up. And what a wonderful flood it unleashes.

I love Nisha's Artefacts of Ouranos series and I was so excited to see what she'd do with a lighter romance! Not Safe For Work is all the slow burn torture with *multiple* rewards🤭.

Workplace / vacation, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, protective, growly, just all the yes.

The villains are human and realistic and honestly they balance out the angst and desire so well as a reminder of the balance of life. You can have amazing within the bad.

Wrapped into this angsty romance is a reminder that too often we look the other way because it's easier, and not only harm ourselves, but others as well.

Tris speaks to my soul with her walls and her forearm obsession🥵 and Rafe definitely needs a lair.
A gym girl who loves dessert is a woman after my heart🥰

Overall, I enjoyed this so much and I hope you join me because I'll definitely escape back to visit Tris and Rafe again. Also the single POV was so frustratingly realistic with not knowing for sure what he was thinking😂

This is great read if you’re looking for a fun summertime romance book. I always enjoy a romance with a little workplace rivalry and a whole lot of tension (very much a hate to want you kind of situation). So while this wasn’t anything super unique or novel, it was still a fun time. There was just the right amount slow burn, good banter, close proximity, and a touch of seriousness regarding mistreatment and under representation of women, POC, and minorities in general in STEM/corporations. Overall a great mix that made for a quick and easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the e-arc! All opinions are entirely my own.

First, I’m convinced Nisha Tuli puts something into her books because they’re incredibly addicting and I have devoured all of her work so far in one sitting, with this book definitely not being an exception to this!

I am obsessed with STEM romances (Ali Hazelwood being a favorite of mine in this particular niche, as an example) and I absolutely love how Nisha has also solidly made her mark in the genre with this book and truly captured exactly how it feels to be a woman in STEM and the challenges women face in the industry. There is plenty of room within this type of romance books (I’m begging you, Nisha, please write more) and I highly encourage everyone who enjoys them to check out both authors because they both truly capture the experience so well and with such incredible storylines.

I could feel the passion that Nisha put into this book and I thank her for writing with such openness and adding in personal touches within the story because the efforts were definitely noticed and I loved it all.

The romance within this book was one of my favorites from Nisha’s works and I adore Rafe (MMC) and Trishara’s ability to communicate most of all. There were several moments I was almost certain there would be a giant miscommunication that would drag on (this is just a trope I personally am not a major fan of) but instead, both acted like adults and talked things through!! This really elevated the story for me and made the characters being adults truly more believable.

I really have no criticism for this book other than I wish it was longer! Or part of a standalone, interconnected series (which, if Nisha wants to write that, let me be the first in line…).

Overall, a quick read but definitely a new favorite of mine!!

This was a sexy and fun summer vibes romance with the perfect dash of workplace romance.

I binged this very quickly, the premise is fun and engaging. However it did fall a little flat for me on the scale of unique characters and storyline.

I think the storyline was however extremely important and relevant in representing the way women and women of color are treated in male dominated fields and particularly directly in the work place.

The MMC was hot and the relationship between the two of them reflected this, I do wish the emotional chemistry ran as deep as the physical one.

Overall I still enjoyed this and think a lot of people will as well!

I enjoyed this book and felt like it accurately portrayed the workplace for many women in business. I loved the banter between Rafe and Trish. I could tell something about the Diane character was going to come and screw Trish over. I loved the email she sent. Definitely would recommend to a friend to read.

Where to begin?! The tension, the spice, the romance, ugh all of it was *chef's kiss* This book had me simultaneously kicking my feet and wanting to punch every man in this book. Tris and Rafe were both lovable characters, but Tris was very relatable as a woman in a male-dominated stem field. How she stood up for herself with the chairman and chairwoman near the end wanted to make me stand up and applaud. Would recommend to anyone with a heartbeat lol

✨📚 Give this book a promotion! 📚✨

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli is a fantastic workplace romance that I absolutely loved! Huge thanks to Nisha, Forever Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC! 🙌

I’m a sucker for a good rivals-to-lovers story, and NSFW definitely delivered! The chemistry between Tris and Rafe is so satisfying. Their push and pull had me hooked. I totally understood Tris’s initial hatred for Rafe, but as the story unfolded, I couldn’t help but fall for him. He’s such a lovable cinnamon roll once we get to know him outside of work and his father’s shadow.

Tris’s journey is tough. Being repeatedly overlooked in favor of mediocre white men is a reality so many women face, and it really hit hard reading it on the page. I was fuming on her behalf!

I also loved that Tris has chronic headaches, which felt so relatable to me. I am also a headachy girlie so it was nice to see that represented. I carry painkillers with me everywhere and often have to step away from events to find quiet, dark spaces to regroup. Thank you for the representation, Nisha!

As someone who’s read Nisha J. Tuli’s fantasy books before, this contemporary romance was a bit of a different vibe, but she absolutely nailed it.

If you’re a fan of workplace romances or rivals-to-lovers stories, I highly recommend this book! 💖

This was such a fun read! Definitely a great romance to kick off the summer with.

My favorite part of this book was the FMC. She was strong, she was unwilling to put up with any nonsense, and she was secure and knew exactly who she was and what she had to offer. I loved seeing this in a story - especially one where the male love interest was the CEO’s son, and there was potential for a concerning power dynamic. I even liked the MMC - he seemed like a genuine good person, despite some missteps, and he loved the FMC in a way that let her shine.

As a woman in STEM and in corporate America, I also resonated with some of the struggles the FMC faced, and I loved seeing her work though them in her own way.

I thought the plot was really fun to follow, there were some interesting side characters, and I absolutely loved the story arc. The ending especially I thought was well done.

Can’t wait to read any future contemporary romances from this author in the future!

Okay, so if you’ve ever wanted to rage-quit your job, fly to Hawaii, and accidentally fall into bed with the office enemy while grappling with corporate misogyny—Not Safe for Work is basically your new personality.

Trishara Malik is the definition of competence porn: brilliant, bold, and absolutely done with being passed over for promotions by mediocre men. Enter Rafe Gallagher, aka nepotism hire with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass and the audacity to steal Tris's promotion. Cue forced proximity at a corporate retreat in paradise, where the only thing hotter than the island sun is the tension crackling between them.

It’s enemies-to-lovers, but with spreadsheets and workplace sexism. Tuli doesn't just serve up steam (though there's plenty of that, thank you); she gives us a heroine who's fighting for recognition in a system that rewards the wrong people, and a love interest who has to earn his place (and her trust). And yes, the spicy scenes are chef’s kiss, but it's the emotional vulnerability that really hits.

Basically, it's the perfect read for when you're sipping something strong, pretending you don’t fantasize about setting corporate policies on fire. Tris is the heroine we all secretly are. Rafe is the guy we hate to love. And the tropes? Absolute catnip: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and "oops, there's only one bed."

✨ Out May 20, 2025. Mark your calendars. Call out sick. Thank me later.

Thank you Nisha J Tuli, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Netgalley for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Not Safe for Work is Nisha's first romance book, and it does not disappoint! This is a great STEM enemies to lovers romance, with a POC FMC! This book is expected to release on May 20th, 2025.

➼ enemies to lovers
➼ one bed
➼ slow burn
➼ woman of color (FMC)
➼ workplace romance
➼ women in STEM
➼ chronic pain

Trigger warning(s): slight racism? theres definitely hints of it throughout the book

I really enjoyed this first ever romance from Nisha! When I saw it was available for instant download on NetGalley, I RAN to grab it! This was such a cute and sexy romance! I absolutely loved the tension between these two! Obviously as a woman, I know the struggles in a work place compared to a man so it was nice to see it acknowledged in this book! I truly hope Nisha continues to make romance cause this was SO GOOD!!

Trishara Malik is a bad@$$ FMC! Not only is she a smart STEM woman, but she is a woman of color! I love the representation in this book and how the author acknowledges it throughout the book how one is treated differently because they are a woman, or a POC! I seriously love Tris so much and I love how she's not afraid to be herself and defend herself!

Rafe Gallagher is SOOOOO FINE! I love the obsession with his forearms 🤣 Like girl, I would be too! He is so misunderstood and I loved being able to see the true him shine through!

Book boyfriend? YES!! He is so cute, I just can't!

★★★★
🌶️🌶️

While going into this I expected a romcom about two enemies/ rivals and lots of tension. While this book delivered exactly that it also gave so much more. A truly powerful story on the misogyny and blatant racism that still plague the world today. And how hard certain groups have to fight that much harder for the same privileges that others are just given.

Trishana is hands down one of my favorite FMCs to date to read about. Scarred from her past she becomes such a force in this story, finding her worth and her voice to speak up about the way things are. I love that this book shows two characters who start one way but really open each other up to who they truly are together. Lending each other the strength to fight for what they really want.

Packed with so much tension and romance. Nisha did the forced proximity trope so well by giving a beautiful slow burn that finally lit up and stayed hot. I love how beautiful and raw both characters are. The plot was fast paced and I found myself devouring this in a couple hours .


A new to me author that is an immediate auto buy after this story.