Member Reviews

“He’s Lucifer, wearing the disguise of a Ralph Lauren model.”

A fun, flirty, feminist fantastic! This workplace retreat romance is largely set in Hawaii, where two workplace rivals are forced to share - are you ready for it - One. Room.

Forced proximity? ✔️
Rivals to lovers? ✔️
Secret down bad smitten kitten? ✔️
“God, your ego is the size of Canada.” ✔️

More please!

Not Safe For Work (heed the name 👀) will get your blood pumping for more reasons than one (I sure had some violent thoughts towards her male coworkers). “Why are men?” indeed.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and Canadian extraordinaire Nisha J. Tuli for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. Not Safe For Work comes out on May 20th.

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"Not Safe For Work" by Nisha J. Tuli is an engaging contemporary romance that perfectly balances humor, depth, and empowerment. As a woman in STEM myself, I found the author’s forward particularly inspiring and authentic. Tuli's personal experiences in the field bring a realness to the story, especially through the main character, Trishara, who is strong, snarky, and refreshingly confident.
Trishara is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for. Her journey through a male-dominated industry, while dealing with corporate challenges and personal growth, resonates deeply. I loved how she stayed true to herself, “sticking it to the man” in her own unapologetic way.
The romance between Trishara and Rafe is another highlight. Initially, Rafe seems like the typical cocky rival, but as the story unfolds, his vulnerability and self-doubt reveal a multi-dimensional character who feels much more relatable. Their chemistry is electric, and the banter between them is filled with wit and sass, making their dynamic both fun and engaging.
The Hawaiian resort setting adds another layer of charm, with the forced proximity between the characters creating a believable and well-paced romance. The timeline feels natural, and the slow burn between Trishara and Rafe makes their connection all the more satisfying.
Overall, Not Safe For Work is a wonderfully layered romance that mixes humor, empowerment, and authentic character development. It’s a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys romance with depth, relatable characters, and a little bit of sass. I highly recommend it and look forward to its release on May 20, 2025!

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Loved this book!!!!! The plot was great, I felt like I was at a resort just from reading it. Super cozy read with great characters. My only issue was with Hannah- Rafe talked about how she was great and was his close childhood friend but from the 5 seconds of interacting with Tris, she pretty much seemed like a sucky human being? So that made me question Rafe as a person, just a little. But other than that, I loved this book and will probably reread it.

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Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! It was fun and easy to read. It was the perfect addition to my Friday night paired with wine and a warm blanket. My only complaint is I tend to dislike references to pop culture in my books ie Taylor Swift (even tho I love her) but that’s just me and regardless, it had me giggling and kicking my feet. Girl- go get your man!!!

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I loved this book! Something that did make me struggle with this is that Trishara was originally written as such a strong and bold female character, yet it seemed that as soon as she got over her rivalry with the male lead, it seemed she was "tamed". She lost the spark and drive that brought her originally so far. Putting this idea aside, the book was very cozy and displayed a corrupted system that needed to be fixed, making it obvious that Trishara would be the one to change it. I liked the tension between the two characters and it moved at a steady pace.

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Wow. This book was incredible. You can feel the heart that Nisha poured into it. She doesn't shy away from the reality of what it's like to work in an industry that mainly cis het men. Tris is a breath of fresh air in the romance world. There were moments I expected her to zig and zag we went.

This seems like it would be a straightforward rivals to lovers. Tris and Rafe have been poking at each other for five years. Rafe got the promotion she was perfect for. He is the example of nepotism gets the job done. When Tris is the "diversity pick" for a leadership retreat, she and Rafe get stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. You'd think the one bed would change something, but it's the forced proximity and conversation that changes the tides for Tris. When they are able to step back from the toxic work environment they are used to being in, they meet each other as people. Flaws and all.

As the retreat continues, we peel back the layers of these two to observe who they are. The hopes and dreams they've had shattered. The walls they've built up to protect themselves. The pressure that people and society as a whole put upon them. They give each other the strength to move forward on their own terms.

I appreciated that Nisha warned us from the beginning that it's a slow burn. It helped curb the frustration I normally feel during one. The promise of the burn kept me satisfied.

What made this book so spectacular for me was how it was grounded in the problems of the world. We saw the sexism that Tris dealt with. We saw the awful positions she was put in, both by people who were taking advantage of her and by people who encouraged her to stay in the broken system. Sometimes the best way to win is to stop playing the game. We watch Tris remind herself of what she wants, and what she deserves.

Nisha is an author who understands the romance genre. She trusts the tropes and knows how to create something unique within them. Her spice is on point, and I cannot contain my glee at her obsession with forearms. If you've read her other works, she even threw in an Artefacts of Ouranos easter egg.

Go read this book. I cannot wait for it to be out in the world. Congrats, Nisha!!! It's amazing!!!

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This book was such a good time! The representations were wonderful, the banter was spot on, and the storyline was interesting. The characters were perfectly developed, and the story felt realistic. Love reading about a woman in STEM! I would read other romance books written by Nisha J Tuli!

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TLDR: The perfect swoony workplace romance full of banter and pining, set against a luscious Hawaiian backdrop, in which two characters find love as well as their wings to fly.

This. Book. Was. Amazing.

Nisha J. Tuli has achieved romcom perfection with Not Safe For Work. Aside from the swoony, banter-filled romance, the characters are so well developed and well endearing that it’s impossible to not love them. Trishara is the embodiment of today’s women in STEM; she is competent, qualified, highly intelligent, and sick of the status quo. Her strength and bravery was so inspiring and I loved being inside her head. Rafe, the leading man, really stole my heart when he started opening up to Trish, and I am certain he will steal yours as well.

The romance is everything I love about rivals to lovers. There’s banter, fighting as foreplay, heated looks across rooms, forced proximity, and that delicious element of “idiots in love.” Nisha did an amazing job of building their chemistry and letting it smolder! The slow burn payoff was intense.

I absolutely recommend this book for contemporary romance readers, especially for those that enjoy workplace romances such as The Hating Game!

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I'm not sure what this book was trying to be, but it ended up being a mess.

From the first page the heroine, Trish, is unlikeable - but not in the way that endears her to the readers. She's been passed over for 4 or 5 promotions and I'm not sure it was nepotism so much as her shitty attitude. When she's offered a spot at this leadership retreat her first reaction is "why did you pick me?" girl please. And then! One of her demands for going is a new set of luggage...and she went about bought LV luggage and lost any of the respect I still held for her.

But onto the retreat where the reader gets more time with Rafe and these two are forced to share a suite - he has no redeeming qualities either. It's not enemies to lovers, it's unbearable people stuck in a suite for 3 weeks not doing company activities they were sent there to do. These two behaved more like high-schoolers than working professionals. There was also too much insta-lust instead of Rafe and Trish getting to know one another.

I just couldn't get into these two together, couldn't wait to be out of Trish's head, and didn't believe any of her behavior was plausible as a professional.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the e-ARC!

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I liked this! I think it's perfect for fans of The Hating Game and a perfect book to read on vacation. I really enjoyed the representation we got with Trishara's character and insight into her work life as well. I did think the middle was a little repetative but overall it was an easy to get into, light romance read :)

Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my ARC!

3.5/5

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Nisha Tuli is a gem and we are blessed with her words.
Not Safe For Work is a hilarious jaunt through the rights and wrongs of workplace romance, expectations and prejudice. Hitting all these topics head on, giving seriousness to situations when needed and filling our hearts with the fluff of hope and a very handsome mmc.
Tris and Rafe are swoon-worthy as a couple but Tris is what ever girl in the corporation world wants to grow up to be -- she fought to get there and deserves her happy ending.
Please give me more.

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Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli is a smart, contemporary romance that blends workplace dynamics, chemistry, and emotional depth in a refreshing and captivating way. The novel follows the journey of two strong-willed individuals who find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another despite the many complications their relationship brings, particularly in a professional setting.

Tuli’s writing is sharp, witty, and engaging, which perfectly suits the modern office setting in which much of the story takes place. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable from the very first interaction, and Tuli does an excellent job of building tension throughout the book without making the relationship feel forced. The push and pull between the characters feels natural, driven by both professional stakes and undeniable personal attraction.

What sets Not Safe for Work apart from typical workplace romance novels is its depth of character development. The main characters are multidimensional, with personal struggles and growth arcs that make their relationship feel more than just a simple romantic storyline. The author skillfully touches on themes like ambition, vulnerability, and the balance between personal desires and professional responsibilities, giving the book emotional weight without overshadowing the light-hearted nature of the romance.

The pacing is spot-on, with enough twists and turns to keep readers hooked, but without overloading the narrative with unnecessary drama. Tuli also brings a sense of humor into the book, offering moments of levity that balance out the more intense emotional scenes.

The supporting cast is another highlight, with well-rounded secondary characters who add richness to the story without detracting from the central plot. The dynamics within the workplace feel believable and add another layer of tension, making the stakes feel even higher for the main characters.

While the book features a familiar trope of workplace romance, Tuli manages to make it feel fresh and exciting, largely due to her well-developed characters, snappy dialogue, and emotional depth. The romance is steamy without being over-the-top, striking a perfect balance between sensuality and sweet moments.

Overall, Not Safe for Work is an enjoyable, heartwarming, and engaging read that will appeal to fans of workplace romance and contemporary fiction. Nisha J. Tuli has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thoughtful, with characters you can root for and a romance that feels real and satisfying.

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Trishara Malik, an ambitious engineer, is devastated when her long-awaited promotion goes to Rafe Gallagher, the boss’s son. Given a second chance at career advancement, she attends a corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii—only to find herself stuck sharing a honeymoon suite with her longtime rival. As they compete for a coveted executive training spot, Tris starts to see Rafe in a new light, forcing her to question whether he’s truly her enemy or a surprising ally in her journey to success.

NSFW was the first romcom I’ve ever read and it was solely because I love Nisha’s fantasy books that I considered reading a book outside of the genres I’m used to. I started reading NSWF at 7pm and stayed up until 3am to finished it because I just couldn’t put it down. It was tense, feisty, funny and steamy. The corporate rivalry is something that way too many women trying to make it in corporate America will relate to.

The following tropes are in this book:
- Women in STEM
- South Asian FMC
- Corporate retreat in Hawaii
- One room to share
- So much banter
- Rivals to lovers
- Chronic pain representation (migraines/headaches)

I really enjoyed this book! If this is your introduction into Nisha J. Tuli, I recommend that you also check out her fantasy books! Thank you Forever and Nisha for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the chance to read this book early!

It’s been awhile since I was able to cruise through a book! I really loved Nisha’s first story in a rom com setting when normally she writes fantasy. I truly hope we get more from her in this genre going forward!

Tris was a strong lead and made me want to stand up for her in situations as if she was my own friend. I liked the way Rafe is built up in Tris’s mind to be an “enemy” because it felt realistic. I would have loved to have his POV, but they grew to communicate well with each other so I ended up knowing how he felt in most scenes.

I wish there were a few more chapters at the end because I wanted to see more of what happens after their trip! The story was fun and I know I’ll pick up more books by Nisha.

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4.5 stars!

This was Nisha’s breakout rom-com book and I had such a fun time! As an engineer I love reading rom coms that have engineer/stem nature and this one did not disappoint!

What I loved:
The banter
The subtle ties to her other series
A woman who stands up for herself
The romance
The tropes were some of my favorite - don’t want to give too much away
And it’s cute

I could tell the author really resonated with the FMC and it added so much depth at the end of the book that I was tearing up.

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Nisha Tuli has done it again with another exceptional book! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! She crafts the most amazing and hot slow burn romances, no matter the genre.

Thanks you Forever for granting me an ARC! All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher.

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Thanks to Read Forever for the chance to read an advanced copy of Not Safe for Work! The premise was intriguing, but I didn't connect with the main character's voice and DNF'd at 12%. Though marketed as enemies-to-lovers, I wasn't convinced since Tris, our MC, is very clear from the introduction of Rafe, our love interest, that she finds him very attractive and is very defensive of her overt lust for him. Tris outlines why she considers Rafe an enemy due to workplace disagreements, but I'm not buying the annoyance and animosity. I think the love story would be better off being marketed as strictly a workplace romance.

The author's note at the beginning of this ARC truly touched me as a former corporate gorlie. I empathized with Tris' struggles so I do think readers who want to read and relate to a story about a woman of color empower herself in that environment should give this book a try.

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This is a truly fun and luxurious romance, set in a beautiful spot, with lots of page turning angst and indecision, sweeping gestures and hidden sweet things. I enjoyed it very much, and thought the writing was witty and trendy, really funny at points and heartbreaking at others. I loved uncovering these characters through layers of hurt and recovery, and thought they were a beautiful match. Their grumpy banter and snide remarks made for excellent pillow talk, and really made it satisfying when they finally came together.

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3.5⭐️ not a bad read! It was enjoyable for me. I felt that it became a little repetitive at points with the physical attraction of the FMC to the MMC (specifically all of the descriptions), but it did add to the build up overall.

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4.5 Stars

Not Safe for Work follows Tris and Rafe as they go on a leadership retreat for their company. While Tris expects their contempt for each other in the office to follow them to Hawaii, and their shared hotel room, they get to know each other better and the walls built between them slowly start falling. As they compete for a special program awarded at the end of the retreat, readers learn alongside Tris that there is more than meets the eye at their company and with Rafe himself.

This was a phenomenal read with plenty of heart and humor that left me aching for more contemporary work from Nisha J. Tuli! Tris was a lovely character to follow as she grows throughout the book and Rafe was the classic workplace romance MMC - full of whit, banter, and obviously he rocked the rolled up button down sleeves (every girl's weakness, am I right?). This book is perfect for lovers of The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners, and will be a perfect beach read this summer!

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