Not Safe for Work? Not Safe for My Wellbeing.

The banter. The tension. The spice. *chef's kiss* truly amazing.
The perfect workplace romance. The tension between the main characters had me on the edge of my seat. This was a SLOW BURN. I love my slow burns and I ATE THIS UP.

Our main characters are both selected to attend a workplace conference for top aspiring leaders in their company for 3 weeks in Hawaii. Our MMC, Rafe, is the boss's son and our FMC, Tris, is a biracial woman in a STEM field so there are major tensions building between them as Tris has been passed up for many promotions previously over the years. Tris has been trying to avoid Rafe but after a mix up, they end up having to share a suite at the hotel together. There are many tropes in this book but it is sooo well done, you don't even know you're reading them because you will be having such a good time. I could relate to Tris so much just being a woman in a STEM field myself. And the ending with Rafe being a pastry chef was actually the CUTEST thing ever and I'm obsessed.

Tropes:
Rivals to Lovers
One Bed
Workplace romance
forced proximity

I had SUCH a fun time reading this book!! I saw the ARC available on NetGalley and I loved the synopsis so figured I would try it out...I did not realized that Nisha J. Tuli also wrote Trial of the Sun Queen which has been on my TBR for years and I will definitely be picking up sooner rather than later because this writing was amazing.

I would have finished this book in one sitting but I made myself put it down multiple times to try to savor it LOL.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nisha J. Tuli for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Cute read, will be looking at other books done by this author! Really cute idea behind it, enjoyed the workplace enemy romance

This was such a cute fun book that gave off the same fun vibes as The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Engineer Trishara Malik has been under appreciated and overworked at WMC Purcell for the last five years. After her well earned promotion is given to her workplace nemesis, Rafe Gallagher - the boss's son, she stops trying and starts accepting that the career she's in is going to be full of nepotism and white male privilege. To her astonishment, she's selected to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. Three weeks in a tropical paradise, the chance to compete for a spot in the executive training program, what can go wrong?

You guessed it folks. Rafe is the other person who has nominated to go from her branch. In true romancelandia fashion, when they get to Hawaii they discover a booking error has them staying in not only the same suite, but in the HONEYMOON SUITE. Chaos ensues.

This was fun! I genuinely enjoyed it. It just didn't stand out all that much for me. It felt like the book either should have been longer, or less issues should have been tackled. There was just so much going on for these characters that didn't have a clear resolution at the end, but the book can only be so long. Chronic migraines and systematic sexist/racism aren't things that can be solved within a three week romance novel, but I would have liked to see some repercussions for those who were blatantly in the wrong.

So much of this book was taken up by describing how hot the characters are or the exact outfit that the FMC was wearing, but not enough to the actual feelings of the characters. I know they're hot & wearing stylish clothes, but I want more than that lol. The old adage "show don't tell" comes to mind. So much of the tension was told rather than shown, I feel like it undermined the love story a little bit.

Although this was a fun read, it was missing something for me to rate it higher than average. I think others would really love this one, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

NISHAAAAA! You did not disappoint girl! I have been waiting for this one since I heard you talking about it last year at a book signing you did. I am so over the moon to have been asked to ARC read this. You stepped out of the fantasy realm and did AMAZING! I'm so glad to have followed you over. The fmc & mmc are a delight! Ooooobssesed with his love for her and how he has shown it since forever. The ending?! CHEFS KISS! Dare I say I want more somewhere, someway though? BTW The "khakis" had me on the floor LOL BRAVE NISHA!!!!!!

Three weeks in Hawaii, paid for by work, and a handsome travel buddy. What could go wrong? When Tris has to take the trip with her work nemesis, Rafe, she is hesitant to even go because of the office politics at play. They have some incredible banter as they navigate whether they hate each other or actually hate to be apart.
Nisha J. Tuli has written some phenomenal romantasy and her foray into rom-com territory did not disappoint. The depth of these characters immerses the reader in the story. She tackles topics such as being a woman in STEM, chronic pain, and microaggressions so beautifully and it is a window into experiences some may not have even thought about.
Thank you to Forever Publishers for this fun ARC through @NetGalley!

I found the beginning was a bit slow and hard to really throw myself into. I did love the characters dynamic with the forced proximity and the enemies to lovers. I love the diversity of the characters and how it highlighted the “glass ceiling” in male orientated jobs for women. It was an easy read and enjoyable. The male lead was confusing because he had 2 surprising talents which I felt he should’ve just had one and stuck with it and then the talent he had was like completely not what he should’ve done. Overall, I'd recommend it as a way to break the mould of stereotypical romance, well done on a great debut contemporary romance Nisha!

This was such a fun book. It felt like I was on this Hawaii retreat with them giggling just watching it all go down as I sipped on a Pina Colada at the bar. I absolutely loved both Trisha's and Rafe as characters and their chemistry and banter was "chefs kiss". I was not expecting the plot to go in the direction it did on several occasions and it had me pleasantly surprised. Specifically Rafe wanting to be a baker as well as Trishara leaving the retreat, quitting, and sending out that mass email, which good on her. I was so glad she stuck up for herself. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy when it comes out.

Now I desperately need my own island getaway vacation. Preferably one accompanied by Rafe or Trishara.

Rounded up from 4.5 Stars.

Honestly, this book was fun. I’m not typically a big fan of the work rivals to lovers trope, but I was eager to read this one because of Nisha, and she did not disappoint. I have read literally every other book she has written, and loved them all, so I knew this one wouldn’t be any different.

I think the thing I loved most about this book was the third act. To avoid spoilers, I’ll keep this vague. Often, I hate the third act because authors do something that I do not like at all that is then played out for too long. That doesn’t happen in this book. It’s slowly, gradually happening the whole time instead, so in the third act, the resolution is quick and efficient.

I loved the characters. Rafe is the definition of a sweetie disguised under a shell. I wanted to hold him and protect him from the world. He absolutely gets the ending he deserved 💜 He is such a sweetheart that might be one of my favorite contemporary romance MMCs of all time.

Trishara didn’t deserve half of what happened to her, and she the worst part about it was that it was so realistic. She deserved so much better. I felt joy when she finally got the justice she deserved.

This book was adorable, and the setting really helped add to the plot. Nisha did a fabulous job writing a contemporary romance that falls in line with her fantasy romance. Loved the reference to the Trial of the Sun Queen series in this book.

Thank you very much to NetGalley, Nisha J. Tuli, and Forever for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and were not influenced by the manner in which I received this book.

4.75 ⭐️

This is what a romcom should be!!! Real world issues with believable characters and satisfying resolutions.

Tris is a biracial woman in engineering and dealing with all the bs that comes from being in a male dominated industry and office. I really liked how as she grew as a person, she started to stick up for herself instead of grinning and bearing the misogyny. It felt very real.

The romance was fairly predictable but again, this is what i want in a romcom. Generally low stakes romance with humor and banter and this DELIVERED. Tris is hilarious, i could read five more books in just her POV.

The only reason it’s not 5⭐️ to me is bc i would’ve loved to get Rafe’s POV during his conversation with Hannah. Or at least to know what was said.

Wow! I love the plot, characters, banter and overall message of this book! It’s so nice to use books to escape but I loved how Nisha wrote this in a way where readers could escape but escape to a world where everything works out perfectly for the FMC and MMC in the end just how we hope things were in real life. While not every reader is an engineer, female or POC, Trishara was incredibly relatable and I feel like readers of all types will find something in common with her. Rafe is a combination of dark deviousness all wrapped up around a sweet, soft, lovable inside. We get to witness Trishara work through her feelings for Rafe, stand up for herself and stick it to the big guys while becoming a stronger version of herself BEFORE she ends up with the guy.
As a reader who has stuck with the romantasy genre for far too long this was amazing! I have read Nisha’s other series and LOVE them so this was the perfect book to pick up to read something different. It had all the elements I love about Nisha’s books which most importantly is a bad ass MFC!

I want to thank NetGalley and Forever for the arc of this book. It definitely wasn't on my radar as a read at all. I decided to read because I enjoyed Nisha J. Tuli's fantasy series and figured let me give it a try. I actually enjoyed this book. I think it also proves she can write in any genre. This book was so fun, who doesn't love the work rivals to lovers trope? The office dynamics and culture was on point. It really is like that in so many places. Love the reference to Lor and Nadir and the cover is gorgeous.

“Rafe, why did you draw me?” I whisper. The silence drags on so long that I don’t think he’ll answer, but then he says, “Because I draw things that are beautiful to me.”

Workplace romance isn’t something I usually go for, but when it’s more vacation-fling-adjacent, I can’t help but dive in. Tris and Rafe “hate” each other. Even though it’s pretty clear from the jump that he doesn’t actually hate her. The plot was great, though I had issues with the pacing and the villainization of Hannah - a character whom we meet for like one chapter. Rafe needed to handle that SO much earlier.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this book! The slow burn, the way she slowly came to realize her true feelings instead of just falling the second they were forced to spend more time together.
This is my first time reading this author, but it won't be my last!

Thank you to Forever for letting me read an arc! This book was seriously cute and funny. I caught myself laughing a few too many times! The romance was top tier and the angst and tension as well was all there. I loved the one bed drama that started everything. The FMC had to go and fight for so many things in her life and she finally stood up for herself when the time came, which in a mostly all male work environment, it’s hard to do. This book opens up to that deal a lot, showing what a woman, let alone a POC woman, in a male dominated job has to deal with and what they have to go thru in order to come on top in some way. I loved what this book message tells for the women in those works: you can stand up for yourself and make a name worthy of people wanting you. To overcome obstacles. Hands down. Best book!

This was such a good story! Nisha did an excellent job of creating relatable characters and situations. I only wish it were longer! I'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for a short HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nisha J. Tuli for the chance to read this eARC!

Once I started this book, I could not put it down! Trishara is a force to be reckoned with, which is not surprising since Nisha J. Tuli tends to write strong and badass FMCs. Although I'm not in a STEM career field, I can still relate to her insecurities regarding her career and life choices. I enjoyed being able to watch the growth of Tris throughout the book. The tension and banter between Tris and Rafe had me giggling and kicking my feet. The spice was spicing, I have no notes or thoughts on how this could be improved whatsoever.

For those looking for:
💗 Forced Proximity
💗 One Room/Bed
💗 Rivals to Lovers
💗 Competitions
💗 Light Found Family
💗 Women in STEM
💗 Wedding Crashing
💗 MCs who are tough on the outside, soft on the inside

I had so much fun reading this book. Nisha made me laugh out loud with her callouts to other books she's written. She will continue to be an automatic read author for me.

ARC Review:

Okay, I have to admit I didn’t really connect with Rafe or Trishara in the beginning of this story and I found myself painfully frustrated by how hard they were bumping heads but damn… by the time they made it to Hawaii I was laughing and kicking my feet. I physically could not put it down and had to force myself to sleep at 3am after bingeing the first 80%.

Nisha did an amazing job describing everything with so much detail that I felt like I was watching a movie. I loooooved the diverse representation in this book and am so happy to see a strong, established FMC who doesn’t give it all up for the hot love interest. I also really enjoyed the sisterhood vibes between Tris, Molly, Lan, and Gabrielle because there’s nothing worse than female friends/coworkers who pretend to love you while silently looking at you as competition.

There were so many things said in here that made me want to scream and throw my kindle but the most excruciating was “hmmm. I guess you’re pretty for an Indian girl.”… Im self employed so misogyny and sexism in the workplace isn’t something I have personal experience with but Nisha captured exactly what it feels like just existing as an attractive brown woman with that one sentence. The whitty humor and overall ‘fuck this’ tone of this book was SO relatable and felt like it was written just for me.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2025 because I love Nisha’s writing and it definitely did not disappoint! The subtle Artefacts references had me giggling like a school girl and I highlighted at least 10 pages of quotes I loved/thought were hilarious. Thank to you NetGalley and Forever for the advanced reader copy and congrats to Nisha on your contemporary debut!! ❤️

Nisha knows how to write a hook. And the CHEMISTRY between Rafe and Trishara? Off the charts. Yes! Plus, it’s got all the signature Nisha goodness—sharp wit, a take-no-shit FMC, and characters I couldn’t help but fall in love with.

Lately, books have been knocking me out like a lullaby, but this one? Had me up WAY past my bedtime. If I hadn’t picked it up at 9 p.m. on a weekday, I probably would’ve devoured it in one sitting.

I laughed out loud. I swooned. It wrapped everything up in a perfect HEA bow. Sure, I’m side-eyeing that email’s realism, but you know what? I had a blast reading this, and that’s what matters.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you for the ARC!

I really enjoyed reading this book. FMC's ambition and desire to progress in her career was really nice to see. I would definitely recommend this to friends as a great beach read.

I DEVOURED this book. Ate, no crumbs.

I was introduced to Nisha through her Artefacts of Ouranos series. A deep journey I will always think about. Her prowess with writing has continued to entertain and amaze me with her new romcom!
From the letter to the reader to the very end, I was hooked.

We follow Trishara, a young and strong engineer, as she navigates the densely populated male dominated field. Often having to battle her self control when she's overlooked for promotions, has sexist or racist remarks made, sometimes, directly to her face.

In an attempt to correct their diversity issues the company selects Tris to go on a 3 week all expenses paid company retreat along with her nemesis, Rafe, in Maui.
Romantic setting, enemies and one bed? What more could you ask for?

Fans of Ali Hazelwood will absolutely love this book.

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the ARC! I will always share my honest opinions.