Thank you to Nisha J Tuli, NetGalley, and Hachette Book Group for the ARC.

This story is an easy, addictive read. As a woman in a STEM field, Tris’s story hit home by highlighting the misogyny that plagues work places to this day. While working through these heavy topics, Tuli was able to convey a captivating romance that other books lack. Highly recommend to any and all readers!!

I’m new here in the contemporary romance sphere but I thoroughly enjoyed this slow burn romance between work rivals filled with realistic struggles around women working in a male dominated field, working through past relationship trauma, and being a woman of color in a sea of white. I especially loved the FMC, she was full of confidence, wit, and snark delivering lines that made me cackle, like the following:

“These men were the Khakis—white hetero men of mediocre competence and undeserved confidence who wouldn’t know their way to a clitoris if someone strung them over a swamp rife with testicle-eating crocodiles.”

Devoured this in a day and other than a sort of cheesy ending, it hit some of my favorite tropes.

And if you found your way to this book from the author’s other romantasy genre books (like I did), there was a line in here that referenced an iconic scene from one of her books that was truly delightful. For the true fans only ;)

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced copy I got through NetGalley (book will be released sometime in the summer of 2025).

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. Not Safe For Work is a contemporary romance about two rival, ultra competitive co-workers who are sent away on a 3 week long company retreat in Hawaii. I won’t say much more because honestly, if you’re even at all interested in this premise, this book is so easy to fall into.

I just loved this book— the main characters, their banter, the slow build romance— it was all just so good! I appreciated how the author reflected the reality of what it’s like to be a woman, especially a woman of color, in a STEM field. Per her author’s note, even though some of the workplace sexism and racism expressed may seem outlandish, she shares that she’s personally experienced this type of environment and the behavior written about is truly not that out there. The FMC is strong willed and written so realistically and with insights into her doubts, fears, and hopes for the future. The MMC is just swoon worthy and I enjoyed every page of slow burn romance.

I know romance readers will love this one and I can’t wait to go back to explore this author’s romantasy books, even though I do hope she continues with contemporary! What an absolute treat this book was, so so good!! I would absolutely recommend it to romance fans.

8/10 overall fun read! perfect ending. Would maybe have loved a little more detail around the hannah drama but overall a fun easy read!

First - bravo to this author for writing such a personal story. I hope in her engineering life she ended up putting some people on blast, but if not - I hope she could get some closure and/or vindication by writing this. This book felt very real even with a sweet HEA, when I normally read books (like her fantasy books!) for an escape. I liked the buildup of a relationship for the mfc (Tris) and mmc (Rafe). It's hard to call this an enemies to lovers trope because the "enemies" part is a bit misleading. I love where their story ended up. Obviously you knew they would end up together, but the steps they took to get there were chef's kiss. I like Tris' AHA moment, when she realized what she was looking for was safety...and found it in what she thought would be the least likely of places. This is like a perfect beach read - good romance, good location, quick read & not a lot of heavy lifting on the brain. All the more fitting since it's cold & snow is blowing in mid-Feb where I am while writing this. Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

Grateful to Nisha J. Tuli and her team for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Let me just say that this quickly became my favorite open door romance. Period. The end.

The switch over from romantasy worked, and Nisha now officially dominates in this genre, too!

I love the characters. This is one of the first times when I'm telling an FMC what to do, but understanding her past trauma enough to know why she might not do what I want. I guess that goes for both of them, really.

The setting is fantastic. How misogyny and racism are addressed is fantastic. Love. Love love, so much.

I thoroughly enjoyed the look at the corporate world for women, women of color, and the ins and outs of nepotism. Especially in such a well written, funny, and accessible way.

I absolutely devoured the story. The writing style of this book is as direct and hilarious as the MFC Tris. It’s easy to read and follow. Trishara is a straight bad ass throughout the story, including speaking her mind, and allowing herself to be authentic. This is the EXACT type of MFC I’m trying to see! While she wrestles with the past and her rules, she still advocates h for herself and her needs. She’s also a good friend as we see some genuine relationships develop with the other characters.

As far as the romance - boy it’s spicy!!!! The dimple?! The smiles and smirks and brushes and the banter??? If those are your things (your book turn ons) you don’t wanna wait when this one comes out. I laughed and giggled and got a little annoyed and then shed a happy tear. Worth the five stars!!

4.5/5

Trishara is an engineer who's stalled in her male-dominated company/field despite her hard work. She's dealt with sexism and nepotism in her company, watching people like Rafe, her boss's son, getting promotions and raises over her. When they are both picked to attend their company's leadership retreat in Hawaii, she is determined to revive her career and avoid Rafe at all costs, but of course, she and Rafe get stuck in one room and one bed. Tris begins to see a different side of Rafe and begins to develop feelings...

Tropes:
workplace romance
rivals-to-lovers
close/forced proximity (one bed)
Slow burn

This book reminded me of early Ali Hazelwood, highlighting the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated field. Tris' frustrations, betrayal, and hurt are so relatable and it was easy to root for her to succeed. Rafe, while being the epitome of nepotism, was the perfect MMC, perfectly in support of Tris and standing up for her, especially when she isn't there to stand up for herself. He's protective of Tris and this adds to their fanning-yourself level tension and chemistry throughout the book, leading to their steamy and SLOW BURN of a relationship. I loved the ending as well.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love everything Nisha J. Tuli writes! Reading about women in STEM is my weakness and this book didn't disappoint. And then the romance was so stupidly cheesy, so abhorrently sweet - I loved Tris and Rafe together and couldn't stop reading. This was fast paced and so fun to read. Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

A HUGE thank you to Nisha J Tuli, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of Not Safe for Work!

This is Nisha's first contemporary romance, but she brought her sharp wit and humor over from her fantasy books. I am a HUGE fan of Nisha's fantasy work (MY FAV being the Artefacts of Ouranos Series 🫶) I knew I was going to love this so much, knowing she is AMAZING at banter!!!

This book has rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, boss's son... and covers REAL LIFE issues women face in the work environment. The SPICE is 🤌

This will be a perfect beach read when it come out this summer!!! Amazing Job Nisha!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫, 4.5 rounded up on Goodreads!!!

I read this book in one night - it was so enjoyable! The writer is very talented, both with plot and dialogue. I can’t wait to read her back list!

This was such good fun! I devoured it in a day.

I love the STEM, workplace romance element, and touches on diversity, gender dynamics as well as nepotism. Tris' character was fab, I love how self assured she is, and the book encapsulates her battle with wanting to progress and feeling like what's the point with the lack of progress thus far. I think Tulli does a fantastic job in setting up the dynamic between Tris and Rafe, and I like the way their relationship developed. Full of tension and chemistry.

Despite this, I did feel like Rafe (and his relationship with his ex-girlfriend), was left somewhat unresolved.

OTher than that, would definitely recommend this book.

This was 4.5 solid stars for me. Workplace rivals to lovers set on a work retreat in Hawaii. Tension, banter, and relatable workplace strife. A truly wonderful novel for Nisha to break out into the contemporary romance world. I can’t wait to buy my shelf trophy in May (and maybe reread it).

Was super excited to get this ARC (all opinions are my own) since the description was right up my alley as an early Ali Hazelwood Stan. I love that it embraced the genre and leaned into the rom com, the spice, the HEA but still tackled some tough topics. Since I am also a female in a MDF (male dominated field), the micro aggressions and coping mechanisms struck close to home and I loved move to the smash the glass ceiling but also knowing when to walk away. This was my first Nisha book and she’s setting the standards high.

Also Rafe: the most cinnamon rolls of cinnamon rolls. How nice it is to not have to overlook some 3rd act BS from the MMC in order to feel the fuzzies of the HEA.

For being her first rom-com book, I really did enjoy it.

Rafe and Tris are rivals at their workplace. Tris keeps getting passed up for advancement at her work, not sure to her ability, but to bring female. Rafe is the CEO son. They both get picked for a work 3 week work outing in Hawaii. Tris makes it her mission to stay away from Rafe the whole time. The jokes her with everything that could wrong does.

Tris is very smart, hard worker, and does not take shit from anyone. We learn Rafe can have a jealous possessive side when it comes to Tris. The banter is back and forth between flirtatious and frustration.

This book does have the aspects of what it is like to be a woman in a male dominated workplace and being a person of color.

Nisha once again brought my soul joy with her writing. Not Safe For Work was the right mix of spice and laughing out loud moments. Her transition from fantasy was flawless and I cannot wait to read more of whatever she chooses to write next.

I think Nisha J Tuli was made to write contemporary romances. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read and greatly enjoyed her fantasy romance series, but something about this one just hit different. The character depth, the representation, the HEA, all of it just perfectly encapsulates an amazing love story that I can’t wait for others to dive in to. Greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Set at a corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii, civil engineer Trishara Malik (Tris) and her nemesis Rafe Gallagher are the WMC's Chicago office representatives. Over the three weeks, they and others compete for one of the coveted executive training spots.

The working environment is rough, so it is great to see Tris fight for herself and not accept status quo.

The push and pull between her and Rafe had so much tension! Loved having her friend Molly also rooting for them!

🌺 Workplace romance
🌺 Rivals to Lovers
🌺 Forced proximity / one bed
🌺 Women in STEM
🌺 Jealousy!
🌺 Slow burn
🌺 Yummy desserts
🌺 3rd act drama
🌺 Single POV

4.5 / 5 stars

Open door / spicy!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this eARC!

okay, so Nisha Tuli has officially became an insta buy author for me. i've read her artefacts of ouranos romantasy series and LOVED it but this contemporary romance 🥺 stop. it's so cute! she can do no wrong in my opinion. also, the shout out to said romantasy series made me go "oh she's got great taste in books" about the FMC lol. this book would be the best summer/vacation read!

Rafe and Trishara's story is perfect amount of angst, pining and inevitable explosion (the best kind of course). the banter had me laughing and kicking my feet the whole time. i suppose there was a miscommunication trope but it wasn't bad, i usually hate that trope. i love books where MCs build up confidence from being around each other and this definitely happens. the MCs stuck up for each other on multiple occasions and Rafe's "caveman" antics were done in the right way ♥️ I even loved the side characters development!

Thank you Nisha Tuli and Forever pub for the ARC!

♥️ work rivals to lovers
🍰 one bed/one room 👀
♥️ STEM romance
🍰 slow burn
♥️ badass FMC
🍰 possessive boi (MMC)
♥️ women empowerment

I really liked this book! First of all because reading about an Indian FMC is relatable since I’m Indian. Secondly I love the banter a lot and the storyline of both MCs breaking out of their shells to follow their real dreams. It’s cute, sweet, witty, and sexy. Really loved this as a casual read!