“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.

NSFW (Not Safe For Work) - @nishajtwrites 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

OK but is there anything that Nisha cannot write?! This is NOT my normal genre as I am VERY much a fantasy girly. And yet, I was hooked after meeting Trishara and even more so after meeting Rafe.
I also have to note that Nisha has said in comments that this is somewhat based upon real life events where some of this book did happen to her. That, to me, made the story come alive and truly mean something knowing that she was once treated this kind of way and how the industry she worked within was so sexist and racist towards her. And although I HATE that it happened to her, I'm glad she is now the most bad ass woman and also one of the nicest people I've ever spoken to and love that she can now laugh at the people who ever looked at her that way rather than seeing her as anything less than amazing.

To me, this book felt so realistic and sometimes it felt like Nisha had jumped into my head. All the worries, fears and anxieties about heading into a new relationship and second guessing if they would screw me over just like the last one did.

The spice 🌶️ was SO ON POINT. I am so fussy when it comes to spice and if it's not done in a good way I'll just pass it over in a book. This felt like the perfect speed and spice and very realistic not like in some books where the guy is packing something that could physically kill you if he entered you. The spice was SPI-CYYY but in a really tasteful and fun way.

I also completely got Trisharas headaches! As I live with migraines daily it was nice to see it added in. I felt so seen! Especially with the amount of pills she takes!

Hannah... That bitch. The way she spoke to Trishara! I wanted to punch her in the face.

Honestly I am a full convert to romance now thanks to Nisha. This book, just like all of her others, is just so addictive, relatable for some parts to me, and has another kick ass and fiesty woman at the forefront.

Highly recommend pre ordering and buying this when it's out in MAY!

I devoured this story in two days. Rafe and Tris were electric to watch and the setting felt very topical as workplace relations regarding diversity and inclusion are examined globally in a major way. Rafe was both frustrating and hot. Tris was similarly frustrating since she seemed determined to assume the worst at first. Forced proximity and a sold out hotel ensured lots of time on the page for the characters. I liked the vacation setting and the events that kept forcing them together. Even when I was wanting to knock some sense into these characters, I was always rooting for them.

This book is about two engineers that start out as “enemies” and through circumstances end up spending a lot of time together.

I appreciated the workplace dynamics with the side characters. As a women in a STEM field a lot of the workplace issues were very relatable. Especially about the assumption that the only woman in a group will always take the notes.

I loved the little reference to the authors other series and knew exactly what part was mentioned. I did think it was a little odd that the book was called “smutty” when there’s so much more to the series.

In the beginning of the book I was annoyed with the main character. It seemed that only she saw the main male character as an enemy and he was interested in her. The way they both behaved was unrealistic for professionals and made them both seem very immature. Nothing that he did was anything that should have made him her “enemy”.

I enjoyed the sloooooow burn and enjoyed them together toward the end of the book. The banter between them was a lot more fun than when they were “enemies”.

Overall the book was ok, I was hoping for a little bit more, but I was invested enough in the characters to see how it ended up.

this was kind of fun in the beginning but kind of got lost after the 75% mark?

i liked the angst - the attraction started too early bc the book became really repetitive.

i really loved the representation for women in STEM (male-dominated) esp for BIPOC. that aspect of the story was done really well.

there were just a lot of other plot details that made no sense. this is a 3 week hawaii work conference (lol) and they got stuck in the same room and the HR rep was like “yall will figure it out 😉” like WHAT? i know that the characters are supposed to be early 30s, but by their actions/how they talk, they read like highschoolers.

also i HATE the other woman trope and this lasted wayyy too long in this book with no real resolution. like no explanation why he was still accepting her calls?

that said, i read this in a day. it was easy to read and there were def enjoyable moments. just as a whole, it needs refinement and some more believable situations.

thank you net galley for the ARC 💌

4⭐️

First, I'd like to thank the author, Forever and netGalley for the opportunity to read this book early!

The story follows Tris as she navigate through a career in tech as a woman of color & in a field that's dominated by men. She's been passed over for promotions she deserves & she's fed up, so when a chance to take her career forward at WMC Purcell arises, she was all in. Tris and Rafe (her rival at work) are the top two candidates that were selected to go on a company leadership training in Hawaii. Sharing one suite. With one bed. Things heat up as they spend more time getting to know each other & let me just say...there was drama, tension, angst, lust, jealousy & more to keep readers entertained! I loved the ending so much, it was a big character development moment for both Tris and Rafe to end on!

✨thank you netgalley for this arc✨

this was a 5 star rom com!

so well written, great banter, believable characters. diverse cast, women in STEM, so lighthearted and fun while still making pointed statements about being a woman in the workplace. so different from the fantasy you usually write nisha, but just as captivating.

Oh my gosh! I absolutely loved this book. Nisha is such a great writer. I loved her nod to her Trial of the Sun Queen series. It was so cute. Trishara was an awesome FMC. I loved her fire and spunk. Especially when it was pointed at Rafe. Their banter was SO. GOOD. I loved every second of reading this book.

Thank you to the author and Forever publishing for this gifted copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the eARC of this book.

I said this halfway through and I'll say it again - I need to know what Nisha put in this book because I was barely able to put this down. This was such an amazing contemporary romance debut, this book had me hooked from the beginning & I really hope we get more books like this from the author. The tension between Rafe & Tris was delicious, take a seat enemies to lovers, rivals to lovers has entered the chat. I also really, really loved the focus on being a woman in a male dominated field, especially Tris' place as a woman of color in a male dominated field.

I leave you with maybe one of my favorite quotes from this book:
<spoiler>"But don't you want to make it better for the next generation? Don't you want to change things so the women who come after you don't have to put up with this?"</spoiler>

I have such mixed feelings. I really appreciated the set up and had really high hopes. Trishara felt really uneven for me. In most aspects she was super badass and intelligent but in some of the ways she engaged with Rafe, especially at the beginning, it felt out of character somehow? I also felt like the chemistry took a bit to build. Like I didn’t buy it from them until about 60% in. I loved the ending and how she put the terrible company on blast. I also loved her friends. I enjoyed it overall but it did make me want to read her fantasy novels - I love the way she describes the tension and I feel like that probably really shines in that space.

✨ It’s giving early Ali Hazelwood vibes crossed with The Spanish Love Deception in the absolute best way ✨

Nisha J. Tuli is one of my favorite fantasy authors, and I can’t believe this was her first romance release. It more than delivered. Tuli’s gift of creating multi-dimensional, flawed, relatable, and lovable characters easily transfers across genres. I enjoyed this one so stinking much and found myself rooting so hard for Tris.

Loved the tension and build up in the relationship between Tris and Rafe. Loved their banter. Loved the slow burn. Loved it ALL.

🌺Rivals to lovers
♥️They call each other by their last names
🌺Forced proximity
♥️Only one bed
🌺He sticks up for her
♥️It was always you
🌺Women in STEM

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc! Can’t wait to recommend this one over and over.

Nishi J Tuli has successfully entered the world of rom coms! This book is everything you love from her fantasy romance stories… enemies to lovers, tension, satisfying spice.. just with a modern day backdrop! Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne!