In a romance landscape often criticized for recycling tired tropes, Nisha J. Tuli delivers something genuinely fresh with Not Safe for Work—a contemporary romance that doesn’t shy away from the messy realities of corporate culture, workplace discrimination, and the complex dynamics of power imbalances. This marks Tuli’s bold departure from her fantasy roots (she’s the internationally bestselling author of The Artefacts of Ouranos series and The Nightfire Quartet), and the transition showcases her versatility as a storyteller who can craft compelling narratives across genres.
The Setup: More Than Your Average Enemies-to-Lovers Tale
Trishara “Tris” Malik is the kind of heroine contemporary romance desperately needs—a brilliant engineer whose career ambitions have been systematically crushed by the “good old boys” network at WMC Purcell. When she’s unexpectedly selected for a leadership retreat in Hawaii alongside her nemesis Rafe Gallagher (the boss’s son who seemingly got the promotion she deserved), readers might expect a predictable enemies-to-lovers romp. Instead, Tuli crafts something far more nuanced.
The Hawaiian setting isn’t just eye candy; it becomes a pressure cooker where professional facades crumble and authentic selves emerge. The infamous honeymoon suite mix-up that forces Tris and Rafe to cohabitate could have been a cheap plot device, but Tuli uses it as a catalyst for genuine character development and slow-burn tension that sizzles without feeling contrived.
Character Development: Complex Protagonists Who Defy Romance Stereotypes
Trishara Malik: A Heroine Worth Rooting For
Tris is refreshingly complex—neither the perpetually optimistic romance heroine nor the cynical ice queen. Her journey from disillusionment to empowerment feels authentic because Tuli doesn’t shy away from showing the real psychological toll of workplace discrimination. Her chronic headaches, carefully catalogued incidents of harassment, and strategic survival mechanisms paint a portrait of someone who’s learned to navigate hostile territory while maintaining her integrity.
What makes Tris particularly compelling is her evolution throughout the story. She begins reactive—defined by what she’s fighting against—but gradually becomes proactive, ultimately choosing her values over career security in a climactic scene that showcases genuine character growth.
Rafe Gallagher: Subverting the Privileged Love Interest Trope
Rafe could have easily been another generic alpha hero coasting on nepotism, but Tuli layers him with genuine depth. His secret passion for pastry arts and struggle with family expectations transform him from apparent antagonist to complex love interest. The revelation of his Dessert Wolf social media persona is particularly well-executed—it’s quirky without being ridiculous and adds authenticity to his character that goes beyond surface-level charm.
His relationship with his father David provides excellent subtext about generational expectations and the courage required to forge your own path, making his eventual career pivot feel earned rather than convenient.
Plot Pacing: A Well-Calibrated Slow Burn
Tuli demonstrates impressive restraint in her pacing. The romantic tension builds gradually through shared glances during corporate team-building exercises, late-night conversations, and moments of unexpected vulnerability. The wedding crashing sequence is a particular highlight—playful and romantic without feeling disconnected from the story’s deeper themes.
The timeline feels organic, with each interaction between Tris and Rafe serving dual purposes: advancing their relationship while revealing character depth. The author avoids the common romance pitfall of instalove, instead building a foundation of mutual respect that makes their eventual romantic connection feel inevitable and satisfying.
Social Commentary: Romance with Substance
Workplace Discrimination: Unflinching and Realistic
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength is its unflinching portrayal of workplace discrimination. Tuli doesn’t sanitize the microaggressions, casual sexism, and systemic barriers that women of color face in male-dominated industries. The scene with Paul Stuart’s proposition is particularly powerful—it’s uncomfortable to read, which makes it effective.
The author’s treatment of these issues never feels preachy or heavy-handed. Instead, she weaves social commentary seamlessly into the narrative, making it feel like a natural extension of Tris’s experience rather than an authorial agenda.
Corporate Culture and Nepotism
The portrayal of WMC Purcell as a company is spot-on in its criticism of corporate culture. From meaningless team-building exercises to the obvious favoritism shown to certain employees, Tuli captures the absurdity and frustration of modern corporate life with sharp wit and keen observation.
Writing Style: Engaging and Accessible
Tuli’s prose is crisp and engaging, with a voice that feels authentically contemporary without being overly trendy. Her dialogue sparkles with wit and feels natural, particularly the banter between Tris and Rafe that crackles with tension and chemistry. The author has a gift for physical description that’s evocative without being purple, and her pacing keeps pages turning without sacrificing character development.
The integration of modern elements—social media, texting, workplace technology—feels organic rather than forced, creating a story that feels current and relatable.
Areas for Improvement: Minor but Notable Critiques
While Not Safe for Work succeeds admirably in most areas, there are some elements that prevent it from reaching five-star territory:
- Secondary Character Development: Supporting characters like Lan and Gabrielle, while likable, feel somewhat underdeveloped. Their relationship, though sweet, lacks the depth and complexity of the main romance.
- Resolution Timing: The climactic confrontation with corporate leadership feels slightly rushed. Given the buildup of workplace tension throughout the novel, the resolution—while satisfying—could have benefited from more space to breathe.
- Hannah’s Characterization: Rafe’s ex-girlfriend Hannah serves primarily as an obstacle rather than a fully realized character, which is a missed opportunity given her importance to the plot’s tension.
Heat Level and Romance Elements
The sexual tension builds excellently throughout the novel, with intimate scenes that feel emotionally connected to character development. Tuli writes steam that’s hot without being gratuitous, and the emotional intimacy matches the physical, creating a well-rounded romantic experience.
The “enemies” portion of the enemies-to-lovers arc is well-executed, with legitimate reasons for their antagonism that get resolved through character growth rather than convenient plot devices.
Comparative Analysis: Standing Out in the Contemporary Romance Genre
Not Safe for Work fits well alongside workplace romances like Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners or Jasmine Guillory’s The Proposal, but distinguishes itself through its more serious engagement with workplace discrimination and corporate culture. It shares DNA with Helen Hoang’s work in creating neurodivergent characters (Tris’s chronic headaches) while maintaining focus on character agency and growth.
For readers of Tuli’s fantasy work, this represents a successful genre pivot that maintains her strengths in character development and world-building while adapting to contemporary romance expectations.
The Verdict: A Standout Contemporary Romance
Not Safe for Work succeeds as both entertainment and commentary, delivering a satisfying romance while engaging seriously with important social issues. Tuli proves herself equally adept at contemporary romance as fantasy, creating characters worth investing in and a story that resonates beyond the final page.
This novel works for readers seeking:
- Enemies-to-lovers romance with genuine development
- Workplace discrimination themes handled with nuance
- Diverse protagonists with authentic voices
- Steam with emotional depth
- Social commentary woven organically into romance
While not perfect, Not Safe for Work represents the kind of contemporary romance that elevates the genre—proving that love stories can be both entertaining and meaningful, romantic and real. For fans of smart, socially conscious romance with genuine heat and heart, this is definitely worth adding to your TBR pile.
- Perfect for readers who enjoyed: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Beach Read by Emily Henry, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert.