This is a cute workplace romance- enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed.
Trishara is an engineer and one of the only women in a male dominated field, her bitter rival at work is Rafe Gallagher, the boss’s son. She has been passed over for a promotion 3 times in 5 years. When she is selected for a leadership development program, she is thrilled to spend 3 weeks in Hawaii even though it is work. She is less than thrilled to learn that the other person selected for the program is Rafe. Because she has had difficult and traumatic experiences with workplace romance in the past, she has sworn off getting too personal with anyone in the office.
I really enjoyed the drama and the overall plot of this romance, I felt a lot of chemistry between Tris and Rafe and as she got to know him better it was apparent they were falling for each other. The misogyny in the office was apparent and definitely angering at times, but this met a really satisfying conclusion. The setting of Hawaii was glorious, this book is a lot of my own private fantasies rolled into one- telling off the boss, finally being seen as the leader you are, being desired.
In parts, Tris seemed a little spoiled- you should not even JOKE about burning Louis Vuitton luggage- but overall she was a likeable heroine that was easy to root for. Rafe was not a one dimensional MBA bro, as we learn more about him the reader sees him more clearly as Tris is seeing him more clearly- she has judged him due to her own insecurities and not as things really are. There were several really humorous chapters and definitely some spicy ones.
Audiobook review- all one narrator, this book doesn’t switch into Rafe’s POV so we have all Tris. I appreciate Hachette audio and in choosing a narrator that has south asian heritage. Her performance was snarky, fun and light hearted. The pacing was perfect for audio.
thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC. Book to be published May 20, 2025
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