Not Safe for Work

Fantasy author Tuli (the Artefacts of Ouranos series) delves into romance with this escapist if slightly unbelievable enemies-to-lovers rom-com. As one of few women, and even fewer women of color, at engineering firm WMC Purcell, Trishara “Tris” Malik struggles to break barriers in a toxic work environment—only to be repeatedly passed over for promotion in favor of the boss’s son, Rafe Gallagher. She’s shocked when she’s chosen as one of the company’s rising stars and invited to join their three-week leadership retreat in Hawaii. The other shoe drops, however, when upon arrival she discovers that, due to a mix-up withe the reservation, she and Rafe will be sharing the honeymoon suite. And, of course, there’s only one bed. Readers who can suspend disbelief about this obvious HR nightmare will be gratified to witness the simmering romantic tension between Tris and Rafe. Their chemistry is palpable but feels better suited to a vacation fling than anything long-term, as neither character really matures over the course of the novel. Still, there are plenty of seductive scenes, the tropical setting entices, and Tuli pairs the romance with a frank exploration of the challenges faced by women of color in STEM. It’s not perfect, but it will hit the spot for those looking for a beachy getaway. (May)