How to Fail at Flirting

When I started reading this, I really thought it was going to be an easy 5-star rating. While a debut, this is so well written, with complex characters and a story that’s nuanced. I loved the meet cute and our couple’s initial night together, which is everything rom com dreams are made of. The chemistry was definitely there, and so were the feels, so I was hooked on this romance. And then it got HEAVY. I somehow managed to avoid spoilers and went in blind, so I was taken aback by the sudden shift in tone and the amount of triggering content. This is not a light, sweet (or clean) rom com, if that’s what you’re in the mood for; it’s angsty, often somber, and frequently focused on the steam. I still enjoyed the story and would not hesitate to read more from the author, but this is a very different story than I was anticipating.

The story follows Naya, a woman who has let a bad relationship turn her into a different woman. Naya has lost herself a bit, so when her friends encourage her to act out of character and get a little wild, she’s hesitant – but also excited to get a piece of herself back. When Naya ventures into a bar and strikes up a conversation with a sexy stranger, she has no idea what she’s in store for. Her night with Jake does not go as planned, but it opens up the door for something entirely different. But it’s not long before reality comes crashing in, and Naya’s carefree fling gets all kinds of complicated.

While I wasn’t expecting the heaviness, it is part of what elevates the story from your typical fling turned more romance. Naya is not the usual rom com heroine – she’s a highly educated, intelligent, Black/Irish/Mexican woman whose last relationship has turned her into a shell of her former self. It was painful to see her lack of confidence at times, and she’s a big part of what makes this feel so bleak on occasion. The whole story is told from Naya’s perspective, and I would’ve loved more Jake. He is a cinnamon role sweetheart who is supportive, patient, and genuinely KIND throughout. Personally, I think this would’ve been a MUCH stronger read if one or two subplots had been eliminated in favor of more time advancing the relationship. While the story has plenty of depth, it didn’t always feel like the relationship extended beyond surface level, and that was proven time and again by the surprises along the way. Overall, this is absolutely not the story I thought I was getting myself into, but it’s certainly a worthwhile read, and I’d love to see what the author writes next.

Audio note: I managed to score a deal on the eBook just in time for the audiobook to become available at the library, so I switched back and forth between the two. The audiobook is well done and easy to listen to, with a female narrator whose voice is expressive yet not jarring. I enjoyed it. This does get steamy pretty quickly and stays that way for awhile, so I can’t recommend it as a workday listen. But the runtime was not an issue for me, nor was comprehension while listening. There are the occasional text messages, but they’re clearly labeled, and there was nothing else that didn’t translate well to audio.

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book turned out to be. It wasn’t your usual funny, easy to read, quick rom-com (although I did finish it in record time by staying up all night to read it).

I loved Naya and Jake’s relationship. I loved their dynamic, their chemistry, their attraction. I loved the fact that they were always (for the most part) straight with each other. When Naya meets Jake randomly at a bar and decides to throw caution to the wind and flirt with him, she has no idea that Jake is the consultant responsible for deciding whether her department at the university she teaches at will be cut or not. He doesn’t know either, of course.

But that one single flirtation throws them both off-guard as they get along so well, have a great time, and want to see more of each other.

When they eventually do realize the conflict their relationship creates, they immediately confront it and discuss the repercussions. Of course there’s drama, but there’s so much more than that.

Naya has come out of a seriously abusive relationship with a colleague, who is back in her life and threatening her with her reputation and career. Something he’s already destroyed during the course of their relationship and she’s had to rebuild. Naya has a lot of emotional baggage. She is suffering from PTSD, from low self-esteem, from lack of confidence. She has gotten used to not taking risks, hiding, being invisible, wearing baggy clothes and swearing off relationships.

Jake brings out the best in her. He coaxes her out of her shell. He gives her the safety and security she needs to find herself again. Be confident, be loud, be heard. He gives her her voice back.

I really loved reading her journey. The ending had me sitting at the edge of my seat, Jake infuriating me with his blindness! But I loved seeing Naya finally taking a stand and being brave.

Very good book.

LOVED this book! Its a steamy and fun love story that tackles real world issues. Willams has done a great job of balancing the main characters strengths and vulnerability. I am now a fan and what more!

This book had me literally laughing out, yelling at the characters (in my head), and experiencing all the highs and lows of a story. I finished this book in about 6 hours. It’s a nice read with everything you expect from a romance novel with modern life thrown in that adds to the cheesy humor in this book. I can’t wait for the next book from this author!

Denise Williams first novel is an absolute HOMERUN! Naya & Jake are everything you could possibly want from a contemporary romance couple witty, punny, sexy as all get out with just enough under the surface issues that you cant wait for them to resolve together. Stepping into the world Denise has create, I was instantly able to connect with Naya – an intelligent woman who is dealing with past issues to put herself back into the dating scene per her pushy friends request. All of it starts to fall together and further apart when she meets the kind, intelligent, pitiful joke making Jake. Every step of their story had me laughing out loud, mad as hell at the side characters and a few tears along the way to the beautiful ending. I would pick up a anything Denise writes in the future based on this absolutely 5-star experience!

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