How to Fail at Flirting- Happy Release Day w/Author Q&A

 

Author: Denise Williams

Title: How to Fail at Flirting

Release Date: December 1, 2020 

Publisher: Berkley Romance 

Synopsis: When her flailing department lands on the university's chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup.  Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she's finally living again.

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Blog Q&A w/Denise Williams

Author Bio: Denise Williams wrote her first book in the 2nd grade. I Hate You and its sequel, I Still Hate You, featured a tough, funny heroine, a quirky hero, witty banter, and a dragon. Minus the dragons, these are still the books she likes to write. After penning those early works, she finished second grade and eventually earned a PhD in education, going on to work in higher education. After growing up a military brat around the world and across the country, Denise now lives in Des Moines, Iowa with her husband, son, and two ornery shih-tzus who think they own the house.

Tell us about HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING!

How to Fail at Flirting is about a professor who decides to push herself out of her rut. After an abusive relationship, she closed herself off and focused on work. Now, years later, she decides a to-do list is the way to stay accountable to her plans to try new things. When she meets a handsome stranger in town on business, he’s the perfect fling. The only problem is that despite numerous flirting fails, Jake turns out to be the person who makes her want to keep trying and she ends up flirting with falling in love. Oh, did I mention he has a few secrets including that he might be a threat to her career? It’s a story about love and healing and finding that person who makes you realize you’re capable of anything.

What inspired you to write this novel?

When I first sat down to write, my son was an infant and I felt buried in momming and work—I needed a creative outlet. I ran into an ex on Facebook and it got me thinking about how past relationships shape us. The book evolved a lot since those first fledgling sentences, but the core ideas about how past relationships shape us and that happily ever after can be on the horizon after a broken heart is what you’ll read in the finished version.

What do you hope readers will take away from reading HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING?

I hope readers will take away three main things. First, “That Denise Williams writes good books!” Just kidding… or not! More seriously, I hope readers walk away from HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING knowing heartbreak and trauma don’t preclude you from enjoying humor, affection, good sex, and love…that some king to heal can still get their happily ever after.

Is there anything readers should know?

I mentioned Naya is a survivor of relationship violence with an ex co-worker. I hope readers who might have personal experience or be otherwise triggered by that take care of themselves by reading reviews or visiting my website to review the content warning.

[DISCLAIMER: The publisher provided the questions and answers as a part of the book promo]

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Mini Review:

I just want to say this was definitely a one more chapter reading experience. I couldn't put the book down because Naya is so relatable and Jake was such a cinnamon roll (minus you know the one thing he forgot to mention on the beginning 😒. I love a book that tackles what do we call this thing that we are doing, since our initial terms was just hooking up. I think we don't get to read enough of how relationships start off casual but let's communicate and work through it because we like each other done healthy. For the naysayers one night stands CAN turn into relationships if you both respect each other and explore the relationship beyond physical attraction. At least in romance it can!!! 

Now, with that out of the way, there are some heavy topics that are covered e.g. verbal/physical abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, cheating, and blackmail (revenge porn). The author was kind enough to make sure that I reviewed the content warnings for the book which I recommend that you review here: Content Warnings. 

What we learn is there is a reason for Naya's apprehension to dating and sex. Jake throughout the book check-ins and asks for consent, which I thought was really important because consent should always be given and not assumed. I loved how the author navigates Naya's development and confronts her overthinking by restoring her inner trust. It was really encouraging to see that while Naya struggled she was able to find her footing. We need more romances allow heroines to relearn trusting their instincts after a bad relationship and that the process of healing is ongoing. Similarly, Jake is confronting his own past hurts and grabbling with being enough. There is an intense exchange were shows aggression that made me nervous but I think it heighten their stakes as a couple. This book isn't a light read, but more of a nuanced and complicated peak into how past hurts continue to surface in new relationships. I think Denise Williams did a great job with writing both characters with care and compassion. I can't wait for her next release. 

Rating: 4.5 stars ⭐ 

Heat level: Medium 😉

An e-ARC was provided for an honest review 

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Fancast 

Okay now I'm sure you are really here for my fan casting.

Naya-  Louise Rianna is a model that is stunningly beautiful dressed up or not. But I think would be a great Naya because of the hair,  hidden sex appeal, and her beauty that she doesn't often flaunt.

Jake-  Jack Guinness I mentioned this on Twitter that I had a better image of Naya so I did my best picking Jake. He's described as tan, muscular, with blue eyes. I imagine you have to really look at him to find his attraction but nonetheless he's nice to look at 

Here they are side by side. How did I do?

Thank you to Berkley Romance for sending me an e-ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book and I hope you pick it up to! Release day is Tuesday, December 1, 2020. I can't wait to read more from Denise Williams. 

Happy Reading!