Review: How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

pub 12/1/20 by Berkley
Women's Fiction - Romance
Received e-ARC from pub for review
Goodreads | Author

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5 stars | How to Fail at Flirting was unexpected in a lot of ways. Even though at face value it lived up to the sweet and sexy moments I had hoped for, it's also emotional and treads on serious ground as well. The author did a fantastic job of balancing both sides of this story and I, for one, can't wait to read more from her. In Flirting, she introduces us to Naya Turner and employs one of my favorite tropes: creating a to-do list for your life. As an overachiever who's hyper-focused on her job and dealing with the emotional aftermath of an abusive ex-boyfriend, she (and her two wonderfully supportive friends) know she needs to have fun and step outside her comfort zone. And on the first night of trying to live it up, she meets an incredible guy named Jake who goes from an almost no-strings-attached hookup to something else entirely. For the whole trajectory of their relationship, I think I might've smiled almost the entire time (or swooning -- find me a Jake IRL please). As individuals and a couple, I appreciated their growth and adored all the little and big ways they worked towards making their relationship work. Of course, the book wouldn't be complete without some conflict but the struggles Naya faced only highlighted her strength, determination, and sense of self.

Do I recommend? Absolutely! I had requested this book on a whim and I am so glad I did! How to Fail at Flirting just came out this past week so do yourself a favor and buy a copy.