I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise WilliamsNarrator: January LaVoy
Length: 9 Hours 6 Minutes
Also by this author: The Fastest Way to Fall
Published by Penguin on December 1, 2020
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Multicultural & Interracial, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
"A warm romance that bursts with realism and celebrates the symbiotic power of love and healing.â€â€•Entertainment Weekly
#1 LibraryReads PickIndie Next Pick
One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.
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.
Why Did I Listen To How To Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams?
How To Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams appealed to me because I love a forbidden romance. I also think that reading romances starting characters of color written by authors of color, aka OwnVoices romances is an absolute priority. Seeing this book pop up on the Volumes app reviewer section made me feel absolutely psyched. The reason I was so excited is that it meant I was able to get to reading this book so much sooner via audio. Y’all, this is a WONDERFUL audiobook that I cannot recommend highly enough.
What’s The Story Here?
Naya Turner, main character, is a professor whose department is up to be cut at her university. She understandably is under some stress. Her friends who are ride or die and simply the best convince her she deserves to cut loose and have a night out on the town. So, Naya ends up dressing up and going out. She’s got a checklist to fulfill when it comes to cutting loose. As it turns out, she meets this man named Jake at the bar and has a one night stand with him, checking some items off her list. They have some wild chemistry and would like to take what happened beyond the one night stand. Only, there’s an issue. Jake is one of the consultants hired by the university and could be eliminating Naya’s job. The conflict of interest is there and so is the chemistry.
How Did I Like How To Fail At Flirting?
I genuinely loved How To Fail At Flirting. Denise Williams paints a character who is so darn likable. The author also nails the romance aspect perfectly and I just spent the whole book rooting for Naya and Jake. I loved that Naya overcomes some trauma and re-finds her confidence. This book really promotes mental healthcare. I loved that there is therapy at one point — towards the end — but it is so important to me that this is something that is normalized. There is a MeToo element to this book that is quite relatable. I think that if you read romance to feel empowered – you will love this book and its character arch.
How’s The Narration?
The audiobook of How To Fail At Flirting is narrated by January LaVoy. LaVoy is an expert narrator. I could listen to her at 1.5x speed and understand every word and nuance. The narration style is so solid and pleasant on the ears. If you’re looking for your next romance audiobook — look no further. The audiobook is 9 hours and 6 minutes long but feels like it goes by super quick.
Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)
- Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown | Book Review - November 9, 2024
- A Werewolf’s Guide To Seducing A Vampire by Sarah Hawley | Book Review - October 12, 2024
- Four Witch Books For Autumn Vibes - September 22, 2024