charleys_bookshelf 's review for:

Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar

4.0

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar is a sweet and endearing second-chance romance and "Sweet Home Alabama" reimaging. Nikhil and Meena fell in love young, and got drunkly married in Vegas, but that has been years since they have seen or spoken to each other. Meena, desperate for a divorce, flies to Houston, TX, to confront Nikhil, but when she doesn't check the weather, she ends up getting stuck in their old home with Hurrican on the way. While stuck inside and even closer in a closet for safety, the walls they built up start to crumble.

Flirting with Disaster definitely has all of the major hallmarks of "Sweet Home Alabama," but I loved the contrast of the setting and angst and being "hurricaned-in" to the same house and then the same closet. My heart hurt at all of the pain these two caused for themselves in each other, and didn't love how much miscommunication happens in this novel. It felt as though the MC's were constantly misunderstanding each other and then immediately jumping to the worst conclusion before walking off. With that being said, Naina Kumar's storytelling abilities still made me want to route for Meena and Nikhil to work together and repair their relationship.

The representation in this book of the Indian American experiences and a strong woman in politics wanting to better her community and make a change at the policy level was amazing. I loved reading this book and routing the MC's to get back together for HEA! I recommend reading this book if you love second-chance romance, forced proximity, and strong women!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the ARC.