How to Fail at Flirting

Trigger warnings: abusive relationship, revenge porn, racism, attempted rape

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College professor Naya is in a romantic rut.

Naya is a college professor whose social life has stalled after an abusive relationship. Her friends encourage her to get a life by making a list of tasks for her to complete, such as "let a stranger buy you a drink."

Naya checks this item off of her list at a restaurant bar while waiting for her friends to arrive. She meets a man named Jake who makes her laugh at his corny jokes, and he buys her a drink. Naturally, Naya's friends both have emergencies to attend to and flake on their dinner plans. Naya and Jake have a fun night together until Naya's alcohol intolerance catches up with her.

What was supposed to be a fleeting connection ends up deeply affecting both Naya and Jake. They each have their own issues and complications involved and they must overcome these things separately and together.

This novel does a wonderful job of showing how a strong, professional woman can still have issues dealing with racism and a past abusive relationship. It also shows that having trouble letting these things go doesn't make you any less deserving of loving, healthy connections.

January LaVoy is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. If you haven't heard her performance in the Diviners series, you should! Since this is an adult book, her narration is markedly different but still good. It helps that LaVoy also identifies with Naya, so her interpretation of the character is on point.

Denise Williams lived all around the world as a child with her military parents. She now lives in Iowa and works as a diversity consultant. How to Fail at Flirting is her debut novel.

Publisher: Berkley (print); Penguin Audio (audiobook)

Narrator: January LaVoy

Running Time: 9 hours, 5 minutes

Length: 352 pages

Release Date: December 1, 2020

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I also received a digital audio recording of this title from the publisher through Libro.fm as a librarian review copy. I listened to the latter. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.