How to Fail at Flirting seems like a fluffy read in the first glance, but actually this book is very hard to read and reviewed. In the moment I read this book, I (with some of my book friends) just currently canceling a book club because they are enabler of sexual harassment's perpetrator that apparently still active in the bookish environment despite he already outed by another book clubs. So, the things that happen in this book kinda resonated me. Always, always side with the victim.

Naya is a survivor of years of emotional abuse from her ex. The abuse affect her confidence and it's hard to trust a man again. She also afraid to start a relationship. After her best friend and best friend's husband dare her to at least try to flirting in the night club, Naya relents and there she meet Jake, who also shamelessly flirt with her. Their flirting turn to more serious entanglement but Naya just found out that Jake is part of a company that auditing her university and her teaching career in the university is hang in balance. To make matter worse, Naya's ex, Davis also comeback to the university and try to harass her again. While Naya, know that she is in love with Jake and vice versa, still afraid to taking chance with their growing romance because she think she already broken because of David's emotional abuses.

This book written in simple manner and easy to follow. The early parts are fluff and kinda low in angst, but Williams begin gradually escalate the story's tension especially when Davis start to threaten Naya. Naya and Jake's blossoming relationship is a delight to read and I really love their bantering, chat and joke, although some jokes can be to dry or maybe it's just me. Jake is totally a cinnamon roll, but he also have some emotional baggage. Although, he's really fallin so hard for Naya. Their sex scenes were steamy af, but I also like to read tender moments between them. One particular scene when Naya got cold when they meet in their attempt to do long distance relationship, in which Naya already imagined the sweaty sex with Jake but all of it got canceled because she was sick so Jake tend to her health instead warm my heart. 

Williams didn't sugarcoated Naya's anxiety and I like that she portrayed Naya's brokenness in trusting man in a humane way possible. Reading from my lenses, I feel frustrated when reading Naya and Jake's fight but if I put myself in Naya's shoes, of course it's not easy to switch the flip, to let go of horrible memories after years being emotionally abused with the person you loved. At that moment, I really hate Davis's guts and he remain despicable to the end. A low human being, man like Davis did exist. Constantly belittle woman to rise themselves above other, make them look good while demeaning the others. A scene when Davis try to assault Naya give me dreadful feeling but I like that Naya finally stand up and fight. The scene is not easy to read but I feel that it was necessary because this book is about Naya to fight for herself and try to figure herself while also learn to love again.

This book told in Naya's first point of view, but I would love to see some of Jake's voice too. Just like Naya, Jake also suffer from some of self doubt because of his failed marriage. While he's very blatantly in love with Naya, I want to know what he think when they are fighting and away. One thing that I like for this book is, after Naya and Jake reconciled they didn't directly jump into each other. It take some times for them to process and try to accept each other. Don't worry, the story end in a happy note.

I will recommend this book if you want to read about the heroine's journey to find herself again after years of emotional and domestic abuse. However, this book have some triggering contents like I stated in the start of my review so please proceed with caution.